CH. Noblest of maidens, ye must learn to bear Meekly the sending of the Gods. Be not On fire with grief. Your state is well assured. ANT. If to be thus is well, then may one long For evil to return. Things nowise dear Were dear to me, whiles I had him to embrace. O father! loved one! that art wearing now The eternal robe of darkness underground, Old as thou wert, think not this maid and I Will cease from loving thee! CH. He met his doom. ANT. He met the doom he longed for. CH. How was that? ANT. In the strange land where he desired to die He died. He rests in shadow undisturbed; Nor hath he left a tearless funeral. For these mine eyes, father, unceasingly Mourn thee with weeping, nor can I subdue This ever-mounting sorrow for thy loss. Ah me! Would thou hadst not desired to die Here among strangers, but alone with thee There, in the desert, I had seen thee die! ISM. Unhappy me! What destiny, dear girl, Awaits us both, bereaved and fatherless? CH. His end was fortunate. He rests in peace. Dear maidens, then desist from your complaint. Sorrow is swift to overtake us all. ANT. Thither again, dear girl, let us go speedily! ISM. Say, for what end? ANT. Desire possesses me-- ISM. Whereof? ANT. To see the darksome dwelling-place-- ISM. Of whom? ANT. Woe is me! Of him, our sire! ISM. But how Can this be lawful? Seest thou not? ANT. How say'st thou? Why this remonstrance? ISM. Seest thou not, again, He hath no grave and no man buried him. ANT. Take me but where he lies. Then slay me there. ISM. Ah! woe is me, doubly unfortunate, Forlorn and destitute, whither henceforth For wretched comfort must we go? CH. Fear nought, Dear maidens! ISM. Where shall we find refuge? CH. Here, Long since, your refuge is secure. ANT. How so? CH. No harm shall touch you. ANT. I know that. CH. What then Further engrosseth thee? ANT. How to get home I know not. CH. Seek not for it. ANT. Weariness O'erweighs me. CH. Hath it not before oppressed thee? ANT. Before, it vexed me; now it overwhelms. CH. A mighty sea of misery is your lot. ANT. Woe is me! O Zeus! And whither must we go? Unto what doom doth my Fate drive me now? CH. Children, lament no longer. 'Tis not well To mourn 'mongst those with whom the honoured dead Hath left the heirloom of his benison. _Enter_ THESEUS. ANT. Theseus, behold us falling at thy feet. THE. What boon, my children, are ye bent to obtain? ANT. Our eyes would see our father's burial-place. THE. 'Tis not permitted to go near that spot. ANT. O Athens' sovereign lord, what hast thou said?