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And they were casting lots, when he left, for their several stations. He urges on Eteocles, as "prudent helmsman" of the state, the duty of guarding the towers, for already

The scout returns to his post; and after a brief appeal to the protection of the gods, the king also leaves the scene to attend to the defences, and the stage is for a moment empty. Then the Chorus enters—a band of Theban maidens, who are going in solemn procession to offer their supplications at the altars of the gods. They enter the orchestra at once, and deploy the ranks of their little battalions, like the Egyptian Suppliants in a former play. Their song presents a wonderful intermingling of the various