Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/122

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Ay! old with young, the Bactrian force hath perished at our side!

Alas, my son! what gallant youths hath he sent down to death!

Alone, or with a scanty guard—for so the rumour saith—

He came—but how, and to what end? doth aught of hope remain?

With joy he reached the bridge that spanned the Hellespontine main.

How? is he safe, in Persian land? speak soothly, yea or nay!

Clear and more clear the rumour comes, for no man to gainsay.

Woe for the oracle fulfilled, the presage of the war

Launched on my son, by will of Zeus! I deemed our doom afar

In lap of time; but, if a king push forward to his fate,

The god himself allures to death that man infatuate!