Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/145



of Cadmus, at the signal given

By time and season must the ruler speak

Who sets the course and steers the ship of State

With hand upon the tiller, and with eye

Watchful against the treachery of sleep.

For if all go aright, thank Heaven, men say,

But if adversely—which may God forefend!—

One name on many lips, from street to street,

Would bear the bruit and rumour of the time,

Down with Eteocles!—a clamorous curse,

A dirge of ruin. May averting Zeus

Make good his title here, in Cadmus' hold!

You it beseems now—boys unripened yet

To lusty manhood, men gone past the prime

And increase of the full begetting seed,

And those whom youth and manhood well combined

Array for action—all to rise in aid

Of city, shrines, and altars of all powers

Who guard our land; that ne'er, to end of time,

Be blotted out the sacred service due

To our sweet mother-land and to her brood.

For she it was who to their guest-right called