Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/156

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I speak no more: the general fate be mine!

I take that word as wiser than the rest.

Nay, more: these images possess thy will—

Pray, in their strength, that Heaven be on our side!

Then hear my prayers withal, and then ring out

The female triumph-note, thy privilege—

Yea, utter forth the usage Hellas knows,

The cry beside the altars, sounding clear

Encouragement to friends, alarm to foes.

But I unto all gods that guard our walls,

Lords of the plain or warders of the mart

And to Ismenus' stream and Dirce's rills,

I swear, if Fortune smiles and saves our town,

That we will make our altars reek with blood

Of sheep and kine, shed forth unto the gods,

And with victorious tokens front our fanes—

Corslets and casques that once our foemen wore,

Spear-shattered now—to deck these holy homes!

Be such thy vows to Heaven—away with sighs,

Away with outcry vain and barbarous,

That shall avail not, in a general doom!

But I will back, and, with six chosen men

Myself the seventh, to confront the foe

In this great aspect of a poisèd war,

Return and plant them at the sevenfold gates,

Or e'er the prompt and clamorous battle-scouts

Haste to inflame our counsel with the need.

[Exit.

I mark his words, yet, dark and deep,

My heart's alarm forbiddeth sleep!