Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/159

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''The banquet, lo! is spread—seize, rend, and tear!''

No need to choose or share!

And all the wealth of earth to waste is poured—

A sight by all abhorred!

The grieving housewives eye it; heaped and blent,

Earth's boons are spoiled and spent,

And waste to nothingness; and O alas,

Young maids, forlorn ye pass—

Fresh horror at your hearts—beneath the power

Of those who crop the flower!

Ye own the ruffian ravisher for lord,

And night brings rites abhorred!

Woe, woe for you! upon your grief and pain

There comes a fouler stain.

[Enter, on one side, ; ''on the other, and the''.

Look, friends! methinks the scout, who parted hence

To spy upon the foemen, comes with news,

His feet as swift as wafting chariot-wheels.

Ay, and our king, the son of Oedipus,

Comes prompt to time, to learn the spy's report—

His heart is fainer than his foot is fast!

Well have I scanned the foe, and well can say

Unto which chief, by lot, each gate is given.

Tydeus already with his onset-cry

Storms at the gate called Proetides; but him

The seer Amphiaraus holds at halt,