Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/104

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And in all truth the thing that he hath done

Is great in consequence, in memory

Never to be forgotten: such a fall

From power and glory, such a grievous loss

Ne'er yet made Susa empty, since the day

When first King Zeus assigned her pride of place,

Centreing in one man dominion

Over all Asia rich in fleece and flock,

The staff of Empire steady in his hand.

It was a Mede that mastered first her hosts;

His son completed that which he began,

For wisdom laid her hand upon the helm

And caution tempered daring. Third from him

Reigned Cyrus, blest in all he undertook.

He with all friendly powers established peace

On firm foundations. His arm was stretched

Over the land of Lydia, and he

Made Phrygia vassal; all Ionia

He drave before him with the reins of power;

Neither provoked he God to jealous wrath,

So amiable and gracious were his ways.

And Cyrus' fourth son set the host in order;

But the fifth, Mardus, reigning in his stead,

Brought upon fatherland and monarchy

Shame and reproach. And him by subtle craft

Artaphrenes, an honourable man,

Slew in the palace, powerfully helped

By friends resolved upon the deed. And chance

Placed on my head the crown I coveted.

And with great armies I waged many wars,

But ne'er in such calamity involved