Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/131

Rh

I hasted to this ancient seat

Because in the Gods I put my trust,

When at the gates with roaring gust

Rattled a hail of deadly sleet.

Then was I moved by fear to pray

Unto the Blessed Gods, that they

Might stretch to shield the town from harm

A mighty arm.

Pray rather that the battlemented walls

Stand proof against the thrust of foeman's spear.

For were not that behoofful to the Gods?

'Tis a true saying: When a city falls

The Gods forsake their ancient habitations.

Not in my time, thou honourable Court

Of Gods, forsake the city: ere that day

When battle riots where her sons resort,

And flames devour her, take my life away!

Let me not hear thee call on the good Gods

When thy base heart deviseth cowardice!

The mother of Good-Hap is Loyalty,

The proverb saith; Helpmeet of Him that Saves!

Save it he may; yet him God's power transcends;

And often out of rough adversity,

Cloud-wrack above us, where the visual ends,

Man's helplessness God stablisheth on high.