Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/222

210 And all day long shall thine unbidden guest

Sit at thy table, feasting on thy liver

Till he hath gnawn it black. Look for no term

To such an agony till there stand forth

Among the Gods one who shall take upon him

Thy sufferings and consent to enter hell

Far from the light of Sun, yea, the deep pit

And mirk of Tartarus, for thee. Be advised;

This is no stuffed speech framed to frighten thee

But woeful truth. For Zeus knows not to lie

And every word of his shall be fulfilled.

Look sharply to thyself then: weigh my words

And do not in thy folly think self-will

Better than prudent counsel.

To our mind

The words of Hermes fail not of the mark.

For he enjoins thee to let self-will go

And follow after prudent counsels. Him

Harken; for error in the wise is shame.

These are stale tidings I foreknew;

Therefore, since suffering is the due

A foe must pay his foes,

Let curléd lightnings clasp and clash

And close upon my limbs: loud crash

The thunder, and fierce throes

Of savage winds convulse calm air:

The embowelled blast earth's roots uptear

And toss beyond its bars ,

The rough surge, till the roaring deep

In one devouring deluge sweep

The pathway of the stars!