Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/51

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A power obnoxious to no term

Be here: not novel and infirm;

Soon blown and soon decayed,

But on old honour stayed;

Prescient in counsel, and withal

Of such foreknowledge liberal;

Not jealous to exclude

The sovran multitude,

But rather guide them. And abroad

Let them! be slow to draw the sword,

Much readier to maintain

By processes humane

Their legal right, than prompt to act:

If bounden, faithful to their pact,

Their arbiter the Court,

And war their last resort.

Let them keep fasts and festivals,

Bring wreaths of bay and slaughter bulls,

As did their sires of old,

To the Lord Gods who hold

Their land. For reverence and awe

From son to sire is the third law

Justice hath writ for men

With monumental pen.

Dear children, I commend these temperate prayers.

Tremble not if I break to you bad news.

From this our sanctuary and my watch-tower

I see the ship. No: I am not mistaken

All too discernible is the sail—so bent—

The awnings—and the prow with painted eyes