Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/70

58


 * An open place before the Tomb of.

We are the faithful ministers

Of Persia's absent sons,

That marched away to Hellas;

Their golden mansions,

Rich with all wealth and splendour,

Are in our trust and care,

For the great king, King Xerxes,

Darius' son and heir,

Chose us as wise men well in years

The realm for him to hold;

But for his homeward progress

His host a-gleam with gold,

The boding- heart is harried

With auguries of ill:

Asia is stripped of manhood;

A young king hath his will:

But to this metropolitan

Proud siege of Persia's kings

No runner comes, no rider

Good news or bad news brings.

To Susa and Ecbatana

They bade a long farewell;