Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/80

68

Assuredly: if Athens own his sway

All Hellas must before his footstool bend.

Is't a great people? Can this Athens send

'Gainst him a numerous armament?

We Medes

Have cause to know their army by its deeds.

Are they great archers then?

Princess, not so:

'Tis not the arrow's point, the sinewy bow,

That makes them to be feared: stand they or charge

They are close fighters with the spear and targe.

What more of mark? Have they much wealth laid by?

A vein of silver is their treasury.

Who is the ruler of this people? Who

Lord of their levies and their revenue?

Subject they are not unto any man:

They say 'slave' sorts not with 'Athenian.'

Have they no master? The less likely they

To stand their ground against invaders.