Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/88

76 And loudly from the island precipices

Echo gave back an answering cheer. Thereat

Seeing their judgment grievously at fault,

Fear fell on the barbarians. Not for flight

Did the Hellenes then chant that inspiring hymn,

But resolutely goings into battle,

Whereto the trumpet set all hearts on fire.

The word was given, and, instantaneously,

Oars smote the roaring waves in unison

And churned the foam up. Soon their whole fleet appeared;

The port division thrown out like a horn

In precise order; then the main of them

Put out against us. We could plainly hear

The thunder of their shouting as they came.

'Forth, sons of Hellas! free your land, and free

Your children and your wives, the native seats

Of Gods your fathers worshipped and their graves.

This is a bout that hazards all ye have.'

And verily from us in the Persian tongue

There rose an answering roar; the long suspense

Was ended. In an instant, ship smote ship,

With thrust of armoured prow. The first to ram

Was a Greek; that impact carried clean away

A tall Phoenician's poop. Then all came on,

Each steering forthright for a ship of ours.

At first the encountering tide of Persians held;

But caught in the narrows, crowded without sea-room,

None could help other; nay, they fell aboard

Their own ships, crashing in with beak of bronze,

Till all their oars were smashed. But the Hellenes

Rowed round and round, and with sure seamanship