Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/92

80 Pangaean—country of Edonia.

And on that very night God caused a frost

Out of due season: Strymon's holy stream

Was frozen over. And many, that heretofore

Denied the Gods, thanked heaven upon their knees,

Yea, bowed themselves to earth and sky. And when

They had made an end of calling on the Gods

The host began to cross on the firm ice.

And whoso crossed before the beams of God

Were scattered wide, reached safety. But anon

The round, bright sun with blazing rays of fire

Made right across the stream a waterway,

Thawing the midst thereof with glowing heat.

And then they fell in heaps: he happiest

Who soonest gasped away the breath of life.

All that were left, all that had won to safety,

Crossed Thrace and in the teeth of fearful hardships,

That desperate retreat accomplished, came—

But they were few indeed—to their own home.

Behold these things are merest truth: but much

I leave unsaid; many and grievous woes

The wrath of God hurled down upon our host.

[Exit.

Spirit whose dispensation is too hard,

Thou hast set a heavy foot upon our necks,

Ground Persia in the dust!

My heart is sick;

I mourn a vanished host! Visions of the night

How plainly ye portended woe! And you,