Page:The Antigone of Sophocles (1911).djvu/33

SOPHOCLES.

And o’er our dwellings hovered

Around the Seven Ports,

With outspread wings he covered,

Athirst for blood, our town

And girdling battlements.

But hungry back he flew before

He had glutted his maw with gore

Or the beetling crown-defence

Of towers had been seized with pine-fed fame.

Lo! loud the clang of battle came

Behind him, routed by the dragon foe

Which wrestled and was found tog hard to throw.

For Zeus abominates the loud-mouthed vaunt,

And when he saw those warriors come and flaunt,

With arrogant pride,

Clanking gold beside,

Their spears in the face of their foes,

With the thunderbolt

To the earth he smote

From the rampart their chief as he rose.

Hurled back came crashing down upon the ground

That warrior rushing on with furious bound,

Who now but late

Was breathing hate

With the flaming torch in hand;

But naught availed those frenzied threats,

For mighty Ares helped and in Ruin’s nets

Caught the chiefs of that Argive band.

For seven captains stationed at the gates

With seven matched, save two of cruel fates,

Left the tribute of arms

To the God who alarms