Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/256

186 Your destined seats and thitherward to lead.

Escorted by the torchlight's sacred glow,

The while in sacrifice the victims bleed

The downward slope descend.

Whate'er is baneful to the land restrain,

And conquest's gracious ministry upsend

To this my city. Tutelary train,

Children of Cranaos, it belongs to you,

These alien settlers to their homes to guide;

And with my lieges may there aye abide,

Discernment rightful of the Right and True.

Farewell once more, my farewell I repeat,

All ye, or gods or mortals, who reside

In Pallas' city, and who here preside.

Holding in pious awe my hallow'd seat,

The fortunes of your life ye never-more shall chide.

The utt'rance of your pious vows I praise;—

I will escort you with the flashing light

Of torches, to your cavernous abodes

Beneath the earth, with sacred ministers,

And those mine image loyally who guard.

For now, of all the land of Theseus let

The eye come forth,—a glorious company

Of girls, of wives, of matrons hoar with eld,

In festive garb apparelled, vermeil-hued,—

Proceed and let the torch-flame lead the way,

That evermore this gracious sisterhood

May, with events auspicous, bless this land.