Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/314

244

Not e'en the army which remains behind

In Hellas, will achieve a safe return.

How say'st thou? Doth not all the Asian host

Cross back from Europe over Hellè's strait?

Of many few, if it behoveth one,

Beholding things accomplished, to have faith

In god-sent oracles; for ne'er of these

Do some fulfilment find while others fail.

If this be so, persuaded by vain hopes,

A large and chosen force he leaves behind.

These linger where Asopos floods the plain,

Kind source of fatness to Bœotia's fields.

There them awaits to bear of ills the crown,

Just meed of insolence and godless thoughts.

For reaching Hellas, awe forbade them not

Statues of gods to spoil or shrines to fire.

Altars are swept away, and hallowed fanes,

Uprooted from their basement, ruined lie;

Hence, having evil wrought, evil themselves

Not less they suffer, and shall suffer more;

Not yet is reached the bottom of their woe,

But still it welleth up, a quenchless flood;

Such gouts of bloody slaughter shall there lie