Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/360

290 Whom Ares spared, true offspring of the soil

Is Melanippos; Ares will decide

The issue by the die;—but his true kin,

Justice, hath sent him forth, her champion,

From his own mother foeman's spear to ward.

Grant to my champion victory,

Ye deities, since forth he wends

To battle justly and our State defends.

But ah, by fear possest, I dread to see

Their gory fates who perish for their friends.

Him may the gods thus with fair fortune crown!

The Electran gates hath Capaneus by lot,

A giant he, o'ertopping him first nam'd.

His vaunt outsoareth mortal pride; these towers

He threats with horrors, which may Fate avert.

For, God assenting or in God's despite,

He vows our town to ravage; not heaven's wrath,

Down leaping on the plain, e'en at his feet,

Shall hold him back; lightnings and thunderbolts

To noonday solar beams he likeneth.

A naked man his blazon, bearing fire;

Flares in his hands a torch, for service prompt;

In golden characters, ho cries aloud,

. Against this man

Send thou—but who such foeman will confront?

This boaster who will meet and tremble not?