Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/361

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Here also gain accrueth upon gain.

When in o'erweening thoughts vain men indulge

Their true bewrayer is their proper tongue.

Now threatens Capaneus, for fight equipped,

Scorning the gods; and, practising his tongue,

With senseless joy, though mortal, he to heaven,

High surging words upsends, defying Zeus;

Full faith have I that Zeus, with justice' aid,

Him with his fire-charged thunderbolt will smite,

No whit resembling noonday's solar beams.

Him to confront, despite his raving tongue,

Is hero marshall'd, ay, a soul of fire,

Stout Polyphontes; trusty bulwark he,

By grace of tutelary Artemis,

And kindly aid of other gods. Tell on,

Who against other gates the lot hath drawn?

Perish who vaunteth mightily

Against our city! His career

May thunder check, ere, with o'erweening spear,

My home invading, me as captive prey

He driveth from my girlish haunts away!

Him next who drew his station at the ports

I'll name. For to Eteocles, third chief,

From upturn'd brazen casque leapt the third lot,

His band against Neistan gates to lead.