Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/375

Rh One falls and one doth rear

Against the city's stern, with clamour rude

Its triple crest—between, fence slight to save,

The breadth of wall extends. I fear

Lest with its kings the city be subdued.

For the dread reconcilements now at last,

Of curses breathed of old, fulfilment find,

Nor doth the fated mischief lag behind.

When wealth of merchants seeking gain

O'erweighted is, into the briny main

From the ship's stern the precious freight is cast.

For to what mortal did or gods or men,

His co-mates of the State, such honour pay,

And diverse-nurtured multitudes, as then

To Œdipus they paid, whose hand

Had from the ravening monster purged the land,

That riddling post which seized on men for prey.

But when, unhappy wight,

Apprised of his dire wedlock, anguish-fraught,

Stung with intolerable pain,

Frenzied at heart, he twofold mishciefmischief [sic] wrought;

For with the hand that had his father slain,

His proper eyes he did bereave of sight.