Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/421

Rh But strove in vain; for they, in stubborn souls

Of crafty wiles disdainful, thought by force,

An easy task, the mastery to gain.

But me, not once but oft, my mother Themis,

And Earth (one shape with many names) had told

Prophetic, how the future should be wrought.

That not by strength of thew or hardiment

Should mastery be compassed, but by guile;

But when this lore I did expound in words,

They deigned me not a single look; whereon,

Of courses free to choose, the wisest seemed

Leagued with my mother, of my own free will

The will of Zeus to meet, siding with him,

And by my counsels black-roofed Tartaros'

Murky abyss primeval Kronos now

Engulfs with his allies; such benefits

From me the tyrant of the gods received,

And hath requited with these base returns.

For, someway, cleaveth aye to tyranny

This fell disease; to have no faith in friends.

But touching now your question, on what charge

He thus maltreats me; this will I make clear.

When seated on his father's throne, forthwith,

He to the several gods was dealing out

Their several honours, marshalling his realm;

But he of toil-worn mortals took no count;

The race entire he ardently desired

To quench, and plant a new one in its stead.

And none but I opposed his purposes;

I dared alone;—I saved the mortal race