Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/454

384 A fall disgraceful, not to be endured.

Such wrestler now, himself against himself,

He arms for battle;—portent hard to quell;

Who flame shall find surpassing lightning's glare,

And crash more mighty than the thunder-roll;

Who the sea-trident, earth-convulsing plague,

Poseidon's sceptre, shall to pieces rend;

Against this evil stumbling, Zeus shall learn

How wide apart are sway and servitude.

Such talk 'gainst Zeus thy wish, I trow, inspires.

Both what shall be, I speak, and what I wish.

And must we look for one o'er Zeus to reign?

Yea, pangs than these more crushing shall he bear.

How canst thou fail to fear, hurling such words?

What should I fear who am not doomed to die?

To keener struggle he may sentence thee.

So let him then! all is by me foreseen.