Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/98

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Like skilful archer thou hast hit the mark;

And hast in brief a mighty woe declared.

Say, doth the voice of other mariners

Report of him as living, or as dead?

Not one so knoweth as to speak his doom,

Save the bright Sun, feeder of teeming earth.

How! Burst the tempest on the naval host

Through anger of the gods? say, what the end?

Auspicious day with ill-announcing tongue

Beseems not to defile. In weal and woe

Diverse the honour due unto the gods.

When messenger, sad-visaged, tidings dire

Of routed armies to the city bears,

A common wound inflicting on the state,

While many men from many homes are banned,

Smit by the twofold scourge which Ares loves,

Twin-speared Calamity, a gory pair:—

Whoso is laden with such woes as these

The pæan of the Furies well may raise.

But coming to a town in jubilee,

Glad messenger of safety and success,

How shall I tidings mingle fair and foul,