Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/43

Rh Music, till all the heavens were telling

The glory of beauty his breathings bring.

(Ant. 1) The choice of my city's virgin-flowers,

A gift of beauty to Loxias made,

To the land of the children of Kadmus we came,

To the sons of Agenor of ancient fame,

Hither brought to a people by lineage the same

With my fathers, even to Laïus' towers.

But as gold-wrought statues to stand arrayed

For the service of Phœbus appointed we were;

And Kastaly's fount yet waiteth us there,

That my maiden glory of shining hair

May be oversprayed by its hallowing showers

Ere for Phœbus's service its tresses I braid.

(Mesode) Hail, rock that flashest a splendour of light

From the cloven tongue of thy flame o'er the height

Of the Bacchic peak Dionysus haunteth!

Hail, vine that with each morn offerest up

Thy giant cluster to brim the cup

That never the mystic ritual wanteth!

Hail, cavern revered where the Dragon abode!

Hail, watchtower scaur of the Archer-god!

Hail, snow-smitten ridges by mortal untrod!

O that the wreaths of the dance I were weaving,

With soul unafraid, to the Goddess undying,

These fear-stricken waters of Dirkê leaving

For Apollo's dells by the world's heart lying!