Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/88

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When Kreon's son, who for his country died,

Climbing a tower's height, had thrust the sword

Black-hafted through his throat to save the land,

Seven bands with captains to the seven gates,

For watch and ward against the Argive spear,

Thy son set, horsemen covering horsemen ranged,

And men-at-arms behind the shield-bearers,

That, where the wall's defence failed, succour of spears

Might be hard by. Then from the soaring towers

We marked the white shields of the Argive host

Leaving Teumessus. Having neared the foss,

Suddenly charging closed they on Kadmus' burg.

Then pæan swelled, and shattering trumpet shrilled,

All blended, from the foe and from the walls.

Parthenopaius, that famed huntress' son,

First led against the Gate Neïstian

A squadron horrent all with serried shields,

On his mid-targe the blazon of his house,

Atalanta slaying the Aetolian boar

With shafts far-smiting. Against Proitus' Gate,

Slain victims on his chariot, marched the seer

Amphiaraus, with no proud device,

But sober weapons void of blazonry.

The gates Ogygian King Hippomedon

Assailed, in mid-targe bearing for device

Argus, with gemmy eyes for aye at gaze,

Some with the rising of the stars aglare,

While, as the stars set, some were slumber-veiled,

As might be seen thereafter, he being slain.

Against the Gate of Homolê Tydeus took

His stand, his shield draped with a lion's hide