Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/198

100 And all that sit their steeds

Rush forth with loosened reins,

Who at Athena's shrine,

Where on her steed she sits,

Bow down, or homage pay

To Rhea's son, the sea-God, ruling earth.

Strike they or do they linger? Shadowy hopes

Come on my soul, that he

Perchance surrenders now

The maiden who hath borne

Full many a grief, and many a wrong endured

At her own kinsmen's hands.

Yes, Zeus this day will work, will work His way;

Prophet of brave deeds I.

Ah would that I, a dove on pinions swift,

Might gain some cloud that floats in æther clear,

And glad my longing eyes

With sight of this fierce conflict of the brave.

Ο Zeus! thou Lord omnipotent of Gods,

Who all on earth beholdest,

Grant that our country's chiefs,

With strength for victory,

May lay their ambush, and may seize their prey;

And thou, Ο child of Zeus,

Pallas, Athena; thou too huntsman-God,

Apollo, in thy strength,

And she, thy sister, following evermore

Swift-footed antelopes with dappled skin;

I pray you come and help

Doubly, this land, and its inhabitants.

[ is seen approaching with and.