Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/306

208 Just where the last stone marks the course's goal,

Turning the corner sharp, and, letting go

The right hand trace-horse, pulled the nearer in;

And so at first the chariots keep their course;

But then the unbroken colts the Ænian owned

Rush at full speed, and, turning headlong back,

Just as they closed their sixth round or their seventh,

Dash their heads right against the chariot wheels

Of those who came from Barkè. And from thence,

From that one shock, each on the other crashed,

They fell o'erturned, and Crissa's spacious plain

Was filled with wreck of chariots. Then the man

From Athens, skilled and wily charioteer,

Seeing the mischief, turns his steeds aside,

At anchor rides, and leaves the whirling surge

Of man and horse thus raging. Last of all,

Keeping his steeds back, waiting for the end,

Orestes came. And when he sees him left,

His only rival, then, with shaken rein,

Urging his colts, he follows, and they twain

Drove onward both together, by a head,

Now this, now that, their chariots gaining ground;

And all the other rounds in safety passed.

Upright in upright chariot still he stood,

Ill-starred one; then the left rein letting loose

Just as his horse was turning, unawares

He strikes the furthest pillar, breaks the spokes

Right at his axle's centre, and slips down

From out his chariot, and is dragged along,

With reins dissevered. And, when thus he fell,

His colts tore headlong to the ground's mid-space:

And when the host beheld him fallen thus

From off the chariot, they bewailed him sore,

So young, so noble, so unfortunate,