Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/540

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So fared they; Ares wroth

To each brought different fate,

And so appeared, in hour of greatest need,

Our chariot's worthiest steed.

For seven great captains at our seven gates stood,

Equals with equals matched, and left their arms

Tribute to Zeus on high,—

All but the brothers, hateful in their mood,

Who, from one father and one mother born,

Each claiming victory,

Wielded their spears in murderous, deadliest hate,

And shared one common fate.

But now since Victory comes,

Mighty and glorious named,

Giving great cause of joy

To Thebes for chariots famed;

Of these our conflicts past

Learn ye forgetfulness,

And with our night-long dance

Around each temple press;

And Bacchos, making Thebes to ring again,

Let Him begin the strain.

But now the prince and sovereign of our land,

Creon, Menœkeus' son, with counsels new,

Following new turns of fate,

Comes, having matters of great weight in hand;

For he has called us all to conference,

The elders of his state,

And by one common summons for us sent,

For this high parliament.