Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/550

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Ο Thou of many a name,

Joy of Cadmeian bride,

Child of great Zeus loud-thundering from the sky!

Thou rulest o'er Italia great in fame,

And dwellest where the havens open wide

Of Deo, whom Eleusis throneth high.

Ο Bacchos, who in Thebes delightest most,

Fair mother-city of the Bacchic throng,

Or where Ismenos' stream flows full and strong,

Or by the brood that sprang from dragon's armèd host.

Thee the bright flame saw there,

O'er rock of double crest,

Where nymphs of Corycos in revel roam,

And bright Castalia's fountain floweth fair;

And Thee, the banks of Nysa ivy-drest,

And the green shore, of many a vine the home,

Lead forth with joy, a welcome visitant,

In all the open spaces of the town,

While words scarce mortal come our joy to crown,

And make our Thebes resound with rapture jubilant.

Yes, this of all that are,

Cities of ancient note,

Thou honourest most by far,

Thou, and thy mother whom the thunder smote;

And now since all the land

By sharp, sore pestilence is smitten low,

Come Thou with feet still cleansing as they go,