Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/566

468 Of Hades she invades and captive makes

Poseidaôn, whose touch the great earth shakes.

But who were they who came,

As combatants of fame,

To woo the hand of that fair virgin bride?

Who strove with many a blow

And wrestlings, bending low,

And cloud of dust all round that did the conflict hide?

One was a mighty river, dread to see,

A bull with four limbs long,

And lofty horns and strong,

The Acheloös stream from far Œniadæ;

And one from Thebes did go,

Shaking his well-strung bow,

With spear and club, the son of Zeus most high.

And they in hot and deadly rivalry,

Seeking for marriage bed,

Came to the combat dread;

And she, the Kyprian Goddess, fair to see,

There, in the midst, alone

Stood by, the Mighty One,

Wielding the umpire's rod in her supremacy.

Clash of hands was there,

And din of clanging bow,

And horns that smote the air,

And wrestlings, limbs with limbs, and many a sturdy blow,

And many a cry of pain on either side;

And she, the fair-faced, tender, delicate,

Upon the bank that gave good prospect sate,

Waiting for one to claim her as his bride.