Delphi Complete Works of Aeschylus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) by Aeschylus Read Free Book Online Page A

repose. Anxieties border upon my
heart and kindle my fear of the army surrounding our walls, as a trembling dove
fears for her children in the nest because of snakes that are dangerous
bed-fellows. For against our fortifications some are advancing with all their
men, all in formation. Ah, what will become of me? Others are hurling jagged
boulders at the citizens on all sides. O Gods born of Zeus, by every means
rescue our city and people, sprung from Cadmus!
    [304] What more
fertile plain will you find in place of ours,  if you abandon to the enemy
this deep-soiled land and the water of Dirce which is the most nourishing of
the streams that earth-encircling Poseidon and Tethys’ children pour forth?
Therefore, divine guardians of the city, hurl murderous destruction on the men
outside our walls and panic that makes them throw away their weapons, and so
win glory for these citizens. Defend the city and remain in possession of your
home and throne  in answer to our shrill, wailing prayers!
    [321] It is a great
cause for grief to hurl a primeval city to Hades in this way, quarry and slave
of the spear, ravaged shamefully in the dusty ashes by an Argive man through
divine will. And grief, too, to let the women be led away captive — ah me! — young
and old, dragged by the hair, like horses, with their cloaks torn off them. A
city, emptied, shouts out as the human booty perishes with mingled cries. A
heavy fate, indeed, my fear anticipates.
    [332] It is a
lamentable thing that modest girls should be plucked unripe, before the
customary rites, and should make a loathsome journey from their homes. What? I
declare that the dead will do better than the captives; for when a city is
subdued — ah, ah! — many and miserable are its sufferings.  Man drags off
man, or kills, or sets fires; the whole city is defiled with smoke. Mad Ares
storms, subduing the people and polluting reverence.
    [345]  Tumults
swell through the town, and against it a towering net is advancing. Man falls
before man beneath the spear. Sobs and wails over gore-covered babes, just
nursed at their mothers’ breasts, resound. Rape and pillage of those fleeing
through the city are the deeds of one’s own blood. Plunderer joins up with
plunderer; the empty-handed calls to the empty-handed, wishing to have a
partner, each greedy for neither less nor equal share. Reason exists for
imagining what will come after this.
    [357] The earth’s
varied fruits, fallen to the ground, give pain, a bitter sight for the
maid-servants. In jumbled confusion the abundant gifts of earth are carried
away by reckless looting waves. Young women, enslaved, suffer a new evil: a bed
of misery, prize of the conquering enemy’s spear, as though of a prospering
husband — they can expect the coming of the nightly rite, which gives aid to
tears and anguish!
    [ The Scout is
seen approaching from one side; Eteocles from the other. ]
    LEADER OF THE FIRST HALF-CHORUS
[369] The scout,
I believe,  is bringing some fresh news of the army to us, my friends,
since the joints of his legs are hastily speeding as they carry him on his
mission.
    LEADER OF THE SECOND HALF-CHORUS
[372] And,
indeed, here is our lord himself, the son of Oedipus, at the right moment to
hear the messenger’s report. Haste makes his stride uneven, too.
    SCOUT
[375]  It is
with certain knowledge that I will give my account of the enemy’s actions, how
each man according to lot has been posted at the gates. Tydeus is already
storming opposite the Proetid gates; but the seer will not allow him to ford
the Ismenus because the omens from the sacrifices are not favorable. Yet
Tydeus, raging and eager for battle, shouts like a serpent hissing at high
noon, and lashes skilled Oecles’ son, with the taunt that he cringes in
cowardice before death and battle. With such cries he shakes three
overshadowing plumes,his helmet’s mane, while from under his shield, bells
forged of bronze therein ring out a fearsome clang. He has this