GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas, that power in malice came, to his bewilderment!
Alas, that power in malice came, to his bewilderment!
Aeschylus
one brief word must tell thee all the tale--
The Persian power is in the dust, gone down in blood and bale!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Speak--by what chance? did man rebel, or pestilence descend?
ATOSSA
Neither! by Athens' fatal shores our army met its end.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Which of my children led our host to Athens? speak and say.
ATOSSA
The froward Xerxes, leaving all our realm to disarray.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Was it with army or with fleet on folly's quest he went?
ATOSSA
With both alike, a twofold front of double armament.
GHOST OF DARIUS
And how then did so large a host on foot pass o'er the sea?
ATOSSA
He bridged the ford of Helle's strait by artful carpentry.
GHOST OF DARIUS
How? could his craft avail to span the torrent of that tide?
ATOSSA
'Tis sooth I say--some unknown power did fatal help provide!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas, that power in malice came, to his bewilderment!
ATOSSA
Alas, we see the end of all, the ruin on us sent.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Speak, tell me how they fared therein, that thus ye mourn and weep?
ATOSSA
Disaster to the army came, through ruin on the deep!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Is all undone? hath all the folk gone down before the foe?
ATOSSA
Yea, hark to Susa's mourning cry for warriors laid low!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas for all our gallant aids, our Persia's help and pride!
ATOSSA
Ay! old with young, the Bactrian force hath perished at our side!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas, my son! what gallant youths hath he sent down to death!
ATOSSA
Alone, or with a scanty guard--for so the rumour saith--
GHOST OF DARIUS
He came--but how, and to what end? doth aught of hope remain?
ATOSSA
With joy he reached the bridge that spanned the Hellespontine main.
GHOST OF DARIUS
How?
The Persian power is in the dust, gone down in blood and bale!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Speak--by what chance? did man rebel, or pestilence descend?
ATOSSA
Neither! by Athens' fatal shores our army met its end.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Which of my children led our host to Athens? speak and say.
ATOSSA
The froward Xerxes, leaving all our realm to disarray.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Was it with army or with fleet on folly's quest he went?
ATOSSA
With both alike, a twofold front of double armament.
GHOST OF DARIUS
And how then did so large a host on foot pass o'er the sea?
ATOSSA
He bridged the ford of Helle's strait by artful carpentry.
GHOST OF DARIUS
How? could his craft avail to span the torrent of that tide?
ATOSSA
'Tis sooth I say--some unknown power did fatal help provide!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas, that power in malice came, to his bewilderment!
ATOSSA
Alas, we see the end of all, the ruin on us sent.
GHOST OF DARIUS
Speak, tell me how they fared therein, that thus ye mourn and weep?
ATOSSA
Disaster to the army came, through ruin on the deep!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Is all undone? hath all the folk gone down before the foe?
ATOSSA
Yea, hark to Susa's mourning cry for warriors laid low!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas for all our gallant aids, our Persia's help and pride!
ATOSSA
Ay! old with young, the Bactrian force hath perished at our side!
GHOST OF DARIUS
Alas, my son! what gallant youths hath he sent down to death!
ATOSSA
Alone, or with a scanty guard--for so the rumour saith--
GHOST OF DARIUS
He came--but how, and to what end? doth aught of hope remain?
ATOSSA
With joy he reached the bridge that spanned the Hellespontine main.
GHOST OF DARIUS
How?
