CHORUS
Gods of our city, see me not enslaved!
Gods of our city, see me not enslaved!
Aeschylus
CHORUS
By grace of the gods we hold it,
a city untamed of the spear,
And the battlement wards from the wall
the foe and his aspect of fear!
What need of displeasure herein?
ETEOCLES
Ay, pay thy vows to Heaven; I grudge them not,
But--so thou strike no fear into our men--
Have calm at heart, nor be too much afraid.
CHORUS
Alack, it is fresh in mine ears,
the clamour and crash of the fray,
And up to our holiest height
I sped on my timorous way,
Bewildered, beset by the din!
ETEOCLES
Now, if ye hear the bruit of death or wounds,
Give not yourselves o'ermuch to shriek and scream,
For Ares ravens upon human flesh.
CHORUS
Ah, but the snorting of the steeds I hear!
ETEOCLES
Then, if thou hearts, hear them not too well!
CHORUS
Hark, the earth rumbles, as they close us round!
ETEOCLES
Enough if I am here, with plans prepared.
CHORUS
Alack, the battering at the gates is loud!
ETEOCLES
Peace! stay your tongue, or else the town may hear!
CHORUS
O warders of the walls, betray them not!
ETEOCLES
Bestrew your cries! in silence face your fate.
CHORUS
Gods of our city, see me not enslaved!
ETEOCLES
On me, on all, thy cries bring slavery.
CHORUS
Zeus, strong to smite, turn upon foes thy blow!
ETEOCLES
Zeus, what a curse are women, wrought by thee!
CHORUS
Weak wretches, even as men, when cities fall.
ETEOCLES
What! clasping gods, yet voicing thy despair?
CHORUS
In the sick heart, fear machete prey of speech.
ETEOCLES
Light is the thing I ask thee--do my will!
CHORUS
Ask swiftly: swiftly shall I know my power.
ETEOCLES
Silence, weak wretch! nor put thy friends in fear.
CHORUS
I speak no more: the general fate be mine!
ETEOCLES
I take that word as wiser than the rest.
Nay, more: these images possess thy will--
Pray, in their strength, that Heaven be on our side!
Then hear my prayers withal, and then ring out
The female triumph-note, thy privilege--
Yea, utter forth the usage Hellas knows,
The cry beside the altars, sounding clear
Encouragement to friends, alarm to foes.