The House of Atreus Part 33

And far away I ban thee and remove, Untimely death of youths too soon brought low!

And to each maid, O G.o.ds, when time is come for love, Grant ye a warrior's heart, a wedded life to know.

Ye too, O Fates, children of mother Night, Whose children too are we, O G.o.ddesses Of just award, of all by sacred right Queens who in time and in eternity Do rule, a present power for righteousness, Honoured beyond all G.o.ds, hear ye and grant my cry!

ATHENA

And I too, I with joy am fain, Hearing your voice this gift ordain Unto my land. High thanks be thine, Persuasion, who with eyes divine Into my tongue didst look thy strength, To bend and to appease at length Those who would not be comforted.

Zeus, king of parley, doth prevail, And ye and I will strive nor fail, That good may stand in evil's stead, And lasting bliss for bale.

CHORUS

And nevermore these walls within Shall echo fierce sedition's din Unslaked with blood and crime; The thirsty dust shall nevermore Suck up the darkly streaming gore Of civic broils, shed out in wrath And vengeance, crying death for death!

But man with man and state with state Shall vow _The pledge of common hate And common friends.h.i.+p, that for man Hath oft made blessing out of ban, Be ours unto all time_.

ATHENA

Skill they, or not, the path to find Of favouring speech and presage kind?

Yea, even from these, who, grim and stern, Glared anger upon you of old, O citizens, ye now shall earn A recompense right manifold.

Deck them aright, extol them high, Be loyal to their loyalty, And ye shall make your town and land Sure, propped on Justice' saving hand, And Fame's eternity.

CHORUS

Hail ye, all hail! and yet again, all hail O Athens, happy in a weal secured!

O ye who sit by Zeus' right hand, nor fail Of wisdom set among you and a.s.sured, Loved of the well-loved G.o.ddess-Maid! the King Of G.o.ds doth reverence you, beneath her guarding wing.

ATHENA

All hail unto each honoured guest!

Whom to the chambers of your rest 'Tis mine to lead, and to provide The hallowed torch, the guard and guide.

Pa.s.s down, the while these altars glow With sacred fire, to earth below And your appointed shrine.

There dwelling, from the land restrain The force of fate, the breath of bane, But waft on us the gift and gain Of Victory divine!

And ye, the men of Cranaos' seed, I bid you now with reverence lead These alien Powers that thus are made Athenian evermore. To you Fair be their will henceforth, to do Whate'er may bless and aid!

CHORUS Hail to you all! hail yet again, All who love Athens, G.o.ds and men, Adoring her as Pallas' home!

And while ye reverence what ye grant-- My sacred shrine and hidden haunt-- Blameless and blissful be your doom!

ATHENA Once more I praise the promise of your vows, And now I bid the golden torches' glow Pa.s.s down before you to the hidden depth Of earth, by mine own sacred servants borne, Mv loyal guards of statue and of shrine.

Come forth, O flower of Theseus' Attic land, O glorious band of children and of wives, And ye, O train of matrons crowned with eld!

Deck you with festal robes of scarlet dye In honour of this day: O gleaming torch, Lead onward, that these gracious powers of earth Henceforth be seen to bless the life of men.

[_Athena leads the procession downwards into the Cave of the Furies, under Areopagus: as they go, the escort of women and children chant aloud._

CHANT

With loyalty we lead you; proudly go, Night's childless children, to your home below!

(_O citizens, awhile from words forbear!_) To darkness' deep primeval lair, Far in Earth's bosom, downward fare, Adored with prayer and sacrifice.

(_O citizens, forbear your cries!_) Pa.s.s. .h.i.therward, ye powers of Dread, With all your former wrath allayed, Into the heart of this loved land; With joy unto your temple wend, The while upon your steps attend The flames that fed upon the brand-- (_Now, now ring out your chant, your joy's acclaim!_) Behind them, as they downward fare, Let holy hands libations bear, And torches' sacred flame.

All-seeing Zeus and Fate come down To battle fair for Pallas' town!

_Ring out your chant, ring out your joy's acclaim!_

[_Exeunt omnes._