Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/44

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(Str. 2)

But this day before the wall
Furious Arês comes; his hand240
Lights for Thebes the slaughter-brand—
God forefend his will befall!
Friend with friend is one in pain;
And Phœnicia with all bane
Of the stately-towered land
Shall condole, a mourning nation.
One our lineage, one our blood;
All be horned Io's brood:^[1]
Mine is all your tribulation.

(Ant. 2)

Round the town a shield-array250
Cloudlike flashes levin-light—
Grim presentment of red fight!
Yet shall Arês rue the day^[2]
If the Avengers' curse he bring
On the sons of that blind king.
Argos, thy Pelasgian might
Dread I, and the hand of heaven!
For the strife of him who comes
Mail-clad to the ancient homes
Shall with Justice' help be striven.260

Enter Polyneikes.

Polyneikes.

Lightly, too lightly, have the warders' bolts
Made way for me to pass within the walls.
Wherefore I fear lest, once within their net,

1. Kadmus, founder of Thebes, and Agenor, founder of Tyre, were both descendants of Io.
2. i.e. Shall see the defeat of those whose leader he is.