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? is he safe, in Persian land? speak soothly, yea or nay! ATOSSA. Clear and more clear the rumour comes, for no man to gainsay. GHOST OF DARIUS. Woe for the oracle fulfilled, the presage of the war Launched on my son, by will of Zeus! I deemed our doom afar In lap of time; but, if a king push forward to his fate, The god himself allures to death that man infatuate! So now the very fount of woe streams out on those I loved, And mine own son, unwisely bold, the truth hereof hath proved! He sought to shackle and control the Hellespontine wave, That rushes from the Bosphorus, with fetters of a slave!— To curb and bridge, with welded links, the streaming water-way, And guide across the passage broad his manifold array! Ah, folly void of counsel! he deemed that mortal wight Could thwart the will of Heaven itself and curb Poseidon’s might! Was it not madness? much I fear lest all my wealth and store Pass from my treasure-house, to be the snatcher’s prize once more! ATOSSA. Such is the lesson, ah, too late! to eager Xerxes taught— Trusting random counsellors and hare-brained men of nought, Who said _Darius mighty wealth and fame to us did bring, But thou art nought, a blunted spear, a palace-keeping king!_ Unto those sorry counsellors a ready ear he lent, And led away to Hellas’ shore his fated armament.