_Chor._ I in wild terror utter cries of woe; An army leaves its camp and is let loose: Hither the vanguard of the horsemen flows, 80 And the thick cloud of dust, That suddenly is seen, Dumb herald, yet full clear, Constrains me to believe; And smitten with the horses' hoofs, the plain Of this my country rings with noise of war; It floats and echoes round, Like voice of mountain torrent dashing down Resistless in its might. Ah Gods! Ah Goddesses! Ward off the coming woe. With battle-shout that rises o'er the walls, The host whose shields are white[78] 90 Marches in full array against our city. Who then, of all the Gods Or Goddesses, will come to help and save? Say, shall I fall before the shrines of Gods? O blessed Ones firm fixed! 'Tis time to clasp your sacred images. Why linger we in wailing overmuch? Hear ye, or hear ye not, the din of shields? When, if not now, shall we Engage in prayer with peplos and with boughs?[79] I hear a mighty sound; it is the din 100 Not of a single spear. O Ares! ancient guardian of our land! What wilt thou do? Wilt thou betray thy land? O God of golden casque, Look on our city, yea, with favour look, The city thou did'st love. And ye, ye Gods who o'er the city rule, Come all of you, come all. Behold the band of maidens suppliant, In fear of bondage foul; For now around the town The wave of warriors bearing slopèd crests, With blasts of Ares rushing, hoarsely sounds: 110 But thou, O Zeus! true father of us all, Ward off, ward off our capture by the foe. STROPHE I For Argives now surround the town of Cadmos, And dread of Ares' weapons falls on us; And, bound to horses' mouths, The bits and curbs ring music as of death; And seven chief rulers of the mighty host, With warriors' arms, at each of seven tall gates, Spear-armed and harnessed all, Stand, having cast their lots. · · · · · MESODE And thou, O Zeus-born power in war delighting, 120 O Pallas! be our city's saviour now; And Thou who curb'st the steed, Great King of Ocean's waves, Poseidon, with thy trident fish-spear armed,[80] Give respite from our troubles, respite give! And Thou, O Ares, guard the town that takes Its name from Cadmos old,[81] Watch o'er it visibly. ANTISTROPHE I