ATHENA. Hymn things that strike fair victory's mark: from Earth, From the sea's briny dew, and from the sky Bring blessings; the benignly-breathing gales On summer wings be wafted to this land; Let the Earth swell with the exuberant flow Of fruits and flowers, that want may be unknown. Bless human seed with increase, but cast out The impious man; even as a gardener, I Would tend the flowers, the briars and the thorns Heaped for the burning. This thy province. I In feats of Mars conspicuous will not fail To plant this city 'fore all eyes triumphant. STROPHE I. CHORUS. Pallas, thy welcome so kindly compelling Hath moved me; I scorn not to mingle my dwelling With thine, and with Jove's, the all-ruling, thy sire. The city I scorn not, where Mars guards the portals, The fortress of gods,[n56] the fair grace of Immortals. I bless thee prophetic; to work thy desire To the Sun, when he shines in his full-flooded splendour, Her tribute to thee may the swelling Earth render, And bounty with bounty conspire! ATHENA. Athens, no trifling gain I've won thee. With rich blessing thou shalt harbour, Through my grace, these much-prevailing Sternest-hearted Powers. For they Rule, o'er human fates appointed, With far-reaching sway. Woe to the wretch, by their wrath smitten![n57] With strokes he knows not whence descending, Not for his own, for guilt inherited,[n58] They with silent-footed vengeance Shall o'ertake him: in the dust, Heaven with piercing cries imploring, Crushed the sinner lies. ANTISTROPHE I. CHORUS. Far from thy dwelling, and far from thy border, By the grace of my godhead benignant I order {170} The blight that may blacken the bloom of thy trees. Far from thy border, and far from thy dwelling Be the hot blast that shrivels the bud in its swelling, The seed-rotting taint, and the creeping disease! Thy flocks still be doubled, thy seasons be steady, And, when Hermes is near thee,[n59] thy hand still be ready The Heaven-dropt bounty to seize! ATHENA. Hear her words, my city's warders, Fraught with blessing; she prevaileth With Olympians and Infernals, Dread Erinnys much revered. Mortal fates she guideth plainly To what goal she pleaseth, sending Songs to some, to others days With tearful sorrows dulled. STROPHE II. CHORUS. Far from your dwelling Be death's early knelling, When falls in his green strength the strong Your virgins, the fairest, To brave youths the rarest Be mated, glad life to prolong! Ye Fates, high-presiding,[n60] The right well dividing, Dread powers darkly mothered with me; Our firm favour sharing, From judgment unsparing The homes of the just man be free! But the guilty shall fear them, When in terror shall near them The Fates, sternly sistered with me.