Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments. Aeschylus

Чтение книги онлайн.

      In threefold lines, to hinder all escape,

      And guard the billowy straits, and others place

      In circuit round about the isle of Aias:

      For if the Hellenes 'scaped an evil doom,

      And found a way of secret, hasty flight,

      It was ordained that all should lose their heads.35

      Such things he spake from soul o'erwrought with pride,

      For he knew not what fate the Gods would send;

      And they, not mutinous, but prompt to serve,

      Then made their supper ready, and each sailor

      Fastened his oar around true-fitting thole;

      And when the sunlight vanished, and the night

      Had come, then each man, master of an oar,

      Went to his ship, and all men bearing arms,

      And through the long ships rank cheered loud to rank;

      And so they sail, as 'twas appointed each,

      And all night long the captains of the fleet

      Kept their men working, rowing to and fro;

      Night then came on, and the Hellenic host

      In no wise sought to take to secret flight.

      And when day, bright to look on with white steeds,

      O'erspread the earth, then rose from the Hellenes

      Loud chant of cry of battle, and forthwith

      Echo gave answer from each island rock;

      And terror then on all the Persians fell,

      Of fond hopes disappointed. Not in flight

      The Hellenes then their solemn pæans sang:

      But with brave spirit hasting on to battle.

      With martial sound the trumpet fired those ranks;

      And straight with sweep of oars that flew through foam,

      They smote the loud waves at the boatswain's call;

      And swiftly all were manifest to sight.

      Then first their right wing moved in order meet;36

      Next the whole line its forward course began,

      And all at once we heard a mighty shout, —

      “O sons of Hellenes, forward, free your country;

      Free too your wives, your children, and the shrines

      Built to your fathers' Gods, and holy tombs

      Your ancestors now rest in. Now the fight

      Is for our all.” And on our side indeed

      Arose in answer din of Persian speech,

      And time to wait was over; ship on ship

      Dashed its bronze-pointed beak, and first a barque

      Of Hellas did the encounter fierce begin,37

      And from Phœnikian vessel crashes off

      Her carved prow. And each against his neighbour

      Steers his own ship: and first the mighty flood

      Of Persian host held out. But when the ships

      Were crowded in the straits,38 nor could they give

      Help to each other, they with mutual shocks,

      With beaks of bronze went crushing each the other,

      Shivering their rowers' benches. And the ships

      Of Hellas, with manœuvring not unskilful,

      Charged circling round them. And the hulls of ships

      Floated capsized, nor could the sea be seen,

      Strown, as it was, with wrecks and carcases;

      And all the shores and rocks were full of corpses.

      And every ship was wildly rowed in fight,

      All that composed the Persian armament.

      And they, as men spear tunnies,39 or a haul

      Of other fishes, with the shafts of oars,

      Or spars of wrecks went smiting, cleaving down;

      And bitter groans and wailings overspread

      The wide sea-waves, till eye of swarthy night

      Bade it all cease: and for the mass of ills,

      Not, though my tale should run for ten full days,

      Could I in full recount them. Be assured

      That never yet so great a multitude

      Died in a single day as died in this.