Part 10 (1/2)

Is it in skill of bow and shaft that Athens' men excel?

CHORUS

Nay, they bear bucklers in the fight, and thrust the spear-point well.

ATOSSA

And who is shepherd of their host and holds them in command?

CHORUS

To no man do they bow as slaves, nor own a master's hand.

ATOSSA

How should they bide our brunt of war, the East upon the West?

CHORUS

That could Darius' valiant horde in days of yore attest!

ATOSSA

A boding word, to us who bore the men now far away!

CHORUS

Nay-as I deem, the very truth will dawn on us to-day.

A Persian by his garb and speed, a courier draws anear- He bringeth news, of good or ill, for Persia's land to hear.

[Enter A MESSENGER.

MESSENGER O walls and towers of all the Asian realm, O Persian land, O treasure-house of gold!

How, by one stroke, down to destruction, down, Hath sunk our pride, and all the flower of war That once was Persia's, lieth in the dust!

Woe on the man who first announceth woe- Yet must I all the tale of death unroll!

Hark to me, Persians! Persia's host lies low.

CHORUS

O ruin manifold, and woe, and fear!

Let the wild tears run down, for the great doom is here!

MESSENGER

This blow hath fallen, to the utterance, And I, past hope, behold my safe return!

CHORUS

Too long, alack, too long this life of mine, That in mine age I see this sudden woe condign!

MESSENGER

As one who saw, by no loose rumour led, Lords, I would tell what doom was dealt to us.

CHORUS

Alack, how vainly have they striven!

Our myriad hordes with shaft and bow Went from the Eastland, to lay low h.e.l.las, beloved of Heaven!

MESSENGER

Piled with men dead, yea, miserably slain, Is every beach, each reef of Salamis!