Part 33 (1/2)

And far away I ban thee and remove, Untimely death of youths too soon brought low!

And to each maid, O G.o.ds, when time is come for love, Grant ye a warrior's heart, a wedded life to know.

Ye too, O Fates, children of mother Night, Whose children too are we, O G.o.ddesses Of just award, of all by sacred right Queens who in time and in eternity Do rule, a present power for righteousness, Honoured beyond all G.o.ds, hear ye and grant my cry!

ATHENA

And I too, I with joy am fain, Hearing your voice this gift ordain Unto my land. High thanks be thine, Persuasion, who with eyes divine Into my tongue didst look thy strength, To bend and to appease at length Those who would not be comforted.

Zeus, king of parley, doth prevail, And ye and I will strive nor fail, That good may stand in evil's stead, And lasting bliss for bale.

CHORUS

And nevermore these walls within Shall echo fierce sedition's din Unslaked with blood and crime; The thirsty dust shall nevermore Suck up the darkly streaming gore Of civic broils, shed out in wrath And vengeance, crying death for death!

But man with man and state with state Shall vow _The pledge of common hate And common friends.h.i.+p, that for man Hath oft made blessing out of ban, Be ours unto all time_.

ATHENA

Skill they, or not, the path to find Of favouring speech and presage kind?

Yea, even from these, who, grim and stern, Glared anger upon you of old, O citizens, ye now shall earn A recompense right manifold.

Deck them aright, extol them high, Be loyal to their loyalty, And ye shall make your town and land Sure, propped on Justice' saving hand, And Fame's eternity.

CHORUS

Hail ye, all hail! and yet again, all hail O Athens, happy in a weal secured!

O ye who sit by Zeus' right hand, nor fail Of wisdom set among you and a.s.sured, Loved of the well-loved G.o.ddess-Maid! the King Of G.o.ds doth reverence you, beneath her guarding wing.

ATHENA

All hail unto each honoured guest!