Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound and the Seven Against Thebes
double are the horrors of them that have fallen by mutual slaughter; doubly shared are these consummated sufferings. What shall I say? What, but that of a certainty troubles on troubles are constant inmates of this house? But, my friends, ply the speeding stroke of your hands about your heads, before the gale of sighs, which ever wafts on its passage the bark, on which no sighs are heard, with sable sails, the freighted with the dead, untrodden for Apollo, the sunless, across Acheron, and to the invisible all-receiving shore.171

Ch.

85

But [enough]! for here are coming to this bitter office both Antigone and Ismene. I am assured beyond all doubt that they will send forth a fitting wail from their lovely deep-cinctured bosoms. And right it is that we, before the 86sound of their wailing reach us, both ejaculate the dismal-sounding chaunt of Erinnys, and sing a hateful pæan to Pluto. Alas! ye that are the most hapless in your sisterhood of all women that fling the zone around their robes, I weep, I mourn, and there is no guile about so as not to be truly wailing from my very soul.

86

Semi-Chorus. Alas! alas! ye frantic youths, distrustful of friends, and unsubdued by troubles, have wretched seized on your paternal dwelling with the spear.

Semi-Chorus.

Semi-Ch. Wretched in sooth were they who found a wretched death to the bane of their houses.

Semi-Ch.

Semi-Ch. Alas! alas! ye that overthrew the walls of your palace, and having cast an eye on bitter monarchy, how have ye now settled your claims with the steel?

Semi-Ch.

Semi-Ch. And too truly hath awful Erinnys brought [the curses] of their father Œdipus to a consummation.

Semi-Ch.

Semi-Ch. Smitten through your left—Smitten in very truth, and through sides that sprung from a common womb.

Semi-Ch.


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