ATOSSA. Since when my son departed with the army, To bring destruction on Ionia,[f18] scarcely One night hath been that did not bring me dreams; But yesternight, with figurement most clear, I dreamt; hear thou the theme. Methought I saw Two women richly dight, in Persian robes The one, the other in a Dorian dress, Both tall above the vulgar stature, both Of beauty blameless, and descended both From the same race. The one on Hellas dwelt, The other on fair Asia's continent. Between these twain some strife there seemed to rise; Which when my son beheld, forthwith he seized them, And joined them to his car, and made their necks Submissive to the yoke. The one uptowered In pride of harness, as rejoiced to follow The kingly rein. The other kicked and plunged, And tossed the gear away, and broke the traces, The yoke in sunder snapt, and from the car Ran reinless. On the ground my son was thrown, And to his aid Darius pitying came, Whom when he saw, my Xerxes rent his robes. Such was my vision of the night; the morn Brought a new portent with it. When I rose, And dipped my hands in the fair-flowing fount,[f8] And to the altar of the averting gods, To whom such right pertains, with sacred cake In sacrificial ministry advanced, I saw an eagle flying to the altar[n9] Of Phœbus; there all mute with fear I stood; And after it in swiftest flight I saw A hawk that darted on the eagle's head, And tore it with his claws, the royal bird Yielding his glory meekly to be plucked. These things I saw in fear, as ye in fear Must hear them. Ye know well, my son commands Supreme in Persia. Should success attend him, 'Tis well; but should mischance o'ertake him, he Will rule in Susa as he ruled before; No power is here to whom he owes account.
CHORUS. We advise thee, mother, neither with the feeble words of fear, { 308} Nor with boastful courage. Turn thee to the gods in supplication: Theirs it is to ward fulfilment of all evil-omened sights, Bringing good to full fruition for thyself and for thy children, For the city and all that love thee. Then a pure libation pour To the Earth and to the Manes; with especial honor pray The dread Shade of thy Darius whom thou sawest in the night, To send blessings on thy Xerxes in the gladness of the day, Keeping back unblissful sorrows in the sightless gloom of death. Thus my soul its own diviner[f19] with a friendly kind concern Counsels. Doubtless time will perfect happy fates for thee and thine.