第 7 节
作者:没事找事      更新:2021-08-21 21:25      字数:2909
  The demons of revenge have spread;
  And Ate from her drear abode below
  Rises to view the horrid deed。
  XERXES
  Dismay; and rout; and ruin; ills that wait
  On man's afflicted fortune; sink us down。
  CHORUS
  Dismay; and rout; and ruin on us wait;
  And all the vengeful storms of Fate:
  Ill flows on ill; on sorrows sorrows rise;
  Misfortune leads her baleful train;
  Before the Ionian squadrons Persia flies;
  Or sinks ingulf'd beneath the main。
  Fall'n; fall'n is her imperial power;
  And conquest on her banners waits no more。
  XERXES
  At such a fall; such troops of heroes lost;
  How can my soul but sink in deep despair!
  Cease thy sad strain。
  CHORUS
  Is all thy glory lost?
  XERXES
  Seest thou these poor remains of my rent robes?
  CHORUS
  I see; I see。
  XERXES
  And this ill…furnish'd quiver?
  CHORUS
  Wherefore preserved?
  XERXES
  To store my treasured arrows。
  CHORUS
  Few; very few。
  XERXES
  And few my friendly aids。
  CHORUS
  I thought these Grecians shrunk appall'd at arms。
  XERXES
  No: they are bold and daring: these sad eyes
  Beheld their violent and deathful deeds。
  CHORUS
  The ruin; sayst thou; of thy shattered fleet?
  XERXES
  And in the anguish of my soul I rent
  My royal robes。
  CHORUS
  Wo; wo!
  XERXES
  And more than wo。
  CHORUS
  Redoubled; threefold wo!
  XERXES
  Disgrace to me;
  But triumph to the foe。
  CHORUS
  Are all thy powers
  In ruin crush'd?
  XERXES
  No satrap guards me now。
  CHORUS
  Thy faithful friends sunk in the roaring main。
  XERXES
  Weep; weep their loss; and lead me to my house;
  Answer my grief with grief; an ill return
  Of ills for ills。 Yet once more raise that strain
  Lamenting my misfortunes; beat thy breast;
  Strike; heave the groan; awake the Mysian strain
  To notes of loudest wo; rend thy rich robes;
  Pluck up thy beard; tear off thy hoary locks;
  And battle thine eyes in tears: thus through the streets
  Solemn and slow with sorrow lead my steps;
  Lead to my house; and wail the fate of Persia。
  CHORUS
  Yes; once more at thy bidding shall the strain
  Pour the deep sorrows of my soul;
  The suff'rings of my bleeding untry plain;
  And bid the Mysian measures roll。
  Again the voice of wild despair
  With thrilling shrieks shall pierce the air;
  For high the god of war his flaming crest
  Raised; with the fleet of Greece surrounded;
  The haughty arms of Greece with conquest bless'd;
  And Persia's withered force confounded;
  Dash'd on the dreary beach her heroes slain。;
  Or whelm'd them in the darken'd main。
  THE END
  。