monarch of this land?1st Half-ChorusOnce more do we invoke the gods we called upon before; yea, in our fear this is our first and chiefest trust.

2nd Half-ChorusO Zeus, father to the child the heifer-mother bore in days long past, that daughter of Inachus!1st Half-ChorusO be gracious, I pray, and champion this city!2nd Half-Chorus’Tis thy own darling, thy own settler in the city of Argos that IReading ἐκκομίζομαι, MS., but Musgrave’s emendation, ἐκκόμιζέ μοι is very probably right. am striving to rescue for the funeral pyre from outrageous insult.

MessengerLadies, I bring you tidings of great joy, myself escaped—for I was taken prisoner in the battle which cost those chieftains seven their lives near Dirce’s fount—to bear the news of Theseus’ victory. But I will save thee tedious questioning; I was the servant of Capaneus, whom Zeus with scorching bolt to ashes burnt.ChorusFriend of friends, fair thy news of thy own return, nor less the news about Theseus; and if the host of Athens, too, is safe, welcome will all thy message be.Messenger’Tis safe, and all hath happened as I would it had befallen Adrastus and his Argives, whom from Inachus he led, to march against the city of the Cadmeans.ChorusHow did the son of Aegeus and his fellow-warriors raise their trophy to Zeus? Tell us, for thou wert there and canst gladden us who were not.MessengerBright shone the sun, one levelled line of light, upon the world, as by Electra’s gate I stood to watch, from a turret with a far outlook. And lo! I saw the host in three divisions, deploying its mail-clad warriors on the high ground by the banks of Ismenus; this last I heard;The words ὡς μὲν ἥν λόγος have been suspected, and ὡς ‘ιδεῖν, λόχους suggested. and with them was the king himself, famous son of Aegeus; his own men, natives of old Cecropia, were ranged upon the right; while on the left, hard by the fountain of Ares, were the dwellers by the sea, harnessed spearmen they; on either wing were posted cavalry, in equal numbers, and chariots were stationed in the shelter of Amphion’s holy tomb. Meantime, the folk of Cadmus set themselves before the walls, placing in the rear the bodies for which they fought. Horse to horse, and car to car stood ranged. Then did the herald of Theseus cry aloud to all: Be still, ye folk! hush, ye ranks of Cadmus,