250
The Persians.
A voice well versed in pain;
Like Mariandyne mourner's strain, 920
A doleful, tear-fraught wail.
Xerxes. Antistrophe I.
Pour notes of doleful sound,
A voice of wailing, fraught with grief profound;
From me hath changeful Fortune turned away.
2nd Chorus.
With groans I too will pay
Due honour to our city's bale—
Our sea-inflicted woes;
Yea, like the anguished throes
Of child-reft sire, shall sound my tear-fraught wail.
Xerxes. Strophe II.
Our ship-fenced Ares from the Ionian's might
Dire mischief did sustain,
In shock of changeful fight; 930
The mournful-fated coast shearing[1] and land-bound main.[2]
Chorus.
Cry woe! search out the worst; woe, woe!