Nor so far blame I destiny.
But may the all-seeing Father send 130
In fitting time propitious end;
So our dread Mother's mighty brood,
The lordly couch may 'scape, ah me,
Unwedded, unsubdued!
Antistrophe VII.
Meeting my will with will divine,
Daughter of Zeus who here dost hold
Stedfast thy sacred shrine,—
Me, Artemis unstained, behold.
Do thou, who sovereign might dost wield,
Virgin thyself, a virgin shield; 140
So our dread Mother's mighty brood,
The lordly couch may 'scape, ah me,
Unwedded, unsubdued!
Strophe VIII.
But if she hide her face
Our swart, sun-smitten race,
Bearing our wool-wreathed boughs, to Zeus will go,
Lord of the dead below,
Hailer of many a guest.
To him our suppliant train
Will wend, by nooses slain, 150
If gods Olympian heed not our request.
Oh Zeus, for Io's sake,
The wrath of heav'n, alas, doth us o'ertake;
