nken with ill thoughts, and flowerless hopes
Parched up with presage, lest the piteous blood
Shed of these maidens guiltless fall and fix
On this land's forehead like a curse that cleaves
To the unclean soul's inexpiate hunted head
Whom his own crime tracks hotlier than a hound
To life's veiled end unsleeping; and this hour
Now blackens toward the battle that must close
All gates of hope and fear on all their hearts
Who tremble toward its issue, knowing not yet 1280
If blood may buy them surety, cleanse or soil
The helpless hands men raise and reach no stay.

CHORUS.

Ill thoughts breed fear, and fear ill words; but these
The Gods turn from us that have kept their law.
Let us lift up the strength of our hearts in song, [_Str._ 1.
And our souls to the height of the darkling day.
If the wind in our eyes blow blood for spray,
Be the spirit that breathes in us life more strong,
Though the prow reel round and the helm point wrong,
And sharp reefs whiten the shoreward way. 1290
For the steersman time sits hidden astern, [_Ant._ 1.
With dark hand plying the rudder of doom,
And the surf-smoke under it flies like fume
As the blast shears off and the oar-blades churn
The foam of our lives that to death return,
Blown back as they break to the gulfing gloom.
What cloud upon heaven is arisen, what shadow, what
sound, [_Str._ 2.
From the world beyond earth, from the night underground,
That scatters from wings unbeholden the weight of its darkness
around?
For the sense of my spirit is broken, and blinded
its eye, [_Ant._ 2. 1300
As the soul of a sick man ready to die,
With fear of the hour that is on me, with dread if an end be
not nigh.
O Earth, O Gods of the land, have ye heart now to see and
to hear [_Str._ 3.
What slays with terror mine eyesight and seals mine ear?
O fountains of streams everlasting, are all ye not shrunk up and
withered for fear?
Lo, night is arisen on the noon, and her hounds are in quest
by day, [_Ant._ 3.