ear the tender grain.

CHORUS.

Fresh the dewfall of thy tidings on our hopes reflowering lies. 1460

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Till a joyless shower and fruitless blight them, raining from
thine eyes.

CHORUS.

Bitter springs have barren issues; these bedew grief's arid sands.

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Such thank-offerings ask such altars as expect thy suppliant hands.

CHORUS.

Tears for triumph, wail for welfare, what strange godhead's shrine
requires?

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Death's or victory's be it, a funeral torch feeds all its festal
fires.

CHORUS.

Like a star should burn the beacon flaming from our city's head.

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Like a balefire should the flame go up that says the king is dead.

CHORUS.

Out of heaven, a wild-haired meteor, shoots this new sign,
scattering fear.

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Yea, the word has wings of fire that hovered, loth to burn thine
ear.

CHORUS.

From thy lips it leapt forth loosened on a shrill and shadowy
wing. 1470

ATHENIAN HERALD.

Long they faltered, fain to hide it deep as death that hides
the king.

CHORUS.

Dead with him blind hope lies blasted by the lightning of one sword.

ATHENIAN HERALD.

On thy tongue truth wars with error; no man's edge hath touched
thy lord.

CHORUS.

False was thine then, jangling menace like a war-steed's
brow-bound bell?

ATHENIAN HERALD.

False it rang not joy nor sorrow; but by no man's hand he fell.

CHORUS.

Vainly then good news and evil through so faint a trumpet spake.

ATHENIAN HERALD.

All too long thy soul yet labours, as who sleeping fain would wake,
Waking, fain would fall on sleep again; the woe thou knowest
not yet,
When thou knowest, shall make thy memory thirst and hunger to
forget.

CHORUS.

Long my heart has hearkened, hanging on thy clamorous ominous
cry, 1480
Fain yet fearful of the knowledge whence it