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I proffer thee--within this land of lands,

Most loved of gods, with me to show and share

Fair mercy, gratitude and grace as fair.

Chorus:

I, I dishonoured in this earth to dwell,--

Ancient of days and wisdom! I breathe forth

Poison and breath of frenzied ire. O Earth,

Woe, woe for thee, for me!

From side to side what pains be these that thrill?

Hearken, O mother Night, my wrath, mine agony!

Whom from mine ancient rights the gods have thrust,

And brought me to the dust--

Woe, woe is me!--with craft invincible.

Athena:

I will not weary of soft words to thee,

That never mayst thou say, "Behold me spurned,

An elder by a younger deity,

And from this land rejected and forlorn,

Unhonoured by the men who dwell therein".

But, if Persuasion's grace be sacred to thee,

Soft in the soothing accents of my tongue,

Tarry, I pray thee; yet, if go thou wilt,

Not rightfully wilt thou on this my town

Sway down the scale that beareth wrath and teen

Or wasting plague upon this folk. 'Tis thine,

If so thou wilt, inheritress to be

Of this my land, its utmost grace to win.

Chorus:

O queen, what refuge dost thou promise me?

Athena:

Refuge untouched by bale: take thou my boon.

Chorus:

What, if I take it, shall mine honour be?

Athena:

No house shall prosper without grace of thine.

Chorus:

Canst thou achieve and grant such power to me?

Athena:

Yea, for my hand shall bless thy worshippers.

Chorus:

And wilt thou pledge me this for time eterne?

Athena:

Yea: none can bid me pledge beyond my power.

Chorus:

Lo, I desist from wrath, appeased by thee.

Athena:

Then in the land's heart shalt thou win thee friends.

Chorus:

What chant dost bid me raise, to greet the land?

Athena:

Such as aspires towards a victory

Unrued by any: chants from breast of earth,

From wave, from sky; and let the wild winds' breath

Pass with soft sunlight o'er the lap of land,--

Strong wax the fruits of earth, fair teem the kine,

Unfailing, for my town's prosperity,

And constant be the growth of mortal seed.

But more and more root out the impious,

For as a gardener fosters what he sows,

So foster I this race, whom righteousness

Doth fend from sorrow. Such the proffered boon.

But I, if wars must be, and their loud clash

And carnage, for my town, will ne'er endure

That aught but victory shall crown her fame.

Chorus:

Lo, I accept it; at her very side

Doth Pallas bid me dwell:

I will not wrong the city of her pride,

Which even Almighty Zeus and Ares hold

Heaven's earthly citadel,

Loved home of Grecian gods, the young, the old,

The sanctuary divine,

The shield of every shrine!

For Athens I say forth a gracious prophecy,--

The glory of the sunlight and the skies

Shall bid from earth arise

Warm wavelets of new life and glad prosperity.

Athena:

Behold, with gracious heart well pleased

I for my citizens do grant

Fulfilment of this covenant:

And here, their wrath at length appeased,

These mighty deities shall stay,

For theirs it is by right to sway

The lot that rules our mortal day,

And he who hath not inly felt

Their stern decree, ere long on him,

Not knowing why and whence, the grim

Life-crushing blow is dealt.

The father's sin upon the child

Descends, and sin is silent death,

And leads him on the downward path,

By stealth beguiled,

Unto the Furies: though his state

On earth were high, and loud his boast,

Victim of silent ire and hate

He dwells among the Lost.

Chorus:

To my blessing now give ear.--

Scorching blight nor singèd air

Never blast thine olives fair!

Drouth, that wasteth bud and plant,

Keep to thine own place.Avaunt,

Famine fell, and come not hither

Stealthily to waste and wither!

Let the land, in season due,

Twice her waxing fruits renew;

Teem the kine in double measure;

Rich in new god-given treasure;

Here let men the powers adore

For sudden gifts unhoped before!

Athena:

O hearken, warders of the wall

That guards mine Athens, what a dower

Is unto her ordained and given!

For mighty is the Furies'