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Whetstones that sharpen souls to bloodshedding；
The burning goads of youthful hearts； made hot
With frenzy of the spirit； not of wine。
Nor pluck as 'twere the heart from cocks that strive；
To set it in the breast of citizens
Of mine； a war…god's spirit； keen for fight；
Made stern against their country and their kin。
The man who grievously doth lust for fame；
War； full； immitigable； let him wage
Against the stranger； but of kindred birds
I hold the challenge hateful。 Such the boon
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 （chanting）
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 Dray 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 uport this folk。 'Tis thine；
If so thou wilt； inheritress to be
Of this my land； its utmost grace to win。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O queen； what refuge dost thou promise me？
ATHENA
Refuge untouched by bale： take thou my boon。
LEADER
What； if I take it； shall mine honour be？
ATHENA
No house shall prosper without grace of thine。
LEADER
Canst thou achieve and grant such power to me？
ATHENA
Yea； for my hand shall bless thy worshippers。
LEADER
And wilt thou pledge me this for time eterne？
ATHENA
Yea： none can bid me pledge beyond my power。
LEADER
Lo； I desist from wrath； appeased by thee。
ATHENA
Then in the land's heart shalt thou win thee friends。
LEADER
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 （chanting）
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。
ATUENA （chanting）
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 （chanting）
To my blessing now give ear。…
Scorching blight nor singed 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 （chanting）
O hearken； warders of the wall
That guards mine Athens； what a dower
Is unto her ordained and given！
For mighty is the Furies' power；
And deep…revered in courts of heaven
And realms of hell； and clear to all
They weave thy doom； mortality！
And some in joy and peace shall sing；
But unto other some they bring
Sad life and tear…dimmed eye。
CHORUS （chanting）
And far away I ban thee and remove；
Untimely death of youths too soon brought low！
And to each maid； O gods； when time is come for love；
Grant ye a warrior's heart； a wedded life to know。
Ye too； O Fates； children of mother Night；
Whose children too are we； O goddesses
Of just award； of all by sacred right
Queens； who in time and in eternity
Do rule； a present power for righteousness；
Honoured beyond all Gods； hear ye and grant my cry！
ATHENA （chanting）
And I too； I with joy am fain；
Hearing your voice this gift ordain
Unto my land。 High thanks be thine；
Persuasion； who with eyes divine
Into my tongue didst look thy strength；
To bend and to appease at length
Those who would not be comforted。
Zeus； king of parley； doth prevail；
And ye and I will strive nor fail；
That good may stand in evil's stead；
And lasting bliss for bale。
CHORUS （chanting）
And nevermore these walls within
Shall echo fierce sedition's din；
Unslaked with blood and crime；
The thirsty dust shall nevermore
Suck up the darkly streaming gore
Of civic broils； shed out in wrath
And vengeance； crying death for death！
But man with man and state with state
Shall vow The pledge of common hate
And common friendship； that for man
Hath oft made blessing； out of ban；
Be ours unto all time。
ATHENA （chanting）
Skill they； or not； the path to find
Of favouring speech and presage kind？
Yea； even from these； who； grim and stern；
Glared anger upon you of old；
O citizens； ye now shall earn
A recompense right manifold。
Deck them aright； extol them high；
Be loyal to their loyalty；
And ye shall make your town and land
Sure； propped on justice' saving hand；
And Fame's eternity。
CHORUS （chanting）
Hail ye； all hail！ and yet again； all hail；
O Athens； happy in a weal secured！
O ye who sit by Zeus' right hand； nor fail
Of wisdom set among you and assured；
Loved of the well…loved Goddess…Maid！ the King
Of gods doth reverence you； beneath her guarding wing。
ATHENA （chanting）
All hail unto each honoured guest！
Whom to the chambers of your rest
'Tis mine to lead； and to provide
The hallowed torch； the guard and guide。
Pass down； the while these altars glow
With sacred fire； to earth below
And your appointed shrine。
There dwelling； from the land restrain
The force of fate； the breath of bane；
But waft on us the gift and gain
Of Victory divine！
And ye； the men of Cranaos' seed；
I bid you now with reverence lead
These alien Powers that thus are made
Athenian evermore。 To you
Fair be their will henceforth； to do
Whate'er may bless and aid！
CHORUS （chanting）
Hail to you all！ hail yet again；
All who love Ath