With steeds yoked three and four abreast,
Terrific to behold.
And dwellers sacred Tmolos near
Are pledged the slavish yoke to cast 50
On Hellas;—Mardon, Tharubis,
Dread anvils of the spear;
And Mysians skilled the dart to throw;
While Babylon, the golden, sends
Her motley throng, which sweeps along,
Some upon galleys borne, and those
Whose valour trusts the bow.
Thus 'neath the King's commandment dread
Each sabre-wielding race has sped
From Asia's every reign.
Such bloom of men from Persia's plain 60
Hath gone, and all the Asian earth,
Yearning for those whom from their birth
She fostered, groans amain;
While wives and parents count each day,
Still trembling at the long delay.
Strophe I.
Already hath the royal host.
Spoiler of cities, gained the adverse coast;
O'er cordage-fastened raft[1] the channel they
- ↑ Darius, about thirty-five years before, had caused a bridge to be thrown over the Thracian Bosphorus, and crossed it in his march to Scythia; but this bridge, though constructed by the Ionians, and by a Samian Greek, having
