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Aeschylus, agamemnon<br />
LEADER<br />
Say, by what doom the fleet of Greece was driven?<br />
How rose, how sank the storm, the wrath of heaven?<br />
HERALD<br />
Nay, ill it were to mar with sorrow's tale<br />
The day of blissful news. The gods demand<br />
Thanksgiving sundered from solicitude.<br />
If one as herald came with rueful face<br />
To say, The curse has fallen, and the host<br />
Gone down to death; and one wide wound has reached<br />
The city's heart, and out of many homes<br />
Many are cast and consecrate to death,<br />
Beneath the double scourge, that Ares loves,<br />
The bloody pair, the fire and sword of doom-<br />
If such sore burden weighed upon my tongue,<br />
'Twere fit to speak such words as gladden fiends.<br />
But-coming as he comes who bringeth news<br />
Of safe return from toil, and issues fair,<br />
To men rejoicing in a weal restored-<br />
Dare I to dash good words with ill, and say<br />
For fire and sea, that erst held bitter feud,<br />
Now swore conspiracy and pledged their faith,<br />
Wasting the Argives worn with toil and war.<br />
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