did sue for deadly requital,
Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven.
With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205
Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether.
Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning,
Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen,
Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever.
Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210
Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven.
Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him
Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted,
Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding.

Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215
Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards,
Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me:

Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding,
Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls
Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding; 220

Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring;
Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest;
Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish,
When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes;

Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225
So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me,
Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron.

Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus,
Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations,
Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230

Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance,
These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them;

Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome,
See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings,
Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235

Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward
Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning.

So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish.
Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether
Breaks to the blast, high