Racine: Phaedra

i68 ARISTOPHANES
As for us, the sole pretension suited to our birth and
years,
Is with resolute intention, as determined volunteers,
To defend our fields and altars, as our fathers did before
Claiming as a recompense this easy boon, and nothing
more:
When our trials with peace are ended, not to view us
with malignity;
When we're curried, sleek and pampered, prancing in
our pride and dignity.
Antistrophe.*
Mighty Minerva! thy command
Rules and upholds this happy land;
Attica, famed in every part.
With a renown for arms and art.
Noted among the nations.
Victory bring—the bard's delight
She that in faction or in fight.
Aids us on all occasions.
Goddess, list to the song! Bring her away with thee,
Haste and bring her along ! Here to the play with thee.
Bring fair Victory down for us
Bring her here with a crown for us
Come with speed, as a friend indeed,
Now or never at our need
ANTEPIRRHEMA.f
Let us sing the mighty deeds of our illustrious noble
steeds.
They deserve a celebration for their service heretofore,
* It will be seen that there is a want serious tone than its preceding epirof
correspondence and proportion be- rhema; as if the poet were, or thought it
tween the strophe and antistrophe; the right to appear, apprehensive of having
first has been enlarged, to give scope been over-earnest in his first address,
for the development of the poetic In the present instance, as the poetical
imagery, tinged with burlesque, which advocate of his party, he had already
appears in the original. In atonement stated their claims to public confidence
for this irregularity, the antistrophe, and favor; and, in the concluding lines,
which oflfered no such temptation, is had deprecated the jealousy and envy
given as an exact metrical facsimile of to which they were exposed. He now
the original. In this respect, it may at wishes to give a striking instance of
least have some merit as a curiosity. their spirit and alacrity in the service
The only variation consists in a triple, of the country; and it is given accordinstead
of a double, rhyme. ingly, in the most uninvidious manner,
t It is observable, that the antepir- in a tone of extravagant burlesque
rhema is generally in a lower and less humor.