Aeschylus, Fragments 76–93: Niobe, Xantriae, Oedipus and the Award of the Arms

Maidens such as these Ister and pure Phasis claim to breed.

God planteth in mortal men the cause of sin whensoever he wills utterly to destroy a house.

Seated on their tomb she made lament over her dead children.

I sow a field twelve days’ journey wide, even the Berecynthian land, where Adrastea’s seat and Ida resound with lowing oxen and bleating sheep, and the whole plain roars.

My fate, that dwelt aloft in Heaven, now falleth to earth and saith to me “Learn not to esteem human things overmuch.”

And to ashes will I burn the house of Amphion by my fire-bearing eagles.

For, alone of gods, Death loves not gifts; no, not by sacrifice, nor by libation, canst thou aught avail with him; he hath no altar nor hath he hymn of praise; from him, alone of gods, Persuasion stands aloof.

The kindred of the gods, men near to Zeus, whose is the altar of Zeus, their sire, high in clear air on Ida’s hill, and in their veins not yet hath ceased to flow the blood divine.

For the nymphs of the springs, the glorious goddesses mountain-born, I beg a dole, even for the life-giving children of Inachus, the Argive river.

From the feet up to the crown of the head steals a spasm, the stab of Frenzy, aye, the scorpion’s sting.

Shafts of pine ablaze with fire

[Women] upon whom looketh neither the sun’s flashing ray nor the starry eye of Leto’s child.

We were coming on our journey to the place from which three highways part in branching roads, where we crossed the junction of the triple roads at Potniae.

Queen of Nereus’ fifty daughters

But Sisyphus drew nigh unto Anticleia—aye, thy mother, I mean, her who bare thee.

For wherein is life sweet to him who suffers grief?

For simple are the words of truth.

And through his lungs he breathes fevered sleep.