To see—and nurse his griefs with tears—
The hopes of Persia blasted!
Messenger.
I speak no hearsay: what these eyes beheld
Of blackest evil, Persians, I declare.
STROPHE II.
Chorus.
Ah me! all in vain against Hellas divine
Were the twanging bow and whizzing reed,
All vainly mustered the thickly clustered
Armies of the Mede!