A second time to Branchĭdæ they journeyed,
A second time beneath the purple shadows
Passed through the laurels to Apollo's fane.
Then Aristodicus spake thus: "To Cymé
Comes Pactyes fleeing from the wrath of Persia—
And she demands him, but we dare not yield him,
Until we know what thou wouldst have us do.
"Our arm is weak against the power of Persia,
The foe is strong, and our defences slender;