Chorus of WOMEN.

For I am told a dribbling band

Of greybeards hobble to the field,

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Great faggots in each palsied hand,

As if a hot bath to prepare,

And threatening that out they'll drive

These wicked women or soon leave them charring into ashes

there.

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O Goddess, suffer not, I pray, this harsh deed to be done,

But show us Greece and Athens with their warlike acts repealed!

For this alone, in this thy hold,

Thou Goddess with the helm of gold,

We laid hands on thy sanctuary,

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Athene.... Then our ally be

And where they cast their fires of slaughter

Direct our water!