(Queen of Persians:) 

FT, since my son hath march'd his mighty host Against the lonians, warring to subdue Their country, have my slumbers been disturb'd With dreams of dread portent; but most last night, With marks of plainest proof. I'll tell thee then: Alethought two women stood before my eyes Gorgeously vested, one in Persian robes Adorn'd, the other in the Doric garb. With more than mortal majesty they moved, Of peerless beauty; sisters too they seem'd, Though distant each from each they chanced to dwell, In Greece the one, on the barbaric coast The other. 'Twixt them soon dissension rose: My son then hasted to compose their strife, Soothed them to fair accord, beneath his car Yokes them, and reins their harness'd necks. The one, Exulting in her rich array, with pride Arching her stately neck, obey'd the reins; The other with indignant fury spurn'd The car, and dash'd it piecemeal, rent the reins, And tore the yoke asunder;

Οὔτινος δοῦλοι

(Βα). πολλοῖς μὲν αἰεὶ νυκτέροις ὀνείρασιν ξύνειμ΄͵ ἀφ΄ οὗπερ παῖς ἐμὸς στείλας στρατὸν Ἰαόνων γῆν οἴχεται πέρσαι θέλων· ἀλλ΄ οὔτι πω τοιόνδ΄ ἐναργὲς εἰδόμην ὡς τῆς πάροιθεν εὐφρόνης· λέξω δέ σοι. ἐδοξάτην μοι δύο γυναῖκ΄ εὐείμονε͵ ἡ μὲν πέπλοισι Περσικοῖς ἠσκημένη͵ ἡ δ΄ αὖτε Δωρικοῖσιν͵ εἰς ὄψιν μολεῖν͵ μεγέθει τε τῶν νῦν ἐκπρεπεστάτα πολύ͵ κάλλει τ΄ ἀμώμω͵ καὶ κασιγνήτα γένους ταὐτοῦ· πάτραν δ΄ ἔναιον ἡ μὲν Ἑλλάδα κλήρῳ λαχοῦσα γαῖαν͵ ἡ δὲ βάρβαρον. τούτω στάσιν τιν΄͵ ὡς ἐγὼ ΄δόκουν ὁρᾶν͵ τεύχειν ἐν ἀλλήλῃσι· παῖς δ΄ ἐμὸς μαθὼν κατεῖχε κἀπράυνεν͵ ἅρμασιν δ΄ ὕπο ζεύγνυσιν αὐτὼ καὶ λέπαδν΄ ὑπ΄ αὐχένων τίθησι. χἠ μὲν τῇδ΄ ἐπυργοῦτο στολῇ ἐν ἡνίαισί τ΄ εἶχεν εὔαρκτον στόμα͵ ἡ δ΄ ἐσφάδᾳζε͵ καὶ χεροῖν ἔντη δίφρου διασπαράσσει͵ καὶ ξυναρπάζει βίᾳ ἄνευ χαλινῶν͵ καὶ ζυγὸν θραύει μέσον.