ents that occurred before the start of the play. Which lines in this excerpt from Antigone serve the purpose of dest IORUS: It ere a torch our crown of towers could burn. they had tasted of our blood, they turn rced by the Dragon: in their rear e din of Ares panic-struck they hear. Zeus who hates the braggart's boast held that gold-bespangled host: at the goal the paean they upraise, struck them with his forked lightning blaze. earthy from earth rebounding, down he crashed; fire-brand from his impious hand was dashed, like a Bacchic reveler on he came, tbreathing hate and flame, d tottered. Elsewhere in the field, e, there, great Area like a war-horse wheeled; heath his car down thrust foemen bit the dust. en captains at our seven gates undered; for each a champion waits