Four Plays of Aeschylus Part 4

CHORUS

Know, then, with these a fair device there is-

THE KING OF ARGOS

Speak, then: what utterance doth this foretell?

CHORUS

Unless to us thou givest pledge secure-

THE KING OF ARGOS

What can thy girdles' craft achieve for thee?

CHORUS

Strange votive tablets shall these statues deck.

THE KING OF ARGOS

Mysterious thy resolve-avow it clear.

CHORUS

Swiftly to hang me on these sculptured G.o.ds!

THE KING OF ARGOS

Thy word is as a lash to urge my heart.

CHORUS

Thou seest truth, for I have cleared thine eye

THE KING OF ARGOS

Yea, and woes manifold, invincible, A crowd of ills, sweep on me torrent-like.

My bark goes forth upon a sea of troubles Unfathomed, ill to traverse, harbourless.

For if my deed shall match not your demand, Dire, beyond shot of speech, shall be the bane Your death's pollution leaves unto this land.

Yet if against your kin, Aegyptus' race, Before our gates I front the doom of war, Will not the city's loss be sore? Shall men For women's sake incarnadine the ground?

But yet the wrath of Zeus, the suppliants' lord I needs must fear: most awful unto man The terror of his anger. Thou, old man, The father of these maidens, gather up Within your arms these wands of suppliance, And lay them at the altars manifold Of all our country's G.o.ds, that all the town Know, by this sign, that ye come here to sue.

Nor, in thy haste, do thou say aught of me.

Swift is this folk to censure those who rule; But, if they see these signs of suppliance, It well may chance that each will pity you, And loathe the young men's violent pursuit; And thus a fairer favour you may find: For, to the helpless, each man's heart is kind.

DANAUS

To us, beyond gifts manifold it is To find a champion thus compa.s.sionate; Yet send with me attendants, of thy folk, Rightly to guide me, that I duly find Each altar of your city's G.o.ds that stands Before the fane, each dedicated shrine; And that in safety through the city's ways I may pa.s.s onwards: all unlike to yours The outward semblance that I wear-the race that Nilus rears is all dissimilar That of Inachus. Keep watch and ward Lest heedlessness bring death: full oft, I ween, Friend hath slain friend, not knowing whom he slew.

THE KING OF ARGOS

Go at his side, attendants,-he saith well.

On to the city's consecrated shrines!

Nor be of many words to those ye meet, The while this suppliant voyager ye lead.

[Exit DANAUS with attendants.

CHORUS

Let him go forward, thy command obeying.

But me how biddest, how a.s.surest thou?

THE KING OF ARGOS

Leave there the new-plucked boughs, thy sorrow's sign.

CHORUS

Thus beckoned forth, at thy behest I leave them.

THE KING OF ARGOS

Now to this level precinct turn thyself.

CHORUS

Unconsecrate it is, and cannot s.h.i.+eld me.

THE KING OF ARGOS

We will not yield thee to those falcons' greed.

CHORUS

What help? more fierce they are than serpents fell

THE KING OF ARGOS

We spake thee fair-speak thou them fair in turn.

CHORUS

What marvel that we loathe them, scared in soul?

THE KING OF ARGOS

Awe towards a king should other fears transcend.

CHORUS

Thus speak, thus act, and rea.s.sure my mind.

THE KING OF ARGOS