HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Say thou wherein my deeds transgress my right.
Say thou wherein my deeds transgress my right.
Aeschylus
O Earth, O my mother! O Zeus, thou king of the earth,
and her child!
Turn back, we pray thee, from us his clamour
and threatenings wild!
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Swift each unto the ship; repine no more,
Or my hand shall not spare to rend your robe.
CHORUS
O chiefs, O leaders, aid me, or I yield!
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Peace! if ye have not ears to hear my words,
Lo, by these tresses must I hale you hence.
CHORUS
Undone we are, O king! all hope is gone.
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Ay, kings enow ye shall behold anon,
Aegyptus' sons--Ye shall not want for kings.
[_Enter the_ KING OF ARGOS.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Sirrah, what dost thou? in what arrogance
Darest thou thus insult Pelasgia's realm?
Deemest thou this a woman-hearted town?
Thou art too full of thy barbarian scorn
For us of Grecian blood, and, erring thus,
Thou dost bewray thyself a fool in all!
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Say thou wherein my deeds transgress my right.
THE KING OF ARGOS
First, that thou play'st a stranger's part amiss.
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Wherein? I do but search and claim mine own.
THE KING OF ARGOS
To whom of our guest-champions hast appealed?
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
To Hermes, herald's champion, lord of search.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea, to a god--yet dost thou wrong the gods!
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
The gods that rule by Nilus I revere.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Hear I aright? our Argive gods are nought?
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
The prey is mine, unless force rend it from me.
THE KING OF ARGOS
At thine own peril touch them--'ware, and soon!
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
I hear thy speech, no hospitable word.
THE KING OF ARGOS
I am no host for sacrilegious hands.
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
I will go tell this to Aegyptus' sons.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Tell it!