The substance of
the lost line being easily deducible from the context, it has been
supplied in the translation.
the lost line being easily deducible from the context, it has been
supplied in the translation.
Aeschylus
But come who may,
And come he peaceful or in ravening wrath
Spurred on his path, 'twere best, in any case,
Damsels, to cling unto this altar-mound
Made sacred to their gods of festival,--
A shrine is stronger than a tower to save,
A shield that none may cleave. Step swift thereto,
And in your left hands hold with reverence
The white-crowned wands of suppliance, the sign
Beloved of Zeus, compassion's lord, and speak
To those that question you, words meek and low
And piteous, as beseems your stranger state,
Clearly avowing of this flight of yours
The bloodless cause; and on your utterance
See to it well that modesty attend;
From downcast eyes, from brows of pure control,
Let chastity look forth; nor, when ye speak,
Be voluble nor eager--they that dwell
Within this land are sternly swift to chide.
And be your words submissive: heed this well;
For weak ye are, outcasts on stranger lands,
And froward talk beseems not strengthless hands.
CHORUS
O father, warily to us aware
Thy words are spoken, and thy wisdom's best
My mind shall hoard, with Zeus our sire to aid.
DANAUS
Even so--with gracious aspect let him aid.
CHORUS
Fain were I now to seat me by thy side.
DANAUS
Now dally not, but put our thought in act.
CHORUS
Zeus, pity our distress, or e'er we die.
DANAUS
If so he will, your toils to joy will turn.
CHORUS
Lo, on this shrine, the semblance of a bird. [2]
DANAUS
Zeus' bird of dawn it is; invoke the sign.
CHORUS
Thus I invoke the saving rays of morn.
[Footnote: 2: The whole of this dialogue in alternate verses is
disarranged in the MSS. The re-arrangement which has approved itself
to Paley has been here followed. It involves, however, a hiatus,
instead of the line to which this note is appended.
The substance of
the lost line being easily deducible from the context, it has been
supplied in the translation. ]
DANAUS
Next, bright Apollo, exiled once from heaven.
CHORUS
The exiled god will pity our exile.
DANAUS
Yea, may he pity, giving grace and aid.
CHORUS
Whom next invoke I, of these other gods?
DANAUS
Lo, here a trident, symbol of a god.
CHORUS
Who [3] gave sea-safety; may he bless on land!
[Footnote: 3: Poseidon] DANAUS
This next is Hermes, carved in Grecian wise.
CHORUS
Then let him herald help to freedom won.
DANAUS
Lastly, adore this altar consecrate
To many lesser gods in one; then crouch
On holy ground, a flock of doves that flee,
Scared by no alien hawks, a kin not kind,
Hateful, and fain of love more hateful still.
Foul is the bird that rends another bird,
And foul the men who hale unwilling maids,
From sire unwilling, to the bridal bed.
Never on earth, nor in the lower world,
Shall lewdness such as theirs escape the ban:
There too, if men say right, a God there is
Who upon dead men turns their sin to doom,
To final doom. Take heed, draw hitherward,
That from this hap your safety ye may win.
[_Enter the_ KING OF ARGOS.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak--of what land are ye? No Grecian band
Is this to whom I speak, with Eastern robes
And wrappings richly dight: no Argive maid,
No woman in all Greece such garb doth wear.
And come he peaceful or in ravening wrath
Spurred on his path, 'twere best, in any case,
Damsels, to cling unto this altar-mound
Made sacred to their gods of festival,--
A shrine is stronger than a tower to save,
A shield that none may cleave. Step swift thereto,
And in your left hands hold with reverence
The white-crowned wands of suppliance, the sign
Beloved of Zeus, compassion's lord, and speak
To those that question you, words meek and low
And piteous, as beseems your stranger state,
Clearly avowing of this flight of yours
The bloodless cause; and on your utterance
See to it well that modesty attend;
From downcast eyes, from brows of pure control,
Let chastity look forth; nor, when ye speak,
Be voluble nor eager--they that dwell
Within this land are sternly swift to chide.
And be your words submissive: heed this well;
For weak ye are, outcasts on stranger lands,
And froward talk beseems not strengthless hands.
CHORUS
O father, warily to us aware
Thy words are spoken, and thy wisdom's best
My mind shall hoard, with Zeus our sire to aid.
DANAUS
Even so--with gracious aspect let him aid.
CHORUS
Fain were I now to seat me by thy side.
DANAUS
Now dally not, but put our thought in act.
CHORUS
Zeus, pity our distress, or e'er we die.
DANAUS
If so he will, your toils to joy will turn.
CHORUS
Lo, on this shrine, the semblance of a bird. [2]
DANAUS
Zeus' bird of dawn it is; invoke the sign.
CHORUS
Thus I invoke the saving rays of morn.
[Footnote: 2: The whole of this dialogue in alternate verses is
disarranged in the MSS. The re-arrangement which has approved itself
to Paley has been here followed. It involves, however, a hiatus,
instead of the line to which this note is appended.
The substance of
the lost line being easily deducible from the context, it has been
supplied in the translation. ]
DANAUS
Next, bright Apollo, exiled once from heaven.
CHORUS
The exiled god will pity our exile.
DANAUS
Yea, may he pity, giving grace and aid.
CHORUS
Whom next invoke I, of these other gods?
DANAUS
Lo, here a trident, symbol of a god.
CHORUS
Who [3] gave sea-safety; may he bless on land!
[Footnote: 3: Poseidon] DANAUS
This next is Hermes, carved in Grecian wise.
CHORUS
Then let him herald help to freedom won.
DANAUS
Lastly, adore this altar consecrate
To many lesser gods in one; then crouch
On holy ground, a flock of doves that flee,
Scared by no alien hawks, a kin not kind,
Hateful, and fain of love more hateful still.
Foul is the bird that rends another bird,
And foul the men who hale unwilling maids,
From sire unwilling, to the bridal bed.
Never on earth, nor in the lower world,
Shall lewdness such as theirs escape the ban:
There too, if men say right, a God there is
Who upon dead men turns their sin to doom,
To final doom. Take heed, draw hitherward,
That from this hap your safety ye may win.
[_Enter the_ KING OF ARGOS.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak--of what land are ye? No Grecian band
Is this to whom I speak, with Eastern robes
And wrappings richly dight: no Argive maid,
No woman in all Greece such garb doth wear.
