the suppliants-第4节
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Bitter and strong to goad a man to wrath；
Soft words there be to soothe that wrath away：
But what device shall make the war of kin
Bloodless？ that woe； the blood of many beasts；
And victims manifold to many gods；
Alone can cure。 Right glad I were to shun
This strife； and am more fain of ignorance
Than of the wisdom of a woe endured。
The gods send better than my soul foretells！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Of many cries for mercy； hear the end。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Say on； then； for it shall not 'scape mine ear。
LEADER
Girdles we have； and bands that bind our robes。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Even so； such things beseem a woman's wear。
LEADER
Know； then； with these a fair device there is…
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak； then： what utterance doth this foretell？
LEADER
Unless to us thou givest pledge secure
THE KING OF ARGOS
What can thy girdles' craft achieve for thee？
LEADER
Strange votive tablets shall these statues deck。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Mysterious thy resolve…avow it clear。
LEADER
Swiftly to hang me on these sculptured gods！
THE KING OF ARGOS
Thy word is as a lash to urge my heart。
LEADER
Thou seest truth； for I have cleared thine eyes。
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 gods； 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 compassionate；
Yet send with me attendants； of thy folk；
Rightly to guide me； that I duly find
Each altar of your city's gods that stands
Before the fane； each dedicated shrine；
And that in safety through the city's ways
I may pass onwards： all unlike to yours
The outward semblance that I wear…the race
That Nilus rears is all dissimilar
To 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。
（DANAUS departs with attendants。）
LEADER
Let him go forward； thy command obeying。
But me how biddest； how assurest thou？
THE KING OF ARGOS
Leave there the new…plucked boughs； thy sorrow's sign。
LEADER
Thus beckoned forth； at thy behest I leave them。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Now to this level precinct turn thyself。
LEADER
Unconsecrate it is； and cannot shield me。
THE KING OF ARGOS
We will not yield thee to those falcons' greed。
LEADER
What help？ more fierce they are than serpents fell。
THE KING OF ARGOS
We spake thee fair…speak thou them fair in turn。
LEADER
What marvel that we loathe them； scared in soul？
THE KING OF ARGOS
Awe towards a king should other fears transcend。
LEADER
Thus speak； thus act； and reassure my mind。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Not long thy sire shall leave thee desolate。
But I will call the country's indwellers；
And with soft words th' assembly will persuade；
And warn your sire what pleadings will avail。
Therefore abide ye； and with prayer entreat
The country's gods to compass your desire；
The while I go； this matter to provide；
Persuasion and fair fortune at my side。
（The KING OF ARGOS departs with his retinue。 The CHORUS forms
to sing its prayer to Zeus。）
CHORUS
strophe 1
O King of Kings； among the blest
Thou highest and thou happiest；
Listen and grant our prayer；
And； deeply loathing； thrust
Away from us the young men's lust；
And deeply drown
In azure waters； down and ever down；
Benches and rowers dark；
The fatal and perfidious bark！
antistrophe 1
Unto the maidens turn thy gracious care；
Think yet again upon the tale of fame；
How from the maiden loved of thee there sprung
Mine ancient line； long since in many a legend sung！
Remember； O remember； thou whose hand
Did Io by a touch to human shape reclaim。
For from this Argos erst our mother came
Driven hence to Egypt's land；
Yet sprung of Zeus we were； and hence our birth we claim。
strophe 2
And now have I roamed back
Unto the ancient track
Where Io roamed and pastured among flowers；
Watched o'er by Argus' eyes；
Through the lush grasses and the meadow bowers。
Thence； by the gadfly maddened； forth she flies
Unto far lands and alien peoples driven
And； following fate； through paths of foam and surge；
Sees； as she goes； the cleaving strait divide
Greece； from the Eastland riven。
antistrophe 2
And swift through Asian borders doth she urge
Her course； o'er Phrygian mountains' sheep…clipt side；
Thence； where the Mysian realm of Teuthras lies；
Towards Lydian lowlands hies；
And o'er Cilician and Pamphylian hills
And ever…flowing rills；
And thence to Aphrodite's fertile shore；
The land of garnered wheat and wealthy store。
strophe 3
And thence； deep…stung by wild unrest；
By the winged fly that goaded her and drave；
Unto the fertile land； the god…possest
（Where； fed from far…off snows；
Life…giving Nilus flows；
Urged on by Typho's strength； a fertilizing wave）；
She roves； in harassed and dishonoured flight；
Scathed by the blasting pangs of Hera's dread despite。
antistrophe 3
And they within the land
With terror shook and wanned；
So strange the sight they saw； and were afraid…
A wild twy…natured thing； half heifer and half maid。
Whose hand was laid at last on Io； thus forlorn；
With many roamings worn？
Who bade the harassed maiden's peace return？
strophe 4
Zeus； lord of time eterne。
Yea； by his breath divine； by his unscathing strength；
She lays aside her bane；
And softened back to womanhood at length
Sheds human tears again。
Then； quickened with Zeus' veritable seed；
A progeny she bare；
A stainless babe； a child of heavenly breed。
antistrophe 4
Of life and fortune fair。
His is the life of life…so all men say；…
His is the seed of Zeus。
Who else had power stern Hera's craft to stay；
Her vengeful curse to loose？
Yea； all from Zeus befel！
And rightly wouldst thou tell
That we from Epaphus； his child； were born：
Justly his deed was done；
strophe 5
Unto what other one；
Of all the gods； should I for justice turn？
From him our race did spring；
Creator he and King；
Ancient of days and wisdom he； and might。
As bark before the wind；
So； wafted by his mind；
Moves every counsel； each device aright。
antistrophe 5
Beneath no stronger hand
Holds he a weak command；
No throne doth he abase him to adore；
Swift as a word； his deed
Acts out what stands decreed
In counsels of his heart； for evermore。
（DANAUS re…enters。）
DANAUS
Take heart； my children： th
