the suppliants-第7节
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（For it behoves that heralds' words be clear；
Be they or ill or good）； how art thou named？
By whom despoiled of this sister…band
Of maidens pass I homeward？…speak and say！
For lo； henceforth in Ares' court we stand；
Who judges not by witness but by war：
No pledge of silver now can bring the cause
To issue： ere this thing end； there must be
Corpse piled on corpse and many lives gasped forth。
THE KING OF ARGOS
What skills it that I tell my name to thee？
Thou and thy mates shall learn it ere the end。
Know that if words unstained by violence
Can change these maidens' choice； then mayest thou；
With full consent of theirs； conduct them hence。
But thus the city with one voice ordained…
No force shall bear away the maiden band。
Firmly this word upon the temple wall
Is by a rivet clenched； and shall abide：
Not upon wax inscribed and delible；
Nor upon parchment sealed and stored away。…
Lo； thou hast heard our free mouths speak their will：
Out from our presence…tarry not； but go！
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
Methinks we stand on some new edge of war：
Be strength and triumph on the young men's side！
THE KING OF ARGOS
Nay but here also shall ye find young men；
Unsodden with the juices oozed from grain。
（The HERALD OF AEGYPTUS and his followers withdraw。）
But ye； O maids； with vour attendants true；
Pass hence with trust into the fenced town；
Ringed with a wide confine of guarding towers。
Therein are many dwellings for such guests
As the State honours； there myself am housed
Within a palace neither scant nor strait。
There dwell ye； if ye will to lodge at ease
In halls well…thronged： yet； if your soul prefer；
Tarry secluded in a separate home。
Choose ye and cull； from these our proffered gifts；
Whiche'er is best and sweetest to your will：
And I and all these citizens whose vote
Stands thus decreed； will your protectors be。
Look not to find elsewhere more loyal guard。
CHORUS （singing）
O godlike chief； God grant my prayer：
Fair blessings on thy proffers fair；
Lord of Pelasgia's race！
Yet； of thy grace； unto our side
Send thou the man of courage tried；
Of counsel deep and prudent thought
Be Danaus to his children brought；
For his it is to guide us well
And warn where it behoves to dwell…
What place shall guard and shelter us
From malice and tongues slanderous：
Swift always are the lips of blame
A stranger…maiden to defame…
But Fortune give us grace！
THE KING OF ARGOS
A stainless fame； a welcome kind
From all this people shall ye find：
Dwell therefore； damsels； loved of us；
Within our walls； as Danaus
Allots to each； in order due；
Her dower of attendants true。
（DANAUS re…enters。 A troop of soldiers accompanies him。）
DANAUS
High thanks； my children； unto Argos con；
And to this folk； as to Olympian gods；
Give offerings meet of sacrifice and wine；
For saviours are they in good sooth to you。
From me they heard； and bitter was their wrath；
How those your kinsmen strove to work you wrong；
And how of us were thwarted： then to me
This company of spearmen did they grant；
That honoured I might walk； nor unaware
Die by some secret thrust and on this land
Bring down the curse of death； that dieth not。
Such boons they gave me： it behoves me pay
A deeper reverence from a soul sincere。
Ye； to the many words of wariness
Spoken by me your father； add this word；
That； tried by time； our unknown company
Be held for honest： over…swift are tongues
To slander strangers； over…light is speech
To bring pollution on a stranger's name。
Therefore I rede you； bring no shame on me
Now when man's eye beholds your maiden prime。
Lovely is beauty's ripening harvest…field；
But ill to guard； and men and beasts； I wot；
And birds and creeping things make prey of it。
And when the fruit is ripe for love； the voice
Of Aphrodite bruiteth it abroad；
The while she guards the yet unripened growth。
On the fair richness of a maiden's bloom
Each passer looks； o'ercome with strong desire；
With eyes that waft the wistful dart of love。
Then be not such our hap； whose livelong toil
Did make our pinnace plough the mighty main：
Nor bring we shame upon ourselves； and joy
Unto my foes。 Behold； a twofold home…
One of the king's and one the people's gift…
Unbought； 'tis yours to hold；…a gracious boon。
Go…but remember ye your sire's behest；
And hold your life less dear than chastity。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
The gods above grant that all else be well。
But fear not thou； O sire； lest aught befal
Of ill unto our ripened maidenhood。
So long as Heaven have no new ill devised；
From its chaste path my spirit shall not swerve。
（The members of the CHORUS divide into two groups； to sing the
final choral lyric responsively。）
SEMI…CHORUS
strophe 1
Pass and adore ye the Blessed； the gods of the city who dwell
Around Erasinus； the gush of the swift immemorial tide。
SEMI…CHORUS
Chant ye； O maidens； aloud let the praise of Pelasgia swell；
Hymn we no longer the shores where Nilus to ocean doth glide。
SEMI…CHORUS
antistrophe 1
Sing we the bounteous streams that ripple and gush through the
city；
Quickening flow they and fertile； the soft new life of the plain。
SEMI…CHORUS
Artemis； maiden most pure； look on us with grace and with pity…
Save us from forced embraces： such love hath no crown but a pain。
SEMI…CHORUS
strophe 2
Yet not in scorn we chant； but in honour of Aphrodite；
She truly and Hera alone have power with Zeus and control。
Holy the deeds of her rite； her craft is secret and mighty；
And high is her honour on earth； and subtle her sway of the soul。
SEMI…CHORUS
Yea； and her child is Desire： in the train of his mother he goeth…
Yea and Persuasion soft…lipped； whom none can deny or repel：
Cometh Harmonia too； on whom Aphrodite bestoweth
The whispering parley； the paths of the rapture that lovers love
well。
SEMI…CHORUS
antistrophe 2
Ah； but I tremble and quake lest again they should sail to
reclaim！
Alas for the sorrow to come； the blood and the carnage of war。
Ah； by whose will was it done that o'er the wide ocean they came；
Guided by favouring winds； and wafted by sail and by oar？
SEMI…CHORUS
Peace！ for what Fate hath ordained will surely not tarry but come；
Wide is the counsel of Zeus； by no man escaped or withstood：
Only I pray that whate'er； in the end； of this wedlock he doom；
We； as many a maiden of old； may win from the ill to the good。
SEMI…CHORUS
strophe 3
Great Zeus； this wedlock turn from me…
Me from the kinsman bridegroom guard！
SEMI…CHORUS
Come what come may； 'tis Fate's decree。
SEMI…CHORUS
Soft is thy word…the doom is hard。
SEMI…CHORUS
Thou know'st not what the Fates provide。
SEMI…CHORUS
antistrophe 3
How should I scan Zeus' mighty will；
The depth of counsel undescried？
SEMI…CHORUS
Pray thou no word of omen ill。
SEMI…CHORUS
What timely warning wouldst thou teach？
SEMI…CHORUS
Beware； nor slight the gods in speech。
SEMI…CHORUS
strophe 4
Zeus； hold from my body the wedlock detested； the bridegroom
abhorred！
It was thou； it was thou didst release
Mine ancestress Io from sorrow： thine healing it was that
restored；
The touch of thine hand gave her peace。
SEMI…CHORUS
antistrophe 4
Be thy will for the cause of the maidens！ of two ills； the lesser
I pray…
The exile that leaveth me pure。
May thy justice have heed to my cause； my prayers to thy mercy
find way！
For the hands of thy saving are sure。
THE END
