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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。
（The KING OF ARGOS enters； followed by his attendants and
soldiers。）
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；
This too gives marvel； how unto this land；
Unheralded； unfriended； without guide；
And without fear； ye came？ yet wands I see；
True sign of suppliance； by you laid down
On shrines of these our gods of festival。
No land but Greece can rede such signs aright。
Much else there is； conjecture well might guess；
But let words teach the man who stands to hear。
LEADER
True is the word thou spakest of my garb；
But speak I unto thee as citizen；
Or Hermes' wandbearer； or chieftain king？
THE KING OF ARGOS
For that； take heart and answer without fear。
I am Pelasgus； ruler of this land；
Child of Palaichthon； whom the earth brought forth；
And； rightly named from me； the race who reap
This country's harvests are Pelasgian called。
And o'er the wide and westward…stretching land；
Through which the lucent wave of Strymon flows；
I rule； Perrhaebia's land my boundary is
Northward； and Pindus' further slopes； that watch
Paeonia； and Dodona's mountain ridge。
West； east； the limit of the washing seas
Restrains my rule…the interspace is mine。
But this whereon we stand is Apian land；
Styled so of old from the great healer's name；
For Apis； coming from Naupactus' shore
Beyond the strait； child of Apollo's self
And like him seer and healer； cleansed this land
From man…devouring monsters； whoin the earth；
Stained with pollution of old bloodshedding；
Brought forth in malice； beasts of ravening jaws；
A grisly throng of serpents manifold。
And healings of their hurt； by knife and charm；
Apis devised； unblamed of Argive men；
And in their prayers found honour； for reward。
…Lo； thou hast heard the tokens that I give：
Speak now thy race； and tell a forthright tale；
In sooth； this people loves not many words。
LEADER
Short is my word and clear。 Of Argive race
We come； from her； the ox…horned maiden who
Erst bare the sacred child。 My word shall give
Whate'er can stablish this my soothfast tale。
THE KING OF ARGOS
O stranger maids； I may not trust this word；
That ye have share in this our Argive race。
No likeness of our country do ye bear；
But semblance as of Libyan womankind。
Even such a stock by Nilus' banks might grow；
Yea； and the Cyprian stamp； in female forms；
Shows； to the life； what males impressed the same。
And； furthermore； of roving Indian maids
Whose camping…grounds by Aethiopia lie；
And camels burdened even as mules； and bearing
Riders； as horses bear； mine ears have heard；
And tales of flesh…devouring mateless maids
Called Amazons： to these； if bows ye bare；
I most had deemed you like。 Speak further yet；
That of your Argive birth the truth I learn。
LEADER
Here in this Argive land…so runs the tale…
Io was priestess once of Hera's fane。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea； truth it is； and far this word prevails：
Is't said that Zeus with mortal mingled love？
LEADER
Ay； and that Hera that embrace surmised。
THE KING OF ARGOS
How issued then this strife of those on high？
LEADER
By Hera's will； a heifer she became。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Held Zeus aloof then from the horned beast？
LEADER
'Tis said； he loved； in semblance of a bull。
THE KING OF ARGOS
And his stern consort； did she aught thereon？
LEADER
One myriad…eyed she set； the heifer's guard。
THE KING OF ARGOS
How namest thou this herdsman many…eyed？
LEADER
Argus； the child of Earth； whom Hermes slew。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Still did the goddess vex the beast ill…starred？
LEADER
She wrought a gadfly with a goading sting。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Thus drave she Io hence； to roam afar？
LEADER
Yea…this thy word coheres exact with mine。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Then to Canopus and to Memphis came she？
LEADER
And by Zeus' hand was touched； and bare a child。
THE KING of ARGOS
Who vaunts him the Zeus…mated creature's son？
LEADER
Epaphus； named rightly from the saving touch。
THE KING OF ARGOS
And whom in turn did Epaphus beget？
LEADER
Libya； with name of a wide land endowed。
THE KING OF ARGOS
And who from her was born unto the race？
LEADER
Belus： from him two sons； my father one。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak now to me his name； this greybeard wise。
LEADER
Danaus； his brother fifty sons begat。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Grudge not； in telling； his name too to tell。
LEADER
Aegyptus： thou my lineage old hast heard…
Strive then to aid a kindred Argive band。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea of a truth； in backward scope of time；
Of Argive race ye seem： but say what chance
Fell on you； goading you from home and land？
LEADER
Lord of Pelasgian men； calamity
Is manifold and diverse； as of birds
Feather from feather differs； so of men
The woes are sundry。 Who had dared foretell
That this our sudden flight； this hate and fear
Of loathly wedlock； would on Argos' shore
Set forth a race of kindred lineage？
THE KING OF ARGOS
What crave ye of these gods of festival；
Holding up newly…plucked white…tufted boughs？
LEADER
Ne'er to be slaves unto Aegyptus' race。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Doth your own hate； or doth the law forbid？
LEADER
Not as our lords； but as unloved； we chide them。
THE KING OF ARGOS
'Tis from such wedlock that advancement comes；
LEADER
How easy is it； from the weak to turn！
THE KING OF ARGOS
How then toward you can I be conscience…clear？
LEADER
Deny us； though Aegyptus' race demand。
THE KING OF ARGOS
A heavy task thou namest； a rash war。
LEADER
But Justice champions them who strike for her。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea； if their side was from the outset hers。
LEADER
Revere the gods thus crowned； who steer the State。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Awe thrills me； seeing these shrines with leafage crowned。
（The whole CHORUS now sings its responses to the KING。）
CHORUS
strophe 1
Yea； stern the wrath of Zeus； the suppliants' lord。
Child of Palaichthon； royal chief
Of thy Pelasgians； hear！
Bow down thine heart to