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Child of Palaichthon； royal chief
Of thy Pelasgians； hear！
Bow down thine heart to my relief…
A fugitive； a suppliant； swift with fear；
A creature whom the wild wolves chase
O'er toppling crags； in piteous case
Aloud； afar she lows；
Calling the herdsman's trusty arm to save her from her foes！
THE KING OF ARGOS
Lo； with bowed heads beside our city shrines
Ye sit 'neath shade of new…plucked olive…boughs。
Our distant kin's resentment Heaven forefend！
Let not this hap； unhoped and unforeseen；
Bring war on us： for strife we covet not。
CHORUS
antistrophe 1
Justice； the daughter of right…dealing Zeus；
Justice； the queen of suppliants； look down；
That this our plight no ill may loose
Upon your town！
This word； even from the young； let age and wisdom learn：
If thou to suppliants show grace；
Thou shalt not lack Heaven's grace in turn；
So long as virtue's gifts on heavenly shrines have place。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Not at my private hearth ye sit and sue；
And if the city bear a common stain；
Be it the common toil to cleanse the same：
Therefore no pledge； no promise will I give；
Ere counsel with the commonwealth be held。
CHORUS
strophe 2
Nay； but the source of sway； the city's self； art thou；
A power unjudged！ thine； only thine；
To rule the right of hearth and shrine！
Before thy throne and sceptre all men bow！
Thou； in all causes lord； beware the curse divine！
THE KING OF ARGOS
May that curse fall upon mine enemies！
I cannot aid you without risk of scathe；
Nor scorn your prayers…unmerciful it were。
Perplexed； distraught I stand； and fear alike
The twofold chance； to do or not to do。
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
Have heed of him who looketh from on high；
The guard of woeful mortals； whosoe'er
Unto their fellows cry；
And find no pity； find no justice there。
Abiding in his wrath； the suppliants' lord
Doth smite； unmoved by cries； unbent by prayerful word。
THE KING OF ARGOS
But if Aegyptus' children grasp you here；
Claiming； their country's right； to hold you theirs
As next of kin； who dares to counter this？
Plead ye your country's laws； if plead ye may；
That upon you they lay no lawful hand。
CHORUS
strophe 3
Let me not fall； O nevermore；
A prey into the young men's hand；
Rather than wed whom I abhor；
By pilot…stars I flee this land；
O king； take justice to thy side；
And with the righteous powers decide！
THE KING OF ARGOS
Hard is the cause…make me not judge thereof。
Already I have vowed it； to do nought
Save after counsel with my people ta'en；
King though I be； that ne'er in after time；
If ill fate chance； my people then may say…
In aid of strangers thou the State hast slain。
CHORUS
antistrophe 3
Zeus； lord of kinship； rules at will
The swaying balance； and surveys
Evil and good； to men of ill
Gives evil； and to good men praise；
And thou…since true those scales do sway…
Shalt thou from justice shrink away？
THE KING OF ARGOS
A deep； a saving counsel here there needs…
An eye that like a diver to the depth
Of dark perplexity can pass and see；
Undizzied； unconfused。 First must we care
That to the State and to ourselves this thing
Shall bring no ruin； next； that wrangling hands
Shall grasp you not as prey； nor we ourselves
Betray you thus embracing sacred shrines；
Nor make the avenging all…destroying god；
Who not in hell itself sets dead men free；
A grievous inmate； an abiding bane。
…Spake I not right； of saving counsel's need？
CHORUS
strophe 4
Yea； counsel take and stand to aid
At justice' side and mine。
Betray not me； the timorous maid
Whom far beyond the brine
A godless violence cast forth forlorn。
antistrophe 4
O King； wilt thou behold…
Lord of this land； wilt thou behold me torn
From altars manifold？
Bethink thee of the young men's wrath and lust；
Hold off their evil pride；
strophe 5
Steel not thyself to see the suppliant thrust
From hallowed statues' side；
Haled by the frontlet on my forehead bound；
As steeds are led； and drawn
By hands that drag from shrine and altar…mound
My vesture's fringed lawn。
antistrophe 5
Know thou that whether for Aegyptus' race
Thou dost their wish fulfil；
Or for the gods and for each holy place…
Be thy choice good or ill；
Blow is with blow requited； grace with grace。
Such is Zeus' righteous will。
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea； I have pondered： from the sea of doubt
Here drives at length the bark of thought ashore；
Landward with screw and windlass haled； and firm；
Clamped to her props； she lies。 The need is stern；
With men or gods a mighty strife we strive
Perforce； and either hap in grief concludes。
For； if a house be sacked； new wealth for old
Not hard it is to win…if Zeus the lord
Of treasure favour…more than quits the loss；
Enough to pile the store of wealth full high；
Or if a tongue shoot forth untimely speech；
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