---
title: "Suppliant Women · Ἱκέτιδες"
author: "Aeschylus"
translator: "Herbert Weir Smyth"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-suppliants/1/
cite: "Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth, Suppliant Women · Ἱκέτιδες, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-suppliants/1/"
---

# Suppliant Women · Ἱκέτιδες

*Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth*

The fifty daughters of Danaus flee marriage to their cousins and beg Argos for sanctuary.

> Greek: ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0085.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0085.tlg001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–530

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-suppliants/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-suppliants/1/#p-N

[¶0] Enter a company of maidens, who have fled from Egypt and just landed on the shores of Argos; with them is their father
Chorus:
May Zeus who guards suppliants look graciously upon our company, which boarded a ship and put to sea from the outlets of the fine sand of the Nile. For we have fled Zeus’ land
whose pastures border Syria, and are fugitives, not because of some public decree pronounced against blood crime, but because of our own act to escape the suit of man, since we abhor as impious all marriage with the sons of Aegyptus.
It was Danaus, our father, adviser and leader, who, considering well our course, decided, as the best of all possible evils, that we flee with all speed over the waves of the sea
and find a haven on Argos’ shore. For from there descends our race, sprung from the caress and breath of Zeus on the gnat-tormented heifer. To what kinder land than this
could we come with these wool-wreathed branches in our hands, sole weapons of the suppliant? O realm, O land, and clear water; gods on high and earth-bound powers, grievous in your vengeance,
which inhabit the tomb; and you, Zeus the Savior, invoked third, the guardian of the habitations of righteous men: receive as suppliants this band of women with the compassionate spirit of the land. But
the thronging swarm of violent men born of Aegyptus, should they set foot upon this marshy land, drive them seaward—and with them their swift ship—and there may they encounter a cruel sea with thunder, lightning, and rain-charged winds,
and perish by the tempest’s buffeting blasts, if they ever lay their hands on us, their cousins, and mount unwilling beds from which Right holds them aloof.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ζεὺς μὲν ἀφίκτωρ ἐπίδοι προφρόνως
στόλον ἡμέτερον νάιον ἀρθέντʼ
ἀπὸ προστομίων λεπτοψαμάθων
Νείλου. Δίαν δὲ λιποῦσαι
χθόνα σύγχορτον Συρίᾳ φεύγομεν,
οὔτινʼ ἐφʼ αἵματι δημηλασίαν
ψήφῳ πόλεως γνωσθεῖσαν,
ἀλλʼ αὐτογενεῖ φυξανορίᾳ
γάμον Αἰγύπτου παίδων ἀσεβῆ
ʼξʼονοταζόμεναι.
Δαναὸς δὲ πατὴρ καὶ βούλαρχος
καὶ στασίαρχος τάδε πεσσονομῶν
κύδιστʼ ἀχέων ἐπέκρανε,
φεύγειν ἀνέδην διὰ κῦμʼ ἅλιον,
κέλσαι δʼ Ἄργους γαῖαν, ὅθεν δὴ
γένος ἡμέτερον τῆς οἰστροδόνου
βοὸς ἐξ ἐπαφῆς κἀξ ἐπιπνοίας
Διὸς εὐχόμενον τετέλεσται.
τίνʼ ἂν οὖν χώραν εὔφρονα μᾶλλον
τῆσδʼ ἀφικοίμεθα
σὺν τοῖσδʼ ἱκετῶν ἐγχειριδίοις
ἐριοστέπτοισι κλάδοισιν;
ὦ πόλις, ὦ γῆ, καὶ λευκὸν ὕδωρ,
ὕπατοί τε θεοί, καὶ βαρύτιμοι
χθόνιοι θήκας κατέχοντες,
καὶ Ζεὺς σωτὴρ τρίτος, οἰκοφύλαξ
ὁσίων ἀνδρῶν, δέξασθʼ ἱκέτην
τὸν θηλυγενῆ στόλον αἰδοίῳ
πνεύματι χώρας· ἀρσενοπληθῆ δʼ
ἑσμὸν ὑβριστὴν Αἰγυπτογενῆ,
πρὶν πόδα χέρσῳ τῆ δʼ ἐν ἀσώδει
θεῖναι, ξὺν ὄχῳ ταχυήρει
πέμψατε πόντονδʼ· ἔνθα δὲ λαίλαπι
χειμωνοτύπῳ, βροντῇ στεροπῇ τʼ
ὀμβροφόροισίν τʼ ἀνέμοις ἀγρίας
ἁλὸς ἀντήσαντες, ὄλοιντο,
πρίν ποτε λέκτρων, ὧν θέμις εἴργει,
σφετεριξάμενοι πατραδέλφειαν
τήνδʼ ἀεκόντων ἐπιβῆναι.

[¶1] Chorus:
And now I invoke, as our champion from beyond the sea, the calf born of Zeus, the offspring of the flower-grazing cow, our ancestress,
the caress of Zeus’ breath. The appointed period confirmed itself in a name suited to the event—Epaphus, to whom she gave birth.

> Greek: Χορός:
νῦν δʼ ἐπικεκλομένα
Δῖον πόρτιν ὑπερ-
πόντιον τιμάορʼ, ἶνίν τʼ
ἀνθονομούσας προγόνου
βοὸς ἐξ ἐπιπνοίας
Ζηνὸς ἔφαψιν· ἐπωνυμίᾳ δʼ
ἐπεκραίνετο μόρσιμος αἰὼν
εὐλόγως,
Ἔπαφόν τʼ ἐγέννασεν·

[¶2] Chorus:
To him I cry for help.
And now in the region wherein our first mother pastured, by recounting the story of her distress of long ago, I shall now set forth reliable proofs to the inhabitants of the land;
and other evidence, though unexpected, will yet appear. Men will come to know the truth as my tale proceeds.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅντʼ ἐπιλεξαμένα,
νῦν ἐν ποιονόμοις
ματρὸς ἀρχαίας τόποις τῶν
πρόσθε πόνων μνασαμένα,
τά τε νῦν ἐπιδείξω
πιστὰ τεκμήρια γαιονόμοις,
τὰ δʼ ἄελπτά περ ὄντα φανεῖται.
γνώσεται
δὲ λόγους τις ἐν μάκει.

[¶3] Chorus:
Now if by chance there be some neighbor in the land who knows the song of birds,
when our complaint greets his ear, he will fancy that he hears the voice of Metis, Tereus’ piteous wife, the hawk-chased nightingale.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ δὲ κυρεῖ τις πέλας οἰωνοπόλων
ἔγγαιος οἶκτον [οἰκτρὸν] ἀίων,
δοξάσει τις ἀκούειν ὄπα τᾶς Τηρεΐας
Μήτιδος οἰκτρᾶς ἀλόχου,
κιρκηλάτου τʼ ἀηδόνος,

[¶4] Chorus:
For she, constrained to leave her green leaves, laments pitifully her accustomed haunts,
and composes the tale of her own child’s doom—how he perished, destroyed by her own hand, victim of the wrath of an unnatural mother.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἅτʼ ἀπὸ χλωρῶν πετάλων ἐργομένα
πενθεῖ μὲν οἶκτον ἠθέων·
ξυντίθησι δὲ παιδὸς μόρον, ὡς αὐτοφόνως
ὤλετο πρὸς χειρὸς ἕθεν
δυσμάτορος κότου τυχών·

[¶5] Chorus:
Even so I, indulging my grief in Ionian strains,
pain my tender face summered by Nile’s sun and my heart unexercised in tears; and I gather the flowers of grief, anxious whether there is any friendly kinsman here to champion our band
which has fled from the haze-shrouded land.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὼς καὶ ἐγὼ φιλόδυρ-
τος Ἰαονίοισι νόμοισι
δάπτω τὰν ἁπαλὰν
Νειλοθερῆ παρειὰν
ἀπειρόδακρύν τε καρδίαν.
γοεδνὰ δʼ ἀνθεμίζομαι
δειμαίνουσα φίλους, τᾶσδε φυγᾶς
ἀερίας ἀπὸ γᾶς
εἴ τις ἐστὶ κηδεμών.

[¶6] Chorus:
But, gods of our race, hear, and regard with favor the cause of righteousness; if you refuse youth
fulfillment of its arrogant desires, and readily abhor violence, you would be righteous toward marriage. Even for those who flee hard-pressed from war there is an altar,
a shelter against harm through respect for the powers of heaven.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλά, θεοὶ γενέται
κλύετʼ εὖ τὸ δίκαιον ἰδόντες·
ἥβᾳ μὴ τέλεον
δόντες ἔχειν παρʼ αἶσαν,
ὕβριν δʼ ἑτοίμως στυγοῦντες,
πέλοιτʼ ἂν ἔνδικοι γάμοις.
ἔστι δὲ κἀκ πολέμου τειρομένοις
βωμὸς ἀρῆς φυγάσιν
ῥῦμα, δαιμόνων σέβας.

[¶7] Chorus:
But may Zeus grant that it go well with us. For Zeus’ desire is hard to trace: it shines everywhere, even in gloom, together with fortune
obscure to mortal men.

> Greek: Χορός:
εὖ δʼ εἴη Διόθεν παναληθῶς.
Διὸς ἵμερος οὐκ εὐθήρατος ἐτύχθη.
παντᾷ τοι φλεγέθει
κἀν σκότῳ μελαίνᾳ ξὺν τύχᾳ
μερόπεσσι λαοῖς.

[¶8] Chorus:
Safely it falls, and not upon its back, whatever deed comes to pass at Zeus’ nod; for the pathways of his understanding stretch dark and tangled,
beyond comprehension.

> Greek: Χορός:
πίπτει δʼ ἀσφαλὲς οὐδʼ ἐπὶ νώτῳ,
κορυφᾷ Διὸς εἰ κρανθῇ, πρᾶγμα τέλειον.
δαυλοὶ γὰρ πραπίδων
δάσκιοί τε τείνουσιν πόροι
κατιδεῖν ἄφραστοι.

[¶9] Chorus:
From their high-towering hopes he hurls mankind to utter destruction; yet he does not marshal any armed violence—
all that is wrought by the powers divine is free from toil. Seated on his holy throne, unmoved, in mysterious ways he accomplishes his will.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰάπτει δʼ ἐλπίδων
ἀφʼ ὑψιπύργων πανώλεις
βροτούς, βίαν δʼ
οὔτινʼ ἐξοπλίζει·
πᾶν ἄπονον δαιμονίων.
ἥμενος ὃν φρόνημά πως
αὐτόθεν ἐξέπραξεν ἔμπας
ἑδράνων ἐφʼ ἁγνῶν.

[¶10] Chorus:
So let him look upon human outrageousness
—in what way it shoots up men in their wooing of us, sprouted from thoughts of evil intent,
having a frenzied purpose as its irresistible spur, and deluded, turning its thoughts to folly.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰδέσθω δʼ εἰς ὕβριν
βρότειον, οἵα νεάζει
πυθμὴν διʼ ἁ-
μὸν γάμον τεθαλὼς
δυσπαραβούλοισι φρεσίν,
καὶ διάνοιαν μαινόλιν
κέντρον ἔχων ἄφυκτον, ἄταν δʼ
ἀπάτᾳ μεταγνούς.

[¶11] Chorus:
Such piteous strains of woe I utter in my pain, now shrill, now deep, blended with falling tears—Alas, alas!
groans appropriate to funeral wails; though I live, I chant my own dirge.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιαῦτα πάθεα μέλεα θρεομένα λέγω
λιγέα βαρέα δακρυοπετῆ,
ἰὴ ἰή,
ἰηλέμοισιν ἐμπρεπῆ· [θρεομένη μέλη]
ζῶσα γόοις με τιμῶ.

[¶12] Chorus:
I invoke Apia’s hilly land—for well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—,
and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,
καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν
εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.
πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
λινοσινεῖ
Σιδονία καλύπτρᾳ.

[¶13] Chorus:
Sacrifices in satisfaction of vows are given freely to the gods when all fares well, if only there be escape from death.
Alas, alas, perplexing troubles! Where will this wave of trouble bear me away?

> Greek: Χορός:
θεοῖς δʼ ἐναγέα τέλεα πελομένων καλῶς
ἐπίδρομʼ, ὁπόθι θάνατος ἀπῇ.
ἰὼ ἰώ,
ἰὼ δυσάγκριτοι πόνοι.
ποῖ τόδε κῦμʼ ἀπάξει;

[¶14] Chorus:
I invoke Apia’s hilly land—for
well, O land, you understand my barbarous speech—, and many times I lay my hands upon my Sidonian veil and tear its linen fabric to shreds.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἱλεοῦμαι μὲν Ἀπίαν βοῦνιν,
καρβᾶνα δʼ αὐδὰν
εὖ, γᾶ, κοννεῖς.
πολλάκι δʼ ἐμπίτνω ξὺν λακίδι
λινοσινεῖ
Σιδονίᾳ καλύπτρᾳ.

[¶15] Chorus:
Our oars, indeed, and our timbered ship, bound with yellow rope
to withstand the sea, sped me on by help of favoring winds, unharmed by all tempests; nor have I reason for complaint. But may the all-seeing Father
establish a kindly issue in due time—

> Greek: Χορός:
πλάτα μὲν οὖν λινορραφής τε
δόμος ἅλα στέγων δορὸς
ἀχείματόν μʼ ἔπεμπε σὺν πνοαῖς·
οὐδὲ μέμφομαι·
τελευτὰς δʼ ἐν χρόνῳ
πατήρ μοι παντόπτας
πρευμενεῖς κτίσειεν,

[¶16] Chorus:
That the mighty race of our honorable mother escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

> Greek: Χορός:
σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς
εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,
ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

[¶17] Chorus:
And may Zeus’ pure daughter, she who holds securely the sacred wall, willingly, meeting my will, look upon me; and, grieved at our pursuit, come with all her might, a virgin to a virgin’s aid,
to deliver me—

> Greek: Χορός:
θέλουσα δʼ αὖ θέλουσαν ἁγνά μʼ
ἐπιδέτω Διὸς κόρα,
ἔχουσα σέμνʼ ἐνώπιʼ ἀσφαλῶς,
παντὶ δὲ σθένει
διωγμοῖς ἀσχαλῶσʼ
ἀδμήτας ἀδμήτα
ῥύσιος γενέσθω,

[¶18] Chorus:
That the mighty race of our honorable mother may escape the embrace of man (ah me), unwedded, unvanquished.

> Greek: Χορός:
σπέρμα σεμνᾶς μέγα ματρὸς
εὐνὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἒ ἔ,
ἄγαμον ἀδάματον ἐκφυγεῖν.

[¶19] Chorus:
Yet, if she will not, we, a dark,
sun-burned race, with suppliant boughs will invoke the underworld Zeus, Zeus the great host
of the dead; for if the gods of Olympus hear us not, we will hang ourselves.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ δὲ μή, μελανθὲς
ἡλιόκτυπον γένος
τὸν γάιον,
τὸν πολυξενώτατον
Ζῆνα τῶν κεκμηκότων
ἱξόμεθα σὺν κλάδοις
ἀρτάναις θανοῦσαι,
μὴ τυχοῦσαι θεῶν Ὀλυμπίων.

[¶20] Chorus:
Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. I know
your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῷ
μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·
κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν
γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον.
χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ
πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.

[¶21] Chorus:
And Zeus shall then be liable to the charge of injustice
that he hates the child of the heifer, the child whom he himself begat long ago, his very own, and now he holds his face averted from our prayers.
May he from above hear our call!

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ τότʼ οὐ δικαίοις
Ζεὺς ἐνέξεται λόγοις,
τὸν τᾶς βοὸς
παῖδʼ ἀτιμάσας, τὸν αὐ-
τός ποτʼ ἔκτισεν γόνῳ,
νῦν ἔχων παλίντροπον
ὄψιν ἐν λιταῖσιν;
ὑψόθεν δʼ εὖ κλύοι καλούμενος.

[¶22] Chorus:
Ah Zeus! On account of the poisonous hate of Io vengeance from the gods pursues us. I know
your consort’s sky-conquering spite; for a stormy sea follows a harsh wind.

> Greek: Χορός:
⟨ἆ Ζήν, Ἰοῦς ἰῶ,⟩
⟨μῆνις μάστειρʼ ἐκ θεῶν·⟩
⟨κοννῶ δʼ ἄγαν⟩
⟨γαμετᾶς οὐρανόνικον⟩
⟨χαλεποῦ γὰρ ἐκ⟩
⟨πνεύματος εἶσι χειμών.⟩

[¶23] Danaus:
My children, you must be prudent. A prudent captain of your voyage was your reliable old father here with whom you came. And now that I have considered with foresight what may befall us here on land, I charge you, record my injunctions on the tablets of your minds and guard them.
I see dust, the voiceless herald of an army; the axle-driven wheels are not silent in their sockets. I behold a throng, armed with shields and holding spears, with steeds and curved chariots. Perhaps they are the princes of the land
come to look on us, informed by messengers. But whether a harmless man or one driven by savage wrath rouses this expedition, it is better, damsels, in any case, to seat yourselves at that mound sacred to the assembled gods.
Stronger than a castle is an altar—an impenetrable shield. As quick as you can, gather in your left hands your white-wreathed suppliant boughs, sacred emblems of Zeus the merciful.
Reply to the strangers, as is fitting for aliens, in piteous and plaintive language of necessity, telling them clearly of your flight, how it was unstained by deed of blood. Above all let no arrogance accompany your speech, and reveal nothing impious in your peaceful eyes, from your respectful face.
In your speech neither interrupt, nor hesitate—for this would offend these people. And remember to be submissive: you are an alien, a fugitive, and in need. Bold speech does not suit the weak.

> Greek: Δαναός:
παῖδες, φρονεῖν χρή· ξὺν φρονοῦντι δʼ ἥκετε
πιστῷ γέροντι τῷ δε ναυκλήρῳ πατρί.
καὶ τἀπὶ χέρσου νῦν προμηθίαν λαβὼν
αἰνῶ φυλάξαι τἄμʼ ἔπη δελτουμένας.
ὁρῶ κόνιν, ἄναυδον ἄγγελον στρατοῦ·
σύριγγες οὐ σιγῶσιν ἀξονήλατοι·
ὄχλον δʼ ὑπασπιστῆρα καὶ δορυσσόον
λεύσσω, ξὺν ἵπποις καμπύλοις τʼ ὀχήμασιν·
τάχʼ ἂν πρὸς ἡμᾶς τῆσδε γῆς ἀρχηγέται
ὀπτῆρες εἶεν ἀγγέλων πεπυσμένοι.
ἀλλʼ εἴτʼ ἀπήμων εἴτε καὶ τεθηγμένος
ὠμῇ ξὺν ὀργῇ τόνδʼ ἐπόρνυται στόλον,
ἄμεινόν ἐστι παντὸς εἵνεκʼ, ὦ κόραι,
πάγον προσίζειν τόνδʼ ἀγωνίων θεῶν.
κρεῖσσον δὲ πύργου βωμός, ἄρρηκτον σάκος
ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα βᾶτε, καὶ λευκοστεφεῖς
ἱκετηρίας, ἁγάλματʼ αἰδοίου Διός,
σεμνῶς ἔχουσαι διὰ χερῶν εὐωνύμων,
αἰδοῖα καὶ γοεδνὰ καὶ ζαχρεῖʼ ἔπη
ξένους ἀμείβεσθʼ, ὡς ἐπήλυδας πρέπει,
τορῶς λέγουσαι τάσδʼ ἀναιμάκτους φυγάς.
φθογγῇ δʼ ἑπέσθω πρῶτα μὲν τὸ μὴ θρασύ,
τὸ μὴ μάταιον δʼ ἐκ μετωποσωφρόνων
ἴτω προσώπων ὄμματος παρʼ ἡσύχου.
καὶ μὴ πρόλεσχος μηδʼ ἐφολκὸς ἐν λόγῳ
γένῃ. τὸ τῇδε κάρτʼ ἐπίφθονον γένος.
μέμνησο δʼ εἴκειν· χρεῖος εἶ ξένη φυγάς.
θρασυστομεῖν γὰρ οὐ πρέπει τοὺς ἥσσονας.

[¶24] Chorus:
Father, your words are prudent, and they fall on prudent ears.
I will take heed of your wise words, and hold them in memory. May Zeus, the author of our race, behold us!

> Greek: Χορός:
πάτερ, φρονούντως πρὸς φρονοῦντας ἐννέπεις.
φυλάξομαι δὲ τάσδε μεμνῆσθαι σέθεν
κεδνὰς ἐφετμάς. Ζεὺς δὲ γεννήτωρ ἴδοι·

[¶25] Danaus:
May he indeed behold you, and with a gracious eye.

> Greek: Δαναός:
ἴδοιτο δῆτα πρευμενοῦς ἀπʼ ὄμματος·

[¶26] Chorus:
I would like even now to be seated by your side.

> Greek: Χορός:
θέλοιμʼ ἂν ἤδη σοὶ πέλας θρόνους ἔχειν.

[¶27] Danaus:
Then do not delay, but put your purpose into action.

> Greek: Δαναός:
μή νυν σχόλαζε, μηχανῆς δʼ ἔστω κράτος.

[¶28] Chorus:
O Zeus, have pity upon our troubles lest we are ruined.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Ζεῦ, κόπων οἴκτιρε μὴ ἀπολωλότας.

[¶29] Danaus:
If he wishes it so, all will end well.

> Greek: Δαναός:
κείνου θέλοντος εὖ τελευτήσει τάδε.

[¶30] Chorus:
…

> Greek: Χορός:
…

[¶31] Danaus:
Invoke now also that bird of Zeus

> Greek: Δαναός:
καὶ Ζηνὸς ὄρνιν τόνδε νῦν κικλῄσκετε.

[¶32] Chorus:
We invoke the saving beams of the sun.

> Greek: Χορός:
καλοῦμεν αὐγὰς ἡλίου σωτηρίους,—

[¶33] Danaus:
Pure Apollo, too, who, though a god, was exiled once from heaven.

> Greek: Δαναός:
ἁγνόν τʼ Ἀπόλλω, φυγάδʼ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ θεόν.

[¶34] Chorus:
Knowing our lot, he may well have pity on mortals.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰδὼς ἂν αἶσαν τήνδε συγγνοίη βροτοῖς.

[¶35] Danaus:
May he have pity indeed, and stand by ready to defend.

> Greek: Δαναός:
συγγνοῖτο δῆτα καὶ παρασταίη πρόφρων.

[¶36] Chorus:
Whom, further, of these divinities must I invoke?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίνʼ οὖν κικλῄσκω τῶνδε δαιμόνων ἔτι;

[¶37] Danaus:
I behold a trident here, the token of its god.

> Greek: Δαναός:
ὁρῶ τρίαιναν τήνδε σημεῖον θεοῦ.

[¶38] Chorus:
Well did he send us here and well may he receive us in this land.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εὖ τʼ ἔπεμψεν εὖ τε δεξάσθω χθονί.

[¶39] Danaus:
Here, too, is Hermes, according to the Hellenic custom.

> Greek: Δαναός:
Ἑρμῆς ὅδʼ ἄλλος τοῖσιν Ἑλλήνων νόμοις.

[¶40] Chorus:
May he then announce good tidings to the free!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐλευθέροις νυν ἐσθλὰ κηρυκευέτω.

[¶41] Danaus:
Honor to the mutual altar of all these protecting powers; and seat yourselves on holy ground like a flock of doves in dread of hawks of the same feathered tribe—
kindred, yet foes, who would defile their race. If bird prey on bird, how can it be pure? And how can man be pure who would seize from an unwilling father an unwilling bride? For such an act, not even in Hades, after death, shall he escape arraignment for outrage.
There also among the dead, so men tell, another Zeus holds a last judgment upon misdeeds. Take heed and reply in this manner, that victory may attend your cause.

> Greek: Δαναός:
πάντων δʼ ἀνάκτων τῶνδε κοινοβωμίαν
σέβεσθʼ· ἐν ἁγνῷ δʼ ἑσμὸς ὡς πελειάδων
ἵζεσθε κίρκων τῶν ὁμοπτέρων φόβῳ,
ἐχθρῶν ὁμαίμων καὶ μιαινόντων γένος.
ὄρνιθος ὄρνις πῶς ἂν ἁγνεύοι φαγών;
πῶς δʼ ἂν γαμῶν ἄκουσαν ἄκοντος πάρα
ἁγνὸς γένοιτʼ ἄν; οὐδὲ μὴ ʼν Ἅιδου θανὼν
φύγῃ ματαίων αἰτίας, πράξας τάδε.
κἀκεῖ δικάζει τἀπλακήμαθʼ, ὡς λόγος,
Ζεὺς ἄλλος ἐν καμοῦσιν ὑστάτας δίκας.
σκοπεῖτε, κἀμείβεσθε τόνδε τὸν τρόπον,
ὅπως ἂν ὑμῖν πρᾶγος εὖ νικᾷ τόδε.

[¶42] Enter the King of Argos with men-at-arms
King:
From where comes this band we address,
clothed in foreign attire and luxuriating in closely-woven and barbaric robes? For your apparel is not that of the women of Argos, nor yet of any part of Hellas. How you have gained courage thus fearlessly to come to this land, unheralded and friendless and without guides,
this makes me wonder. And yet, truly, I see that branches usually carried by suppliants are laid by your side before the gods assembled here—as to this alone can Hellas guess with confidence. As for the rest, there is still much I should with reason leave to conjecture,
if your voice were not here to inform me.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ποδαπὸν ὅμιλον τόνδʼ ἀνελληνόστολον
πέπλοισι βαρβάροισι καὶ πυκνώμασι
χλίοντα προσφωνοῦμεν; οὐ γὰρ Ἀργολὶς
ἐσθὴς γυναικῶν οὐδʼ ἀφʼ Ἑλλάδος τόπων.
ὅπως δὲ χώραν οὔτε κηρύκων ὕπο,
ἀπρόξενοί τε, νόσφιν ἡγητῶν, μολεῖν
ἔτλητʼ ἀτρέστως, τοῦτο θαυμαστὸν πέλει.
κλάδοι γε μὲν δὴ κατὰ νόμους ἀφικτόρων
κεῖνται παρʼ ὑμῖν πρὸς θεοῖς ἀγωνίοις·
μόνον τόδʼ Ἑλλὰς χθὼν συνοίσεται στόχῳ.
καὶ τἄλλα πόλλʼ ἔτʼ εἰκάσαι δίκαιον ἦν,
εἰ μὴ παρόντι φθόγγος ἦν ὁ σημανῶν.

[¶43] Chorus:
You have not spoken falsely about our clothing. But, for my part, how am I to address you? As commoner, as spokesman, bearer of the sacred wand, or as ruler of the realm?

> Greek: Χορός:
εἴρηκας ἀμφὶ κόσμον ἀψευδῆ λόγον.
ἐγὼ δὲ πρὸς σὲ πότερον ὡς ἔτην λέγω,
ἢ ῥήτορʼ ἱεροράβδον, ἢ πόλεως ἀγόν;

[¶44] King:
As for that, answer and speak to me with confidence.
For I am Pelasgus, offspring of Palaechthon, whom the earth brought forth, and lord of this land; and after me, their king, is rightly named the race of the Pelasgi, who harvest the land. Of all the region through which the pure
Strymon flows, on the side toward the setting sun, I am the lord. There lies within the limits of my rule the land of the Perrhaebi, the parts beyond Pindus close to the Paeonians, and the mountain ridge of Dodona; the edge of the watery sea borders my kingdom. I rule up to these boundaries.
The ground where we stand is Apian land itself, and has borne that name since antiquity in honor of a healer. For Apis, seer and healer, the son of Apollo, came from Naupactus on the farther shore and purified this land of monsters deadly to man, which Earth,
defiled by the pollution of bloody deeds of old, caused to spring up—plagues charged with wrath, an ominous colony of swarming serpents. Of these plagues Apis worked the cure by sorcery and spells to the content of the Argive land,
and for reward thereafter earned for himself remembrance in prayers. Now that you have my testimony, declare your lineage and speak further—yet our people do not take pleasure in long discourse.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
πρὸς ταῦτʼ ἀμείβου καὶ λέγʼ εὐθαρσὴς ἐμοί.
τοῦ γηγενοῦς γάρ εἰμʼ ἐγὼ Παλαίχθονος
ἶνις Πελασγός, τῆσδε γῆς ἀρχηγέτης.
ἐμοῦ δʼ ἄνακτος εὐλόγως ἐπώνυμον
γένος Πελασγῶν τήνδε καρποῦται χθόνα.
καὶ πᾶσαν αἶαν, ἧς διʼ ἁγνὸς ἔρχεται
Στρυμών, τὸ πρὸς δύνοντος ἡλίου, κρατῶ.
ὁρίζομαι δὲ τήν τε Περραίβων χθόνα,
Πίνδου τε τἀπέκεινα, Παιόνων πέλας,
ὄρη τε Δωδωναῖα. συντέμνει δʼ ὅρος
ὑγρᾶς θαλάσσης· τῶνδε τἀπὶ τάδε κρατῶ.
αὐτῆς δὲ χώρας Ἀπίας πέδον τόδε
πάλαι κέκληται φωτὸς ἰατροῦ χάριν.
Ἆπις γὰρ ἐλθὼν ἐκ πέρας Ναυπακτίας
ἰατρόμαντις παῖς Ἀπόλλωνος χθόνα
τήνδʼ ἐκκαθαίρει κνωδάλων βροτοφθόρων,
τὰ δὴ παλαιῶν αἱμάτων μιάσμασιν
χρανθεῖσʼ ἀνῆκε γαῖα μηνιταῖʼ ἄχη
δρακονθόμιλον δυσμενῆ ξυνοικίαν.
τούτων ἄκη τομαῖα καὶ λυτήρια
πράξας ἀμέμπτως Ἆπις Ἀργείᾳ χθονὶ
μνήμην ποτʼ ἀντίμισθον ηὕρετʼ ἐν λιταῖς.
ἔχουσα δʼ ἤδη τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ τεκμήρια
γένος τʼ ἂν ἐξεύχοιο καὶ λέγοις πρόσω.
μακράν γε μὲν δὴ ῥῆσιν οὐ στέργει πόλις.

[¶45] Chorus:
Our tale is brief and clear. Argives
we claim to be by birth, offspring of a cow blest in its children. And the truth of this I shall confirm in full.

> Greek: Χορός:
βραχὺς τορός θʼ ὁ μῦθος· Ἀργεῖαι γένος
ἐξευχόμεσθα, σπέρματʼ εὐτέκνου βοός·
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀληθῆ πάντα προσφύσω λόγῳ.

[¶46] King:
Foreign maidens, your tale is beyond my belief—how your race can be from Argos. For you are more similar to the
women of Libya and in no way similar to those native to our land. The Nile, too, might foster such a stock, and like yours is the Cyprian impress stamped upon female images by male craftsmen. And of such aspect, I have heard, are nomad women, who
ride on camels for steeds, having padded saddles, and dwell in a land neighboring the Aethiopians. And had you been armed with the bow, certainly I would have guessed you to be the unwed, flesh-devouring Amazons. But inform me, and I will better comprehend
how it is that you trace your race and lineage from Argos.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ἄπιστα μυθεῖσθʼ, ὦ ξέναι, κλύειν ἐμοί,
ὅπως τόδʼ ὑμῖν ἐστιν Ἀργεῖον γένος.
Λιβυστικαῖς γὰρ μᾶλλον ἐμφερέστεραι
γυναιξίν ἐστε κοὐδαμῶς ἐγχωρίαις.
καὶ Νεῖλος ἂν θρέψειε τοιοῦτον φυτόν,
Κύπριος χαρακτήρ τʼ ἐν γυναικείοις τύποις
εἰκὼς πέπληκται τεκτόνων πρὸς ἀρσένων·
τοίας τʼ ἀκούω νομάδας ἱπποβάμοσιν
εἶναι καμήλοις ἀστραβιζούσας, χθόνα
παρʼ Αἰθίοψιν ἀστυγειτονουμένας.
καὶ τὰς ἀνάνδρους κρεοβόρους τʼ Ἀμαζόνας,
εἰ τοξοτευχεῖς ἦτε, κάρτʼ ἂν ᾔκασα
ὑμᾶς. διδαχθεὶς ⟨δʼ⟩ ἂν τόδʼ εἰδείην πλέον,
ὅπως γένεθλον σπέρμα τʼ Ἀργεῖον τὸ σόν.

[¶47] Chorus:
Is there a report that once in this land of Argos Io was ward of Hera’s house?

> Greek: Χορός:
κλῃδοῦχον Ἥρας φασὶ δωμάτων ποτὲ
Ἰὼ γενέσθαι τῇ δʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί;

[¶48] King:
Certainly she was; the tradition prevails far and wide.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ἦν ὡς μάλιστα, καὶ φάτις πολλὴ κρατεῖ.

[¶49] Chorus:
And is there some story, too, that Zeus was joined in love with a mortal?

> Greek: Χορός:
μὴ καὶ λόγος τις Ζῆνα μειχθῆναι βροτῷ;

[¶50] King:
This entanglement was not secret from Hera.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
κἄκρυπτά γʼ Ἥρας ταῦτα τἀμπαλάγματα.

[¶51] Chorus:
What then was the result of this royal strife?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς οὖν τελευτᾷ βασιλέων νείκη τάδε;

[¶52] King:
The goddess of Argos transformed the woman into a cow.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
βοῦν τὴν γυναῖκʼ ἔθηκεν Ἀργεία θεός.

[¶53] Chorus:
And while she was a horned cow, did not Zeus approach her?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔκουν πελάζει Ζεὺς ἐπʼ εὐκραίρῳ βοΐ;

[¶54] King:
So they say, making his form that of a bull lusting for a mate.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
φασίν, πρέποντα βουθόρῳ ταύρῳ δέμας.

[¶55] Chorus:
What answer then did Zeus’ stubborn consort give?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δῆτα πρὸς ταῦτʼ ἄλοχος ἰσχυρὰ Διός;

[¶56] King:
She placed the all-seeing one to stand watch over the cow.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τὸν πάνθʼ ὁρῶντα φύλακʼ ἐπέστησεν βοΐ.

[¶57] Chorus:
What manner of all-seeing herdsman with a single duty do you mean?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῖον πανόπτην οἰοβουκόλον λέγεις;

[¶58] King:
Argus, a son of Earth, whom Hermes slew.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
Ἄργον, τὸν Ἑρμῆς παῖδα γῆς κατέκτανεν.

[¶59] Chorus:
What else did she contrive against the unfortunate cow?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί οὖν ἔτευξεν ἄλλο δυσπότμῳ βοΐ;

[¶60] King:
A sting, torment of cattle, constantly driving her on.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
βοηλάτην μύωπα κινητήριον.

[¶61] Chorus:
They call it a gadfly, those who dwell by the Nile.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἶστρον καλοῦσιν αὐτὸν οἱ Νείλου πέλας.

[¶62] King:
Well then, it drove her by a long course out of the land.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τοιγάρ νιν ἐκ γῆς ἤλασεν μακρῷ δρόμῳ.

[¶63] Chorus:
Your account agrees with mine in all respects.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔλεξας πάντα συγκόλλως ἐμοί.

[¶64] King:
So she came to Canobus and to Memphis.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
καὶ μὴν Κάνωβον κἀπὶ Μέμφιν ἵκετο.

[¶65] Chorus:
And Zeus begot a son by the touching of his hand.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ Ζεύς γʼ ἐφάπτωρ χειρὶ φιτύει γόνον.

[¶66] King:
Who is it then that claims to be the cow’s Zeus-begotten calf?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τίς οὖν ὁ Δῖος πόρτις εὔχεται βοός;

[¶67] Chorus:
Epaphus, and truly named from “laying on of hands.”

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἔπαφος ἀληθῶς ῥυσίων ἐπώνυμος.

[¶68] King:
And who was begotten of Epaphus?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
…

[¶69] Chorus:
Libya, who reaps the fruit of the largest portion of the earth.

> Greek: Χορός:
Λιβύη, μέγιστον γῆς ⟨πέδον⟩ καρπουμένη.

[¶70] King:
What offspring, then, did Libya have?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
…

[¶71] Chorus:
Agenor was her first child born.

> Greek: Χορός:
…

[¶72] King:
And who was his offspring?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τίνʼ οὖν ἔτʼ ἄλλον τῆσδε βλαστημὸν λέγεις;

[¶73] Chorus:
Belus, who had two sons and was father of my father here.

> Greek: Χορός:
Βῆλον δίπαιδα πατέρα τοῦδʼ ἐμοῦ πατρός.

[¶74] King:
Now tell me his wisely-given name.
Chorus:
Danaus: and he has a brother with fifty sons.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τὸ πάνσοφον νῦν ὄνομα τοῦτό μοι φράσον.
Χορός:
Δαναός, ἀδελφὸς δʼ ἐστὶ πεντηκοντάπαις.

[¶75] King:
Reveal his name ungrudgingly.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
καὶ τοῦδʼ ἄνοιγε τοὔνομʼ ἀφθόνῳ λόγῳ.

[¶76] Chorus:
Aegyptus; and now that you know my ancient lineage, I pray you to help a band that is Argive by descent.

> Greek: Χορός:
Αἴγυπτος. εἰδὼς δʼ ἁμὸν ἀρχαῖον γένος
πράσσοις ἂν ὡς Ἀργεῖον ἀνστήσῃς στόλον.

[¶77] King:
I think you indeed have some share in this land from old. But how did you bring yourselves to leave the home of your fathers? What stroke of fortune befell you?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
δοκεῖτε ⟨δή⟩ μοι τῆσδε κοινωνεῖν χθονὸς
τἀρχαῖον. ἀλλὰ πῶς πατρῷα δώματα
λιπεῖν ἔτλητε; τίς κατέσκηψεν τύχη;

[¶78] Chorus:
Lord of the Pelasgians, of varying color are the ills of mankind, and nowhere can you find trouble of the same plume.
For who dreamed that a kindred race, sprung of old, would thus in unexpected flight find haven at Argos, fleeing in terror through loathing of the marriage-bed?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναξ Πελασγῶν, αἰόλʼ ἀνθρώπων κακά.
πόνου δʼ ἴδοις ἂν οὐδαμοῦ ταὐτὸν πτερόν·
ἐπεὶ τίς ηὔχει τήνδʼ ἀνέλπιστον φυγὴν
κέλσειν ἐς Ἄργος κῆδος ἐγγενὲς τὸ πρίν,
ἔχθει μεταπτοιοῦσαν εὐναίων γάμων;

[¶79] King:
Why have you come as suppliants of these gods congregated here, holding in your hands those white-wreathed, fresh-plucked boughs?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τί φὴς ἱκνεῖσθαι τῶνδʼ ἀγωνίων θεῶν,
λευκοστεφεῖς ἔχουσα νεοδρέπτους κλάδους;

[¶80] Chorus:
So as not to be made slave to Aegyptus’ race.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὡς μὴ γένωμαι δμωὶς Αἰγύπτου γένει.

[¶81] King:
By reason of hatred? Or do you speak of unlawfulness?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
πότερα κατʼ ἔχθραν, ἢ τὸ μὴ θέμις λέγεις;

[¶82] Chorus:
Who would purchase their lords from among their kin?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίς δʼ ἂν φίλους ὠνοῖτο τοὺς κεκτημένους;

[¶83] King:
In this way families have enhanced their power.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
σθένος μὲν οὕτως μεῖζον αὔξεται βροτοῖς.

[¶84] Chorus:
And it is easy then, if things go ill, to separate from a wife.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ δυστυχούντων γʼ εὐμαρὴς ἀπαλλαγή.

[¶85] King:
How then am I to deal with you in accordance with my sacred duty?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
πῶς οὖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς εὐσεβὴς ἐγὼ πέλω;

[¶86] Chorus:
By not surrendering us at the demand of Aegyptus’ sons.

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰτοῦσι μὴ ʼκδοὺς παισὶν Αἰγύπτου πάλιν.

[¶87] King:
A serious request—to take upon myself a dangerous war.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
βαρέα σύ γʼ εἶπας, πόλεμον ἄρασθαι νέον.

[¶88] Chorus:
But Justice protects her champions.
King:
True, if she had a share in the matter from the beginning.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἡ δίκη γε ξυμμάχων ὑπερστατεῖ.
βασιλεύς:
εἴπερ γʼ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς πραγμάτων κοινωνὸς ἦν.

[¶89] Chorus:
Show reverence for the ship of state thus crowned.

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰδοῦ σὺ πρύμναν πόλεος ὧδʼ ἐστεμμένην.

[¶90] King:
I shrink as I gaze upon these shaded shrines.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
πέφρικα λεύσσων τάσδʼ ἕδρας κατασκίους.

[¶91] Chorus:
Yet heavy is the wrath of Zeus, god of the suppliant.

> Greek: Χορός:
βαρύς γε μέντοι Ζηνὸς ἱκεσίου κότος.

[¶92] Son of Palaechthon, lord of the Pelasgians, hear me with a benign heart.
Behold me, your suppliant, a fugitive, running around like a heifer chased by wolves upon precipitous crags, where, confident in his help, she lows to tell the herdsman of her distress.

> Greek: Χορός:
Παλαίχθονος τέκος, κλῦθί μου
πρόφρονι καρδίᾳ, Πελασγῶν ἄναξ.
ἴδε με τὰν ἱκέτιν φυγάδα περίδρομον,
λυκοδίωκτον ὡς δάμαλιν ἂμ πέτραις
ἠλιβάτοις, ἵνʼ ἀλκᾷ πίσυνος μέμυ-
κε φράζουσα βοτῆρι μόχθους.

[¶93] King:
I see
a company of assembled gods assenting beneath the shade of fresh-plucked boughs. Nevertheless may this affair of claimants to the friendship of our city bring no mischief in its wake! And let no feud come upon the state from causes unforeseen and unforestalled; for the state has no need of such trouble.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ὁρῶ κλάδοισι νεοδρόποις κατάσκιον
νεύονθʼ ὅμιλον τόνδʼ ἀγωνίων θεῶν.
εἴη δʼ ἄνατον πρᾶγμα τοῦτʼ ἀστοξένων.
μηδʼ ἐξ ἀέλπτων κἀπρομηθήτων πόλει
νεῖκος γένηται· τῶν γὰρ οὐ δεῖται πόλις.

[¶94] Chorus:
Indeed,
may Justice, daughter of Zeus the Apportioner, Justice who protects the suppliant, look upon our flight that it bring no mischief in its wake. But you, aged in experience, learn from one of younger birth. If you show mercy to a suppliant... from a man of holiness.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴδοιτο δῆτʼ ἄνατον φυγὰν
ἱκεσία Θέμις Διὸς κλαρίου.
σὺ δὲ παρʼ ὀψιγόνου μάθε γεραιόφρων·
ποτιτρόπαιον αἰδόμενος οὖνπερ
ἱεροδόκα …
θεῶν λήματʼ ἀπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἁγνοῦ.

[¶95] King:
It is not my own house at whose hearth you sit. If the state is stained by pollution in its commonalty, in common let the people strive to work out the cure. For myself, I will pledge no promise before I have communicated these events to all the citizens.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
οὔτοι κάθησθε δωμάτων ἐφέστιοι
ἐμῶν. τὸ κοινὸν δʼ εἰ μιαίνεται πόλις,
ξυνῇ μελέσθω λαὸς ἐκπονεῖν ἄκη.
ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν οὐ κραίνοιμʼ ὑπόσχεσιν πάρος,
ἀστοῖς δὲ πᾶσι τῶνδε κοινώσας πέρι.

[¶96] Chorus:
You are the state, you are the people. Being subject to no judge, you rule the altar, your country’s hearth by your will’s sole ordinance; and, enthroned in sole sovereignty,
you determine every issue. Beware pollution!

> Greek: Χορός:
σύ τοι πόλις, σὺ δὲ τὸ δάμιον.
πρύτανις ἄκριτος ὤν,
κρατύνεις βωμόν, ἑστίαν χθονός,
μονοψήφοισι νεύμασιν σέθεν,
μονοσκήπτροισι δʼ ἐν θρόνοις χρέος
πᾶν ἐπικραίνεις· ἄγος φυλάσσου.

[¶97] King:
Pollution on my enemies! But without harm I do not know how to help you. And yet again, it is not well advised to slight these supplications. I am perplexed, and fear possesses my soul
whether to act, or not to act and take what fortune sends.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ἄγος μὲν εἴη τοῖς ἐμοῖς παλιγκότοις,
ὑμῖν δʼ ἀρήγειν οὐκ ἔχω βλάβης ἄτερ.
οὐδʼ αὖ τόδʼ εὖφρον, τάσδʼ ἀτιμάσαι λιτάς.
ἀμηχανῶ δὲ καὶ φόβος μʼ ἔχει φρένας
δρᾶσαί τε μὴ δρᾶσαί τε καὶ τύχην ἑλεῖν.

[¶98] Chorus:
Look to him who looks down from above, to him, the guardian of mortals sore-distressed, who appeal to their neighbors, yet do not obtain the justice that is their right.
The wrath of Zeus, the suppliant’s god, remains, and will not be softened by a sufferer’s complaints.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὸν ὑψόθεν σκοπὸν ἐπισκόπει,
φύλακα πολυπόνων
βροτῶν, οἳ τοῖς πέλας προσήμενοι
δίκας οὐ τυγχάνουσιν ἐννόμου.
μένει τοι Ζηνὸς ἱκταίου κότος
δυσπαραθέλκτους παθόντος οἴκτοις.

[¶99] King:
If the sons of Aegyptus have authority over you by the law of your country claiming that they are nearest of kin, who would wish to contest it?
You must plead in accordance with the laws of the land you have fled, that they have no authority over you.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
εἴ τοι κρατοῦσι παῖδες Αἰγύπτου σέθεν
νόμῳ πόλεως, φάσκοντες ἐγγύτατα γένους
εἶναι, τίς ἂν τοῖσδʼ ἀντιωθῆναι θέλοι;
δεῖ τοί σε φεύγειν κατὰ νόμους τοὺς οἴκοθεν,
ὡς οὐκ ἔχουσιν κῦρος οὐδὲν ἀμφὶ σοῦ.

[¶100] Chorus:
Never, oh never, may I fall subject to the power and authority of these men. I am determined to flee to escape this marriage that offends my soul, piloting my course by the stars.
Take Justice as your ally, and render judgment for the cause deemed righteous by the gods.

> Greek: Χορός:
μή τί ποτʼ οὖν γενοίμαν ὑποχείριος
κράτεσιν ἀρσένων. ὕπαστρον δέ τοι
μῆχαρ ὁρίζομαι γάμου δύσφρονος
φυγάν· ξύμμαχον δʼ ἑλόμενος δίκαν
κρῖνε σέβας τὸ πρὸς θεῶν.

[¶101] King:
The judgment is not easy—do not make me the judge. I have declared already that, though I am ruler, I will not do this thing without the consent of my people, lest hereafter,
if any evil befall, the people should say, “You honored aliens and brought ruin upon your own land.”

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
οὐκ εὔκριτον τὸ κρῖμα. μή μʼ αἱροῦ κριτήν.
εἶπον δὲ καὶ πρίν, οὐκ ἄνευ δήμου τάδε
πράξαιμʼ ἄν, οὐδέ περ κρατῶν, μὴ καί ποτε
εἴπῃ λεώς, εἴ πού τι μὴ τοῖον τύχοι,
ἐπήλυδας τιμῶν ἀπώλεσας πόλιν.

[¶102] Chorus:
Kindred to both in blood, Zeus surveys both sides alike in this dispute with an impartial scale, apportioning, as is due, to the wicked their wrongdoing and to the godly their works of righteousness.
When these things are thus equally balanced, why do you fear to act justly?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀμφοτέρους ὁμαίμων τάδʼ ἐπισκοπεῖ
Ζεὺς ἑτερορρεπής, νέμων εἰκότως
ἄδικα μὲν κακοῖς, ὅσια δʼ ἐννόμοις.
τί τῶνδʼ ἐξ ἴσου ῥεπομένων μεταλ-
γεῖς τὸ δίκαιον ἔρξας;

[¶103] King:
Surely there is need of deep and salutary counsel; need for a keen-sighted eye, not confused, to descend, like some diver, into the depths;
that to the state above all things this matter may not work mischief, but may end well for us; that strife may not seize you for its prize, nor yet that we surrender you from these seats of sanctuary,
and bring upon ourselves the dire, abiding vengeance of the all-destroying god, who, even in the realm of Death, does not set his victim free. Surely you cannot think there is no need of salutary counsel?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
δεῖ τοι βαθείας φροντίδος σωτηρίου,
δίκην κολυμβητῆρος, ἐς βυθὸν μολεῖν
δεδορκὸς ὄμμα, μηδʼ ἄγαν ᾠνωμένον,
ὅπως ἄνατα ταῦτα πρῶτα μὲν πόλει,
αὐτοῖσί θʼ ἡμῖν ἐκτελευτήσει καλῶς,
καὶ μήτε δῆρις ῥυσίων ἐφάψεται
μήτʼ ἐν θεῶν ἕδραισιν ὧδʼ ἱδρυμένας
ἐκδόντες ὑμᾶς τὸν πανώλεθρον θεὸν
βαρὺν ξύνοικον θησόμεσθʼ ἀλάστορα,
ὃς οὐδʼ ἐν Ἅιδου τὸν θανόντʼ ἐλευθεροῖ.
μῶν οὐ δοκεῖ δεῖν φροντίδος σωτηρίου;

[¶104] Chorus:
Take counsel, and, as is your sacred duty, prove yourself our sacred
champion. Do not betray the fugitive who has been impiously cast out and driven from afar.

> Greek: Χορός:
φρόντισον καὶ γενοῦ
πανδίκως εὐσεβὴς
πρόξενος· τὰν φυγάδα μὴ προδῷς,
τὰν ἕκαθεν ἐκβολαῖς
δυσθέοις ὀρμέναν·

[¶105] And see me not ravished from this sanctuary of many gods,
oh you who hold sovereign power over the land. Recognize men’s wantonness, and guard against wrath.

> Greek: Χορός:
μηδʼ ἴδῃς μʼ ἐξ ἑδρᾶν
πολυθέων ῥυσια-
σθεῖσαν, ὦ πᾶν κράτος ἔχων χθονός.
γνῶθι δʼ ὕβριν ἀνέρων
καὶ φύλαξαι κότον.

[¶106] Do not see your suppliant dragged, in spite of justice, from the images of the gods,
like a horse by the bridle, and see rude hands laid upon my fine-woven robes.

> Greek: Χορός:
μή τι τλῇς τὰν ἱκέτιν εἰσιδεῖν
ἀπὸ βρετέων βίᾳ
δίκας ἀγομέναν
ἱππηδὸν ἀμπύκων,
πολυμίτων πέπλων τʼ ἐπιλαβὰς ἐμῶν.

[¶107] For be assured of this—whichever end you bring to pass, to your children and house
does it remain to make full payment. Consider these just ordinances of God.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴσθι γάρ· παισὶ τάδε καὶ δόμοις,
ὁπότερʼ ἂν κτίσῃς,
μένει ἄρ ἐκτίνειν
ὁμοιΐαν θέμιν.
τάδε φράσαι δίκαια Διόθεν κράτη.

[¶108] King:
I have considered them; and I am driven to this cruel predicament. I must take upon myself a mighty war against one side or the other.
There is no escape, it is as firmly fixed as a ship’s hull drawn tight by windlasses. There is no result without grievous hurt. Now when goods are plundered from a homestead,
other goods may come by grace of Zeus, guardian of household wealth; as a tongue that has shot arrows beside the mark, one speech may be the healer of another. But to avoid the shedding of kindred blood,
surely there is need of sacrifice and that many a victim fall to many a god as a deliverance from impending harm. For truly, it is to my undoing that I have come into this quarrel; and yet I prefer to be unskilled rather than practised in the lore of foretelling ill. But may my judgment belie itself and all go well!

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
καὶ δὴ πέφρασμαι. δεῦρο δʼ ἐξοκέλλεται.
ἢ τοῖσιν ἢ τοῖς πόλεμον αἴρεσθαι μέγαν
πᾶσʼ ἔστʼ ἀνάγκη, καὶ γεγόμφωται σκάφος
στρέβλαισι ναυτικαῖσιν ὡς προσηγμένον.
ἄνευ δὲ λύπης οὐδαμοῦ καταστροφή.
καὶ χρημάτων μὲν ἐκ δόμων πορθουμένων,
ἄτην γε μείζω καὶ μέγʼ ἐμπλήσας γόμου
γένοιτʼ ἂν ἄλλα Κτησίου Διὸς χάριν·
καὶ γλῶσσα τοξεύσασα μὴ τὰ καίρια,
γένοιτο μύθου μῦθος ἂν θελκτήριος
[ἀλγεινὰ θυμοῦ κάρτα κινητήρια].
ὅπως δʼ ὅμαιμον αἷμα μὴ γενήσεται,
δεῖ κάρτα θύειν καὶ πεσεῖν χρηστήρια
θεοῖσι πολλοῖς πολλά, πημονῆς ἄκη.
ἦ κάρτα νείκους τοῦδʼ ἔσω παροίχομαι
θέλω δʼ ἄιδρις μᾶλλον ἢ σοφὸς κακῶν
εἶναι. γένοιτο δʼ εὖ παρὰ γνώμην ἐμήν.

[¶109] Chorus:
Hear now the end of my appeals for compassion.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολλῶν ἄκουσον τέρματʼ αἰδοίων λόγων.

[¶110] King:
I hear; say on. It shall not escape me.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ἤκουσα, καὶ λέγοις ἄν. οὔ με φεύξεται.

[¶111] Chorus:
I have breast-bands and girdles to gather up my robes.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔχω στρόφους ζώνας τε, συλλαβὰς πέπλων

[¶112] King:
Such things are proper, no doubt, for women.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τάχʼ ἂν γυναιξὶ ταῦτα συμπρεπῆ πέλοι.

[¶113] Chorus:
In these then, be sure, I have a beautiful instrument—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐκ τῶνδε τοίνυν, ἴσθι, μηχανὴ καλή—

[¶114] King:
Tell me what speech you plan to utter.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
λέξον τίνʼ αὐδὴν τήνδε γηρυθεῖσʼ ἔσῃ.

[¶115] Chorus:
If you will not give some pledge to this group—

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ μή τι πιστὸν τῷδʼ ὑποστήσεις στόλῳ—

[¶116] King:
What will the contrivance of the sashes do for you?

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
τί σοι περαίνει μηχανὴ συζωμάτων;

[¶117] Chorus:
To adorn these images with tablets of strange sort.

> Greek: Χορός:
νέοις πίναξι βρέτεα κοσμῆσαι τάδε.

[¶118] King:
Your words are riddling; come, explain in simple speech.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
αἰνιγματῶδες τοὔπος· ἀλλʼ ἁπλῶς φράσον.

[¶119] Chorus:
To hang ourselves from the statues of these gods.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐκ τῶνδʼ ὅπως τάχιστʼ ἀπάγξασθαι θεῶν.

[¶120] King:
I detect a threat that is a lash upon my heart.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
ἤκουσα μαστικτῆρα καρδίας λόγον.

[¶121] Chorus:
You have grasped my intention, for I have cleared your vision.

> Greek: Χορός:
ξυνῆκας· ὠμμάτωσα γὰρ σαφέστερον.

[¶122] King:
And on many sides there are difficulties hard to wrestle with; for, like a flood, a multitude of ills bursts on me.
It is a sea of ruin, fathomless and impassable, which I am launched upon, and nowhere is there a haven from distress. For should I not pay the debt due to you, the pollution you name is beyond all range of speech; yet if
I take my stand before the walls and try the issue of battle with the sons of Aegyptus, your kinsmen, how will the cost not mount to a cruel price—men’s blood to stain the ground for women’s sake? And yet the wrath of Zeus who guards the suppliant compels my reverence; for supreme among mortals is the fear of him.
Aged father of these maidens, take these boughs straightway in your arms and place them upon other altars of the country’s gods, that all the natives may see the sign that you have come in suppliance. And let no random word fall against
me; for the people could complain against authority. It may well be that some, stirred to compassion at the sight, will hate the wantonness of the troop of males, and that the people will be more friendly towards you; for all men are well disposed to the weaker cause.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
καὶ πολλαχῇ γε δυσπάλαιστα πράγματα,
κακῶν δὲ πλῆθος ποταμὸς ὣς ἐπέρχεται·
ἄτης δʼ ἄβυσσον πέλαγος οὐ μάλʼ εὔπορον
τόδʼ ἐσβέβηκα, κοὐδαμοῦ λιμὴν κακῶν.
εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὑμῖν μὴ τόδʼ ἐκπράξω χρέος,
μίασμʼ ἔλεξας οὐχ ὑπερτοξεύσιμον.
εἰ δʼ αὖθʼ ὁμαίμοις παισὶν Αἰγύπτου σέθεν
σταθεὶς πρὸ τειχέων διὰ μάχης ἥξω τέλους,
πῶς οὐχὶ τἀνάλωμα γίγνεται πικρόν,
ἄνδρας γυναικῶν οὕνεχʼ αἱμάξαι πέδον;
ὅμως δʼ ἀνάγκη Ζηνὸς αἰδεῖσθαι κότον
ἱκτῆρος· ὕψιστος γὰρ ἐν βροτοῖς φόβος.
σὺ μέν, πάτερ γεραιὲ τῶνδε παρθένων,
κλάδους τε τούτους αἶψʼ ἐν ἀγκάλαις λαβὼν
βωμοὺς ἐπʼ ἄλλους δαιμόνων ἐγχωρίων
θές, ὡς ἴδωσι τῆσδʼ ἀφίξεως τέκμαρ
πάντες πολῖται, μηδʼ ἀπορριφθῇ ψόγος
ἐμοῦ· κατʼ ἀρχῆς γὰρ φιλαίτιος λεώς.
καὶ γὰρ τάχʼ ἄν τις οἰκτίσας ἰδὼν τάδε
ὕβριν μὲν ἐχθήρειεν ἄρσενος στόλου,
ὑμῖν δʼ ἂν εἴη δῆμος εὐμενέστερος·
τοῖς ἥσσοσιν γὰρ πᾶς τις εὐνοίας φέρει.

[¶123] Danaus:
We consider it worth much to have gained a champion who is compassionate. Yet send escorts and guides of the country’s people with me so we may find where the gods who protect your city have their altars at the temple porches and their... seats,
and that we may go safely through the town. My shape is unlike yours, for Nile and Inachus rear a different race. Beware lest boldness give birth to fear; for through ignorance men have slain those they love.

> Greek: Δαναός:
πολλῶν τάδʼ ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἠξιωμένα,
αἰδοῖον εὑρεθέντα πρόξενον λαβεῖν.
ὀπάονας δὲ φράστοράς τʼ ἐγχωρίων
ξύμπεμψον, ὡς ἂν τῶν πολισσούχων θεῶν
βωμοὺς προνάους καὶ πολισσούχων ἕδρας
εὕρωμεν, ἀσφάλεια δʼ ᾖ διʼ ἄστεως
στείχουσι· μορφῆς δʼ οὐχ ὁμόστολος φύσις.
Νεῖλος γὰρ οὐχ ὅμοιον Ἰνάχῳ γένος
τρέφει. φύλαξαι μὴ θράσος τέκῃ φόβον·
καὶ δὴ φίλον τις ἔκτανʼ ἀγνοίας ὕπο.

[¶124] King:
Come, men, the stranger speaks well. Be his guides to the altars of the city and to the sanctuaries of the gods. Do not speak at length with whomever you meet on the way while you are bringing this seafarer to be a suppliant at the hearths of the gods. Exit Danaus with attendants

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
στείχοιτʼ ἄν, ἄνδρες· εὖ γὰρ ὁ ξένος λέγει.
ἡγεῖσθε βωμοὺς ἀστικούς, θεῶν ἕδρας·
καὶ ξυμβολοῦσιν οὐ πολυστομεῖν χρεὼν
ναύτην ἄγοντας τόνδʼ ἐφέστιον θεῶν.

[¶125] Chorus:
You told him, and let him go as directed.
But what of me? What am I to do? Where do you assign security to me?

> Greek: Χορός:
τούτῳ μὲν εἶπας, καὶ τεταγμένος κίοι·
ἐγὼ δὲ πῶς δρῶ; ποῦ θράσος νέμεις ἐμοί;

[¶126] King:
Leave your boughs here, tokens of your distress.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
κλάδους μὲν αὐτοῦ λεῖπε, σημεῖον πόνου.

[¶127] Chorus:
Behold, I leave them at your signal and command.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ δή σφε λείπω χειρὶ καὶ λόγοις σέθεν.

[¶128] King:
Go now along this level space about the sanctuary.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
λευρὸν κατʼ ἄλσος νῦν ἐπιστρέφου τόδε.

[¶129] Chorus:
But it is not holy ground. How can it keep me safe?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ πῶς βέβηλον ἄλσος ἂν ῥύοιτό με;

[¶130] King:
Be assured, we will not surrender you to winged creatures’ ravishment.

> Greek: Βασιλεύς:
οὔτοι πτερωτῶν ἁρπαγαῖς ⟨σʼ⟩ ἐκδώσομεν.

[¶131] Chorus:
But what about those whom we dread worse than evil serpents?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εἰ δρακόντων δυσφρόνων ἐχθίοσιν;