the suppliants-第2章
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refrain 1
O Apian land of hill and dale；
Thou kennest yet； O land； this faltered foreign wail
Have mercy； hear my prayer！
Lo； how again； again； I rend and tear
My woven raiment； and from off my hair
Cast the Sidonian veil！
strophe 7
The wafting oar； the bark with woven sail；
From which the sea foamed back；
Sped me； unharmed of storms； along the breeze's track…
Be it unblamed of me！
But ah； the end； the end of my emprise！
May He； the Father； with all…seeing eyes；
Grant me that end to see！
refrain 2
Grant that henceforth unstained as heretofore
I may escape the forced embrace
Of those proud children of the race
That sacred Io bore。
antistrophe 7
And thou； O maiden…goddess chaste and pure…
Queen of the inner fane…
Look of thy grace on me； O Artemis；
Thy willing suppliant…thine； thine it is；；
Who from the lustful onslaught fled secure；
To grant that I too without stain
The shelter of thy purity may gain！
refrain 2
Grant that henceforth unstained as heretofore
I may escape the forced embrace
Of those proud children of the race
That sacred Io bore！
strophe 8
Yet if this may not be；
We； the dark race sun…smitten； we
Will speed with suppliant wands
To Zeus who rules below； with hospitable hands
Who welcomes all the dead from all the lands：
Yea； by our own hands strangled； we will go；
Spurned by Olympian gods； unto the gods below！
refrain 3
Zeus； hear and save！
The searching； poisonous hate； that Io vexed and drave；
Was of a goddess： well I know
The bitter ire； the wrathful woe
Of Hera； queen of heaven…
A storm； a storm her breath； whereby we yet are driven！
antistrophe 8
Bethink thee； what dispraise
Of Zeus himself mankind will raise；
If now he turn his face averted from our cries！
If now； dishonoured and alone；
The ox…horned maiden's race shall be undone；
Children of Epaphus； his own begotten son…
Zeus； listen from on high！…to thee our prayers arise。
refrain 3
Zeus； hear and save！
The searching poisonous hate； that lo vexed and drave；
Was of a goddess： well I know
The bitter ire； the wrathful woe
Of Hera； queen of heaven…
A storm； a storm her breath； whereby we yet are driven！
（After the CHORUS has finished its song and dance； DANAUS
comes forward。）
DANAUS
Children； be wary…wary he with whom
Ye come； your trusty sire and steersman old：
And that same caution hold I here on land；
And bid you hoard my words； inscribing them
On memory's tablets。 Lo； I see afar
Dust； voiceless herald of a host； arise；
And hark； within their griding sockets ring
Axles of hurrying wheels！ I see approach；
Borne in curved cars； by speeding horses drawn；
A speared and shielded band。 The chiefs； perchance。
Of this their land are hitherward intent
To look on us； of whom they yet have heard
By messengers alone。 But come who may；
And come he peaceful or in ravening wrath
Spurred on his path； 'twere best； in any case；
Damsels； to cling unto this altar…mound
Made sacred to their gods of festival；…
A shrine is stronger than a tower to save；
A shield that none may cleave。 Step swift thereto；
And in your left hands hold with reverence
The white…crowned wands of suppliance； the sign
Beloved of Zeus； compassion's lord； and speak
To those that question you； words meek and low
And piteous； as beseems your stranger state；
Clearly avowing of this flight of yours
The bloodless cause； and on your utterance
See to it well that modesty attend；
From downcast eyes； from brows of pure control；
Let chastity look forth； nor； when ye speak；
Be voluble nor eager…they that dwell
Within this land are sternly swift to chide。
And be your words submissive： heed this well；
For weak ye are； outcasts on stranger lands；
And froward talk beseems not strengthless hands。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O father； warily to us aware
Thy words are spoken； and thy wisdom's hest
My mind shall hoard； with Zeus our sire to aid。
DANAUS
Even so…with gracious aspect let him aid。
LEADER
Fain were I now to seat me by thy side…
DANAUS
Now dally not； but put our thought in act。
LEADER
Zeus； pity our distress； or e'er we die。
DANAUS
If so he will； your toils to joy will turn。
LEADER
Lo； on this shrine； the semblance of a bird。
DANAUS
Zeus' bird of dawn it is； invoke the sign。
LEADER
Thus I invoke the saving rays of morn。
DANAUS
Next； bright Apollo； exiled once from heaven。
LEADER
The exiled god will pity our exile。
DANAUS
Yea； may he pity； giving grace and aid。
LEADER
Whom next invoke I； of these other gods？
DANAUS
Lo； here a trident； symbol of a god。
LEADER
Who gave sea…safety； may he bless on land！
DANAUS
This next is Hermes； carved in Grecian wise。
LEADER
Then let him herald help to freedom won。
DANAUS
Lastly； adore this altar consecrate
To many lesser gods in one； then crouch
On holy ground； a flock of doves that flee；
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
