Delphi Complete Works of Aeschylus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) (12 page)

KING
[512]
Speak with
good omen, as I have spoken auspiciously to you.

CHORUS
[513]
No wonder
I am fretful through alarm of mind.

KING
[514]
Excessive
fear is always uncontrolled.

CHORUS
[515]
Cheer my
heart by deeds as well as words.

KING
[516]
Your
father will not leave you here alone for long. I am going now to call together
the people of the land, that I may make the masses friendly; and I will
instruct your father in what things he should say. Now stay here and beseech the
gods of the land with prayers to grant what you desire, while I go to advance
your cause. May persuasion and efficacious fortune attend me!
[
Exit with attendants.
]

CHORUS
[524]
Lord of
lords, most blessed among the blessed, power most perfect among the perfect, O
blessed Zeus, hear! And from your offspring ward off in utter abhorrence the
lust of men, and into the purple sea cast their black-benched madness!

[531]
Look benignly
upon the women’s cause, look upon our race ancient in story, and recall the happy
tale of our ancestress, the woman of your love. Show that you remember all, you
who laid your hand upon Io. It is from Zeus that we claim descent, and it is
from this, our homeland, that we went forth.

[538]
I have come here
to the prints of ancient feet, my mother’s, even to the region where she was
watched while she browsed among the flowers — into that pasture, from which Io,
tormented by the gad-fly’s sting, fled in frenzy, traversing many tribes of
men, and according to fate, cut in two the surging strait, marking off the land
upon the farther shore.

[547]
And through the
land of Asia she gallops, straight through sheep-pasturing Phrygia, and she
passes the city of Teuthras among the Mysians, and the hollow vales of Lydia,
across the mountains of the Cilicians and the Pamphylians, speeding over
ever-flowing rivers and earth deep and rich, and the land of Aphrodite that
teems with wheat.

[556]
Harassed by the
sting of the winged herdsman she gains at last the fertile groves sacred to
Zeus, that snow-fed pasture assailed by Typho’s fury, and the water of the Nile
that no disease may touch — maddened by her ignominious toils and frenzied with
the pain of Hera’s torturing goad.

[565]
And mortals, who
in those days dwelled in the land, shook with pallid terror at the terrible
sight as they beheld a being fearsome, half-human, part cow and part of woman;
and they were astonished at the monstrous thing. And then, at last, who was it
who calmed the far-wandering, the wretched, the sting-tormented Io?

[574]
Zeus, it was,
through endless time, the lord, . . . and by the unharming might of his hand,
and by his divine breath, she gained rest, and let fall the sorrowing shame of
tears. And, taking Zeus as her support, according to a true story, she bore a
blameless son —

[582]
Tthroughout long
ages blessed. All the earth cries aloud, “This is in very truth the offspring
of life-giving Zeus; for who else could have endured the suffering plotted by
Hera?” Call this the work of Zeus and this his race sprung from Epaphus and you
will hit the truth.

[590]
Which of the
gods has accomplished deeds which, with good reason, warrant more justly my
appeal to him? Father himself and lord, he planted us with his own hand; he is
the mighty fashioner of our race, ancient in wisdom, who devises everything,
whose breath makes all things prosper, Zeus himself.

[595]
He does not sit
upon his throne by mandate of another and hold his dominion beneath a mightier.
No one sits above him whose power he holds in awe. He speaks, and it is done — he
hastens to execute whatever his counselling mind conceives.

[
Re-enter
Danaus.
]

DANAUS
[600]
Be of good
cheer, my children, all goes well on the part of the citizens. Decrees,
carrying full authority, have been passed.

CHORUS
[602]
Hail, our
envoy, harbinger of tidings most welcome, But tell us — to what end has the
decision been carried, and to what course does the majority of the people’s
votes incline?

DANAUS
[605]
Action was
taken by the Argives, not by any doubtful vote but in such a way as to make my
aged heart renew its youth. For the air bristled with right hands held aloft
as, in full vote, they ratified this resolution into law: “That we are settlers
in this land, and are free, subject to no seizure, and secure from robbery of
man; that no one, native or alien, lead us captive; but, if they turn to
violence, any landholder who refuses to rescue us, should both forfeit his
rights and suffer public banishment.” Such was the persuasive speech that the
king of the Pelasgians delivered on our behalf, uttering the solemn warning
that never in the future should the city feed the great wrath of Zeus,
protector of the suppliant; and declaring that, should a twofold defilement — from
strangers and from natives at once — arise before the city, it would become
fodder for distress past all relief. Hearing these words, the Argive people,
waiting for no proclamation of crier, voted by uplifted hand that this should
be so. It was the Pelasgian people, won readily to assent, who heard the subtle
windings of his speech; but it was Zeus who brought the end to pass.

CHORUS
[625]
Come, let
us invoke blessings upon the Argives in return for blessings. And may Zeus, god
of strangers, behold the offerings of gratitude voiced by a stranger’s lips,
that they may in true fulfilment reach their perfect goal.

[630]
Divinely-born
gods! Hear now as I pour forth libations for blessings upon our kindred. Never
may the wanton lord of war, insatiate of battle-cry, Ares, who reaps a human
harvest in alien fields, destroy this Pelasgian land by fire; for they had
compassion for us, and cast a vote in our favor, respecting our pitiable flock,
suppliants in the name of Zeus.

[643]
Nor did they
cast their votes for the side of the males, disregarding the women’s cause,
since they honored the avenging eye of Zeus, against which there is no
battling, and what house would have it defiling its roof? For he sits heavily
upon it. They take reverent heed of their kin, petitioners of holy Zeus;
therefore with pure altars shall they please the gods.

[656]
Therefore let
there fly forth from our overshadowed lips a prayer of gratitude. Never may
pestilence empty this city of its men nor strife stain the soil of the land
with the blood of slain inhabitants. But may the flower of its youth be
unplucked, and may Ares, the partner of Aphrodite’s bed, he who makes havoc of
men, not shear off their bloom.

[667]
And may the
altars, where the elders gather, blaze in honor of venerable men. Thus may
their state be regulated well, if they hold in awe mighty Zeus, and, most of
all, Zeus the warden of the guest, who by venerable enactment guides destiny
straight. We pray that other guardians be always renewed, and that
Artemis-Hecate watch over the childbirth of their women.

[678]
And let no
murderous havoc come upon the realm to ravage it, by arming Ares — foe to the
dance and lute, parent of tears — and the shout of civil strife. And may the
joyless swarm of diseases settle far from the heads of the inhabitants, and to
all the young people may Lyceus be graciously disposed.

[688]
May Zeus cause
the earth to bring forth its tribute of fruit by the produce of every season;
may their grazing cattle in the fields have abundant increase, and may they
obtain all things from the heavenly powers. May minstrels sing hymns of praise
at the altars; and from pure lips let there proceed the phorminx-loving chant.

[698]
May the people
who control the state guard its privileges free from fear — a prudent
government counselling wisely for the public prosperity. And should they have
recourse to arms may they inflict no loss, but grant just rights of covenant to
the stranger within their gates.

[704]
And may they
worship forever the gods who possess the land [with native honors of laurel
bough held aloft, and oxen slain, even as their fathers did before their time.
Since reverence for parents stands written third among the statutes of Justice,
to whom honor supreme is due.

DANAUS
[710]
I commend
these sensible prayers, dear children; but do not be troubled yourselves when
you hear the unexpected and startling tidings your father has to tell. From my
post of look-out here on the sanctuary of suppliants I see that ship; for it is
well-marked and does not escape me: the trimming of its sail, its side-guards,
and the prow that with its eyes scans its onward course, obeying — all too well
for those to whom it is unfriendly — the guiding rudder at the stern. The men
on board are plainly seen, their black limbs showing from their white attire.
The rest of the ships and all the assisting fleet stand clear in view: but the
leading ship herself has furled her sail and draws near the shore with full
sweep of sounding oars. Yet you must face the matter calmly and with
self-control, and not be unmindful of these gods. For my part, I will secure
allies and advocates to urge our cause, and return. Perhaps some herald or
envoys may come, eager to seize you as a prize and drag you away, but nothing
will happen: do not fear them. Yet in the event that we should be slow in
bringing aid, it would be better not to forget for a moment the means of help
you have here at hand. Courage! In good time, assuredly, and on the day
ordained, he who dishonors the gods will suffer punishment.

CHORUS
[734]
Father, I
am afraid. With what swift wings the ships approach! There is not much time
left. I am possessed by dreadful fear if truly my long flight has been of no
profit. Father, I am consumed with fright.

DANAUS
[739]
Since the
vote of the Argives was final, be of good cheer, my children; they will fight
in your defence, I know this well.

[CHORUS]
[741]
Abominable
is the lustful race of Aegyptus and insatiate of battle; and you know that all
too well. In ships, stout-timbered and dark-prowed, they have sailed here,
attended by a mighty black host, and in their wrath overtaken us.

DANAUS
[746]
But they
will find here a force with arms well-seasoned by the noonday heat.

[CHORUS]
[748]
Do not
leave me forlorn, I implore you, father. A woman abandoned to herself is
nothing. There is no Ares in her. They are of evil mind, and guileful of
purpose, with impure hearts, thinking no more of altars than carrion birds.

DANAUS
[753]
This would
profit us well, my children, should they incur both Heaven’s hate and yours.

[CHORUS]
[755]
Father, no
fear of tridents or of things held sacred in the sight of Heaven will ever keep
their hands from us. They are overweening, maddened, with unholy rage,
shameless dogs that do not respect the gods.

DANAUS
[760]
Yet there
is a saying that wolves are stronger than dogs; the papyrus-fruit does not
conquer the wheat-ear.

[CHORUS]
[762]
Since they
have the tempers of lewd and impious beasts, we must guard against them
quickly.

DANAUS
[764]
A fleet in
getting under way is not so speedy, nor yet in anchoring, when the securing
cables must be brought ashore; and even at anchorage shepherds of ships do not
feel immediately secure, above all if they have arrived on a harborless coast
when the sun is sinking into night. In a cautious pilot night is likely to
beget anxiety. Then, too, the disembarking of an army cannot be effected with
success before a ship has gained confidence in her moorings. But, for all your
terror, remember not to neglect the gods. [I will return] when I have secured
aid. The city will find no fault with a messenger, old in years, but with youth
in his heart and on his tongue.
[
Exit.
]

CHORUS
[776]
O land of
hills, land of our righteous veneration, what is to be our lot? To what region
in the Apian land are we to flee, if anywhere there be some dark hiding-place?
Ah that I might become black smoke that draws near to the clouds of Zeus; or,
soaring aloft without wings, vanish out of sight like viewless dust and
dissolve into nothingness!

[784]
The evil is no
longer escapable; my heart is darkened and trembling; the look-out my father
held has brought me ruin. I am undone with terror. Rather would I meet my doom
in a noose than suffer the embraces of a man I loathe. Death before that, with
Hades for my lord and master!

[792]
Ah that
somewhere in the upper air I might find a seat against which the dank clouds
turn into snow, or some bare, inaccessible crag, beyond sight, brooding in
solitude, beetling, vulture-haunted, to bear witness to my plunge into the
depths before I am ever forced into a marriage that would pierce my heart!

[800]
Thereafter I refuse
not to become a booty for dogs and a banquet for the local birds; for death is
freedom from misery-loving evils. Come death, death be my doom, before the
marriage-bed! How can I yet find some means of escape to deliver me from
marriage?

[808]
Shriek aloud,
with a cry that reaches heaven, strains of supplication to the gods; O father,
give heed that they are somehow accomplished to my safety and tranquility.
Behold deeds of violence with no kind glance in your just eyes! Have respect
for your suppliants, O Zeus, omnipotent upholder of the land!