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!
Of many cries for mercy, hear the end.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Say on, then, for it shall not ’scape
mine ear.
Girdles we have, and bands that bind our
robes.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Even so; such things beseem a woman’s
wear.
Know, then, with these a fair device there
is—
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak, then: what utterance doth
this foretell?
Unless to us thou givest pledge secure—
THE KING OF ARGOS
What can thy girdles’ craft achieve
for thee?
Strange votive tablets shall these statues
deck.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Mysterious thy resolve—avow
it clear.
Swiftly to hang me on these sculptured
gods!
THE KING OF ARGOS
Thy word is as a lash to urge my heart.
Thou seest truth, for I have cleared thine
eye
THE KING OF ARGOS
Yea, and woes manifold, invincible,
A crowd of ills, sweep on me torrent-like.
My bark goes forth upon a sea of troubles
Unfathomed, ill to traverse, harbourless.
For if my deed shall match not your demand,
Dire, beyond shot of speech, shall be
the bane
Your death’s pollution leaves unto
this land.
Yet if against your kin, Aegyptus’
race,
Before our gates I front the doom of war,
Will not the city’s loss be sore?
Shall men
For women’s sake incarnadine the
ground?
But yet the wrath of Zeus, the suppliants’
lord
I needs must fear: most awful unto
man
The terror of his anger. Thou, old
man,
The father of these maidens, gather up
Within your arms these wands of suppliance,
And lay them at the altars manifold
Of all our country’s gods, that
all the town
Know, by this sign, that ye come here
to sue.
Nor, in thy haste, do thou say aught of
me.
Swift is this folk to censure those who
rule;
But, if they see these signs of suppliance,
It well may chance that each will pity
you,
And loathe the young men’s violent
pursuit;
And thus a fairer favour you may find:
For, to the helpless, each man’s
heart is kind.
