the suppliants-第5章
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Benches and rowers dark；
The fatal and perfidious bark！
antistrophe 1
Unto the maidens turn thy gracious care；
Think yet again upon the tale of fame；
How from the maiden loved of thee there sprung
Mine ancient line； long since in many a legend sung！
Remember； O remember； thou whose hand
Did Io by a touch to human shape reclaim。
For from this Argos erst our mother came
Driven hence to Egypt's land；
Yet sprung of Zeus we were； and hence our birth we claim。
strophe 2
And now have I roamed back
Unto the ancient track
Where Io roamed and pastured among flowers；
Watched o'er by Argus' eyes；
Through the lush grasses and the meadow bowers。
Thence； by the gadfly maddened； forth she flies
Unto far lands and alien peoples driven
And； following fate； through paths of foam and surge；
Sees； as she goes； the cleaving strait divide
Greece； from the Eastland riven。
antistrophe 2
And swift through Asian borders doth she urge
Her course； o'er Phrygian mountains' sheep…clipt side；
Thence； where the Mysian realm of Teuthras lies；
Towards Lydian lowlands hies；
And o'er Cilician and Pamphylian hills
And ever…flowing rills；
And thence to Aphrodite's fertile shore；
The land of garnered wheat and wealthy store。
strophe 3
And thence； deep…stung by wild unrest；
By the winged fly that goaded her and drave；
Unto the fertile land； the god…possest
（Where； fed from far…off snows；
Life…giving Nilus flows；
Urged on by Typho's strength； a fertilizing wave）；
She roves； in harassed and dishonoured flight；
Scathed by the blasting pangs of Hera's dread despite。
antistrophe 3
And they within the land
With terror shook and wanned；
So strange the sight they saw； and were afraid…
A wild twy…natured thing； half heifer and half maid。
Whose hand was laid at last on Io； thus forlorn；
With many roamings worn？
Who bade the harassed maiden's peace return？
strophe 4
Zeus； lord of time eterne。
Yea； by his breath divine； by his unscathing strength；
She lays aside her bane；
And softened back to womanhood at length
Sheds human tears again。
Then； quickened with Zeus' veritable seed；
A progeny she bare；
A stainless babe； a child of heavenly breed。
antistrophe 4
Of life and fortune fair。
His is the life of life…so all men say；…
His is the seed of Zeus。
Who else had power stern Hera's craft to stay；
Her vengeful curse to loose？
Yea； all from Zeus befel！
And rightly wouldst thou tell
That we from Epaphus； his child； were born：
Justly his deed was done；
strophe 5
Unto what other one；
Of all the gods； should I for justice turn？
From him our race did spring；
Creator he and King；
Ancient of days and wisdom he； and might。
As bark before the wind；
So； wafted by his mind；
Moves every counsel； each device aright。
antistrophe 5
Beneath no stronger hand
Holds he a weak command；
No throne doth he abase him to adore；
Swift as a word； his deed
Acts out what stands decreed
In counsels of his heart； for evermore。
（DANAUS re…enters。）
DANAUS
Take heart； my children： the land's heart is kind；
And to full issue has their voting come。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
All hail； my sire； thy word brings utmost joy。
Say； to what issue is the vote made sure；
And how prevailed the people's crowding hands？
DANAUS
With one assent the Argives spake their will；
And； hearing； my old heart took youthful cheer。
The very sky was thrilled when high in air
The concourse raised right hands and swore their oath：…
Free shall the maidens sojourn in this land。
Unharried； undespoiled by mortal wight：
No native hand； no hand of foreigner
Shall drag them hence； if any man use force…
Whoe'er of all our countrymen shall fail
To come unto their aid； let him go forth；
Beneath the people's curse； to banishment。
So did the king of this Pelasgian folk
Plead on behalf of us； and bade them heed
That never； in the after…time； this realm
Should feed to fulness the great enmity
Of Zeus； the suppliants' guard； against itself！
A twofold curse； for wronging stranger…guests
Who are akin withal； confrontingly
Should rise before this city and be shown
A ruthless monster； fed on human doom。
Such things the Argive people heard； and straight；
Without proclaim of herald； gave assent：
Yea； in full conclave； the Pelasgian folk
Heard suasive pleas； and Zeus through them resolved。
（The CHORUS now sings a prayer of thankfulness。）
CHORUS
Arouse we now to chant our prayer
For fair return of service fair
And Argos' kindly will。
Zeus； lord of guestright； look upon
The grace our stranger lips have won。
In right and truth； as they begun；
Guide them； with favouring hand； until
Thou dost their blameless wish fulfil！
strophe 1
Now may the Zeus…born gods on high
Hear us pour forth
A votive prayer for Argos' clan！…
Never may this Pelasgian earth；
Amid the fire…wrack； shrill the dismal cry
On Ares； ravening lord of fight；
Who in an alien harvest mows down man！
For lo； this land had pity on our plight；
And unto us were merciful and leal；
To us； the piteous flock； who at Zeus' altar kneel！
antistrophe 1
They scorned not the pleas of maidenhood；
Nor with the young men's will hath their will stood。
They knew right well
Th' unearthly watching fiend invincible；
The foul avenger…let him not draw near！
For he； on roofs ill…starred；
Defiling and polluting； keeps a ghastly ward！
They knew his vengeance； and took holy heed
To us； the sister suppliants； who cry
To Zeus； the lord of purity：
Therefore with altars pure they shall the gods revere。
Thus； through the boughs that shade our lips； fly forth in air；
strophe 2
Fly forth； O eager prayer！
May never pestilence efface
This city's race；
Nor be the land with corpses strewed；
Nor stained with civic blood！
The stem of youth； unpluckt； to manhood come；
Nor Ares rise from Aphrodite's bower；
The lord of death and bane； to waste our youthful flower。
antistrophe 2
Long may the old
Crowd to the altars kindled to consume
Gifts rich and manifold…
Offered to win from powers divine
A benison on city and on shrine：
Let all the sacred might adore
Of Zeus most high； the lord
Of guestright and the hospitable board；
Whose immemorial law doth rule Fate's scales aright：
The garners of earth's store
Be full for evermore；
And grace of Artemis make women's travail light；
