the suppliants-第6章
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And grace of Artemis make women's travail light；
strophe 3
No devastating curse of fell disease
This city seize；
No clamour of the State arouse to war
Ares； from whom afar
Shrinketh the lute； by whom the dances fail…
Ares； the lord of wail。
Swarm far aloof from Argos' citizens
All plague and pestilence；
And may the Archer…God our children spare！
antistrophe 3
May Zeus with foison and with fruitfulness
The land's each season bless；
And； quickened with Heaven's bounty manifold；
Teem grazing flock and fold。
Beside the altars of Heaven's hallowing
Loud let the minstrels sing；
And from pure lips float forth the harp…led strain in air！
strophe 4
And let the people's voice； the power
That sways the State； in danger's hour
Be wary； wise for all；
Nor honour in dishonour hold；
But…ere the voice of war be bold…
Let them to stranger peoples grant
Fair and unbloody covenant…
Justice and peace withal；
antistrophe 4
And to the Argive powers divine
The sacrifice of laurelled kine；
By rite ancestral； pay。
Among three words of power and awe；
Stands this； the third； the mighty law…
Your gods； your fathers deified；
Ye shall adore。 Let this abide
For ever and for aye。
DANAUS
Dear children； well and wisely have ye prayed；
I bid you now not shudder； though ye hear
New and alarming tidings from your sire。
From this high place beside the suppliants' shrine
The bark of our pursuers I behold；
By divers tokens recognized too well。
Lo； the spread canvas and the hides that screen
The gunwale； lo； the prow； with painted eyes
That seem her onward pathway to descry；
Heeding too well the rudder at the stern
That rules her； coming for no friendly end。
And look； the seamen…all too plain their race…
Their dark limbs gleam from out their snow…white garb；
Plain too the other barks； a fleet that comes
All swift to aid the purpose of the first；
That now； with furled sail and with pulse of oars
Which smite the wave together； comes aland。
But ye； be calm； and； schooled not scared by fear；
Confront this chance； be mindful of your trust
In these protecting gods。 And I will hence；
And champions who shall plead your cause aright
Will bring unto your side。 There come perchance
Heralds or envoys； eager to lay hand
And drag you captive hence； yet fear them not；
Foiled shall they be。 Yet well it were for you
（If； ere with aid I come； I tarry long）
Not by one step this sanctuary to leave。
Farewell； fear nought： soon shall the hour be born
When he that scorns the gods shall rue his scorn。
CHORUS （chanting）
Ah； but I shudder； father！…ah； even now；
Even as I speak； the swift…winged ships draw nigh！
strophe 1
I shudder； I shiver； I perish with fear：
Overseas though I fled；
Yet nought it avails； my pursuers are near！
DANAUS
Children； take heart； they who decreed to aid
Thy cause will arm for battle； well I ween。
CHORUS
But desperate is Aegyptus' ravening race；
With fight unsated； thou too know'st it well。
antistrophe 1
In their wrath they o'ertake us； the prow is deep…dark
In the which they have sped；
And dark is the bench and the crew of the bark！
DANAUS
Yea but a crew as stout they here shall find；
And arms well steeled beneath a noon…day sun。
CHORUS
Ah yet； O father； leave us not forlorn！
Alone； a maid is nought； a strengthless arm。
strophe 2
With guile they pursue me； with counsel malign；
And unholy their soul；
And as ravens they seize me； unheeding the shrine！
DANAUS
Fair will befall us； children； in this chance；
If thus in wrath they wrong the gods and you。
CHORUS
Alas； nor tridents nor the sanctity
Of shrines will drive them； O my sire； from us！
antistrophe 2
Unholy and daring and cursed is their ire；
Nor own they control
Of the gods； but like jackals they glut their desire！
DANAUS
Ay； but Come wolf； flee jackal； saith the saw；
Nor can the flax…plant overbear the corn。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Lustful； accursed； monstrous is their will
As of beasts ravening…'ware we of their power
DANAUS
Look you； not swiftly puts a fleet to sea；
Nor swiftly to its moorings； long it is
Or e'er the saving cables to the shore
Are borne； and long or e'er the steersmen cry；
The good ship swings at anchor…all is well。
Longest of all； the task to come aland
Where haven there is none； when sunset fades
In night。 To pilot wise； the adage saith；
Night is a day of wakefulness and pain。
Therefore no force of weaponed men； as yet；
Scatheless can come ashore； before the bark
Lie at her anchorage securely moored。
Bethink thee therefore； nor in panic leave
The shrine of gods whose succour thou hast won。
I go for aid…men shall not blame me long；
Old； but with youth at heart and on my tongue。
（DANAUS departs as the CHORUS sings in terror。）
CHORUS
strophe 1
O land of hill and dale； O holy land；
What shall befall us？ whither shall we flee；
From Apian land to some dark lair of earth？
O would that in vapour of smoke I might rise to the clouds of the
sky；
That as dust which flits up without wings I might pass and evanish
and die！
antistrophe 1
I dare not； I dare not abide： my heart yearns； eager to fly；
And dark is the cast of my thought； I shudder and tremble for
fear。
My father looked forth and beheld： I die of the sight that draws
near。
And for me be the strangling cord； the halter made ready by Fate；
Before to my body draws nigh the man of my horror and hate。
Nay； ere I will own him as lord； as handmaid to Hades I go！
strophe 2
And oh； that aloft in the sky； where the dark clouds are frozen
to snow；
A refuge for me might be found； or a mountain…top smooth and too
high
For the foot of the goat； where the vulture sits lonely； and none
may descry
The pinnacle veiled in the cloud； the highest and sheerest of
all；
Ere to wedlock that rendeth my heart； and love that is loveless；
I fall！
antistrophe 2
Yea； a prey to the dogs and the birds of the mount will I give me
to be；…
From wailing and curse and pollution it is death； only death； sets
me free：
Let death come upon me before to the ravisher's bed I am thrust；
What champion； what saviour but death can I find； or what refuge
from lust？
strophe 3
I will utter my shriek of entreaty； a prayer that shrills up to
the sky；
That calleth the gods to compassion； a tuneful； a pitiful cry；
That is loud to invoke the releaser。 O father； look down on the
fight；
Look down in thy wrath on the wronger； with eyes that are eager
for right。
Zeus； thou that art lord of the world； whose kingdom is strong
over all；
Have mercy on us！ At thine altar for refuge and safety we
