Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (1908) Morshead.djvu/66

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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.

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,