Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/35

Rh Who even in the house of Hades suffers not

The dead man to go free. And this asks not

Heart-searchings, fathom-deep, of saving thought?

Search deep and then rise up more strong

For justice: be the minister

That reverentially protects from wrong

The stranger and the sojourner,

Resolved never to yield while thou stand' st by

An exile driven so far in godless outlawry.

O look not on till rapine come

And from these haunts of Powers divine

Hale me for spoil: all masterdom,

All judicature here are thine.

Then in this cause let thy decree go forth:

'Man's lusts here sue for judgment,' and beware of wrath.

Submit not to the sight

Of divine Justice set at naught by might,

And the rejected suppliant led away

From statues holy, as by bands of gold

A horse is led, while rough men lay

Rude hands upon my raiment's damask fold.

Thy seed and thy household

As thou art cruel or in mercy bold,

The exact measure of thy 'yea' or 'nay'

Eternal Law shall utterly requite.

O ponder well these things, and sway

The event as Zeus commands, who judgeth right.