Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/39

Rh Take in thy hands branches like these and lay them

On other altars of my country's Gods,

That of your comings all the citizens

May see a visible token: let not fall

One word of me: the commonalty loves

To cast reproach upon their rulers. But,

Looking thereon, pity may move some soul

With hatred for the wickedness of men

Banded against you; and the public heart

Be for your boughs more tender. 'Tis a trait

Common with men to entertain kind thoughts

Towards the weaker side.

That we have found a friend

Pitiful and God-fearing we account

Worth many favours. Wilt thou grant one more

And with me send some native to this land

For escort and as guides, that we may find

The altars of the city deities

That stand before the temples, and the shrines

Of those more warlike that defend your keep?

The form that nature gave us is not yours,

Nor are we habited as ye are. Nile

Nourisheth other folk than Inachus.

Beware lest an unheedful confidence

Hereafter breed dismay. Men have ere now

Slain those that were their friends, not knowing it.

Go with this stranger, men: for he says well.

Show him the way to the town altars and

The seats of Gods. And look ye bruit it not