Page:Sophocles (Storr 1912) v1.djvu/195

 To tell my mother’s story and my sire’s,

The cause of this your fear. Yet am I then

A villain born because in self-defence,

Stricken, I struck the striker back again?

E’en had I known, no villainy ’twould prove:

But all unwitting whither I went, I went—

To ruin; my destroyers knew it well,

Wherefore, I pray you, sirs, in Heaven’s name,

Even as ye bade me quit my seat, defend me.

O pay not a lip service to the gods

And wrong them of their dues. Bethink ye well,

The eye of Heaven beholds the just of men,

And the unjust, nor ever in this world

Has one sole godless sinner found escape.

Stand then on Heaven’s side and never blot

Athens’ fair scutcheon by abetting wrong.

I came to you a suppliant, and you pledged

Your honour; O preserve me to the end,

O let not this marred visage do me wrong!

A holy and god-fearing man is here

Whose coming purports comfort for your folk.

And when your chief arrives, whoe’er he be,

Then shall ye have my story and know all.

Meanwhile I pray you do me no despite.

The plea thou urgest, needs must give us pause,

Set forth in weighty argument, but we

Must leave the issue with the ruling powers.

Where is he, strangers, he who sways the realm? 173