Page:Suppliant Maidens (Morshead) 1883.djvu/34

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Justice, the daughter of right-dealing Zeus,

Justice, the queen of suppliants, look down,

That this our plight no ill may loose

Upon your town!

This word, even from the young, let age and wisdom learn:

If thou to suppliants show grace,

Thou shalt not lack Heaven's grace in turn,

So long as virtue's gifts on heavenly shrines have place.

'Tis not my hearth where ye sit suppliant;

And if the city bear a common stain,

Be it the common toil to cleanse the same:

Therefore no pledge, no promise will I give,

Ere counsel with the commonwealth be held.

Nay, but the source of sway, the city's self, art thou,

A power unjudged! thine, only thine,

To rule the right of hearth and shrine!

Before thy throne and sceptre all men bow!

Above all causes lord—beware the curse divine!

May that curse fall upon mine enemies!

I cannot aid you without risk of scathe,

Nor scorn your prayers—unmerciful it were.

Perplexed, distraught I stand, and fear alike

The twofold chance, to do or not to do.