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32 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 their king persuade them, such the plea

He spake concerning us, and warnings gave

That Zeus, the suppliants' lord, in wrath and might,

Would never in the aftertime make fat

The city with prosperity: a curse

Twofold, for strangers and for kinsfolk scorned,

Should rise against the city, and become

An unescaped and ravening fang of woe.

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,

Guide them, with favouring hand, until

Thou dost their blameless wish fulfil!