Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/483

Rh Cuts it sheer off; within these bounds I rule.

This plain itself, this Apian land, of old

In wise physician's honour gained its name.

For Apis, prophet-leech, Apollo's son,

Arriving from Naupactos, o'er the sea,

This land from man-destroying monsters purged,

Whom earth, by stains of ancient blood defiled,

Sent up in anger, dragon-progeny,

Co-dwellers fierce. Apis, as leech and seer,

Blameless, for Argive land these ills hath cured,

And for reward hath mention in our prayers.

Having from me these tokens, in return

Show forth your lineage, and further speak.

Yet long discourse this city brooketh not.

Brief be my tale and clear. Of Argive race,—

Seed of the heifer in her offspring blest,

We boast ourselves. All this will I confirm.

Incredible, O strangers, sounds your tale,

That this your race from Argos is derived;

For Libya's daughters ye resemble most,

In no wise like to women native here;

Such progeny might Neilos rear perchance;

Such too the Cyprian character impressed

In female moulds by male artificers.

Of nomad Indian women too I hear,

Who, pannier-borne, on steed-like camels ride,