Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/517

Rh Where we must dwell, and he decide

The place where malice may not reach.

For ready every one is found

Strangers to blame. But may the best betide!—

With fair repute and with unwrathful speech

Of citizens, handmaidens dear!

Your places take, as Danaos hath assigned,

A maid, as marriage portion, unto each.

Ye to the Argives should with sacrifice,

As to Olympian gods, libations pour,

My daughters! for deliverers they have proved,

Beyond dispute. 'Gainst those assiduous friends,

Your cousins, all that had been done they heard,

Indignant, and forthwith, this body-guard,

As mark of honour they assigned to me,

Lest too, by secret spear-thrust slain, my death

Should curse undying bring upon the land.

Such favours reaping, justice bids us hold

In higher honour still their kindly grace.

These admonitions too ye shall inscribe

With many prudent maxims of your sire,

That Time this stranger company may test.

Each 'gainst the alien bears an evil tongue,

From which the slanderous word full lightly falls.

But, I exhort you, do me no disgrace,

Crowned as ye are with youth's attractive bloom.

Not easy tender ripeness is to guard;