Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/414

358 Pleading thy cause to show this fellow's folly.

I may not suffer thee to be defamed.

First, of the lie too foul to speak —for so,

Herakles, count I cowardice charged on thee,—

By the Gods' witness thee I clear of this:

To thunder I appeal, to Zeus's car

Whereon he rode against the earth-born brood,

The Giants, planting winged shafts in their ribs,

And with the Gods pealed forth the victory-chant.

Or thou to Pholoë go, most base of kings,

The four-foot monsters ask, the Centaur tribe,

Ask them whom they would count the bravest man.

Whom but my son?—of thee named "hollow show"!

Ask Dirphys, Abas' land, which fostered thee;

It should not praise thee:—place is none wherein

Thy land could witness to brave deed of thine!

And at the bow, the crown of wise inventions,

Thou sneerest!—learn thou wisdom from my mouth:

The man-at-arms is bondman to his arms,

And through his fellows, if their hearts wax faint,

Even through his neighbours' cowardice, he dies.

And, if he break his spear, he hath nought to ward

Death from himself, who hath but one defence.

But whoso grasps in hand the unerring bow,—

This first, and best, — lets fly unnumbered shafts,

Yet still hath store wherewith to avert the death.

Afar he stands, yet beats the foemen back,

And wounds with shafts unseen, watch as they will;

Yet never bares his body to the foe,

But is safe-warded; and in battle this