Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/115

1162—1186] brief speech with thee, which shall not irk thee much.

. On what theme? That suppliant posture is not trivial.

. He asks, they say, no more than that he may confer with thee, and return unharmed from his journey hither.

. Who can he be who thus implores the god?

. Look if ye have any kinsman at Argos, who might crave this boon of thee.

. O friend! Say no word more! . What ails thee?

. Ask it not of me—. Ask what?—Speak!

. By those words I know who is the suppliant.

. And who can he be, against whom I should have a grief?

. My son, O king,—the hated son whose words would vex mine ear as the words of no man beside.

. What? Canst thou not listen, without doing what thou wouldst not? Why should it pain thee to hear him?

. Most hateful, king, hath that voice become to his sire:—lay me not under constraint to yield in this.

. But think whether his suppliant state constrains thee: what if thou hast a duty of respect for the god?

. Father, hearken to me, though I be young who counsel. Allow the king to gratify his own heart, and to gratify the god as he wishes; and, for thy daughter's sake, allow our brother to come. For he will not pluck thee perforce from thy resolve,—never fear,—by such