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326 And he had lived; but now a God has turned

His wanton rage to fall on flocks and herds;

And, therefore, there is no man strong enough,

Be he who may, this body to entomb,

But, cast forth here upon the yellow sands,

It shall be prey for birds that haunt the shore.

Therefore, I bid thee, keep from furious wrath;

For though we failed to rule him while he lived,

We surely now will master him when dead,

Wilt thou, or no, and with our hands control.

For never when he lived would he obey

The words I spake: yet 'tis a vile man's part

For one among the people not to deign

To hear his masters. Never in a state

Can laws be well administered when dread

Has ceased to act, nor can an armèd host

Be rightly ruled, if no defence of fear

And awe be present. But a man should think,

Though sturdy in his frame, he yet may fall

By some small chance of ill. And know this well,

That he who has both fear and reverence

Has also safety. But where men are free

To not proudly, and do all their will,

That State, be sure, with steady-blowing gale,

Is driving to destruction, and will fall.

For me, let seasonable awe be mine,

Nor let us think that, doing what we please,

We shall not one day pay the penalty

In things that pain. These things come on in turn;

This fellow here was mocker hot and proud;

Now I am lifted up, and charge thee there

This body not to bury, lest thou too,

By burying him, should'st need a burial.

Chor. Ο Menelaos, uttering maxims wise,