Part 5 (1/2)

Not long thy sire shall leave thee desolate.

But I will call the country's indwellers, And with soft words th' a.s.sembly will persuade, And warn your sire what pleadings will avail.

Therefore abide ye, and with prayer entreat The country's G.o.ds to compa.s.s your desire; The while I go, this matter to provide, Persuasion and fair fortune at my side.

[Exit the KING OF ARGOS.

CHORUS

O King of Kings, among the blest Thou highest and thou happiest, Listen and grant our prayer, And, deeply loathing, thrust Away from us the young men's l.u.s.t, And deeply drown In azure waters, down and ever down, Benches and rowers dark, The fatal and perfidious bark!

Unto the maidens turn thy gracious care; Think yet again upon the tale of fame, How from the maiden loved of thee there sprung Mine ancient line, long since in many a legend sung!

Remember, O remember, thou whose hand Did Io by a touch to human shape reclaim.

For from this Argos erst our mother came Driven hence to Egypt's land, Yet sprung of Zeus we were, and hence our birth we claim.

And now have I roamed back Unto the ancient track Where Io roamed and pastured among flowers, Watched o'er by Argus' eyes, Through the lush gra.s.ses and the meadow bowers.

Thence, by the gadfly maddened, forth she flies Unto far lands and alien peoples driven And, following fate, through paths of foam and surge, Sees, as she goes, the cleaving strait divide Greece, from the Eastland riven.

And swift through Asian borders doth she urge Her course, o'er Phrygian mountains' sheep-clipt side; Thence, where the Mysian realm of Teuthras lies Towards Lydian lowlands hies, And o'er Cilician and Pamphylian hills And ever-flowing rills, And thence to Aphrodite's fertile sh.o.r.e, [5]

[Footnote: 5: Cyprus.]

The land of garnered wheat and wealthy store And thence, deep-stung by wild unrest, By the winged fly that goaded her and drave, Unto the fertile land, the G.o.d-possest, (Where, fed from far-off snows, Life-giving Nilus flows, Urged on by Typho's strength, a fertilizing wave) She roves, in hara.s.sed and dishonoured flight Scathed by the blasting pangs of Hera's dread despite.

And they within the land With terror shook and wanned, So strange the sight they saw, and were afraid- A wild twy-natured thing, half heifer and half maid.

Whose hand was laid at last on Io, thus forlorn, With many roamings worn?

Who bade the hara.s.sed maiden's peace return?

Zeus, lord of time eterne.

Yea, by his breath divine, by his unscathing strength, She lays aside her bane, And softened back to womanhood at length Sheds human tears again.

Then, quickened with Zeus' veritable seed, A progeny she bare, A stainless babe, a child of heavenly breed.

Of life and fortune fair.

His is the life of life-so all men say,- His is the seed of Zeus.

Who else had power stern Hera's craft to stay, Her vengeful curse to loose?

Yea, all from Zeus befell!

And rightly wouldst thou tell That we from Epaphus, his child, were born: Justly his deed was done; Unto what other one, Of all the G.o.ds, should I for justice turn?

From him our race did spring; Creator he and King, Ancient of days and wisdom he, and might.

As bark before the wind, So, wafted by his mind, Moves every counsel, each device aright.

Beneath no stronger hand Holds he a weak command, No throne doth he abase him to adore; Swift as a word, his deed Acts out what stands decreed In counsels of his heart, for evermore.

[Re-enter DANAUS.

DANAUS

Take heart, my children: the land's heart is kind, And to full issue has their voting come.

CHORUS

All hail, my sire; thy word brings utmost joy.

Say, to what issue is the vote made sure, And how prevailed the people's crowding hands?

DANAUS

With one a.s.sent the Argives spake their will, And, hearing, my old heart took youthful cheer, The very sky was thrilled when high in air The concourse raised right hands and swore their oath:- Free shall the maidens sojourn in this land.

Unharried, undespoiled by mortal wight: No native hand, no hand of foreigner Shall drag them hence; if any man use force- Whoe'er of all our countrymen shall fail To come unto their aid, let him go forth, Beneath the people's curse, to banishment.

So did the king of this Pelasgian folk Plead on behalf of us, and bade them heed That never, in the after-time, this realm Should feed to fulness the great enmity Of Zeus, the suppliants' guard, against itself!

A twofold curse, for wronging stranger-guests Who are akin withal, confrontingly Should rise before this city and be shown A ruthless monster, fed on human doom.

Such things the Argive people heard, and straight, Without proclaim of herald, gave a.s.sent: Yea, in full conclave, the Pelasgian folk Heard suasive pleas, and Zeus through them resolved.

CHORUS

Arouse we now to chant our prayer For fair return of service fair And Argos' kindly will.

Zeus, lord of guestright, look upon The grace our stranger lips have won.

In right and truth, as they begun, Guide them, with favouring hand, until Thou dost their blameless wish fulfil!