THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

thou didst give kind welcome and protection to the sons of Heracles, and
how nobly thou dost preserve thy father's fame through the length of
Hellas, and hast not fallen from the high estate to which thy father
brought thee, a lot which few others can boast; for 'mongst the many wilt
thou find one maybe, that is not degenerate from his sire.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This land is ever ready in an honest cause to aid the helpless. Wherefore
ere now it hath endured troubles numberless for friends, and now in this
I see a struggle nigh at hand.
DEMOPHON
Thou hast spoken well, and I feel confident their conduct will be such;
our kindness will they not forget. Now will I muster the citizens and set
them in array, that I may receive Mycenae's host with serried ranks. But
first will I send scouts to meet them, lest they fall upon me unawares; for
at Argos every man is prompt to answer to the call, and I will assemble
prophets and ordain a sacrifice. But do thou leave the altar of Zeus and
go with the children into the house; for there are those who will care for
thee, even though I be abroad. Enter then my house, old man.
IOLAUS
I will not leave the altar. Let us sit here still, praying for the city's
fair success, and when thou hast made a glorious end of this struggle,
will we go unto the house; nor are the gods who champion us weaker than
the gods of Argos, O king; Hera, wife of Zeus, is their leader; Athena
ours. And this I say is an omen of success, that we have the stronger deity,
for Pallas will not brook defeat.
(DEMOPHON and his retinue go out.)
CHORUS {singing)
strophe
Though loud thy boasts, there be others care no more for thee for
that, O stranger from the land of Argos; nor wilt thou scare my soul
with swelling words. Not yet be this the fate of mighty Athens, beauteous
town! But thou art void of sense, and so is he, who lords it o'er
Argos, the son of Sthenelus,
antistrophe
thou that comest to another state, in no wise weaker than Argos,
and, stranger that thou art, wouldst drag away by force suppliants
of the gods, wanderers that cling to my land for help, refusing to
yield to our king, nor yet having any honest plea to urge. How can
such conduct count as honourable, at least in wise men's judgment?