Four Plays of Aeschylus. Aeschylus

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Damsels, to cling unto this altar-mound

       Made sacred to their gods of festival—

       A shrine is stronger than a tower to save,

       A shield that none may cleave. Step swift thereto,

       And in your left hands hold with reverence

       The white-crowned wands of suppliance, the sign

       Beloved of Zeus, compassion's lord, and speak

       To those that question you, words meek and low

       And piteous, as beseems your stranger state,

       Clearly avowing of this flight of yours

       The bloodless cause; and on your utterance

       See to it well that modesty attend;

       From downcast eyes, from brows of pure control,

       Let chastity look forth; nor, when ye speak,

       Be voluble nor eager—they that dwell

       Within this land are sternly swift to chide.

       And be your words submissive: heed this well;

       For weak ye are, outcasts on stranger lands,

       And froward talk beseems not strengthless hands.

CHORUS

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      O father, warily to us aware

       Thy words are spoken, and thy wisdom's best

       My mind shall hoard, with Zeus our sire to aid.

DANAUS

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      Even so—with gracious aspect let him aid.

CHORUS

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      Fain were I now to seat me by thy side.

DANAUS

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      Now dally not, but put our thought in act.

CHORUS

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      Zeus, pity our distress, or e'er we die.

DANAUS

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      If so he will, your toils to joy will turn.

CHORUS

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      Lo, on this shrine, the semblance of a bird.{2}

DANAUS

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      Zeus' bird of dawn it is; invoke the sign.

CHORUS

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      Thus I invoke the saving rays of morn.

      {Footnote: 2: The whole of this dialogue in alternate verses is disarranged in the MSS. The re-arrangement which has approved itself to Paley has been here followed. It involves, however, a hiatus, instead of the line to which this note is appended. The substance of the lost line being easily deducible from the context, it has been supplied in the translation.}

DANAUS

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      Next, bright Apollo, exiled once from heaven.

CHORUS

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      The exiled god will pity our exile.

DANAUS

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      Yea, may he pity, giving grace and aid.

CHORUS

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      Whom next invoke I, of these other gods?

DANAUS

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      Lo, here a trident, symbol of a god.

CHORUS

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      Who {3} gave sea-safety; may he bless on land!

       {Footnote: 3: Poseidon} DANAUS

       This next is Hermes, carved in Grecian wise.

CHORUS

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      Then let him herald help to freedom won.

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