Stasimon 5
[Choral 1]
Would that you had perished on your course over the great briny flood
along with your lordly arrogance and your riveted ship! ...
845
I order you to stop your shrieking.
... Ho there! leave the sanctuary: be off to the ship! I do not respect one without honor and city.
850
Never again may my eyes behold
the cattle-nurturing stream from which increase comes to men and vigor of the blood of life. I am a native here, of ancient nobility
855
You will get yourself speedily on board, on board, I say, whether you will or not, by force, by force. . . .
[Choral 2]
Alas, alas! So may you perish past all help, driven from your course over the surging waves by eastern breezes off
the sandy tomb of Sarpedon!
870
Herald
Wail and shout and call upon the gods—you will not escape the Egyptian ship.
Cry out, utter a strain of woe more bitter still.
875
Alas, alas the brutal outrage with which, you crocodile, you boast arrogantly, bellowing on the sea. May the mighty
Nile, who watches you, overwhelm your arrogance and destroy you.
880
Go to the double-prowed ship as quickly as possible. Let no one delay, for dragging by force has no mercy on locks of hair.
[Choral 3]
Alas, father; the help of the sacred images deludes me. Like a spider, he is carrying me seaward step by step—a nightmare, a black nightmare! Oh! Oh!
885
Chorus
Mother Earth, mother Earth, avert his fearful cries! O father Zeus, son of Earth!
890
Herald
I do not fear the native gods, be assured. They did not rear me, nor by their nurture did they bring me to old age.
Chorus
He rages close to me, the two-footed serpent. Like some viper he lays hold of me and bites my foot. Alas, alas! Mother Earth, mother Earth,
895
avert his fearful cries! O father Zeus, son of Earth!
900