Epeisodion 1
Danaus
My children, you must be prudent. A prudent captain of your voyage was your reliable old father here with whom you came. And now that I have considered with foresight what may befall us here on land, I charge you, record my injunctions on the tablets of your minds and guard them.
I see dust, the voiceless herald of an army; the axle-driven wheels are not silent in their sockets. I behold a throng, armed with shields and holding spears, with steeds and curved chariots. Perhaps they are the princes of the land
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come to look on us, informed by messengers. But whether a harmless man or one driven by savage wrath rouses this expedition, it is better, damsels, in any case, to seat yourselves at that mound sacred to the assembled gods.
ἀγών has here the force of ἀγορά, place of assembly. Cp. l. 222.
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Stronger than a castle is an altar—an impenetrable shield. As quick as you can, gather in your left hands your white-wreathed suppliant boughs, sacred emblems of Zeus the merciful.
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Reply to the strangers, as is fitting for aliens, in piteous and plaintive language of necessity, telling them clearly of your flight, how it was unstained by deed of blood. Above all let no arrogance accompany your speech, and reveal nothing impious in your peaceful eyes, from your respectful face.
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In your speech neither interrupt, nor hesitate—for this would offend these people. And remember to be submissive: you are an alien, a fugitive, and in need. Bold speech does not suit the weak.
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Chorus
Father, your words are prudent, and they fall on prudent ears.
I will take heed of your wise words, and hold them in memory. May Zeus, the author of our race, behold us!
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Danaus
May he indeed behold you, and with a gracious eye.l. 210
Chorus
I would like even now to be seated by your side.
Danaus
Then do not delay, but put your purpose into action.l. 207
Chorus
O Zeus, have pity upon our troubles lest we are ruined.l. 209
210
Danaus
If he wishes it so, all will end well.
Danaus
Invoke now also that bird of Zeus
Chorus
We invoke the saving beams of the sun.
Danaus
Pure Apollo, too, who, though a god, was exiled once from heaven.
Chorus
Knowing our lot, he may well have pity on mortals.
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Danaus
May he have pity indeed, and stand by ready to defend.
Chorus
Whom, further, of these divinities must I invoke?
Danaus
I behold a trident here, the token of its god.
Chorus
Well did he send us here and well may he receive us in this land.
Danaus
Here, too, is Hermes, according to the Hellenic custom.
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Chorus
May he then announce good tidings to the free!
Danaus
Honor to the mutual altar of all these protecting powers; and seat yourselves on holy ground like a flock of doves in dread of hawks of the same feathered tribe—
kindred, yet foes, who would defile their race. If bird prey on bird, how can it be pure? And how can man be pure who would seize from an unwilling father an unwilling bride? For such an act, not even in Hades, after death, shall he escape arraignment for outrage.
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There also among the dead, so men tell, another Zeus holds a last judgment upon misdeeds. Take heed and reply in this manner, that victory may attend your cause.
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King
From where comes this band we address,
clothed in foreign attire and luxuriating in closely-woven and barbaric robes? For your apparel is not that of the women of Argos, nor yet of any part of Hellas. How you have gained courage thus fearlessly to come to this land, unheralded and friendless and without guides,
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this makes me wonder. And yet, truly, I see that branches usually carried by suppliants are laid by your side before the gods assembled here—as to this alone can Hellas guess with confidence.The original means agree in forming a conjecture, i.e. be satisfied with a guess.As for the rest, there is still much I should with reason leave to conjecture,
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if your voice were not here to inform me.
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Chorus
You have not spoken falsely about our clothing. But, for my part, how am I to address you? As commoner, as spokesman, bearer of the sacred wand,Apparently a periphrasis for herald; but the Greek text is uncertain.or as ruler of the realm?
King
As for that, answer and speak to me with confidence.
For I am Pelasgus, offspring of Palaechthon, whom the earth brought forth, and lord of this land; and after me, their king, is rightly named the race of the Pelasgi, who harvest the land. Of all the region through which the pure
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Strymon flows, on the side toward the setting sun, I am the lord. There lies within the limits of my rule the land of the Perrhaebi, the parts beyond Pindus close to the Paeonians, and the mountain ridge of Dodona; the edge of the watery sea borders my kingdom. I rule up to these boundaries.
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The ground where we stand is Apian land itself, and has borne that name since antiquity in honor of a healer. For Apis, seer and healer, the son of Apollo, came from Naupactus on the farther shore and purified this land of monsters deadly to man, which Earth,
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defiled by the pollution of bloody deeds of old, caused to spring up—plagues charged with wrath, an ominous colony of swarming serpents. Of these plagues Apis worked the cure by sorcery and spells to the content of the Argive land,
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and for reward thereafter earned for himself remembrance in prayers.
Now that you have my testimony, declare your lineage and speak further—yet our people do not take pleasure in long discourse.
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Chorus
Our tale is brief and clear. Argives
we claim to be by birth, offspring of a cow blest in its children. And the truth of this I shall confirm in full.
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King
Foreign maidens, your tale is beyond my belief—how your race can be from Argos. For you are more similar to the
women of Libya and in no way similar to those native to our land. The Nile, too, might foster such a stock, and like yours is the Cyprian impress stamped upon female images by male craftsmen. And of such aspect, I have heard, are nomad women, who
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ride on camels for steeds, having padded saddles, and dwell in a land neighboring the Aethiopians. And had you been armed with the bow, certainly I would have guessed you to be the unwed, flesh-devouring Amazons. But inform me, and I will better comprehend
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how it is that you trace your race and lineage from Argos.
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Chorus
Is there a report that once in this land of Argos Io was ward of Hera’s house?
King
Certainly she was; the tradition prevails far and wide.
Chorus
And is there some story, too, that Zeus was joined in love with a mortal?
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King
This entanglement was not secret from Hera.
Chorus
What then was the result of this royal strife?
King
The goddess of Argos transformed the woman into a cow.
Chorus
And while she was a horned cow, did not Zeus approach her?
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King
So they say, making his form that of a bull lusting for a mate.
Chorus
What answer then did Zeus’ stubborn consort give?
King
She placed the all-seeing one to stand watch over the cow.
Chorus
What manner of all-seeing herdsman with a single duty do you mean?
King
Argus, a son of Earth, whom Hermes slew.
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Chorus
What else did she contrive against the unfortunate cow?
King
A sting, torment of cattle, constantly driving her on.
Chorus
They call it a gadfly, those who dwell by the Nile.
King
Well then, it drove her by a long course out of the land.
Chorus
Your account agrees with mine in all respects.
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King
So she came to Canobus and to Memphis.
Chorus
And Zeus begot a son by the touching of his hand.
King
Who is it then that claims to be the cow’s Zeus-begotten calf?
Chorus
Epaphus, and truly named from laying on of hands.
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King
And who was begotten of Epaphus?
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Chorus
Libya, who reaps the fruit of the largest portion of the earth.
King
What offspring, then, did Libya have?
Chorus
Agenor was her first child born.
King
And who was his offspring?
Chorus
Belus, who had two sons and was father of my father here.
King
Now tell me his wisely-given name.The epithet, properly applicable to the venerable, Danaus, is transferred to his name, because, to the Greek, name often connoted personality. So the dreaded name of Demogorgon.
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Chorus
Danaus: and he has a brother with fifty sons.
King
Reveal his name ungrudgingly.
Chorus
Aegyptus; and now that you know my ancient lineage, I pray you to helpLiterally raise from sanctuary.a band that is Argive by descent.
King
I think you indeed have some share in this land from old. But how did you bring yourselves to leave the home of your fathers? What stroke of fortune befell you?
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Chorus
Lord of the Pelasgians, of varying color are the ills of mankind, and nowhere can you find trouble of the same plume.
For who dreamed that a kindred race, sprung of old, would thus in unexpected flight find haven at Argos, fleeing in terror through loathing of the marriage-bed?
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King
Why have you come as suppliants of these gods congregated here, holding in your hands those white-wreathed, fresh-plucked boughs?
Chorus
So as not to be made slave to Aegyptus’ race.
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King
By reason of hatred? Or do you speak of unlawfulness ?
Chorus
Who would purchase their lords from among their kin?
King
In this way families have enhanced their power.
Chorus
And it is easy then, if things go ill, to separate from a wife.
King
How then am I to deal with you in accordance with my sacred duty?
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Chorus
By not surrendering us at the demand of Aegyptus’ sons.
King
A serious request—to take upon myself a dangerous war.
Chorus
But Justice protects her champions.
King
True, if she had a share in the matter from the beginning.
Chorus
Show reverence for the ship of state thus crowned.The gods, whose statues have been wreathed with the suppliants’ branches, are regarded as the pilots who direct the ship of state. Possibly there is also a reference to the custom of crowning a vessel’s stern with flowers.
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King
I shrink as I gaze upon these shaded shrines.
Chorus
Yet heavy is the wrath of Zeus, god of the suppliant.