The Suppliants (530-581)

and covered them with shame, and now your right is at an end. Let[*] the dead now be buried in the earth, and each element return[*] to the place from whence it came to the body, the breath to the air, the body to the ground; for in no wise did we get it

for our own, but to live our life in, and after that its mother earth must take it back again. Dost think ’tis Argos thou art injuring in refusing burial to the dead? Nay! all Hellas shares herein, if a man rob the dead of their due

and keep them from the tomb; for, if this law be enacted, it will strike dismay into the stoutest hearts. And art thou come to cast dire threats at me, while thy own folk are afraid of giving burial to the dead? What is your fear? Think you they will undermine your land

in their graves, or that they will beget children in the womb of earth, from whom shall rise an avenger? A silly waste of words, in truth it was, to show your fear of paltry groundless terrors.

Go, triflers, learn the lesson of human misery;

our life is made up of struggles; some men there be that find their fortune soon, others have to wait, while some at once are blest. Fortune lives a dainty life; to her the wretched pays his court and homage to win her smile; her likewise doth the prosperous man extol, for fear the favouring gale

may leave him. These lessons should we take to heart, to bear with moderation, free from wrath, our wrongs, and do naught to hurt a whole city. What then? Let us, who will the pious deed perform, bury the corpses of the slain.

Else is the issue clear; I will go and bury them by force. For never shall it be proclaimed through Hellas that heaven’s ancient law was set at naught, when it devolved on me and the city of Pandion.

Be of good cheer; for if thou preserve the light of justice,

thou shalt escape many a charge that men might urge.

Wilt thou that I sum up in brief all thou wouldst say?

Say what thou wilt; for thou art not silent as it is.

Thou shalt never take the sons of Argos from our land.

Hear, then, my answer too to that, if so thou wilt.

I will hear thee; not that I wish it, but I must give thee thy turn.

I will bury the dead, when from Asopus’ land I have removed them.

First must thou adventure somewhat in the front of war.

Many an enterprise and of a different kind have I ere this endured.

Wert thou then begotten of thy sire to cope with every foe?

Ay, with all wanton villains; virtue I punish not.

To meddle is aye thy wont and thy city’s too.

Hence her enterprise on many a held hath won her frequent success.

Come then, that the warriors of the dragon-crop may catch thee in our city.

What furious warrior-host could spring from dragon’s seed?

Thou shalt learn that to thy cost. As yet thou art young and rash.

Thy boastful speech stirs not my heart at all to rage. Yet get thee gone from my land, taking with thee the idle words thou broughtest; for we are making no advance. [Exit Herald.]