Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/121

I hold it truth,—a lesson learnt long since,—
Born is the just man for his neighbours' help:
But he whose soul uncurbed speeds after gain,
To the state useless, in his dealings hard,
Is but his own friend;—nor by hearing know it; 5
Since I, for honour's sake and kinship's bond,
Who might in Argos peacefully have dwelt,
Bore chief share in the toils of Herakles
When he was with us. Now that in the heaven
He dwells, his babes I shelter 'neath my wings 10
Defending, who myself sore need defence.
For, soon as from the earth their sire had passed,
Us would Eurystheus at the first have slain,
But we fled. Now our city, our home, is lost,
Life only saved. We are exiled wanderers 15
From city unto city moving on.
For on our other wrongs this coping-stone
Of outrage hath Eurystheus dared to set,—
Heralds to each land where we bide he sends,
Demandeth us, and biddeth drive us forth, 20