Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/122

Warning them that no weakling friend or foe
Is Argos, and himself a mighty king.
And they, discerning that my cause is weak,
These, but young children orphaned of their sire,
Bow to the strong, and drive us from their land. 25
I with his banished babes share banishment,
And with their ill plight am in evil plight.
Forsake them I dare not, lest men should say:
"See, now the children's father is no more,
Iolaus wards them not,—their kinsman he!" 30
And so, from all the soil of Hellas banned,
To Marathon and the federate land we come,
At the Gods' altars sitting suppliant,
That they may help; for Theseus' scions twain,
Saith rumour, in the plains of this land dwell, 35
By lot their heritage, Pandion's seed,
And kin to these, for which cause have we come
This journey unto glorious Athens' bounds,
Old captains we that lead this exile-march,—
I, for these lads heart-full of troubled thought; 40
And she, Alkmena, in yon temple folds
Her arms about the daughters of her son,
And guards: for we think shame to let young girls
Stand, a crowd's gazing-stock, on altar-steps.
Now Hyllus and his brethren elder-born 45
Seek some land for our refuge and our home,
If from this soil we be with violence thrust.
—O children, children, hither!—seize my robes!
Yonder I see Eurystheus' herald come
Against us, him of whom we are pursued, 50
The homeless wanderers barred from every land.
Enter Kopreus.
Loathed wretch! Now ruin seize thee and him that sent,