Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/128

Wherefore I come, and from whom, will I tell: 135
Mycenæ's king Eurystheus sends me hither
To lead these hence. Stranger, I bring with me
Just pleas in plenty, both for act and speech.
Myself an Argive would lead Argives hence,
Who find them runaways from mine own land, 140
By statutes of that land condemned to die.
For, dwellers in a state subject to none,
The right is ours to ratify her decrees.
And, though they have come to hearths of many folk,
Still on the same plea did we take our stand, 145
And ruin on his own head none dared bring.
But these came hither, haply spying folly
In thee, or staking on one desperate throw
Their venture, or to win or lose it all:—
For sure they deem not thou, if sound of wit, 150
Alone in all this Hellas they have traversed,
Wilt have compassion on their hopeless plight.
Weigh this and that:—if thou grant these a home,
Or let us hale them hence—what then thy gain?
As touching us, these boons thou mayest win: 155
Argos' strong hand and all Eurystheus' might
Thou mayest range upon this city's side.
If thou regard their pleadings, by their whinings
Be softened, to the grapple of the spear
The matter cometh. Never think that we 160
Will yield this strife but by the sword's award.
What canst thou plead? Of what lands art thou robbed,
That with Tirynthian Argives thou wouldst war?—
What allies so defending?—In whose cause
Shall those thou buriest fall? Ill fame were thine 165
With thine Athenians, if for yon old man,