Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/129

That sepulchre,—mere naught, as men might say,—
And these boys, in deep waters thou wilt sink.
What is thy best plea? Hope for days to come?
Scant satisfaction for the present this! 170
For against Argos these, armed, grown to man,
Should make but feeble stand,—if haply this
Uplift thine heart;—and long years lie between,
Wherein ye may be ruined. Nay, heed me:
Give naught, but suffer me to take mine own; 175
So gain Mycenæ:—not, as your wont is,
Thus fare, that, when 'tis yours to choose for friend
The stronger cause, ye take the weaker side.

Who can give judgment, who grasp arguments,
Ere from both sides he clearly learn their pleas? 180

King, this advantage have I in your land,
I am free to speak and in my turn to hear;
None, as from other lands, will first expel me.
We and this man have nought in common now;
We have nought to do with Argos any more 185
Since that decree: we are exiled from her soil.
What right hath he to hale us, whom they banished,
As we were burghers of Mycenæ yet?
Aliens we are:—or from all Hellas banned
Are men whom Argos exiles?—claim ye this? 190
Sooth, not from Athens: she shall drive not forth,
For fear of Argives, sons of Herakles.
She is no Trachis, no Achaian burg,^[1]