Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/139

Where without conflict to push on his host,
And in the land's heart camp him safety-girt.
Yet all my preparations well are laid:
Athens is all in arms, the victims ready
Stand for the Gods to whom they must be slain. 400
By seers the city is filled with sacrifice
For the foes' rout and saving of the state.
All prophecy-chanters have I caused to meet,
Into old public oracles have searched,
And secret, for salvation of this land. 405
And, mid their manifold diversities,
In one thing glares the sense of all the same:—
They bid me to Demeter's Daughter slay
A maiden of a high-born father sprung.
Full am I, as thou seest, of good will 410
To you: yet neither will I slay my child,
Nor force thereto another of my folk:
And of his own will who hath heart so hard
As from his hands to yield a most dear child?
Now gatherings may'st thou see of angry mood, 415
Where some say, right it is to render help
To suppliant strangers, some cry out upon
My folly:—yea, and if I do this thing,
Even this day is civil war afoot.
See thou to this then: help me find a way 420
Whereby yourselves and Athens shall be saved,
And I shall not be of my folk reproached.
For mine is no barbarian despot's sway:
Only for fair deeds win I guerdon fair.

How?—do the Gods forbid that Athens help 425
The stranger, though she yearn with eager will?