trimming of its sail, its side-guards,
and the prow that with its eyes scans its onward course, obeying — all too well
for those to whom it is unfriendly — the guiding rudder at the stern. The men
on board are plainly seen, their black limbs showing from their white attire.
The rest of the ships and all the assisting fleet stand clear in view: but the
leading ship herself has furled her sail and draws near the shore with full
sweep of sounding oars. Yet you must face the matter calmly and with
self-control, and not be unmindful of these gods. For my part, I will secure
allies and advocates to urge our cause, and return. Perhaps some herald or
envoys may come, eager to seize you as a prize and drag you away, but nothing
will happen: do not fear them. Yet in the event that we should be slow in
bringing aid, it would be better not to forget for a moment the means of help
you have here at hand. Courage! In good time, assuredly, and on the day
ordained, he who dishonors the gods will suffer punishment.
CHORUS
[734] Father, I
am afraid. With what swift wings the ships approach! There is not much time
left. I am possessed by dreadful fear if truly my long flight has been of no
profit. Father, I am consumed with fright.
DANAUS
[739] Since the
vote of the Argives was final, be of good cheer, my children; they will fight
in your defence, I know this well.
[CHORUS]
[741] Abominable
is the lustful race of Aegyptus and insatiate of battle; and you know that all
too well. In ships, stout-timbered and dark-prowed, they have sailed here,
attended by a mighty black host, and in their wrath overtaken us.
DANAUS
[746] But they
will find here a force with arms well-seasoned by the noonday heat.
[CHORUS]
[748] Do not
leave me forlorn, I implore you, father. A woman abandoned to herself is
nothing. There is no Ares in her. They are of evil mind, and guileful of
purpose, with impure hearts, thinking no more of altars than carrion birds.
DANAUS
[753] This would
profit us well, my children, should they incur both Heaven’s hate and yours.
[CHORUS]
[755] Father, no
fear of tridents or of things held sacred in the sight of Heaven will ever keep
their hands from us. They are overweening, maddened, with unholy rage,
shameless dogs that do not respect the gods.
DANAUS
[760] Yet there
is a saying that wolves are stronger than dogs; the papyrus-fruit does not
conquer the wheat-ear.
[CHORUS]
[762] Since they
have the tempers of lewd and impious beasts, we must guard against them
quickly.
DANAUS
[764] A fleet in
getting under way is not so speedy, nor yet in anchoring, when the securing
cables must be brought ashore; and even at anchorage shepherds of ships do not
feel immediately secure, above all if they have arrived on a harborless coast
when the sun is sinking into night. In a cautious pilot night is likely to
beget anxiety. Then, too, the disembarking of an army cannot be effected with
success before a ship has gained confidence in her moorings. But, for all your
terror, remember not to neglect the gods. [I will return] when I have secured
aid. The city will find no fault with a messenger, old in years, but with youth
in his heart and on his tongue.
[ Exit. ]
CHORUS
[776] O land of
hills, land of our righteous veneration, what is to be our lot? To what region
in the Apian land are we to flee, if anywhere there be some dark hiding-place?
Ah that I might become black smoke that draws near to the clouds of Zeus; or,
soaring aloft without wings, vanish out of sight like viewless dust and
dissolve into nothingness!
[784] The evil is no
longer escapable; my heart is darkened and trembling; the look-out my father
held has brought me ruin. I am undone with terror. Rather would I meet my doom
in a noose than suffer the embraces of a man I loathe. Death before that, with
Hades for my lord and master!
[792] Ah that
somewhere in the upper air I might find a seat against which the dank clouds
turn into snow, or some bare, inaccessible crag, beyond
and the prow that with its eyes scans its onward course, obeying — all too well
for those to whom it is unfriendly — the guiding rudder at the stern. The men
on board are plainly seen, their black limbs showing from their white attire.
The rest of the ships and all the assisting fleet stand clear in view: but the
leading ship herself has furled her sail and draws near the shore with full
sweep of sounding oars. Yet you must face the matter calmly and with
self-control, and not be unmindful of these gods. For my part, I will secure
allies and advocates to urge our cause, and return. Perhaps some herald or
envoys may come, eager to seize you as a prize and drag you away, but nothing
will happen: do not fear them. Yet in the event that we should be slow in
bringing aid, it would be better not to forget for a moment the means of help
you have here at hand. Courage! In good time, assuredly, and on the day
ordained, he who dishonors the gods will suffer punishment.
CHORUS
[734] Father, I
am afraid. With what swift wings the ships approach! There is not much time
left. I am possessed by dreadful fear if truly my long flight has been of no
profit. Father, I am consumed with fright.
DANAUS
[739] Since the
vote of the Argives was final, be of good cheer, my children; they will fight
in your defence, I know this well.
[CHORUS]
[741] Abominable
is the lustful race of Aegyptus and insatiate of battle; and you know that all
too well. In ships, stout-timbered and dark-prowed, they have sailed here,
attended by a mighty black host, and in their wrath overtaken us.
DANAUS
[746] But they
will find here a force with arms well-seasoned by the noonday heat.
[CHORUS]
[748] Do not
leave me forlorn, I implore you, father. A woman abandoned to herself is
nothing. There is no Ares in her. They are of evil mind, and guileful of
purpose, with impure hearts, thinking no more of altars than carrion birds.
DANAUS
[753] This would
profit us well, my children, should they incur both Heaven’s hate and yours.
[CHORUS]
[755] Father, no
fear of tridents or of things held sacred in the sight of Heaven will ever keep
their hands from us. They are overweening, maddened, with unholy rage,
shameless dogs that do not respect the gods.
DANAUS
[760] Yet there
is a saying that wolves are stronger than dogs; the papyrus-fruit does not
conquer the wheat-ear.
[CHORUS]
[762] Since they
have the tempers of lewd and impious beasts, we must guard against them
quickly.
DANAUS
[764] A fleet in
getting under way is not so speedy, nor yet in anchoring, when the securing
cables must be brought ashore; and even at anchorage shepherds of ships do not
feel immediately secure, above all if they have arrived on a harborless coast
when the sun is sinking into night. In a cautious pilot night is likely to
beget anxiety. Then, too, the disembarking of an army cannot be effected with
success before a ship has gained confidence in her moorings. But, for all your
terror, remember not to neglect the gods. [I will return] when I have secured
aid. The city will find no fault with a messenger, old in years, but with youth
in his heart and on his tongue.
[ Exit. ]
CHORUS
[776] O land of
hills, land of our righteous veneration, what is to be our lot? To what region
in the Apian land are we to flee, if anywhere there be some dark hiding-place?
Ah that I might become black smoke that draws near to the clouds of Zeus; or,
soaring aloft without wings, vanish out of sight like viewless dust and
dissolve into nothingness!
[784] The evil is no
longer escapable; my heart is darkened and trembling; the look-out my father
held has brought me ruin. I am undone with terror. Rather would I meet my doom
in a noose than suffer the embraces of a man I loathe. Death before that, with
Hades for my lord and master!
[792] Ah that
somewhere in the upper air I might find a seat against which the dank clouds
turn into snow, or some bare, inaccessible crag, beyond
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