Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/61

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THE SUPPLIANT MAIDENS
49

Herald.

Get thee aboard and with a better grace;
Else shall thy gauzes, muslins and thy veils
Cry out for ruth and rending reck them not.


Chorus.

They overpower me! Chiefs, lords, princes, save!


Herald.

Anon, anon! Courage! Thou soon shalt have
Princes enow: Ægyptus' fifty sons!
Be of good cheer; thou shalt not lack for lords!


Chorus.

Lost, lost—O King—O sacrilegious slave!


Herald.

I have thee now; heave her aboard by the hair:
She's a slack one and slow of hearing.

[Enter King with armed Attendants.


King.

Hold!
Ruffian, what's this? How darest thou insult
Pelasgian soil, ay, and Pelasgia's sons?
Or dost thou think thou'rt come to a land where none
But women dwell? Barbarian to Greek
Is used to be more humble. Thou wilt find
That thy wild shooting misses the just scope
And aim of action, reckoning up thy wrong.


Herald.

I take thee at thy word and ask thee, where
I reach beyond what law and justice warrant?