Aeschylus, Eumenides (ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D.), line 640 (search)
e has poured out his mother's blood on the ground, shall he then live in his father's house in Argos? Which of the public altars shall he use?What purification rite of the brotherhoodsKinsfolk, actual or fictitious, were united in phratriai, with common worship, offerings, and festivals. will receive him?
Apollo
I will explain this, too, and see how correctly I will speak. The mother of what is called her child is not the parent, but the nurse of the newly-sown embryo.This notion appears in Egypt （Diodorus Siculus 1. 80, whose source was Hecataeus, an older contemporary of Aeschylus） and in various Greek authors later than Aeschylus, e.g. Eur.
Or. 552; Frag. 1064, the Pythagoreans cited by Stobaeus （Hense ii. 72）. The passage in the play has been invoked as evidence that the Athenians of the fifth century B.C. were upholding, some the ancient mode of tracing descent from the mother （the argument of the Erinyes）; others, the patrilinear theory advocated by Apollo. The one who mou
Enter a company of maidens, who have fled from Egypt and just landed on the shores of Argos; with them is their father
Chorus
May Zeus who guards suppliants look graciously upon our company, which boarded a ship and put to sea from the outlets of the fine sand of the Nile. For we have fled Zeus' landOr “the land divine” （di=an w some public decree pronounced against blood crime, but because of our own act to escape the suit of man, since we abhor as impious all marriage with the sons of Aegyptus.It was Danaus, our father, adviser and leader, who, considering well our course, decided, as the best of all possible evils, that we flee with all speed over the habitations of righteous men: receive as suppliants this band of women with the compassionate spirit of the land. Butthe thronging swarm of violent men born of Aegyptus, should they set foot upon this marshy land, drive them seaward—and with them their swift ship—and there may they encounter a cruel sea with thunder, lightni
Chorus
Aegyptus; and now that you know my ancient lineage, I pray you to helpLiterally “raise” from sanctuary.a band that is Argive by descent.
King
I think you indeed have some share in this land from old. But how did you bring yourselves to leave the home of your fathers? What stroke of fortune befell you?
Chorus
Lord of theve you come as suppliants of these gods congregated here, holding in your hands those white-wreathed, fresh-plucked boughs?
Chorus
So as not to be made slave to Aegyptus' race.
King
By reason of hatred? Or do you speak of unlawfulness ?
Chorus
Who would purchase their lords from among their kin?
King
In this way families havef things go ill, to separate from a wife.
King
How then am I to deal with you in accordance with my sacred duty?
Chorus
By not surrendering us at the demand of Aegyptus' sons.
King
A serious request—to take upon myself a dangerous war.
Chorus
But Justice protects her champions.
King
True, if she had a share in the matter from<
King
If the sons of Aegyptus have authority over you by the law of your country claiming that they are nearest of kin, who would wish to contest it?You must plead in accordance with the laws of the land you have fled, that they have no authority over you.
art.
Chorus
You have grasped my intention, for I have cleared your vision.
King
And on many sides there are difficulties hard to wrestle with; for, like a flood, a multitude of ills bursts on me.It is a sea of ruin, fathomless and impassable, which I am launched upon, and nowhere is there a haven from distress. For should I not pay the debt due to you, the pollution you name is beyond all range of speech; yet ifI take my stand before the walls and try the issue of battle with the sons of Aegyptus, your kinsmen, how will the cost not mount to a cruel price—men's blood to stain the ground for women's sake?
And yet the wrath of Zeus who guards the suppliant compels my reverence; for supreme among mortals is the fear of him.Aged father of these maidens, take these boughs straightway in your arms and place them upon other altars of the country's gods, that all the natives may see the sign that you have come in suppliance. And let no random word fall againstme; for the people could compl
Danaus
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]
Abominable is the lustful race of Aegyptus and insatiate of battle; and you know that all too well.
Danaus
Yet there is a saying that wolves are stronger than dogs; the papyrus-fruit does not conquer the wheat-ear.Distinctive foods mark national differences—the Egyptians are no match for the Argives. Theophrastus, in hisHistory of Plants 4.8, reports that the inhabitants of Egypt chew papyrus, raw, boiled, or roasted.
[Chorus]
Since they have the tempers of lewd and impious beasts, we must guard against them quickly.
Danaus
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. T
Chorus
For the males of the race of Aegyptus, intolerable in their wantonness, chase after me,a fugitive, with clamorous lewdness and seek to lay hold of me with violence. But yours alone is the beam of the balance, and without you what is accomplished for mortals?
Herald
If you will not resign yourself and get to the ship, rending will have no pity on the fabric of your garments.
Chorus
We are lost! O King, we are suffering impious violence!
Herald
Oh, you will soon see many kings in Aegyptus' sons. Be of good cheer: you will not have to blame lack of government.
[Chorus]
Listen! Chiefs and rulers of the city, I am threatened with violence!
[Herald]
I think I will have to seize you by the hair and drag you offsince you are slow to heed my ordergods, you do them no reverence.
Herald
I revere the deities by the Nile.
King
While ours are nothing, as I understand you?
Herald
I shall carry off these maids unless someone tears them away.
King
If you so much as touch them, you will regret it, and right soon.
Herald
I hear you; and your speech is far from hospitable.
King
No, since I have no hospitality for despoilers of the gods.
Herald
I will go and tell Aegyptus' sons about this.
King
My proud spirit will not ponder on this threat.
[A Danaid]
May mighty Zeus defend me from marriage with Aegyptus' race!
[A Handmaiden]
That would indeed be best.
[A Danaid]
But you would move the immovable.
[A Handmaiden]
And you do not know what the future has in store.
