_Dan._ My children, to the Argives ye should pray, And sacrifice, and full libations pour, As to Olympian Gods, for they have proved, With one consent, deliverers: and they heard *All that I did towards those cousins there, 960 *Those lovers hot and bitter. And they gave To me as followers these that bear the spear, That I might have my meed of honour due, And might not die by an assassin's hand A death unlooked-for, and thus leave the land A weight of guilt perpetual: and 'tis fit That one who meets such kindness should return, *From his heart's depths, a nobler gratitude; And add ye this to all already written, Your father's many maxims of true wisdom, That we, though strangers, may in time be known; 970 For as to aliens each man's tongue is apt For evil, and spreads slander thoughtlessly; But ye, I charge you, see ye shame me not, With this your life's bloom drawing all men's eyes. The goodly vintage is full hard to watch, All men and beasts make fearful havoc of it, Nay, birds that fly, and creeping things of earth; And Kypris offers fruitage, dropping ripe, *As prey to wandering lust, nor lets it stay;[266] And on the goodly comeliness of maidens 980 Each passer-by, o'ercome with hot desire, Darts forth the amorous arrows of the eye. And therefore let us suffer nought of this, Through which our ship has ploughed such width of sea, Such width of trouble; neither let us work Shame to ourselves, and pleasure to our foes. This twofold choice of home is open to you: [Pelasgos offers his, the city theirs,] To dwell rent-free. Full easy terms are these: Only, I charge you, keep your father's precepts, Prizing as more than life your chastity. 990 _Chor._ May the high Gods that on Olympos dwell Bless us in all things; but for this our vintage Be of good cheer, my father; for unless The counsels of the Gods work strange device, I will not leave my spirit's former path. STROPHE I _Semi-Chor. A_. Go then and make ye glad the high Gods, blessed for ever, Those who rule our towns, and those who watch over our city, And they who dwell by the stream of Erasinos ancient.[267] _Semi-Chor. B_. And ye, companions true, Take up your strain of song. 1000 Let praise attend this city of Pelasgos; Let us no more, no more adore the mouths of Neilos With these our hymns of praise; ANTISTROPHE I _Semi-Chor. A_. Nay, but the rivers here that pour calm streams through our country,[268] Parents of many a son, making glad the soil of our meadows, With wide flood rolling on, in full and abounding richness.