ANTISTROPHE I _Chor._ Yea, may that Law that guards the suppliant's right Free this our flight from harm, Law, sprung from Zeus, supreme Apportioner, But thou, [_to the King_,] though old, from me, though younger, learn: If thou a suppliant pity Thou ne'er shall penury know, So long as Gods receive Within their sacred shrines Gifts at the hands of worshipper unstained. _King._ It is not at my hearth ye suppliant sit; But if the State be as a whole defiled, 360 Be it the people's task to work the cure. I cannot pledge my promise to you first Ere I have counselled with my citizens.[236] STROPHE II _Chor._ Thou art the State—yea, thou the commonwealth, Chief lord whom none may judge; 'Tis thine to rule the country's altar-hearth, With the sole vote of thy prevailing nod; And thou on throne of state, Sole-sceptred in thy sway, Bringest each matter to its destined end; Shun thou the curse of guilt. _King._ Upon my foes rest that dread curse of guilt! 370 Yet without harm I cannot succour you, Nor gives it pleasure to reject your prayers. In a sore strait am I; fear fills my soul To take the chance, to do or not to do. ANTISTROPHE II _Chor._ Look thou on Him who looks on all from heaven, Guardian of suffering men Who, worn with toil, unto their neighbours come As suppliants, and receive not justice due: For these the wrath of Zeus, Zeus, the true suppliant's God, Abides, by wail of sufferer unappeased. 380 _King._ Yet if Ægyptos' sons have claim on thee By their State's law, asserting that they come As next of kin, who dare oppose their right? Thou must needs plead that by thy laws at home They over thee have no authority.[237] STROPHE III _Chor._ Ah! may I ne'er be captive to the might Of males! Where'er the stars Are seen in heaven, I track my way in flight, As refuge from a marriage that I hate. But thou, make Right thy friend, And honour what the Gods count pure and true. 390 _King._ Hard is the judgment: choose not me as judge. But, as I said before, I may not act Without the people, sovereign though I be, Lest the crowd say, should aught fall out amiss, “In honouring strangers, thou the State did'st ruin.” ANTISTROPHE III _Chor._ Zeus, the great God of kindred, in these things Watches o'er both of us, Holding an equal scale, and fitly giving To the base evil, to the righteous blessing. Why, when these things are set In even balance, fear'st thou to do right? 400