DE. Three ways of misfortune urge me, O Iolaus, not to reject these suppliants. The greatest, Jupiter, at whose altars you sit, having this procession of youths with you; and my relationship to them, and because I am bound of old that they should fare well at my hands, in gratitude to their father; and the disgrace,[9] which one ought exceedingly to regard. For if I permitted this altar to be violated by force by a strange man, I shall not seem to inhabit a free country. But I fear to betray my suppliants to the Argives; and this is nearly as bad as the noose. But I wish you had come with better fortune; but still, even now, fear not that any one shall drag you and these children by force from this altar. And do thou, going to Argos, both tell this to Eurystheus; and besides that, if he has any charge against these strangers, he shall meet with justice; but you shall never drag away these men. COP. Not if it be just, and I prevail in argument? DE. And how can it be just to drag away a suppliant by force? COP. This, then, is not disgraceful to me, but an injury to you. DE. To me indeed, if I allow you to drag them away. COP. But do you depart, and then will I drag them thence. DE. You are stupid, thinking yourself wiser than a God. COP. Hither it seems the wicked should fly. DE. The seat of the Gods is a common defense to all. COP. Perhaps this will not seem good to the Mycenæans. DE. Am not I then master over those here? COP. [Ay,] but not to injure them, if you are wise. DE. Are ye hurt, if I do not defile the Gods? COP. I do not wish you to have war with the Argives. DE. I, too, am the same; but I will not let go of these men. COP. At all events, taking possession of my own, I shall lead them away. DE. Then you will not easily depart back to Argos. COP. I shall soon see that by experience. DE. You will touch them to your own injury, and that without delay. CHOR. For God's sake, venture not to strike a herald! DE. I will not, if the herald at least will learn to be wise. CHOR. Depart thou; and do not you touch him, O king! COP. I go; for the struggle of a single hand is powerless. But I will come, bringing hither many a brazen spear of Argive war; and ten thousand shield-bearers await me, and Eurystheus, the king himself, as general. And he waits, expecting news from hence, on the extreme confines of Alcathus; and, having heard of your insolence, he will make himself too well known to you, and to the citizens, and to this land, and to the trees; for in vain should we have so much youth in Argos, if we did not chastise you. DE. Destruction on you! for I do not fear your Argos. But you are not likely, insulting me, to drag these men away from hence by force; for I possess this land, not being subject to that of Argos, but free.