becoming incapable of preserving the state, I indeed chiefly groan for hapless Greece, who, wishing to work some doughty deed against these good-for-nothing barbarians, will let them, laughing at us, slip through her hands, on account of thee and thy daughter. I would not make any one ruler of the land for the sake of necessity,[25] nor chieftain of armed men. It behooves the general of the state to possess sense, for every man is a ruler who possesses sense. CHOR. 'Tis dreadful for words and strife to happen between brothers, when they fall into dispute. AG. I wish to address thee in evil terms, but mildly,[26] in brief, not uplifting mine eyelids too much aloft through insolence, but moderately, as being my brother. For a good man is wont to show respect [to others.] Tell me, why dost thou burst forth thus violently, having thy face suffused with rage? Who wrongs thee? What lackest thou? Wouldst fain gain a good wife! I can not supply thee, for thou didst ill rule over the one you possessed. Must I therefore pay the penalty of your mismanagement, who have made no mistake? Or does my ambition annoy thee? But wouldst thou fain hold in thine arms a fair woman, forgetting discretion and honor? Evil pleasures belong to an evil man. But if I, having before resolved ill, have changed to good counsel, am I mad? Rather art thou [mad,] who, having lost a bad wife, desirest to recover her, when God has well prospered thy fortune. The nuptial-craving suitors in their folly swore the oath to Tyndarus, but hope, I ween, was their God, and wrought this more than thyself and thy strength. Whom taking[27] make thou the expedition, but I think thou wilt know [that it is] through the folly of their hearts, for the divinity is not ignorant, but is capable of discerning oaths ill plighted and perforce. But I will not slay my children, so that thy state will in justice be well, revenge upon the worst of wives, but nights and days will waste me away in tears, having wrought lawless, unjust deeds against the children whom I begat. These words are briefly spoken to thee, both plain and easy, but if thou art unwilling to be wise, I will arrange my own affairs well. CHOR. These words are different from those before spoken, but they are to a good effect, that the children be spared. MEN. Alas! alas! have I then wretched no friends? AG. [Yes, you have,] at least, if you do not wish to ruin your friends. MEN. But how will you show that you are born of the same sire with me? AG. I am born to be wise with you, not foolish.[28] MEN. It behooves friends to grieve in common with friends. AG. Admonish me by well doing, not by paining me. MEN. Dost thou not then think fit to toil through this with Greece? AG. But Greece, with thee, is sickening through some deity. MEN. Vaunt then on thy sceptre, having betrayed thy brother. But I will seek some other schemes, and other friends. [_Enter a Messenger_.[29]]