EURIPIDES
Me with Eurystheus at the head. He's at
The boundaries of Alcathus' own state
And stands on the alert. So when he hears
Of this disgrace, he'll strike you like a flash, 280
You and your land and every living thing.
What are our soldiers for if not to fight
And punish you, who give us ample cause?
Demophon
To hell with you! Your Argos won't make me
Give in an inch, and you won't drag these off 285
And shame us, since we take no orders here
From Argos, but we do just as we like.
(Exit Copreus.)
Chorus
Time to think about defense
Before their army strikes our soil.
Argives were always bloodthirsty, but now 290
What they'll soon learn will make them twice as fierce.
Since diplomats are all alike and will
Distort and magnify what they've gone through.
I know he'll tell his lord he was so
Mistreated here that, all in all, 295
He barely got his skin away.
lolaus
There's nothing better for a boy than to
Have had a good and noble father and
To marry well. I can't approve of those
Who go below their station out of love 300
And compromise their sons through their own lust.
Since noble people stand adversity
Much better than the mob; for instance, we
Were at our last gasp, till we found these friends
And relatives. Alone of all the Greeks, 305
They've dared to stand up and defend our rights.
There, children, go and give your hand to them,
And you give your hand too. Now, go ahead!
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