EURIPIDES
lolaus
No, I'll stay at the altar. Well sit down
And wait and pray until you've won the fight. 345
And when your triumph is complete, we'll go
Home with you. I think that the gods
On our side are more than a match for theirs.
Hera may be their patron but we have
Athena; and what counts in the long run 350
Is having stronger gods upon your side.
Pallas will never let the others win.
(Exit Demophon.)
Chorus
STROPHE
Then brag away until you're hoarse.
But know that Argive bluster can't
Affect our minds, nor can it force 355
Us to turn tail. Not for such rant
As this of yours to bring our great
And lovely city down so low
And leave her prey to such a fate.
To think you and your king are so 360
Crack-brained as that!
ANTISTROPHE
To kidnap refugees, and those
The wards of both our gods and men,
Is bad enough, for one who knows
Our state's as good as yours; and then 365
To have a stranger treat our king
Like dirt, without a single claim
To right and justice is a thing
That only fools and men past shame
Can well defend. 370
EPODE
We're peaceful men, but in advance
We warn a king who's gone berserk
To keep away. He'll have no chance
To carry out his dirty work.
146