Antistrophe.
"And the great gods who o'er this country watch,
May they adore them in the land they guard,
With rites of sacrifice
And troops with laurel-boughs,
As did our sires of old!
For thus to honour those who gave us life,
This stands as one of three great laws[1] on high,
Written as fixed and firm,
The laws of right revered."
When these prayers are ended their father warns them that he has serious tidings to announce, and begs them not to fear. From his high, position he can see the ship which brings their pursuers; and as he speaks it becomes more and more clearly visible, till the sails are furled, and the vessel approaches the shore with oars alone. Danaus encourages his daughters to be confident in the protection promised them, and to be sure that the vengeance of heaven will follow their persecutors. In short broken strains the Chorus express their fears and their abhorrence of the sons of Ægyptus, who regard not the gods of sanctuary, and may have recourse to violence before Pelasgus has had time to succour his suppliants. "There is yet time enough," the father replies, "to rouse the Argives: to anchor in a harbourless country and to get ashore is not the work of a moment, especially when night, as now, is drawing on; and we must not
- ↑ The "three great laws" were those ascribed to Triptolemus: "To honour parents, to worship the gods with the fruits of the earth, to hurt neither man nor beast."
