King From where comes this band we address, clothed in foreign attire and luxuriating in closely-woven and barbaric robes? For your apparel is not that of the women of Argos, nor yet of any part of Hellas. How you have gained courage thus fearlessly to come to this land, unheralded and friendless and without guides, this makes me wonder. And yet, truly, I see that branches usually carried by suppliants are laid by your side before the gods assembled here—as to this alone can Hellas guess with confidence. As for the rest, there is still much I should with reason leave to conjecture, if your voice were not here to inform me.
Chorus You have not spoken falsely about our clothing. But, for my part, how am I to address you? As commoner, as spokesman, bearer of the sacred wand, or as ruler of the realm?
King As for that, answer and speak to me with confidence. For I am Pelasgus, offspring of Palaechthon, whom the earth brought forth, and lord of this land; and after me, their king, is rightly named the race of the Pelasgi, who harvest the land. Of all the region through which the pure Strymon flows, on the side toward the setting sun, I am the lord. There lies within the limits of my rule the land of the Perrhaebi, the parts beyond Pindus close to the Paeonians, and the mountain ridge of Dodona; the edge of the watery sea borders my kingdom. I rule up to these boundaries. The ground where we stand is Apian land itself, and has borne that name since antiquity in honor of a healer. For Apis, seer and healer, the son of Apollo, came from Naupactus on the farther shore and purified this land of monsters deadly to man, which Earth, defiled by the pollution of bloody deeds of old, caused to spring up—plagues charged with wrath, an ominous colony of swarming serpents. Of these plagues Apis worked the cure by sorcery and spells to the content of the Argive land, and for reward thereafter earned for himself remembrance in prayers. Now that you have my testimony, declare your lineage and speak further—yet our people do not take pleasure in long discourse.
Chorus Our tale is brief and clear. Argives we claim to be by birth, offspring of a cow blest in its children. And the truth of this I shall confirm in full.
King Foreign maidens, your tale is beyond my belief—how your race can be from Argos. For you are more similar to the women of Libya and in no way similar to those native to our land. The Nile, too, might foster such a stock, and like yours is the Cyprian impress stamped upon female images by male craftsmen. And of such aspect, I have heard, are nomad women, who ride on camels for steeds, having padded saddles, and dwell in a land neighboring the Aethiopians. And had you been armed with the bow, certainly I would have guessed you to be the unwed, flesh-devouring Amazons. But inform me, and I will better comprehend how it is that you trace your race and lineage from Argos.
Chorus Is there a report that once in this land of Argos Io was ward of Hera’s house?
King Certainly she was; the tradition prevails far and wide.
Chorus And is there some story, too, that Zeus was joined in love with a mortal?
King This entanglement was not secret from Hera.
Chorus What then was the result of this royal strife?
King The goddess of Argos transformed the woman into a cow.
Chorus And while she was a horned cow, did not Zeus approach her?
King So they say, making his form that of a bull lusting for a mate.
Chorus What answer then did Zeus’ stubborn consort give?
King She placed the all-seeing one to stand watch over the cow.
Chorus What manner of all-seeing herdsman with a single duty do you mean?
King Argus, a son of Earth, whom Hermes slew.
Chorus What else did she contrive against the unfortunate cow?
King A sting, torment of cattle, constantly driving her on.
Chorus They call it a gadfly, those who dwell by the Nile.
King Well then, it drove her by a long course out of the land.
Chorus Your account agrees with mine in all respects.
King So she came to Canobus and to Memphis.
Chorus And Zeus begot a son by the touching of his hand.
King Who is it then that claims to be the cow’s Zeus-begotten calf?
Chorus Epaphus, and truly named from laying on of hands.
King And who was begotten of Epaphus?
Chorus Libya, who reaps the fruit of the largest portion of the earth.
King What offspring, then, did Libya have?
Chorus Agenor was her first child born.
King And who was his offspring?
Chorus Belus, who had two sons and was father of my father here.
King Now tell me his wisely-given name.
Chorus Danaus: and he has a brother with fifty sons.
King Reveal his name ungrudgingly.
Chorus
Aegyptus; and now that you know my ancient lineage, I pray you to help a band that is Argive by descent.
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