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that Zeus with mortal mingled love?
CHORUS
Ay, and that Hera that embrace surmised.
THE KING OF ARGOS
How issued then this strife of those on high?
CHORUS
By Hera's will, a heifer she became.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Held Zeus aloof then from the horned beast?
CHORUS
'Tis said, he loved, in semblance of a bull.
THE KING OF ARGOS
And his stern consort, did she aught thereon?
CHORUS
One myriad-eyed she set, the heifer's guard.
THE KING OF ARGOS
How namest thou this herdsman many-eyed?
CHORUS
Argus, the child of Earth, whom Hermes slew.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Still did the goddess vex the beast ill-starred?
CHORUS
She wrought a gadfly with a goading sting.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Thus drave she Io hence, to roam afar?
CHORUS
Yea--this thy word coheres exact with mine.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Then to Canopus and to Memphis came she?
CHORUS
And by Zeus' hand was touched, and bare a child.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Who vaunts him the Zeus-mated creature's son?
CHORUS
Epaphus, named rightly from the saving touch.
THE KING OF ARGOS
And whom in turn did Epaphus beget?[4]
[Footnote: 4: Here one verse at least has been lost. The conjecture of Bothe seems to be verified, as far as substance is concerned, by the next line, and has consequently been adopted.]
CHORUS
Libya, with name of a wide land endowed.
THE KING OF ARGOS
And who from her was born unto the race?
CHORUS
Belus: from him two sons, my father one.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Speak now to me his name, this greybeard wise.
CHORUS
Revere the gods thus crowned, who steer the State.
THE KING OF ARGOS
Awe thrills me, seeing these shrines with leafage crowned.
CHORUS
Yea, stern the wrath of Zeus, the suppliant