COP. What, think’st thou unmolested to enjoy
This pleasant seat, and have thy vagrant steps
Entered at length a city prompt to fight
Thy battles? for the man who will prefer
Thy feeble arm to that of great Eurystheus,
Exists not. Hence! why in these useless toils
Dost thou persist? thou must return to Argos
Where they have doomed thee to be stoned.
IOL. Not thus:
For in this altar shall I find protection,
And this free country on whose soil we tread.
COP. Wilt thou constrain me then to have recourse
To violence?
IOL. With forceful hand, nor me
Nor these poor children shalt thou hence expel.
COP. Ere long shalt thou perceive that thou hast uttered
Erroneous prophesies.
IOL. This ne’er shall be
Long as I live.
COP. Depart, for I will seize them
’Gainst thy consent, and to Eurystheus’ power
Surrender up, for they to him belong.
IOL. Aid me, ye ancient citizens of Athens,
For we, though suppliants, forcibly are torn
E’en from Jove’s public altar, and the wreaths
Twined round our sacred branches are polluted;
Shame to your city, insult to the gods.