36 Ernest Heinrich Klotsche 



territory. She prescribes the ritual of the oath, vv. 1 183-1226. 

 Theseus as well as the chorus express their willingness to obey : 



Theseus : 

 Suppl. 1227-31 : 



dkairow^ 'A^ava, ireiaofxat \6yoLaL crols' 



K. T. X, 



" Athena, Queen, thy words will I obey : 

 Thou guidest me ever that I may not err. 

 Him will I bind with oaths : only do thou 

 Still lead me aright ; for gracious while thou are 

 To Athens, shall we ever safely dwell." 



Chorus : 

 Suppl. 1232-35: 



CFTeixcoiJ'iv, ASpao"??', opKLa dcofiev 

 Tud av8pl iroXei t • a^ia 5 ri/juv 

 TrpoiJ.efxox&'flKacn ae^ea^ai,. 



" On pass we, Adrastus, and take oath-plight 

 Unto Theseus and Athens. That worship requite 

 Their travail for us, is meet and right." 



8. The Heracleid^ 



In the " Heracleidse " Demophon, king" of Athens, informs 

 lolus that they who have charge of ancient oracles declare, one 

 and all, that success in the pending conflict can only be assured 

 by sacrificing to Ceres the maiden daughter of ah illustrious sire : 



Heracl. 403-09: 



XpTjcTjuaJj' 8' dotSous iravras els ev oKicras 



7jX€7^a K. T. X. 



" All prophecy-chanters have I caused to meet, 

 Into old public oracles have I searched, 

 And secret, for salvation of this land. 

 And, mid their manifold diversities. 

 In one thing, glares the sense of all the same : — 

 They bid me to Demeter's Daughter slay 

 A maiden of a high-born father sprung." 



In compliance with this oracle, Macaria offers herself a willing 

 victim for the welfare of the state, vv. 500 ff. 



Another oracle is proclaimed by the captured Eurystheus who 



90 



