But for you what device have ye to get profit of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us, or some other foe, as often happens among men, even as now this company is come unforeseen?
But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet countless other woes, worse than battle, remain behind, when the aged women die off and ye younger ones, without children, reach hateful old age.

How then will ye live, hapless ones?
Will your oxen of their own accord yoke themselves for the deep plough-lands and draw the earth-cleaving share through the fallow, and forthwith, as the year comes round, reap the harvest?
Assuredly, though the fates till now have shunned me in horror, I deem that in the coming year I shall put on the garment of earth, when I have received my meed of burial even so as is right, before the evil days draw near.

But I bid you who are younger give good heed to this.

For now at your feet a way of escape lies open, if ye trust to the strangers the care of your homes and all your stock and your glorious city." (ll.

697-699) Thus she spake, and the assembly was filled with clamour.
For the word pleased them.