ALTHAEA.

Praise be with men abroad; chaste lives with us,
Home-keeping days and household reverences.


MELEAGER.

Next by the left unsandalled foot know thou
The sail and oar of this Aetolian land,
Thy brethren, Toxeus and the violent-souled
Plexippus, over-swift with hand and tongue;
For hands are fruitful, but the ignorant mouth
Blows and corrupts their work with barren breath.


ALTHAEA.

Speech too bears fruit, being worthy; and air blows down
Things poisonous, and high-seated violences,
And with charmed words and songs have men put out
Wild evil, and the fire of tyrannies.


MELEAGER.

Yea, all things have they, save the gods and love.


ALTHAEA.