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Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968). rn The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915.

Captive Good Attending Captain Ill

Euripides

Euripides

(Athenian tragic poet, 480 or 485–406 B.C.; the most modern of ancient writers. Translation by John Addington Symonds)

DOTH some one say that there be gods above?

There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool,

Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you.

Look at the facts themselves, yielding my words

No undue credence; for I say that kings

Kill, rob, break oaths, lay cities waste by fraud,

And doing thus are happier than those

Who live calm pious lives day after day.

How many little states that serve the gods

Are subject to the godless but more strong,

Made slaves by might of a superior army!