“Have I not said without the people’s voice I will not and I cannot, King though I be, Do as thou’lt have me do?”
~ The Suppliant Maidens by Aeschylus (G. M. Cookson translation. p5. v397)
Danaus, the father, assures his daughters that they have come to the right place to seek refuge and that they should be humble. King Pelasgus enters and asks questions about them. When they say they are of the Argive blood, he asks more questions about their ancestry, which Danaus answers well. The King says that he must take counsel from people since he foresees war and other reactions in the future.
King Pelasgus is not making a unilateral decision here but says that he must seek counsel before he accepts. He foresees war and sharp criticisms from the people if he were to agree to take in the refugees right away by heeding their pleas and being sympathetic to their situation. It is a hard choice, especially when someone is in dire straits and pleading directly before you. But by not foreseeing trouble, one can get into bad situations. I’m reminded of the Phaecian ship that was sunk by Poseidon since they helped Ulysses (Reading GB - Ep 41).