                                     430 BC
                                THE HERACLEIDAE
                                  by Euripides
                         translated by E. P. Coleridge
    CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
  IOLAUS, friend of Heracles
  COPREUS, herald of EURYSTHEUS
  DEMOPHON, King of Athens
  MACARIA, daughter of Heracles
  SERVANT, of Hyllus, son of Heracles
  ALCMENA, mother of Heracles
  MESSENGER
  EURYSTHEUS; King of Argos
  CHORUS OF AGED ATHENIANS
  Acamas, the brother of DEMOPHON, younger sons of Heracles,
attendants, guards, etc.


HERACLEIDAE
    THE HERACLEIDAE


           (SCENE:-Before the altar and temple of Zeus
              at Marathon. IOLAUS, an old man, and the
      children of Heracles are seen on the steps of the altar.)

  IOLAUS
    I HOLD this true, and long have held: Nature hath made one man
upright for his neighbours' good, while another hath a disposition
wholly given over to gain, useless alike to the state and difficult to
have dealings with, but for himself the best of men; and this I
know, not from mere hearsay. For I, from pure regard and reverence for
my kith and kin, though might have lived at peace in Argos, alone of
all my race shared with Heracles his labours, while he was yet with
us, and now that he dwells in heaven, I keep these his children safe
beneath my wing, though myself need protection. For when their
father passed from earth away, Eurystheus would first of all have
slain us, but we escaped. And though our home is lost, our life was
saved. But in exile we wander from city to city, ever forced to
roam. For, added to our former wrongs, Eurystheus thought it fit to
put this further outrage upon us: wheresoe'er he heard that we were
settling, thither would he send heralds demanding our surrender and
driving us from thence, holding out this threat, that Argos is no meal
city to make a friend or foe, and furthermore pointing to his own
prosperity. So they, seeing how weak my means, and these little ones
left without a father, bow to his superior might and drive us from
their land. And I share the exile of these children, and help them
bear their evil lot by my sympathy, loth to betray them, lest
someone say, "Look you! now that the children's sire is dead, Iolaus
no more protects them, kinsman though he is." Not one corner left us
in the whole of Hellas, we are come to Marathon and its neighbouring
land, and here we sit as suppliants at the altars of the gods, and
pray their aid; for 'tis said two sons of Theseus dwell upon these
plains, the lot of their inheritance, scions of Pandion's stock,
related to these children; this the reason we have come on this our
way to the borders of glorious Athens. To lead the flight two aged
guides are we; my care is centred on these boys, while she, I mean
Alcmena, clasps her son's daughter in her arms, and bears her for
safety within this shrine, for we shrink from letting tender maidens
come anigh the crowd or stand as suppliants at the altar. Now Hvllus
and the elder of his brethren are seeking some place for us to find
a refuge, if we are driven by force from this land. O children,
children, come hither! hold unto my robe; for lo! I see a herald
coming towards us from Eurystheus, by whom we are persecuted,
wanderers excluded from every land. A curse on the and him that sent
thee, hateful wretch! for that same tongue of thine hath oft announced
its master's evil hests to these children's noble sire as well.

           (COPREUS, the herald of EURYSTHEUS, enters.)

  COPREUS
    Doubtless thy folly lets thee think this is a good position to
have taken up, and that thou art come to a city that will help thee.
No! there is none that will prefer thy feeble arm to the might of
Eurystheus. Begone! why take this trouble? Thou must arise and go to
Argos, where awaits thee death by stoning.
  IOLAUS
    Not so, for the god's altar will protect me, and this land of
freedom, wherein we have set foot.
  COPREUS
    Wilt give me the trouble of laying hands on thee?
  IOLAUS
    By force at least shalt thou never drag these children hence.
  COPREUS
    That shalt thou soon learn; it seems thou wert a poor prophet,
after all, in this.
                                       (COPREUS seizes the children.)
  IOLAUS
    This shall never happen while I live.
  COPREUS
    Begone! for I will take them hence, for all thy refusals, for I
hold that they belong to Eurystheus, as they do indeed.
                                    (He throws IOLAUS to the ground.)
  IOLAUS
    Help, ye who long have had your home in Athens! we suppliants at
Zeus' altar in your market-place are being haled by force away, our
sacred wreaths defiled, shame to your city, to the gods dishonour.

               (The CHORUS OF AGED ATHENIANS enters.)

  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    Hark, hark! What cry is this that rises near the altar? At once
explain the nature of the trouble.
  IOLAUS
    See this aged frame hurled in its feebleness upon the ground!
Woe is me!
  LEADER
    Who threw thee down thus pitiably?
  IOLAUS
    Behold the man who flouts your gods, kind sirs, and tries by force
to drag me from my seat before the altar of Zeus.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    From what land, old stranger, art thou come to this confederate
state of four cities? or have ye left Euboea's cliffs, and, with the
oar that sweeps the sea, put in here from across the firth?
  IOLAUS
    Sirs, no island life I lead, but from Mycenae to thy land I come.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    What do they call thee, aged sir, those folk in Mycenae?
  IOLAUS
    Maybe ye have heard of Iolaus, the comrade of Heracles, for he was
not unknown to fame.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    Yea, I have heard of him in bygone days; but tell me, whose are
the tender boys thou bearest in thine arms?
  IOLAUS
    These, sirs, are the sons of Heracles, come as suppliants to you
and your city.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    What is their quest? Are they anxious, tell me, to obtain an
audience of the state?
  IOLAUS
    That so they may escape surrender, nor be torn with violence
from thy altars, and brought to Argos.
  COPREUS
    Nay, this will nowise satisfy thy masters, who o'er thee have a
right, and so have tracked thee hither.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    Stranger, 'tis but right we should reverence the gods' suppliants,
suffering none with violent hand to make them leave the altars, for
that will dread justice ne'er permit.
  COPREUS
    Do thou then drive these subjects of Eurystheus forth, and this
hand of mine shall abstain from violence.
  CHORUS (chanting)
    'Twere impious for the state to neglect the suppliant stranger's
prayer.
  COPREUS
    Yet 'tis well to keep clear of troubles, by adopting that counsel,
which is the wiser.
  LEADER
    Thou then shouldst have told the monarch of this land thy errand
before being so bold, out of regard to his country's freedom,
instead of trying to drag strangers by force from the altars of the
gods.
  COPREUS
    Who is monarch of this land and state?
  LEADER
    Demophon, son of gallant Theseus.
  COPREUS
    Surely it were most to the purpose to discuss this matter somewhat
with him; all else has been said in vain.
  LEADER
    Lo! here he comes in person, in hot haste, and Acamas his brother,
to hear what thou hast to say.

              (DEMOPHON, Acamas, and their retinue enter.)

  DEMOPHON
    Since thou for all thy years hast outstripped younger men in
coming to the rescue to this altar of Zeus, do thou tell me what
hath chanced to bring this crowd together.
  LEADER
    There sit the sons of Heracles as suppliants, having wreathed
the altar, as thou seest, O king, and with them is Iolaus, trusty
comrade of their sire.
  DEMOPHON
    Why should this event have called for cries of pain?
  LEADER (turning to COPREUS)
    This fellow caused the uproar by trying to drag them forcibly from
this altar, and he hurled down the old man, till my tears for pity
flowed.
  DEMOPHON
    Hellenic dress and fashion in his robes doth he no doubt adopt,
but deeds like these betray the barbarian. Thou, sirrah, tell me
straight the country whence thou camest thither.
  COPREUS
    An Argive I; since that thou seek'st to know. Who sent me, and the
object of my coming, will I freely tell. Eurystheus, king of
Mycenae, sends me hither to fetch these back; and I have come, sir
stranger, with just grounds in plenty, alike for speech or action.
An Argive myself, Argives I come to fetch, taking with me these
runaways from my native city, on whom the doom of death was passed
by our laws there; and we have right, since we rule our city
independently, to ratify its sentences. And though they have come as
suppliants to the altars of numerous others, we have taken our stand
on these same arguments, and no one has ventured to bring upon himself
evils of his own getting. But they have come hither, either because
they perceived some folly in thee, or, in their perplexity, staking
all on one risky throw to win or lose; for surely they do not
suppose that thou, if so thou hast thy senses still, and only thou, in
all the breadth of Hellas they have traversed, wilt pity their foolish
troubles. Come now, put argument against argument: what will be thy
gain, suppose thou admit them to thy land, or let us take them
hence? From us these benefits are thine to win: this city can secure
as friends Argos, with its far-reaching arm, and Eurystheus' might
complete; whilst if thou lend an ear to their piteous pleading and
grow soft, the matter must result in trial of arms; for be sure we
shall not yield this struggle without appealing to the sword. What
pretext wilt thou urge? Of what domains art thou robbed that thou
shouldst take and wage war with the Tirynthian Argives? What kind of
allies art thou aiding? For whom will they have fallen whom thou
buriest? Surely thou wilt get an evil name from the citizens, if for
the sake of an old man near the grave, a mere shadow I may say, and
for these children, thou wilt plunge into troublous waters. The best
thou canst say is, that thou wilt find in them a hope, and nothing
more; and yet this falls far short of the present need; for these
would be but a poor match for Argives even when fully armed and in
their prime, if haply that raises thy spirits; moreover, the time
'twixt now and then is long, wherein ye may be blotted out. Nay,
hearken to me; give me naught, but let me take mine own, and so gain
Mycenae; but forbear to act now, as is your Athenian way, and take the
weaker side, when it is in thy power to choose the stronger as thy
friends.
  LEADER
    Who can decide a cause or ascertain its merits, till from both
sides he clearly learn what they would say?
  IOLAUS
    O king, in thy land I start with this advantage, the right to hear
and speak in turn, and none, ere that, will drive me hence as
elsewhere they would. 'Twixt us and him is naught in common, for we no
longer have aught to do with Argos since that decree was passed, but
we are exiles from our native land; how then can he justly drag us
back as subjects of Mycenae, seeing that they have banished us? For we
are strangers. Or do ye claim that every exile from Argos is exiled
from the bounds of Hellas? Not from Athens surely; for ne'er will
she for fear of Argos drive the children of Heracles from her land.
Here is no Trachis, not at all; no! nor that Achaean town, whence
thou, defying justice, but boasting of the might of Argos in the
very words thou now art using, didst drive the suppliants from their
station at the altar. If this shall be, and they thy words approve,
why then I trow this is no more Athens, the home of freedom. Nay,
but I know the temper and nature of these citizens; they would
rather die, for honour ranks before mere life with men of worth.
Enough of Athens! for excessive praise is apt to breed disgust; and
oft ere now have myself felt vexed at praise that knows no bounds. But
to thee, as ruler of this land, fain would show the reason why thou
art bound to save these children. Pittheus was the son of Pelops; from
him sprung Aethra, and from her Theseus thy sire was born. And now
will I trace back these children's lineage for thee. Heracles was
son of Zeus and Alcmena; Alcmena sprang from Pelops' daughter;
therefore thy father and their father would be the sons of first
cousins. Thus then art thou to them related, O Demophon, but thy
just debt to them beyond the ties of kinship do I now declare to thee;
for I assert, in days gone by, I was with Theseus on the ship, as
their father's squire, when they went to fetch that girdle fraught
with death; yea, and from Hades' murky dungeons did Heracles bring thy
father up; as all Hellas doth attest. Wherefore in return they crave
this boon of thee, that they be not surrendered up nor torn by force
from the altars of thy gods and cast forth from the land. For this
were shame on thee, and hurtful likewise in thy state, should
suppliants, exiles, kith and kin of thine, be haled away by force.
In pity cast one glance at them. I do entreat thee, laying my
suppliant bough upon thee, by thy hands and beard, slight not the sons
of Heracles, now that thou hast them in thy power to help. Show
thyself their kinsman and their friend; be to them father, brother,
lord; for better each and all of these than to fall beneath the
Argives' hand.
  LEADER
    O king, I pity them, hearing their sad lot. Now more than ever
do see noble birth o'ercome by fortune; for these, though sprung
from noble sire, are suffering what they ne'er deserved.
  DEMOPHON
    Three aspects of the circumstance constrain me, Iolaus, not to
spurn the guests thou bringest; first and foremost, there is Zeus,
at whose altar thou art seated with these tender children gathered
round thee; next come ties of kin, and the debt I owe to treat them
kindly for their father's sake; and last, mine honour, which before
all I must regard; for if I permit this altar to be violently
despoiled by stranger hands, men will think the land I inhabit is free
no more, and that through fear I have surrendered suppliants to
Argives, and this comes nigh to make one hang oneself. Would that thou
hadst come under a luckier star! yet, as it is, fear not that any
man shall tear thee and these children from the altar by force. (to
COPREUS) Get thee to Argos and tell Eurystheus so; yea and more, if he
have any charge against these strangers, he shall have justice; but
never shalt thou drag them hence.
  COPREUS
    Not even if I have right upon my side and prove my case?
  DEMOPHON
    How can it be right to drag the suppliant away by force?
  COPREUS
    Well, mine is the disgrace; no harm will come to thee.
  DEMOPHON
    'Tis harm to me, if I let them be haled away by thee.
  COPREUS
    Banish them thyself, and then will I take them from elsewhere.
  DEMOPHON
    Nature made thee a fool, to think thou knowest better than the
god.
  COPREUS
    It seems then evildoers are to find a refuge here.
  DEMOPHON
    A temple of the gods is an asylum open to the world.
  COPREUS
    Maybe they will not take this view in Mycenae.
  DEMOPHON
    What! am I not lord of this domain?
  COPREUS
    So long as thou injure not the Argives, and if wise, thou wilt
not.
  DEMOPHON
    Be injured for all I care, provided I sin not against the gods.
  COPREUS
    I would not have thee come to blows with Argos.
  DEMOPHON
    I am of like mind in this; but I will not dismiss these from my
protection.
  COPREUS
    For all that, I shall take and drag my own away.
  DEMOPHON
    Why then perhaps thou wilt find a difficulty in returning to
Argos.
  COPREUS
    That shall I soon find out by making the attempt.
  DEMOPHON
    Touch them and thou shalt rue it, and that without delay.
  LEADER
    I conjure thee, never dare to strike a herald.
  DEMOPHON
    Strike I will, unless that herald learn discretion.
  LEADER
    Depart; and thou, O king, touch him not.
  COPREUS
    I go; for 'tis feeble fighting with a single arm. But I will
come again, bringing hither a host of Argive troops, spearmen clad
in bronze; for countless warriors are awaiting my return, and king
Eurystheus in person at their head; anxiously he waits the issue
here on the borders of Alcathous' realm. And when he hears thy haughty
answer, he will burst upon thee, and thy citizens, on this land and
all that grows therein; for all in vain should we possess such hosts
of picked young troops in Argos, should we forbear to punish thee.
                                                   (COPREUS departs.)
  DEMOPHON
    Perdition seize thee! I am not afraid of thy Argos. Be very sure
thou shalt not drag these suppliants hence by force, to my shame;
for I hold not this city subject unto Argos, but independently.
  CHORUS (singing)
    'Tis time to use our forethought, ere the host of Argos approach
our frontier, for exceeding fierce are the warriors of Mycenae, and in
the present case still more than heretofore. For all heralds observe
this custom, to exaggerate what happened twofold. Bethink the what a
tale he will tell his master of his dreadful treatment, how he came
near losing his life altogether.
  IOLAUS
    Children have no fairer prize than this, the being born of a
good and noble sire, and the power to wed from noble families; but
whoso is enslaved by passion and makes a lowborn match, I cannot
praise for leaving to his children a legacy of shame, to gratify
himself. For noble birth offers a stouter resistance to adversity than
base parentage; for we, in the last extremity of woe, have found
friends and kinsmen here, the only champions of these children through
all the length and breadth of this Hellenic world. Give, children,
give to them your hand, and they the same to you; draw near to them.
Ah! children, we have made trial of our friends, and if ever ye see
the path that leads you back to your native land, and possess your
home and the honours of your father, count them ever as your friends
and saviours, and never lift against their land the foeman's spear, in
memory of this, but hold this city first midst those ye love. Yea,
they well deserve your warm regard, in that they have shifted from our
shoulders to their own the enmity of so mighty a land as Argos and its
people, though they saw we were vagabonds and beggars; still they
did not give us up nor drive us forth. So while I live, and after
death,-come when it will,-loudly will I sing thy praise, good
friend, and will extol thee as I stand at Theseus' side, and cheer his
heart, as I tell how thou didst give kind welcome and protection to
the sons of Heracles, and how nobly thou dost preserve thy father's
fame through the length of Hellas, and hast not fallen from the high
estate to which thy father brought thee, a lot which few others can
boast; for 'mongst the many wilt thou find one maybe, that is not
degenerate from his sire.
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    This land is ever ready in an honest cause to aid the helpless.
Wherefore ere now it hath endured troubles numberless for friends, and
now in this I see a struggle nigh at hand.
  DEMOPHON
    Thou hast spoken well, and I feel confident their conduct will
be such; our kindness will they not forget. Now will I muster the
citizens and set them in array, that I may receive Mycenae's host with
serried ranks. But first will I send scouts to meet them, lest they
fall upon me unawares; for at Argos every man is prompt to answer to
the call, and I will assemble prophets and ordain a sacrifice. But
do thou leave the altar of Zeus and go with the children into the
house; for there are those who will care for thee, even though I be
abroad. Enter then my house, old man.
  IOLAUS
    I will not leave the altar. Let us sit here still, praying for the
city's fair success, and when thou hast made a glorious end of this
struggle, will we go unto the house; nor are the gods who champion
us weaker than the gods of Argos, O king; Hera, wife of Zeus, is their
leader; Athena ours. And this I say is an omen of success, that we
have the stronger deity, for Pallas will not brook defeat.
                                   (DEMOPHON and his retinue go out.)
  CHORUS (singing)

                                                              strophe

    Though loud thy boasts, there be others care no more for thee
for that, O stranger from the land of Argos; nor wilt thou scare my
soul with swelling words. Not yet be this the fate of mighty Athens,
beauteous town! But thou art void of sense, and so is he, who lords it
o'er Argos, the son of Sthenelus,

                                                          antistrophe

    thou that comest to another state, in no wise weaker than Argos,
and, stranger that thou art, wouldst drag away by force suppliants
of the gods, wanderers that cling to my land for help, refusing to
yield to our king, nor yet having any honest plea to urge. How can
such conduct count as honourable, at least in wise men's judgment?

                                                                epode

    I am for peace myself; yet I tell thee, wicked king, although thou
come unto my city, thou shalt not get so easily what thou expectest.
Thou art not the only man to wield a sword or targe with plates of
brass. Nay, thou eager warrior, I warn thee, bring not war's alarms
against our lovely town; restrain thyself.
                                                (DEMOPHON re-enters.)
  IOLAUS
    My son, why, prithee, art thou returned with that anxious look?
Hast thou news of the enemy? Are they coming, are they here, or what
thy tidings? For of a surety yon herald will not play us false. No!
sure I am their captain, prosperous heretofore, will come, with
thoughts exceeding proud against Athens. But Zeus doth punish
overweening pride.
  DEMOPHON
    The host of Argos is come, and Eurystheus its king; my own eyes
saw him, for the man who thinks he knows good generalship must see the
foe not by messengers alone. As yet, however, he hath not sent his
host into the plain, but, camped upon a rocky brow, is watching-I only
tell thee what I think this means-to see by which road to lead his
army hither without fighting, and how to take up a safe position in
this land. However, all my plans are by this time carefully laid;
the city is under arms, the victims stand ready to be slain to every
god, whose due this is; my seers have filled the town with sacrifices,
to turn the foe to flight and keep our country safe. All those who
chant prophetic words have I assembled, and have examined ancient
oracles, both public and secret, as means to save this city. And
though the several answers differ in many points, yet in one is the
sentiment of all clearly the same; they bid me sacrifice to
Demeter's daughter some maiden from a noble father sprung. Now I,
though in your cause I am as zealous as thou seest, yet will not
slay my child, nor will I compel any of my subjects to do so against
his will; for who of his own will doth harbour such an evil thought as
to yield with his own hands the child he loves? And now thou mayest
see angry gatherings, where some declare, 'tis right to stand by
suppliant strangers, while others charge me with folly; but if I do
this deed, a civil war is then and there at hand. Do thou then look to
this and help to find a way to save yourselves and this country
without causing me to be slandered by the citizens. For I am no despot
like a barbarian monarch; but provided do what is just, just will my
treatment be.
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    Can it be that heaven forbids this city to help strangers, when it
hath the will and longing so to do?
  IOLAUS
    My children, we are even as those mariners, who have escaped the
storm's relentless rage, and have the land almost within their
reach, but after all are driven back from shore by tempests to the
deep again. Even so we, just as we reach the shore in seeming
safety, are being thrust back from this land. Ah me! Why, cruel
hope, didst thou then cheer my heart, though thou didst not mean to
make the boon complete? The king may well be pardoned, if he will
not slay his subjects' children; and with my treatment here I am
content; if indeed 'tis heaven's will, I thus should fare, still is my
gratitude to thee in no wise lost. Children, I know not what to do for
you. Whither shall we turn? for what god's altar have we left
uncrowned? to what fenced city have we failed to go? Ruin and
surrender are our instant lot, poor children! If I must die, 'tis
naught to me, save that thereby I give those foes of mine some cause
for joy. But you, children, I lament and pity, and that aged mother of
your sire, Alcmena. Ah, woe is thee for thy long span of life! and woe
is me for all my idle toil! 'Twas after all our destined doom to
fall into the hands of our hated foe, and die a death of shame and
misery. But lend me thine aid, thou knowest how; for all hope of these
children's safety has not yet left me. Give me up instead of them to
the Argives, O king; run no risk, but let me save the children; to
love my life becomes me not; let it pass. Me will Eurystheus be most
glad to take and treat despitefully, as I was Heracles' companion; for
the man is but a boor; wherefore wise men ought to pray to get a
wise man for their foe, and not a proud senseless fool; for so, even
if by fortune flouted, one would meet with much consideration.
  LEADER
    Old man, blame not this city; for though perhaps a gain to us, yet
would it be a foul reproach that we betrayed strangers.
  DEMOPHON
    A generous scheme is thine, but impossible. 'Tis not in quest of
the yon king comes marching hither; what would Eurystheus gain by
the death of one so old? Nay, 'tis these children's blood he wants.
For there is danger to a foe in the youthful scions of a noble race,
whose memory dwells upon their father's wrongs; all this Eurystheus
must foresee. But if thou hast any scheme besides, that better suits
the time, be ready with it, for, since I heard that oracle, I am at
a loss and full of fear.
                                    (MACARIA enters from the temple.)
  MACARIA
    Sirs, impute not boldness to me, because I venture forth; this
shall be my first request, for a woman's fairest crown is this, to
practise silence and discretion, and abide at home in peace. But
when I heard thy lamentations, Iolaus, I came forth, albeit I was
not appointed to take the lead in my family. Still in some sense am
I fit to do so, for these my brothers are my chiefest care, and I fain
would ask, as touching myself, whether some new trouble, added to
the former woes, is gnawing at thy heart.
  IOLAUS
    My daughter, 'tis nothing new that I should praise thee, as I
justly may, above all the children of Heracles. Our house seemed to be
prospering, when back it fell again into a hopeless state; for the
king declares the prophets signify that he must order the sacrifice,
not of bull or heifer, but of some tender maid of noble lineage, if we
and this city are to exist. Herein is our perplexity; the king refuses
either to sacrifice his own or any other's child. Wherefore, though he
use not terms express, yet doth he hint, that, unless we find some way
out of this perplexity, we must seek some other land, for he this
country fain would save.
  MACARIA
    Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends?
  IOLAUS
    Yea, on these; if, that is, we are successful otherwise.
  MACARIA
    No longer then cower before the hated Argive spear; for I, of my
own free will, or ever they bid me, am ready to die and offer myself
as a victim. For what excuse have we, if, while this city deems it
right to incur great danger on our behalf, we, though we might save
ourselves, fly from death, by foisting our trouble on others? No!
indeed, 'twere surely most ridiculous to sit and mourn as suppliants
of the gods, and show ourselves but cowards, children as we are of
that illustrious sire. Where among the brave is such conduct seen?
Better, I suppose, this city should be taken and I (which Heaven
forefend!) fall into the hands of the enemy, and then, for all I am my
noble father's child, meet an awful doom, and face the Death-god
none the less. Shall I wander as an exile from this land? Shall I
not feel shame then, when someone says, as say they will, "Why are
ye come hither with suppliant boughs, loving your lives too well?
Begone from our land! for we will not succour cowards." Nay, if
these be slain and I alone be saved, I have no hope in any wise of
being happy, though many ere now have in this hope betrayed their
friends, For who will care to wed a lonely maid or make me mother of
his children? 'Tis better I should die than meet such treatment,
little as I merit it. This were fitter treatment for some other, one
that is not born to fame as I am. Conduct me to the scene of death,
crown me with garlands, and begin the rites, if so it please you; then
be victorious o'er the foe, for here I offer my life freely and
without constraint, and for my brothers and myself I undertake to die.
For I, by loving not my life too well, have found a treasure very
fair, a glorious means to leave it.
  LEADER
    Ah, what shall I say on hearing the maid's brave words, she that
is ready to die for her brothers? Who can speak more noble words or do
more noble deeds henceforth for ever?
  IOLAUS
    Daughter, thou art his own true child, no other man's but
Heracles', that godlike soul; proud am I of thy words, though I sorrow
for thy lot. Yet will I propose a fairer method: 'tis right to
summon hither all the sisters of this maiden, and then let her, on
whom the lot shall fall, die for her family; for that thou shouldst
die without the lot is not just.
  MACARIA
    My death shall no chance lot decide; there is no graciousness in
that; peace! old friend. But if ye accept and will avail you of my
readiness, freely do I offer my life for these, and without
constraint.
  IOLAUS
    Ah, this is even nobler than thy former word; that was
matchless, but thou dost now surpass thy bravery and noble speech. I
cannot bid, will not forbid thy dying, O my daughter! for by thy death
thou dost thy brothers serve.
  MACARIA
    A cautious bidding thine! Fear not to take a stain of guilt from
me, only let me die as one whose death is free. Follow me, old friend,
for in thy arms I fain would die; stand by and veil my body with my
robe, for I will go even to the dreadful doom of sacrifice, seeing
whose daughter I avow myself.
 IOLAUS
    I cannot stand by and see thee bleed.
  MACARIA
    At least do thou beg me this boon of the king, that I may
breathe out my life in women's arms instead of men's.
  DEMOPHON
    It shall be so, unhappy maid; for this were shame to me to
refuse the honour due, for many reasons: because thou hast a soul so
brave; because 'tis right; and thou hast shown more courage than any
of thy sex my eyes have ever seen. Now, if thou hast aught to say to
these children or thy aged guide. oh! say the last thou hast to
say-then go.
  MACARIA
    Farewell, old friend, farewell and prithee teach these children to
be like thyself, wise at every point; let them strive no further,
for that will suffice them. And seek to save them from death, even as
thou art anxious to do; thy children are we, thy care it was that
nurtured us. Thou seest how I yield my bridal bloom to die for them.
For you, my brothers gathered here, may you be happy! and may every
blessing be yours, for the which my blood shall pay the price!
Honour this old friend, and her that is within the house, Alcmena, the
aged mother of my sire, and these strangers too. And if ever heaven
for you devise release from trouble and a return to your home,
remember the burial due to her that saved you, funeral fair as I
deserve; for I have not failed, but stood by you, and died to save
my race. This shall be my pearl of price instead of children, and
for the maiden life I leave, if there be really aught beyond the
grave-God grant there may not be! For if, e'en there, we who are to
die shall find a life of care, I know not whither one shall turn;
for death is held a sovereign cure for every ill.
  IOLAUS
    Maiden of heroic soul, transcending all thy race, be sure the fame
that thou shalt win from us, in life, in death, shall leave the rest
of women far behind; farewell to thee! I dare not say harsh words of
her to whom thou art devoted, the goddess-daughter of Demeter.

                    (DEMOPHON leads MACARIA away.)

    Children, I am undone, grief unnerves my limbs; take hold and
support me to a seat hard by, when ye have drawn my mantle o'er my
face, my sons. For I am grieved at what hath happened, and yet, were
it not fulfilled, we could not live; thus were our fate worse,
though this is grief enough.

  CHORUS (singing)

                                                              strophe

    Without the will of heaven none is blest, none curst, I do
maintain; nor doth the same house for ever tread the path of bliss;
for one kind of fortune follows hard upon another; one man it brings
to naught from his high estate, another though of no account it crowns
with happiness. To shun what fate decrees, is no wise permitted;
none by cunning shall thrust it from him; but he, who vainly would
do so, shall have unceasing trouble.

                                                          antistrophe

    Then fall not prostrate thou, but bear what heaven sends, and
set limit to thy soul's grief; for she, poor maid! in dying for her
brothers and this land, hath won a glorious death, and splendid fame
shall be her meed from all mankind; for virtue's path leads through
troublous ways. Worthy of her father, worthy of her noble birth is
this she does. And if thou dost honour the virtuous dead, I share with
thee that sentiment.

                  (The SERVANT OF HYLLUS enters.)

    SERVANT OF HYLLUS
    All hail, ye children! Where is aged Iolaus? where the mother of
your 'sire, absent from their place at this altar?
  IOLAUS
    Here am I, so far as I can be here at all.
  SERVANT
    Why dost thou lie there? Why that downcast look?
  IOLAUS
    There is come a sorrow on my house, whereby I suffer.
  SERVANT
    Arise, lift up thy head.
  IOLAUS
    I am old, and all my strength is gone.
  SERVANT
    But I come with tidings of great joy for thee.
  IOLAUS
    Who art thou? Where have I met thee? I have no remembrance.
  SERVANT
    I am a vassal of Hyllus; dost not recognize me now?
  IOLAUS
    Best of friends, art thou come to save us twain from hurt?
  SERVANT
    Assuredly; and moreover thou art lucky in the present case.
  IOLAUS
    Alcmena, mother of a noble son, to thee I call! come forth, hear
this welcome news. For long has anguish caused thee inwardly to waste,
wondering if those, who now are here, would ever come.

       (ALCMENA enters from the temple in answer to the call.)

  ALCMENA
    What means that shout, that echoes throughout the house? Hath
there come yet a herald from Argos, O Iolaus, and is he treating
thee with violence? Feeble is any strength of mine; yet thus much
let me tell thee, stranger, never, whilst I live, shalt thou drag them
hence. Shouldst thou succeed, no more let me be thought the mother
of that hero. And if thou lay a finger on them, thou wilt struggle
to thy shame with two aged foes.
  IOLAUS
    Courage, aged dame, fear not; not from Argos is a herald come,
with hostile messages.
  ALCMENA
    Why then didst raise a cry, fear's harbinger?
  IOLAUS
    I called thee to come to me in front of this temple.
  ALCMENA
    I know not what it means; who is this?
  IOLAUS
    A messenger who says thy grandson cometh hither.
  ALCMENA
    All hail to thee for these thy tidings! But why is he not here,
where is he? if in this land he hath set foot. What hath happened to
keep him from coming hither with thee, to cheer my heart?
  SERVANT
    He is posting the army he brought with him, and seeing it
marshalled.
  ALCMENA
    Then have I no concern herein.
  IOLAUS
    Yes, thou hast; though it is my business to inquire.
  SERVANT
    What then wouldst thou learn of these events?
  IOLAUS
    About how many allies has he with him?
  SERVANT
    A numerous force; I cannot otherwise describe the number.
  IOLAUS
    The leaders of the Athenians know this, I suppose?
  SERVANT
    They do; already is their left wing set in array.
  IOLAUS
    Is then the host already armed for battle?
  SERVANT
    Yea, and already are the victims brought near the ranks.
  IOLAUS
    About what distance is the Argive host from us?
  SERVANT
    Near enough for their general to be plainly seen.
  IOLAUS
    What is he about? marshalling the enemy's line?
  SERVANT
    So we guessed; we could not hear exactly. But I must go, for I
would not that my master should engage the foe without me, if I can
help it.
  IOLAUS
    I also will go with thee; for I like thee am minded, so it
seems, to be there and help my friends.
  SERVANT
    It least of all becomes thee thus to utter words of folly.
  IOLAUS
    Far less to shrink from sharing with my friends the stubborn
fight.
  SERVANT
    Mere looks can wound no one, if the arm do naught.
  IOLAUS
    Why, cannot I smite even through their shields?
  SERVANT
    Smite perhaps, more likely be smitten thyself.
  IOLAUS
    No foe will dare to meet me face to face.
  SERVANT
    Friend, the strength, that erst was thine, is thine no more.
  IOLAUS
    Well, at any rate, I will fight with as many as ever I did.
  SERVANT
    Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy
friends,
  IOLAUS
    Detain me not, when I have girded myself for action.
  SERVANT
    The power to act is thine no more, the will maybe is there.
  IOLAUS
    Stay here I will not, say what else thou wilt.
  SERVANT
    How shalt thou show thyself before the troops unarmed?
  IOLAUS
    There be captured arms within this shrine; these will I use,
and, if I live, restore; and, if I am slain, the god will not demand
them of me back. Go thou within, and from its peg take down a suit
of armour and forthwith bring it to me. To linger thus at home is
infamous, while some go fight, and others out of cowardice remain
behind.

              (The SERVANT goes into the temple.)

  CHORUS (singing)
    Not yet hath time laid low thy spirit, 'tis young as ever; but thy
body's strength is gone. Why toil to no purpose? 'Twill do thee hurt
and benefit our city little. At thy age thou shouldst confess thy
error and let impossibilities alone. Thou canst in no way get thy
vigour back again.
  ALCMENA
    What means this mad resolve to leave me with my children
undefended here?
  IOLAUS
    Men must fight; and thou must look to them.
  ALCMENA
    And what if thou art slain? what safety shall I find?
  IOLAUS
    Thy son's surviving children will care for thee.
  ALCMENA
    Suppose they meet with some reverse? which Heaven forefend!
  IOLAUS
    These strangers will not give thee up, fear not.
  ALCMENA
    They are my last and only hope, I have no other.
  IOLAUS
    Zeus too, I feel sure, cares for thy sufferings.
  ALCMENA
    Ah! of Zeus will I never speak ill, but himself doth know
whether he is just to me.

        (The SERVANT enters from the temple, carrying the arms.)

  SERVANT
    Lo! here thou seest a full coat of mail; make haste to case
thyself therein; for the strife is nigh, and bitterly doth Ares loathe
loiterers; but if thou fear the weight of the armour, go now without
it, and in the ranks do on this gear; meantime will I carry it.
  IOLAUS
    Well said! keep the harness ready to my hand, put a spear within
my grasp, and support me on the left side, guiding my steps.
  SERVANT
    Am I to lead this warrior like a child?
  IOLAUS
    To save the omen, we must go without stumbling.
  SERVANT
    Would thy power to act were equal to thy zeal!
  IOLAUS
    Hasten; I shall feel it grievously, if I am too late for the
battle.
  SERVANT
    'Tis thou who art slow, not I, though thou fanciest thou art doing
wonders.
  IOLAUS
    Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting?
  SERVANT
    I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste,
  IOLAUS
    Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there.
  SERVANT
    What shall I see thee do? I wish thee all success, at any rate.
  IOLAUS
    Thou shalt see me smite some foeman through the shield.
  SERVANT
    Perhaps, if ever we get there. I have my fears of that.
  IOLAUS
    Ah! would to Heaven that thou, mine arm, e'en as I remember thee
in thy lusty youth, when with Heracles thou didst sack Sparta, couldst
so champion me to-day! how I would put Eurystheus to flight! since
he is to craven to wait the onslaught. For prosperity carries with
it this error too, a reputation for bravery; for we think the
prosperous man a master of all knowledge.
                                     (IOLAUS and the SERVANT depart.)
  CHORUS (singing)

                                                            strophe 1

    O earth, and moon that shines by night, and dazzling radiance of
the god, that giveth light to man, bear the tidings to me, shout aloud
to heaven for joy, and beside our ruler's throne, and in the shrine of
grey-eyed Athene. For my fatherland and home will I soon decide the
issue of the strife with the gleaming sword, because I have taken
suppliants under my protection.

                                                        antistrophe 1

    'Tis a fearful thing, that a city prosperous as Mycenae is, one
famed for martial prowess, should harbour wrath against my land;
still, my countrymen, it were a shameful thing in us to yield up
suppliant strangers at the bidding of Argos. Zeus is on my side, I
am not afraid; Zeus hath a favour unto me, as is my due; never by me
shall gods be thought weaker than mortal men.

                                                            strophe 2

    O dread goddess, thine the soil whereon we stand, thine this city,
for thou art its mother, queen, and saviour; wherefore turn some other
way the impious king, who leadeth a host from Argos with brandished
lance against this land; for, such my worth, I little merit exile from
my home.

                                                        antistrophe 2

    For thy worship is aye performed with many a sacrifice, and
never art thou forgotten as each month draweth to its close, when
young voices sing and dancers' music is heard abroad, while on our
wind-swept hill goes up the cry of joy to the beat of maidens' feet by
night.
                                                (The SERVANT enters.)
  SERVANT
    Mistress, the message that I bring is very short for thee to
hear and fair for me, who stand before thee, to announce. O'er our
foes we are victorious, and trophies are being set up, with
panoplies upon them, taken from thy enemies.
  ALCMENA
    Best of friends! this day hath wrought thy liberty by reason of
these tidings. But there still remains one anxious thought thou dost
not free me from;-a thought of fear;-are those, whose lives I cherish,
spared to me?
  SERVANT
    They are, and high their fame through all the army spreads.
  ALCMENA
    The old man Iolaus,-is he yet alive?
  SERVANT
    Aye, that he is, a hero whom the gods delight to honour.
  ALCMENA
    How so? Did he perform some deed of prowess?
  SERVANT
    He hath passed from age to youth once more.
  ALCMENA
    Thy tale is passing strange; but first I would that thou
shouldst tell me how our friends won the day.
  SERVANT
    One speech of mine puts it all clearly before thee. When we had
deployed our troops and marshalled them face to face with one another,
Hyllus dismounted from his four-horsed chariot and stood midway
betwixt the hosts. Then cried he, "Captain, who art come from Argos,
why cannot we leave this land alone? No hurt wilt thou do Mycenae,
if of one man thou rob her; come! meet me in single combat. and if
thou slay me, take the children of Heracles away with thee, but, if
thou fall, leave me to possess my ancestral honours and my home."
The host cried yes! saying the scheme he offered was a fair one,
both to rid them of their trouble and satisfy their valour. But that
other, feeling no shame before those who heard the challenge or at his
own cowardice, quailed, general though he was, to come within reach of
the stubborn spear, showing himself an abject coward; yet with such
a spirit he came to enslave the children of Heracles. Then did
Hyllus withdraw to his own ranks again, and the prophets seeing that
no reconciliation would be effected by single combat, began the
sacrifice without delay and forthwith let flow from a human throat
auspicious streams of blood. And some were mounting chariots, while
others couched beneath the shelter of their shields, and the king of
the Athenians, as a highborn chieftain should, would exhort his
host-"Fellow-citizens, the land, that feeds you and that gave you
birth, demands to-day the help of every man." Likewise Eurystheus
besought his allies that they should scorn to sully the fame of
Argos and Mycenae. Anon the Etrurian trumpet sounded loud and clear,
and hand to hand they rushed; then think how loudly clashed their
ringing shields, what din arose of cries and groans confused! At first
the onset of the Argive spearmen broke our ranks; then they in turn
gave ground; next, foot to foot and man to man, they fought their
stubborn fray, many falling the while. And either chief cheered on his
men, "Sons of Athens! Ye who till the fields of Argos! ward from
your land disgrace." Do all we could, and spite of every effort,
scarce could we turn the Argive line in flight. When lo! old Iolaus
sees Hyllus starting from the ranks, whereon he lifts his hands to him
with a prayer to take him up into his chariot. Thereon he seized the
reins and went hard after the horses of Eurystheus. From this point
onward must I speak from hearsay, though hitherto as one whose own
eyes saw. For as he was crossing Pallene's hill, sacred to the goddess
Athene, he caught sight of Eurystheus' chariot, and prayed to Hebe and
to Zeus, that for one single day he might grow young again and wreak
his vengeance on his foes. Now must thou hear a wondrous tale: two
stars settled on the horses' yokes and threw the chariot into dark
shadow, which-at least so say our wiser folk-were thy son and Hebe;
and from that murky gloom appeared that aged man in the form of a
youth with strong young arms; then by the rocks of Sciron the hero
Iolaus o'ertakes Eurystheus' chariot. And he bound his hands with
gyves, and is bringing that chieftain once so prosperous as a trophy
hither, whose fortune now doth preach a lesson, clear as day, to all
the sons of men, that none should envy him, who seems to thrive, until
they see his death; for fortune's moods last but a day.
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    O Zeus, who puttest my foes to flight, now may I behold the day
that frees me from cruel fear!
  ALCMENA
    At last, O Zeus, hast thou turned a favouring eye on my
affliction; yet do I thank thee for what has happened. And though
ere this I did not believe my son was gathered to the gods, now am I
convinced thereof. My children, now at last from toil shall ye be
free, free from him, whom hideous death awaits, Eurystheus; now
shall ye behold your father's city, and set foot in the land of your
inheritance, and sacrifice to those ancestral gods, from whom ye
have been debarred and forced to lead in strangers' lands a life of
wretched vagrancy. But tell me, what sage purpose Iolaus nursed in his
heart, that he spared the life of Eurystheus, for to my mind this is
no wisdom, to catch a foe and wreak no vengeance on him.
  SERVANT
    'Twas his regard for thee, that thou might'st see him subject to
thy hand, and triumph o'er him. Rest assured, 'twas no willing
prisoner he made, but by strong constraint he bound him, for
Eurystheus was loth indeed to come alive into thy presence and pay his
penalty. Farewell, my aged mistress; I pray thee remember thy first
promise when I was beginning my story; set me free; for, at such a
time as this, sincerity becometh noble lips.
                                               (The SERVANT departs.)
  CHORUS (singing)

                                                            strophe 1

    Sweet is the dance to me, whenso the clear-toned flute and
lovely Aphrodite shed grace upon the feast; and a joyful thing too
it is, trow, to witness the good luck of friends, who till then
ne'er dreamt of it. For numerous is the offspring of Fate, that
bringeth all to pass, and of Time, the son of Cronus.

                                                        antistrophe 1

    Thine is the path of justice, O my city; this must no man wrest
from thee, thy reverence for the gods, and, whoso denieth it of
thee, draws nigh to frenzy's goal, with these plain proofs in view.
Yea, for the god proclaims it clearly, by cutting short the bad
man's pride in every case.

                                                            strophe 2

    In heaven, mother, lives thy son, passed from earth away; that
he went down to Hades' halls, his body burnt by the fire's fierce
flame, is past belief; in golden halls reclined he has to wife Hebe,
lovely nymph. Thou, O Hymen, hast honoured them, children both of
Zeus.

                                                        antistrophe 2

    Things for the most part form a single chain; for men say Athene
used to champion their father, and now the citizens of that goddess
have saved his children, and checked the insolence of him whose
heart preferred violence to justice. God save me from such
arrogance, such greed of soul!

             (A MESSENGER enters. He is followed by
              guards who bring in EURYSTHEUS bound.)

  MESSENGER
    Mistress, though thine eyes see him, yet will I announce we have
brought Eurystheus hither for thy pleasure, an unexpected sight, for
him no less a chance he ne'er foresaw; for little he thought of ever
falling into thy hands, what time he marched from Mycenae with his
toil-worn warriors, to sack Athens, thinking himself far above
fortune. But a power divine hath reversed our destinies, changing
their position. Now Hyllus and brave Iolaus I left raising an image to
Zeus, who routs the foe, for their triumphant victory, whilst they bid
me bring this prisoner to thee, wishing to gladden thy heart; for 'tis
the sweetest sight to see a foe fall on evil days after prosperity.
  ALCMENA
    Art come, thou hateful wretch? Hath justice caught thee then at
last? First, turn thy head this way to me, and endure to look thy
enemies in the face, for thou art no more the ruler, but the slave.
Art thou the man-for this I fain would learn-who didst presume to heap
thy insults on my son, who now is where he is, thou miscreant? What
outrage didst thou abstain from putting upon him? Thou that didst make
him go down alive even to Hades, and wouldst send him with an order to
slay hydras and lions? Thy other evil schemes I mention not, for to
tell them were a tedious task for me. Nor did it content thee to
venture thus far only; no! but from all Hellas wouldst thou drive me
and my children, heaven's suppliants though we were, grey-beards
some of us, and some still tender babes. But here hast thou found
men and a free city, that feared not thee. Die in torment must thou,
and e'en so wilt thou gain in every way, for one death is not thy due,
after all the sorrow thou hast caused.
  MESSENGER
    Thou mayst not slay him.
  ALCMENA
    Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law
forbids his death?
  MESSENGER
    It is not the wiff of the rulers of this land.
  ALCMENA
    Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
  MESSENGER
    Not such as they have taken alive in battle.
  ALCMENA
    Did Hyllus uphold this decision?
  MESSENGER
    He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.
  ALCMENA
    The prisoner's life ought not to have been spared a moment.
  MESSENGER
    It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first.
  ALCMENA
    Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.
  MESSENGER
    There is no one who will slay him now.
  ALCMENA
    I will; and yet I count myself someone.
  MESSENGER
    Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.
  ALCMENA
    I love this city well; that cannot be gainsaid. But since this man
hath fallen into my power, no mortal hand shall wrest him from me.
Wherefore let who will, call me the woman bold, with thoughts too high
for her sex; yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this
man, and 'tis pardonable.
  EURYSTHEUS
    Woman, be sure I will not flatter thee nor say aught to save my
life, that can give any occasion for a charge of cowardice. It was not
of my own free will I took this quarrel up; I am aware that I was born
thy cousin, and kinsman to Heracles, thy son; but whether I would or
no, Hera, by her power divine, caused me to be afflicted thus.
Still, when undertook to be his foe, and when I knew I had to enter on
this struggle, I set myself to devise trouble in plenty, and oft
from time to time my midnight communing bore fruit, scheming how to
push aside and slay my foes, and for the future divorce myself from
fear; for I knew that son of thine was no mere cipher, but a man
indeed; yea, for, though he was my foe, I will speak well of him,
because he was a man of worth. Now, after he was taken hence, was I
not forced, by reason of these children's hatred, and because I was
conscious of an hereditary feud, to leave no stone unturned by
slaying, banishing, and plotting against them? So long as I did so, my
safety was assured. Suppose thyself hadst had my lot, wouldst not thou
have set to harassing the lion's angry whelps, instead of letting them
dwell at Argos undisturbed? Thou wilt not persuade us otherwise. Now
therefore, since they did not slay me then, when I was prepared to
die, by the laws of Hellas my death becomes a curse on him who slays
me now. The city wisely let me go, in that she regarded the gods
more than her hatred of me. Thou hast had my answer to thy words;
henceforth must I be called avenging spirit and noble hero too. 'Tis
even thus with me; to die have I no wish, but, if I leave my life, I
shall in no way be grieved.
  LEADER
    Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for
'tis the city's will.
  ALCMENA
    Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city?
  LEADER
    That would be best of all; but how can this be?
  ALCMENA
    I will teach thee easily. I will slay him and then give up his
corpse to those of his friends who come for it, for, as regards his
body, I will not disobey the state; but by his death shall he pay me
the penalty.
  EURYSTHEUS
    Slay me, I do not ask thee for mercy; yet since this city let me
go and shrunk from slaying me, I will reward it with an old oracle
of Loxias, which in time will benefit them more than doth appear. Bury
my body after death in its destined grave in front of the shrine of
the virgin goddess at Pallene. And I will be thy friend and guardian
of thy city for ever, where I lie buried in a foreign soil, but a
bitter foe to these children's descendants, whensoe'er with gathered
host they come against this land, traitors to your kindness now;
such are the strangers ye have championed. Why then came I hither,
if I knew all this, instead of regarding the god's oracle? Because I
thought, that Hera was mightier far than any oracle, and would not
betray me. Waste no drink-offering on my tomb, nor spill the
victim's blood; for I will requite them for my treatment here with a
journey they shall rue; and ye shall have double gain from me, for I
will help you and harm them by my death.
  ALCMENA
    Why, why delay to kill this man, after hearing this, since this is
needed to secure the safety of your city and your children? Himself
points out the safest road. Though the man is now our foe, yet after
death is he our gain. Away with him, ye servants, and cast him to
the dogs when ye have slain him. Think not thou shalt live to cast
me forth from my native land again.
                                    (The guards lead out EURYSTHEUS.)
  CHORUS (chanting)
    I agree. Lead on, servants. Our conduct shall bring no stain of
guilt upon our rulers.


                                   -THE END-
