the heracleidae-第2章
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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 positio
