the heracleidae-第5章
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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
