Heraclidae
Choose a text
id="mobileReaderAuthor" class="mobile-reader-author" href="/authors/euripides" aria-label="More works by Euripides">
—
⋯
Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
305
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,
306
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,
307
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,
308
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,
309
began the sacrifice without delay and forthwith let flow from a humanIf βροτείων is correct, it would seem to refer to Macaria. Paley offers the ingenious suggestion βοτειων, i.e., throats of beasts but the word has no authority. Better is Helbig’s βοείων. 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,
310
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 feme of Argos and Mycenae.
311
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
312
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!
313
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
314
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,
315
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
316
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
317
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,
318
that none should envy him, who seems to thrive, until they see his death; for fortune’s moods last but a day.
319
319
Chorus
319
O Zeus, who puttest my foes to flight, now may I behold the day that frees me from cruel fear!
320
320
Alcmena
320
At last, O Zeus, hast thou turned a favouring eye on my affliction;
321
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,
322
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
323
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.
324
324
Servant (of Hyllus)
324
’Twas his regard for thee, that thou might’st see him subject to thy hand, and triumphReading with Reiske κρατοῦσα. o’er him.
325
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;
326
set me free; for, at such a time as this, sincerity becometh noble lips. [Exit Servant.
327
327
Chorus
327
Sweet is the dance to me, whenso the clear-toned flute and lovely Aphrodite shed grace upon the feast;
328
and a joyful thing too it is, I trow, to witness the good luck of friends, who till then ne’er dreamt of it. For numerous is the offspring of Fate,
329
that bringeth all to pass, and of Time, the son of Cronos.
330
330
Chorus
330
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,
331
with these plain proofs in view. Yea, for the god proclaims it clearly, by cutting short the bad man’s pride in every case.
337
337
Messenger
337
Mistress, though thine eyes see him, yet will I announce we have brought Eurystheus hither for thy pleasure,
338
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
339
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
340
sight to see a foe fall on evil days after prosperity.
341
341
Alcmena
341
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.
342
ArtNauck condemns this line; as also line 948. 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,
343
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,
344
heaven’s suppliants though we were, grey-heads 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
345
thy due, after all the sorrow thou hast caused.
346
346
Messenger
346
Thou mayst not slay him.
347
347
Alcmena
347
Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law forbids his death?
348
348
Messenger
348
It is not the will of the rulers of this land.
349
349
Alcmena
349
Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
350
350
Messenger
350
Not such as they have taken alive in battle.
351
351
Alcmena
351
Did Hyllus uphold this decision?
352
352
Messenger
352
He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.
353
353
Alcmena
353
The prisoner’s life ought not to have been spared a moment.
354
354
Messenger
354
It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first.
355
355
Alcmena
355
Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.
356
356
Messenger
356
There is no one, who will slay him now.
357
357
Alcmena
357
I will; and yet I count myself someone.
358
358
Messenger
358
Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.
359
359
Alcmena
359
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;
360
yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
361
361
Chorus
361
Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this man, and ’tis pardonable.
362
362
Eurystheus
362
Woman, be sure I will not flatter thee nor say aught to save my life,
363
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,
364
Hera, by her power divine, caused me to be afflicted thus. Still, when I 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,
365
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.
366
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.
367
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,
368
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
369
I be called avenging spiritOr, guilty of blood. Lat. homo piacularis. and noble hero too.i.e. I will meet my doom like a hero, and haunt you after death. ’Tis even thus with me; to die have I no wish, but, if I leave my life, I shall in no way be grieved.
370
370
Chorus
370
Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for ’tis the city’s will.
371
371
Alcmena
371
Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city?
372
372
Chorus
372
That would be best of all; but how can this be?
373
373
Alcmena
373
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 disobeyἀπιστήσω is suspected by Nauck, and certainly it is difficult to extract any satisfactory meaning from it. Liddell and Scott, citing this passage, alone say will not hesitate to commit it to the ground—a doubtful usage. the state;
374
but by his death shall he pay me the penalty.
375
375
Eurystheus
375
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.
376
Bury my body after death in its destined grave in front of the shrine of the virgin goddessPallas. 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,
377
whensoe’erReferring to invasions by the Peloponnesians, descendants of the Heracleidae. 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,
378
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.
379
379
Alcmena
379
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.
380
Away with him, ye servants, and cast himA strange breach of her promise just before—perhaps here, as in other parts of this play, some confusion is due to the very probable theory of Hermann that our text is incomplete—e.g. no account of Macaria’s death-scene is extant; this could hardly have been omitted by such a lover of pathos as Euripides. to the dogs when ye have slain him. Think not thou shalt live to cast me forth from my native land again.
381
381
Chorus
381
I agree. Lead on, servants. OurWe have had nothing to do with it. The responsibility rests with Alcmena. conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.
290
290
Chorus
290
O dread goddess,Pallas. 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
291
from Argos with brandished lance against this land; for, such my worth, I little merit exile from my home.
292
292
Chorus
292
For thy worshipThe festival of the Panathenaea is alluded to. is aye performed with many a sacrifice, and never art thou forgotten as each month draweth to its close,
293
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.
332
332
Chorus
332
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;
333
in golden halls reclined he has to wife Hebe, lovely nymph. Thou, O Hymen, hast honoured them, children both of Zeus.
334
334
Chorus
334
Things for the most part form a single chain;
335
for instance, 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
336
preferred violence to justice. God save me from such arrogance, such greed of soul! [Eurystheus is brought in bound.