the heracleidae-第1章
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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。
COPR
