the heracleidae-第3章
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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 far
