the heracleidae-第4章
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content； if indeed 'tis heaven's will； I thus should fare； still is my
gratitude to thee in no wise lost。 Children； I know not what to do for
you。 Whither shall we turn？ for what god's altar have we left
uncrowned？ to what fenced city have we failed to go？ Ruin and
surrender are our instant lot； poor children！ If I must die； 'tis
naught to me； save that thereby I give those foes of mine some cause
for joy。 But you； children； I lament and pity； and that aged mother of
your sire； Alcmena。 Ah； woe is thee for thy long span of life！ and woe
is me for all my idle toil！ 'Twas after all our destined doom to
fall into the hands of our hated foe； and die a death of shame and
misery。 But lend me thine aid； thou knowest how； for all hope of these
children's safety has not yet left me。 Give me up instead of them to
the Argives； O king； run no risk； but let me save the children； to
love my life becomes me not； let it pass。 Me will Eurystheus be most
glad to take and treat despitefully； as I was Heracles' companion； for
the man is but a boor； wherefore wise men ought to pray to get a
wise man for their foe； and not a proud senseless fool； for so； even
if by fortune flouted； one would meet with much consideration。
LEADER
Old man； blame not this city； for though perhaps a gain to us； yet
would it be a foul reproach that we betrayed strangers。
DEMOPHON
A generous scheme is thine； but impossible。 'Tis not in quest of
the yon king comes marching hither； what would Eurystheus gain by
the death of one so old？ Nay； 'tis these children's blood he wants。
For there is danger to a foe in the youthful scions of a noble race；
whose memory dwells upon their father's wrongs； all this Eurystheus
must foresee。 But if thou hast any scheme besides； that better suits
the time； be ready with it； for； since I heard that oracle； I am at
a loss and full of fear。
（MACARIA enters from the temple。）
MACARIA
Sirs； impute not boldness to me； because I venture forth； this
shall be my first request； for a woman's fairest crown is this； to
practise silence and discretion； and abide at home in peace。 But
when I heard thy lamentations； Iolaus； I came forth； albeit I was
not appointed to take the lead in my family。 Still in some sense am
I fit to do so； for these my brothers are my chiefest care； and I fain
would ask； as touching myself； whether some new trouble； added to
the former woes； is gnawing at thy heart。
IOLAUS
My daughter； 'tis nothing new that I should praise thee； as I
justly may； above all the children of Heracles。 Our house seemed to be
prospering； when back it fell again into a hopeless state； for the
king declares the prophets signify that he must order the sacrifice；
not of bull or heifer； but of some tender maid of noble lineage； if we
and this city are to exist。 Herein is our perplexity； the king refuses
either to sacrifice his own or any other's child。 Wherefore； though he
use not terms express； yet doth he hint； that； unless we find some way
out of this perplexity； we must seek some other land； for he this
country fain would save。
MACARIA
Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends？
IOLAUS
Yea； on these； if； that is； we are successful otherwise。
MACARIA
No longer then cower before the hated Argive spear； for I； of my
own free will； or ever they bid me； am ready to die and offer myself
as a victim。 For what excuse have we； if； while this city deems it
right to incur great danger on our behalf； we； though we might save
ourselves； fly from death； by foisting our trouble on others？ No！
indeed； 'twere surely most ridiculous to sit and mourn as suppliants
of the gods； and show ourselves but cowards； children as we are of
that illustrious sire。 Where among the brave is such conduct seen？
Better； I suppose； this city should be taken and I （which Heaven
forefend！） fall into the hands of the enemy； and then； for all I am my
noble father's child； meet an awful doom； and face the Death…god
none the less。 Shall I wander as an exile from this land？ Shall I
not feel shame then； when someone says； as say they will； 〃Why are
ye come hither with suppliant boughs； loving your lives too well？
Begone from our land！ for we will not succour cowards。〃 Nay； if
these be slain and I alone be saved； I have no hope in any wise of
being happy； though many ere now have in this hope betrayed their
friends； For who will care to wed a lonely maid or make me mother of
his children？ 'Tis better I should die than meet such treatment；
little as I merit it。 This were fitter treatment for some other； one
that is not born to fame as I am。 Conduct me to the scene of death；
crown me with garlands； and begin the rites； if so it please you； then
be victorious o'er the foe； for here I offer my life freely and
without constraint； and for my brothers and myself I undertake to die。
For I； by loving not my life too well； have found a treasure very
fair； a glorious means to leave it。
LEADER
Ah； what shall I say on hearing the maid's brave words； she that
is ready to die for her brothers？ Who can speak more noble words or do
more noble deeds henceforth for ever？
IOLAUS
Daughter； thou art his own true child； no other man's but
Heracles'； that godlike soul； proud am I of thy words； though I sorrow
for thy lot。 Yet will I propose a fairer method： 'tis right to
summon hither all the sisters of this maiden； and then let her； on
whom the lot shall fall； die for her family； for that thou shouldst
die without the lot is not just。
MACARIA
My death shall no chance lot decide； there is no graciousness in
that； peace！ old friend。 But if ye accept and will avail you of my
readiness； freely do I offer my life for these； and without
constraint。
IOLAUS
Ah； this is even nobler than thy former word； that was
matchless； but thou dost now surpass thy bravery and noble speech。 I
cannot bid； will not forbid thy dying； O my daughter！ for by thy death
thou dost thy brothers serve。
MACARIA
A cautious bidding thine！ Fear not to take a stain of guilt from
me； only let me die as one whose death is free。 Follow me； old friend；
for in thy arms I fain would die； stand by and veil my body with my
robe； for I will go even to the dreadful doom of sacrifice； seeing
whose daughter I avow myself。
IOLAUS
I cannot stand by and see thee bleed。
MACARIA
At least do thou beg me this boon of the king； that I may
breathe out my life in women's arms instead of men's。
DEMOPHON
It shall be so； unhappy maid； for this were shame to me to
refuse the honour due； for many reasons： because thou hast a soul so
brave； because 'tis right； and thou hast shown more courage than any
of thy sex my eyes have ever seen。 Now； if thou hast aught to say to
these children or thy aged guide。 oh！ say the last thou hast to
say…then go。
MACARIA
Farewell； old friend； farewell and prithee teach these children to
be like thyself； wise at every point； let them strive no further；
for that will suffice them。 And seek to save them from death； even as
thou art anxious to do； thy children are we； thy care it was that
nurtured us。 Thou seest how I yield my bridal bloom to die for them。
For you； my brothers gathered here； may you be happy！ and may every
blessing be yours； for the which my blood shall pay the price！
Honour this old friend； and her that is within the house； Alcmena； the
aged mother of my sire； and these strangers too。 And if ever heaven
for you devise release from trouble and a return to your home；
remember the burial due to her that saved you； funeral fair as I
deserve； for I have not failed； but stood by you； and died to save
my race。 This shall be my pearl of price instead of children； and
for the maiden life I leave； if there be really aught beyond the
grave…God grant there may not be！ For if； e'en there； we who are to
die shall find a life of care； I know not whither one shall turn；
for death is held a sovereign cure for every ill。
IOLAUS
Maiden of heroic soul； transcending all thy race； be sure the fame
that thou shalt win from us； in life； in death； shall leave the rest
of women far behind
