the heracleidae-第5章
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that thou shalt win from us； in life； in death； shall leave the rest
of women far behind； farewell to thee！ I dare not say harsh words of
her to whom thou art devoted； the goddess…daughter of Demeter。
（DEMOPHON leads MACARIA away。）
Children； I am undone； grief unnerves my limbs； take hold and
support me to a seat hard by； when ye have drawn my mantle o'er my
face； my sons。 For I am grieved at what hath happened； and yet； were
it not fulfilled； we could not live； thus were our fate worse；
though this is grief enough。
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Without the will of heaven none is blest； none curst； I do
maintain； nor doth the same house for ever tread the path of bliss；
for one kind of fortune follows hard upon another； one man it brings
to naught from his high estate； another though of no account it crowns
with happiness。 To shun what fate decrees； is no wise permitted；
none by cunning shall thrust it from him； but he； who vainly would
do so； shall have unceasing trouble。
antistrophe
Then fall not prostrate thou； but bear what heaven sends； and
set limit to thy soul's grief； for she； poor maid！ in dying for her
brothers and this land； hath won a glorious death； and splendid fame
shall be her meed from all mankind； for virtue's path leads through
troublous ways。 Worthy of her father； worthy of her noble birth is
this she does。 And if thou dost honour the virtuous dead； I share with
thee that sentiment。
（The SERVANT OF HYLLUS enters。）
SERVANT OF HYLLUS
All hail； ye children！ Where is aged Iolaus？ where the mother of
your 'sire； absent from their place at this altar？
IOLAUS
Here am I； so far as I can be here at all。
SERVANT
Why dost thou lie there？ Why that downcast look？
IOLAUS
There is come a sorrow on my house； whereby I suffer。
SERVANT
Arise； lift up thy head。
IOLAUS
I am old； and all my strength is gone。
SERVANT
But I come with tidings of great joy for thee。
IOLAUS
Who art thou？ Where have I met thee？ I have no remembrance。
SERVANT
I am a vassal of Hyllus； dost not recognize me now？
IOLAUS
Best of friends； art thou come to save us twain from hurt？
SERVANT
Assuredly； and moreover thou art lucky in the present case。
IOLAUS
Alcmena； mother of a noble son； to thee I call！ come forth； hear
this welcome news。 For long has anguish caused thee inwardly to waste；
wondering if those； who now are here； would ever come。
（ALCMENA enters from the temple in answer to the call。）
ALCMENA
What means that shout； that echoes throughout the house？ Hath
there come yet a herald from Argos； O Iolaus； and is he treating
thee with violence？ Feeble is any strength of mine； yet thus much
let me tell thee； stranger； never； whilst I live； shalt thou drag them
hence。 Shouldst thou succeed； no more let me be thought the mother
of that hero。 And if thou lay a finger on them； thou wilt struggle
to thy shame with two aged foes。
IOLAUS
Courage； aged dame； fear not； not from Argos is a herald come；
with hostile messages。
ALCMENA
Why then didst raise a cry； fear's harbinger？
IOLAUS
I called thee to come to me in front of this temple。
ALCMENA
I know not what it means； who is this？
IOLAUS
A messenger who says thy grandson cometh hither。
ALCMENA
All hail to thee for these thy tidings！ But why is he not here；
where is he？ if in this land he hath set foot。 What hath happened to
keep him from coming hither with thee； to cheer my heart？
SERVANT
He is posting the army he brought with him； and seeing it
marshalled。
ALCMENA
Then have I no concern herein。
IOLAUS
Yes； thou hast； though it is my business to inquire。
SERVANT
What then wouldst thou learn of these events？
IOLAUS
About how many allies has he with him？
SERVANT
A numerous force； I cannot otherwise describe the number。
IOLAUS
The leaders of the Athenians know this； I suppose？
SERVANT
They do； already is their left wing set in array。
IOLAUS
Is then the host already armed for battle？
SERVANT
Yea； and already are the victims brought near the ranks。
IOLAUS
About what distance is the Argive host from us？
SERVANT
Near enough for their general to be plainly seen。
IOLAUS
What is he about？ marshalling the enemy's line？
SERVANT
So we guessed； we could not hear exactly。 But I must go； for I
would not that my master should engage the foe without me； if I can
help it。
IOLAUS
I also will go with thee； for I like thee am minded； so it
seems； to be there and help my friends。
SERVANT
It least of all becomes thee thus to utter words of folly。
IOLAUS
Far less to shrink from sharing with my friends the stubborn
fight。
SERVANT
Mere looks can wound no one； if the arm do naught。
IOLAUS
Why； cannot I smite even through their shields？
SERVANT
Smite perhaps； more likely be smitten thyself。
IOLAUS
No foe will dare to meet me face to face。
SERVANT
Friend； the strength； that erst was thine； is thine no more。
IOLAUS
Well； at any rate； I will fight with as many as ever I did。
SERVANT
Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy
friends；
IOLAUS
Detain me not； when I have girded myself for action。
SERVANT
The power to act is thine no more； the will maybe is there。
IOLAUS
Stay here I will not； say what else thou wilt。
SERVANT
How shalt thou show thyself before the troops unarmed？
IOLAUS
There be captured arms within this shrine； these will I use；
and； if I live； restore； and； if I am slain； the god will not demand
them of me back。 Go thou within； and from its peg take down a suit
of armour and forthwith bring it to me。 To linger thus at home is
infamous； while some go fight； and others out of cowardice remain
behind。
（The SERVANT goes into the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
Not yet hath time laid low thy spirit； 'tis young as ever； but thy
body's strength is gone。 Why toil to no purpose？ 'Twill do thee hurt
and benefit our city little。 At thy age thou shouldst confess thy
error and let impossibilities alone。 Thou canst in no way get thy
vigour back again。
ALCMENA
What means this mad resolve to leave me with my children
undefended here？
IOLAUS
Men must fight； and thou must look to them。
ALCMENA
And what if thou art slain？ what safety shall I find？
IOLAUS
Thy son's surviving children will care for thee。
ALCMENA
Suppose they meet with some reverse？ which Heaven forefend！
IOLAUS
These strangers will not give thee up； fear not。
ALCMENA
They are my last and only hope； I have no other。
IOLAUS
Zeus too； I feel sure； cares for thy sufferings。
ALCMENA
Ah！ of Zeus will I never speak ill； but himself doth know
whether he is just to me。
（The SERVANT enters from the temple； carrying the arms。）
SERVANT
Lo！ here thou seest a full coat of mail； make haste to case
thyself therein； for the strife is nigh； and bitterly doth Ares loathe
loiterers； but if thou fear the weight of the armour； go now without
it； and in the ranks do on this gear； meantime will I carry it。
IOLAUS
Well said！ keep the harness ready to my hand； put a spear within
my grasp； and support me on the left side； guiding my steps。
SERVANT
Am I to lead this warrior like a child？
IOLAUS
To save the omen； we must go without stumbling。
SERVANT
Would thy power to act were equal to thy zeal！
IOLAUS
Hasten； I shall feel it grievously； if I am too late for the
battle。
SERVANT
'Tis thou who art slow； not I； though thou fanciest thou art doing
wonders。
IOLAUS
Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting？
SERVANT
I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste；
IOLAUS
Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there。
SERVANT
What shall I see thee do？ I wish thee all success； at
