the heracleidae-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 any rate。
IOLAUS
Thou shalt see me smite some foeman through the shield。
SERVANT
Perhaps； if ever we get there。 I have my fears of that。
IOLAUS
Ah！ would to Heaven that thou； mine arm； e'en as I remember thee
in thy lusty youth； when with Heracles thou didst sack Sparta； couldst
so champion me to…day！ how I would put Eurystheus to flight！ since
he is to craven to wait the onslaught。 For prosperity carries with
it this error too； a reputation for bravery； for we think the
prosperous man a master of all knowledge。
（IOLAUS and the SERVANT depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
O earth； and moon that shines by night； and dazzling radiance of
the god； that giveth light to man； bear the tidings to me； shout aloud
to heaven for joy； and beside our ruler's throne； and in the shrine of
grey…eyed Athene。 For my fatherland and home will I soon decide the
issue of the strife with the gleaming sword； because I have taken
suppliants under my protection。
antistrophe 1
'Tis a fearful thing； that a city prosperous as Mycenae is； one
famed for martial prowess； should harbour wrath against my land；
still； my countrymen； it were a shameful thing in us to yield up
suppliant strangers at the bidding of Argos。 Zeus is on my side； I
am not afraid； Zeus hath a favour unto me； as is my due； never by me
shall gods be thought weaker than mortal men。
strophe 2
O dread goddess； 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 from Argos with brandished
lance against this land； for； such my worth； I little merit exile from
my home。
antistrophe 2
For thy worship is aye performed with many a sacrifice； and
never art thou forgotten as each month draweth to its close； 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。
（The SERVANT enters。）
SERVANT
Mistress； the message that I bring is very short for thee to
hear and fair for me； who stand before thee； to announce。 O'er our
foes we are victorious； and trophies are being set up； with
panoplies upon them； taken from thy enemies。
ALCMENA
Best of friends！ this day hath wrought thy liberty by reason of
these tidings。 But there still remains one anxious thought thou dost
not free me from；…a thought of fear；…are those； whose lives I cherish；
spared to me？
SERVANT
They are； and high their fame through all the army spreads。
ALCMENA
The old man Iolaus；…is he yet alive？
SERVANT
Aye； that he is； a hero whom the gods delight to honour。
ALCMENA
How so？ Did he perform some deed of prowess？
SERVANT
He hath passed from age to youth once more。
ALCMENA
Thy tale is passing strange； but first I would that thou
shouldst tell me how our friends won the day。
SERVANT
One speech of mine puts it all clearly before thee。 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；
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； 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； 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； began the
sacrifice without delay and forthwith let flow from a human 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； 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 fame of
Argos and Mycenae。 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 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！ 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 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； 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 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 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； that none should envy him； who seems to thrive； until
they see his death； for fortune's moods last but a day。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O Zeus； who puttest my foes to flight； now may I behold the day
that frees me from cruel fear！
ALCMENA
At last； O Zeus； hast thou turned a favouring eye on my
affliction； 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； 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 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。
SERVANT
'Twas his regard for thee； that thou might'st see him subject to
thy hand； and triumph o'er him。 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； set me free； for； at such a
time as this； sincerity becometh noble lips。
（The SERVANT departs。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
