Scene.—Before the altar of Zeus at Marathon.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. I, for instance, from pure regard and reverence for my kith and kin, though I 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 I 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 heraldsdemanding our surrender and driving us from thence, holding out this threat, that Argos is no mean 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 saidtwo 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 Hyllus 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.
Ἰόλαος:Πάλαι ποτʼ ἐστὶ τοῦτʼ ἐμοὶ δεδογμένον·ὁ μὲν δίκαιος τοῖς πέλας πέφυκʼ ἀνήρ,ὃ δʼ ἐς τὸ κέρδος λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀνειμένονπόλει τʼ ἄχρηστος καὶ συναλλάσσειν βαρύς,αὑτῷ δʼ ἄριστος· οἶδα δʼ οὐ λόγῳ μαθών.ἐγὼ γὰρ αἰδοῖ καὶ τὸ συγγενὲς σέβων,ἐξὸν κατʼ Ἄργος ἡσύχως ναίειν, πόνωνπλείστων μετέσχον εἷς ἀνὴρ Ἡρακλέει,ὅτʼ ἦν μεθʼ ἡμῶν· νῦν δʼ, ἐπεὶ κατʼ οὐρανὸνναίει, τὰ κείνου τέκνʼ ἔχων ὑπὸ πτεροῖςσῴζω τάδʼ αὐτὸς δεόμενος σωτηρίας.ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτῶν γῆς ἀπηλλάχθη πατήρ,πρῶτον μὲν ἡμᾶς ἤθελʼ Εὐρυσθεὺς κτανεῖν·ἀλλʼ ἐξέδραμεν· καὶ πόλις μὲν οἴχεται,ψυχὴ δʼ ἐσώθη. φεύγομεν δʼ ἀλώμενοιἄλλην ἀπʼ ἄλλης ἐξορίζοντες πόλιν.πρὸς τοῖς γὰρ ἄλλοις καὶ τόδʼ Εὐρυσθεὺς κακοῖςὕβρισμʼ ἐς ἡμᾶς ἠξίωσεν ὑβρίσαι·πέμπων ὅπου γῆς πυνθάνοιθʼ ἱδρυμένουςκήρυκας ἐξαιτεῖ τε κἀξείργει χθονός,πόλιν προτείνων Ἄργος οὐ σμικρὸν φίληνἐχθράν τε θέσθαι, χαὑτὸν εὐτυχοῦνθʼ ἅμα.οἳ δʼ ἀσθενῆ μὲν τἀπ’ ἐμοῦ δεδορκότες,σμικροὺς δὲ τούσδε καὶ πατρὸς τητωμένους,τοὺς κρείσσονας σέβοντες ἐξείργουσι γῆς.ἐγὼ δὲ σὺν φεύγουσι συμφεύγω τέκνοιςκαὶ σὺν κακῶς πράσσουσι συμπράσσω κακῶς,ὀκνῶν προδοῦναι, μή τις ὧδ’ εἴπῃ βροτῶν·Ἴδεσθ’, ἐπειδὴ παισὶν οὐκ ἔστιν πατήρ,Ἰόλαος οὐκ ἤμυνε συγγενὴς γεγώς.πάσης δὲ χώρας Ἑλλάδος τητώμενοι,Μαραθῶνα καὶ σύγκληρον ἐλθόντες χθόναἱκέται καθεζόμεσθα βώμιοι θεῶν,προσωφελῆσαι· πεδία γὰρ τῆσδε χθονὸςδισσοὺς κατοικεῖν Θησέως παῖδας λόγος,κλήρῳ λαχόντας ἐκ γένους Πανδίονος,τοῖσδʼ ἐγγὺς ὄντας· ὧν ἕκατι τέρμοναςκλεινῶν Ἀθηνῶν τόνδʼ ἀφικόμεσθʼ ὅρον.δυοῖν γερόντοιν δὲ στρατηγεῖται φυγή·ἐγὼ μὲν ἀμφὶ τοῖσδε καλχαίνων τέκνοις,ἣ δʼ αὖ τὸ θῆλυ παιδὸς Ἀλκμήνη γένοςἔσωθε ναοῦ τοῦδʼ ὑπηγκαλισμένησῴζει· νέας γὰρ παρθένους αἰδούμεθαὄχλῳ πελάζειν κἀπιβωμιοστατεῖν.Ὕλλος δʼ ἀδελφοί θʼ οἷσι πρεσβεύει γένοςζητοῦσʼ ὅπου γῆς πύργον οἰκιούμεθα,ἢν τῆσδʼ ἀπωθώμεσθα πρὸς βίαν χθονός.
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 thee 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: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 goto Argos, where awaits thee death by stoning.
ὦ τέκνα τέκνα, δεῦρο, λαμβάνεσθʼ ἐμῶνπέπλων· ὁρῶ κήρυκα τόνδʼ Εὐρυσθέωςστείχοντʼ ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, οὗ διωκόμεσθʼ ὕποπάσης ἀλῆται γῆς ἀπεστερημένοι.ὦ μῖσος, εἴθʼ ὄλοιο χὡ πέμψας ⟨σ’⟩ ἀνήρ·ὡς πολλὰ δὴ καὶ τῶνδε γενναίῳ πατρὶἐκ τοῦδε ταὐτοῦ στόματος ἤγγειλας κακά.Κῆρυξ:ἦ που καθῆσθαι τήνδʼ ἕδραν καλὴν δοκεῖςπόλιν τʼ ἀφῖχθαι σύμμαχον, κακῶς φρονῶν·οὐ γάρ τις ἔστιν ὃς πάροιθʼ αἱρήσεταιτὴν σὴν ἀχρεῖον δύναμιν ἀντʼ Εὐρυσθέως.χώρει· τί μοχθεῖς ταῦτʼ; ἀνίστασθαί σε χρὴἐς Ἄργος, οὗ σε λεύσιμος μένει δίκη.
Iolaus:Not so, for the god’s altar will protect me, and this land of freedom, wherein we have set foot.
Ἰόλαος:οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί μοι βωμὸς ἀρκέσει θεοῦ,ἐλευθέρα τε γαῖʼ ἐν ᾗ βεβήκαμεν.
Copreus:Wilt give me the trouble of laying hands on thee?
Κῆρυξ:βούλῃ πόνον μοι τῇδε προσθεῖναι χερί;
Iolaus:By force at least shalt thou never drag these children hence.
Ἰόλαος:οὔτοι βίᾳ γέ μʼ οὐδὲ τούσδʼ ἄξεις λαβών.
Copreus:That shalt thou soon learn; it seems thou wert a poor prophet, after all, in this. [Copreus here seizes the children.
Κῆρυξ:γνώσῃ σύ· μάντις δʼ ἦσθʼ ἄρʼ οὐ καλὸς τάδε.
Iolaus:This shall never happen while I live.
Ἰόλαος:οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτʼ ἐμοῦ ζῶντός ποτε.
Copreus:Begone! for I will take them hence, for all thy refusals, for I hold that they belong to Eurystheus, as they do indeed.
Κῆρυξ:ἄπαιρʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ τούσδε, κἂν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,ἄξω νομίζων, οὗπέρ εἰσʼ, Εὐρυσθέως.
Iolaus:Help, ye who long nave 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.
Ἰόλαος:ὦ τὰς Ἀθήνας δαρὸν οἰκοῦντες χρόνον,ἀμύνεθʼ· ἱκέται δʼ ὄντες ἀγοραίου Διὸςβιαζόμεσθα καὶ στέφη μιαίνεται —πόλει τʼ ὄνειδος καὶ θεῶν ἀτιμία.
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!
Χορός:— ἔα ἔα· τίς ἡ βοὴ βωμοῦ πέλαςἕστηκε; ποίαν συμφορὰν δείξει τάχα;
Chorus:Who threw thee down thus pitiably?
Χορός:— ἴδετε τὸν γέροντʼ ἀμαλὸν ἐπὶ πέδῳχύμενον· ὦ τάλας.…— πρὸς τοῦ ποτʼ ἐν γῇ πτῶμα δύστηνον πίτνεις;
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.
Ἰόλαος:ὅδʼ, ὦ ξένοι, με σοὺς ἀτιμάζων θεοὺςἕλκει βιαίως Ζηνὸς ἐκ προβωμίων.
Chorus: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?
Χορός:σὺ δʼ ἐκ τίνος γῆς, ὦ γέρον, τετράπτολινξύνοικον ἦλθες λαόν; ἢ πέρα-θεν ἁλίῳ πλάτᾳκατέχετʼ ἐκλιπόντες Εὐβοῖδʼ ἀκτάν;
Iolaus:Sirs, no island life I lead,but from Mycenae to thy land I come.
Ἰόλαος:οὐ νησιώτην, ὦ ξένοι, τρίβω βίον,ἀλλʼ ἐκ Μυκηνῶν σὴν ἀφίγμεθα χθόνα.
Chorus:What do they call thee, aged sir, those folk in Mycenae?
Χορός:ὄνομα τί σε, γέρον,Μυκηναῖος ὠνόμαζεν λεώς;
Iolaus:Maybe ye have heard of Iolaus, the comrade of Heracles, for he was not unknown to fame.
Ἰόλαος:τὸν Ἡράκλειον ἴστε που παραστάτηνἸόλαον· οὐ γὰρ σῶμʼ ἀκήρυκτον τόδε.
Chorus:Yea, I have heard of him in bygone days; but tell me, whose are the tender boys thou bearest in thine arms?
Χορός:οἶδʼ εἰσακούσας καὶ πρίν· ἀλλὰ τοῦ ποτὲἐν χερὶ σᾷ κομίζεις κόρουςνεοτρεφεῖς; φράσον.
Iolaus:These, sirs, are the sons of Heracles, come as suppliants to you and your city.
Ἰόλαος:Ἡρακλέους οἵδʼ εἰσὶ παῖδες, ὦ ξένοι,ἱκέται σέθεν τε καὶ πόλεως ἀφιγμένοι.
Chorus:What is their quest? Are they anxious, tell me, to obtain an audience of the state?
Χορός:τί χρέος; ἢ λόγων πόλεος, ἔνεπέ μοι,μελόμενοι τυχεῖν;
Iolaus:That so they may escape surrender, nor be tom with violence from thy altars, and brought to Argos.
Ἰόλαος:μήτʼ ἐκδοθῆναι μήτε πρὸς βίαν θεῶντῶν σῶν ἀποσπασθέντες εἰς Ἄργος μολεῖν.
Copreus:Nay, this will nowise satisfy thy masters,who o’er thee have a right, and so have tracked thee hither.
Κῆρυξ:ἀλλʼ οὔτι τοῖς σοῖς δεσπόταις τάδʼ ἀρκέσει,οἳ σοῦ κρατοῦντες ἐνθάδʼ εὑρίσκουσί σε.
Chorus: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.
Χορός:εἰκὸς θεῶν ἱκτῆρας αἰδεῖσθαι, ξένε,καὶ μὴ βιαίῳ χερὶ δαιμόνωνἀπολείπειν [σʼ] ἕδη·πότνια γὰρ Δίκα τάδʼ οὐ πείσεται.
Copreus:Do thou then drive these subjects of Eurystheus forth, and this hand of mine shall abstain from violence.Chorus:’Twere impious for the state to neglect the suppliant stranger’s prayer.
Κῆρυξ:ἔκπεμπέ νυν γῆς τούσδε τοὺς Εὐρυσθέως,κοὐδὲν βιαίῳ τῇδε χρήσομαι χερί.Χορός:ἄθεον ἱκεσίανμεθεῖναι πόλει ξένων προστροπάν.
Copreus:Yet ’tis well to keep clear of troubles,by adopting that counsel, which is the wiser.
Κῆρυξ:καλὸν δέ γʼ ἔξω πραγμάτων ἔχειν πόδα,εὐβουλίας τυχόντα τῆς ἀμείνονος.…
Chorus: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.
Χορός:οὐκοῦν τυράννῳ τῆσδε γῆς φράσαντά σεχρῆν ταῦτα τολμᾶν, ἀλλὰ μὴ βίᾳ ξένουςθεῶν ἀφέλκειν, γῆν σέβοντʼ ἐλευθέραν.
Copreus:Who is monarch of this land and state?
Κῆρυξ:τίς δʼ ἐστὶ χώρας τῆσδε καὶ πόλεως ἄναξ;
Chorus:Demophon, son of gallant Theseus.
Χορός:ἐσθλοῦ πατρὸς παῖς Δημοφῶν ὁ Θησέως.
Copreus:Surely it were most to the purpose to discuss this matter somewhat with him; all else has been said in vain.
Κῆρυξ:πρὸς τοῦτον ἁγὼν ἆρα τοῦδε τοῦ λόγουμάλιστʼ ἂν εἴη· τἄλλα δʼ εἴρηται μάτην.
Chorus:Lo! here he comes in person, in hot haste, and Acamas his brother, to hear what thou hast to say.
Χορός:καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἔρχεται σπουδὴν ἔχωνἈκάμας τʼ ἀδελφός, τῶνδʼ ἐπήκοοι λόγων.
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.
Δημοφῶν:ἐπείπερ ἔφθης πρέσβυς ὢν νεωτέρουςβοηδρομήσας τήνδʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάραν Διός,λέξον, τίς ὄχλον τόνδʼ ἀθροίζεται τύχη;
Chorus: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.
Χορός:ἱκέται κάθηνται παῖδες οἵδʼ Ἡρακλέουςβωμὸν καταστέψαντες, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἄναξ,πατρός τε πιστὸς Ἰόλεως παραστάτης.
Demophon:Why should this event have called for cries of pain?
Δημοφῶν:τί δῆτʼ ἰυγμῶν ἥδʼ ἐδεῖτο συμφορά;
Chorus:(turning to Copreus). This fellow caused the uproar by trying to drag them forcibly from this altar, and he tripped up the old man, till my tears for pity flowed.
Χορός:βίᾳ νιν οὗτος τῆσδʼ ἀπʼ ἐσχάρας ἄγεινζητῶν βοὴν ἔστησε κἄσφηλεν γόνυγέροντος, ὥστε μʼ ἐκβαλεῖν οἴκτῳ δάκρυ.
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 earnest thither.
Δημοφῶν:καὶ μὴν στολήν γʼ Ἕλληνα καὶ ῥυθμὸν πέπλωνἔχει, τὰ δʼ ἔργα βαρβάρου χερὸς τάδε.σὸν δὴ τὸ φράζειν ἐστί, μὴ μέλλειν τ’, ἐμοὶποίας ἀφῖξαι δεῦρο γῆς ὅρους λιπών;
Copreus:An Argive I; since that thou seek’st to know.Who sent me, and the object of my coming, will I freely tell. Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, sends me hither to fetch these back; and I have come, sir stranger, with just grounds in plenty, alike for speech or action. An Argive myself, Argives I come to fetch,taking with me these runaways from my native city, on whom the doom of death was passed by our laws there; and we have a right, since we rule our city independently, to ratify its sentences. And though they have come as suppliants to the altars of numerous others,we have taken our stand on these same arguments, and no one has ventured to bring upon himself evils of his own getting. But they have come hither, either because they perceived some folly in thee, or, in their perplexity, staking all on one risky throw to win or lose;for surely they do not suppose that thou, if so thou hast thy senses still, and only thou, in all the breadth of Hellas they have traversed, wilt pity their foolish troubles. Come now, put argument against argument: what will be thy gain, suppose thou admit them to thy land, or let us take them hence?From us these benefits are thine to win: this city can secure as friends Argos, with its far-reaching arm, and Eurystheus’ might complete; whilst if thou lend an ear to their piteous pleading and grow soft, the mattermust result in trial of arms; for be sure we shall not yield this struggle without appealing to the sword. What pretext wilt thou urge? Of what domains art thou robbed that thou shouldst take and wage war with the Tirynthian Argives? What kind of allies art thou aiding? For whomwill they have fallen whom thou buriest? Surely thou wilt get an evil name from the citizens, if for the sake of an old man with one foot in the grave, a mere shadow I may say, and for these children, thou wilt plunge into troublous waters. The best thou canst say is, that thou wilt find in them a hope, and nothing more;and yet this falls far short of the present need; for these would be but a poor match for Argives even when fully armed and in their prime, if haply that raises thy spirits; moreover, the time ’twixt now and then is long, wherein ye may be blotted out. Nay, hearken to me;give me naught, but let me take mine own, and so gain Mycenae; but forbear to act now, as is your Athenian way, and take the weaker side, when it is in thy power to choose the stronger as thy friends.
Κῆρυξ:Ἀργεῖός εἰμι· τοῦτο γὰρ θέλεις μαθεῖν·ἐφʼ οἷσι δʼ ἥκω καὶ παρʼ οὗ λέγειν θέλω.πέμπει Μυκηνῶν δεῦρό μʼ Εὐρυσθεὺς ἄναξἄξοντα τούσδε· πολλὰ δʼ ἦλθον, ὦ ξένε,δίκαιʼ ὁμαρτῇ δρᾶν τε καὶ λέγειν ἔχων.Ἀργεῖος ὢν γὰρ αὐτὸς Ἀργείους ἄγωἐκ τῆς ἐμαυτοῦ τούσδε δραπέτας ἔχων,νόμοισι τοῖς ἐκεῖθεν ἐψηφισμένουςθανεῖν· δίκαιοι δʼ ἐσμὲν οἰκοῦντες πόλιναὐτοὶ καθʼ αὑτῶν κυρίους κραίνειν δίκας.πολλῶν δὲ κἄλλων ἑστίας ἀφιγμένοιἐν τοῖσιν αὐτοῖς τοισίδʼ ἕσταμεν λόγοις,κοὐδεὶς ἐτόλμησʼ ἴδια προσθέσθαι κακά.ἀλλʼ ἤ τινʼ ἐς σὲ μωρίαν ἐσκεμμένοιδεῦρʼ ἦλθον ἢ κίνδυνον ἐξ ἀμηχάνωνῥίπτοντες, εἴτʼ οὖν εἴτε μὴ γενήσεται·οὐ γὰρ φρενήρη γʼ ὄντα σʼ ἐλπίζουσί πουμόνον τοσαύτης ἣν ἐπῆλθον Ἑλλάδοςτὰς τῶνδʼ ἀβούλους συμφορὰς κατοικτιεῖν.φέρʼ ἀντίθες γάρ· τούσδε τʼ ἐς γαῖαν παρεὶςἡμᾶς τʼ ἐάσας ἐξάγειν, τί κερδανεῖς;τὰ μὲν παρʼ ἡμῶν τοιάδʼ ἔστι σοι λαβεῖν,Ἄργους τοσήνδε χεῖρα τήν τʼ Εὐρυσθέωςἰσχὺν ἅπασαν τῇδε προσθέσθαι πόλει.ἢν δʼ ἐς λόγους τε καὶ τὰ τῶνδʼ οἰκτίσματαβλέψας πεπανθῇς, ἐς πάλην καθίσταταιδορὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα· μὴ γὰρ ὡς μεθήσομενδόξῃς ἀγῶνα τόνδʼ ἄτερ χαλυβδικοῦ.τί δῆτα φήσεις, ποῖα πεδίʼ ἀφαιρεθείς,τί ῥυσιασθείς, πόλεμον Ἀργείοις ἔχειν;ποίοις δʼ ἀμύνων συμμάχοις, τίνος δʼ ὕπερθάψεις νεκροὺς πεσόντας; ἦ κακὸν λόγονκτήσῃ πρὸς ἀστῶν, εἰ γέροντος οὕνεκα,τύμβου, τὸ μηδὲν ὄντος, ὡς εἰπεῖν ἔπος,παίδων ⟨τε⟩ τῶνδʼ, ἐς ἄντλον ἐμβήσῃ πόδα.ἐρεῖς τὸ λῷστον ἐλπίδʼ εὑρήσειν μόνον.καὶ τοῦτο πολλῷ τοῦ παρόντος ἐνδεές·κακῶς γὰρ Ἀργείοισιν οἵδ’ ὡπλισμένοιςμάχοιντʼ ἂν ἡβήσαντες, εἴ ⟨τι⟩ τοῦτό σεψυχὴν ἐπαίρει· χοὑν μέσῳ πολὺς χρόνοςἐν ᾧ διεργασθεῖτʼ ἄν. ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ·δοὺς μηδέν, ἀλλὰ τἄμ’ ἐῶν ἄγειν ἐμὲκτῆσαι Μυκήνας, μηδʼ ὅπερ φιλεῖτε δρᾶνπάθῃς σὺ τοῦτο, τοὺς ἀμείνονας παρὸνφίλους ἑλέσθαι, τοὺς κακίονας λάβῃς.
Chorus:Who can decide a cause or ascertain its merits,till from both sides he clearly learn what they would say?
Χορός:τίς ἂν δίκην κρίνειεν ἢ γνοίη λόγον,πρὶν ἂν παρʼ ἀμφοῖν μῦθον ἐκμάθῃ σαφῶς;
Iolaus:O king, in thy land I start with this advantage, the right to hear and speak in turn, and none, ere that, will drive me hence as elsewhere they would.’Twixt us and him is naught in common,for we no longer have aught to do with Argos since that decree was passed, but we are exiles from our native land; how then can he justly drag us back as subjects of Mycenae, seeing that they have banished us? For we are strangers.Or do ye claim that every exile from Argos is exiled from the bounds of Hellas? Not from Athens surely; for ne’er will she for fear of Argos drive the children of Heracles from her land. Here is no Trachis, not at all; no! nor that Achaean town, whence thou, defying justice,but boasting of the might of Argos in the very words thou now art using, didst drive the suppliants from their station at the altar. If this shall be, and they thy words approve, why then I trow this is no more Athens, the home of freedom. Nay, but I know the temper and nature of these citizens;they would rather die, for honour ranks before mere life with men of worth. Enough of Athens! for excessive praise is apt to breed disgust; and oft ere now I have myself felt vexed at praise that knows no bounds.But to thee, as ruler of this land, I fain would show the reason why thou art bound to save these children. Pittheus was the son of Pelops; from him sprung Aethra, and from her Theseus thy sire was born. And now will I trace back these children’s lineage for thee.Heracles was son of Zeus and Alcmena; Alcmena sprang from Pelops’ daughter; therefore thy father and their father would be the sons of first cousins. Thus then art thou to them related, O Demophon, but thy just debt to them beyond the ties of kinshipdo I now declare to thee; for I assert, in days gone by, I was with Theseus on the ship, as their father’s squire, when they went to fetch that girdle fraught with death; yea, and from Hades’ murky dungeons did Heracles bring thy father up; as all Hellas doth attest.Wherefore in return they crave this boon of thee, that they be not surrendered up nor torn by force from the altars of thy gods and cast forth from the land. For this were shame on thee, and hurtful likewise in thy state, should suppliants, exiles,kith and kin of thine, be haled away by force. For pity’s sake! cast one glance at them. I do entreat thee, laying my suppliant bough upon thee, by thy hands and beard, slight not the sons of Heracles, now that thou hast them in thy power to help. Show thyself their kinsman and their friend;be to them father, brother, lord; for better each and all of these than to fall beneath the Argives’ hand.
Ἰόλαος:ἄναξ — ὑπάρχει μὲν τόδʼ ἐν τῇ σῇ χθονί —εἰπεῖν ἀκοῦσαί τʼ ἐν μέρει πάρεστί μοι,κοὐδείς μʼ ἀπώσει πρόσθεν, ὥσπερ ἄλλοθεν.ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ τῷδʼ οὐδέν ἐστιν ἐν μέρει·ἐπεὶ γὰρ Ἄργους οὐ μέτεσθʼ ἡμῖν ἔτι,ψήφῳ δοκῆσαν, ἀλλὰ φεύγομεν πάτραν,πῶς ἂν δικαίως ὡς Μυκηναίους ἄγοιὧδʼ ὄντας ἡμᾶς, οὓς ἀπήλασαν χθονός;ξένοι γάρ ἐσμεν. ἢ τὸν Ἑλλήνων ὅρονφεύγειν δικαιοῦθʼ ὅστις ἂν τἄργος φύγῃ;οὔκουν Ἀθήνας γʼ· οὐ γὰρ Ἀργείων φόβῳτοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας ἐξελῶσι γῆς.οὐ γάρ τι Τραχίς ἐστιν οὐδʼ Ἀχαιικὸνπόλισμʼ, ὅθεν σὺ τούσδε, τῇ δίκῃ μὲν οὔ,τὸ δʼ Ἄργος ὀγκῶν, οἷάπερ καὶ νῦν λέγεις,ἤλαυνες ἱκέτας βωμίους καθημένους.εἰ γὰρ τόδʼ ἔσται καὶ λόγους κρινοῦσι σούς,οὐκ οἶδʼ Ἀθήνας τάσδʼ ἐλευθέρας ἔτι.ἀλλʼ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ τὸ τῶνδε λῆμα καὶ φύσιν·θνῄσκειν θελήσουσʼ· ἡ γὰρ αἰσχύνη ⟨πάρος⟩τοῦ ζῆν παρʼ ἐσθλοῖς ἀνδράσιν νομίζεται.πόλιν μὲν ἀρκεῖ· καὶ γὰρ οὖν ἐπίφθονονλίαν ἐπαινεῖν ἐστι, πολλάκις δὲ δὴκαὐτὸς βαρυνθεὶς οἶδʼ ἄγαν αἰνούμενος.σοὶ δʼ ὡς ἀνάγκη τούσδε βούλομαι φράσαισῴζειν, ἐπείπερ τῆσδε προστατεῖς χθονός.Πιτθεὺς μέν ἐστι Πέλοπος, ἐκ δὲ ΠιτθέωςΑἴθρα, πατὴρ δʼ ἐκ τῆσδε γεννᾶται σέθενΘησεύς. πάλιν δὲ τῶνδʼ ἄνειμί σοι γένος.Ἡρακλέης ἦν Ζηνὸς Ἀλκμήνης τε παῖς,κείνη δὲ Πέλοπος θυγατρός. αὐτανεψίωνπατὴρ ἂν εἴη σός τε χὡ τούτων γεγώς.γένους μὲν ἥκεις ὧδε τοῖσδε, Δημοφῶν·ἃ δʼ ἐκτὸς ἤδη τοῦ προσήκοντός σε δεῖτεῖσαι λέγω σοι παισί· φημὶ γάρ ποτεσύμπλους γενέσθαι τῶνδʼ ὑπασπίζων πατρὶζωστῆρα Θησεῖ τὸν πολυκτόνον μέτα·Ἅιδου τʼ ἐρυμνῶν ἐξανήγαγεν μυχῶνπατέρα σόν· Ἑλλὰς πᾶσα τοῦτο μαρτυρεῖ.ὧν ἀντιδοῦναί σʼ οἵδʼ ἀπαιτοῦσιν χάριν,μήτʼ ἐκδοθῆναι μήτε πρὸς βίαν θεῶντῶν σῶν ἀποσπασθέντες ἐκπεσεῖν χθονός.σοὶ γὰρ τόδʼ αἰσχρὸν χωρίς, ἔν τε πόλει κακόν,ἱκέτας ἀλήτας συγγενεῖς, οἴμοι, κακῶς —βλέψον πρὸς αὐτοὺς βλέψον· — ἕλκεσθαι βίᾳ.ἀλλʼ ἄντομαί σε καὶ καταστέφω χεροῖν,καὶ … πρὸς γενείου, μηδαμῶς ἀτιμάσῃςτοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας ἐς χέρας λαβών·γενοῦ δὲ τοῖσδε συγγενής, γενοῦ φίλοςπατὴρ ἀδελφὸς δεσπότης· ἅπαντα γὰρταῦτʼ ἐστὶ κρείσσω πλὴν ὑπʼ Ἀργείοις πεσεῖν.
Chorus:O king, I pity them, hearing their sad lot Now more than ever do I see noble birth o’ercome by fortune; for these, though sprung from a noble sire,are suffering what they ne’er deserved.
Χορός:ᾤκτιρʼ ἀκούσας τούσδε συμφορᾶς, ἄναξ.τὴν δʼ εὐγένειαν τῆς τύχης νικωμένηννῦν δὴ μάλιστʼ ἐσεῖδον· οἵδε γὰρ πατρὸςἐσθλοῦ γεγῶτες δυστυχοῦσʼ ἀναξίως.
Demophon:Three aspects of the case constrain me, Iolaus, not to spurn the guests thou bringest; first and foremost, there is Zeus, at whose altar thou art seated with these tender children gathered round thee;next come ties of kin, and the debt I owe to treat them kindly for their father’s sake; and last, mine honour, which before all I must regard; for if I permit this altar to be violently despoiled by stranger hands, men will thinkthe land I inhabit is free no more, and that through fear I have surrendered suppliants to Argives, and this comes nigh to make one hang oneself. Would that thou hadst come under a luckier star! yet, as it is, fear not that any man shall tear thee and these children from the altar by force.Get thee (to Copreus) to Argos and tell Eurystheus so; yea and more, if he have any charge against these strangers, he shall have justice; but never shalt thou drag them hence.
Δημοφῶν:τρισσαί μʼ ἀναγκάζουσι συμφορᾶς ὁδοί,Ἰόλαε, τοὺς σοὺς μὴ παρώσασθαι ξένους·τὸ μὲν μέγιστον Ζεὺς ἐφʼ οὗ σὺ βώμιοςθακεῖς νεοσσῶν τήνδʼ ἔχων πανήγυριν·τὸ συγγενές τε καὶ τὸ προυφείλειν καλῶςπράσσειν παρʼ ἡμῶν τούσδε πατρῴαν χάριν·τό τʼ αἰσχρόν, οὗπερ δεῖ μάλιστα φροντίσαι·εἰ γὰρ παρήσω τόνδε συλᾶσθαι βίᾳξένου πρὸς ἀνδρὸς βωμόν, οὐκ ἐλευθέρανοἰκεῖν δοκήσω γαῖαν, Ἀργείων δʼ ὄκνῳἱκέτας προδοῦναι· καὶ τάδʼ ἀγχόνης πέλας.ἀλλʼ ὤφελες μὲν εὐτυχέστερος μολεῖν,ὅμως δὲ καὶ νῦν μὴ τρέσῃς ὅπως σέ τιςσὺν παισὶ βωμοῦ τοῦδʼ ἀποσπάσει βίᾳ.σὺ δʼ Ἄργος ἐλθὼν ταῦτά τʼ Εὐρυσθεῖ φράσον,πρὸς τοῖσδέ τʼ, εἴ τι τοισίδʼ ἐγκαλεῖ ξένοις,δίκης κυρήσειν· τούσδε δʼ οὐκ ἄξεις ποτέ.
Copreus:Not even if I have right upon my side and prove my case?
Κῆρυξ:οὐκ ἢν δίκαιον ᾖ τι καὶ νικῶ λόγῳ;
Demophon:How can it be right to drag the suppliant away by force?
Δημοφῶν:καὶ πῶς δίκαιον τὸν ἱκέτην ἄγειν βίᾳ;
Copreus:Well, mine is the disgrace; no harm will come to thee.
Κῆρυξ:οὐκ οὖν ἐμοὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, ἀλλʼ ⟨οὐ⟩ σοὶ βλάβος;
Demophon:Tis harm to me, if I let them be haled away by thee.
Δημοφῶν:ἐμοί γʼ, ἐάν σοι τούσδʼ ἐφέλκεσθαι μεθῶ.
Copreus:Banish them thyself, and then will I take them from elsewhere.
Κῆρυξ:σὺ δʼ ἐξόριζε, κᾆτʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἄξομεν.
Demophon:Nature made thee a fool, to think thou knowest better than the god.
Δημοφῶν:σκαιὸς πέφυκας τοῦ θεοῦ πλείω φρονῶν.
Copreus:It seems then evildoers are to find a refuge here.
Κῆρυξ:δεῦρʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τοῖς κακοῖσι φευκτέον.
Demophon:A temple of the gods is an asylum open to the world.
Δημοφῶν:ἅπασι κοινὸν ῥῦμα δαιμόνων ἕδρα.
Copreus:Maybe they will not take this view in Mycensa.
Κῆρυξ:ταῦτʼ οὐ δοκήσει τοῖς Μυκηναίοις ἴσως.
Demophon:What! am I not lord of this domain?
Δημοφῶν:οὐκ οὖν ἐγὼ τῶν ἐνθάδʼ εἰμὶ κύριος;
Copreus:So long as thou injure not the Argives, and if wise, thou wilt not.
Κῆρυξ:βλάπτων ⟨γʼ⟩ ἐκείνους μηδέν, ἢν σὺ σωφρονῇς.
Demophon:Be injured for all I care, provided I sin not against the gods.
Δημοφῶν:βλάπτεσθʼ, ἐμοῦ γε μὴ μιαίνοντος θεούς.
Copreus:I would not have thee come to blows with Argos.
Κῆρυξ:οὐ βούλομαί σε πόλεμον Ἀργείοις ἔχειν.
Demophon:I am of like mind in this; but I will not dismiss these from my protection.
Δημοφῶν:κἀγὼ τοιοῦτος· τῶνδε δʼ οὐ μεθήσομαι.
Copreus:For all that, I shall take and drag my own away.
Κῆρυξ:ἄξω γε μέντοι τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐγὼ λαβών.
Demophon:Why then perhaps thou wilt find a difficulty in returning to Argos.
Δημοφῶν:οὐκ ἆρ’ ἐς Ἄργος ῥᾳδίως ἄπει πάλιν.
Copreus:That shall I soon find out by making the attempt.
Κῆρυξ:πειρώμενος δὴ τοῦτό γʼ αὐτίκʼ εἴσομαι.
Demophon:Touch them and thou shalt rue it, and that without delay.
Δημοφῶν:κλαίων ἄρʼ ἅψῃ τῶνδε κοὐκ ἐς ἀμβολάς.
Chorus:I conjure thee, never dare to strike a herald.
Χορός:μὴ πρὸς θεῶν κήρυκα τολμήσῃς θενεῖν.
Demophon:Strike I will, unless that herald learn discretion.
Δημοφῶν:εἰ μή γʼ ὁ κῆρυξ σωφρονεῖν μαθήσεται.
Chorus:Depart; and thou, O king, touch him not.
Χορός:ἄπελθε· καὶ σὺ τοῦδε μὴ θίγῃς, ἄναξ.
Copreus:I go; for ’tis feeble fighting with a single arm.But I will come again, bringing hither a host of Argive troops, spearmen clad 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. [Exit Copreus.
Κῆρυξ:στείχω· μιᾶς γὰρ χειρὸς ἀσθενὴς μάχη.ἥξω δὲ πολλὴν Ἄρεος Ἀργείου λαβὼνπάγχαλκον αἰχμὴν δεῦρο. μυρίοι δέ μεμένουσιν ἀσπιστῆρες Εὐρυσθεύς τʼ ἄναξαὐτὸς στρατηγῶν· Ἀλκάθου δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτοιςκαραδοκῶν τἀνθένδε τέρμασιν μένει.λαμπρὸς δʼ ἀκούσας σὴν ὕβριν φανήσεταισοὶ καὶ πολίταις γῇ τε τῇδε καὶ φυτοῖς·μάτην γὰρ ἥβην ὧδέ γʼ ἂν κεκτῄμεθαπολλὴν ἐν Ἄργει, μή σε τιμωρούμενοι.
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.
Δημοφῶν:φθείρου· τὸ σὸν γὰρ Ἄργος οὐ δέδοικʼ ἐγώ.ἐνθένδε δʼ οὐκ ἔμελλες αἰσχύνας ἐμὲἄξειν βίᾳ τούσδʼ· οὐ γὰρ Ἀργείων πόλειὑπήκοον τήνδʼ ἀλλʼ ἐλευθέραν ἔχω.
Chorus:’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 thee what a tale he will tell his masterof his dreadful treatment, how he came very near losing his life altogether.
Χορός:ὥρα προνοεῖν, πρὶν ὅροις πελάσαιστρατὸν Ἀργείων·μάλα δʼ ὀξὺς Ἄρης ὁ Μυκηναίων,ἐπὶ τοῖσι δὲ δὴ μᾶλλον ἔτʼ ἢ πρίν.πᾶσι γὰρ οὗτος κήρυξι νόμος,δὶς τόσα πυργοῦν τῶν γιγνομένωνπόσα νιν λέξειν βασιλεῦσι δοκεῖς,ὡς δείνʼ ἔπαθεν καὶ παρὰ μικρὸνψυχὴν ἦλθεν διακναῖσαι;
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 passionand 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; we, for instance, in the last extremity of woe, have found friendsand 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 cityfirst 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 noblythou 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.
Ἰόλαος:οὐκ ἔστι τοῦδε παισὶ κάλλιον γέρας,ἢ πατρὸς ἐσθλοῦ κἀγαθοῦ πεφυκέναι[γαμεῖν τʼ ἀπʼ ἐσθλῶν· ὃς δὲ νικηθεὶς πόθῳ][κακοῖς ἐκοινώνησεν, οὐκ ἐπαινέσω,][τέκνοις ὄνειδος οὕνεχʼ ἡδονῆς λιπεῖν.]τὸ δυστυχὲς γὰρ ηὑγένει’ ἀμύνεταιτῆς δυσγενείας μᾶλλον· ἡμεῖς γὰρ κακῶνἐς τοὔσχατον πεσόντες ηὕρομεν φίλουςκαὶ ξυγγενεῖς τούσδʼ, οἳ τοσῆσδʼ οἰκουμένηςἙλληνίδος γῆς τῶνδε προύστησαν μόνοι.δότ’, ὦ τέκνʼ, αὐτοῖς χεῖρα δεξιάν, δότε·ὑμεῖς τε παισί, καὶ πέλας προσέλθετε.ὦ παῖδες, ἐς μὲν πεῖραν ἤλθομεν φίλων·ἢν δʼ οὖν ποθʼ ὑμῖν νόστος ἐς πάτραν φανῇκαὶ δώματʼ οἰκήσητε καὶ τιμὰς πατρός…σωτῆρας αἰεὶ καὶ φίλους νομίζετε,καὶ μήποτʼ ἐς γῆν ἐχθρὸν αἴρεσθαι δόρυμέμνησθέ μοι τήνδʼ, ἀλλὰ φιλτάτην πόλινπασῶν νομίζετʼ. ἄξιοι δʼ ὑμῖν σέβεινοἳ γῆν τοσήνδε καὶ Πελασγικὸν λεὼνἡμῶν ἀπηλλάξαντο πολεμίους ἔχειν,πτωχοὺς ἀλήτας εἰσορῶντες· ἀλλʼ ὅμωςοὐκ ἐξέδωκαν οὐδʼ ἀπήλασαν χθονός.ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ζῶν καὶ θανών, ὅταν θάνω,πολλῷ σʼ ἐπαίνῳ Θησέως, ὦ τᾶν, πέλαςὑψηλὸν ἀρῶ καὶ λέγων τάδʼ εὐφρανῶὡς εὖ τʼ ἐδέξω καὶ τέκνοισιν ἤρκεσαςτοῖς Ἡρακλείοις, εὐγενὴς δʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδασῴζεις πατρῴαν δόξαν, ἐξ ἐσθλῶν δὲ φὺςοὐδὲν κακίων τυγχάνεις γεγὼς πατρός,παύρων μετʼ ἄλλων· ἕνα γὰρ ἐν πολλοῖς ἴσωςεὕροις ἂν ὅστις ἐστὶ μὴ χείρων πατρός.
Chorus:This land is ever readyin 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.
Χορός:ἀεί ποθʼ ἥδε γαῖα τοῖς ἀμηχάνοιςσὺν τῷ δικαίῳ βούλεται προσωφελεῖν.τοιγὰρ πόνους δὴ μυρίους ὑπὲρ φίλωνἤνεγκε, καὶ νῦν τόνδʼ ἀγῶνʼ ὁρῶ πέλας.
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.
Δημοφῶν:σοί τʼ εὖ λέλεκται, καὶ τὰ τῶνδʼ αὐχῶ, γέρον,τοιαῦτʼ ἔσεσθαι· μνημονεύσεται χάρις.κἀγὼ μὲν ἀστῶν σύλλογον ποήσομαι,τάξω δʼ, ὅπως ἂν τὸν Μυκηναίων στρατὸνπολλῇ δέχωμαι χειρί· πρῶτα μὲν σκοποὺςπέμψω πρὸς αὐτόν, μὴ λάθῃ με προσπεσών·ταχὺς γὰρ Ἄργει πᾶς ἀνὴρ βοηδρόμος·μάντεις δʼ ἀθροίσας θύσομαι. σὺ δʼ ἐς δόμουςσὺν παισὶ χώρει, Ζηνὸς ἐσχάραν λιπών.εἰσὶν γὰρ οἵ σου, κἂν ἐγὼ θυραῖος ὦ,μέριμναν ἕξουσʼ. ἀλλʼ ἴθʼ ἐς δόμους, γέρον.
Iolaus:I will not leave the altar. Letus 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. [Exit Demophon.
Ἰόλαος:οὐκ ἂν λίποιμι βωμόν· ἑζώμεσθα δὴἱκέται μένοντες ἐνθάδʼ εὖ πρᾶξαι πόλιν·ὅταν δʼ ἀγῶνος τοῦδʼ ἀπαλλαχθῇς καλῶς,ἴμεν πρὸς οἴκους. θεοῖσι δʼ οὐ κακίοσινχρώμεσθα συμμάχοισιν Ἀργείων, ἄναξ·τῶν μὲν γὰρ Ἥρα προστατεῖ, Διὸς δάμαρ,ἡμῶν δʼ Ἀθηνᾶ. φημὶ δʼ εἰς εὐπραξίανκαὶ τοῦθʼ ὑπάρχειν, θεῶν ἀμεινόνων τυχεῖν·νικωμένη γὰρ Παλλὰς οὐκ ἀνέξεται.
Chorus: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,
Χορός:Εἰ σὺ μέγʼ αὐχεῖς, ἕτεροισοῦ πλέον οὐ μέλονται,⟨ὦ⟩ ξεῖν’ Ἀργόθεν ἐλθών,μεγαληγορίαισι δʼ ἐμὰςφρένας οὐ φοβήσεις.μήπω ταῖς μεγάλαισιν οὕ-τω καὶ καλλιχόροις Ἀθή-ναις εἴη· σὺ δʼ ἄφρων, ὅ τʼ Ἄρ-γει Σθενέλου τύραννος.
Chorus:—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?
Χορός:ὃς πόλιν ἐλθὼν ἑτέρανοὐδὲν ἐλάσσονʼ Ἄργους,θεῶν ἱκτῆρας ἀλάταςκαὶ ἐμᾶς χθονὸς ἀντομένουςξένος ὢν βιαίωςἕλκεις, οὐ βασιλεῦσιν εἴ-ξας, οὐκ ἄλλο δίκαιον εἰ-πών· ποῦ ταῦτα καλῶς ἂν εἴ-η παρά γʼ εὖ φρονοῦσιν;
Chorus: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 lovelytown; restrain thyself.
Χορός:Εἰρήνα μὲν ἐμοί γʼ ἀρέ-σκει· σὺ δʼ, ὦ κακόφρων ἄναξ,λέγω, εἰ πόλιν ἥξεις,οὐχ οὕτως ἃ δοκεῖς κυρή-σεις· οὐ σοὶ μόνῳ ἔγχος οὐδʼἰτέα κατάχαλκός [ἐστιν.]ἀλλʼ οὐ, πολέμων ἐραστάς,μή μοι δορὶ συνταράξειςτὰν εὖ χαρίτων ἔχουσανπόλιν, ἀλλʼ ἀνάσχου.
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.
Ἰόλαος:ὦ παῖ, τί μοι σύννοιαν ὄμμασιν φέρωνἥκεις; νέον τι πολεμίων λέξεις πέρι;μέλλουσιν ἢ πάρεισιν ἢ τί πυνθάνῃ;οὐ γάρ τι μὴ ψεύσῃς γε κήρυκος λόγους·ὁ γὰρ στρατηγὸς εὐτυχὴς τὰ πρὸς θεῶνεἶσιν, σάφʼ οἶδα, καὶ μάλʼ οὐ σμικρὸν φρονῶν,ἐς τὰς Ἀθήνας. ἀλλὰ τῶν φρονημάτωνὁ Ζεὺς κολαστὴς τῶν ἄγαν ὑπερφρόνων.
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 victimsstand 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 on foot.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 I do what is just, just will my treatment be.
Δημοφῶν:ἥκει στράτευμʼ Ἀργεῖον Εὐρυσθεύς τʼ ἄναξ·ἐγώ νιν αὐτὸς εἶδον. ἄνδρα γὰρ χρεών,ὅστις στρατηγεῖν φησʼ ἐπίστασθαι καλῶς,οὐκ ἀγγέλοισι τοὺς ἐναντίους ὁρᾶν.πεδία μὲν οὖν γῆς ἐς τάδʼ οὐκ ἐφῆκέ πωστρατόν, λεπαίαν δʼ ὀφρύην καθήμενοςσκοπεῖ — δόκησιν δὴ τόδʼ ἂν λέγοιμί σοι —ποίᾳ προσάξει στρατόπεδον τὰ νῦν δορὸςἐν ἀσφαλεῖ τε τῆσδʼ ἱδρύσεται χθονός.καὶ τἀμὰ μέντοι πάντʼ ἄραρʼ ἤδη καλῶς·πόλις τʼ ἐν ὅπλοις, σφάγιά θʼ ἡτοιμασμέναἕστηκεν οἷς χρὴ ταῦτα τέμνεσθαι θεῶν,τροπαῖά τʼ ἐχθρῶν καὶ πόλει σωτήρια,θυηπολεῖται δʼ ἄστυ μάντεων ὕπο.χρησμῶν δʼ ἀοιδοὺς πάντας εἰς ἓν ἁλίσαςἤλεγξα καὶ βέβηλα καὶ κεκρυμμέναλόγια παλαιά, τῇδε γῇ σωτήρια.καὶ τῶν μὲν ἄλλων διάφορʼ ἐστὶ θεσφάτοιςπόλλʼ· ἓν δὲ πᾶσι γνῶμα ταὐτὸν ἐμπρέπει·σφάξαι κελεύουσίν με παρθένον ΚόρῃΔήμητρος, ἥτις ἐστὶ πατρὸς εὐγενοῦς.ἐγὼ δʼ ἔχω μέν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, προθυμίαντοσήνδʼ ἐς ὑμᾶς· παῖδα δʼ οὔτʼ ἐμὴν κτενῶοὔτʼ ἄλλον ἀστῶν τῶν ἐμῶν ἀναγκάσωἄκονθʼ· ἑκὼν δὲ τίς κακῶς οὕτω φρονεῖ,ὅστις τὰ φίλτατʼ ἐκ χερῶν δώσει τέκνα;καὶ νῦν πικρὰς ἂν συστάσεις ἂν εἰσίδοις,τῶν μὲν λεγόντων ὡς δίκαιον ἦν ξένοιςἱκέταις ἀρήγειν, τῶν δὲ μωρίαν ἐμὴνκατηγορούντων· εἰ δὲ δὴ δράσω τόδε,οἰκεῖος ἤδη πόλεμος ἐξαρτύεται.ταῦτʼ οὖν ὅρα σὺ καὶ συνεξεύρισχʼ ὅπωςαὐτοί τε σωθήσεσθε καὶ πέδον τόδε,κἀγὼ πολίταις μὴ διαβληθήσομαι.οὐ γὰρ τυραννίδʼ ὥστε βαρβάρων ἔχω·ἀλλʼ, ἢν δίκαια δρῶ, δίκαια πείσομαι.
Chorus:Can it be that heaven forbids this city to help strangers, when it hath the will and longing so to do?
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἦ πρόθυμον οὖσαν οὐκ ἐᾷ θεὸςξένοις ἀρήγειν τήνδε χρῄζουσιν πόλιν;
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 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 savethe 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.
Ἰόλαος:ὦ τέκνʼ, ἔοιγμεν ναυτίλοισιν, οἵτινεςχειμῶνος ἐκφυγόντες ἄγριον μένοςἐς χεῖρα γῇ συνῆψαν, εἶτα χερσόθενπνοιαῖσιν ἠλάθησαν ἐς πόντον πάλιν.οὕτω δὲ χἡμεῖς τῆσδʼ ἀπωθούμεσθα γῆςἤδη πρὸς ἀκταῖς ὄντες ὡς σεσῳσμένοι.οἴμοι· τί δῆτʼ ἔτερψας ὦ τάλαινά μεἐλπὶς τότʼ, οὐ μέλλουσα διατελεῖν χάριν;συγγνωστὰ γάρ τοι καὶ τὰ τοῦδʼ, εἰ μὴ θέλεικτείνειν πολιτῶν παῖδας· αἰνέσαι δʼ ἔχωκαὶ τἀνθάδ’· εἰ θεοῖσι δὴ δοκεῖ τάδεπράσσειν ἔμʼ, οὔτοι σή γʼ ἀπόλλυται χάρις.ὦ παῖδες, ὑμῖν δʼ οὐκ ἔχω τί χρήσομαι.ποῖ τρεψόμεσθα; τίς γὰρ ἄστεπτος θεῶν;ποῖον δὲ γαίας ἕρκος οὐκ ἀφίγμεθα;ὀλούμεθʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ· ἐκδοθησόμεσθα δή.κἀμοῦ μὲν οὐδὲν εἴ με χρὴ θανεῖν μέλει,πλὴν εἴ τι τέρψω τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐχθροὺς θανών·ὑμᾶς δὲ κλαίω καὶ κατοικτίρω, τέκνα,καὶ τὴν γεραιὰν μητέρʼ Ἀλκμήνην πατρός.ὦ δυστάλαινα τοῦ μακροῦ βίου σέθεν,τλήμων δὲ κἀγὼ πολλὰ μοχθήσας μάτην.χρῆν χρῆν ἄρʼ ἡμᾶς ἀνδρὸς εἰς ἐχθροῦ χέραςπεσόντας αἰσχρῶς καὶ κακῶς λιπεῖν βίον.ἀλλʼ οἶσθ’ ὅ μοι σύμπραξον; οὐχ ἅπασα γὰρπέφευγεν ἐλπὶς τῶνδέ μοι σωτηρίας·ἔμʼ ἔκδος Ἀργείοισιν ἀντὶ τῶνδʼ, ἄναξ,καὶ μήτε κινδύνευε, σωθήτω τέ μοιτέκνʼ· οὐ φιλεῖν δεῖ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν· ἴτω.μάλιστα δʼ Εὐρυσθεύς με βούλοιτʼ ἂν λαβὼντὸν Ἡράκλειον σύμμαχον καθυβρίσαι·σκαιὸς γὰρ ἁνήρ. τοῖς σοφοῖς δʼ εὐκτὸν σοφῷἔχθραν συνάπτειν, μὴ ἀμαθεῖ φρονήματι·πολλῆς γὰρ αἰδοῦς καὶ δίκης τις ἂν τύχοι.
Chorus:Old man, blame not this city; for though perhaps a gain to us, yet would it be a foul reproach that we betrayed strangers.
Χορός:ὦ πρέσβυ, μή νυν τήνδʼ ἐπαιτιῶ πόλιν·τάχʼ ἂν γὰρ ἡμῖν ψευδὲς ἀλλʼ ὅμως κακὸνγένοιτʼ ὄνειδος ὡς ξένους προυδώκαμεν.
Demophon:A generous scheme is thine, but impossible.’Tis not in quest of thee 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. [Exit Demophon.
Δημοφῶν:γενναῖα μὲν τάδʼ εἶπας, ἀλλʼ ἀμήχανα.οὐ σοῦ χατίζων δεῦρʼ ἄναξ στρατηλατεῖ·τί γὰρ γέροντος ἀνδρὸς Εὐρυσθεῖ πλέονθανόντος; ἀλλὰ τούσδε βούλεται κτανεῖν.δεινὸν γὰρ ἐχθροῖς βλαστάνοντες εὐγενεῖς,νεανίαι τε καὶ πατρὸς μεμνημένοιλύμας· ἃ κεῖνον πάντα προσκοπεῖν χρεών.ἀλλʼ, εἴ τινʼ ἄλλην οἶσθα καιριωτέρανβουλήν, ἑτοίμαζʼ, ὡς ἔγωγʼ ἀμήχανοςχρησμῶν ἀκούσας εἰμὶ καὶ φόβου πλέως.
Macaria:Sirs, impute not boldness to me, becauseI 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.
Μακαρία:ξένοι, θράσος μοι μηδὲν ἐξόδοις ἐμαῖςπροσθῆτε· πρῶτον γὰρ τόδʼ ἐξαιτήσομαι·γυναικὶ γὰρ σιγή τε καὶ τὸ σωφρονεῖνκάλλιστον, εἴσω θʼ ἥσυχον μένειν δόμων.τῶν σῶν δʼ ἀκούσασʼ, Ἰόλεως, στεναγμάτωνἐξῆλθον, οὐ ταχθεῖσα πρεσβεύειν γένους.ἀλλʼ, εἰμὶ γάρ πως πρόσφορος, μέλει δέ μοιμάλιστ’ ἀδελφῶν, τῶνδε κἀμαυτῆς πέριθέλω πυθέσθαι, μὴ ’πὶ τοῖς πάλαι κακοῖςπροσκείμενόν τι πῆμα σὴν δάκνει φρένα.
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 maidof 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.
Ἰόλαος:ὦ παῖ, μάλιστα σʼ οὐ νεωστὶ δὴ τέκνωντῶν Ἡρακλείων ἐνδίκως αἰνεῖν ἔχω.ἡμῖν δὲ δόξας εὖ προχωρῆσαι δρόμοςπάλιν μεθέστηκʼ αὖθις ἐς τἀμήχανον·χρησμῶν γὰρ ᾠδούς φησι σημαίνειν ὅδε,οὐ ταῦρον οὐδὲ μόσχον, ἀλλὰ παρθένονσφάξαι Κόρῃ Δήμητρος ἥτις εὐγενής,εἰ χρὴ μὲν ἡμᾶς, χρὴ δὲ τήνδʼ εἶναι πόλιν.ταῦτʼ οὖν ἀμηχανοῦμεν· οὔτε γὰρ τέκνασφάξειν ὅδʼ αὑτοῦ φησιν οὔτʼ ἄλλου τινός.κἀμοὶ λέγει μὲν οὐ σαφῶς, λέγει δέ πως,εἰ μή τι τούτων ἐξαμηχανήσομεν,ἡμᾶς μὲν ἄλλην γαῖαν εὑρίσκειν τινά,αὐτὸς δὲ σῶσαι τήνδε βούλεται χθόνα.
Macaria:Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends?
Μακαρία:ἐν τῷδε κἀχόμεσθα σωθῆναι λόγῳ;
Iolaus:Yea, on these; if, that is, we are successful otherwise.
Ἰόλαος:ἐν τῷδε, τἄλλα γʼ εὐτυχῶς πεπραγότες.
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 a 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.”
Μακαρία:μή νυν τρέσῃς ἔτʼ ἐχθρὸν Ἀργεῖον δόρυ·ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτὴ πρὶν κελευσθῆναι, γέρον,θνῄσκειν ἑτοίμη καὶ παρίστασθαι σφαγῇ.τί φήσομεν γάρ, εἰ πόλις μὲν ἀξιοῖκίνδυνον ἡμῶν οὕνεκʼ αἴρεσθαι μέγαν,αὐτοὶ δὲ προστιθέντες ἄλλοισιν πόνους,παρόν σφε σῷσαι, φευξόμεσθα μὴ θανεῖν;οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί τοι καὶ γέλωτος ἄξια,στένειν μὲν ἱκέτας δαιμόνων καθημένους,πατρὸς δʼ ἐκείνου φύντας οὗ πεφύκαμενκακοὺς ὁρᾶσθαι· ποῦ τάδʼ ἐν χρηστοῖς πρέπει;κάλλιον, οἶμαι, τῆσδʼ — ἃ μὴ τύχοι ποτέ —πόλεως ἁλούσης, χεῖρας εἰς ἐχθρῶν πεσεῖν,κἄπειτα τινὰ πατρὸς οὖσαν εὐγενοῦςπαθοῦσαν Ἅιδην μηδὲν ἧσσον εἰσιδεῖν.ἀλλʼ ἐκπεσοῦσα τῆσδʼ ἀλητεύσω χθονός;κοὐκ αἰσχυνοῦμαι δῆτ’, ἐὰν δή τις λέγῃ·Τί δεῦρʼ ἀφίκεσθʼ ἱκεσίοισι σὺν κλάδοιςαὐτοὶ φιλοψυχοῦντες; ἔξιτε χθονός·κακοὺς γὰρ ἡμεῖς οὐ προσωφελήσομεν.
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.]Chorus: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?
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μέντοι, τῶνδε μὲν τεθνηκότων,αὐτὴ δὲ σωθεῖσʼ, ἐλπίδʼ εὖ πράξειν ἔχω·— πολλοὶ γὰρ ἤδη τῇδε προύδοσαν φίλους. —τίς γὰρ κόρην ἔρημον ἢ δάμαρτʼ ἔχειν,ἢ παιδοποιεῖν ἐξ ἐμοῦ βουλήσεται;οὐκ οὖν θανεῖν ἄμεινον ἢ τούτων τυχεῖνἀναξίαν; ἄλλῃ δὲ κἂν πρέποι τινὶμᾶλλον τάδʼ, ἥτις μὴ ’πίσημος ὡς ἐγώ.ἡγεῖσθʼ ὅπου δεῖ σῶμα κατθανεῖν τόδεκαὶ στεμματοῦτε καὶ κατάρχεσθʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ·νικᾶτε δʼ ἐχθρούς· ἥδε γὰρ ψυχὴ πάραἑκοῦσα κοὐκ ἄκουσα· κἀξαγγέλλομαιθνῄσκειν ἀδελφῶν τῶνδε κἀμαυτῆς ὕπερ.εὕρημα γάρ τοι μὴ φιλοψυχοῦσʼ ἐγὼκάλλιστον ηὕρηκ’, εὐκλεῶς λιπεῖν βίον.Χορός:φεῦ φεῦ, τί λέξω παρθένου μέγαν λόγονκλύων, ἀδελφῶν ἣ πάρος θέλει θανεῖν;τούτων τίς ἂν λέξειε γενναίους λόγουςμᾶλλον, τίς ἂν δράσειεν ἀνθρώπων ἔτι;