the heracleidae-第2节
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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 matter must 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 whom will they have fallen whom thou
buriest？ Surely thou wilt get an evil name from the citizens； if for
the sake of an old man near 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。
LEADER
Who can decide a cause or ascertain its merits； till from both
sides he clearly learn what they would say？
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 have myself felt vexed at praise that knows no bounds。 But
to thee； as ruler of this land； 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 kinship do 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。
In pity 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。
LEADER
O king； I pity them； hearing their sad lot。 Now more than ever
do see noble birth o'ercome by fortune； for these； though sprung
from noble sire； are suffering what they ne'er deserved。
DEMOPHON
Three aspects of the circumstance 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 think the 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。 （to
COPREUS） Get thee 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。
COPREUS
Not even if I have right upon my side and prove my case？
DEMOPHON
How can it be right to drag the suppliant away by force？
COPREUS
Well； mine is the disgrace； no harm will come to thee。
DEMOPHON
'Tis harm to me； if I let them be haled away by thee。
COPREUS
Banish them thyself； and then will I take them from elsewhere。
DEMOPHON
Nature made thee a fool； to think thou knowest better than the
god。
COPREUS
It seems then evildoers are to find a refuge here。
DEMOPHON
A temple of the gods is an asylum open to the world。
COPREUS
Maybe they will not take this view in Mycenae。
DEMOPHON
What！ am I not lord of this domain？
COPREUS
So long as thou injure not the Argives； and if wise； thou wilt
not。
DEMOPHON
Be injured for all I care； provided I sin not against the gods。
COPREUS
I would not have thee come to blows with Argos。
DEMOPHON
I am of like mind in this； but I will not dismiss these from my
protection。
COPREUS
For all that； I shall take and drag my own away。
DEMOPHON
Why then perhaps thou wilt find a difficulty in returning to
Argos。
COPREUS
That shall I soon find out by making the attempt。
DEMOPHON
Touch them and thou shalt rue it； and that without delay。
LEADER
I conjure thee； never dare to strike a herald。
DEMOPHON
Strike I will； unless that herald learn discretion。
LEADER
Depart； and thou； O king； touch him not。
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。
（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 a
