the heracleidae-第3节
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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 nobly thou 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。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This land is ever ready in 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。
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。
IOLAUS
I will not leave the altar。 Let us 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。
（DEMOPHON and his retinue go out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
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；
antistrophe
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？
epode
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 lovely town； restrain thyself。
（DEMOPHON re…enters。）
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。
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 victims stand 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 at hand。 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 do what is just； just will my
treatment be。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Can it be that heaven forbids this city to help strangers； when it
hath the will and longing so to do？
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 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
