the heracleidae-第4节
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out of this perplexity； we must seek some other land； for he this
country fain would save。
MACARIA
Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends？
IOLAUS
Yea； on these； if； that is； we are successful otherwise。
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 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。〃 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。
LEADER
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？
IOLAUS
Daughter； thou art his own true child； no other man's but
Heracles'； that godlike soul； proud am I of thy words； though I sorrow
for thy lot。 Yet will I propose a fairer method： 'tis right to
summon hither all the sisters of this maiden； and then let her； on
whom the lot shall fall； die for her family； for that thou shouldst
die without the lot is not just。
MACARIA
My death shall no chance lot decide； there is no graciousness in
that； peace！ old friend。 But if ye accept and will avail you of my
readiness； freely do I offer my life for these； and without
constraint。
IOLAUS
Ah； this is even nobler than thy former word； that was
matchless； but thou dost now surpass thy bravery and noble speech。 I
cannot bid； will not forbid thy dying； O my daughter！ for by thy death
thou dost thy brothers serve。
MACARIA
A cautious bidding thine！ Fear not to take a stain of guilt from
me； only let me die as one whose death is free。 Follow me； old friend；
for in thy arms I fain would die； stand by and veil my body with my
robe； for I will go even to the dreadful doom of sacrifice； seeing
whose daughter I avow myself。
IOLAUS
I cannot stand by and see thee bleed。
MACARIA
At least do thou beg me this boon of the king； that I may
breathe out my life in women's arms instead of men's。
DEMOPHON
It shall be so； unhappy maid； for this were shame to me to
refuse the honour due； for many reasons： because thou hast a soul so
brave； because 'tis right； and thou hast shown more courage than any
of thy sex my eyes have ever seen。 Now； if thou hast aught to say to
these children or thy aged guide。 oh！ say the last thou hast to
say…then go。
MACARIA
Farewell； old friend； farewell and prithee teach these children to
be like thyself； wise at every point； let them strive no further；
for that will suffice them。 And seek to save them from death； even as
thou art anxious to do； thy children are we； thy care it was that
nurtured us。 Thou seest how I yield my bridal bloom to die for them。
For you； my brothers gathered here； may you be happy！ and may every
blessing be yours； for the which my blood shall pay the price！
Honour this old friend； and her that is within the house； Alcmena； the
aged mother of my sire； and these strangers too。 And if ever heaven
for you devise release from trouble and a return to your home；
remember the burial due to her that saved you； funeral fair as I
deserve； for I have not failed； but stood by you； and died to save
my race。 This shall be my pearl of price instead of children； and
for the maiden life I leave； if there be really aught beyond the
grave…God grant there may not be！ For if； e'en there； we who are to
die shall find a life of care； I know not whither one shall turn；
for death is held a sovereign cure for every ill。
IOLAUS
Maiden of heroic soul； transcending all thy race； be sure the fame
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 t
