the heracleidae-第5节
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SERVANT
A numerous force； I cannot otherwise describe the number。
IOLAUS
The leaders of the Athenians know this； I suppose？
SERVANT
They do； already is their left wing set in array。
IOLAUS
Is then the host already armed for battle？
SERVANT
Yea； and already are the victims brought near the ranks。
IOLAUS
About what distance is the Argive host from us？
SERVANT
Near enough for their general to be plainly seen。
IOLAUS
What is he about？ marshalling the enemy's line？
SERVANT
So we guessed； we could not hear exactly。 But I must go； for I
would not that my master should engage the foe without me； if I can
help it。
IOLAUS
I also will go with thee； for I like thee am minded； so it
seems； to be there and help my friends。
SERVANT
It least of all becomes thee thus to utter words of folly。
IOLAUS
Far less to shrink from sharing with my friends the stubborn
fight。
SERVANT
Mere looks can wound no one； if the arm do naught。
IOLAUS
Why； cannot I smite even through their shields？
SERVANT
Smite perhaps； more likely be smitten thyself。
IOLAUS
No foe will dare to meet me face to face。
SERVANT
Friend； the strength； that erst was thine； is thine no more。
IOLAUS
Well； at any rate； I will fight with as many as ever I did。
SERVANT
Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy
friends；
IOLAUS
Detain me not； when I have girded myself for action。
SERVANT
The power to act is thine no more； the will maybe is there。
IOLAUS
Stay here I will not； say what else thou wilt。
SERVANT
How shalt thou show thyself before the troops unarmed？
IOLAUS
There be captured arms within this shrine； these will I use；
and； if I live； restore； and； if I am slain； the god will not demand
them of me back。 Go thou within； and from its peg take down a suit
of armour and forthwith bring it to me。 To linger thus at home is
infamous； while some go fight； and others out of cowardice remain
behind。
（The SERVANT goes into the temple。）
CHORUS （singing）
Not yet hath time laid low thy spirit； 'tis young as ever； but thy
body's strength is gone。 Why toil to no purpose？ 'Twill do thee hurt
and benefit our city little。 At thy age thou shouldst confess thy
error and let impossibilities alone。 Thou canst in no way get thy
vigour back again。
ALCMENA
What means this mad resolve to leave me with my children
undefended here？
IOLAUS
Men must fight； and thou must look to them。
ALCMENA
And what if thou art slain？ what safety shall I find？
IOLAUS
Thy son's surviving children will care for thee。
ALCMENA
Suppose they meet with some reverse？ which Heaven forefend！
IOLAUS
These strangers will not give thee up； fear not。
ALCMENA
They are my last and only hope； I have no other。
IOLAUS
Zeus too； I feel sure； cares for thy sufferings。
ALCMENA
Ah！ of Zeus will I never speak ill； but himself doth know
whether he is just to me。
（The SERVANT enters from the temple； carrying the arms。）
SERVANT
Lo！ here thou seest a full coat of mail； make haste to case
thyself therein； for the strife is nigh； and bitterly doth Ares loathe
loiterers； but if thou fear the weight of the armour； go now without
it； and in the ranks do on this gear； meantime will I carry it。
IOLAUS
Well said！ keep the harness ready to my hand； put a spear within
my grasp； and support me on the left side； guiding my steps。
SERVANT
Am I to lead this warrior like a child？
IOLAUS
To save the omen； we must go without stumbling。
SERVANT
Would thy power to act were equal to thy zeal！
IOLAUS
Hasten； I shall feel it grievously； if I am too late for the
battle。
SERVANT
'Tis thou who art slow； not I； though thou fanciest thou art doing
wonders。
IOLAUS
Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting？
SERVANT
I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste；
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 th
