Euripides, Heracleidae, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 919

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Vieler Geschick beruhrt sich vielfach:
910

Athene beschirmt' Herakles,¹

Den Vater der Kinder, sagt man,

Und die Kinder befreit' aus Noth

Die Stadt und das Volk Athene's.

Sie wehrte dem Stolzen, der
915

Mehr sich selbst, als dem Rechte, fröhnte.

Mir sei ewig des Stolzes

Unersättliches Streben ferne!

Ein Bote. Alkmene. Eurystheus. Der Chor.

Der Bote.

Heracleidae. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἡρακλεῖδαι Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 928-1055 focus

Θεράπων

δέσποινʼ, ὁρᾷς μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως εἰρήσεται,

Εὐρυσθέα σοι τόνδʼ ἄγοντες ἥκομεν,

ἄελπτον ὄψιν, τῷδέ τʼ οὐχ ἧσσον τύχην·
930

οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ηὔχει χεῖρας ἵξεσθαι σέθεν,

ὅτʼ ἐκ Μυκηνῶν πολυπόνῳ σὺν ἀσπίδι

ἔστειχε μείζω τῆς δίκης φρονῶν, πόλιν

πέρσων Ἀθηνᾶς. ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐναντίαν

δαίμων ἔθηκε, καὶ μετέστησεν τύχην.
935

Ὕλλος μὲν οὖν ὅ τʼ ἐσθλὸς Ἰόλεως βρέτας

Διὸς τροπαίου καλλίνικον ἵστασαν·

ἐμοὶ δὲ πρὸς σὲ τόνδʼ ἐπιστέλλουσʼ ἄγειν,

τέρψαι θέλοντες σὴν φρένʼ· ἐκ γὰρ εὐτυχοῦς

ἥδιστον ἐχθρὸν ἄνδρα δυστυχοῦνθʼ ὁρᾶν.
940

Ἀλκμήνη

ὦ μῖσος, ἥκεις; εἷλέ σʼ ἡ Δίκη χρόνῳ;

πρῶτον μὲν οὖν μοι δεῦρʼ ἐπίστρεψον κάρα

καὶ τλῆθι τοὺς σοὺς προσβλέπειν ἐναντίον

ἐχθρούς· κρατῇ γὰρ νῦν γε κοὐ κρατεῖς ἔτι.

ἐκεῖνος εἶ σύ — βούλομαι γὰρ εἰδέναι —
945

ὃς πολλὰ μὲν τὸν ὄνθʼ ὅπου ’στὶ νῦν ἐμὸν

παῖδʼ ἠξίωσας, ὦ πανοῦργʼ, ἐφυβρίσαι;

τί γὰρ σὺ κεῖνον οὐκ ἔτλης καθυβρίσαι;

ὃς καὶ παρʼ Ἅιδην ζῶντά νιν κατήγαγες,

ὕδρας λέοντάς τʼ ἐξαπολλύναι λέγων
950

ἔπεμπες. ἄλλα δʼ οἷ’ ἐμηχανῶ κακὰ

σιγῶ· μακρὸς γὰρ μῦθος ἂν γένοιτό μοι.

κοὐκ ἤρκεσέν σοι ταῦτα τολμῆσαι μόνον,

ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἁπάσης κἀμὲ καὶ τέκνʼ Ἑλλάδος

ἤλαυνες ἱκέτας δαιμόνων καθημένους,
955

τοὺς μὲν γέροντας, τοὺς δὲ νηπίους ἔτι.

ἀλλʼ ηὗρες ἄνδρας καὶ πόλισμʼ ἐλεύθερον,

οἵ σʼ οὐκ ἔδεισαν. δεῖ σε κατθανεῖν κακῶς,

καὶ κερδανεῖς ἅπαντα· χρῆν γὰρ οὐχ ἅπαξ

θνῄσκειν σὲ πολλὰ πήματʼ ἐξειργασμένον.
960

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀνυστὸν τόνδε σοι κατακτανεῖν.

Θεράπων

ἄλλως ἄρʼ αὐτὸν αἰχμάλωτον εἵλομεν;

Ἀλκμήνη

εἴργει δὲ δὴ τίς τόνδε μὴ θνῄσκειν νόμος;

Χορός

τοῖς τῆσδε χώρας προστάταισιν οὐ δοκεῖ.

Ἀλκμήνη

τί δὴ τόδʼ; ἐχθροὺς τοισίδʼ οὐ καλὸν κτανεῖν;
965

Χορός

οὐχ ὅντινʼ ἄν γε ζῶνθʼ ἕλωσιν ἐν μάχῃ.

Ἀλκμήνη

καὶ ταῦτα δόξανθʼ Ὕλλος ἐξηνέσχετο;

Χορός

χρῆν δʼ αὐτόν, οἶμαι, τῇδʼ ἀπιστῆσαι χθονί;

Ἀλκμήνη

χρῆν τόνδε μὴ ζῆν μηδʼ ὁρᾶν φάος ἔτι.

Χορός

τότʼ ἠδικήθη πρῶτον οὐ θανὼν ὅδε.
970

Ἀλκμήνη

οὐκ οὖν ἔτʼ ἐστὶν ἐν καλῷ δοῦναι δίκην;

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτον ὅστις ἂν κατακτάνοι.

Ἀλκμήνη

ἔγωγε· καίτοι φημὶ κἄμʼ εἶναί τινα.

Χορός

πολλὴν ἄρʼ ἕξεις μέμψιν, εἰ δράσεις τόδε.

975

Ἀλκμήνη

φιλῶ πόλιν τήνδʼ· οὐδὲν ἀντιλεκτέον.
975

τοῦτον δʼ, ἐπείπερ χεῖρας ἦλθεν εἰς ἐμάς,

οὐκ ἔστι θνητῶν ὅστις ἐξαιρήσεται.

πρὸς ταῦτα τὴν θρασεῖαν ὅστις ἂν θέλῃ

καὶ τὴν φρονοῦσαν μεῖζον ἢ γυναῖκα χρὴ

λέξει· τὸ δʼ ἔργον τοῦτʼ ἐμοὶ πεπράξεται.
980

Χορός

δεινόν τι καὶ συγγνωστόν, ὦ γύναι, σʼ ἔχει

νεῖκος πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε, γιγνώσκω καλῶς.

Ἐυρυσθεύς

γύναι, σάφʼ ἴσθι μή με θωπεύσοντά σε,

μηδʼ ἄλλο μηδὲν τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς πέρι

λέξονθʼ ὅθεν χρὴ δειλίαν ὀφλεῖν τινα.
985

ἐγὼ δὲ νεῖκος οὐχ ἑκὼν τόδʼ ἠράμην·

ᾔδη γε σοὶ μὲν αὐτανέψιος γεγώς,

τῷ σῷ δὲ παιδὶ συγγενὴς Ἡρακλέει.

ἀλλʼ εἴτʼ ἔχρῃζον εἴτε μή — θεὸς γὰρ ἦν —

Ἥρα με κάμνειν τήνδʼ ἔθηκε τὴν νόσον.
990

ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐκείνῳ δυσμένειαν ἠράμην

κἄγνων ἀγῶνα τόνδʼ ἀγωνιούμενος,

πολλῶν σοφιστὴς πημάτων ἐγιγνόμην

καὶ πόλλʼ ἔτικτον νυκτὶ συνθακῶν ἀεί,

ὅπως διώσας καὶ κατακτείνας ἐμοὺς
995

ἐχθροὺς τὸ λοιπὸν μὴ συνοικοίην φόβῳ,

εἰδὼς μὲν οὐκ ἀριθμὸν ἀλλʼ ἐτητύμως

ἄνδρʼ ὄντα τὸν σὸν παῖδα· καὶ γὰρ ἐχθρὸς ὢν

ἀκούσεται ’μοί γʼ ἐσθλὰ χρηστὸς ὢν ἀνήρ.

κείνου δʼ ἀπαλλαχθέντος οὐκ ἐχρῆν μʼ ἄρα
1000

μισούμενον πρὸς τῶνδε καὶ ξυνειδότα

ἔχθραν πατρῴαν, πάντα κινῆσαι πέτρον,

κτείνοντα κἀκβάλλοντα καὶ τεχνώμενον;

τοιαῦτα δρῶντι τἄμʼ ἐγίγνετʼ ἀσφαλῆ.

οὔκουν σύ γʼ ἀναλαβοῦσα τὰς ἐμὰς τύχας
1005

ἐχθροῦ λέοντος δυσγενῆ βλαστήματα

ἤλαυνες ἂν κακοῖσιν, ἀλλὰ σωφρόνως

εἴασας οἰκεῖν Ἄργος; οὔτινʼ ἂν πίθοις.

νῦν οὖν ἐπειδή μʼ οὐ διώλεσαν τότε

πρόθυμον ὄντα, τοῖσιν Ἑλλήνων νόμοις
1010

οὐχ ἁγνός εἰμι τῷ κτανόντι κατθανών·

πόλις τʼ ἀφῆκε σωφρονοῦσα, τὸν θεὸν

μεῖζον τίουσα τῆς ἐμῆς ἔχθρας πολύ.

προσεῖπας, ἀντήκουσας· ἐντεῦθεν δὲ χρὴ

τὸν προστρόπαιον τόν τε γενναῖον καλεῖν.
1015

οὕτω γε μέντοι τἄμ’ ἔχεις· θανεῖν μὲν οὐ

χρῄζω, λιπὼν δʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἀχθοίμην βίον.

1018

Χορός

παραινέσαι σοι σμικρόν, Ἀλκμήνη, θέλω,

τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἀφεῖναι τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ δοκεῖ πόλει.

Ἀλκμήνη

τί δʼ, ἢν θάνῃ τε καὶ πόλει πιθώμεθα;
1020

Χορός

τὰ λῷστ’ ἂν εἴη· πῶς τάδʼ οὖν γενήσεται;

Ἀλκμήνη

ἐγὼ διδάξω ῥᾳδίως· κτανοῦσα γὰρ

τόνδʼ εἶτα νεκρὸν τοῖς μετελθοῦσιν φίλων

δώσω· τὸ γὰρ σῶμʼ οὐκ ἀπιστήσω χθονί,

οὗτος δὲ δώσει τὴν δίκην θανὼν ἐμοί.
1025

Ἐυρυσθεύς

κτεῖνʼ, οὐ παραιτοῦμαί σε· τήνδε δὲ πτόλιν,

ἐπεί μʼ ἀφῆκε καὶ κατῃδέσθη κτανεῖν,

χρησμῷ παλαιῷ Λοξίου δωρήσομαι,

ὃς ὠφελήσει μείζονʼ ἢ δοκεῖν χρόνῳ.

θανόντα γάρ με θάψεθʼ οὗ τὸ μόρσιμον,
1030

δίας πάροιθε παρθένου Παλληνίδος·

καὶ σοὶ μὲν εὔνους καὶ πόλει σωτήριος

μέτοικος αἰεὶ κείσομαι κατὰ χθονός,

τοῖς τῶνδε δʼ ἐκγόνοισι πολεμιώτατος,

ὅταν μόλωσι δεῦρο σὺν πολλῇ χερὶ
1035

χάριν προδόντες τήνδε. τοιούτων ξένων

προύστητε. πῶς οὖν ταῦτʼ ἐγὼ πεπυσμένος

δεῦρʼ ἦλθον, ἀλλʼ οὐ χρησμὸν ἠρόμην θεοῦ;

Ἥραν νομίζων θεσφάτων κρείσσω πολὺ

κοὐκ ἂν προδοῦναί μʼ. ἀλλὰ μήτε μοι χοὰς
1040

μήθʼ αἷμʼ ἐάσῃς εἰς ἐμὸν στάξαι τόπον.

κακὸν γὰρ αὐτοῖς νόστον ἀντὶ τῶνδʼ ἐγὼ

δώσω· διπλοῦν δὲ κέρδος ἕξετʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ὑμᾶς τʼ ὀνήσω τούσδε τε βλάψω θανών.

Ἀλκμήνη

τί δῆτα μέλλετʼ, εἰ πόλει σωτηρίαν
1045

κατεργάσασθαι τοῖσί τʼ ἐξ ἡμῶν χρεών,

κτείνειν τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδʼ, ἀκούοντες τάδε;

δείκνυσι γὰρ κέλευθον ἀσφαλεστάτην·

ἐχθρὸς μὲν ἁνήρ, ὠφελεῖ δὲ κατθανών.

κομίζετʼ αὐτόν, δμῶες· εἶτα χρὴ κυσὶν
1050

δοῦναι κτανόντας· μὴ γὰρ ἐλπίσῃς ὅπως

αὖθις πατρῴας ζῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβαλεῖς χθονός.

1053

Ἡμιχόριον

ταὐτὰ δοκεῖ μοι. στείχετʼ, ὀπαδοί.

τὰ γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν

καθαρῶς ἔσται βασιλεῦσιν.
1055

Translations (2)

Heracleidae Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 928-1053 focus

Messenger

Mistress, though thine eyes see him, yet will I announce we have brought Eurystheus hither for thy pleasure,

an unexpected sight, for him no less a chance he ne’er foresaw; for little he thought of ever falling into thy hands, what time he marched from Mycenae with his toil-worn warriors, to sack Athens, thinking himself far above fortune. But a power
930

divine hath reversed our destinies, changing their position. Now Hyllus and brave Iolaus I left raising an image to Zeus, who routs the foe, for their triumphant victory, whilst they bid me bring this prisoner to thee, wishing to gladden thy heart; for ’tis the sweetest
935

sight to see a foe fall on evil days after prosperity.
940

Alcmena

Art come, thou hateful wretch? Hath Justice caught thee then at last? First, turn thy head this way to me, and endure to look thy enemies in the face, for thou art no more the ruler, but the slave.

Art¹ thou the man—for this I fain would learn—who didst presume to heap thy insults on my son, who now is where he is, thou miscreant? What outrage didst thou abstain from putting upon him? Thou that didst make him go down alive even to Hades,
945

and wouldst send him with an order to slay hydras and lions? Thy other evil schemes I mention not, for to tell them were a tedious task for me. Nor did it content thee to venture thus far only; no! but from all Hellas wouldst thou drive me and my children,
950

heaven’s suppliants though we were, grey-heads some of us, and some still tender babes. But here hast thou found men and a free city, that feared not thee. Die in torment must thou, and e’en so wilt thou gain in every way, for one death is not
955

thy due, after all the sorrow thou hast caused.
960

Messenger

Thou mayst not slay him.

Alcmena

Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law forbids his death?

Messenger

It is not the will of the rulers of this land.

Alcmena

Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
965

Messenger

Not such as they have taken alive in battle.

Alcmena

Did Hyllus uphold this decision?

Messenger

He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.

Alcmena

The prisoner’s life ought not to have been spared a moment.

Messenger

It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first.
970

Alcmena

Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.

Messenger

There is no one, who will slay him now.

Alcmena

I will; and yet I count myself someone.

Messenger

Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.

975

Alcmena

I love this city well; that cannot be gainsaid. But since this man hath fallen into my power, no mortal hand shall wrest him from me. Wherefore let who will, call me the woman bold, with thoughts too high for her sex;
975

yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
980

Chorus

Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this man, and ’tis pardonable.

Eurystheus

Woman, be sure I will not flatter thee nor say aught to save my life,

that can give any occasion for a charge of cowardice. It was not of my own free will I took this quarrel up; I am aware that I was born thy cousin, and kinsman to Heracles, thy son; but whether I would or no,
985

Hera, by her power divine, caused me to be afflicted thus. Still, when I undertook to be his foe, and when I knew I had to enter on this struggle, I set myself to devise trouble in plenty, and oft from time to time my midnight communing bore fruit,
990

scheming how to push aside and slay my foes, and for the future divorce myself from fear; for I knew that son of thine was no mere cipher, but a man indeed; yea, for, though he was my foe, I will speak well of him, because he was a man of worth.
995

Now, after he was taken hence, was I not forced, by reason of these children’s hatred, and because I was conscious of an hereditary feud, to leave no stone unturned by slaying, banishing, and plotting against them? So long as I did so, my safety was assured.
1000

Suppose thyself hadst had my lot, wouldst not thou have set to harassing the lion’s angry whelps, instead of letting them dwell at Argos undisturbed? Thou wilt not persuade us otherwise. Now therefore, since they did not slay me then,
1005

when I was prepared to die, by the laws of Hellas my death becomes a curse on him, who slays me now. The city wisely let me go, in that she regarded the gods more than her hatred of me. Thou hast had my answer to thy words; henceforth must
1010

I be called avenging spirit² and noble hero too.³ ’Tis even thus with me; to die have I no wish, but, if I leave my life, I shall in no way be grieved.
1015

1018

Chorus

Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for ’tis the city’s will.

Alcmena

Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city?
1020

Chorus

That would be best of all; but how can this be?

Alcmena

I will teach thee easily. I will slay him and then give up his corpse to those of his friends, who come for it, for, as regards his body, I will not disobey⁴ the state;

but by his death shall he pay me the penalty.
1025

Eurystheus

Slay me, I do not ask thee for mercy; yet since this city let me go and shrunk from slaying me, I will reward it with an old oracle of Loxias, which in time will benefit them more than doth appear.

Bury my body after death in its destined grave in front of the shrine of the virgin goddess⁵ at Pallene. And I will be thy friend and guardian of thy city for ever, where I lie buried in a foreign soil, but a bitter foe to these children’s descendants,
1030

whensoe’er⁶ with gathered host they come against this land, traitors to your kindness now; such are the strangers ye have championed. Why then came I hither, if I knew all this, instead of regarding the god’s oracle? Because I thought, that Hera was mightier far than any oracle,
1035

and would not betray me. Waste no drink-offering on my tomb, nor spill the victim’s blood; for I will requite them for my treatment here with a journey they shall rue; and ye shall have double gain from me, for I will help you and harm them by my death.
1040

Alcmena

Why, why delay to kill this man, after hearing this, since this is needed to secure the safety of your city and your children? Himself points out the safest road. Though the man is now our foe, yet after death is he our gain.
1045

Away with him, ye servants, and cast him⁷ to the dogs when ye have slain him. Think not thou shalt live to cast me forth from my native land again.
1050

1053

Chorus

I agree. Lead on, servants. Our⁸ conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.

The Heraclidae (OCR draft) Experimental (The Heraclidae. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

Notes on the current edition

Heracleidae

1. [OCR note; compare the printed page.] Ueber Athene als diejenige Gottheit, die dem Herakles fast in allen seinen Abenteuern zur Seite stand, vgl. Homer Il. 8, 362. Odyss. 11, 626.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Der Bote.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀνυστὸν τόνδε σοι κατακτανεῖν.

Θεράπων ἄλλως ἄρʼ αὐτὸν αἰχμάλωτον εἵλομεν;

Ἀλκμήνη εἴργει δὲ δὴ τίς τόνδε μὴ θνῄσκειν νόμος;

Χορός τοῖς τῆσδε χώρας προστάταισιν οὐ δοκεῖ.

Ἀλκμήνη τί δὴ τόδʼ; ἐχθροὺς τοισίδʼ οὐ καλὸν κτανεῖν; 965

Χορός οὐχ ὅντινʼ ἄν γε ζῶνθʼ ἕλωσιν ἐν μάχῃ.

Ἀλκμήνη καὶ ταῦτα δόξανθʼ Ὕλλος ἐξηνέσχετο;

Χορός χρῆν δʼ αὐτόν, οἶμαι, τῇδʼ ἀπιστῆσαι χθονί;

Ἀλκμήνη χρῆν τόνδε μὴ ζῆν μηδʼ ὁρᾶν φάος ἔτι.

Χορός τότʼ ἠδικήθη πρῶτον οὐ θανὼν ὅδε. 970

Ἀλκμήνη οὐκ οὖν ἔτʼ ἐστὶν ἐν καλῷ δοῦναι δίκην;

Χορός οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτον ὅστις ἂν κατακτάνοι.

Ἀλκμήνη ἔγωγε· καίτοι φημὶ κἄμʼ εἶναί τινα.

Χορός πολλὴν ἄρʼ ἕξεις μέμψιν, εἰ δράσεις τόδε.

Χορός δεινόν τι καὶ συγγνωστόν, ὦ γύναι, σʼ ἔχει νεῖκος πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε, γιγνώσκω καλῶς.

Χορός παραινέσαι σοι σμικρόν, Ἀλκμήνη, θέλω, τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἀφεῖναι τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ δοκεῖ πόλει.

Ἀλκμήνη τί δʼ, ἢν θάνῃ τε καὶ πόλει πιθώμεθα; 1020

Χορός τὰ λῷστ’ ἂν εἴη· πῶς τάδʼ οὖν γενήσεται;

Ἡμιχόριον ταὐτὰ δοκεῖ μοι. στείχετʼ, ὀπαδοί. τὰ γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν καθαρῶς ἔσται βασιλεῦσιν. 1055

Messenger Thou mayst not slay him.

Alcmena Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law forbids his death?

Messenger It is not the will of the rulers of this land.

Alcmena Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies? 965

Messenger Not such as they have taken alive in battle.

Alcmena Did Hyllus uphold this decision?

Messenger He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.

Alcmena The prisoner’s life ought not to have been spared a moment.

Messenger It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first. 970

Alcmena Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.

Messenger There is no one, who will slay him now.

Alcmena I will; and yet I count myself someone.

Messenger Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.

Alcmena I love this city well; that cannot be gainsaid. But since this man hath fallen into my power, no mortal hand shall wrest him from me. Wherefore let who will, call me the woman bold, with thoughts too high for her sex; 975 yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me. 980

Chorus Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this man, and ’tis pardonable.

Chorus Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for ’tis the city’s will.

Alcmena Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city? 1020

Chorus That would be best of all; but how can this be?

Alcmena I will teach thee easily. I will slay him and then give up his corpse to those of his friends, who come for it, for, as regards his body, I will not disobey 4 the state; but by his death shall he pay me the penalty. 1025

Chorus I agree. Lead on, servants. Our 8 conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστʼ ἀνυστὸν τόνδε σοι κατακτανεῖν.

Θεράπων

ἄλλως ἄρʼ αὐτὸν αἰχμάλωτον εἵλομεν;

Ἀλκμήνη

εἴργει δὲ δὴ τίς τόνδε μὴ θνῄσκειν νόμος;

Χορός

τοῖς τῆσδε χώρας προστάταισιν οὐ δοκεῖ.

Ἀλκμήνη

τί δὴ τόδʼ; ἐχθροὺς τοισίδʼ οὐ καλὸν κτανεῖν;
965

Χορός

οὐχ ὅντινʼ ἄν γε ζῶνθʼ ἕλωσιν ἐν μάχῃ.

Ἀλκμήνη

καὶ ταῦτα δόξανθʼ Ὕλλος ἐξηνέσχετο;

Χορός

χρῆν δʼ αὐτόν, οἶμαι, τῇδʼ ἀπιστῆσαι χθονί;

Ἀλκμήνη

χρῆν τόνδε μὴ ζῆν μηδʼ ὁρᾶν φάος ἔτι.

Χορός

τότʼ ἠδικήθη πρῶτον οὐ θανὼν ὅδε.
970

Ἀλκμήνη

οὐκ οὖν ἔτʼ ἐστὶν ἐν καλῷ δοῦναι δίκην;

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτον ὅστις ἂν κατακτάνοι.

Ἀλκμήνη

ἔγωγε· καίτοι φημὶ κἄμʼ εἶναί τινα.

Χορός

πολλὴν ἄρʼ ἕξεις μέμψιν, εἰ δράσεις τόδε.

Χορός

δεινόν τι καὶ συγγνωστόν, ὦ γύναι, σʼ ἔχει

νεῖκος πρὸς ἄνδρα τόνδε, γιγνώσκω καλῶς.

Χορός

παραινέσαι σοι σμικρόν, Ἀλκμήνη, θέλω,

τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἀφεῖναι τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ δοκεῖ πόλει.

Ἀλκμήνη

τί δʼ, ἢν θάνῃ τε καὶ πόλει πιθώμεθα;
1020

Χορός

τὰ λῷστ’ ἂν εἴη· πῶς τάδʼ οὖν γενήσεται;

Ἡμιχόριον

ταὐτὰ δοκεῖ μοι. στείχετʼ, ὀπαδοί.

τὰ γὰρ ἐξ ἡμῶν

καθαρῶς ἔσται βασιλεῦσιν.
1055

Messenger

Thou mayst not slay him.

Alcmena

Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law forbids his death?

Messenger

It is not the will of the rulers of this land.

Alcmena

Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
965

Messenger

Not such as they have taken alive in battle.

Alcmena

Did Hyllus uphold this decision?

Messenger

He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.

Alcmena

The prisoner’s life ought not to have been spared a moment.

Messenger

It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first.
970

Alcmena

Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.

Messenger

There is no one, who will slay him now.

Alcmena

I will; and yet I count myself someone.

Messenger

Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.

Alcmena

I love this city well; that cannot be gainsaid. But since this man hath fallen into my power, no mortal hand shall wrest him from me. Wherefore let who will, call me the woman bold, with thoughts too high for her sex;
975

yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
980

Chorus

Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this man, and ’tis pardonable.

Chorus

Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for ’tis the city’s will.

Alcmena

Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city?
1020

Chorus

That would be best of all; but how can this be?

Alcmena

I will teach thee easily. I will slay him and then give up his corpse to those of his friends, who come for it, for, as regards his body, I will not disobey⁴ the state;

but by his death shall he pay me the penalty.
1025

Chorus

I agree. Lead on, servants. Our⁸ conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.