View:
By Scene
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
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.
Art
1
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
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.
Art
1
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.
Thou mayst not slay him.
Alcmena
Then have we taken him captive in vain. But say, what law forbids his death?
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.
It is not the will of the rulers of this land.
Alcmena
Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
965
Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
965
Messenger
Not such as they have taken alive in battle.
Not such as they have taken alive in battle.
Alcmena
Did Hyllus uphold this decision?
Did Hyllus uphold this decision?
Messenger
He, I suppose, ought to have disobeyed the law of the land.
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.
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
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.
Why, then, he is still in time to pay his penalty.
Messenger
There is no one, who will slay him now.
There is no one, who will slay him now.
Alcmena
I will; and yet I count myself someone.
I will; and yet I count myself someone.
Messenger
Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.
Well, thou wilt incur great blame, if thou do this deed.
Heracleidae. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by Tufts University.