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Servant (of Hyllus)
All hail, ye children! Where is aged Iolaus? where the mother of your sire, absent from their place at this altar?
630
All hail, ye children! Where is aged Iolaus? where the mother of your sire, absent from their place at this altar?
630
Iolaus
Here am I, so far as I can be present at all.
Here am I, so far as I can be present at all.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Why dost thou lie there? Why that downcast look?
Why dost thou lie there? Why that downcast look?
Iolaus
There is come a sorrow on my house, whereby I am distressed.
There is come a sorrow on my house, whereby I am distressed.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Arise, lift up thy head.
635
Arise, lift up thy head.
635
Iolaus
I am old, and all my strength is gone.
I am old, and all my strength is gone.
Servant (of Hyllus)
But I come with tidings of great joy for thee.
But I come with tidings of great joy for thee.
Iolaus
Who art thou? Where have I met thee? I have no remembrance.
Who art thou? Where have I met thee? I have no remembrance.
Servant (of Hyllus)
I am a vassal of Hyllus; dost not recognize me now?
I am a vassal of Hyllus; dost not recognize me now?
Iolaus
Best of friends, art thou come to save us twain from hurt?
640
Best of friends, art thou come to save us twain from hurt?
640
Servant (of Hyllus)
Assuredly; and moreover thou art lucky in the present case.
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.
645
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.
645
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.
650
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.
650
Iolaus
Courage, aged dame, fear not; not from Argos
is a herald come, with hostile messages.
655
Courage, aged dame, fear not; not from Argos
is a herald come, with hostile messages.
655
Alcmena
Why then didst raise a cry, fear’s harbinger?
Why then didst raise a cry, fear’s harbinger?
Iolaus
I called thee to come to me in front of this temple.
I called thee to come to me in front of this temple.
Alcmena
I know not what it means; who is this?
I know not what it means; who is this?
Iolaus
A messenger who says thy grandson cometh hither.
660
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?
660
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?
660
Servant (of Hyllus)
He is posting the army he brought with him, and seeing it marshalled.
He is posting the army he brought with him, and seeing it marshalled.
Alcmena
Then have I no concern herein.
665
Then have I no concern herein.
665
Iolaus
Yes, thou hast; though it is my business to inquire into these matters.
Yes, thou hast; though it is my business to inquire into these matters.
Servant (of Hyllus)
What then wouldst thou learn of these events?
What then wouldst thou learn of these events?
Iolaus
About how many allies has he with him?
About how many allies has he with him?
Servant (of Hyllus)
A numerous force; I cannot otherwise describe the number.
A numerous force; I cannot otherwise describe the number.
Iolaus
The leaders of the Athenians know this, I suppose?
670
The leaders of the Athenians know this, I suppose?
670
Servant (of Hyllus)
They do; already is their left wing set in array.
They do; already is their left wing set in array.
Iolaus
Is then the host already armed for battle?
Is then the host already armed for battle?
Servant (of Hyllus)
Iolaus
About what distance is the Argive host from us?
About what distance is the Argive host from us?
Servant (of Hyllus)
Near enough for their general to be plainly seen.
675
Near enough for their general to be plainly seen.
675
Iolaus
What is he about? marshalling the enemy’s line?
What is he about? marshalling the enemy’s line?
Servant (of Hyllus)
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.
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.
680
I also will go with thee; for I like thee am minded, so it seems, to be there and help my friends.
680
Servant (of Hyllus)
It least of all becomes thee thus to utter words of folly.
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.
Far less to shrink from sharing with my friends the stubborn fight.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Mere looks can wound no one, if the arm do naught.
Mere looks can wound no one, if the arm do naught.
Iolaus
Why, cannot I smite even through their shields?
685
Why, cannot I smite even through their shields?
685
Servant (of Hyllus)
Smite perhaps, more likely be smitten thyself.
Smite perhaps, more likely be smitten thyself.
Iolaus
No foe will dare to meet me face to face.
No foe will dare to meet me face to face.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Friend, the strength, that erst was thine, is thine no more,
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.
Well, at any rate, I will fight with as many as ever I did.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy friends.
690
Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy friends.
690
Iolaus
Detain me not, when I have girded myself for action.
Detain me not, when I have girded myself for action.
Servant (of Hyllus)
The power to act is thine no more, the will maybe is there.
The power to act is thine no more, the will maybe is there.
Iolaus
Stay here I will not, say what else
3
thou wilt
Stay here I will not, say what else
3
thou wilt
Servant (of Hyllus)
How shalt thou show thyself before the troops unarmed?
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.
695
To linger thus at home is infamous, while some go fight, and others out of cowardice remain behind.
[Exit Servant.
700
702
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.
695
To linger thus at home is infamous, while some go fight, and others out of cowardice remain behind.
[Exit Servant.
700
Chorus
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.
705
709
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.
705
Alcmena
What means this mad resolve
to leave me with my children undefended here?
710
What means this mad resolve
to leave me with my children undefended here?
710
Iolaus
Men must fight; and thou must look to them.
Men must fight; and thou must look to them.
Alcmena
And what if thou art slain? what safety shall I find?
And what if thou art slain? what safety shall I find?
Iolaus
Thy son’s surviving children will care for thee.
Thy son’s surviving children will care for thee.
Alcmena
Suppose they meet with some reverse? which Heaven forefend!
Suppose they meet with some reverse? which Heaven forefend!
Iolaus
These strangers will not give thee up, fear not.
715
These strangers will not give thee up, fear not.
715
Alcmena
They are my last and only hope, I have no other.
They are my last and only hope, I have no other.
Iolaus
Zeus too, I feel sure, cares for thy sufferings.
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.
Ah! of Zeus will I never speak ill, but himself doth know, whether he is just to me.
Servant (of Hyllus)
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 for the present without it, and in the ranks
720
do on this gear; meantime will I carry it.
725
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 for the present without it, and in the ranks
720
do on this gear; meantime will I carry it.
725
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.
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 (of Hyllus)
Am I to lead this warrior like a child?
Am I to lead this warrior like a child?
Iolaus
To save the omen, we must go without stumbling.
730
To save the omen, we must go without stumbling.
730
Servant (of Hyllus)
Would thy power to act were equal to thy zeal!
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.
Hasten; I shall feel it grievously, if I am too late for the battle.
Servant (of Hyllus)
’Tis thou who art slow, not I, though thou fanciest thou art doing wonders.
’Tis thou who art slow, not I, though thou fanciest thou art doing wonders.
Iolaus
Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting?
Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting?
Servant (of Hyllus)
I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste.
735
I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste.
735
Iolaus
Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there.
Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there.
Servant (of Hyllus)
What shall I see thee do? I wish thee all success, at any rate.
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.
Thou shalt see me smite some foeman through the shield.
Servant (of Hyllus)
Perhaps, if ever we get there. I have my fears of that.
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 too craven to wait the onslaught.
740
For prosperity carries with it this error too a reputation for bravery; for we think the prosperous man a master of all knowledge.
745
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 too craven to wait the onslaught.
740
For prosperity carries with it this error too a reputation for bravery; for we think the prosperous man a master of all knowledge.
745
Heracleidae. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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