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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
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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
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sight to see a foe fall on evil days after prosperity.
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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
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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
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sight to see a foe fall on evil days after prosperity.
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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
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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,
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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,
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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
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thy due, after all the sorrow thou hast caused.
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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,
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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,
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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
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thy due, after all the sorrow thou hast caused.
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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?
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Why, what is this? Do they not approve of slaying enemies?
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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.
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It was then that he was wronged, by not being slain at first.
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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.
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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;
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yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
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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;
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yet shall this deed be brought to pass by me.
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Chorus
Lady, full well I understand thou hast a dire quarrel with this man, and ’tis pardonable.
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,
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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,
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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
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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,
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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,
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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
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Chorus
Alcmena, fain I would advise thee somewhat; let this man go, for ’tis the city’s will.
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?
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Suppose he die, and yet I obey the city?
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Chorus
That would be best of all; but how can this be?
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
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the state;
but by his death shall he pay me the penalty.
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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
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the state;
but by his death shall he pay me the penalty.
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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 goddess
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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,
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whensoe’er
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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,
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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.
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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 goddess
5
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,
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whensoe’er
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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,
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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.
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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.
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Away with him, ye servants, and cast him
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to the dogs when ye have slain him. Think not thou shalt live to cast me forth from my native land again.
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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.
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Away with him, ye servants, and cast him
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to the dogs when ye have slain him. Think not thou shalt live to cast me forth from my native land again.
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Chorus
I agree. Lead on, servants. Our
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conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.
I agree. Lead on, servants. Our
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conduct shall bring no stain of guilt upon our rulers.
Heracleidae. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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