Heracleidae

Euripides

Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.

  1. in an honest cause to aid the helpless. Wherefore ere now it hath endured troubles numberless for friends, and now in this I see a struggle nigh at hand.
Demophon
  1. Thou hast spoken well, and I feel confident their conduct will be such; our kindness will they not forget.
  2. Now will I muster the citizens and set them in array, that I may receive Mycenae’s host with serried ranks. But first will I send scouts to meet them, lest they fall upon me unawares; for at Argos every man is prompt to answer to the call,
  3. and I will assemble prophets and ordain a sacrifice. But do thou leave the altar of Zeus and go with the children into the house; for there are those, who will care for thee, even though I be abroad. Enter then my house, old man.
Iolaus
  1. I will not leave the altar. Let[*](Or, let us keep our suppliant seat, awaiting the city’s success.)
  2. us sit here still, praying for the city’s fair success, and when thou hast made a glorious end of this struggle, will we go unto the house; nor are the gods who champion us weaker than the gods of Argos, O king; Hera, wife of Zeus, is their leader;
  3. Athena ours. And this I say is an omen of success, that we have the stronger deity, for Pallas will not brook defeat. [Exit Demophon.
Chorus
  1. Though loud thy boasts, there be others care no more for thee for that,
  2. O stranger[*](Reading ὧ ξεῖν’ Ἀργόθεν ἐλθών (Erfurdt).) from the land of Argos; nor wilt thou scare my soul with swelling words. Not yet be this the fate of mighty Athens, beauteous town!
  3. But thou art void of sense, and so is he, who lords it o’er Argos, the son of Sthenelus,
Chorus
  1. —thou that comest to another state, in no wise weaker than Argos,
  2. and, stranger that thou art, wouldst drag away by force suppliants of the gods, wanderers that cling[*](Reading with Dindorf ἀντισχομένους. Nauck has ἀντομένους.) to my land for help, refusing to yield to our king, nor yet having any honest plea to urge. How can such conduct count as honourable,
  3. at least in wise men’s judgment?
Chorus
  1. I am for peace myself; yet I tell thee, wicked king, although thou come unto my city, thou shalt not get so easily what thou expectest.
  2. Thou art not the only man to wield a sword or targe with plates of brass. Nay, thou eager warrior, I warn thee, bring not war’s alarms against our lovely
  3. town; restrain thyself.
Iolaus
  1. My son, why, prithee, art thou returned with that anxious look? Hast thou news of the enemy? Are they coming, are they here, or what thy tidings? For of a surety yon herald will not play us false.
  2. No! sure I am their captain, prosperous heretofore, will come, with thoughts exceeding proud against Athens. But Zeus doth punish overweening pride.
Demophon
  1. The host of Argos is come, and Eurystheus its king;
  2. my own eyes saw him, for the man who thinks he knows good generalship must see the foe not by messengers alone. As yet, however, he hath not sent his host into the plain, but, camped upon a rocky brow,