THE HERACLEIDAE [8]
though this is grief enough.
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
Without the will of heaven none is blest, none curst, I do maintain; nor doth the same house for ever tread the path of bliss; for one kind of fortune follows hard upon another; one man it brings to naught from his high estate, another though of no account it crowns with happiness. To shun what fate decrees, is no wise permitted; none by cunning shall thrust it from him; but he, who vainly would do so, shall have unceasing trouble.
antistrophe
Then fall not prostrate thou, but bear what heaven sends, and set limit to thy soul's grief; for she, poor maid! in dying for her brothers and this land, hath won a glorious death, and splendid fame shall be her meed from all mankind; for virtue's path leads through troublous ways. Worthy of her father, worthy of her noble birth is this she does. And if thou dost honour the virtuous dead, I share with thee that sentiment.
(The SERVANT OF HYLLUS enters.)
SERVANT OF HYLLUS All hail, ye children! Where is aged Iolaus? where the mother of your 'sire, absent from their place at this altar? IOLAUS Here am I, so far as I can be here at all. SERVANT Why dost thou lie there? Why that downcast look? IOLAUS There is come a sorrow on my house, whereby I suffer. SERVANT Arise, lift up thy head. IOLAUS I am old, and all my strength is gone. SERVANT But I come with tidings of great joy for thee. IOLAUS Who art thou? Where have I met thee? I have no remembrance. SERVANT I am a vassal of Hyllus; dost not recognize me now? IOLAUS Best of friends, art thou come to save us twain from hurt? SERVANT 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.
(ALCMENA enters from the temple in answer to the call.)
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. IOLAUS Courage, aged dame, fear not; not from Argos is a herald come, with hostile messages. ALCMENA Why then didst raise a cry, fear's harbinger? IOLAUS I called thee to come to me in front of this temple. ALCMENA I know not what it means; who is this? IOLAUS 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? SERVANT He is posting the army he brought with him, and seeing it marshalled. ALCMENA Then have I no concern herein. IOLAUS Yes, thou hast; though it is my business to inquire. SERVANT What then wouldst thou learn of these events? IOLAUS About how many allies has he with him? SERVANT A numerous force; I cannot otherwise describe the number. IOLAUS The leaders of the Athenians know this, I suppose? SERVANT They do; already is their left wing set in array. IOLAUS Is then the host already armed for battle? SERVANT Yea, and already are the victims brought near the ranks. IOLAUS About what distance is the Argive host from us? SERVANT Near enough for their general to be plainly seen. IOLAUS What is he about? marshalling the enemy's line? SERVANT So we guessed; we could not hear exactly. But I must go, for I would not that my master should engage the
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
Without the will of heaven none is blest, none curst, I do maintain; nor doth the same house for ever tread the path of bliss; for one kind of fortune follows hard upon another; one man it brings to naught from his high estate, another though of no account it crowns with happiness. To shun what fate decrees, is no wise permitted; none by cunning shall thrust it from him; but he, who vainly would do so, shall have unceasing trouble.
antistrophe
Then fall not prostrate thou, but bear what heaven sends, and set limit to thy soul's grief; for she, poor maid! in dying for her brothers and this land, hath won a glorious death, and splendid fame shall be her meed from all mankind; for virtue's path leads through troublous ways. Worthy of her father, worthy of her noble birth is this she does. And if thou dost honour the virtuous dead, I share with thee that sentiment.
(The SERVANT OF HYLLUS enters.)
SERVANT OF HYLLUS All hail, ye children! Where is aged Iolaus? where the mother of your 'sire, absent from their place at this altar? IOLAUS Here am I, so far as I can be here at all. SERVANT Why dost thou lie there? Why that downcast look? IOLAUS There is come a sorrow on my house, whereby I suffer. SERVANT Arise, lift up thy head. IOLAUS I am old, and all my strength is gone. SERVANT But I come with tidings of great joy for thee. IOLAUS Who art thou? Where have I met thee? I have no remembrance. SERVANT I am a vassal of Hyllus; dost not recognize me now? IOLAUS Best of friends, art thou come to save us twain from hurt? SERVANT 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.
(ALCMENA enters from the temple in answer to the call.)
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. IOLAUS Courage, aged dame, fear not; not from Argos is a herald come, with hostile messages. ALCMENA Why then didst raise a cry, fear's harbinger? IOLAUS I called thee to come to me in front of this temple. ALCMENA I know not what it means; who is this? IOLAUS 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? SERVANT He is posting the army he brought with him, and seeing it marshalled. ALCMENA Then have I no concern herein. IOLAUS Yes, thou hast; though it is my business to inquire. SERVANT What then wouldst thou learn of these events? IOLAUS About how many allies has he with him? SERVANT A numerous force; I cannot otherwise describe the number. IOLAUS The leaders of the Athenians know this, I suppose? SERVANT They do; already is their left wing set in array. IOLAUS Is then the host already armed for battle? SERVANT Yea, and already are the victims brought near the ranks. IOLAUS About what distance is the Argive host from us? SERVANT Near enough for their general to be plainly seen. IOLAUS What is he about? marshalling the enemy's line? SERVANT So we guessed; we could not hear exactly. But I must go, for I would not that my master should engage the