THE HERACLEIDAE [9]
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. SERVANT 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. SERVANT Mere looks can wound no one, if the arm do naught. IOLAUS Why, cannot I smite even through their shields? SERVANT Smite perhaps, more likely be smitten thyself. IOLAUS No foe will dare to meet me face to face. SERVANT 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. SERVANT Small the weight thou canst throw into the balance for thy friends, IOLAUS Detain me not, when I have girded myself for action. SERVANT The power to act is thine no more, the will maybe is there. IOLAUS Stay here I will not, say what else thou wilt. SERVANT 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. To linger thus at home is infamous, while some go fight, and others out of cowardice remain behind.
(The SERVANT goes into the temple.)
CHORUS (singing) 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. ALCMENA What means this mad resolve to leave me with my children undefended here? IOLAUS Men must fight; and thou must look to them. ALCMENA And what if thou art slain? what safety shall I find? IOLAUS Thy son's surviving children will care for thee. ALCMENA Suppose they meet with some reverse? which Heaven forefend! IOLAUS These strangers will not give thee up, fear not. ALCMENA They are my last and only hope, I have no other. IOLAUS 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.
(The SERVANT enters from the temple, carrying the arms.)
SERVANT 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 now without it, and in the ranks do on this gear; meantime will I carry it. 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. SERVANT Am I to lead this warrior like a child? IOLAUS To save the omen, we must go without stumbling. SERVANT 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. SERVANT 'Tis thou who art slow, not I, though thou fanciest thou art doing wonders. IOLAUS Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting? SERVANT I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste, IOLAUS Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there. SERVANT 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. SERVANT 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 to craven to wait the onslaught. For prosperity carries with it this error too, a reputation for bravery; for we think the prosperous man a master of all knowledge. (IOLAUS and the SERVANT depart.) CHORUS
(The SERVANT goes into the temple.)
CHORUS (singing) 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. ALCMENA What means this mad resolve to leave me with my children undefended here? IOLAUS Men must fight; and thou must look to them. ALCMENA And what if thou art slain? what safety shall I find? IOLAUS Thy son's surviving children will care for thee. ALCMENA Suppose they meet with some reverse? which Heaven forefend! IOLAUS These strangers will not give thee up, fear not. ALCMENA They are my last and only hope, I have no other. IOLAUS 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.
(The SERVANT enters from the temple, carrying the arms.)
SERVANT 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 now without it, and in the ranks do on this gear; meantime will I carry it. 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. SERVANT Am I to lead this warrior like a child? IOLAUS To save the omen, we must go without stumbling. SERVANT 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. SERVANT 'Tis thou who art slow, not I, though thou fanciest thou art doing wonders. IOLAUS Dost not mark how swift my steps are hasting? SERVANT I mark more seeming than reality in thy haste, IOLAUS Thou wilt tell a different tale when thou seest me there. SERVANT 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. SERVANT 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 to craven to wait the onslaught. For prosperity carries with it this error too, a reputation for bravery; for we think the prosperous man a master of all knowledge. (IOLAUS and the SERVANT depart.) CHORUS