Complete Works of Euripides

by Euripides

  JAS. Undo the bars, as quick as possible, attendants; unloose the hinges, that I may see this double evil, my sons slain, and may punish her.

  MED. Why dost thou shake and unbolt these gates, seeking the dead and me who did the deed. Cease from this labor; but if thou wantest aught with me, speak if thou wishest any thing; but never shall thou touch me with thy hands; such a chariot the sun my father’s father gives me, a defense from the hostile hand.

  JAS. O thou abomination! thou most detested woman, both by the Gods and by me, and by all the race of man; who hast dared to plunge the sword in thine own children, thou who bore them, and hast destroyed me childless. And having done this thou beholdest both the sun and the earth, having dared a most impious deed. Mayest thou perish! but I am now wise, not being so then when I brought thee from thy house and from a foreign land to a Grecian habitation, a great pest, traitress to thy father and the land that nurtured thee. But the Gods have sent thy evil genius on me. For having slain thy brother at the altar, thou embarkedst on board the gallant vessel Argo. Thou begannest indeed with such deeds as these; and being wedded to me, and bearing me children, thou hast destroyed them on account of another bed and marriage. There is not one Grecian woman who would have dared a deed like this, in preference to whom at least, I thought worthy to wed thee, an alliance hateful and destructive to me, a lioness, no woman, having a nature more savage than the Tuscan Scylla. But I can not gall thy heart with ten thousand reproaches, such shameless confidence is implanted in thee. Go, thou worker of ill, and stained with the blood of thy children. But for me it remains to bewail my fate, who shall neither enjoy my new nuptials, nor shall I have it in my power to address while alive my sons whom I begot and educated, but I have lost them.

  MED. Surely I could make long reply to these words, if the Sire Jupiter did not know what treatment thou receivedst from me, and what thou didst in return; but you were mistaken, when you expected, having dishonored my bed, to lead a life of pleasure, mocking me, and so was the princess, and so was Creon, who proposed the match to thee, when he expected to drive me from this land with impunity. Wherefore, if thou wilt, call me lioness, and Scylla who dwelt in the Tuscan plain. For thy heart, as is right, I have wounded.

  JAS. And thou thyself grievest at least, and art a sharer in these ills.

  MED. Be assured of that; but this lessens the grief, that thou canst not mock me.

  JAS. My children, what a wicked mother have ye found!

  MED. My sons, how did ye perish by your father’s fault!

  JAS. Nevertheless my hand slew them not.

  MED. But injury, and thy new nuptials.

  JAS. And on account of thy bed didst thou think fit to slay them?

  MED. Dost thou deem this a slight evil to a woman?

  JAS. Whoever at least is modest; but in thee is every ill.

  MED. These are no longer living, for this will gall thee.

  JAS. These are living, alas me! avenging furies on thy head.

  MED. The Gods know who began the injury.

  JAS. They know indeed thy execrable mind.

  Meo. Thou art hateful to me, and I detest thy bitter speech.

  JAS. And I in sooth thine; the separation at least is without pain.

  MED. How then? what shall I do? for I also am very desirous.

  JAS. Suffer me, I beg, to bury and mourn over these dead bodies.

  MED. Never indeed; since I will bury them with this hand bearing them to the shrine of Juno, the Goddess guardian of the citadel, that no one of my enemies may insult them, tearing up their graves. But in this land of Sisyphus will I institute in addition to this a solemn festival and sacrifices hereafter to expiate this unhallowed murder. But I myself will go to the land of Erectheus, to dwell with Ægeus son of Pandion. But thou, wretch, as is fit, shalt die wretchedly, struck on thy head with a relic of thy ship Argo, having seen the bitter end of my marriage.

  JAS. But may the Fury of the children, and Justice the avenger of murder, destroy thee.

  MED. But what God or Deity hears thee, thou perjured man, and traitor to the rights of hospitality?

  JAS. Ah! thou abominable woman, and murderer of thy children.

  MED. Go to thy home, and bury thy wife.

  JAS. I go, even deprived of both my children.

  MED. Thou dost not yet mourn enough: stay and grow old.

  JAS. Oh my dearest sons!

  MED. To their mother at least, but not to thee.

  JAS. And yet thou slewest them.

  MED. To grieve thee.

  JAS. Alas, alas! I hapless man long to kiss the dear mouths of my children.

  MED. Now them addressest, now salutest them, formerly rejecting them with scorn.

  JAS. Grant me, by the Gods, to touch the soft skin of my sons.

  MED. It is not possible. Thy words are thrown away in vain.

  JAS. Dost thou hear this, O Jove, how I am rejected, and what I suffer from this accursed and child-destroying lioness? But as much indeed as is in my power and I am able, I lament and mourn over these; calling the Gods to witness, that having slain my children, thou preventest me from touching them with my hands, and from burying the bodies, whom, oh that I had never begotten, and seen them thus destroyed by thee.

  CHOR. Jove is the dispenser of various fates in heaven, and the Gods perform many things contrary to our expectations, and those things which we looked for are not accomplished; but the God hath brought to pass things unthought of. In such manner hath this affair ended.

  HERACLEIDAE

  OR, HERACLES’ CHILDREN

  Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley

  First performed in c. 430 BC, this play follows the children of Heracles (the Heracleidae) as they seek protection from Eurystheus, who was responsible for many of the troubles that plagued Heracles. It is the first of two surviving tragedies by Euripides where the children of Heracles are suppliants, being followed by the later drama Heracles.

  The play begins at the altar of Zeus at Marathon, where the herald Copreus, under the instructions of King Eurystheus of Mycenae, attempts to seize the children of Heracles, together with the hero’s old friend, Iolaus. When King Demophon, son of Theseus, insists that Iolaus and Heracles’ children are held under his protection, Copreus threatens to return with an army. Demophon is prepared to protect the children even at the cost of fighting a war against Eurystheus, but after consulting the oracles, he learns that the Athenians will be victorious only if they sacrifice a maiden of noble birth to Persephone. Demophon tells Iolaus that as much as he would like to help, he will not sacrifice his own child or force any of the Athenians to do so. Iolaus, realising that he and the children will have to leave Athens and seek refuge elsewhere, despairs.

  CONTENTS

  PERSONS REPRESENTED.

  THE ARGUMENT.

  THE HERACLIDÆ.

  PERSONS REPRESENTED.

  IOLAUS.

  COPREUS.*

  CHORUS.

  DEMOPHOON.

  APOLLO.

  MACARIA.*

  SERVANT.

  ALCMENA.

  MESSENGER.

  EURYSTHEUS.

  Note. — The names of Copreus and Macaria were wanting in the MSS., but have been supplied from the mythologists. See Elmsley on vss. 49 and 474.

  THE ARGUMENT.

  Iolaus, son of Iphiclus, and nephew of Hercules, whom he had joined in his expeditions during his youth, in his old age protected his sons. For the sons of Hercules having been driven out of every part of Greece by Eurystheus, he came with them to Athens; and, embracing the altars of the Gods, was safe, Demophoon being king of the city; and when Copreus, the herald of Eurystheus, wished to remove the suppliants, he prevented him. Upon this he departed, threatening war. Demophoon despised him; but hearing the oracles promise him victory if he sacrificed the most noble Athenian virgin to Ceres, he was grieved; not wishing to slay either his own daughter, or that of any citizen, for the sake of the suppliants. But Macaria, one of the daughters o
f Hercules, hearing of the prediction, willingly devoted herself. They honored her for her noble death, and, knowing that their enemies were at hand, went forth to battle. The play ends with their victory, and the capture of Eurystheus.

  THE HERACLIDÆ.

  IOLAUS.

  This has long since been my established opinion, the just man is born for his neighbors; but he who has a mind bent upon gain is both useless to the city and disagreeable to deal with, but best for himself. And I know this, not having learned it by word of mouth; for I, through shame, and reverencing the ties of kindred, when it was in my power to dwell quietly in Argos, partook of more of Hercules’ labors, while he was with us, than any one man besides: and now that he dwells in heaven, keeping these his children under my wings, I preserve them, I myself being in want of safety. For since their father was removed from the earth, first Eurystheus wished to kill me, but I escaped; and my country indeed is no more, but my life is saved, and I wander in exile, migrating from one city to another. For, in addition to my other ills, Eurystheus has chosen to insult me with this insult; sending heralds whenever on earth he learns we are settled, he demands us, and drives us out of the land; alleging the city of Argos, one not paltry either to be friends with or to make an enemy, and himself too prospering as he is; but they seeing my weak state, and that these too are little, and bereaved of their sire, respecting the more powerful, drive us from the land. And I am banished, together with the banished children, and fare ill together with those who fare ill, loathing to desert them, lest some may say thus, Behold, now that the children have no father, Iolaus, their kinsman born, defends them not. But being bereft of all Greece, coming to Marathon and the country under the same rule, we sit suppliants at the altars of the Gods, that they may assist us; for it is said that the two sons of Theseus inhabit the territory of this land, of the race of Pandion, having received it by lot, being near akin to these children; on which account we have come this way to the frontiers of illustrious Athens. And by two aged people is this flight led, I, indeed, being alarmed about these children; and the female race of her son Alcmena preserves within this temple, clasping it in her arms; for we are ashamed that virgins should mingle with the mob, and stand at the altars. But Hyllus and his brothers, who are older, are seeking where there is a strong-hold that we may inhabit, if we be thrust forth from this land by force. O children, children! hither; take hold of my garments; I see the herald of Eurystheus coming hither toward us, by whom we are pursued as wanderers, deprived of every land. O detested one, may you perish, and the man who sent you: how many evils indeed have you announced to the noble father of these children from that same mouth!

  COPREUS. I suppose you think that this is a fine seat you are sitting in, and have come to a city which is an ally, thinking foolishly; for there is no one who will choose your useless power in preference to Eurystheus. Depart; why toilest thou thus? You must rise up and go to Argos, where punishment by stoning awaits you.

  IOL. Not so, since the altar of the God will aid me, and the free land in which we tread.

  COP. Do you wish to cause me trouble with this band?

  IOL. Surely you will not drag me away, nor these children, seizing by force?

  COP. You shall know; but you are not a good prophet in this.

  IOL. This shall never happen, while I am alive.

  COP. Depart; but I will lead these away, even though you be unwilling, considering them, wherever they may be, to belong to Eurystheus.

  IOL. O ye who have dwelt in Athens a long time, defend us; for, being suppliants of Jove, the Presider over the Forum, we are treated with violence, and our garlands are profaned, both a reproach to the city, and an insult to the Gods.

  CHORUS. Hollo! hollo! what is this noise near the altar? what calamity will it straightway portend?

  IOL. Behold me, a weak old man, thrown down on the plain; miserable that I am.

  CHOR. By whose hand do you fall this unhappy fall?

  * * * *

  IOL. This man, O strangers, dishonoring your Gods, drags me violently from the altar of Jupiter.

  CHOR. From what land, O old man, have you come hither to this people dwelling together in four cities? or, have you come hither from across [the sea] with marine oar, having quitted the Eubœan shore?

  IOL. O strangers, I am not accustomed to an islander’s life, but we are come to your land from Mycenæ.

  CHOR. What name, O old man, did the Mycenæan people call you?

  IOL. Know that I am lolaus, once the companion of Hercules; for this body is not unrenowned.

  CHOR. I know, having heard of it before; but say whose youthful children you are leading in your hand.

  IOL. These, O strangers, are the sons of Hercules, who are come as suppliants of you and the city.

  CHOR. What do ye seek? or, tell me, is it wanting to have speech of the city?

  IOL. Not to be given up, and not to go to Argos, being dragged from your Gods by force.

  COP. But this will not be sufficient for your masters, who, having power over you, find you here.

  CHOR. It is right, O stranger, to reverence the suppliants of the Gods, and not for you to leave by violent hands the habitations of the deities, for venerable Justice will not suffer this.

  COP. Send now Eurystheus’s subjects out of this land, and I will not use this hand violently.

  CHOR. It is impious for a state to reject the suppliant prayer of strangers.

  COP. But it is good to have one’s foot out of trouble, being possessed of the better counsel.

  CHOR. You should then have dared this, having spoken to the king of this land, but you should not drag strangers away from the Gods by force, if you respect a free land.

  COP. But who is king of this country and city?

  CHOR. Demophoon, the son of Theseus, of a noble father.

  COP. With him, then, the contest of this argument had best be; all else is spoken in vain.

  CHOR. And indeed hither he comes in haste, and Acamas, his brother, to hear these words.

  DEMOPHOON. Since you, being an old man, have anticipated us, who are younger, in running to this hearth of Jove, say what hap collects this multitude here.

  CHOR. These sons of Hercules sit here as suppliants, having crowned the altar, as you see. O king, and Iolaus, the faithful companion of their father.

  DE. Why then did this chance occasion clamors?

  CHOR. This man caused the noise, seeking to lead him by force from this hearth; and he tripped up the legs of the old man, so that I shed the tear for pity.

  DE. And indeed he has a Grecian robe and style of dress; but these are the doings of a barbarian hand; it is for you then to tell me, and not to delay, leaving the confines of what land you are come hither.

  COP. I am an Argive; for this you wish to learn: and I am willing to say why, and from whom, I am come. Eurystheus, the king of Mycenæ, sends me hither to lead away these men; and I have come, O stranger, having many just things at once to do and to say; for I being an Argive myself, lead away Argives, having them as fugitives from my country condemned to die by the laws there; and we have the right, managing our city ourselves by ourselves, to fix our own punishments: but they having come to the hearths of many others also, there also we have taken our stand on these same arguments, and no one has dared to bring evils upon himself. But either perceiving some folly in you, they have come hither, or in perplexity running the risk, whether it shall be or not. For surely they do not think that you alone are mad, in so great a portion of Greece as they have been over, so as to commiserate their foolish distresses. Come, compare the two; admitting them into your land, and suffering us to lead them away, what will you gain? Such things as these you may gain from us; you may add to this city the whole power of Argos, and all the might of Eurystheus; but if looking to the words and pitiable condition of these men, you are softened by them, the matter comes to the contest of the spear; for think not that we will give up this contest without steel. What then will you say? d
eprived of what lands, making war with the Tirynthians and Argives, and repelling them, with what allies, and on whose behalf will you bury the dead that fall? Surely you will obtain an evil report among the citizens, if, for the sake of an old man, a mere tomb, one who is nothing, as one may say, and of these children, you will put your foot into a mess; you will say, at best, that you shall find, at least, hope; and this too is at present much wanting; for these who are armed would fight but ill with Argives if they were grown up, if this encourages your mind, and there is much time in the mean while in which ye may be destroyed; but be persuaded by me, giving nothing, but permitting me to lead away my own, gain Mycenæ. And do not (as you are wont to do) suffer this, when it is in your power to choose the better friends, choose the worse.

  CHOR. Who can decide what is right, or understand an argument, till he has clearly heard the statement of both?

  IOL. O king, this exists in thy city; I am permitted in turn to speak and to hear, and no one will reject me before that, as in other places; but with this man we have nothing to do; for since nothing of Argos is any longer ours, (it having been decreed by a vote,) but we are exiled our country, how can this man justly lead us away as Mycenæans, whom they have driven from the land? for we are strangers; or else you decide that whoever is banished Argos is banished the boundaries of the Greeks. Surely not from Athens; they will not, for fear of the Argives, drive out the children of Hercules from their land; for it is not Trachis, nor the Achæan city, from whence you, not by justice, but bragging about Argos; just as you now speak, drove these men, sitting at the altars as suppliants; for if this shall be, and they ratify your words, I no longer know this Athens as free. But I know their disposition and nature; they will rather die; for among virtuous men, disgrace is considered before life. Enough of the city; for indeed it is an invidious thing to praise it too much; and often I know myself I have been oppressed at being overpraised: but I wish to say to you that it is necessary for you to save these men, since you are ruler over this land. Pittheus was son of Pelops and Æthra, daughter of Pittheus, and your father Theseus was born of her. And again I trace for you their descent: Hercules was son of Jupiter and Alcmena, and she was the child of the daughter of Pelops; so your father and theirs must be fellow-cousins. Thus you, O Demophoon, are related to them by birth; and, besides this connection, I will tell you for what you are bound to requite the children. For I say, I formerly, when shield-bearer to their father, sailed with Theseus after the belt, the cause of much slaughter, and from the murky recesses of hell did he bring forth your father. All Greece bears witness to this; for which things they beseech you to return a kindness, and that they may not be yielded up, nor be driven from this land, torn from your Gods by violence; for this would be disgraceful to you by yourself, and an evil to the city, that suppliant relations, wanderers — alas for the misery! look on them, look — should be dragged away by force. But I beseech you, and offer you suppliant garlands, by your hands and your chin, do not dishonor the children of Hercules, having received them in your power; but be thou a relation to them, be a friend, father, brother, master; for all these things are better than [for them] to fall into the power of the Argives.