ringing　shields；　what　din　arose　of　cries　and　groans　confused！　At　first
  the　onset　of　the　Argive　spearmen　broke　our　ranks；　then　they　in　turn
  gave　ground；　next；　foot　to　foot　and　man　to　man；　they　fought　their
  stubborn　fray；　many　falling　the　while。　And　either　chief　cheered　on　his
  men；　〃Sons　of　Athens！　Ye　who　till　the　fields　of　Argos！　ward　from
  your　land　disgrace。〃　Do　all　we　could；　and　spite　of　every　effort；
  scarce　could　we　turn　the　Argive　line　in　flight。　When　lo！　old　Iolaus
  sees　Hyllus　starting　from　the　ranks；　whereon　he　lifts　his　hands　to　him
  with　a　prayer　to　take　him　up　into　his　chariot。　Thereon　he　seized　the
  reins　and　went　hard　after　the　horses　of　Eurystheus。　From　this　point
  onward　must　I　speak　from　hearsay；　though　hitherto　as　one　whose　own
  eyes　saw。　For　as　he　was　crossing　Pallene's　hill；　sacred　to　the　goddess
  Athene；　he　caught　sight　of　Eurystheus'　chariot；　and　prayed　to　Hebe　and
  to　Zeus；　that　for　one　single　day　he　might　grow　young　again　and　wreak
  his　vengeance　on　his　foes。　Now　must　thou　hear　a　wondrous　tale：　two
  stars　settled　on　the　horses'　yokes　and　threw　the　chariot　into　dark
  shadow；　which…at　least　so　say　our　wiser　folk…were　thy　son　and　Hebe；
  and　from　that　murky　gloom　appeared　that　aged　man　in　the　form　of　a
  youth　with　strong　young　arms；　then　by　the　rocks　of　Sciron　the　hero
  Iolaus　o'ertakes　Eurystheus'　chariot。　And　he　bound　his　hands　with
  gyves；　and　is　bringing　that　chieftain　once　so　prosperous　as　a　trophy
  hither；　whose　fortune　now　doth　preach　a　lesson；　clear　as　day；　to　all
  the　sons　of　men；　that　none　should　envy　him；　who　seems　to　thrive；　until
  they　see　his　death；　for　fortune's　moods　last　but　a　day。
  LEADER　OF　THE　CHORUS
  O　Zeus；　who　puttest　my　foes　to　flight；　now　may　I　behold　the　day
  that　frees　me　from　cruel　fear！
  ALCMENA
  At　last；　O　Zeus；　hast　thou　turned　a　favouring　eye　on　my
  affliction；　yet　do　I　thank　thee　for　what　has　happened。　And　though
  ere　this　I　did　not　believe　my　son　was　gathered　to　the　gods；　now　am　I
  convinced　thereof。　My　children；　now　at　last　from　toil　shall　ye　be
  free；　free　from　him；　whom　hideous　death　awaits；　Eurystheus；　now
  shall　ye　behold　your　father's　city；　and　set　foot　in　the　land　of　your
  inheritance；　and　sacrifice　to　those　ancestral　gods；　from　whom　ye
  have　been　debarred　and　forced　to　lead　in　strangers'　lands　a　life　of
  wretched　vagrancy。　But　tell　me；　what　sage　purpose　Iolaus　nursed　in　his
  heart；　that　he　spared　the　life　of　Eurystheus；　for　to　my　mind　this　is
  no　wisdom；　to　catch　a　foe　and　wreak　no　vengeance　on　him。
  SERVANT
  'Twas　his　regard　for　thee；　that　thou　might'st　see　him　subject　to
  thy　hand；　and　triumph　o'er　him。　Rest　assured；　'twas　no　willing
  prisoner　he　made；　but　by　strong　constraint　he　bound　him；　for
  Eurystheus　was　loth　indeed　to　come　alive　into　thy　presence　and　pay　his
  penalty。　Farewell；　my　aged　mistress；　I　pray　thee　remember　thy　first
  promise　when　I　was　beginning　my　story；　set　me　free；　for；　at　such　a
  time　as　this；　sincerity　becometh　noble　lips。
  （The　SERVANT　departs。）
  CHORUS　（singing）
  strophe　1
  Sweet　is　the　dance　to　me；　whenso　the　clear…toned　flute　and
  lovely　Aphrodite　shed　grace　upon　the　feast；　and　a　joyful　thing　too
  it　is；　trow；　to　witness　the　good　luck　of　friends；　who　till　then
  ne'er　dreamt　of　it。　For　numerous　is　the　offspring　of　Fate；　that
  bringeth　all　to　pass；　and　of　Time；　the　son　of　Cronus。
  antistrophe　1
  Thine　is　the　path　of　justice；　O　my　city；　this　must　no　man　wrest
  from　thee；　thy　reverence　for　the　gods；　and；　whoso　denieth　it　of
  thee；　draws　nigh　to　frenzy's　goal；　with　these　plain　proofs　in　view。
  Yea；　for　the　god　proclaims　it　clearly；　by　cutting　short　the　bad
  man's　pride　in　every　case。
  strophe　2
  In　heaven；　mother；　lives　thy　son；　passed　from　earth　away；　that
  he　went　down　to　Hades'　halls；　his　body　burnt　by　the　fire's　fierce
  flame；　is　past　belief；　in　golden　halls　reclined　he　has　to　wife　Hebe；
  lovely　nymph。　Thou；　O　Hymen；　hast　honoured　them；　children　both　of
  Zeus。
  antistrophe　2
  Things　for　the　most　part　form　a　single　chain；　for　men　say　Athene
  used　to　champion　their　father；　and　now　the　citizens　of　that　goddess
  have　saved　his　children；　and　checked　the　insolence　of　him　whose
  heart　preferred　violence　to　justice。　God　save　me　from　such
  arrogance；　such　greed　of　soul！
  （A　MESSENGER　enters。　He　is　followed　by
  guards　who　bring　in　EURYSTHEUS　bound。）
  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　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　sight　to　see　a　foe　fall　on　evil　days　after　prosperity。
  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　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；　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；　heaven's　suppliants　though　we　were；　grey…beards
  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　thy　due；
  after　all　the　sorrow　thou　hast　caused。
  MESSENGER
  Thou　mayst　not　slay　him。
  ALCMENA
  Then　have　we　taken　him　captive　in　vain。　But　say；　what　law
  forbids　his　death？
  MESSENGER
  It　is　not　the　wiff　of　the　rulers　of　this　land。
  ALCMENA
  Why；　what　is　this？　Do　they　not　approve　of　slaying　enemies？
  MESSENGER
  Not　such　as　they　have　taken　alive　in　battle。
  ALCMENA
  Did　Hyllus　uphold　this　decision？
  MESSENGER
  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。
  MESSENGER
  It　was　then　that　he　was　wronged；　by　not　being　slain　at　first。
  ALCMENA
  Why；　then；　he　is　still　in　time　to　pay　his　penalty。
  MESSENGER
  There　is　no　one　who　will　slay　him　now。
  ALCMENA
  I　will；　and　yet　I　count　myself　someone。
  MESSENGER
  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；　yet　shall　this　deed　be　brought　to　pass　by　me。
  LEADER　OF　THE　CHORUS
  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；　Hera；　by　her　power　divine；　caused　me　to　be　afflicted　thus。
  Still；　when　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；　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。　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。　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；　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　I　be　called　avenging　spirit　and　noble　hero　too。　'Tis
  even　thus　with　me；　to　die　have　I　no