Euripides' HERACLEIDAE Complete

Translated by E. Coleridge.

Euripides Bilingual Anthology  Studies  Euripides in Print

47 pages - You are on Page 39

And some were mounting chariots, while others couched beneath the
shelter of their shields, and the king of the Athenians, as a highborn
chieftain should, would exhort his host-"Fellow-citizens, the land,
that feeds you and that gave you birth, demands to-day the help of
every man." Likewise Eurystheus besought his allies that they should
scorn to sully the fame of Argos and Mycenae. Anon the Etrurian trumpet
sounded loud and clear, and hand to hand they rushed; then think how
loudly clashed their 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.

Previous Page / First / Next Page of Heracleidae

Euripides Home Page ||| Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons
Aeschylus ||| Sophocles

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-Greece/euripides/heracleidae.asp?pg=39