Euripides, Electra (ed. E. P. Coleridge), line 671 (search)
Orestes
O Zeus, god of my fathers, be also the vanquisher of my enemies—
Electra
And have pity on us; for we have suffered pitiably—
Old man
Yes, indeed, have pity on your own descendants.
Electra
And Hera, you who rule Mycenae's altars—
Orestes
Give us victory, if we are asking for what is right.
Old man
Yes, indeed, give them the right of vengeance for their father.
Orestes
You too, father, living below the earth through an unholy deed—
Electra
And Lady Earth, to whom I give my hands—
Old man
Defend, defend these, your dearest children.
Orestes
Now come and bring with you all the dead as allies.
Electra
Those who destroyed the Trojans in war with you—
Old man
And all who hate the unholy and polluted.
Electra
Do you hear me, you who suffered dreadful things from my mother?
Old man
Your father hears everything, I know; but it is time to be on our way.
Electra
And I tell you therefore that Aegisthus is to die; if you fall dead in the struggle, I am also dead, do
Euripides, Heracles (ed. E. P. Coleridge), line 380 (search)
Chorus
Next he mounted on a chariot and tamed with the bit the horses of Diomedes, that greedily champed their bloody food at gory mangers with unbridled jaws, devouring with hideous joy the flesh of men; then crossing the heights of Hebrus that flow with silver, he still toiled on for the tyrant of Mycenae.
Euripides, Heracles (ed. E. P. Coleridge), line 408 (search)
Chorus
Then he went through the waves of heaving Euxine against the mounted host of Amazons dwelling round Maeotis, the lake that is fed by many a stream, having gathered to his standard all his friends from Hellas, to fetch the gold-embroidered raiment of the warrior queen, a deadly quest for a girdle. Hellas won those glorious spoils of the barbarian maid, and they are safe in Mycenae.
Euripides, Heracles (ed. E. P. Coleridge), line 922 (search)
to dip it in the holy water, he stopped without a word. And as their father lingered, his children looked at him; he was no longer himself; his eyes were rolling; he was distraught; his eyeballs were bloodshot, and foam was oozing down his bearded cheek. He spoke with a madman's laugh: “Father, why should I offer the purifying flame before I have slain Eurystheus, and have the toil twice over? It is the work of my unaided arm to settle these things well; as soon as I have brought the head of Eurystheus here, I will cleanse my hands for those already slain. Spill the water, cast the baskets from your hands. Ho! give me now my bow and club! To Mycenae will I go; I must take crow-bars and pick-axes, for I will shatter again with iron levers those city-walls which the Cyclopes squared with red plumb-line and mason's tools.” Then he set out, and though he had no chariot there, he thought he had, and was for mounting to its seat, and using a goad as though his fingers really held o
confederacy of towns that existed before the unification of Attica under Theseus. Have you left the shore of Euboea and put in from beyond the water with sea-going oar?
Iolaus
It is no islander's life that I live. We have come to your land from Mycenae.
Chorus
What is the name the people of Mycenae call you?
Iolaus
You know, I'm sure, of Iolaus, the man who stood at Heracles' side. I am not unknown to fame.
Chorus
I have heard of you before. But whose are the young children you lead by the ha of Euboea and put in from beyond the water with sea-going oar?
Iolaus
It is no islander's life that I live. We have come to your land from Mycenae.
Chorus
What is the name the people of Mycenae call you?
Iolaus
You know, I'm sure, of Iolaus, the man who stood at Heracles' side. I am not unknown to fame.
Chorus
I have heard of you before. But whose are the young children you lead by the hand? Tell us.
Iolaus
They are Heracles' sons, strangers, who have come as suppliants to you and your city.
Herald
I am an Argive, for that is what you ask me. But I want to tell you my purpose in coming and who it is that has sent me. Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, has sent me here to fetch these children. I have come here, stranger, with many just pleas both to carry out and to urge.
I am an Argive myself, and I seek to take away these Argives who have run away from my own country, persons sentenced by the laws of that country to die. It is proper that we who are the city's inhabitants should pasmanhood, would be but poor fighters, if it is this prospect that raises your spirits, and there is a long stretch of time before then, when they might well be killed. But take my advice: give me nothing but merely allow me to take what is mine and thereby win Mycenae for an ally. Do not make the mistake you Athenians so often make, taking the weak for your friends when you might have chosen the strong.
Chorus
Who can decide a plea or judge a speech until he has heard plainly from both sides?
e a just cause and am victorious in my plea?
Demophon
And how is it just to abduct a suppliant?
Herald
Is that not a blot on my name but no harm to you?
Demophon
The disgrace is mine if I let you drag these children off.
Herald
Put them beyond your border and we will take them from there.
Demophon
You are a fool to think you can outwit the god.
Herald
This is the place, it seems, for the worthless to flee.
Demophon
The gods' sanctuaries are a common defense for all.
Herald
Perhaps Mycenae's people will not think so.
Demophon
Am I not then the master of things here?
Herald
Yes, if you are wise enough not to injure them.
Demophon
Be injured! I shall not defile the gods.
Herald
I am not eager you should have war with Argos.
Demophon
No more am I. But these I'll not let go.
Herald
I'll take them all the same for they are mine.
Demophon
Then you will find the trip to Argos hard.
Herald
I'll learn from the event if this is so.
Demophon
You touch them to your cost—your p
Chorus
Now is the time to show forethought, before the Argive army approaches our borders. The war-strength of Mycenae is keen, but after these events more keen than ever. For this is the way with all heralds, to build up a tale twice as large as the truth. What grand story do you think he will tell his masters, how he suffered monstrous treatment and barely escaped with his life?
Demophon
Your words are well spoken, old sir, and I am confident that the deeds of these children will match them: our favor to you will be remembered. I shall muster the citizens and marshall them so that we may meet the army of Mycenae with a large force: first I shall send scouts to spy on it so that it may not approach without my being aware （for at Argos every man is a swift-footed warrior）, and then I shall gather the prophets and make sacrifice. But leave Zeus's altar and go with the children to the palace. There are men there who will take care of you, even if I am away. Go to the palace, old sir.
Iolaus
I will not leave the altar. We will stay here as suppliants and pray for the city's good fortune. But when she has escaped with honor from this struggle, then we will go to the palace. The gods we have as allies are not worse than those of the Argives, my lord. For Hera is their champion, Zeus's wife, but Athena is ours. This too is a source of good fortune for us, that
Chorus
It is dreadful that a prosperous city like Mycenae, famed for its war-strength, should nurse a hatred against our land. But it is cowardly, o my city, if we are to hand over suppliant strangers at the behest of Argos. Zeus is my ally, I have no fear, Zeus is justly grateful to me: never shall I reveal the gods to be less good than mortals.
