SER. O royal dame, the message that to you
I bring, is both concise, and what reflects
On me abundant glory to relate,
In fight have we prevailed, and trophies reared
On which the armour of your foes is hung.
ALC. This day hath brought thee hither, O my friend,
Thy freedom for such tidings to receive:
But one anxiety there still remains
To which thou leav’st me subject; much I fear
For the important lives of those I love.
SER. They live, and have obtained from all the host
The greatest fame.
ALC. And Iolaus too,
My aged friend?
SER. Yet more, he hath performed
Through the peculiar favour of the gods
Exploits most memorable.
ALC. What glorious deed
Hath he achieved in fight?
SER. From an old man,
He is grown young again.
ALC. Thou speak’st of things
Most wonderful. But first, how fought our friends
With such success, I wish thee to inform me.
SER. All that hath passed, at once will I relate
When, to each other in the field opposed,
We had arranged both armies, and spread forth
The van of battle to its full extent,
Hyllus alighting from his chariot, stood
In the midway ’twixt either host, and cried:
“Thou leader of the Argive troops, who com’st
With hostile fury to invade this land,
Thy interests recommend what I propose,
Nor can Mycene suffer from the loss
If thou deprive her of a single warrior;
Therefore with me encounter hand to hand,
And if thou slay me, seize and bear away
The sons of Hercules; but if thou die,
My palace and hereditary rank
Permit me to enjoy.” The troops assented,
And praised what he had spoken as the means
Of finishing their labours, and a proof
Of his exalted courage. But Eurystheus
Unmoved by reverence for th’ assembled host
Who heard the challenge, and with terror smitten,
Forgot the general’s part, nor dared to face
The lifted spear, but acted like a dastard:
Yet he who was thus destitute of courage
Came to enslave the sons of Hercules.
Hyllus again retreated to his rank;
The prophets too, when they perceived no peace
Could be effected by a single combat,
Without delay the blooming virgin slew,
Auspicious victim, from whose pallid lips
Her trembling spirit fled. The lofty car
Some mounted, o’er their sides while others flung
Their bucklers to protect them. To his host,
Meantime the king of Athens, in a strain
Worthy of his exalted courage, spoke:
“Ye citizens, the land to which ye owe
Your nourishment and birth, now claims your aid.”
Equally loth to sully the renown
Of Argos and Mycene, in like terms
The foe besought his partners of the war
Their utmost vigour to exert. No sooner
Had the loud signal by Etruria’s trump
Been given, than they in thickest battle joined.
Think with what crash their brazen shields resounded,
What groans and intermingled shouts were heard!
First through our lines the host of Argos burst,
And in their turn gave way: then foot to foot,
And man to man opposed, in stubborn conflict
We all persisted: multitudes were slain;
But in this language either chief his troops
Encouraged: “O ye citizens of Athens,
O ye who till the fruitful Argive field,
Will ye not from your native land repel
The foul disgrace?” But with our utmost efforts
Scarce could we put to flight the Argive host.
When Iolaus saw young Hyllus break
The ranks of battle, he with lifted hands
Entreated him to place him in his car,
Then seized the reins, and onward in pursuit
Of the swift coursers of Eurystheus drove.
As to the sequel; from report alone
Let others speak, I tell what I have seen:
While through Pallenè’s streets he passed, where rise
Minerva’s altars, soon as he descried
The chariot of Eurystheus, he a prayer
Addressed to blooming Hebe, and to Jove,
That for that single day he might recover
The pristine vigour of his youth, and punish
His foes as they deserve. You now shall hear
What a miraculous event ensued;
Two stars ’bove Iolaus’ chariot stood,
And overshadowed it with gloomy clouds,
Which, by the wise ’tis said, were Hercules
Your son, and blooming Hebe: from that mist
Which veiled the skies, the chief grown young again,
Displayed his vigorous arms, and near the rocks
Of Scyron, seized Eurystheus in his car.
Binding his hands with chains, he hither brings
The Argive tyrant, a distinguished prize,
Who once was happy; but on all mankind
Loudly inculcates by his present fortunes
This lesson: not too rashly to ascribe
Felicity to him who in appearance
Is prosperous, but to wait till we behold
His close of life; for fortune day by day
Doth waver.
CHOR. Thou great author of success,
O Jove, at length am I allowed to view
The day, by which my terrors are dispelled.
ALC. ’Twas late indeed, when thou, O Jove, didst look
On my afflictions; yet am I to thee
Most grateful for the kindness thou hast shown me.
And though I erst believed not that my son
Dwells with the gods, I clearly know it now.
Now, O my children, ye from all your toils
Shall be set free, and of Eurystheus, doomed
With shame to perish, burst the galling yoke,
Behold your father’s city, the rich fields
Of your inheritance again possess,
And sacrifice to your paternal gods,
From whom excluded, in a foreign land
Ye led a wandering miserable life.
But with what sage design yet undisclosed,
Hath Iolaus spared Eurystheus’ life,
Inform me: for to us it seems unwise
Not to avenge our wrongs when we have caught
Our enemies.
SER. He through respect to you
Hath acted thus, that you might see the tyrant
Vanquished, and rendered subject to your power,
Not by his own consent, but in the yoke
Bound by necessity; for he was loth
To come into your presence, ere he bleed,
And suffer as he merits. But farewell,
O venerable matron, and remember
The promise you first made when I began
These tidings, and, oh, set me free: for nought
But truth should from ingenuous lips proceed.
[_Exit_ SERVANT.