Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/153

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE CHILDREN OF HERAKLES.
97

Henchman.

With mailed men how shalt thou unarmed appear?


Iolaus.

There hang within yon fane arms battle-won. 695
These will I use, and, if I live, restore;—
The God will not require them of the slain.
Pass thou within, and from the nails take down,
And bring with speed to me, that warrior-gear.
[Exit Henchman.
Shameful it is—this loitering at home, 700
That some should fight, some, craven souls, hang back!


Chorus.

Not yet may the years quell thy spirit,
Young in heart, though thy strength be no more!
Why toil to thine hurt but in vain?
Small help of thee Athens should gain. 705
Let thine eld yet be wise, and refrain
From things hopeless: thou canst not inherit
Yet again the lost prowess of yore.


Alkmena.

Art thou beside thyself?—what, meanest thou
To leave me and my children thus forlorn? 710


Iolaus.

Yea, men must fight. For these must thou take thought.


Alkmena.

But, if thou perish, how shall I be saved?

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.