Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/160

For the land that hath borne and nurtured him!"
The while that other prayed his battle-aid
To brook not shame to Argos and Mycenæ.
But when the Tuscan trumpet gave the sign 830
High-shrilling, and the war-hosts clashed in fight,
How mighty a crash of bucklers thundered then—
Think'st thou?—What multitudinous groan and shriek!
Now first the onset of the Argive spear
Burst through our ranks: then gave they back again. 835
Anon foot stood in grapple locked with foot,
Man fronting man, hard-wrestling in the fray:
Fast, fast they fell. Cheers ever answered cheers—
"Dwellers in Athens!"—"Tillers of the land
Of Argos!"—"from dishonour save your town!" 840
With uttermost endeavour and strong strain
Scarce turned we unto flight the Argive spear.
Thereat old Iolaus, marking where
Hyllus charged on, with outstretched hand besought
That he would set him on a courser-car. 845
Then the reins grasped he, then the steeds he sped
After Eurystheus. All the rest I tell
From others' lips: the former things I saw.
For, as he passed beyond Pallênê's Hill
Sacred to Pallas, spying Eurystheus' car, 850
He prayed to Zeus and Hêbê, for one day
To be made young, and wreak the vengeance due
On foes:—now shalt thou hear a miracle.
For two stars rested on the chariot-yoke,
And into gloom of shadow threw the car; 855
And these, diviners say, were thy great son
And Hêbê:—then from out that murky gloom
He flashed—a youth, with mighty-moulded arms!
And glorious Iolaus overtook