- Source
- Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:718-807
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
Iolaus puts on the armor brought by the servant and departs for the battle, wishing for his youthful strength. As the Chorus prays to Athena and their land, a messenger arrives to announce their victory to Alcmene, revealing that Iolaus has miraculously regained his youth and that Hyllus challenged Eurystheus to a single combat.
φεῦ·
[Alcmene] Alas!
Ζεὺς ἐξ ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐκ ἀκούσεται κακῶς·
Zeus shall indeed not hear ill from me;
εἰ δʼ ἐστὶν ὅσιος αὐτὸς οἶδεν εἰς ἐμέ.
but whether he is righteous towards me, he himself knows.
ὅπλων μὲν ἤδη τήνδʼ ὁρᾷς παντευχίαν,
[Servant] Already indeed you see here this complete suit of armor,
φθάνοις δʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν τοῖσδε συγκρύπτων1 δέμας·
and you could not be too quick in covering your body with these;
ὡς ἐγγὺς ἁγών, καὶ μάλιστʼ Ἄρης στυγεῖ
for the contest is near, and Ares especially hates
μέλλοντας· εἰ δὲ τευχέων φοβῇ βάρος,
those who delay. But if you fear the weight of the armor,
νῦν μὲν πορεύου γυμνός, ἐν δὲ τάξεσιν
go now unarmed, and in the ranks
κόσμῳ πυκάζου τῷδʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ οἴσω τέως.
cover yourself with this equipment; and I will carry it meanwhile.
καλῶς ἔλεξας· ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πρόχειρʼ ἔχων
[Iolaus] Well spoken; but bring the armor, having it ready at hand
τεύχη κόμιζε, χειρὶ δʼ ἔνθες ὀξύην,
for me, and place the spear in my hand,
λαιόν τʼ ἔπαιρε πῆχυν, εὐθύνων πόδα.
and support my left arm, guiding my feet.
ἦ παιδαγωγεῖν γὰρ τὸν ὁπλίτην χρεών;
[Servant] Must I indeed act as a tutor to a hoplite?
ὄρνιθος οὕνεκʼ ἀσφαλῶς πορευτέον.
[Iolaus] For the sake of the omen, we must travel safely.
εἴθʼ ἦσθα δυνατὸς δρᾶν ὅσον πρόθυμος εἶ.
[Servant] Would that you were as able to act as you are eager.
ἔπειγε· λειφθεὶς δεινὰ πείσομαι μάχης.
[Iolaus] Hurry; if I am left behind, I shall suffer terrible things in the battle.
σύ τοι βραδύνεις, οὐκ ἐγὼ δοκῶ τι δρᾶν.
[Servant] It is you who are slow, though I seem to do nothing.
οὔκουν ὁρᾷς μου κῶλον ὡς ἐπείγεται;
[Iolaus] Do you not see how my limb is hurrying?
ὁρῶ δοκοῦντα μᾶλλον ἢ σπεύδοντά σε.
[Servant] I see you seeming to hurry rather than actually doing so.
οὐ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἡνίκʼ ἂν λεύσσῃς μʼ ἐκεῖ.
[Iolaus] You will not say this when you see me there.
τί δρῶντα; βουλοίμην δʼ ἂν εὐτυχοῦντά γε.
[Servant] Doing what? I would indeed wish you to be successful.
διʼ ἀσπίδος θείνοντα πολεμίων τινά.
[Iolaus] Striking some enemy through his shield.
εἰ δή ποθʼ ἥξομέν γε· τοῦτο γὰρ φόβος.
[Servant] If indeed we shall ever get there; for that is the fear.
φεῦ·
[Iolaus] Alas!
εἴθʼ, ὦ βραχίων, οἷον ἡβήσαντά σε
O arm, would that you, just as you were when young
μεμνήμεθʼ ἡμεῖς, ἡνίκα ξὺν Ἡρακλεῖ
as we remember, when with Heracles
Σπάρτην ἐπόρθεις, σύμμαχος γένοιό μοι
you plundered Sparta, would become my ally,
τοιοῦτος· οἵαν ἂν τροπὴν Εὐρυσθέως
such a one! What a rout of Eurystheus
θείμην· ἐπεί τοι καὶ κακὸς μένειν δόρυ.2
I would make! For indeed he is a coward to face the spear.
ἔστιν δʼ ἐν ὄλβῳ καὶ τόδʼ οὐκ ὀρθῶς ἔχον,
[Servant] And in prosperity there is also this which is not right,
εὐψυχίας δόκησις· οἰόμεσθα γὰρ
the appearance of courage; for we think
τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα πάντʼ ἐπίστασθαι καλῶς.
that the successful man understands everything well.
Γᾶ καὶ παννύχιος σελά-
[Chorus] O Earth, and night-long moon,
να καὶ λαμπρόταται θεοῦ
and most brilliant rays of the god,
φαεσίμβροτοι αὐγαί,
bringing light to mortals,
ἀγγελίαν μοι ἐνέγκαιτʼ·
bring me the news!
ἰαχήσατε δʼ οὐρανῷ
Shout to heaven,
καὶ παρὰ θρόνον ἀρχέταν
and beside the sovereign throne
γλαυκᾶς ἐν Ἀθάνας.
of grey-eyed Athena.
μέλλω τᾶς πατριώτιδος
I am about to, on behalf of my native
γᾶς, μέλλω καὶ ὑπὲρ δόμων
land, I am about to, and on behalf of the house,
ἱκέτας ὑποδεχθεὶς
having received suppliants,
κίνδυνον πολιῷ τεμεῖν σιδάρῳ.
cut through danger with grey iron.
δεινὸν μὲν πόλιν ὡς Μυκή-
It is a terrible thing indeed that a city like Mycenae,
νας εὐδαίμονα καὶ δορὸς
prosperous and highly praised
πολυαίνετον ἀλκᾷ
for its strength in war,
μῆνιν ἐμᾷ χθονὶ κεύθειν·
should harbor anger against my land;
κακὸν δʼ, ὦ πόλις, εἰ ξένους
but it is an evil thing, O city, if we
ἱκτῆρας παραδώσομεν
shall betray the stranger suppliants
κελεύμασιν Ἄργους.
at the commands of Argos.
Ζεύς μοι σύμμαχος, οὐ φοβοῦ-
Zeus is my ally, I do not fear;
μαι, Ζεύς μοι χάριν ἐνδίκως
Zeus holds favor justly
ἔχει· οὔποτε θνατῶν
for me. Never shall gods
ἥσσους δαίμονες ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ φανοῦνται.
appear inferior to mortals, at least through me.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ πότνια — σὸν γὰρ οὖ-
But, O mistress — for yours is the soil,
δας, σὸν καὶ πόλις, ἇς σὺ μά-
yours is also the city, of which you are mother,
τηρ δέσποινά τε καὶ φύλαξ —
mistress, and guardian —
πόρευσον ἄλλᾳ τὸν οὐ δικαίως
turn elsewhere the army unjustly
τᾷδʼ ἐπάγοντα δορυσσοῦν
leading the spear-brandishing
στρατὸν Ἀργόθεν· οὐ γὰρ ἐμᾷ γʼ ἀρετᾷ
army from Argos; for by my merit at least,
δίκαιός εἰμʼ ἐκπεσεῖν3 μελάθρων.
I do not deserve to be cast out from my home.
ἐπεί σοι πολύθυτος ἀεὶ
Since for you sacrifice-rich honor
τιμὰ κραίνεται, οὐδὲ λά-
is always accomplished, nor does the waning
θει μηνῶν φθινὰς ἁμέρα,
day of the month escape notice,
νέων τʼ ἀοιδαὶ χορῶν τε μολπαί.
nor the songs of the youth and the music of choruses.
ἀνεμόεντι δʼ ἐπʼ ὄχθῳ
And on the windy hill,
ὀλολύγματα παννυχίοις ὑπὸ παρ-
ritual cries ring out from maidens in night-long
θένων ἰαχεῖ ποδῶν κρότοισιν.
dances with the stamping of feet.
δέσποινα, μύθους σοί τε συντομωτάτους
[Messenger] Mistress, I bring words most brief for you
κλύειν ἐμοί τε τῷδε καλλίστους φέρω.
to hear, and most beautiful for me to speak.
νικῶμεν ἐχθροὺς καὶ τροπαῖʼ ἱδρύεται
We are victorious over the enemy, and trophies are being set up,
παντευχίαν ἔχοντα πολεμίων σέθεν.
holding the full armor of your foes.
ὦ φίλταθʼ, ἥδε σʼ ἡμέρα διήλασεν
[Alcmene] O dearest one, this day has caused you
ἐλευθερῶσαι τοῖσδε τοῖς ἀγγέλμασιν.
to be set free by these tidings.
μιᾶς δʼ ἔμʼ οὔπω συμφορᾶς ἐλευθεροῖς·
But you do not yet free me from one anxiety;
φόβος γὰρ εἴ μοι ζῶσιν οὓς ἐγὼ θέλω.
for there is fear for me whether those live whom I wish to live.
ζῶσιν μέγιστόν γʼ εὐκλεεῖς κατὰ στρατόν.
[Messenger] They live, and indeed with the greatest glory in the army.
ὁ μὲν γέρων οὐκ ἔστιν Ἰόλεως ὅδε;
[Alcmene] Is not this old man Iolaus there?
μάλιστα, πράξας δʼ ἐκ θεῶν κάλλιστα δή.
[Messenger] Indeed, having fared most beautifully by the gods’ doing.
τί δʼ ἔστι; μῶν τι κεδνὸν ἠγωνίζετο;
[Alcmene] What is it? Did he perform some noble deed in the struggle?
νέος μεθέστηκʼ ἐκ γέροντος αὖθις αὖ.
[Messenger] He has changed from an old man to a young man once again.
θαυμάστʼ ἔλεξας· ἀλλά σʼ εὐτυχῆ φίλων
[Alcmene] You tell of wonders! But first I want you
μάχης ἀγῶνα πρῶτον ἀγγεῖλαι θέλω.
to report the successful struggle of our friends in the battle.
εἷς μου λόγος σοι πάντα σημανεῖ τάδε.
[Messenger] My single speech shall make all these things clear to you.
ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἀλλήλοισιν ὁπλίτην στρατὸν
For when we had drawn up and opposed
κατὰ στόμʼ ἐκτείνοντες ἀντετάξαμεν,
our hoplite army face to face to one another,
ἐκβὰς τεθρίππων Ὕλλος ἁρμάτων πόδα
Hyllus, stepping down with his foot from his four-horse chariot,
ἔστη μέσοισιν ἐν μεταιχμίοις δορός.
stood in the middle space between the spears.
κἄπειτ’ ἔλεξεν· Ὦ στρατήγʼ ὃς Ἀργόθεν
And then he said: “O general who has come
ἥκεις, τί τήνδε γαῖαν οὐκ εἰάσαμεν
from Argos, why do we not leave this land alone,
καὶ τὰς Μυκήνας οὐδὲν ἐργάσῃ κακὸν
and you will do no harm to Mycenae
ἀνδρὸς στερήσας· ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ μόνος μόνῳ
by depriving it of a man; but let me alone in single combat...”
- 721φθάνοις δʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ... συγκρύπτων
An idiomatic expression consisting of φθάνω with a supplementary participle (συγκρύπτων) and the potential optative with a double ἄν and negation (οὐκ). It expresses a strong recommendation or command: "you cannot be too quick in doing..." or "do ... immediately."
- 744κακὸς μένειν δόρυ
The infinitive μένειν is an epexegetic (explanatory) infinitive limiting the adjective κακός ("cowardly at awaiting"). δόρυ ("spear") acts as the accusative object of the transitive sense of μένειν ("to await").
- 776δίκαιός εἰμʼ ἐκπεσεῖν
A personal construction (instead of the impersonal δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐμὲ ἐκπεσεῖν) meaning "I am just/deserving to be cast out." Combined with the negation οὐ, it means "I do not deserve to be cast out" or "it is not right that I be cast out."
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1