Report of the Battle and the Capture of Eurystheus — Euripides, Children of Heracles, lines 808–888, Greek & English

808

μάχην συνάψας, ἢ κτανὼν ἄγου λαβὼν

[Messenger] “having joined battle, either kill me and take away

τοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας ἢ θανὼν ἐμοὶ

the children of Heracles, or having died, leave to me

810

τιμὰς πατρῴους καὶ δόμους ἔχειν ἄφες.

to hold my paternal honors and house.”

στρατὸς δʼ ἐπῄνεσ’, ἔς τʼ ἀπαλλαγὰς πόνων

And the army applauded, both that the speech was well spoken

καλῶς λελέχθαι μῦθον ἔς τʼ εὐψυχίαν.¹

with respect to release from labors, and with respect to courage.

ὃ δʼ οὔτε τοὺς κλύοντας αἰδεσθεὶς λόγων

But he, neither respecting those who heard the words,

οὔτʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ δειλίαν στρατηγὸς ὢν

nor his own cowardice, though being a general,

815

ἐλθεῖν ἐτόλμησʼ ἐγγὺς ἀλκίμου δορός,

did not dare to go near the brave spear,

ἀλλʼ ἦν κάκιστος· εἶτα τοιοῦτος γεγὼς

but was most cowardly; and then, being such a one,

τοὺς Ἡρακλείους ἦλθε δουλώσων γόνους.

he came to enslave the offspring of Heracles.

Ὕλλος μὲν οὖν ἀπῴχετ’ ἐς τάξιν πάλιν·

So Hyllus went back to his rank again;

μάντεις δʼ, ἐπειδὴ μονομάχου διʼ ἀσπίδος

and the seers, when they knew that the reconciliation

820

διαλλαγὰς ἔγνωσαν οὐ τελουμένας,

by means of single combat of shield was not being accomplished,

ἔσφαζον, οὐκ ἔμελλον, ἀλλʼ ἀφίεσαν

slaughtered, they did not delay, but immediately let loose

λαιμῶν βροτείων εὐθὺς οὔριον φόνον.

the auspicious blood from human throats.

οἳ δʼ ἅρματʼ εἰσέβαινον, οἳ δʼ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδων

And some entered their chariots, and some under their shields

πλευροῖς ἔκρυπτον πλεύρʼ· Ἀθηναίων δʼ ἄναξ

covered side with side; and the king of the Athenians

825

στρατῷ παρήγγελλ’ οἷα χρὴ τὸν εὐγενῆ·

commanded the army such things as fit the noble:

Ὦ ξυμπολῖται, τῇ τε βοσκούσῃ χθονὶ

”O fellow citizens, for the land that feeds us

καὶ τῇ τεκούσῃ νῦν τινʼ ἀρκέσαι χρεών.

and the one that bore us, now it is necessary for each to help.”

ὃ δʼ αὖ τό τʼ Ἄργος μὴ καταισχῦναι θέλειν

And he on his part begged the allies of Mycenae

καὶ τὰς Μυκήνας συμμάχους ἐλίσσετο.

not to disgrace Argos.

830

ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐσήμηνʼ ὄρθιον Τυρσηνικῇ

But when it signaled shrilly with the Tyrrhenian

σάλπιγγι καὶ συνῆψαν ἀλλήλοις μάχην,

trumpet and they joined battle with one another,

πόσον τινʼ αὐχεῖς πάταγον ἀσπίδων βρέμειν,

how great a crash of shields do you think rattled,

πόσον τινὰ στεναγμὸν οἰμωγήν θʼ ὁμοῦ;

and how great a groaning and wailing at the same time?

τὰ πρῶτα μέν νυν πίτυλος Ἀργείου δορὸς

At first indeed the onslaught of the Argive spear

835

ἐρρήξαθʼ ἡμᾶς· εἶτʼ ἐχώρησαν πάλιν.

broke us; then they retreated.

τὸ δεύτερον δὲ ποὺς ἐπαλλαχθεὶς ποδί,

But the second time, foot was locked with foot,

ἀνὴρ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ στάς, ἐκαρτέρει μάχη·

and man standing against man, the battle held out;

πολλοὶ δʼ ἔπιπτον. ἦν δὲ τοῦ κελεύματος·²

and many were falling. And there was this of the shouting:

Ὦ τὰς Ἀθήνας — Ὦ τὸν Ἀργείων γύην³

”O you who sow Athens — O you who sow the soil

840

σπείροντες — οὐκ ἀρήξετʼ αἰσχύνην πόλει;

of the Argives — will you not ward off disgrace from the city?”

μόλις δὲ πάντα δρῶντες οὐκ ἄτερ πόνων

And with difficulty, doing everything, not without labors,

ἐτρεψάμεσθʼ Ἀργεῖον ἐς φυγὴν δόρυ.

we turned the Argive spear to flight.

κἀνταῦθʼ ὁ πρέσβυς Ὕλλον ἐξορμώμενον

And there the old man, seeing Hyllus rushing forth,

ἰδών, ὀρέξας ἱκέτευσε δεξιὰν

having stretched out his right hand, implored him,

845

Ἰόλαος ἐμβῆσαί νιν ἵππειον δίφρον.

Iolaus implored him to mount him onto the horse-drawn chariot.

λαβὼν δὲ χερσὶν ἡνίας Εὐρυσθέως

And taking the reins in his hands, he pressed hard

πώλοις ἐπεῖχε. τἀπὸ τοῦδʼ ἤδη κλύων

on Eurystheus’ fillies. From this point on indeed, hearing from others

λέγοιμʼ ἂν ἄλλων,⁴ δεῦρο δʼ αὐτὸς εἰσιδών.

I would speak, but up to here seeing it myself.

Παλληνίδος γὰρ σεμνὸν ἐκπερῶν πάγον

For as he crossed the solemn hill of Pallene

850

δίας Ἀθάνας, ἅρμʼ ἰδὼν Εὐρυσθέως,

of divine Athena, seeing the chariot of Eurystheus,

ἠράσαθʼ Ἥβῃ Ζηνί θʼ, ἡμέραν μίαν

he prayed to Hebe and Zeus, for one day

νέος γενέσθαι κἀποτείσασθαι δίκην

to become young and to exact punishment

ἐχθρούς. κλύειν δὴ θαύματος πάρεστί σοι.

from his enemies. Indeed, it is possible for you to hear of a wonder.

δισσὼ γὰρ ἀστέρʼ⁵ ἱππικοῖς ἐπὶ ζυγοῖς

For two stars, having stood upon the horse-yokes,

855

σταθέντʼ ἔκρυψαν ἅρμα λυγαίῳ νέφει·

hid the chariot in a dark cloud;

σὸν δὴ λέγουσι παῖδά γʼ οἱ σοφώτεροι

indeed, the wiser say they were your son

Ἥβην θʼ· ὃ δʼ ὄρφνης ἐκ δυσαιθρίου νέων

and Hebe; and from the stormy darkness he showed

βραχιόνων ἔδειξεν ἡβητὴν τύπον.

the youthful form of new arms.

αἱρεῖ δʼ ὁ κλεινὸς Ἰόλεως Εὐρυσθέως

And the famous Iolaus captured Eurystheus’

860

τέτρωρον ἅρμα πρὸς πέτραις Σκιρωνίσιν,

four-horse chariot near the Scironian rocks,

δεσμοῖς τε δήσας χεῖρας ἀκροθίνιον

and having bound his hands with bonds, he comes leading

κάλλιστον ἥκει τὸν στρατηλάτην ἄγων

the general as a most beautiful first-fruit of victory,

τὸν ὄλβιον πάροιθε. τῇ δὲ νῦν τύχῃ

him who was prosperous before. But by his present fortune

βροτοῖς ἅπασι λαμπρὰ κηρύσσει μαθεῖν,

he proclaims clearly to all mortals to learn,

865

τὸν εὐτυχεῖν δοκοῦντα μὴ ζηλοῦν, πρὶν ἂν

not to envy the one who seems to be successful, until

θανόντʼ ἴδῃ τις· ὡς ἐφήμεροι τύχαι.

one sees him dead; since fortunes are transient.

ὦ Ζεῦ τροπαῖε, νῦν ἐμοὶ δεινοῦ φόβου

[Alcmene] O Zeus Giver of Victory, now it is possible for me

ἐλεύθερον πάρεστιν ἦμαρ εἰσιδεῖν.

to see a day free from terrible fear.

ὦ Ζεῦ, χρόνῳ μὲν τἄμ’ ἐπεσκέψω κακά,

O Zeus, though in time you have looked upon my ills,

870

χάριν δʼ ὅμως σοι τῶν πεπραγμένων ἔχω·

yet I have gratitude to you for what has been done;

καὶ παῖδα τὸν ἐμὸν πρόσθεν οὐ δοκοῦσʼ ἐγὼ

and my son, whom before I did not believe

θεοῖς ὁμιλεῖν νῦν ἐπίσταμαι σαφῶς.

associated with the gods, I now know clearly.

ὦ τέκνα, νῦν δὴ νῦν ἐλεύθεροι πόνων,

O children, now indeed, now you will be free from labors,

ἐλεύθεροι δὲ τοῦ κακῶς ὀλουμένου

and free from Eurystheus who is about to perish miserably,

875

Εὐρυσθέως ἔσεσθε καὶ πόλιν πατρὸς

and you will see the city of your father,

ὄψεσθε, κλήρους δʼ ἐμβατεύσετε χθονὸς

and you will enter into the lots of the land,

καὶ θεοῖς πατρῴοις θύσεθʼ, ὧν ἀπειργμένοι

and you will sacrifice to your paternal gods, from whom being excluded,

ξένοι πλανήτην εἴχετʼ ἄθλιον βίον.

as strangers you held a miserable wandering life.

ἀτὰρ τί κεύθων Ἰόλεως σοφόν ποτε

But hiding what clever thing did Iolaus ever

880

Εὐρυσθέως ἐφείσαθʼ ὥστε μὴ κτανεῖν;

spare Eurystheus, so as not to kill him?

λέξον· παρʼ ἡμῖν μὲν γὰρ οὐ σοφὸν τόδε,

Speak; for with us indeed this is not wise,

ἐχθροὺς λαβόντα μὴ ἀποτείσασθαι δίκην.

having captured enemies not to exact punishment.

τὸ σὸν προτιμῶν, ὥς νιν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἴδοις

[Messenger] Honoring your interest, so that you might see him with your eyes

κρατοῦντα⁶ καὶ σῇ δεσποτούμενον χερί.

conquered and mastered by your hand.

885

οὐ μὴν ἑκόντα γʼ αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς βίαν

Indeed, not of his own will, but by force

ἔζευξʼ ἀνάγκῃ· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἐβούλετο

he yoked him by necessity; for he did not wish

ζῶν ἐς σὸν ἐλθεῖν ὄμμα καὶ δοῦναι δίκην.

living to come to your sight and to pay the penalty.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ γεραιά, χαῖρε καὶ μέμνησό μοι

But, O old woman, farewell, and remember for me...

Syntax notes6 items

811ἔς τʼ ἀπαλλαγὰς πόνων / καλῶς λελέχθαι μῦθον ἔς τʼ εὐψυχίαν.
Governed by the verb ἐπῄνεσεν (applauded). The parallel phrases ἔς τε... ἔς τε... mean "with respect to...", linking the accusative infinitive clause καλῶς λελέχθαι μῦθον (the speech being well spoken) and the accusative noun εὐψυχίαν (courage) as objects/aspects of approval.
838ἦν δὲ τοῦ κελεύματος
A partitive genitive construction after the verb ἦν (there was). It is translated as "there was (something) of this shouting," indicating that the following lines are examples of the cries echoing in the battle.
839Ὦ τὰς Ἀθήνας — Ὦ τὸν Ἀργείων γύην
The phrase Ὦ τὰς Ἀθήνας has an omitted accusative participle (e.g., "inhabiting" or "cultivating") that corresponds to the parallel phrase Ὦ τὸν Ἀργείων γύην σπείροντες (O you who sow the soil of the Argives). It contrasts the rallying cries of the Athenian and Argive leaders to their respective troops.
847τἀπὸ τοῦδʼ ἤδη κλύων / λέγοιμʼ ἂν ἄλλων
Structure: "from this point on (τἀπὸ τοῦδʼ) indeed, hearing from others (κλύων ἄλλων) I would speak (λέγοιμʼ ἂν)." The messenger distinguishes his own eyewitness account (δεῦρο δʼ αὐτὸς εἰσιδών) from second-hand reports. λέγοιμʼ ἂν is a potential optative.
854δισσὼ γὰρ ἀστέρʼ
The words δισσὼ ... ἀστέρʼ ... σταθέντʼ (in line 855) are all in the dual number, specifically denoting the two divine figures, Heracles and Hebe.
884κρατοῦντα
Active participle of κρατέω (to rule/conquer), but here interpreted in a passive sense ("conquered/subdued") to align with the parallel passive participle δεσποτούμενον (being mastered).

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:808-888