se up and go to Argos, where
punishment by stoning awaits you.
IOL. Not so, since the altar of the God will aid me, and the free land in
which we tread.
COP. Do you wish to cause me trouble with this band?
IOL. Surely you will not drag me away, nor these children, seizing by
force?
COP. You shall know; but you are not a good prophet in this.
IOL. This shall never happen, while I am alive.
COP. Depart; but I will lead these away, even though you be unwilling,
considering them, wherever they may be, to belong to Eurystheus.
IOL. O ye who have dwelt in Athens a long time, defend us; for, being
suppliants of Jove, the Presider over the Forum,[3] we are treated with
violence, and our garlands are profaned, both a reproach to the city, and
an insult to the Gods.
CHORUS. Hollo! hollo! what is this noise near the altar? what calamity will
it straightway portend?
IOL. Behold me, a weak old man, thrown down on the plain; miserable that I
am.
CHOR. By whose hand do you fall this unhappy fall?
* * * *
IOL. This man, O strangers, dishonoring your Gods, drags me violently from
the altar of Jupiter.
CHOR. From what land, O old man, have you come hither to this people
dwelling together in four cities?[4] or, have you come hither from across
[the sea] with marine oar, having quitted the Euboean shore?
IOL. O strangers, I am not accustomed to an islander's life, but we are
come to your land from Mycenae.
CHOR. What name, O old man, did the Mycenaean people call you?
IOL. Know that I am lolaus, once the companion of Hercules; for this body
is not unrenowned.
CHOR. I know, having heard of it before; but say whose youthful children
you are leading in your hand.
IOL. These, O strangers, are the sons of Hercules, who are come as
suppliants of you and the city.
CHOR. What do ye seek? or, tell me, is it wanting to have speech of the
city?
IOL. Not to be given up, and not to go to Argos, being dragged from your
Gods by force.
COP. But this will not be sufficient for your masters, who, having power
over you, find you here.
CHOR. It is right, O stranger, to reverence the suppliants of the Gods, and
not for you to leave by violent hands the habitations of the deities, for
venerable Justice will not suffer this.
COP. Send now Eurystheus's subjects out of this land, and I will not use
this hand violently.
CHOR. It is impious for a state to reject the suppliant prayer of
strangers.
COP. But
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