out　of　this　perplexity；　we　must　seek　some　other　land；　for　he　this
  country　fain　would　save。
  MACARIA
  Are　these　indeed　the　terms　on　which　our　safety　depends？
  IOLAUS
  Yea；　on　these；　if；　that　is；　we　are　successful　otherwise。
  MACARIA
  No　longer　then　cower　before　the　hated　Argive　spear；　for　I；　of　my
  own　free　will；　or　ever　they　bid　me；　am　ready　to　die　and　offer　myself
  as　a　victim。　For　what　excuse　have　we；　if；　while　this　city　deems　it
  right　to　incur　great　danger　on　our　behalf；　we；　though　we　might　save
  ourselves；　fly　from　death；　by　foisting　our　trouble　on　others？　No！
  indeed；　'twere　surely　most　ridiculous　to　sit　and　mourn　as　suppliants
  of　the　gods；　and　show　ourselves　but　cowards；　children　as　we　are　of
  that　illustrious　sire。　Where　among　the　brave　is　such　conduct　seen？
  Better；　I　suppose；　this　city　should　be　taken　and　I　（which　Heaven
  forefend！）　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy；　and　then；　for　all　I　am　my
  noble　father's　child；　meet　an　awful　doom；　and　face　the　Death…god
  none　the　less。　Shall　I　wander　as　an　exile　from　this　land？　Shall　I
  not　feel　shame　then；　when　someone　says；　as　say　they　will；　〃Why　are
  ye　come　hither　with　suppliant　boughs；　loving　your　lives　too　well？
  Begone　from　our　land！　for　we　will　not　succour　cowards。〃　Nay；　if
  these　be　slain　and　I　alone　be　saved；　I　have　no　hope　in　any　wise　of
  being　happy；　though　many　ere　now　have　in　this　hope　betrayed　their
  friends；　For　who　will　care　to　wed　a　lonely　maid　or　make　me　mother　of
  his　children？　'Tis　better　I　should　die　than　meet　such　treatment；
  little　as　I　merit　it。　This　were　fitter　treatment　for　some　other；　one
  that　is　not　born　to　fame　as　I　am。　Conduct　me　to　the　scene　of　death；
  crown　me　with　garlands；　and　begin　the　rites；　if　so　it　please　you；　then
  be　victorious　o'er　the　foe；　for　here　I　offer　my　life　freely　and
  without　constraint；　and　for　my　brothers　and　myself　I　undertake　to　die。
  For　I；　by　loving　not　my　life　too　well；　have　found　a　treasure　very
  fair；　a　glorious　means　to　leave　it。
  LEADER
  Ah；　what　shall　I　say　on　hearing　the　maid's　brave　words；　she　that
  is　ready　to　die　for　her　brothers？　Who　can　speak　more　noble　words　or　do
  more　noble　deeds　henceforth　for　ever？
  IOLAUS
  Daughter；　thou　art　his　own　true　child；　no　other　man's　but
  Heracles'；　that　godlike　soul；　proud　am　I　of　thy　words；　though　I　sorrow
  for　thy　lot。　Yet　will　I　propose　a　fairer　method：　'tis　right　to
  summon　hither　all　the　sisters　of　this　maiden；　and　then　let　her；　on
  whom　the　lot　shall　fall；　die　for　her　family；　for　that　thou　shouldst
  die　without　the　lot　is　not　just。
  MACARIA
  My　death　shall　no　chance　lot　decide；　there　is　no　graciousness　in
  that；　peace！　old　friend。　But　if　ye　accept　and　will　avail　you　of　my
  readiness；　freely　do　I　offer　my　life　for　these；　and　without
  constraint。
  IOLAUS
  Ah；　this　is　even　nobler　than　thy　former　word；　that　was
  matchless；　but　thou　dost　now　surpass　thy　bravery　and　noble　speech。　I
  cannot　bid；　will　not　forbid　thy　dying；　O　my　daughter！　for　by　thy　death
  thou　dost　thy　brothers　serve。
  MACARIA
  A　cautious　bidding　thine！　Fear　not　to　take　a　stain　of　guilt　from
  me；　only　let　me　die　as　one　whose　death　is　free。　Follow　me；　old　friend；
  for　in　thy　arms　I　fain　would　die；　stand　by　and　veil　my　body　with　my
  robe；　for　I　will　go　even　to　the　dreadful　doom　of　sacrifice；　seeing
  whose　daughter　I　avow　myself。
  IOLAUS
  I　cannot　stand　by　and　see　thee　bleed。
  MACARIA
  At　least　do　thou　beg　me　this　boon　of　the　king；　that　I　may
  breathe　out　my　life　in　women's　arms　instead　of　men's。
  DEMOPHON
  It　shall　be　so；　unhappy　maid；　for　this　were　shame　to　me　to
  refuse　the　honour　due；　for　many　reasons：　because　thou　hast　a　soul　so
  brave；　because　'tis　right；　and　thou　hast　shown　more　courage　than　any
  of　thy　sex　my　eyes　have　ever　seen。　Now；　if　thou　hast　aught　to　say　to
  these　children　or　thy　aged　guide。　oh！　say　the　last　thou　hast　to
  say…then　go。
  MACARIA
  Farewell；　old　friend；　farewell　and　prithee　teach　these　children　to
  be　like　thyself；　wise　at　every　point；　let　them　strive　no　further；
  for　that　will　suffice　them。　And　seek　to　save　them　from　death；　even　as
  thou　art　anxious　to　do；　thy　children　are　we；　thy　care　it　was　that
  nurtured　us。　Thou　seest　how　I　yield　my　bridal　bloom　to　die　for　them。
  For　you；　my　brothers　gathered　here；　may　you　be　happy！　and　may　every
  blessing　be　yours；　for　the　which　my　blood　shall　pay　the　price！
  Honour　this　old　friend；　and　her　that　is　within　the　house；　Alcmena；　the
  aged　mother　of　my　sire；　and　these　strangers　too。　And　if　ever　heaven
  for　you　devise　release　from　trouble　and　a　return　to　your　home；
  remember　the　burial　due　to　her　that　saved　you；　funeral　fair　as　I
  deserve；　for　I　have　not　failed；　but　stood　by　you；　and　died　to　save
  my　race。　This　shall　be　my　pearl　of　price　instead　of　children；　and
  for　the　maiden　life　I　leave；　if　there　be　really　aught　beyond　the
  grave…God　grant　there　may　not　be！　For　if；　e'en　there；　we　who　are　to
  die　shall　find　a　life　of　care；　I　know　not　whither　one　shall　turn；
  for　death　is　held　a　sovereign　cure　for　every　ill。
  IOLAUS
  Maiden　of　heroic　soul；　transcending　all　thy　race；　be　sure　the　fame
  that　thou　shalt　win　from　us；　in　life；　in　death；　shall　leave　the　rest
  of　women　far　behind；　farewell　to　thee！　I　dare　not　say　harsh　words　of
  her　to　whom　thou　art　devoted；　the　goddess…daughter　of　Demeter。
  （DEMOPHON　leads　MACARIA　away。）
  Children；　I　am　undone；　grief　unnerves　my　limbs；　take　hold　and
  support　me　to　a　seat　hard　by；　when　ye　have　drawn　my　mantle　o'er　my
  face；　my　sons。　For　I　am　grieved　at　what　hath　happened；　and　yet；　were
  it　not　fulfilled；　we　could　not　live；　thus　were　our　fate　worse；
  though　this　is　grief　enough。
  CHORUS　（singing）
  strophe
  Without　the　will　of　heaven　none　is　blest；　none　curst；　I　do
  maintain；　nor　doth　the　same　house　for　ever　tread　the　path　of　bliss；
  for　one　kind　of　fortune　follows　hard　upon　another；　one　man　it　brings
  to　naught　from　his　high　estate；　another　though　of　no　account　it　crowns
  with　happiness。　To　shun　what　fate　decrees；　is　no　wise　permitted；
  none　by　cunning　shall　thrust　it　from　him；　but　he；　who　vainly　would
  do　so；　shall　have　unceasing　trouble。
  antistrophe
  Then　fall　not　prostrate　thou；　but　bear　what　heaven　sends；　and
  set　limit　to　thy　soul's　grief；　for　she；　poor　maid！　in　dying　for　her
  brothers　and　this　land；　hath　won　a　glorious　death；　and　splendid　fame
  shall　be　her　meed　from　all　mankind；　for　virtue's　path　leads　through
  troublous　ways。　Worthy　of　her　father；　worthy　of　her　noble　birth　is
  this　she　does。　And　if　thou　dost　honour　the　virtuous　dead；　I　share　with
  thee　that　sentiment。
  （The　SERVANT　OF　HYLLUS　enters。）
  SERVANT　OF　HYLLUS
  All　hail；　ye　children！　Where　is　aged　Iolaus？　where　the　mother　of
  your　'sire；　absent　from　their　place　at　this　altar？
  IOLAUS
  Here　am　I；　so　far　as　I　can　be　here　at　all。
  SERVANT
  Why　dost　thou　lie　there？　Why　that　downcast　look？
  IOLAUS
  There　is　come　a　sorrow　on　my　house；　whereby　I　suffer。
  SERVANT
  Arise；　lift　up　thy　head。
  IOLAUS
  I　am　old；　and　all　my　strength　is　gone。
  SERVANT
  But　I　come　with　tidings　of　great　joy　for　thee。
  IOLAUS
  Who　art　thou？　Where　have　I　met　thee？　I　have　no　remembrance。
  SERVANT
  I　am　a　vassal　of　Hyllus；　dost　not　recognize　me　now？
  IOLAUS
  Best　of　friends；　art　thou　come　to　save　us　twain　from　hurt？
  SERVANT
  Assuredly；　and　moreover　thou　art　lucky　in　the　present　case。
  IOLAUS
  Alcmena；　mother　of　a　noble　son；　to　thee　I　call！　come　forth；　hear
  this　welcome　news。　For　long　has　anguish　caused　thee　inwardly　to　waste；
  wondering　if　those；　who　now　are　here；　would　ever　come。
  （ALCMENA　enters　from　the　temple　in　answer　to　the　call。）
  ALCMENA
  What　means　that　shout；　that　echoes　throughout　the　house？　Hath
  there　come　yet　a　herald　from　Argos；　O　Iolaus；　and　is　he　treating
  thee　with　violence？　Feeble　is　any　strength　of　mine；　yet　thus　much
  let　me　tell　thee；　stranger；　never；　whilst　I　live；　shalt　thou　drag　them
  hence。　Shouldst　thou　succeed；　no　more　let　me　be　thought　the　mother
  of　that　hero。　And　if　thou　lay　a　finger　on　them；　thou　wilt　struggle
  to　thy　shame　with　two　aged　foes。
  IOLAUS
  Courage；　aged　dame；　fear　not；　not　from　Argos　is　a　herald　come；
  with　hostile　messages。
  ALCMENA
  Why　then　didst　raise　a　cry；　fear's　harbinger？
  IOLAUS
  I　called　thee　to　come　to　me　in　front　of　this　temple。
  ALCMENA
  I　know　not　what　it　means；　who　is　this？
  IOLAUS
  A　messenger　who　says　thy　grandson　cometh　hither。
  ALCMENA
  All　hail　to　thee　for　these　thy　tidings！　But　why　is　he　not　here；
  where　is　he？　if　in　this　land　he　hath　set　foot。　What　hath　happened　to
  keep　him　from　coming　hither　with　thee；　to　cheer　my　heart？
  SERVANT
  He　is　posting　the　army　he　brought　with　him；　and　seeing　it
  marshalled。
  ALCMENA
  Then　have　I　no　concern　herein。
  IOLAUS
  Yes；　thou　hast；　though　it　is　my　business　to　inquire。
  SERVANT
  What　then　wouldst　thou　learn　of　these　events？
  IOLAUS
  About　how　many　allies　has　he　with　him？
  SERVANT
  A　numerous　force；　I　cannot　otherwise　describe　the　number。
  IOLAUS
  The　leaders　of　the　Athenians　know　t