THE HERACLEIDAE
To emigrate to. We're as good as gone.
The game is up. I don't care for myself,
Although I hate to let the Argives have
The joy of killing me; it's you that drive 445
Me frantic, and your poor old grandmother,
Brought down so low at such a time of life!
But all I've gone through doesn't count at all;
We're absolutely destined from the start
To fall and be cut down like animals. 450
Yet maybe you can think of something. I
Still think there may be some way out; why don't
You give me up instead of these young boys
And save their lives without risk to yourself?
That's it! I've got no cause to hang onto 455
My life, and their king would be very pleased
To catch and torture Heracles' good friend.
The man's quite low enough. A man with brains
Had better fight with someone of his class,
And so get decent treatment when he's down. 460
Chorus
Oh please don't put the blame on us. To hear
Ourselves accused of giving you away
Sounds ugly, even though it's not deserved.
Demophon
Said like a gentleman, but it won't do.
(To lolaus. Macaria enters -while he speaks.}
The king's not marching here for you; an old 465
Man's not worth bothering about. It's these
He wants to put out of the way, since, as
He's very well aware, young nobles with
A family score to settle can, when they
Grow up, make matters awkward for him then. 470
If you've another plan, let's hear it, since,
I don't mind telling you, these oracles
Have got me worried and at my wit's end.
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