Copreus Doubtless thy folly lets thee think this is a good position to have taken up, and that thou art come to a city that will help thee. No ! there is none that will prefer thy feeble arm to the might of Eurystheus. Begone! why take this trouble? Thou must arise and go to Argos, where awaits thee death by stoning.
Iolaus Not so, for the god’s altar will protect me, and this land of freedom, wherein we have set foot.
Copreus Wilt give me the trouble of laying hands on thee?
Iolaus By force at least shalt thou never drag these children hence.
Copreus That shalt thou soon learn; it seems thou wert a poor prophet, after all, in this.
Iolaus This shall never happen while I live.
Copreus Begone! for I will take them hence, for all thy refusals, for I hold that they belong to Eurystheus, as they do indeed.
Iolaus Help, ye who long have had your home in Athens! we suppliants at Zeus’ altar in your market-place are being haled by force away, our sacred wreaths defiled, shame to your city, to the gods dishonour.
Chorus Hark, hark! What cry is this that rises near the altar? At once explain the nature of the trouble.
Iolaus See this aged frame hurled in its feebleness upon the ground! Woe is me!
Chorus Who threw thee down thus pitiably?
Iolaus Behold the man who flouts your gods, kind sirs, and tries by force to drag me from my seat before the altar of Zeus.
Chorus From what land, old stranger, art thou come to this confederate state of four cities? or have ye left Euboea’s cliffs, and, with the oar that sweeps the sea, put in here from across the firth?
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