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 it is good to have one’s foot out of trouble, being possessed of the better counsel.

CHOR.  You should then have dared this, having spoken to the king of this land, but you should not drag strangers away from the Gods by force, if you respect a free land.

COP.  But who is king of this country and city?

CHOR.  Demophoon, the son of Theseus, of a noble father.

COP.  With him, then, the contest of this argument had best be; all else is spoken in vain.

CHOR.  And indeed hither he comes in haste, and Acamas, his brother, to hear these words.

DEMOPHOON.  Since you, being an old man, have anticipated us, who are younger, in running to this hearth of Jove, say what hap collects this multitude here.

CHOR.  These sons of Hercules sit here as suppliants, having crowned the altar, as you see.  O king, and Iolaus, the faithful companion of their father.

DE.  Why then did this chance occasion clamors?

CHOR.  This man caused the noise, seeking to lead him by force from this hearth; and he tripped up the legs of the old man, so that I shed the tear for pity.

DE.  And indeed he has a Grecian robe and style of dress; but these are the doings of a barbarian hand; it is for you then to tell me, and not to delay, leaving the confines of what land you are come hither.