SERVANT.  O children, hail!  But at what distance from this place is the aged Iolaus and your father’s mother?

IOL.  We are here, such a presence as mine is.

SERV.  On what account dost thou lie thus, and have an eye so downcast?

IOL.  A domestic care has come upon me, by which I am constrained.

SERV.  Raise now thyself, erect thy head.

IOL.  I am an old man, and by no means strong.

SERV.  But I am come, bearing to you a great joy.

IOL.  And who art thou, where having met you, do I forget you?

SERV.  I am a poor servant of Hyllus; do you not recognize me, seeing me?

IOL.  O dearest one, dost thou then come as a savior to us from injury?

SERV.  Surely; and moreover you are prosperous as to the present state of affairs.

IOL.  O mother of a doughty son, I mean Alcmena, come forth, hear these most welcome words; for you have been long wasting away as to your soul in anxiety concerning those who have come hither, where they would ever arrive.[19]

ALCMENA.  Wherefore has a mighty shout filled all this house?  O Iolaus, does any herald, coming from Argos, again do you violence? my strength indeed is weak, but thus much you must know, O stranger, you shall never drag these away while I am living, else may I no longer be thought to be his mother; but if you touch them with your hand, you will have no honorable contest with two old people.

IOL.  Be of good cheer, old woman; fear not, the herald is not come from
Argos bearing hostile words.

ALC.  Why then did you raise a shout, a messenger of fear?

IOL.  To you, that you should approach near before this temple.

ALC.  I do not understand this; for who is this man?

IOL.  He announces that your son’s son is come.

ALC.  O! hail thou also for this news; but why and where[20] is he now absent putting his foot in this country? what calamity prevents him from appearing hither with you, and delighting my mind?

SERV.  He is stationing and marshaling the army which he has come bringing.

ALC.  I no longer understand this speech.

IOL.  I do; but it is my business to inquire about this.

SERV.  What then of what has been done do you wish to learn?

IOL.  With how great a multitude of allies is he come?

SERV.  With many; but I can say no other number.

IOL.  The chiefs of the Athenians know, I suppose.

SERV.  They do; and they occupy the left wing.[21]

IOL.  Is then the army already armed as for the work?

SERV.  Ay; and already the victims are led away from the ranks.

IOL.  And how far distant is the Argive army?

SERV.  So that the general can be distinctly seen.

IOL.  Doing what? arraying the ranks of the enemies?

SERV.  We conjectured this, for we did not hear him; but I will go; I should not like my masters to join battle with the enemy, deserted as far as my part is concerned.