showed forth a youthful image of youthful arms.  And the glorious Iolaus takes the four-horse chariot of Eurystheus at the Scironian rocks—­and having bound his hands in fetters, he comes bringing as glorious first-fruits of victory, the general, him who before was prosperous; but by his present fortune he proclaims clearly to all mortals to learn not to envy him who seems prosperous, till one sees him dead, as fortune is but for the day.

CHOR.  O Jupiter, thou turner to flight, now is it mine to behold a day free from dreadful fear.

ALC.  O Jupiter, at length you have looked upon my miseries, but still I thank you for what has been done:  and I, who formerly did not think that my son dwelt with the Gods, now clearly know it.  O children, now indeed you shall be free from toils, and free from Eurystheus, who shall perish miserably; and ye shall see the city of your sire, and you shall tread on your inheritance of land; and ye shall sacrifice to your ancestral gods, debarred from whom ye have had, as strangers, a wandering miserable life.  But devising what clever thing has Iolaus spared Eurystheus, so as not to slay him, tell me; for in my opinion this is not wise, having taken our enemies, not to exact punishment of them.

SERV.  Having respect for you, that with your own eyes you may see him[30] defeated and subjected to your hand; not, indeed, of his own will, but he has bound him by force in constraint, for he was not willing to come alive into your sight and to be punished.  But, O old woman, farewell, and remember for me what you first said when I began my tale.  Make me free; and in such noble people as you the mouth ought to be free from falsehood.

CHOR.  To me the dance is sweet, if there be the thrilling delight of the pipe at the feast; and may Venus be kind.  And sweet it is to see the good fortune of friends who did not expect it before; for the fate which accomplishes gifts gives birth to many things; and Time, the son of Saturn.  You have, O city, a just path, you should never be deprived of it, to honor the Gods; and he who bids you not do so, is near madness, such proofs as these being shown.  God, in truth, evidently exhorts us, taking away the arrogance of the unjust forever.  Your son, O old woman, is gone to heaven; he shuns the report of having descended to the realm of Pluto, being consumed as to his body in the terrible flame of fire; and he embraces the lovely bed of Hebe in the golden hall.  O Hymen, you have honored two children of Jupiter.  Many things agree with many; for in truth they say that Minerva was an ally of their father, and the city and people of that Goddess has saved them, and has restrained the insolence of a man to whom passion was before justice, through violence.  May my mind and soul, never be insatiable.