222 EURIPIDES
" But, say thou overpower the lord o' the i)lace, AVhat more advautage dost expect thereby ? "
" I shall drive off his horses to the king." τβο
" No easy handling them to bit the jaw ! "
- ' Easy enough ; except, at least, they breathe
Fire from their nostrils 1 "
" But they mince up men With those quick jaws ! "
" You talk of provender For mountain-beasts, and not mere horses' food ! " 755
" Thou mayst behold their mangers caked with gore ! "
" And of what sire does he who bred them boast Himself the son ? "
" Of Ares, king o' the targe — Thrakian, of gold throughout."
Another laugh. " Why, just the labor, just the lot for me 760
Dost thou describe in what I recognize ! Since hard and harder, high and higher yet, Truly this lot of mine is like to go If I must needs join battle with the brood Of Ares : ay, I fought Lukaon first, 765
And again, Kuknos : ^ now engage in strife This third time, with such horses and such lord. But there is nobody shall ever see Alkmene's son shrink foemen's hand before ! "
They gladly stopped the dialogue^ 775
/Shifted the hurthen to new shoulder straight,
^ Referring to two notable contests of Heracles : with Lj'caon. king of Arcadia, and Cycnus (see page 195, line 433), a son of Ares.
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