from Argos with brandished lance against this land; for, such my worth, I little merit exile from my home. For thy worship[1] is aye performed with many a sacrifice, and never art thou forgotten as each month draweth to its close, when young voices sing and dancers' music is heard abroad, while on our wind-swept hill goes up the cry of joy to the beat of maidens' feet by night.
Ser. Mistress, the message that I bring is very short for thee to hear and fair for me, who stand before thee, to announce. O'er our foes we are victorious, and trophies are being set up, with panoplies upon them, taken from thy enemies.
Alc. Best of friends! this day hath wrought[2] thy liberty by reason of these tidings. But there still remains one anxious thought thou dost not free me from; a thought of fear;—are those, whose lives I cherish, spared to me?
Ser. They are, and high their fame through all the army spreads.
Alc. The old man Iolaus,—is he yet alive?
Ser. Aye, that he is, a hero whom the gods delight to honour.
Alc. How so? Did he perform some deed of prowess?
Ser. He hath passed from age to youth once more.
Alc. Thy tale is passing strange; but first I would that thou shouldst tell me, how our friends won the day.
Ser. One speech of mine puts it all clearly before thee. When we had deployed our troops and marshalled them face to face with one another, Hyllus dismounted from his four-horsed chariot and stood midway betwixt the hosts. Then cried he, "Captain, who art come from Argos, why cannot we leave this land alone? No hurt wilt thou do Mycenæ, if of one man thou rob her; come! meet me in single combat, and, if thou slay me, take the children of Heracles away with
