EURYSTHEUS.  O woman, know plainly that I will not flatter you, nor say any thing else for my life, whence I may incur any imputation of cowardice.  But not of my own accord did I undertake this strife—­I knew that I was your cousin by birth, and a relation to your son Hercules; but whether I wished it or not, Juno, for it was a Goddess, forced me to toil through this ill.  But when I took up enmity against him, and determined to contest this contest, I became a contriver of many evils, and sitting continually in council with myself, I brought forth many plans by night, how dispersing and slaying my enemies, I might dwell for the future not with fear, knowing that your son was not one of the many, but truly a man; for though he be mine enemy, yet shall he be well spoken of, as he was a doughty man.  And when he was released [from life], did it not behoove me, being hated by these children, and knowing their father’s hatred to me, to move every stone, slaying and banishing them, and contriving, that, doing such things, my own affairs would have been safe?  You, therefore, had you obtained my fortunes, would not have oppressed with evils the hostile offspring of a hated lion, but would wisely have permitted them to live in Argos; you will persuade no one of this.  Now then, since they did not destroy me then, when I was willing, by the laws of the Greeks I shall, if slain, bear pollution to my slayer; and the city, being wise, has let me go, having greater honor for God than for its enmity toward me.  And to what you said you have heard a reply:  and now you may call me at once suppliant and brave.[34] Thus is the case with me, I do not wish to die, but I should not be grieved at leaving life.

CHOR.  I wish, O Alcmena, to advise you a little, to let go this man, since it seems so to the city.

ALC.  But how, if he both die, and still we obey the city?

CHOR.  That would be best; but how can that be?

ALC.  I will teach you, easily; for having slain him, then I will give his corpse to those of his friends who come after him; for I will not deny his body to the earth, but he dying, shall satisfy my revenge.

EU.  Slay me, I do not deprecate thy wrath.  But this city indeed, since it has released me, and feared to slay me, I will present with an ancient oracle of Apollo, which, in time, will be of greater profit than you would expect; for ye will bury me when I am dead, where it is fated, before the temple of the divine virgin of Pallene; and being well disposed to you, and a protector to the city, I shall ever lie as a sojourner under the ground, but most hostile to their descendants when they come hither with much force, betraying this kindness:  such strangers do ye now defend.  How then did I, knowing this, come hither, and not respect the oracle of the God?  Thinking Juno far more powerful than oracles, and that she would not betray me, [I did so.] But suffer neither libations nor blood to be poured on my tomb, for I will give them an evil return as a requital for these things; and ye shall have a double gain from me, I will both profit you and injure them by dying.