THE HERACLIDE. THE opening of this tragedy is much like that of the Supplicants. Iolaus is represented as having placed himself and the sons of Hercules at the altar before the temple of Jupiter at Marathon, whither he had led them for refuge from the violence of Eurystheus, who had driven them from Argos, and pursued them from state to state throughout all Greece: Alcmena and the daughters of Hercules are in the temple. The poet has here again an opportunity, which he never omitted, of doing honour to his country, as always ready to take arms in the cause of virtue, and to protect the injured. The glow of heroic virtue animates every part of this drama, and shines with the brightest lustre in Macaria. The character of Iolaus is not less generous: it is recorded of him, that just before the battle he poured this ardent prayer to the gods, Give me back the strength of my youth for this one day, then let me die: so much dearer to him was the protection of the children of Hercules, than the continuance of his own life: the poet has judiciously omitted the latter circumstance of the prayer, because the joy. for so glorious a victory was not to be clouded by the death of this illustrious and venerable hero. This tragedy, considered in a political view, has the same tendency as the Supplicants, to show the ingratitude of the Lacedemonians, who boasted of their descent from the Heraclidæ, and from the ancient oracles to animate the Athenians with presages of victory. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. IOLAUS COPREUS DEMOPHOON MACARIA ALCMENA EURYSTHEUS MESSENGERS OFFICER CHORUS of ATHENIAN MEN. |