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221 ALCESTIS 221

" He is in the house," they ansioered. After all, -22 ITiey might have told the story, talked their best About the inevitable sorroio here. -24

" Yea, Pheres' son is in-doors, Herakles. 728

But say, what sends thee to Thessalian soil, Brought by what business to this Pherai town ? " 730

" A certain labor that I have to do Eurustheus the Tirunthian," laughed the God.

" And whither wendest — on what wandering Bound now ? " (^They had an instinct, guessed what

meant Wanderings, labors, in the God^s light mouth.') 735

" After the Thrakian Diomedes' car With the four horses." ^

" Ah, but canst thou that ? Art inexperienced in thy host to be ? "

" All-inexperienced : I have never gone As yet to the land o' the Bistones." ^

" Then, look By no means to be master of the steeds 741

Without a battle I "

" Battle there may be : I must refuse no labor, all the same."

" Certainly, either having slain a foe

Wilt thou return to us, or, slain thyself, 745

Stay there ! "

" And, even if the game be so. The risk in it were not the first I run."

^ Referring to the eighth labor of Heracles. Cf. p. 195. ^ A tribe of Thracians.