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.
