At the entrance of Heracles’ house in Thebes, before the altar of Zeus.Amphitryon:What mortal has not heard of the one who shared a wife with Zeus, Amphitryon of Argos, whom once Alcaeus, son of Perseus, begot, Amphitryon the father of Heracles? Who lived here in Thebes, where from the sowingof the dragon’s teeth grew up a crop of earth-born giants; and of these Ares saved a scanty band, and their children’s children people the city of Cadmus. Hence sprung Creon, son of Menoeceus, king of this land;and Creon became the father of this lady Megara, whom once all Cadmus’ race escorted with the glad music of lutes at her wedding, when the famous Heracles led her to my halls. Now he, my son, left Thebes where I was settled, left his wife Megara and her kin,eager to make his home in Argolis, in that walled town which the Cyclopes built, from which I am exiled for the slaying of Electryon; so he, wishing to lighten my affliction and to find a home in his own land, offered Eurystheus a mighty price for my recall:to free the world of savage monsters, whether it was that Hera goaded him to submit to this, or that fate was leagued against him. Other toils he has accomplished, and last of all has he passed through the mouth of Taenarus into the halls of Hades to drag to the lightthat hound with three bodies, and from there he has never returned. Now there is an ancient legend among the race of Cadmus that a certain Lycus in days gone by was husband to Dirce, and he was king of this city with its seven towers, before Amphion and Zethus, sons of Zeus,lords of the milk-white steeds, became rulers in the land. His son, called by the same name as his father, although no Theban but a stranger from Euboea, slew Creon, and after that seized the government, having fallen on this city when weakened by dissension.
Ἀμφιτρύων:Τίς τὸν Διὸς σύλλεκτρον οὐκ οἶδεν βροτῶν,Ἀργεῖον Ἀμφιτρύωνʼ, ὃν Ἀλκαῖός ποτεἔτιχθʼ ὁ Περσέως, πατέρα τόνδʼ Ἡρακλέους;ὃς τάσδε Θήβας ἔσχον, ἔνθʼ ὁ γηγενὴςσπαρτῶν στάχυς ἔβλαστεν, ὧν γένους Ἄρηςἔσωσʼ ἀριθμὸν ὀλίγον, οἳ Κάδμου πόλιντεκνοῦσι παίδων παισίν. ἔνθεν ἐξέφυΚρέων Μενοικέως παῖς, ἄναξ τῆσδε χθονός.Κρέων δὲ Μεγάρας τῆσδε γίγνεται πατήρ,ἣν πάντες ὑμεναίοισι Καδμεῖοί ποτελωτῷ συνηλάλαξαν, ἡνίκʼ εἰς ἐμοὺςδόμους ὁ κλεινὸς Ἡρακλῆς νιν ἤγετο.λιπὼν δὲ Θήβας, οὗ κατῳκίσθην ἐγώ,Μεγάραν τε τήνδε πενθερούς τε παῖς ἐμὸςἈργεῖα τείχη καὶ Κυκλωπίαν πόλινὠρέξατʼ οἰκεῖν, ἣν ἐγὼ φεύγω κτανὼνἨλεκτρύωνα· συμφορὰς δὲ τὰς ἐμὰςἐξευμαρίζων καὶ πάτραν οἰκεῖν θέλων,καθόδου δίδωσι μισθὸν Εὐρυσθεῖ μέγαν,ἐξημερῶσαι γαῖαν, εἴθʼ Ἥρας ὕποκέντροις δαμασθεὶς εἴτε τοῦ χρεὼν μέτα.καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους ἐξεμόχθησεν πόνους,τὸ λοίσθιον δὲ Ταινάρου διὰ στόμαβέβηκʼ ἐς Ἅιδου, τὸν τρισώματον κύναἐς φῶς ἀνάξων, ἔνθεν οὐχ ἥκει πάλιν.γέρων δὲ δή τις ἔστι Καδμείων λόγοςὡς ἦν πάρος Δίρκης τις εὐνήτωρ Λύκοςτὴν ἑπτάπυργον τήνδε δεσπόζων πόλιν,τὼ λευκοπώλω πρὶν τυραννῆσαι χθονὸςἈμφίονʼ ἠδὲ Ζῆθον, ἐκγόνω Διός.οὗ ταὐτὸν ὄνομα παῖς πατρὸς κεκλημένος,Καδμεῖος οὐκ ὤν, ἀλλʼ ἀπʼ Εὐβοίας μολών,κτείνει Κρέοντα καὶ κτανὼν ἄρχει χθονός,στάσει νοσοῦσαν τήνδʼ ἐπεσπεσὼν πόλιν.
So this family connection with Creon is likely to prove to us a serious evil; for now that my son is in the bowels of the earth, this new monarch Lycus is bent on extirpating the children of Heracles,to quench one bloody feud with another, likewise his wife and me, if useless age like mine is to rank among men, that the boys may never grow up to exact a blood-penalty of their uncle’s family. So I, left here by my son, while he is gone into the pitchy darkness of the earth,to tend and guard his children in his house, am taking my place with their mother, that the race of Heracles may not perish, here at the altar of Zeus the Savior, which my own gallant child set upto commemorate his glorious victory over the Minyae. And here we are careful to keep our station, though in need of everything, of food, drink and clothes, huddled together on the hard bare ground; for we are barred out from our house and sit here for want of any other safety.
ἡμῖν δὲ κῆδος ἐς Κρέοντʼ ἀνημμένονκακὸν μέγιστον, ὡς ἔοικε, γίγνεται.τοὐμοῦ γὰρ ὄντος παιδὸς ἐν μυχοῖς χθονὸςὁ καινὸς οὗτος τῆσδε γῆς ἄρχων Λύκοςτοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας ἐξελεῖν θέλεικτανὼν δάμαρτά ⟨θʼ⟩, ὡς φόνῳ σβέσῃ φόνον,κἄμʼ — εἴ τι δὴ χρὴ κἄμʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν λέγεινγέροντʼ ἀχρεῖον — μή ποθʼ οἵδʼ ἠνδρωμένοιμήτρωσιν ἐκπράξωσιν αἵματος δίκην.ἐγὼ δέ — λείπει γάρ με τοῖσδʼ ἐν δώμασιντροφὸν τέκνων οἰκουρόν, ἡνίκα χθονὸςμέλαιναν ὄρφνην εἰσέβαινε, παῖς ἐμός —σὺν μητρί, τέκνα μὴ θάνωσʼ Ἡρακλέους,βωμὸν καθίζω τόνδε σωτῆρος Διός,ὃν καλλινίκου δορὸς ἄγαλμʼ ἱδρύσατοΜινύας κρατήσας οὑμὸς εὐγενὴς τόκος.πάντων δὲ χρεῖοι τάσδʼ ἕδρας φυλάσσομεν,σίτων ποτῶν ἐσθῆτος, ἀστρώτῳ πέδῳπλευρὰς τιθέντες· ἐκ γὰρ ἐσφραγισμένοιδόμων καθήμεθʼ ἀπορίᾳ σωτηρίας.
As for friends, some I see are unreliable; while others, who are staunch, have no power to help us further. This is what misfortune means to man; may it never fall to the lot of any who bears the least goodwill to me, to apply this never-failing test of friendship!
φίλων δὲ τοὺς μὲν οὐ σαφεῖς ὁρῶ φίλους,οἳ δʼ ὄντες ὀρθῶς ἀδύνατοι προσωφελεῖν.τοιοῦτον ἀνθρώποισιν ἡ δυσπραξία·ἧς μήποθʼ ὅστις καὶ μέσως εὔνους ἐμοὶτύχοι, φίλων ἔλεγχον ἀψευδέστατον.
Megara:Old warrior, who once razed the citadel of the Taphians leading on the troops of Thebes to glory, how uncertain are the gods’ dealings with man! I, for instance, as far as concerned my father, was never an outcast of fortune, for he was once accounted a man of might by reason of his wealth,possessed as he was of royal power, for which long spears are launched at the lives of the fortunate through love of it; children too he had; and he gave me to your son, matching me in glorious marriage with Heracles. And now all that is dead and gone from us;and I and you, old friend, are doomed to die, and these children of Heracles, whom I am guarding beneath my wing as a bird keeps her tender chicks under her. And they one after another keep asking me: “Mother, tell us, where is our father gone from the land?”
Μεγάρα:ὦ πρέσβυ, Ταφίων ὅς ποτʼ ἐξεῖλες πόλινστρατηλατήσας κλεινὰ Καδμείων δορός,ὡς οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποισι τῶν θείων σαφές.ἐγὼ γὰρ οὔτʼ ἐς πατέρʼ ἀπηλάθην τύχης,ὃς οὕνεκʼ ὄλβου μέγας ἐκομπάσθη ποτέ,ἔχων τυραννίδʼ, ἧς μακραὶ λόγχαι πέριπηδῶσʼ ἔρωτι σώματʼ εἰς εὐδαίμονα,ἔχων δὲ τέκνα· κἄμʼ ἔδωκε παιδὶ σῷἐπίσημον εὐνὴν Ἡρακλεῖ συνοικίσας.καὶ νῦν ἐκεῖνα μὲν θανόντʼ ἀνέπτατο,ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ σὺ μέλλομεν θνῄσκειν, γέρον,οἵ θʼ Ἡράκλειοι παῖδες, οὓς ὑπὸ πτεροῖςσῴζω νεοσσοὺς ὄρνις ὣς ὑφειμένη.οἳ δʼ εἰς ἔλεγχον ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν πίτνων,Ὦ μῆτερ, αὐδᾷ, ποῖ πατὴρ ἄπεστι γῆς;
“what is he doing? when will he return?” Thus they inquire for their father, in childish perplexity; while I put them off with excuses, inventing stories; but still I wonder if it is he whenever a door creaks on its hinges, and up they all start, thinking to embrace their father’s knees.
τί δρᾷ, πόθʼ ἥξει; τῷ νέῳ δʼ ἐσφαλμένοιζητοῦσι τὸν τεκόντʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ διαφέρωλόγοισι, μυθεύουσα. θαυμάζων δʼ ὅτανπύλαι ψοφῶσι, πᾶς ἀνίστησιν πόδα,ὡς πρὸς πατρῷον προσπεσούμενοι γόνυ.
What hope or way of salvation are you now devising, old friend? for I look to you. We can never steal beyond the boundaries of the land unseen, for there is too strict a watch set on us at every outlet, nor have we any longer hopes of safetyin our friends. Whatever your scheme is, declare it, lest our death be made ready.
νῦν οὖν τίνʼ ἐλπίδʼ ἢ πέδον σωτηρίαςἐξευμαρίζῃ, πρέσβυ; πρὸς σὲ γὰρ βλέπω.ὡς οὔτε γαίας ὅριʼ ἂν ἐκβαῖμεν λάθρᾳ·φυλακαὶ γὰρ ἡμῶν κρείσσονες κατʼ ἐξόδους·οὔτʼ ἐν φίλοισιν ἐλπίδες σωτηρίαςἔτʼ εἰσὶν ἡμῖν. ἥντινʼ οὖν γνώμην ἔχειςλέγʼ ἐς τὸ κοινόν, μὴ θανεῖν ἕτοιμον ᾖ.
Amphitryon:It is by no means easy, my daughter, to give one’s earnest advice on such matters off hand, without weary thought; but let us prolong the time, since we are powerless to escape.
Ἀμφιτρύων:ὦ θύγατερ, οὔτοι ῥᾴδιον τὰ τοιάδεφαύλως παραινεῖν, σπουδάσαντʼ ἄνευ πόνου·χρόνον δὲ μηκύνωμεν ὄντες ἀσθενεῖς.
Megara:Do you need a further taste of grief, or do you cling so fast to life?
Μεγάρα:λύπης τι προσδεῖς ἢ φιλεῖς οὕτω φάος;
Amphitryon:Yes, I love this life, and cling to its hopes.
Ἀμφιτρύων:καὶ τῷδε χαίρω καὶ φιλῶ τὰς ἐλπίδας.
Megara:So do I; but you should not expect the unexpected, old friend.
Μεγάρα:κἀγώ· δοκεῖν δὲ τἀδόκητʼ οὐ χρή, γέρον.
Amphitryon:In these delays the only cure for our evils is left.
Ἀμφιτρύων:ἐν ταῖς ἀναβολαῖς τῶν κακῶν ἔνεστʼ ἄκη.
Megara:It is the biting pain of that interval I feel so.
Μεγάρα:ὁ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ με λυπρὸς ὢν δάκνει χρόνος.
Amphitryon:Daughter, there may yet be a happy escape from present troubles for me and you; my son, your husband, may yet arrive. So calm yourself, and wipe those tears from your children’s eyes, and soothe them with soft words,inventing a tale to delude then, piteous though such fraud be. Yes, for even men’s misfortunes often flag, and the stormy wind does not always blow so strong, nor are the prosperous ever so; for all things change, making way for each other.
Ἀμφιτρύων:ἔτʼ ἂν γένοιτʼ, ὦ θύγατερ, οὔριος δρόμοςἐκ τῶν παρόντων τῶνδʼ ἐμοὶ καὶ σοὶ κακῶν,ἔλθοι τʼ ἔτʼ ἂν παῖς οὑμός, εὐνήτωρ δὲ σός.ἀλλʼ ἡσύχαζε καὶ δακρυρρόους τέκνωνπηγὰς ἀφαίρει καὶ παρευκήλει λόγοις,κλέπτουσα μύθοις ἀθλίους κλοπὰς ὅμως.κάμνουσι γάρ τοι καὶ βροτῶν αἱ συμφοραί,καὶ πνεύματʼ ἀνέμων οὐκ ἀεὶ ῥώμην ἔχει·οἵ τʼ εὐτυχοῦντες διὰ τέλους οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς.ἐξίσταται γὰρ πάντʼ ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων δίχα.
The bravest man is he who relies ever on his hopes, but despair is the mark of a coward.
οὗτος δʼ ἀνὴρ ἄριστος ὅστις ἐλπίσιπέποιθεν αἰεί· τὸ δʼ ἀπορεῖν ἀνδρὸς κακοῦ.
Chorus:To the sheltering roof, to the old man’s couch, leaning on my staff have I set forth,chanting a plaintive dirge like some bird grown grey, I that am only a voice and a fancy bred of the visions of sleep by night, palsied with age, yet meaning kindly. All hail! you orphaned children!all hail, old friend! you too, unhappy mother, wailing for your husband in the halls of Hades!
Χορός:—ὑπώροφα μέλαθρα καὶγεραιὰ δέμνιʼ, ἀμφὶ βάκτροιςἔρεισμα θέμενος, ἐστάληνἰηλέμων γόων ἀοι-δὸς ὥστε πολιὸς ὄρνις,ἔπεα μόνον καὶ δόκη-μα νυκτερωπὸν ἐννύχων ὀνείρων,τρομερὰ μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως πρόθυμʼ.ὦ τέκεα, τέκεα πατρὸς ἀπάτορʼ,ὦ γεραιὲ σύ τε τάλαινα μᾶ-τερ, ἃ τὸν Ἀίδα δόμοιςπόσιν ἀναστενάζεις.
Chorus:Do not faint too soon upon your way,or let your limbs grow weary, as a colt beneath the yoke grows weary as he mounts some stony hill, dragging the weight of a wheeled chariot. Take hold of hand or robe, who ever feels his footsteps falter.
Χορός:—μὴ προκάμητε πόδα βαρύ τεκῶλον ὥστε πρὸς πετραῖονλέπας ζυγηφόρον πῶλονἀνέντες ὡς βάρος φέροντροχηλάτοιο πώλου.λαβοῦ χερῶν καὶ πέπλων,ὅτου λέλοιπε ποδὸς ἀμαυρὸν ἴχνος·
Old friend, escort another like yourself, who once amid his toiling peers in the days of our youth would take his place beside you, no blot upon his country’s glorious record.Chorus:See, how like their father’s sternly flash these children’s eyes! Misfortune has not failed his children, nor yet has his comeliness been denied them.
γέρων γέροντα παρακόμιζʼ,ᾧ ξύνοπλα δόρατα νέα νέῳτὸ πάρος ἐν ἡλίκων πόνοιςξυνῆν ποτʼ, εὐκλεεστάταςΧορός:—ἴδετε, πατέρος ὡς γορ-γῶπες αἵδε προσφερεῖςὀμμάτων αὐγαί,τὸ δὲ κακοτυχὲς οὐ λέλοιπεν ἐκ τέκνωνοὐδʼ ἀποίχεται χάρις.
O Hellas! if you lose these, of what allies will you rob yourself!
Ἑλλὰς ὦ ξυμμάχουςοἵους οἵους ὀλέσα-σα τούσδʼ ἀποστερήσῃ.
Chorus:But I see Lycus, the ruler of this land, drawing near the house.
Χορός:—ἀλλʼ εἰσορῶ γὰρ τῆσδε κοίρανον χθονὸςΛύκον περῶντα τῶνδε δωμάτων πέλας.
Lycus:One question, if I may, to this father of Heracles and his wife; and certainly as your lord and master I have a right to put what questions I choose. How long do you seek to prolong your lives? What hope, what aid do you see to save you from death?
Λύκος:τὸν Ἡράκλειον πατέρα καὶ ξυνάορον,εἰ χρή μʼ, ἐρωτῶ· χρὴ δʼ, ἐπεί γε δεσπότηςὑμῶν καθέστηχʼ, ἱστορεῖν ἃ βούλομαι.τίνʼ ἐς χρόνον ζητεῖτε μηκῦναι βίον;τίνʼ ἐλπίδʼ ἀλκήν τʼ εἰσορᾶτε μὴ θανεῖν;
Do you trust that these children’s father, who lies dead in the halls of Hades, will return? How unworthily you show your sorrow at having to die, you to Amphitryon after your idle boasts, scattered broadcast through Hellas, that Zeus was partner in your marriage-bed and was your partner in children;and you, to Megara after calling yourself the wife of so peerless a lord.
ἢ τὸν παρʼ Ἅιδῃ πατέρα τῶνδε κείμενονπιστεύεθʼ ἥξειν; ὡς ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀξίαντὸ πένθος αἴρεσθʼ, εἰ θανεῖν ὑμᾶς χρεών,σὺ μὲν καθʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ἐκβαλὼν κόμπους κενούς,ὡς σύγγαμός σοι Ζεὺς τέκ⟨νου τε κ⟩οινεών,σὺ δʼ ὡς ἀρίστου φωτὸς ἐκλήθης δάμαρ.
After all, what was the fine exploit your husband achieved, if he did kill a water-snake in a marsh or that monster of Nemea? which he caught in a snare, for all he says he strangled it to death in his arms.
τί δὴ τὸ σεμνὸν σῷ κατείργασται πόσει,ὕδραν ἕλειον εἰ διώλεσε κτανὼνἢ τὸν Νέμειον θῆρα; ὃν ἐν βρόχοις ἑλὼνβραχίονός φησʼ ἀγχόναισιν ἐξελεῖν.
Are these your weapons for the hard struggle? Is it for this then that Heracles’ children should be spared? A man who has won a reputation for valor in his contests with beasts, in all else a weakling;who never buckled shield to arm nor faced the spear, but with a bow, that coward’s weapon, was ever ready to run away. Archery is no test of manly bravery; no! he is a man who keeps his post in the ranks and steadily faces the swift wound the spear may plough.
τοῖσδʼ ἐξαγωνίζεσθε; τῶνδʼ ἄρʼ οὕνεκατοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας οὐ θνῄσκειν χρεών;ὃς ἔσχε δόξαν οὐδὲν ὢν εὐψυχίαςθηρῶν ἐν αἰχμῇ, τἄλλα δʼ οὐδὲν ἄλκιμος,ὃς οὔποτʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔσχε πρὸς λαιᾷ χερὶοὐδʼ ἦλθε λόγχης ἐγγύς, ἀλλὰ τόξʼ ἔχων,κάκιστον ὅπλον, τῇ φυγῇ πρόχειρος ἦν.ἀνδρὸς δʼ ἔλεγχος οὐχὶ τόξʼ εὐψυχίας,ἀλλʼ ὃς μένων βλέπει τε κἀντιδέρκεταιδορὸς ταχεῖαν ἄλοκα τάξιν ἐμβεβώς.
My policy, again, old man, shows no reckless cruelty, but caution; for I am well aware I slew Creon, the father of this woman, and am in possession of his throne. So I have no wish that these children should grow up and be left to take vengeance on me in requital for what I have done.
ἔχει δὲ τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἀναίδειαν, γέρον,ἀλλʼ εὐλάβειαν· οἶδα γὰρ κατακτανὼνΚρέοντα πατέρα τῆσδε καὶ θρόνους ἔχων.οὔκουν τραφέντων τῶνδε τιμωροὺς ἐμοὺςχρῄζω λιπέσθαι τῶν δεδραμένων δίκην.
Amphitryon:Let Zeus defend his his own share in his son; but as for me, Heracles, it is my concern on your behalf to prove by what I say this tyrant’s ignorance; for I cannot allow you to be ill spoken of. First then for that which should never have been said—for to speakof you, Heracles, as a coward is, I think, outside the pale of speech—of that must I clear you with heaven to witness. I appeal then to the thunder of Zeus, and the chariot in which he rode, when he pierced the Giants, earth’s brood, to the heart with his winged shafts,and with gods uplifted the glorious triumph song; or go to Pholoe and ask the insolent tribe of four-legged Centaurs, you craven king, ask them who they would judge the bravest of men; will they not say my son, who according to you is but a pretender?
Ἀμφιτρύων:τῷ τοῦ Διὸς μὲν Ζεὺς ἀμυνέτω μέρειπαιδός· τὸ δʼ εἰς ἔμʼ, Ἡράκλεις, ἐμοὶ μέλειλόγοισι τὴν τοῦδʼ ἀμαθίαν ὑπὲρ σέθενδεῖξαι· κακῶς γάρ σʼ οὐκ ἐατέον κλύειν.πρῶτον μὲν οὖν τἄρρητʼ — ἐν ἀρρήτοισι γὰρτὴν σὴν νομίζω δειλίαν, Ἡράκλεες —σὺν μάρτυσιν θεοῖς δεῖ μʼ ἀπαλλάξαι σέθεν.Διὸς κεραυνόν τʼ ἠρόμην τέθριππά τε,ἐν οἷς βεβηκὼς τοῖσι γῆς βλαστήμασινΓίγασι πλευροῖς πτήνʼ ἐναρμόσας βέλητὸν καλλίνικον μετὰ θεῶν ἐκώμασεν·τετρασκελές θʼ ὕβρισμα, Κενταύρων γένος,Φολόην ἐπελθών, ὦ κάκιστε βασιλέων,ἐροῦ τίνʼ ἄνδρʼ ἄριστον ἐγκρίνειαν ἄν,ἢ οὐ παῖδα τὸν ἐμόν, ὃν σὺ φῂς εἶναι δοκεῖν.
Were you to ask Euboean Dirphys, your native place, it would not sing your praise, for you have never done a single gallant deed to which your country can witness. Next you disparage that clever invention, an archer’s weapon;
Δίρφυν τʼ ἐρωτῶν ἥ σʼ ἔθρεψʼ Ἀβαντίδα …οὐκ ἄν σʼ ἐπαινέσειεν· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπουἐσθλόν τι δράσας μάρτυρʼ ἂν λάβοις πάτραν.τὸ πάνσοφον δʼ εὕρημα, τοξήρη σαγήν,μέμφῃ· κλύων νῦν τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ σοφὸς γενοῦ.
come, listen to me and learn wisdom. A man who fights in line is a slave to his weapons, and if his fellow-comrades want for courage he is slain himself through the cowardice of his neighbors, or, if he breaks his spear, he cannot defend his body from death, having only one means of defence;
ἀνὴρ ὁπλίτης δοῦλός ἐστι τῶν ὅπλωνκαὶ τοῖσι συνταχθεῖσιν οὖσι μὴ ἀγαθοῖςαὐτὸς τέθνηκε δειλίᾳ τῇ τῶν πέλας,θραύσας τε λόγχην οὐκ ἔχει τῷ σώματιθάνατον ἀμῦναι, μίαν ἔχων ἀλκὴν μόνον·
whereas all who are armed with the trusty bow, though they have but one weapon, yet is it the best; for a man, after discharging countless arrows, still has others with which to defend himself from death, and standing at a distance keeps off the enemy, wounding them for all their watchfulness with invisible shafts,and never exposing himself to the foe, but keeping under cover; and this is by far the wisest course in battle, to harm the enemy and keep safe oneself, independent of chance. These arguments completely contradict yourswith regard to the matter at issue. Next, why are you desirous of slaying these children? What have they done to you? One piece of wisdom I credit you with, your coward terror of a brave man’s descendants. Still it is hard on us,if for your cowardice we must die; a fate that ought to have overtaken you at our braver hands, if Zeus had been fairly disposed towards us. But, if you are so anxious to make yourself supreme in the land, let us go into exile;
ὅσοι δὲ τόξοις χεῖρʼ ἔχουσιν εὔστοχον,ἓν μὲν τὸ λῷστον, μυρίους οἰστοὺς ἀφεὶςἄλλοις τὸ σῶμα ῥύεται μὴ κατθανεῖν,ἑκὰς δʼ ἀφεστὼς πολεμίους ἀμύνεταιτυφλοῖς ὁρῶντας οὐτάσας τοξεύμασιντὸ σῶμά τʼ οὐ δίδωσι τοῖς ἐναντίοις,ἐν εὐφυλάκτῳ δʼ ἐστί· τοῦτο δʼ ἐν μάχῃσοφὸν μάλιστα, δρῶντα πολεμίους κακῶςσῴζειν τὸ σῶμα, μὴ ʼκ τύχης ὡρμισμένον.λόγοι μὲν οἵδε τοῖσι σοῖς ἐναντίανγνώμην ἔχουσι τῶν καθεστώτων πέρι.παῖδας δὲ δὴ τί τούσδʼ ἀποκτεῖναι θέλεις;τί σʼ οἵδʼ ἔδρασαν; ἕν τί σʼ ἡγοῦμαι σοφόν,εἰ τῶν ἀρίστων τἄκγονʼ αὐτὸς ὢν κακὸςδέδοικας. ἀλλὰ τοῦθʼ ὅμως ἡμῖν βαρύ,εἰ δειλίας σῆς κατθανούμεθʼ εἵνεκα,ὃ χρῆν σʼ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν τῶν ἀμεινόνων παθεῖν,εἰ Ζεὺς δικαίας εἶχεν εἰς ἡμᾶς φρένας.εἰ δʼ οὖν ἔχειν γῆς σκῆπτρα τῆσδʼ αὐτὸς θέλεις,ἔασον ἡμᾶς φυγάδας ἐξελθεῖν χθονός·
abstain from all violence, else you will suffer by it whenever the god causes fortune’s breeze to veer round.
βίᾳ δὲ δράσῃς μηδέν, ἢ πείσῃ βίαν,ὅταν θεοῦ σοι πνεῦμα μεταβαλὸν τύχῃ.
Ah! you land of Cadmus—for to you too will I turn, distributing my words of reproach—is this your defense of Heracles and his children?
φεῦ·ὦ γαῖα Κάδμου· καὶ γὰρ ἐς σὲ ἀφίξομαιλόγους ὀνειδιστῆρας ἐνδατούμενος·τοιαῦτʼ ἀμύνεθʼ Ἡρακλεῖ τέκνοισί τε;
the man who faced alone all the Minyans in battle and allowed Thebes to see the light with free eyes. I cannot praise Hellas, nor will I ever keep silence, finding her so craven as regards my son; she should have come with fire and sword and warrior’s armsto help these tender chicks, to requite him for all his labors in purging land and sea. Such help, my children, neither Hellas nor the city of Thebes affords you; to me a feeble friend you look, and I am empty sound and nothing more.
ὃς εἷς Μινύαισι πᾶσι διὰ μάχης μολὼνΘήβαις ἔθηκεν ὄμμʼ ἐλεύθερον βλέπειν.οὐδʼ Ἑλλάδʼ ᾔνεσʼ — οὐδʼ ἀνέξομαί ποτεσιγῶν — κακίστην λαμβάνων ἐς παῖδʼ ἐμόν,ἣν χρῆν νεοσσοῖς τοῖσδε πῦρ λόγχας ὅπλαφέρουσαν ἐλθεῖν, ποντίων καθαρμάτωνχέρσου τʼ ἀμοιβάς — ὧν ἐμόχθησας χάριν.τὰ δʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ, ὑμῖν οὔτε Θηβαίων πόλιςοὔθʼ Ἑλλὰς ἀρκεῖ· πρὸς δʼ ἔμʼ ἀσθενῆ φίλονδεδόρκατʼ, οὐδὲν ὄντα πλὴν γλώσσης ψόφον.
For the vigor which once I had, has gone from me; my limbs are palsied with age, and my strength is decayed. If I were young and still powerful in body, I would have seized my spear and dabbled those flaxen locks of his with blood, so that the coward would nowbe flying from my spear beyond the bounds of Atlas.
ῥώμη γὰρ ἐκλέλοιπεν ἣν πρὶν εἴχομεν,γήρᾳ δὲ τρομερὰ γυῖα κἀμαυρὸν σθένος.εἰ δʼ ἦ νέος τε κἄτι σώματος κρατῶν,λαβὼν ἂν ἔγχος τοῦδε τοὺς ξανθοὺς πλόκουςκαθῃμάτωσʼ ἄν, ὥστʼ Ἀτλαντικῶν πέρανφεύγειν ὅρων ἂν δειλίᾳ τοὐμὸν δόρυ.
Chorus Leader:Have not the brave among mankind a fair occasion for speech, although slow to begin?
Χορός:ἆρʼ οὐκ ἀφορμὰς τοῖς λόγοισιν ἁγαθοὶθνητῶν ἔχουσι, κἂν βραδύς τις ᾖ λέγειν;
Lycus:Say what you will of me in your exalted phrase, but I by deeds will make you rue those words.
Λύκος:σὺ μὲν λέγʼ ἡμᾶς οἷς πεπύργωσαι λόγοις,ἐγὼ δὲ δράσω σʼ ἀντὶ τῶν λόγων κακῶς.
Calling to his servants Go, some to Helicon, others to the glens of Parnassus, and bid woodmen to cut me logs of oak, and when they are brought to the town, pile up a stack of wood all round the altar on either side, and set fire to it and burn themall alive, that they may learn that the dead no longer rules this land, but that for the present I am king. Angrily to the Chorus As for you, old men, since you thwart my views, not for the children of Heracles alone shall you lament, but likewise for your ownmisfortunes, and you shall never forget you are slaves and I your prince.
ἄγʼ, οἳ μὲν Ἑλικῶνʼ, οἳ δὲ Παρνασοῦ πτυχὰςτέμνειν ἄνωχθʼ ἐλθόντες ὑλουργοὺς δρυὸςκορμούς· ἐπειδὰν δʼ ἐσκομισθῶσιν πόλει,βωμὸν πέριξ νήσαντες ἀμφήρη ξύλαἐμπίμπρατʼ αὐτῶν καὶ πυροῦτε σώματαπάντων, ἵνʼ εἰδῶσʼ οὕνεκʼ οὐχ ὁ κατθανὼνκρατεῖ χθονὸς τῆσδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τὰ νῦν τάδε.ὑμεῖς δέ, πρέσβεις, ταῖς ἐμαῖς ἐναντίοιγνώμαισιν ὄντες, οὐ μόνον στενάξετετοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας, ἀλλὰ καὶ δόμουτύχας, ὅταν πάσχῃ τι, μεμνήσεσθε δὲδοῦλοι γεγῶτες τῆς ἐμῆς τυραννίδος.
Chorus:—You sons of Earth, whom Ares once sowed, when from the dragon’s ravening jaw he had torn the teeth, up with your staves, on which you lean your hands,and dash out this villain’s brains! a fellow who, without even being a Theban, but a foreigner, lords it shamefully over the younger men; but my master shall you never be to your joy.
Χορός:— ὦ γῆς λοχεύμαθʼ, οὓς Ἄρης σπείρει ποτὲλάβρον δράκοντος ἐξερημώσας γένυν,οὐ σκῆπτρα, χειρὸς δεξιᾶς ἐρείσματα,ἀρεῖτε καὶ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀνόσιον κάρακαθαιματώσεθʼ, ὅστις οὐ Καδμεῖος ὢνἄρχει κάκιστος τῶν νέων ἔπηλυς ὤν;ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐμοῦ γε δεσπόσεις χαίρων ποτέ.
—Nor shall you reap the harvest of all my toil;Go back to where you came from, in your insolence. For never while I live, shall you slay these sons of Heracles; not so deep beneath the earth has their father disappeared from his children’s ken.
— οὐδʼ ἁπόνησα πόλλʼ ἐγὼ καμὼν χερὶἕξεις. ἀπέρρων δʼ ἔνθεν ἦλθες ἐνθάδε,ὕβριζʼ. ἐμοῦ γὰρ ζῶντος οὐ κτενεῖς ποτετοὺς Ἡρακλείους παῖδας. οὐ τοσόνδε γῆςἔνερθʼ ἐκεῖνος κρύπτεται λιπὼν τέκνα.
—You are in possession of this land which you have ruined,while he, its benefactor, has missed his just reward.
— ἐπεὶ σὺ μὲν γῆν τήνδε διολέσας ἔχεις,ὃ δʼ ὠφελήσας ἀξίων οὐ τυγχάνει.
—And yet do I take too much upon myself because I help those I love after their death, when most they need a friend?
— κἄπειτα πράσσω πόλλʼ ἐγώ, φίλους ἐμοὺςθανόντας εὖ δρῶν, οὗ φίλων μάλιστα δεῖ;
—Ah! right hand, how you desire to wield the spear, but your weakness is a death-blow to your desire.
— ὦ δεξιὰ χείρ, ὡς ποθεῖς λαβεῖν δόρυ,ἐν δʼ ἀσθενείᾳ τὸν πόθον διώλεσας.
For then I would have stopped you calling me slave, and I would have governed Thebes with credit. In which you now rejoice; for a city sick with dissension and evil counsels does not think aright; otherwise it would never have accepted you as its master.
ἐπεί σʼ ἔπαυσʼ ἂν δοῦλον ἐννέποντά μεκαὶ τάσδε Θήβας εὐκλεῶς ᾠκήσαμεν.ἐν αἷς σὺ χαίρεις· οὐ γὰρ εὖ φρονεῖ πόλιςστάσει νοσοῦσα καὶ κακοῖς βουλεύμασιν.οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἂν σὲ δεσπότην ἐκτήσατο.
Megara:Old men, I thank you; it is right that friends should feel virtuous indignation on behalf of those they love; but do not on our account vent your anger on the tyrant to your own undoing. Hear my advice, Amphitryon, if there appears to you to be anything in what I say.
Μεγάρα:γέροντες, αἰνῶ· τῶν φίλων γὰρ οὕνεκαὀργὰς δικαίας τοὺς φίλους ἔχειν χρεών·ἡμῶν δʼ ἕκατι δεσπόταις θυμούμενοιπάθητε μηδέν. τῆς δʼ ἐμῆς, Ἀμφιτρύων,γνώμης ἄκουσον, ἤν τί σοι δοκῶ λέγειν.
I love my children; strange if I did not love those whom I bore, whom I labored for! Death I count a dreadful fate; but the man who strives against necessity I esteem a fool. Since we must die, let us do sowithout being burnt alive, a source of mockery to our enemies, which to my mind is an evil worse than death; for much good do we owe our family. You have always had a warrior’s fair fame, so it is not to be endured that you should die a coward’s death;
ἐγὼ φιλῶ μὲν τέκνα· πῶς γὰρ οὐ φιλῶἅτικτον, ἁμόχθησα; καὶ τὸ κατθανεῖνδεινὸν νομίζω· τῷ δʼ ἀναγκαίῳ τρόπῳὃς ἀντιτείνει σκαιὸν ἡγοῦμαι βροτόν.ἡμᾶς δʼ, ἐπειδὴ δεῖ θανεῖν, θνῄσκειν χρεὼνμὴ πυρὶ καταξανθέντας, ἐχθροῖσιν γέλωνδιδόντας, οὑμοὶ τοῦ θανεῖν μεῖζον κακόν.ὀφείλομεν γὰρ πολλὰ δώμασιν καλά·σὲ μὲν δόκησις ἔλαβεν εὐκλεὴς δορός,ὥστʼ οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν δειλίας θανεῖν σʼ ὕπο·
and my husband’s reputation needs no one to witness that he would never consent to save these children’s lives by letting them incur the stain of cowardice; for the noble are afflicted by disgrace on account of their children, nor must I shrink from following my lord’s example.
οὑμὸς δʼ ἀμαρτύρητος εὐκλεὴς πόσις,ὡς τούσδε παῖδας οὐκ ἂν ἐκσῶσαι θέλοιδόξαν κακὴν λαβόντας· οἱ γὰρ εὐγενεῖςκάμνουσι τοῖς αἰσχροῖσι τῶν τέκνων ὕπερ,ἐμοί τε μίμημʼ ἀνδρὸς οὐκ ἀπωστέον.
As to your hopes consider how I weigh them. Do you think your son will return from beneath the earth? And who ever has come back from the dead out of the halls of Hades? But would you soften this man by entreaty? Oh no! better to fly from one’s enemy when he is so brutish,but yield to men of breeding and culture; for you would more easily conclude a friendly truce by accepting regard. True, a thought has already occurred to me that we might by entreaty obtain a sentence of exile for the children; yet this too is misery, to compass their deliverance with dire penury as the result;
σκέψαι δὲ τὴν σὴν ἐλπίδʼ ᾗ λογίζομαι·ἥξειν νομίζεις παῖδα σὸν γαίας ὕπο;καὶ τίς θανόντων ἦλθεν ἐξ Ἅιδου πάλιν;ἀλλʼ ὡς λόγοισι τόνδε μαλθάξαιμεν ἄν;ἥκιστα· φεύγειν σκαιὸν ἄνδρʼ ἐχθρὸν χρεών,σοφοῖσι δʼ εἴκειν καὶ τεθραμμένοις καλῶς·ῥᾷον γὰρ αἰδοῦς ὑπολαβὼν φίλʼ ἂν τέμοις.ἤδη δʼ ἐσῆλθέ μʼ εἰ παραιτησαίμεθαφυγὰς τέκνων τῶνδʼ· ἀλλὰ καὶ τόδʼ ἄθλιον,πενίᾳ σὺν οἰκτρᾷ περιβαλεῖν σωτηρίαν·
for it is a saying that hosts look sweetly on banished friends for a day and no more. Endure to die with us, for that awaits you after all. By your brave soul I challenge you, old friend; for whoever struggles hard to escape destiny sent by the godsshows zeal no doubt, but it is zeal with a taint of folly; for what must be, no one will ever avail to alter.
ὡς τὰ ξένων πρόσωπα φεύγουσιν φίλοιςἓν ἦμαρ ἡδὺ βλέμμʼ ἔχειν φασὶν μόνον.τόλμα μεθʼ ἡμῶν θάνατον, ὃς μένει σʼ ὅμως.προκαλούμεθʼ εὐγένειαν, ὦ γέρον, σέθεν·τὰς τῶν θεῶν γὰρ ὅστις ἐκμοχθεῖ τύχας,πρόθυμός ἐστιν, ἡ προθυμία δʼ ἄφρων·ὃ χρὴ γὰρ οὐδεὶς μὴ χρεὼν θήσει ποτέ.
Chorus Leader:If a man had insulted you, while yet my arms were strong, there would have been an easy way to stop him; but now am I am nothing; and so you henceforth, Amphitryon,must scheme how to avert misfortune.
Χορός:εἰ μὲν σθενόντων τῶν ἐμῶν βραχιόνωνἦν τίς σʼ ὑβρίζων, ῥᾳδίως ἐπαύσατʼ ἄν·νῦν δʼ οὐδέν ἐσμεν. σὸν δὲ τοὐντεῦθεν σκοπεῖνὅπως διώσῃ τὰς τύχας, Ἀμφιτρύων.
Amphitryon:It is not cowardice or any longing for life that hinders my dying, but my wish to save my son’s children, though no doubt I am longing for the impossible. See! here is my neck ready for the swordto pierce, to hack, to hurl from the rock; only one favor I crave for both of us, king; slay me and this hapless mother before you slay the children, that we may not see the hideous sight, as they gasp out their lives, calling on their motherand their father’s father; for the rest work your will if so you are inclined; for we have no defense against death.
Ἀμφιτρύων:οὔτοι τὸ δειλὸν οὐδὲ τοῦ βίου πόθοςθανεῖν ἐρύκει μʼ, ἀλλὰ παιδὶ βούλομαισῷσαι τέκνʼ· ἄλλως δʼ ἀδυνάτων ἔοικʼ ἐρᾶν.ἰδοὺ πάρεστιν ἥδε φασγάνῳ δέρηκεντεῖν φονεύειν, ἱέναι πέτρας ἄπο.μίαν δὲ νῷν δὸς χάριν, ἄναξ, ἱκνούμεθα·κτεῖνόν με καὶ τήνδʼ ἀθλίαν παίδων πάρος,ὡς μὴ τέκνʼ εἰσίδωμεν, ἀνόσιον θέαν,ψυχορραγοῦντα καὶ καλοῦντα μητέραπατρός τε πατέρα. τἄλλα δʼ, εἰ πρόθυμος εἶ,πρᾶσσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀλκὴν ἔχομεν ὥστε μὴ θανεῖν.
Megara:I too implore you add a second favor, that by your single act you may put us both under a double obligation; allow me to deck my children in the robes of death,first opening the palace gates, for now we are shut out, so that this at least they may obtain from their father’s halls.
Μεγάρα:κἀγώ σʼ ἱκνοῦμαι χάριτι προσθεῖναι χάριν,⟨ἡμῖν⟩ ἵνʼ ἀμφοῖν εἷς ὑπουργήσῃς διπλᾶ·κόσμον πάρες μοι παισὶ προσθεῖναι νεκρῶν,δόμους ἀνοίξας — νῦν γὰρ ἐκκεκλῄμεθα —ὡς ἀλλὰ ταῦτά γʼ ἀπολάχωσʼ οἴκων πατρός.
Lycus:I grant it, and bid my servants undo the bolts. Go in and deck yourselves; robes do not grudge. But as soon as you have clothed yourselves,I will return to you to consign you to the nether world. Exit Lycus.
Λύκος:ἔσται τάδʼ· οἴγειν κλῇθρα προσπόλοις λέγω.κοσμεῖσθʼ ἔσω μολόντες· οὐ φθονῶ πέπλων.ὅταν δὲ κόσμον περιβάλησθε σώμασιν,ἥξω πρὸς ὑμᾶς νερτέρᾳ δώσων χθονί.
Megara:Children, follow the footsteps of your hapless mother to your father’s house, where others possess his substance, though his name is still ours. Exit Megara with her children.
Μεγάρα:ὦ τέκνʼ, ὁμαρτεῖτʼ ἀθλίῳ μητρὸς ποδὶπατρῷον ἐς μέλαθρον, οὗ τῆς οὐσίαςἄλλοι κρατοῦσι, τὸ δʼ ὄνομʼ ἔσθʼ ἡμῶν ἔτι.
Amphitryon:O Zeus, in vain, it seems, did I get you to share my bride with me;in vain used we to call you partner in my son. After all you are less our friend than you pretended. Great god as you are, I, a mortal, surpass you in true worth. For I did not betray the children of Heracles; but you by stealth found your way to my bed,taking another’s wife without leave given, while to save your own friends you have no skill. Either you are a god of little sense, or else naturally unjust. Exit Amphitryon.
Ἀμφιτρύων:ὦ Ζεῦ, μάτην ἄρʼ ὁμόγαμόν σʼ ἐκτησάμην,μάτην δὲ παιδὸς κοινεῶνʼ ἐκλῄζομεν·σὺ δʼ ἦσθʼ ἄρʼ ἥσσων ἢ ʼδόκεις εἶναι φίλος.ἀρετῇ σε νικῶ θνητὸς ὢν θεὸν μέγαν·παῖδας γὰρ οὐ προύδωκα τοὺς Ἡρακλέους.σὺ δʼ ἐς μὲν εὐνὰς κρύφιος ἠπίστω μολεῖν,τἀλλότρια λέκτρα δόντος οὐδενὸς λαβών,σῴζειν δὲ τοὺς σοὺς οὐκ ἐπίστασαι φίλους.ἀμαθής τις εἶ θεός, ἢ δίκαιος οὐκ ἔφυς.
Chorus:Phoebus is singing a dirge, after his happier strains,for Linus dead in his beauty, striking his lyre with key of gold; but I wish to sing a song of praise, a crown to all his toil, on the one who has gone to the gloom beneath the nether world,whether I am to call him son of Zeus or of Amphitryon. For the virtue of noble toils is a glory to the dead.
Χορός:—αἲ Λίνον μὲν ἐπʼ εὐτυχεῖμολπᾷ Φοῖβος ἰαχεῖτὸν κάλλει φθιτόν, κιθάρανἐλαύνων πλήκτρῳ χρυσέῳ·ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν γᾶς ἐνέρων τʼἐς ὄρφναν μολόντα, παῖδʼεἴτε Διός νιν εἴπω,εἴτʼ Ἀμφιτρύωνος ἶνιν,ὑμνῆσαι στεφάνωμα μό-χθων διʼ εὐλογίας θέλω.γενναίων δʼ ἀρεταὶ πόνωντοῖς θανοῦσιν ἄγαλμα.
Chorus:First he cleared the grove of Zeusof a lion, and put its skin upon his back, hiding his yellow auburn hair in its fearful gaping jaws.
Χορός:—πρῶτον μὲν Διὸς ἄλσοςἠρήμωσε λέοντος,πυρσῷ δʼ ἀμφεκαλύφθηξανθὸν κρᾶτʼ ἐπινωτίσαςδεινῷ χάσματι θηρός·
Chorus:And then one day with murderous bow he woundedthe race of wild Centaurs, that range the hills, slaying them with winged shafts. Peneus, the river of fair eddies, knows him well, and those far fields unharvested,and the steadings on Pelion and neighboring caves of Homole, from where the Centaurs rode forth to conquer Thessaly, arming themselves with pines.
Χορός:—τάν τʼ ὀρεινόμον ἀγρίωνΚενταύρων ποτὲ γέννανἔστρωσεν τόξοις φονίοις,ἐναίρων πτανοῖς βέλεσιν.ξύνοιδε Πηνειὸς ὁ καλ-λιδίνας μακραί τʼ ἄρου-ραι πεδίων ἄκαρποικαὶ Πηλιάδες θεράπναισύγχορτοί τʼ Ὀμόλας ἔναυ-λοι, πεύκαισιν ὅθεν χέραςπληροῦντες χθόνα Θεσσαλῶνἱππείαις ἐδάμαζον·
Chorus:And he slew that dappled deer with horns of gold, that preyed upon the country-folk, glorifying Artemis, huntress queen of Oenoe.
Χορός:—τάν τε χρυσοκάρανονδόρκαν ποικιλόνωτονσυλήτειραν ἀγρωστᾶνκτείνας, θηροφόνον θεὰνΟἰνωᾶτιν ἀγάλλει·
Chorus:Next he mounted on a chariot and tamed with the bit the horses of Diomedes, that greedily champed their bloody food at gory mangers with unbridled jaws, devouring with hideous joy the flesh of men;then crossing the heights of Hebrus that flow with silver, he still toiled on for the tyrant of Mycenae.
Χορός:—τεθρίππων τʼ ἐπέβακαὶ ψαλίοις ἐδάμασε πώλουςΔιομήδεος, αἳ φονίαισι φάτναις ἀχάλινʼ ἐθόα-ζον κάθαιμα σῖτα γένυσι,χαρμοναῖσιν ἀνδροβρῶσιδυστράπεζοι· πέραν δʼἀργυρορρύτων Ἕβρουδιεπέρασεν ὄχθων,Μυκηναίῳ πονῶν τυράννῳ.
Chorus:And at the strand of the Pelian gulfby the streams of Anaurus, he slew with his arrows Cycnus, murderer of his guests, the savage wretch who dwelt in Amphanae.
Χορός:—ἄν τε Πηλιάδʼ ἀκτὰνἈναύρου παρὰ πηγὰςΚύκνον ξεινοδαΐκταντόξοις ὤλεσεν, Ἀμφαναί-ας οἰκήτορʼ ἄμεικτον·
Chorus:And he came to those minstrel maids,to their orchard in the west, to pluck from the leafy apple-tree its golden fruit, when he had slain the tawny dragon, whose terrible coils were twined all round to guard it;
Χορός:—ὑμνῳδούς τε κόραςἤλυθεν ἑσπέριον ἐς αὐλάν,χρυσέων πετάλων ἄπο μηλοφόρον χερὶ καρπὸν ἀμέρ-ξων, δράκοντα πυρσόνωτον,ὅς ⟨σφʼ⟩ ἄπλατον ἀμφελικτὸςἕλικʼ ἐφρούρει, κτανών·
and he made his way into ocean’s lairs, bringing calm to men that use the oar.
ποντίας θʼ ἁλὸς μυχοὺςεἰσέβαινε, θνατοῖςγαλανείας τιθεὶς ἐρετμοῖς·
Chorus:And he stretched out his hands to uphold the firmament,seeking the home of Atlas, and on his manly shoulders took the starry mansions of the gods.
Χορός:—οὐρανοῦ θʼ ὑπὸ μέσσανἐλαύνει χέρας ἕδραν,Ἄτλαντος δόμον ἐλθών,ἀστρωπούς τε κατέσχεν οἴ-κους εὐανορίᾳ θεῶν·
Chorus:Then he went through the waves of heaving Euxine against the mounted host of Amazons dwelling round Maeotis,the lake that is fed by many a stream, having gathered to his standard all his friends from Hellas, to fetch the gold-embroidered raiment of the warrior queen,a deadly quest for a girdle. Hellas won those glorious spoils of the barbarian maid, and they are safe in Mycenae.
Χορός:—τὸν ἱππευτάν τʼ Ἀμαζό-νων στρατὸν Μαιῶτιν ἀμφὶπολυπόταμον ἔβα διʼ Ἄ-ξεινον οἶδμα λίμνας,τίνʼ οὐκ ἀφʼ Ἑλλανίαςἄγορον ἁλίσας φίλων,κόρας Ἀρείας πέπλωνχρυσεόστολον φάρος,ζωστῆρος ὀλεθρίους ἄγρας.τὰ κλεινὰ δʼ Ἑλλὰς ἔλαβε βαρ-βάρου κόρας λάφυρα, καὶσῴζεται Μυκήναις.
Chorus:He burned to ashes Lerna’s murderous hound,the many-headed water-snake, and smeared its venom on his darts, with which he slew the shepherd of Erytheia, a monster with three bodies.
Χορός:—τάν τε μυριόκρανονπολύφονον κύνα Λέρναςὕδραν ἐξεπύρωσεν,βέλεσί τʼ ἀμφέβαλʼ ⟨ἰόν⟩,τὸν τρισώματον οἷσιν ἔ-κτα βοτῆρʼ Ἐρυθείας.
Chorus:And many another glorious achievement he brought to a happy issue; to Hades’ house of tears has he now sailed, the goal of his labors, where he is ending his career of toil, nor does he come back again.
Χορός:—δρόμων τʼ ἄλλων ἀγάλματʼεὐτυχῆ διῆλθε· τόν τεπολυδάκρυον ἔπλευσʼ ἐς Ἅι-δαν, πόνων τελευτάν,ἵνʼ ἐκπεραίνει τάλαςβίοτον, οὐδʼ ἔβα πάλιν.
Now your house is left without a friend, and Charon’s boat awaits your children to bear them on that journey out of life, without return, contrary to the gods’ law and man’s justice; and it is to your prowessthat your house is looking although you are not here.
στέγαι δʼ ἔρημοι φίλων,τὰν δʼ ἀνόστιμον τέκνωνΧάρωνος ἐπιμένει πλάταβίου κέλευθον ἄθεον ἄδι-κον· ἐς δὲ σὰς χέρας βλέπειδώματʼ οὐ παρόντος.
Chorus:Had I been strong and lusty, able to brandish the spear in battle’s onset, and my Theban companions too, I would have stood by your childrento champion them; but now my happy youth is gone and I am left.
Χορός:—εἰ δʼ ἐγὼ σθένος ἥβωνδόρυ τʼ ἔπαλλον ἐν αἰχμᾷ,Καδμείων τε σύνηβοι,τέκεσιν ἂν προπαρέστανἀλκᾷ· νῦν δʼ ἀπολείπομαιτᾶς εὐδαίμονος ἥβας.
Chorus Leader:But look! I see the children of Heracles who was once so great, wearing the clothes of the dead,and his loving wife dragging her babes along at her side, and Heracles’ aged father. Ah! woe is me! no longer can I stem the flood of tearsthat spring to my old eyes.
Χορός:—ἀλλʼ ἐσορῶ γὰρ τούσδε φθιμένωνἔνδυτʼ ἔχοντας, τοὺς τοῦ μεγάλουδή ποτε παῖδας τὸ πρὶν Ἡρακλέους,ἄλοχόν τε φίλην ὑπὸ σειραίοιςποσὶν ἕλκουσαν τέκνα, καὶ γεραιὸνπατέρʼ Ἡρακλέους. δύστηνος ἐγώ,δακρύων ὡς οὐ δύναμαι κατέχεινγραίας ὄσσων ἔτι πηγάς.
Megara:Come now, who is to sacrifice or butcher these poor children? [or rob me of my wretched life?] These victims are ready to be led to Hades’ halls. O my children! an ill-matched company are we hurried off to die,old men and young ones and mothers, all together. Alas! for my sad fate and my children’s, whom these eyes now for the last time behold. So I gave you birth and reared you only for our foes to mock, to jeer at, and slay.
Μεγάρα:εἶἑν· τίς ἱερεύς, τίς σφαγεὺς τῶν δυσπότμων[ἢ τῆς ταλαίνης τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς φονεύς;]ἕτοιμʼ ἄγειν τὰ θύματʼ εἰς Ἅιδου τάδε.ὦ τέκνʼ, ἀγόμεθα ζεῦγος οὐ καλὸν νεκρῶν,ὁμοῦ γέροντες καὶ νέοι καὶ μητέρες.ὦ μοῖρα δυστάλαινʼ ἐμή τε καὶ τέκνωντῶνδʼ, οὓς πανύστατʼ ὄμμασιν προσδέρκομαι …ἔτεκον μὲν ὑμᾶς, πολεμίοις δʼ ἐθρεψάμηνὕβρισμα κἀπίχαρμα καὶ διαφθοράν.
Ah me! how bitterly my hopes have disappointed me in the expectation I once formed from the words of your father. Addressing each of her three sons in turn. To you your dead father was for giving Argos; and you were to dwell in the halls of Eurystheus, lording it over the fair fruitful land of Argolis;and over your head would he throw that lion’s skin with which he himself was armed. And you were to be king of Thebes, famed for its chariots, receiving as your heritage my broad lands, for so you coaxed your dear father;
φεῦ·ἦ πολύ με δόξης ἐξέπαισαν ἐλπίδες,ἣν πατρὸς ὑμῶν ἐκ λόγων ποτʼ ἤλπισα.σοὶ μὲν γὰρ Ἄργος ἔνεμʼ ὁ κατθανὼν πατήρ,Εὐρυσθέως δʼ ἔμελλες οἰκήσειν δόμουςτῆς καλλικάρπου κράτος ἔχων Πελασγίας,στολήν τε θηρὸς ἀμφέβαλλε σῷ κάρᾳλέοντος, ᾗπερ αὐτὸς ἐξωπλίζετο·σὺ δʼ ἦσθα Θηβῶν τῶν φιλαρμάτων ἄναξ,ἔγκληρα πεδία τἀμὰ γῆς κεκτημένος,ὡς ἐξέπειθες τὸν κατασπείραντά σε·
and to your hand he used to resign the carved club, his sure defence, pretending to give it to you. And to you he promised to give Oechalia, which once his archery had wasted. Thus with three principalitieswould your father exalt you, his three sons, proud of your manliness; while I was choosing the best brides for you, scheming to link you by marriage to Athens, Thebes, and Sparta, that you might live a happy life with a fast sheet-anchor to hold by.
ἐς δεξιάν τε σὴν ἀλεξητήριονξύλον καθίει δαίδαλον, ψευδῆ δόσιν.σοὶ δʼ ἣν ἔπερσε τοῖς ἑκηβόλοις ποτὲτόξοισι δώσειν Οἰχαλίαν ὑπέσχετο.τρεῖς δʼ ὄντας ⟨ὑμᾶς⟩ τριπτύχοις τυραννίσιπατὴρ ἐπύργου, μέγα φρονῶν εὐανδρίᾳ·ἐγὼ δὲ νύμφας ἠκροθινιαζόμην,κήδη συνάψουσʼ, ἔκ τʼ Ἀθηναίων χθονὸςΣπάρτης τε Θηβῶν θʼ, ὡς ἀνημμένοι κάλῳςπρυμνησίοισι βίον ἔχοιτʼ εὐδαίμονα.
And now that is all vanished; fortune’s breeze has veered and given to you for brides the maidens of death in their stead, and my tears will be the marriage bath; woe is me for my foolish thoughts! and your grandfather here is celebrating your marriage-feast, the cares of a father, accepting Hades as the father of your brides.
καὶ ταῦτα φροῦδα· μεταβαλοῦσα δʼ ἡ τύχηνύμφας μὲν ὑμῖν Κῆρας ἀντέδωκʼ ἔχειν,ἐμοὶ δὲ δάκρυα λουτρά — δύστηνος φρενῶν.πατὴρ δὲ πατρὸς ἑστιᾷ γάμους ὅδε,Ἅιδην νομίζων πενθερόν, κῆδος πατρός.
Ah me! which of you shall I first press to my bosom, which last? on which bestow my kiss, or clasp close to me? Oh! would that like the bee with russet wing, I could collect from every source my sighs in one, and, blending them together, shed them in one copious flood!
ὤμοι, τίνʼ ὑμῶν πρῶτον ἢ τίνʼ ὕστατονπρὸς στέρνα θῶμαι; τῷ προσαρμόσω στόμα;τίνος λάβωμαι; πῶς ἂν ὡς ξουθόπτεροςμέλισσα συνενέγκαιμʼ ἂν ἐκ πάντων γόους,ἐς ἓν δʼ ἐνεγκοῦσʼ ἀθρόον ἀποδοίην δάκρυ;
O my dearest Heracles, to you I call, if perhaps mortal voice can make itself heard in Hades’ halls; your father and children are dying, and I am doomed, I who once because of you was counted blessed as men count bliss. Come to our rescue; appear, I pray, if only as a phantom,since your arrival, even as a dream, would be enough, for they are cowards who are slaying your children.
ὦ φίλτατʼ, εἴ τις φθόγγος εἰσακούεταιθνητῶν παρʼ Ἅιδῃ, σοὶ τάδʼ, Ἡράκλεις, λέγω·θνῄσκει πατὴρ σὸς καὶ τέκνʼ, ὄλλυμαι δʼ ἐγώ,ἣ πρὶν μακαρία διὰ σʼ ἐκλῃζόμην βροτοῖς.ἄρηξον, ἐλθέ· καὶ σκιὰ φάνηθί μοι·ἅλις γὰρ ἐλθὼν κἂν ὄναρ γένοιο σύ·κακοὶ γάρ εἰσιν οἳ τέκνα κτείνουσι σά.