---
title: "Heracles · Ἡρακλῆς"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/2/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Heracles · Ἡρακλῆς, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/2/"
---

# Heracles · Ἡρακλῆς

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

Home from his labours, Heracles saves his family, then Hera sends him mad.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg009, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg009.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Lines 497–989

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/2/#p-N

[¶0] Amphitryon:
Lady, prepare the funeral rites; but I, O Zeus, stretching out my hand to heaven, call on you to help these children,
if such is your intention; for soon any aid of yours will be unavailing; and yet you have been often invoked; my toil is in vain; death seems inevitable. You aged friends, the joys of life are few; so take heed that you pass through it as gladly as you may,
without a thought of sorrow from morning until night; for time takes little heed of preserving our hopes; and, when he has busied himself on his own business, away he flies. Look at me, a man who had made a mark among his fellows by deeds of note; yet fortune in a single day
has robbed me of it as of a feather that floats away toward the sky. I know not any whose plenteous wealth and high reputation is fixed and sure; fare you well, for now you have seen the last of your old friend, my comrades.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
σὺ μὲν τὰ νέρθεν εὐτρεπῆ ποιοῦ, γύναι·
ἐγὼ δὲ σέ, ὦ Ζεῦ, χεῖρʼ ἐς οὐρανὸν δικὼν
αὐδῶ, τέκνοισιν εἴ τι τοισίδʼ ὠφελεῖν
μέλλεις, ἀμύνειν, ὡς τάχʼ οὐδὲν ἀρκέσεις.
καίτοι κέκλησαι πολλάκις· μάτην πονῶ·
θανεῖν γάρ, ὡς ἔοικʼ, ἀναγκαίως ἔχει.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ γέροντες, μικρὰ μὲν τὰ τοῦ βίου,
τοῦτον δʼ ὅπως ἥδιστα διαπεράσετε,
ἐξ ἡμέρας ἐς νύκτα μὴ λυπούμενοι.
ὡς ἐλπίδας μὲν ὁ χρόνος οὐκ ἐπίσταται
σῴζειν, τὸ δʼ αὑτοῦ σπουδάσας διέπτατο.
ὁρᾶτʼ ἔμʼ ὅσπερ ἦ περίβλεπτος βροτοῖς
ὀνομαστὰ πράσσων, καί μʼ ἀφείλεθʼ ἡ τύχη
ὥσπερ πτερὸν πρὸς αἰθέρʼ ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.
ὁ δʼ ὄλβος ὁ μέγας ἥ τε δόξʼ οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅτῳ
βέβαιός ἐστι. χαίρετʼ· ἄνδρα γὰρ φίλον
πανύστατον νῦν, ἥλικες, δεδόρκατε.

[¶1] Megara:
Ah! Old friend, is it my own, my dearest I see? or what am I to say?

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
ἔα·
ὦ πρέσβυ, λεύσσω τἀμὰ φίλτατʼ· ἢ τί φῶ;

[¶2] Amphitryon:
I do not know, my daughter; I too am struck dumb.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὐκ οἶδα, θύγατερ· ἀφασία δὲ κἄμʼ ἔχει.

[¶3] Megara:
Is this he who they told us was beneath the earth? It is, unless some day-dream mocks our sight. What am I saying? What visions do these anxious eyes behold? Old man, this is no one other than your own son.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
ὅδʼ ἐστὶν ὃν γῆς νέρθεν εἰσηκούομεν,
εἰ μή γʼ ὄνειρον ἐν φάει τι λεύσσομεν.
τί φημί; ποῖʼ ὄνειρα κηραίνουσʼ ὁρῶ;
οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅδʼ ἄλλος ἀντὶ σοῦ παιδός, γέρον.

[¶4] Come here, my children, cling to your father’s robe, hurry, never loose your hold, for here is one to help you, not at all behind our savior Zeus.

> Greek: δεῦρʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ, ἐκκρίμνασθε πατρῴων πέπλων,
ἴτʼ ἐγκονεῖτε, μὴ μεθῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ Διὸς
σωτῆρος ὑμῖν οὐδέν ἐσθʼ ὅδʼ ὕστερος.

[¶5] Heracles:
All hail! my house and gates of my home, how glad I am to emerge to the light and see you.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ χαῖρε, μέλαθρον πρόπυλά θʼ ἑστίας ἐμῆς,
ὡς ἄσμενός σʼ ἐσεῖδον ἐς φάος μολών.

[¶6] Ah! what is this? I see my children before the house in the robes of death, with chaplets on their heads and my wife amid a throng of men, and my father weeping—what misfortune? Let me draw near to them and inquire;

> Greek: ἔα· τί χρῆμα; τέκνʼ ὁρῶ πρὸ δωμάτων
στολμοῖσι νεκρῶν κρᾶτας ἐξεστεμμένα,
ὄχλῳ τʼ ἐν ἀνδρῶν τὴν ἐμὴν ξυνάορον,
πατέρα τε δακρύοντα — συμφορὰς τίνας;
φέρʼ ἐκπύθωμαι τῶνδε πλησίον σταθείς·

[¶7] lady, what strange stroke of fate has fallen on the house?

> Greek: γύναι, τί καινὸν ἦλθε δώμασιν χρέος;

[¶8] Megara:
Dearest of all mankind to me!

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν …

[¶9] Amphitryon:
O ray of light appearing to your father!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὦ φάος μολὼν πατρί …

[¶10] Megara:
Are you safe and is your coming just in time to help your dear ones?

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
ἥκεις, ἐσώθης εἰς ἀκμὴν ἐλθὼν φίλοις;

[¶11] Heracles:
What do you mean? What is this confusion I find on my arrival, father?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί φῄς; τίνʼ ἐς ταραγμὸν ἥκομεν, πάτερ;

[¶12] Megara:
We are being ruined; forgive me, old friend,
if I have anticipated that to which you had a right to tell him; for women’s nature is perhaps more prone to grief than men’s and they are my children that were being led to death, which was my own lot too.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
διολλύμεσθα· σὺ δέ, γέρον, σύγγνωθί μοι,
εἰ πρόσθεν ἥρπασʼ ἃ σὲ λέγειν πρὸς τόνδʼ ἐχρῆν·
τὸ θῆλυ γάρ πως μᾶλλον οἰκτρὸν ἀρσένων,
καὶ τἄμʼ ἔθνῃσκε τέκνʼ, ἀπωλλύμην δʼ ἐγώ.

[¶13] Heracles:
Apollo! what a prelude to your story!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Ἄπολλον, οἵοις φροιμίοις ἄρχῃ λόγου.

[¶14] Megara:
My brothers are dead, and my old father.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
τεθνᾶσʼ ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατὴρ οὑμὸς γέρων.

[¶15] Heracles:
How so? what did he do? whose spear did he meet?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πῶς φῄς; τί δράσας ἢ δορὸς ποίου τυχών;

[¶16] Megara:
Lycus, our new monarch, slew him.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
Λύκος σφʼ ὁ καινὸς γῆς ἄναξ διώλεσεν.

[¶17] Heracles:
Did he meet him in fair fight, or was the land sick and weak?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὅπλοις ἀπαντῶν ἢ νοσησάσης χθονός;

[¶18] Megara:
Yes, from faction; now he is master of the city of Cadmus with its seven gates.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
στάσει· τὸ Κάδμου δʼ ἑπτάπυλον ἔχει κράτος.

[¶19] Heracles:
Why has panic fallen on you and my aged father?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δῆτα πρὸς σὲ καὶ γέροντʼ ἦλθεν φόβος;

[¶20] Megara:
He meant to kill your father, me, and my children.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
κτείνειν ἔμελλε πατέρα κἀμὲ καὶ τέκνα.

[¶21] Heracles:
What are you saying? What did he have to fear from my orphan babes?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί φῄς; τί ταρβῶν ὀρφάνευμʼ ἐμῶν τέκνων;

[¶22] Megara:
He was afraid they might some day avenge Creon’s death.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
μή ποτε Κρέοντος θάνατον ἐκτεισαίατο.

[¶23] Heracles:
What is this dress they wear, suited to the dead?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
κόσμος δὲ παίδων τίς ὅδε νερτέροις πρέπων;

[¶24] Megara:
It is the garb of death we have already put on.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
θανάτου τάδʼ ἤδη περιβόλαιʼ ἀνήμμεθα.

[¶25] Heracles:
And were you being forced to die? O woe is me!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ πρὸς βίαν ἐθνῄσκετʼ; ὦ τλήμων ἐγώ.

[¶26] Megara:
Yes, deserted by every friend, and informed that you were dead.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
φίλων ⟨γʼ⟩ ἔρημοι· σὲ δὲ θανόντʼ ἠκούομεν.

[¶27] Heracles:
What put such desperate thoughts into your heads?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πόθεν δʼ ἐς ὑμᾶς ἥδʼ ἐσῆλθʼ ἀθυμία;

[¶28] Megara:
That was what the heralds of Eurystheus kept proclaiming.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
Εὐρυσθέως κήρυκες ἤγγελλον τάδε.

[¶29] Heracles:
Why did you leave my hearth and home?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δʼ ἐξελείπετʼ οἶκον ἑστίαν τʼ ἐμήν;

[¶30] Megara:
He forced us; your father was dragged from his bed.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
βίᾳ, πατὴρ μὲν ἐκπεσὼν στρωτοῦ λέχους …

[¶31] Heracles:
Had he no shame, to ill-use the old man so?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
κοὐκ ἔσχεν αἰδῶ τὸν γέροντʼ ἀτιμάσαι;

[¶32] Megara:
Shame indeed! that goddess and he dwell far enough apart.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
αἰδώς γʼ ἀποικεῖ τῆσδε τῆς θεοῦ πρόσω.

[¶33] Heracles:
Was I so poor in friends in my absence?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὕτω δʼ ἀπόντες ἐσπανίζομεν φίλων;

[¶34] Megara:
Who are the friends of a man in misfortune?

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
φίλοι γάρ εἰσιν ἀνδρὶ δυστυχεῖ τίνες;

[¶35] Heracles:
Do they make so light of my hard warring with the Minyans?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
μάχας δὲ Μινυῶν ἃς ἔτλην ἀπέπτυσαν;

[¶36] Megara:
Misfortune, to repeat it to you, has no friends.

> Greek: Μεγάρα:
ἄφιλον, ἵνʼ αὖθίς σοι λέγω, τὸ δυστυχές.

[¶37] Heracles:
Cast from your heads these chaplets of death, look up to the light, for instead of the darkness below your eyes behold the welcome sun.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ ῥίψεθʼ Ἅιδου τάσδε περιβολὰς κόμης
καὶ φῶς ἀναβλέψεσθε, τοῦ κάτω σκότου
φίλας ἀμοιβὰς ὄμμασιν δεδορκότες;

[¶38] I, meanwhile, since here is work for my hand, will first go raze this upstart tyrant’s halls, and when I have beheaded the villain, I will throw him to dogs to tear; and every Theban who I find has played the traitor after my kindness,
will I destroy with this victorious club; the rest will I tear apart with my feathered shafts and fill Ismenus full of bloody corpses, and Dirce’s clear stream shall run red with gore. For whom ought I to help rather than wife
and children and aged father? Farewell my labors! for it was in vain I accomplished them rather than helping these. And yet I ought to die in their defence, since they for their father were doomed; or what shall we find so noble in having fought a hydra and a lion
at the commands of Eurystheus, if I make no effort to save my own children from death? No longer then, as before, shall I be called Heracles the victor.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δέ — νῦν γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς ἔργον χερός —
πρῶτον μὲν εἶμι καὶ κατασκάψω δόμους
καινῶν τυράννων, κρᾶτα δʼ ἀνόσιον τεμὼν
ῥίψω κυνῶν ἕλκημα· Καδμείων δʼ ὅσους
κακοὺς ἐφηῦρον εὖ παθόντας ἐξ ἐμοῦ,
τῷ καλλινίκῳ τῷδʼ ὅπλῳ χειρώσομαι·
τοὺς δὲ πτερωτοῖς διαφορῶν τοξεύμασι
νεκρῶν ἅπαντʼ Ἰσμηνὸν ἐμπλήσω φόνου,
Δίρκης τε νᾶμα λευκὸν αἱμαχθήσεται.
τῷ γάρ μʼ ἀμύνειν μᾶλλον ἢ δάμαρτι χρὴ
καὶ παισὶ καὶ … γέροντι; χαιρόντων πόνοι·
μάτην γὰρ αὐτοὺς τῶνδε μᾶλλον ἤνυσα.
καὶ δεῖ μʼ ὑπὲρ τῶνδʼ, εἴπερ οἵδʼ ὑπὲρ πατρός,
θνῄσκειν ἀμύνοντʼ· ἢ τί φήσομεν καλὸν
ὕδρᾳ μὲν ἐλθεῖν ἐς μάχην λέοντί τε
Εὐρυσθέως πομπαῖσι, τῶν δʼ ἐμῶν τέκνων
οὐκ ἐκπονήσω θάνατον; οὐκ ἄρʼ Ἡρακλῆς
ὁ καλλίνικος ὡς πάροιθε λέξομαι.

[¶39] Chorus Leader:
It is only right that parents should help their children, their aged fathers, and the partners of their marriage.

> Greek: Χορός:
δίκαια τοὺς τεκόντας ὠφελεῖν τέκνα,
πατέρα τε πρέσβυν τήν τε κοινωνὸν γάμων.

[¶40] Amphitryon:
My son, it is like you to show your love for your dear ones and your hate for your enemies; only curb excessive hastiness.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
πρὸς σοῦ μέν, ὦ παῖ, τοῖς φίλοις ⟨τʼ⟩ εἶναι φίλον
τά τʼ ἐχθρὰ μισεῖν· ἀλλὰ μὴ ʼπείγου λίαν.

[¶41] Heracles:
How, father, am I now showing more than fitting haste?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δʼ ἐστὶ τῶνδε θᾶσσον ἢ χρεών, πάτερ;

[¶42] Amphitryon:
The king has a host of allies, needy villains though pretending to be rich,
who sowed dissension and overthrew the state with a view to plundering their neighbors; for the wealth they had in their houses was all spent, dissipated by their sloth. You were seen entering the city; and, that being so, beware that you do not bring your enemies together and be slain unawares.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
πολλοὺς πένητας, ὀλβίους δὲ τῷ λόγῳ
δοκοῦντας εἶναι συμμάχους ἄναξ ἔχει,
οἳ στάσιν ἔθηκαν καὶ διώλεσαν πόλιν
ἐφʼ ἁρπαγαῖσι τῶν πέλας, τὰ δʼ ἐν δόμοις
δαπάναισι φροῦδα διαφυγόνθʼ ὑπʼ ἀργίας.
ὤφθης ἐσελθὼν πόλιν· ἐπεὶ δʼ ὤφθης, ὅρα
ἐχθροὺς ἀθροίσας μὴ παρὰ γνώμην πέσῃς.

[¶43] Heracles:
Little I care if the whole city saw me; but happening to see a bird perched in an unlucky position, from it I learned that some trouble had befallen my house; so on purpose I made my entry to the land by stealth.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
μέλει μὲν οὐδὲν εἴ με πᾶσʼ εἶδεν πόλις·
ὄρνιν δʼ ἰδών τινʼ οὐκ ἐν αἰσίοις ἕδραις,
ἔγνων πόνον τινʼ ἐς δόμους πεπτωκότα·
ὥστʼ ἐκ προνοίας κρύφιος εἰσῆλθον χθόνα.

[¶44] Amphitryon:
Well done; now, on your arrival, go salute your household altar,
and let your father’s halls behold your face. For soon the king will be here in person to drag away your wife and children and murder them, and to add me to the bloody list. But if you remain on the spot all will go well, and you will profit by this security; but do not rouse
your city before you have these matters well in train, my son.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
καλῶς· παρελθὼν νῦν πρόσειπέ θʼ ἑστίαν
καὶ δὸς πατρῴοις δώμασιν σὸν ὄμμʼ ἰδεῖν.
ἥξει γὰρ αὐτὸς σὴν δάμαρτα καὶ τέκνα
ἕλξων φονεύσων κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξων ἄναξ·
μένοντι δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντα σοι γενήσεται
τῇ τʼ ἀσφαλείᾳ κερδανεῖς· πόλιν δὲ σὴν
μὴ πρὶν ταράξῃς πρὶν τόδʼ εὖ θέσθαι, τέκνον.

[¶45] Heracles:
I will do so; your advice is good; I will enter my house. After my return at length from the sunless den of Hades and the maiden queen of hell, I will not neglect to greet first of all the gods beneath my roof.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
δράσω τάδʼ· εὖ γὰρ εἶπας· εἶμʼ ἔσω δόμων.
χρόνῳ δʼ ἀνελθὼν ἐξ ἀνηλίων μυχῶν
Ἅιδου Κόρης ⟨τʼ⟩ ἔνερθεν, οὐκ ἀτιμάσω
θεοὺς προσειπεῖν πρῶτα τοὺς κατὰ στέγας.

[¶46] Amphitryon:
Did you really go to the house of Hades, my son?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἦλθες γὰρ ὄντως δώματʼ εἰς Ἅιδου, τέκνον;

[¶47] Heracles:
Yes, and brought to the light that three-headed monster.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ θῆρά γʼ ἐς φῶς τὸν τρίκρανον ἤγαγον.

[¶48] Amphitryon:
Did you conquer him in fight, or receive him from the goddess?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
μάχῃ κρατήσας ἢ θεᾶς δωρήμασιν;

[¶49] Heracles:
In fight; for I had been lucky enough to witness the rites of the initiated.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
μάχῃ· τὰ μυστῶν δʼ ὄργιʼ εὐτύχησʼ ἰδών.

[¶50] Amphitryon:
Is the monster really lodged in the house of Eurystheus?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἦ καὶ κατʼ οἴκους ἐστὶν Εὐρυσθέως ὁ θήρ;

[¶51] Heracles:
The grove of Demeter and the city of Hermione have him now.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Χθονίας νιν ἄλσος Ἑρμιών τʼ ἔχει πόλις.

[¶52] Amphitryon:
Eurystheus does not know that you have returned to the upper world?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὐδʼ οἶδεν Εὐρυσθεύς σε γῆς ἥκοντʼ ἄνω;

[¶53] Heracles:
He does not; I came here first to learn your news.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἵνʼ ἐλθὼν τἀνθάδʼ εἰδείην πάρος.

[¶54] Amphitryon:
How is it you were so long beneath the earth?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
χρόνον δὲ πῶς τοσοῦτον ἦσθʼ ὑπὸ χθονί;

[¶55] Heracles:
I stayed awhile attempting to bring back Theseus from Hades, father.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Θησέα κομίζων ἐχρόνισʼ ⟨ἐξ⟩ Ἅιδου, πάτερ.

[¶56] Amphitryon:
Where is he? gone to his native land?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν; ἢ γῆς πατρίδος οἴχεται πέδον;

[¶57] Heracles:
He set out for Athens, glad to have escaped from the lower world. Come now, children, attend your father to the house. My entering in is fairer in your eyes, I think, than my going out. Oh, take heart,
and no more let the tears stream from your eyes; you too, my wife, collect your courage, cease from fear; leave go my robe; for I cannot fly away, nor have I any wish to flee from those I love. Ah! they do not loose their hold, but cling to my garments
all the more; were you on the razor’s edge of danger? Well, I must lead them, taking them by the hand to draw them after me, my little boats, like a ship when towing; for I too do not reject the care of my children; here all mankind are equal; all love their children, both those of high estate
and those who are nothing; it is wealth that makes distinctions among them; some have, others want; but all the human race loves its offspring.
Exeunt Heracles and Megara, with their children.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
βέβηκʼ Ἀθήνας νέρθεν ἄσμενος φυγών.
ἀλλʼ εἶʼ, ὁμαρτεῖτʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ, ἐς δόμους πατρί·
καλλίονές τἄρʼ εἴσοδοι τῶν ἐξόδων
πάρεισιν ὑμῖν. ἀλλὰ θάρσος ἴσχετε
καὶ νάματʼ ὄσσων μηκέτʼ ἐξανίετε·
σύ τʼ, ὦ γύναι μοι, σύλλογον ψυχῆς λαβὲ
τρόμου τε παῦσαι, καὶ μέθεσθʼ ἐμῶν πέπλων·
οὐ γὰρ πτερωτὸς οὐδὲ φευξείω φίλους.
ἆ,
οἵδʼ οὐκ ἀφιᾶσʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀνάπτονται πέπλων
τοσῷδε μᾶλλον· ὧδʼ ἔβητʼ ἐπὶ ξυροῦ;
ἄξω λαβών γε τούσδʼ ἐφολκίδας χεροῖν,
ναῦς δʼ ὣς ἐφέλξω· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἀναίνομαι
θεράπευμα τέκνων. πάντα τἀνθρώπων ἴσα·
φιλοῦσι παῖδας οἵ τʼ ἀμείνονες βροτῶν
οἵ τʼ οὐδὲν ὄντες· χρήμασιν δὲ διάφοροι·
ἔχουσιν, οἳ δʼ οὔ· πᾶν δὲ φιλότεκνον γένος.

[¶58] Chorus:
Dear to me is youth always, but old age is hanging over my head, a burden heavier
than Aetna’s crags, casting its pall of gloom upon my eyes. Oh! never may the wealth of Asia’s kings tempt me
to barter for houses stored with gold my happy youth, which is in wealth and poverty alike most fair! But old age is gloomy and deadly;
I hate it; let it sink beneath the waves! Would it had never found its way to the homes and towns of mortal men, but were still drifting on for ever down the wind.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἁ νεότας μοι φίλον αἰ-
εί· τὸ δὲ γῆρας ἄχθος
βαρύτερον Αἴτνας σκοπέλων
ἐπὶ κρατὶ κεῖται, βλεφάρων
σκοτεινὸν φάος ἐπικαλύψαν.
μή μοι μήτʼ Ἀσιήτιδος
τυραννίδος ὄλβος εἴη,
μὴ χρυσοῦ δώματα πλήρη
τᾶς ἥβας ἀντιλαβεῖν,
ἃ καλλίστα μὲν ἐν ὄλβῳ,
καλλίστα δʼ ἐν πενίᾳ.
τὸ δὲ λυγρὸν φόνιόν τε γῆ-
ρας μισῶ· κατὰ κυμάτων δʼ
ἔρροι, μηδέ ποτʼ ὤφελεν
θνατῶν δώματα καὶ πόλεις
ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ αἰθέρʼ αἰ-
εὶ πτεροῖσι φορείσθω.

[¶59] Chorus:
Had the gods shown discernment and wisdom, as mortals count these things, men would have won youth twice over, a visible mark of worth
among whomever found, and after death these would have run a double course once more to the sun-light, while the low born would have had a single portion of life;
and thus would it have been possible to distinguish the good and the bad, just as sailors know the number of the stars amid the clouds. But, as it is, the gods have set no certain boundary
between good and bad, but time’s onward roll brings increase only to man’s wealth.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ δὲ θεοῖς ἦν ξύνεσις
καὶ σοφία κατʼ ἄνδρας,
δίδυμον ἂν ἥβαν ἔφερον
φανερὸν χαρακτῆρʼ ἀρετᾶς
ὅσοισιν μέτα, κατθανόντες τʼ
εἰς αὐγὰς πάλιν ἁλίου
δισσοὺς ἂν ἔβαν διαύλους,
ἁ δυσγένεια δʼ ἁπλοῦν ἂν
εἶχεν ζόας βίοτον,
καὶ τῷδʼ ἦν τούς τε κακοὺς ἂν
γνῶναι καὶ τοὺς ἀγαθούς,
ἴσον ἅτʼ ἐν νεφέλαισιν ἄ-
στρων ναύταις ἀριθμὸς πέλει.
νῦν δʼ οὐδεὶς ὅρος ἐκ θεῶν
χρηστοῖς οὐδὲ κακοῖς σαφής,
ἀλλʼ εἱλισσόμενός τις αἰ-
ὼν πλοῦτον μόνον αὔξει.

[¶60] Chorus:
Never will I cease to link in one the Graces and the Muses,
sweetest union. Never may I live among uneducated boors, but ever may I find a place among the crowned!

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐ παύσομαι τὰς Χάριτας
Μούσαις συγκαταμειγνύς,
ἁδίσταν συζυγίαν.
μὴ ζῴην μετʼ ἀμουσίας,
αἰεὶ δʼ ἐν στεφάνοισιν εἴ-
ην· ἔτι τοι γέρων ἀοι-
δὸς κελαδεῖ Μναμοσύναν·

[¶61] Yes, still the aged singer lifts up his voice of bygone memories: still is my song of the triumphs of Heracles, whether Bromius the giver of wine is near, or the strains of the seven-stringed lyre and the Libyan pipe are rising;

> Greek: ἔτι τὰν Ἡρακλέους
καλλίνικον ἀείδω
παρά τε Βρόμιον οἰνοδόταν
παρά τε χέλυος ἑπτατόνου
μολπὰν καὶ Λίβυν αὐλόν·

[¶62] not yet will I cease to sing the Muses’ praise, my patrons in the dance.

> Greek: οὔπω καταπαύσομεν
Μούσας, αἵ μʼ ἐχόρευσαν.

[¶63] Chorus:
The maids of Delos raise their song of joy, circling round the temple gates in honor of Leto’s fair son,
the graceful dancer; so I with my old lips will cry aloud songs of joy at your palace-doors, like the swan, aged singer; for there is a good
theme for minstrelsy; he is the son of Zeus; yet high above his noble birth tower his deeds of prowess, for his toil secured this life of calm for man,
having destroyed all fearsome beasts.

> Greek: Χορός:
παιᾶνα μὲν Δηλιάδες
ὑμνοῦσʼ ἀμφὶ πύλας τὸν
Λατοῦς εὔπαιδα γόνον
εἱλίσσουσαι καλλίχορον·
παιᾶνας δʼ ἐπὶ σοῖς μελά-
θροις κύκνος ὣς γέρων ἀοι-
δὸς πολιᾶν ἐκ γενύων
κελαδήσω· τὸ γὰρ εὖ
τοῖς ὕμνοισιν ὑπάρχει·
Διὸς ὁ παῖς· τᾶς δʼ εὐγενίας
πλέον ὑπερβάλλων ⟨ἀρετᾷ⟩
μοχθήσας τὸν ἄκυμον
θῆκεν βίοτον βροτοῖς
πέρσας δείματα θηρῶν.

[¶64] Lycus:
Amphitryon, it is high time you came forth from the palace; you have been too long arraying yourselves in the robes and trappings of the dead. Come, bid the wife and children of Heracles
show themselves outside the house, to die on the conditions you yourselves offered.

> Greek: Λύκος:
ἐς καιρὸν οἴκων Ἀμφιτρύων ἔξω περᾷ·
χρόνος γὰρ ἤδη δαρὸς ἐξ ὅτου πέπλοις
κοσμεῖσθε σῶμα καὶ νεκρῶν ἀγάλμασιν.
ἀλλʼ εἶα, παῖδας καὶ δάμαρθʼ Ἡρακλέους
ἔξω κέλευε τῶνδε φαίνεσθαι δόμων,
ἐφʼ οἷς ὑπέστητʼ αὐτεπάγγελτοι θανεῖν.

[¶65] Amphitryon:
Lord, you persecute me in my misery and heap insult upon me over and above the loss of my son; you should have been more moderate in your zeal, though you are my lord and master.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἄναξ, διώκεις μʼ ἀθλίως πεπραγότα
ὕβριν θʼ ὑβρίζεις ἐπὶ θανοῦσι τοῖς ἐμοῖς·
ἃ χρῆν σε μετρίως, κεἰ κρατεῖς, σπουδὴν ἔχειν.

[¶66] But since you impose death’s necessity on me, I must acquiesce; what you wish must be done.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀνάγκην προστίθης ἡμῖν θανεῖν,
στέργειν ἀνάγκη· δραστέον δʼ ἃ σοὶ δοκεῖ.

[¶67] Lycus:
Now, where is Megara? where are the children of Alcmena’s son?

> Greek: Λύκος:
ποῦ δῆτα Μεγάρα; ποῦ τέκνʼ Ἀλκμήνης γόνου;

[¶68] Amphitryon:
She, I believe, so far as I can guess from outside—

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
δοκῶ μὲν αὐτήν, ὡς θύραθεν εἰκάσαι —

[¶69] Lycus:
What grounds do you have to base your fancy on?

> Greek: Λύκος:
τί χρῆμα δόξης; τοῦ δʼ ἔχεις τεκμήριον;

[¶70] Amphitryon:
Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar’s hallowed steps—

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἱκέτιν πρὸς ἁγνοῖς Ἑστίας θάσσειν βάθροις …

[¶71] Lycus:
Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life.

> Greek: Λύκος:
ἀνόνητά γʼ ἱκετεύουσαν ἐκσῷσαι βίον.

[¶72] Amphitryon:
And calling on her dead husband, in vain.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
καὶ τὸν θανόντα γʼ ἀνακαλεῖν μάτην πόσιν.

[¶73] Lycus:
He is nowhere near, and he certainly will never come.

> Greek: Λύκος:
ὃ δʼ οὐ πάρεστιν οὐδὲ μὴ μόλῃ ποτέ.

[¶74] Amphitryon:
No, unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὔκ, εἴ γε μή τις θεῶν ἀναστήσειέ νιν.

[¶75] Lycus:
Go to her and bring her from the palace.

> Greek: Λύκος:
χώρει πρὸς αὐτὴν κἀκκόμιζε δωμάτων.

[¶76] Amphitryon:
By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
μέτοχος ἂν εἴην τοῦ φόνου δράσας τόδε.

[¶77] Lycus:
Since you have this scruple, I, who have left fear behind, will myself bring out the mother and her children. Follow me, servants,
that we may joyfully put an end to this delay of our work.
Exit Lycus.

> Greek: Λύκος:
ἡμεῖς, ἐπειδὴ σοὶ τόδʼ ἔστʼ ἐνθύμιον,
οἱ δειμάτων ἔξωθεν ἐκπορεύσομεν
σὺν μητρὶ παῖδας. δεῦρʼ ἕπεσθε, πρόσπολοι,
ὡς ἂν σχολὴν λύσωμεν ἄσμενοι πόνων.

[¶78] Amphitryon:
Then go your way along the path of fate; for what remains, maybe another will provide. Expect for your evil deeds to find some trouble yourself. Ah! my aged friends, he is marching fairly to his doom; soon will he lie entangled in the snare
of the sword, thinking to slay his neighbors, the villain! I will go, to see him fall dead; for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his misdeeds affords pleasurable feelings.
Exit Amphitryon.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
σὺ δʼ οὖν ἴθʼ, ἔρχῃ δʼ οἷ χρεών· τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἴσως
ἄλλῳ μελήσει. προσδόκα δὲ δρῶν κακῶς
κακόν τι πράξειν. ὦ γέροντες, ἐς καλὸν
στείχει, βρόχοισι δʼ ἀρκύων γενήσεται
ξιφηφόροισι, τοὺς πέλας δοκῶν κτενεῖν
ὁ παγκάκιστος. εἶμι δʼ, ὡς ἴδω νεκρὸν
πίπτοντʼ· ἔχει γὰρ ἡδονὰς θνῄσκων ἀνὴρ
ἐχθρὸς τίνων τε τῶν δεδραμένων δίκην.

[¶79] Chorus:
Evil has changed sides; he who was once a mighty king is now turning his life backward into the road to Hades. Hail to you! Justice and heavenly retribution.

> Greek: Χορός:
—μεταβολὰ κακῶν· μέγας ὁ πρόσθʼ ἄναξ
πάλιν ὑποστρέφει βίοτον ἐξ Ἅιδα.
ἰώ·
δίκα καὶ θεῶν παλίρρους πότμος.

[¶80] At last have you reached the goal where your death will pay the penalty, for your insults against your betters.

> Greek: —ἦλθες χρόνῳ μὲν οὗ δίκην δώσεις θανών,
ὕβρεις ὑβρίζων εἰς ἀμείνονας σέθεν.

[¶81] Joy makes my tears burst forth. He has come back—
which I never once thought in my heart would happen—the prince of the land.

> Greek: —χαρμοναὶ δακρύων ἔδοσαν ἐκβολάς·
πάλιν ἔμολεν —
ἃ πάρος οὔποτε διὰ φρενὸς ἤλπισʼ ἂν
παθεῖν — γᾶς ἄναξ.

[¶82] Come, old friends, let us look within to see if someone has met the fate I hope.
Lycus: (within)
Ah me! ah me!

> Greek: —ἀλλʼ, ὦ γεραιοί, καὶ τὰ δωμάτων ἔσω
σκοπῶμεν, εἰ πράσσει τις ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω.
Λύκος:
ἰώ μοί μοι.

[¶83] Chorus:
Ha! how sweet to hear that opening note of his within the house; death is not far off him now. The prince cries out, wailing a prelude of death.

> Greek: Χορός:
—τόδε κατάρχεται μέλος ἐμοὶ κλύειν
φίλιον ἐν δόμοις· θάνατος οὐ πόρσω.
>βοᾷ
φόνου φροίμιον στενάζων ἄναξ.

[¶84] Lycus: (within)
O kingdom of Cadmus, I am perishing by treachery!

> Greek: Λύκος:
ὦ πᾶσα Κάδμου γαῖʼ, ἀπόλλυμαι δόλῳ.

[¶85] Chorus:
You were yourself for making others perish; endure your retribution; it is only the penalty of your own deeds you are paying.

> Greek: Χορός:
—καὶ γὰρ διώλλυς· ἀντίποινα δʼ ἐκτίνων
τόλμα, διδούς γε τῶν δεδραμένων δίκην.

[¶86] Who was he, only a mortal, that aimed his silly saying at the blessed gods of heaven with impious blasphemy, maintaining that they are weaklings after all?

> Greek: —τίς ὁ θεοὺς ἀνομίᾳ χραίνων, θνητὸς ὤν,
ἄφρονα λόγον
οὐρανίων μακάρων κατέβαλʼ, ὡς ἄρʼ οὐ
σθένουσιν θεοί;

[¶87] Old friends, our godless foe is now no more.

> Greek: — γέροντες, οὐκέτʼ ἔστι δυσσεβὴς ἀνήρ.

[¶88] The house is still; let us turn to the dance.

> Greek: — σιγᾷ μέλαθρα· πρὸς χοροὺς τραπώμεθα.

[¶89] Yes, for fortune smiles upon my friends as I desire.

> Greek: — φίλοι γὰρ εὐτυχοῦσιν οὓς ἐγὼ θέλω.

[¶90] Chorus:
Dances, dances and banquets now prevail throughout the holy town of Thebes.

> Greek: Χορός:
—χοροὶ χοροὶ
καὶ θαλίαι μέλουσι Θή-
βας ἱερὸν κατʼ ἄστυ.

[¶91] For change from tears, change from sorrow give birth to song. The new king is gone; our former monarch
rules, having made his way even from the harbor of Acheron. Hope beyond all expectation is fulfilled.

> Greek: μεταλλαγαὶ γὰρ δακρύων,
μεταλλαγαὶ συντυχίας
⟨νέας⟩ ἔτεκον ἀοιδάς.
βέβακʼ ἄναξ ὁ καινός, ὁ δὲ παλαίτερος
κρατεῖ, λιμένα λιπών γε τὸν Ἀχερόντιον.
δοκημάτων
ἐκτὸς ἦλθεν ἐλπίς.

[¶92] Chorus:
The gods, the gods take care to heed the right and wrong. It is their gold and their good luck
that lead men’s hearts astray, bringing in their train unjust power. For no man ever had the courage to reflect what reverses Time might bring; but, disregarding law to gratify lawlessness, he shatters
the black chariot of prosperity.

> Greek: Χορός:
θεοὶ θεοὶ
τῶν ἀδίκων μέλουσι καὶ
τῶν ὁσίων ἐπᾴειν.
ὁ χρυσὸς ἅ τʼ εὐτυχία
φρενῶν βροτοὺς ἐξάγεται,
δύνασιν ἄδικον ἐφέλκων.
Χρόνου γὰρ οὔτις τὸ πάλιν εἰσορᾶν ἔτλα·
νόμον παρέμενος, ἀνομίᾳ χάριν διδοὺς
ἔθραυσεν ὄλ-
βου κελαινὸν ἅρμα.

[¶93] Chorus:
O Ismenus, deck yourself with garlands! Break forth into dancing, you paved streets of our seven-gated city! come Dirce, fount of waters fair;
and joined with her you nymphs of Asopus, come from your father’s waves to add your voices to our hymn, the victor’s prize that Heracles has won.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἰσμήνʼ ὦ στεφαναφόρει,
ξεσταί θʼ ἑπταπύλου πόλεως
ἀναχορεύσατʼ ἀγυιαί,
Δίρκα θʼ ἁ καλλιρρέεθρος,
σύν τʼ Ἀσωπιάδες κόραι,
πατρὸς ὕδωρ βᾶτε λιποῦσαι συναοιδοί,
Νύμφαι, τὸν Ἡρακλέους
καλλίνικον ἀγῶνα.

[¶94] O Pythian rock with forests crowned, and haunts of the Muses on Helicon! you will come to my city and her walls with cries of joy; where the earth-born crop sprang to view,
a warrior-host with shields of brass, who are handing on their realm to children’s children, a divine light to Thebes.

> Greek: Πυθίου δενδρῶτι πέτρα
Μουσῶν θʼ Ἑλικωνιάδων
δώματʼ, ὤ,
ἥξετʼ εὐγαθεῖ κελάδῳ
ἐμὰν πόλιν, ἐμὰ τείχη,
Σπαρτῶν ἵνα γένος ἔφανε
χαλκασπίδων λόχος, ὃς γᾶν
τέκνων τέκνοις μεταμείβει,
Θήβαις ἱερὸν φῶς.

[¶95] Chorus:
All hail the marriage! in which two bridegrooms shared; the one, a mortal;
the other, Zeus, who came to wed the bride sprung from Perseus; for that marriage of yours, O Zeus, in days gone by has been proved to me a true story beyond all expectation;
and time has shown the brightness of Heracles’ strength; for he emerged from caverns beneath the earth after leaving Pluto’s halls below. To me you are a worthier lord
than that base-born king, who now lets it be plainly seen in this struggle between armed warriors, whether justice still finds favor in heaven.
Catching sight of the spectre of Madness.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ λέκτρων δύο συγγενεῖς
εὐναί, θνατογενοῦς τε καὶ
Διός, ὃς ἦλθεν ἐς εὐνὰν
Νύμφας τᾶς Περσηίδος· ὡς
πιστόν μοι τὸ παλαιὸν ἤ-
δη λέχος, ὦ Ζεῦ, σὸν ἐπʼ οὐκ ἐλπίδι φάνθη,
λαμπρὰν δʼ ἔδειξʼ ὁ χρόνος
τὰν Ἡρακλέος ἀλκάν·
γᾶς ὃς ἐξέβα θαλάμων
Πλούτωνος δῶμα λιπὼν
νέρτερον.
κρείσσων μοι τύραννος ἔφυς
ἢ δυσγένειʼ ἀνάκτων,
ἃ νῦν ἐσορᾶν ἔφανε
ξιφηφόρων ἐς ἀγώνων
ἅμιλλαν, εἰ τὸ δίκαιον
θεοῖς ἔτʼ ἀρέσκει.

[¶96] Chorus:
—Ha! see there, my old comrades! is the same wild panic fallen on us all; what phantom is this I see hovering over the house?

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἔα ἔα·
ἆρʼ ἐς τὸν αὐτὸν πίτυλον ἥκομεν φόβου,
γέροντες, οἷον φάσμʼ ὑπὲρ δόμων ὁρῶ;

[¶97] —Fly, fly, bestir your tardy steps! begone! away!

> Greek: — φυγῇ φυγῇ
νωθὲς πέδαιρε κῶλον, ἐκποδὼν ἔλα.

[¶98] —O savior prince, avert calamity from me!

> Greek: — ὦναξ Παιάν,
ἀπότροπος γένοιό μοι πημάτων.

[¶99] Iris:
Courage, old men! she, whom you see, is Madness, daughter of Night, and I am Iris, the handmaid of the gods. We have not come to do your city any hurt,
but our warfare is against the house of one man only, against him whom they call the son of Zeus and Alcmena. For until he had finished all his grievous labors, Destiny was preserving him, nor would father Zeus ever suffer me or Hera to harm him.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
θαρσεῖτε Νυκτὸς τήνδʼ ὁρῶντες ἔκγονον
Λύσσαν, γέροντες, κἀμὲ τὴν θεῶν λάτριν
Ἶριν· πόλει γὰρ οὐδὲν ἥκομεν βλάβος,
ἑνὸς δʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὸς σῶμα συστρατεύομεν,
ὅν φασιν εἶναι Ζηνὸς Ἀλκμήνης τʼ ἄπο.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ ἄθλους ἐκτελευτῆσαι πικρούς,
τὸ χρή νιν ἐξέσῳζεν, οὐδʼ εἴα πατὴρ
Ζεύς νιν κακῶς δρᾶν οὔτʼ ἔμʼ οὔθʼ Ἥραν ποτέ·

[¶100] But now that he has accomplished the labors of Eurystheus, Hera wishes to brand him with the guilt of shedding kindred blood by slaying his own children, and I wish it also. Come then, unwed maid, child of black Night, harden your heart relentlessly,
send forth frenzy upon this man, confound his mind even to the slaying of his children, drive him, goad him wildly on his mad career, shake out the sails of death, that when he has conveyed over Acheron’s ferry that fair group of children by his own murderous hand,
he may learn to know how fiercely against him the wrath of Hera burns and may also experience mine; otherwise, if he should escape punishment, the gods will become as nothing, while man’s power will grow.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δὲ μόχθους διεπέρασʼ Εὐρυσθέως,
Ἥρα προσάψαι καινὸν αἷμʼ αὐτῷ θέλει
παῖδας κατακτείναντι, συνθέλω δʼ ἐγώ.
ἀλλʼ εἶʼ, ἄτεγκτον συλλαβοῦσα καρδίαν,
Νυκτὸς κελαινῆς ἀνυμέναιε παρθένε,
μανίας τʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε καὶ παιδοκτόνους
φρενῶν ταραγμοὺς καὶ ποδῶν σκιρτήματα
ἔλαυνε, κίνει, φόνιον ἐξίει κάλων,
ὡς ἂν πορεύσας διʼ Ἀχερούσιον πόρον
τὸν καλλίπαιδα στέφανον αὐθέντῃ φόνῳ
γνῷ μὲν τὸν Ἥρας οἷός ἐστʼ αὐτῷ χόλος,
μάθῃ δὲ τὸν ἐμόν· ἢ θεοὶ μὲν οὐδαμοῦ,
τὰ θνητὰ δʼ ἔσται μεγάλα, μὴ δόντος δίκην.

[¶101] Madness:
Of noble parents was I born, the daughter of Night, sprung from the blood of Ouranos;

> Greek: Λύσσα:
ἐξ εὐγενοῦς μὲν πατρὸς ἔκ τε μητέρος
πέφυκα, Νυκτὸς Οὐρανοῦ τʼ ἀφʼ αἵματος·

[¶102] and these prerogatives I hold, not to use them in anger against friends, nor do I have any joy in visiting the homes of men; and I wish to counsel Hera, before I see her make a mistake, and you too, if you will hearken to my words. This man, against whose house you are sending me, has made himself a name alike in heaven
and earth; for, after taming pathless wilds and raging sea, he by his single might raised up again the honors of the gods when sinking before man’s impiety;... wherefore I counsel you, do not wish him dire mishaps.

> Greek: τιμάς τʼ ἔχω τάσδʼ οὐκ ἀγασθῆναι φίλοις
οὐδʼ ἥδομαι φοιτῶσʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπων φίλους,
παραινέσαι δέ, πρὶν σφαλεῖσαν εἰσιδεῖν,
Ἥρᾳ θέλω σοί τʼ, ἢν πίθησθʼ ἐμοῖς λόγοις.
ἀνὴρ ὅδʼ οὐκ ἄσημος οὔτʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ
οὔτʼ ἐν θεοῖσιν, οὗ σύ μʼ ἐσπέμπεις δόμους·
ἄβατον δὲ χώραν καὶ θάλασσαν ἀγρίαν
ἐξημερώσας, θεῶν ἀνέστησεν μόνος
τιμὰς πιτνούσας ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν ὕπο·
…
σοί τʼ οὐ παραινῶ μεγάλα βούλεσθαι κακά.

[¶103] Iris:
Spare us your advice on Hera’s and my schemes.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
μὴ σὺ νουθέτει τά θʼ Ἥρας κἀμὰ μηχανήματα.

[¶104] Madness:
I seek to turn your steps into the best path instead of into this one of evil.

> Greek: Λύσσα:
ἐς τὸ λῷον ἐμβιβάζω σʼ ἴχνος ἀντὶ τοῦ κακοῦ.

[¶105] Iris:
It was not to practice self-control that the wife of Zeus sent you here.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
οὐχὶ σωφρονεῖν γʼ ἔπεμψε δεῦρό σʼ ἡ Διὸς δάμαρ.

[¶106] Madness:
I call the sun-god to witness that here I am acting against my will; but if indeed I must at once serve you and Hera
and follow you in full cry as hounds follow the huntsman, then I will go; neither ocean with its fiercely groaning waves, nor the earthquake, nor the thunderbolt with blast of agony shall be like the headlong rush I will make into the breast of Heracles; through his roof will I burst my way and swoop upon his house,
after first slaying his children; nor shall their murderer know that he is killing the children he begot, till he is released from my madness. Behold him! see how even now he is wildly tossing his head at the outset, and rolling his eyes fiercely from side to side without a word; nor can he control his panting breath, like a fearful bull in act to charge; he bellows,
calling on the goddesses of nether hell. Soon will I rouse you to yet wilder dancing and pipe a note of terror in your ear. Soar away, O Iris, to Olympus on your honored course; while I unseen will steal into the halls of Heracles.

> Greek: Λύσσα:
Ἥλιον μαρτυρόμεσθα δρῶσʼ ἃ δρᾶν οὐ βούλομαι.
εἰ δὲ δή μʼ Ἥρᾳ θʼ ὑπουργεῖν σοί τʼ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει
τάχος ἐπιρροίβδην θʼ ὁμαρτεῖν ὡς κυνηγέτῃ κύνας,
εἶμί γʼ· οὔτε πόντος οὕτως κύμασιν στένων λάβρως
οὔτε γῆς σεισμὸς κεραυνοῦ τʼ οἶστρος ὠδῖνας πνέων,
οἷʼ ἐγὼ στάδια δραμοῦμαι στέρνον εἰς Ἡρακλέους·
καὶ καταρρήξω μέλαθρα καὶ δόμους ἐπεμβαλῶ,
τέκνʼ ἀποκτείνασα πρῶτον· ὁ δὲ κανὼν οὐκ εἴσεται
παῖδας οὓς ἔτικτʼ ἐναίρων, πρὶν ἂν ἐμὰς λύσσας ἀφῇ.
ἢν ἰδού· καὶ δὴ τινάσσει κρᾶτα βαλβίδων ἄπο
καὶ διαστρόφους ἑλίσσει σῖγα γοργωποὺς κόρας.
ἀμπνοὰς δʼ οὐ σωφρονίζει, ταῦρος ὣς ἐς ἐμβολὴν
δεινός· μυκᾶται δὲ Κῆρας ἀνακαλῶν τὰς Ταρτάρου.
τάχα σʼ ἐγὼ μᾶλλον χορεύσω καὶ καταυλήσω φόβῳ.
στεῖχʼ ἐς Οὔλυμπον πεδαίρουσʼ, Ἶρι, γενναῖον πόδα·
ἐς δόμους δʼ ἡμεῖς ἄφαντοι δυσόμεσθʼ Ἡρακλέους.

[¶107] Chorus:
Alas alas! lament; the son of Zeus, flower of your city, is being cut down. Woe to you, Hellas! that will cast from you your benefactor, and destroy him as he dances in the shrill frenzy of Madness.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ὀτοτοτοτοτοῖ, στέναξον· ἀποκείρεται
σὸν ἄνθος πόλεος, ὁ Διὸς ἔκγονος·
μέλεος Ἑλλάς, ἃ τὸν εὐεργέταν
ἀποβαλεῖς, ὀλεῖς μανίαισιν Λύσσας
χορευθέντʼ ἐναύλοις.

[¶108] She is mounted on her chariot, the queen of sorrow and sighing, and is goading on her steeds, as if for outrage, the Gorgon child of Night, with a hundred hissing serpent-heads, Madness of the flashing eyes.

> Greek: —βέβακεν ἐν δίφροισιν ἁ πολύστονος,
ἅρμασι δʼ ἐνδίδωσι
κέντρον ὡς ἐπὶ λώβᾳ
Νυκτὸς Γοργὼν ἑκατογκεφάλοις
ὄφεων ἰαχήμασι, Λύσσα μαρμαρωπός.

[¶109] Soon has the god changed his good fortune; soon will his children breathe their last, slain by a father’s hand.

> Greek: —ταχὺ τὸν εὐτυχῆ μετέβαλεν δαίμων,
ταχὺ δὲ πρὸς πατρὸς τέκνʼ ἐκπνεύσεται.

[¶110] Amphitryon:
Ah me! alas!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἰώ μοι μέλεος.

[¶111] Chorus:
O Zeus, unjust Vengeance, mad, relentless, will soon give your childless son
up to misery.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ἰὼ Ζεῦ, τὸ σὸν γένος ἄγονον αὐτίκα
λυσσάδες ὠμοβρῶτες ἄδικοι Ποιναὶ
κακοῖσιν ἐκπετάσουσιν.

[¶112] Amphitryon:
Alas, O house!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἰὼ στέγαι.

[¶113] Chorus:
The dance begins without the cymbals’ crash, with no glad waving of the wine-god’s staff—

> Greek: Χορός:
—κατάρχεται χόρευμα τυμπάνων ἄτερ,
οὐ βρομίῳ κεχαρισμένα θύρσῳ …

[¶114] Amphitryon:
Woe to these halls!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἰὼ δόμοι.

[¶115] Chorus:
Toward bloodshed,
and not to pour libations of Dionysus’ grape.

> Greek: Χορός:
πρὸς αἵματʼ, οὐχὶ τᾶς Διονυσιάδος
βοτρύων ἐπὶ χεύμασι λοιβᾶς.

[¶116] Amphitryon:
O children, make haste to fly!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
φυγῇ, τέκνʼ, ἐξορμᾶτε.

[¶117] Chorus:
That is the chant of death, of death, to the music of pipes.

> Greek: Χορός:
—δάιον τόδε
δάιον μέλος ἐπαυλεῖται.

[¶118] Ah, yes! he is hunting the children down. Never will Madness lead her revel rout in vain.

> Greek: κυναγετεῖ τέκνων διωγμόν· οὔποτʼ ἄκραντα δόμοισι
Λύσσα βακχεύσει.

[¶119] Amphitryon:
Ah misery!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
αἰαῖ κακῶν.

[¶120] Chorus:
Ah me! how I lament that aged father, that mother too that bore his children in vain.

> Greek: Χορός:
—αἰαῖ δῆτα τὸν γεραιὸν ὡς στένω
πατέρα τάν τε παιδοτρόφον, ⟨ᾇ⟩ μάταν
τέκεα γεννᾶται.

[¶121] Look! look!
A tempest rocks the house; the roof is falling with it.

> Greek: —ἰδοὺ ἰδού,
θύελλα σείει δῶμα, συμπίπτει στέγη.

[¶122] Heracles:
Oh, oh! what are you doing, Pallas, child of Zeus, to the house? You are sending hell’s confusion against the halls, as once you did on Enceladus.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἢ ἤ· τί δρᾷς, ὦ Διὸς παῖ, μελάθρῳ;
τάραγμα ταρτάρειον, ὡς ἐπʼ Ἐγκελάδῳ ποτέ, Παλλάς,
ἐς δόμους πέμπεις.

[¶123] Messenger:
O white-haired old men!

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὦ λευκὰ γήρᾳ σώματʼ …

[¶124] Chorus:
Why this loud
address to me?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀνακαλεῖς με τίνα
βοάν;

[¶125] Messenger:
It is dreadful within!

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἄλαστα τἀν δόμοισι.

[¶126] Chorus:
No need for me to call another prophet for that.

> Greek: Χορός:
μάντιν οὐχ
ἕτερον ἄξομαι.

[¶127] Messenger:
The children are dead.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τεθνᾶσι παῖδες.

[¶128] Chorus:
Alas!

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰαῖ.

[¶129] Messenger:
Ah weep! for here is cause for weeping.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
στενάζεθʼ, ὡς στενακτά.

[¶130] Chorus:
A cruel murder,
cruel parents’ hands!

> Greek: Χορός:
δάιοι φόνοι,
δάιοι δὲ τοκέων χέρες· ὤ.

[¶131] Messenger:
No words can utter more than we have suffered.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὐκ ἄν τις εἴποι μᾶλλον ἢ πεπόνθαμεν.

[¶132] Chorus:
How came the ruin you reveal, the ruin that must be lamented, from a father to his children? Tell me how these heaven-sent woes
came rushing on the house; say how the children met their sad mischance.

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς παισὶ στενακτὰν ἄταν ἄταν
πατέρος ἀμφαίνεις;
λέγε, τίνα τρόπον ἔσυτο θεόθεν ἐπὶ
μέλαθρα κακὰ τάδε,
τλήμονάς τε παίδων τύχας;

[¶133] Messenger:
Victims to purify the house were stationed before the altar of Zeus, for Heracles had slain and cast from his halls the king of the land.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἱερὰ μὲν ἦν πάροιθεν ἐσχάρας Διὸς
καθάρσιʼ οἴκων, γῆς ἄνακτʼ ἐπεὶ κτανὼν
ἐξέβαλε τῶνδε δωμάτων Ἡρακλέης·

[¶134] There stood his group of lovely children, with his father and Megara; and already the basket was being passed round the altar, and we were keeping holy silence. But just as Alcmena’s son was bringing the torch in his right hand to dip it in the holy water,
he stopped without a word. And as their father lingered, his children looked at him; he was no longer himself; his eyes were rolling; he was quite distraught; his eyeballs were bloodshot, and foam was oozing down his bearded cheek.

> Greek: χορὸς δὲ καλλίμορφος εἱστήκει τέκνων
πατήρ τε Μεγάρα τʼ· ἐν κύκλῳ δʼ ἤδη κανοῦν
εἵλικτο βωμοῦ, φθέγμα δʼ ὅσιον εἴχομεν.
μέλλων δὲ δαλὸν χειρὶ δεξιᾷ φέρειν,
ἐς χέρνιβʼ ὡς βάψειεν, Ἀλκμήνης τόκος
ἔστη σιωπῇ. καὶ χρονίζοντος πατρὸς
παῖδες προσέσχον ὄμμʼ· ὁ δʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτὸς ἦν,
ἀλλʼ ἐν στροφαῖσιν ὀμμάτων ἐφθαρμένος
ῥίζας τʼ ἐν ὄσσοις αἱματῶπας ἐκβαλὼν
ἀφρὸν κατέσταζʼ εὐτρίχου γενειάδος.

[¶135] He spoke with a madman’s laugh: “Father, why should I offer the purifying flame before I have slain Eurystheus, and have the toil twice over? It is the work of my unaided arm to settle these things well; as soon as I have brought the head of Eurystheus here,”
“I will cleanse my hands for those already slain. Spill the water, cast the baskets from your hands. Ho! give me now my bow and club! To Mycenae will I go; I must take crow-bars and pick-axes, for I will shatter again”
“with iron levers those city-walls which the Cyclopes squared with red plumb-line and mason’s tools.”

> Greek: ἔλεξε δʼ ἅμα γέλωτι παραπεπληγμένῳ·
Πάτερ, τί θύω πρὶν κτανεῖν Εὐρυσθέα
καθάρσιον πῦρ, καὶ πόνους διπλοῦς ἔχω;
ἔργον μιᾶς μοι χειρὸς εὖ θέσθαι τάδε·
ὅταν δʼ ἐνέγκω δεῦρο κρᾶτʼ Εὐρυσθέως,
ἐπὶ τοῖσι νῦν θανοῦσιν ἁγνιῶ χέρας.
ἐκχεῖτε πηγάς, ῥίπτετʼ ἐκ χειρῶν κανᾶ.
τίς μοι δίδωσι τόξα; τίς ⟨δʼ⟩ ὅπλον χερός;
πρὸς τὰς Μυκήνας εἶμι· λάζυσθαι χρεὼν
μοχλοὺς δικέλλας θʼ, ὥστε Κυκλώπων βάθρα
φοίνικι κανόνι καὶ τύκοις ἡρμοσμένα
στρεπτῷ σιδήρῳ συντριαινῶσαι πάλιν.

[¶136] Then he set out, and though he had no chariot there, he thought he had, and was for mounting to its seat, and using a goad as though his fingers really held one.

> Greek: αὐτοῦ δὲ βαίνων ἅρματʼ οὐκ ἔχων ἔχειν
ἔφασκε, δίφρου δʼ εἰσέβαινεν ἄντυγας
κἄθεινε, κέντρον δῆθεν ὡς ἔχων, χερί.

[¶137] A twofold feeling filled his servants’ breasts, amusement and fear at once; and one looking to his neighbor said: “Is our master making sport for us, or is he mad?” But he was pacing to and fro in his house; and, rushing into the men’s chamber, he said he had reached the city of Nisus;
and going into the house, he threw himself upon the floor, as he was, and made ready to feast. But after waiting a brief space he began saying he was on his way to the plains amid the valleys of the Isthmus; and then stripping himself of his mantle,
he fell to competing with no one, and he proclaimed himself victor with his own voice, calling on no one to listen. Next, fancy carrying him to Mycenae, he was uttering fearful threats against Eurystheus. Meantime his father caught him by his stalwart arm, and thus addressed him:

> Greek: διπλοῦς δʼ ὀπαδοῖς ἦν γέλως φόβος θʼ ὁμοῦ.
καί τις τόδʼ εἶπεν, ἄλλος εἰς ἄλλον δρακών·
Παίζει πρὸς ἡμᾶς δεσπότης ἢ μαίνεται;
ὁ δʼ εἷρπʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω κατὰ στέγας,
μέσον δʼ ἐς ἀνδρῶνʼ ἐσπεσὼν Νίσου πόλιν
ἥκειν ἔφασκε· δωμάτων τʼ ἔσω βεβώς,
κλιθεὶς ἐς οὖδας, ὡς ἔχει, σκευάζεται
θοίνην. διελθὼν δʼ ὡς βραχὺν χρόνον μονῆς
Ἰσθμοῦ ναπαίας ἔλεγε προσβαίνειν πλάκας.
κἀνταῦθα γυμνὸν σῶμα θεὶς πορπαμάτων,
πρὸς οὐδένʼ ἡμιλλᾶτο κἀκηρύσσετο
αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ καλλίνικος οὐδενός,
ἀκοὴν ὑπειπών. δεινὰ δʼ Εὐρυσθεῖ βρέμων
ἦν ἐν Μυκήναις τῷ λόγῳ. πατὴρ δέ νιν
θιγὼν κραταιᾶς χειρὸς ἐννέπει τάδε·

[¶138] “My son, what do you mean by this? What strange doings are these? Can it be that the blood of your late victims has driven you frantic?” But he, supposing it was the father of Eurystheus striving in abject supplication to touch his hand: thrust him aside, and then against his own children aimed his bow
and made ready his quiver, thinking to slay the sons of Eurystheus. And they in wild fright darted here and there, one to his hapless mother’s skirts, another to the shadow of a pillar, while a third cowered beneath the altar like a bird.

> Greek: Ὦ παῖ, τί πάσχεις; τίς ὁ τρόπος ξενώσεως
τῆσδʼ; οὔ τί που φόνος σʼ ἐβάκχευσεν νεκρῶν,
οὓς ἄρτι καίνεις; ὁ δέ νιν Εὐρυσθέως δοκῶν
πατέρα προταρβοῦνθʼ ἱκέσιον ψαύειν χερός,
ὠθεῖ, φαρέτραν δʼ εὐτρεπῆ σκευάζεται
καὶ τόξʼ ἑαυτοῦ παισί, τοὺς Εὐρυσθέως
δοκῶν φονεύειν. οἳ δὲ ταρβοῦντες φόβῳ
ὤρουον ἄλλος ἄλλοσʼ, ἐς πέπλους ὁ μὲν
μητρὸς ταλαίνης, ὁ δʼ ὑπὸ κίονος σκιάν,
ἄλλος δὲ βωμὸν ὄρνις ὣς ἔπτηξʼ ὕπο.

[¶139] Then cried their mother: “O you who begot them, what are you doing? do you mean to slay your children?” Likewise his aged father and all the gathered servants cried aloud. But he, hunting the child round and round the column, in dreadful circles, and coming face to face with him shot him to the heart; and he fell upon his back,
sprinkling the stone pillars with blood as he gasped out his life. Then Heracles shouted in triumph and boasted loud: “Here lies one of Eurystheus’ brood dead at my feet, atoning for his father’s hatred.” Then he aimed his bow against a second, who had crouched
at the altar’s foot thinking to escape unseen. But before he fired, the poor child threw himself at his father’s knees, and, flinging his hand to reach his beard or neck, cried: “Oh! hear me, dearest father, do not kill me! I am your child, your own; it is no son of Eurystheus you will slay.”

> Greek: βοᾷ δὲ μήτηρ· Ὦ τεκών, τί δρᾷς; τέκνα
κτείνεις; βοᾷ δὲ πρέσβυς οἰκετῶν τʼ ὄχλος.
ὁ δʼ ἐξελίσσων παῖδα κίονος κύκλῳ,
τόρνευμα δεινὸν ποδός, ἐναντίον σταθεὶς
βάλλει πρὸς ἧπαρ· ὕπτιος δὲ λαΐνους
ὀρθοστάτας ἔδευσεν ἐκπνέων βίον.
ὁ δʼ ἠλάλαξε κἀπεκόμπασεν τάδε·
Εἷς μὲν νεοσσὸς ὅδε θανὼν Εὐρυσθέως
ἔχθραν πατρῴαν ἐκτίνων πέπτωκέ μοι.
ἄλλῳ δʼ ἐπεῖχε τόξʼ, ὃς ἀμφὶ βωμίαν
ἔπτηξε κρηπῖδʼ ὡς λεληθέναι δοκῶν.
φθάνει δʼ ὁ τλήμων γόνασι προσπεσὼν πατρός,
καὶ πρὸς γένειον χεῖρα καὶ δέρην βαλών,
Ὦ φίλτατʼ, αὐδᾷ, μή μʼ ἀποκτείνῃς, πάτερ·
σός εἰμι, σὸς παῖς· οὐ τὸν Εὐρυσθέως ὀλεῖς.