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

# 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.

## 3. Lines 990–1428

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-heracles/3/#p-N

[¶0] But that other, with savage Gorgon-scowl, as the child now stood in range of his baleful archery, smote him on the head, as a smith strikes his molten iron, bringing down his club upon the fair-haired boy, and crushed the bones. The second caught,
away he goes to add a third victim to the other two. But before he could, the poor mother caught up her child and carried him within the house and shut the doors. But he, as though he really were at the Cyclopean walls, prized open the doors with levers, and, hurling down their posts,
with one shaft laid low his wife and child. Then in wild gallop he starts to slay his aged father; but there came a phantom, as it seemed to us on-lookers, of Pallas, with plumed helm, brandishing a spear; and she hurled a rock against the breast of Heracles,
which held him from his frenzied thirst for blood and plunged him into sleep; to the ground he fell, striking his back against a column that had fallen on the floor shattered in two when the roof fell in.

> Greek: ὁ δʼ ἀγριωπὸν ὄμμα Γοργόνος στρέφων,
ὡς ἐντὸς ἔστη παῖς λυγροῦ τοξεύματος,
μυδροκτύπον μίμημʼ, ὑπὲρ κάρα βαλὼν
ξύλον καθῆκε παιδὸς ἐς ξανθὸν κάρα,
ἔρρηξε δʼ ὀστᾶ. δεύτερον δὲ παῖδʼ ἑλών,
χωρεῖ τρίτον θῦμʼ ὡς ἐπισφάξων δυοῖν.
ἀλλὰ φθάνει νιν ἡ τάλαινʼ ἔσω δόμων
μήτηρ ὑπεκλαβοῦσα, καὶ κλῄει πύλας.
ὁ δʼ ὡς ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς δὴ Κυκλωπίοισιν ὢν
σκάπτει μοχλεύει θύρετρα, κἀκβαλὼν σταθμὰ
δάμαρτα καὶ παῖδʼ ἑνὶ κατέστρωσεν βέλει.
κἀνθένδε πρὸς γέροντος ἱππεύει φόνον·
ἀλλʼ ἦλθεν εἰκών, ὡς ὁρᾶν ἐφαίνετο,
Παλλὰς κραδαίνουσʼ ἔγχος ἐπὶ λόφῳ κέαρ,
κἄρριψε πέτρον στέρνον εἰς Ἡρακλέους,
ὅς νιν φόνου μαργῶντος ἔσχε, κεἰς ὕπνον
καθῆκε· πίτνει δʼ ἐς πέδον, πρὸς κίονα
νῶτον πατάξας, ὃς πεσήμασι στέγης
διχορραγὴς ἔκειτο κρηπίδων ἔπι.

[¶1] Then we rallied from our flight, and with the old man’s aid bound him fast with knotted cords to the pillar, so that on his awakening he might do no further mischief. So there he sleeps, poor wretch! a sleep that is not blessed, having murdered wife and children; no, for my part
I do not know any mortal more miserable than he. Exit messenger.

> Greek: ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐλευθεροῦντες ἐκ δρασμῶν πόδα
σὺν τῷ γέροντι δεσμὰ σειραίων βρόχων
ἀνήπτομεν πρὸς κίονʼ, ὡς λήξας ὕπνου
μηδὲν προσεργάσαιτο τοῖς δεδραμένοις.
εὕδει δʼ ὁ τλήμων ὕπνον οὐκ εὐδαίμονα,
παῖδας φονεύσας καὶ δάμαρτʼ. ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν
οὐκ οἶδα θνητῶν ὅστις ἀθλιώτερος.

[¶2] Chorus:
That murder wrought by the daughters of Danaus, which the rock of Argos keeps, was once the most famous and notorious in Hellas; but this has surpassed,
has outrun those former horrors... for the unhappy son of Zeus.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ὁ φόνος ἦν ὃν Ἀργολὶς ἔχει πέτρα
τότε μὲν περισαμότατος καὶ ἄπιστος Ἑλλάδι
τῶν Δαναοῦ παίδων· τάδε δʼ ὑπερέβαλε, παρ-
έδραμε τὰ τότε κακὰ … τάλανι διογενεῖ κόρῳ.

[¶3] I could tell of the murder done by Procne, mother of an only child, offered to the Muses; but you had three children, wretched parent, and all of them have you in your frenzy slain.

> Greek: —μονοτέκνου Πρόκνης φόνον ἔχω λέξαι
θυόμενον Μούσαις· σὺ δὲ τέκνα τρίγονʼ, ὦ
δάιε, τεκόμενος, λυσσάδι συγκατειργάσω μοίρᾳ.

[¶4] Alas! What groans or wails, what funeral dirge, or dance of death am I to raise?

> Greek: —αἰαῖ, τίνα στεναγμὸν
ἢ γόον ἢ φθιτῶν
ᾠδάν, ἢ τὸν Ἅιδα χορὸν ἀχήσω;

[¶5] Ah, ah! see, the bolted doors
of the lofty palace are being rolled apart.

> Greek: —φεῦ φεῦ·
ἴδεσθε, διάνδιχα κλῇθρα
κλίνεται ὑψιπύλων δόμων.

[¶6] Ah me! see the wretched children lying before their unhappy father, who is sunk in dreadful slumber after shedding their blood.

> Greek: —ἰώ μοι·
ἴδεσθε δὲ τέκνα πρὸ πατρὸς
ἄθλια κείμενα δυστάνου,
εὕδοντος ὕπνον δεινὸν ἐκ παίδων φόνου.

[¶7] Round him are bonds and cords, made fast with many knots about the body of Heracles, and lashed to the stone columns of his house.

> Greek: —περὶ δὲ δεσμὰ καὶ πολύβροχʼ ἁμμάτων
ἐρείσμαθʼ Ἡράκλειον
ἀμφὶ δέμας τάδε λαΐνοις
ἀνημμένα κίοσιν οἴκων.

[¶8] Chorus Leader:
But he, the aged father, like mother-bird wailing
her unfledged brood, comes hastening here with halting steps on his bitter journey.
The palace doors opening disclose Heracles lying asleep, bound to a shattered column.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ὁ δʼ ὥς τις ὄρνις ἄπτερον καταστένων
ὠδῖνα τέκνων, πρέσβυς ὑστέρῳ ποδὶ
πικρὰν διώκων ἤλυσιν πάρεσθʼ ὅδε.

[¶9] Amphitryon:
Softly, softly! you aged sons of Thebes, let him sleep on and forget his sorrows.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
Καδμεῖοι γέροντες, οὐ σῖγα σῖ-
γα τὸν ὕπνῳ παρειμένον ἐάσετʼ ἐκ-
λαθέσθαι κακῶν;

[¶10] Chorus:
For you, old friend, I weep and mourn, for the children too and that victorious chief.

> Greek: Χορός:
κατὰ σὲ δακρύοις στένω, πρέσβυ, καὶ
τέκεα καὶ τὸ καλλίνικον κάρα.

[¶11] Amphitryon:
Stand further off, make no noise nor outcry, do not rouse him from his calm
deep slumber.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἑκαστέρω πρόβατε, μὴ
κτυπεῖτε, μὴ βοᾶτε, μὴ
τὸν εὔδιʼ ἰαύονθʼ
ὑπνώδεά τʼ εὐνᾶς
ἐγείρετε.

[¶12] Chorus:
O horrible! all this blood—

> Greek: Χορός:
οἴμοι.
φόνος ὅσος ὅδʼ …

[¶13] Amphitryon:
Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἆ ἆ,
διά μʼ ὀλεῖτε.

[¶14] Chorus:
That he has spilled is rising up against him.

> Greek: Χορός:
κεχυμένος ἐπαντέλλει.

[¶15] Amphitryon:
Gently raise your dirge of woe, old friends;

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὐκ ἀτρεμαῖα θρῆνον αἰ-
άξετʼ, ὦ γέροντες;

[¶16] or he will wake, and, bursting his bonds, destroy the city, rend his father, and dash his house to pieces.

> Greek: ἢ δέσμʼ ἀνεγειρόμενος χαλάσας ἀπολεῖ πόλιν,
ἀπὸ δὲ πατέρα, μέλαθρά τε καταράξει.

[¶17] Chorus:
I cannot, cannot—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀδύνατʼ ἀδύνατά μοι.

[¶18] Amphitryon:
Hush! let me note his breathing;

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
σῖγα, πνοὰς μάθω·

[¶19] come, let me put my ear close.
Chorus:
Is he sleeping?

> Greek: φέρε πρὸς οὖς βάλω.
Χορός:
εὕδει;

[¶20] Amphitryon:
Yes, he is sleeping, a deadly sleepless sleep, having slain wife and children with the arrows of his twanging bow.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ναί, εὕδει
ὕπνον γʼ ἄυπνον ὀλόμενον, ὃς ἔκανεν ἄλοχον,
ἔκανε δὲ τέκεα, τοξήρει ψαλμῷ [τοξεύσας].

[¶21] Chorus:
Ah! mourn—

> Greek: Χορός:
στέναζέ νυν —

[¶22] Amphitryon:
Indeed I do.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
στενάζω.

[¶23] Chorus:
The children’s death—

> Greek: Χορός:
τέκνων ὄλεθρον —

[¶24] Amphitryon:
Ah me!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὤμοι.

[¶25] Chorus:
And your own son’s doom.

> Greek: Χορός:
σέθεν τε παιδὸς —

[¶26] Amphitryon:
Alas!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
αἰαῖ.

[¶27] Chorus:
Old friend—

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ πρέσβυ …

[¶28] Amphitryon:
Hush! hush! he is turning over, he is waking! Oh!
let me hide myself, concealed beneath the roof.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
σῖγα σῖγα·
παλίντροπος ἐξεγειρόμενος στρέφεται· φέρε,
ἀπόκρυφον δέμας ὑπὸ μέλαθρον κρύψω.

[¶29] Chorus:
Courage! darkness still holds your son’s eye.

> Greek: Χορός:
θάρσει· νὺξ ἔχει βλέφαρα παιδὶ σῷ.

[¶30] Amphitryon:
Oh beware! it is not that I shrink from leaving the light after my miseries, poor wretch! but if should he slay me, his father,
then he will be devising mischief on mischief, and to the avenging curse will add a parent’s blood.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὁρᾶθʼ ὁρᾶτε. τὸ φάος ἐκ-
λιπεῖν μὲν ἐπὶ κακοῖσιν οὐ
φεύγω τάλας, ἀλλʼ εἴ με κανεῖ πατέρʼ ὄντα,
πρὸς δὲ κακοῖς κακὰ μήσεται
πρὸς Ἐρινύσι θʼ αἷμα σύγγονον ἕξει.

[¶31] Chorus:
Well for you if you had died in that day, when, for your wife, you went forth to exact vengeance for her slain brothers
by sacking the Taphians’ sea-beat town.

> Greek: Χορός:
τότε θανεῖν σʼ ἐχρῆν, ὅτε δάμαρτι σᾷ
φόνον ὁμοσπόρων ἔμολες ἐκπράξας
Ταφίων περίκλυστον ἄστυ πέρσας.

[¶32] Amphitryon:
Fly, fly, my aged friends, from before the palace, escape his waking fury. Or soon he will heap up fresh slaughter on the old,
ranging wildly once more through the streets of Thebes.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
φυγὰν φυγάν, γέροντες, ἀποπρὸ δωμάτων
διώκετε· φεύγετε μάργον
ἄνδρʼ ἐπεγειρόμενον.
⟨ἢ⟩ τάχα φόνον ἕτερον ἐπὶ φόνῳ βαλὼν
ἀνʼ αὖ βακχεύσει Καδμείων πόλιν.

[¶33] Chorus Leader:
O Zeus, why have you shown such savage hate against your own son and plunged him in this sea of troubles?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Ζεῦ, τί παῖδʼ ἤχθηρας ὧδʼ ὑπερκότως
τὸν σόν, κακῶν δὲ πέλαγος ἐς τόδʼ ἤγαγες;

[¶34] Heracles: waking
Aha! I am alive and breathing; and my eyes resume their function, opening on
the sky and earth and the sun’s darting beam; but how my senses reel! in what strange turmoil am I plunged! my fevered breath in quick spasmodic gasps escapes my lungs. How now? why am I lying here, my brawny chest and arms made fast with cables like a ship,
beside a half-shattered piece of masonry, with corpses for my neighbors; while over the floor my bow and arrows are scattered, that once like trusty squires to my arm
both kept me safe and were kept safe by me? Surely I have not come a second time to Hades’ halls, having just returned from there for Eurystheus? To Hades? From where? No, I do not see Sisyphus with his stone, or Pluto, or his queen, Demeter’s child.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἔα·
ἔμπνους μέν εἰμι καὶ δέδορχʼ ἅπερ με δεῖ,
αἰθέρα τε καὶ γῆν τόξα θʼ Ἡλίου τάδε …
ὡς ἐν κλύδωνι καὶ φρενῶν ταράγματι
πέπτωκα δεινῷ καὶ πνοὰς θερμὰς πνέω
μετάρσιʼ, οὐ βέβαια, πνευμόνων ἄπο.
ἰδού, τί δεσμοῖς ναῦς ὅπως ὡρμισμένος
νεανίαν θώρακα καὶ βραχίονα,
πρὸς ἡμιθραύστῳ λαΐνῳ τυκίσματι
ἧμαι, νεκροῖσι γείτονας θάκους ἔχων;
πτερωτά τʼ ἔγχη· τόξα δʼ ἔσπαρται πέδῳ,
ἃ πρὶν παρασπίζοντʼ ἐμοῖς βραχίοσιν
ἔσῳζε πλευρὰς ἐξ ἐμοῦ τʼ ἐσῴζετο.
οὔ που κατῆλθον αὖθις εἰς Ἅιδου πάλιν,
Εὐρυσθέως δίαυλον; εἰς Ἅιδου; πόθεν;
ἀλλʼ οὔτε Σισύφειον εἰσορῶ πέτρον
Πλούτωνά τʼ, οὐδὲ σκῆπτρα Δήμητρος κόρης.

[¶35] Surely I am distraught; where am I, so helpless? Ho, there! which of my friends is near or far to cure me in my perplexity? For I have no clear knowledge of things once familiar.

> Greek: ἔκ τοι πέπληγμαι· ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν ἀμηχανῶ;
ὠή, τίς ἐγγὺς ἢ πρόσω φίλων ἐμῶν,
δύσγνοιαν ὅστις τὴν ἐμὴν ἰάσεται;
σαφῶς γὰρ οὐδὲν οἶδα τῶν εἰωθότων.

[¶36] Amphitryon:
My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
γέροντες, ἔλθω τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν πέλας;

[¶37] Chorus Leader:
Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble.

> Greek: Χορός:
κἀγώ γε σὺν σοί, μὴ προδοὺς τὰς συμφοράς.

[¶38] Heracles:
Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πάτερ, τί κλαίεις καὶ συναμπίσχῃ κόρας,
τοῦ φιλτάτου σοι τηλόθεν παιδὸς βεβώς;

[¶39] Amphitryon:
My child! mine still, for all your misery.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὦ τέκνον· εἶ γὰρ καὶ κακῶς πράσσων ἐμός.

[¶40] Heracles:
Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πράσσω δʼ ἐγὼ τί λυπρόν, οὗ δακρυρροεῖς;

[¶41] Amphitryon:
That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἃ κἂν θεῶν τις, εἰ μάθοι, καταστένοι.

[¶42] Heracles:
A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
μέγας γʼ ὁ κόμπος, τὴν τύχην δʼ οὔπω λέγεις.

[¶43] Amphitryon:
Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὁρᾷς γὰρ αὐτός, εἰ φρονῶν ἤδη κυρεῖς.

[¶44] Heracles:
Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἴπʼ, εἴ τι καινὸν ὑπογράφῃ τὠμῷ βίῳ.

[¶45] Amphitryon:
I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
εἰ μηκέθʼ Ἅιδου βάκχος εἶ, φράσαιμεν ἄν.

[¶46] Heracles:
Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
παπαῖ, τόδʼ ὡς ὕποπτον ᾐνίξω πάλιν.

[¶47] Amphitryon:
I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
καί σʼ εἰ βεβαίως εὖ φρονεῖς ἤδη σκοπῶ.

[¶48] Heracles:
I have no recollection of being mad.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ γάρ τι βακχεύσας γε μέμνημαι φρένας.

[¶49] Amphitryon:
Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
λύσω, γέροντες, δεσμὰ παιδός; ἢ τί δρῶ;

[¶50] Heracles:
Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ τόν γε δήσαντʼ εἴπʼ· ἀναινόμεσθα γάρ.

[¶51] Amphitryon:
Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
τοσοῦτον ἴσθι τῶν κακῶν· τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἔα.

[¶52] Heracles:
No. for is silence sufficient to learn what I wish?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀρκεῖ σιωπὴ γὰρ μαθεῖν ὃ βούλομαι;

[¶53] Amphitryon:
O Zeus, do you behold these deeds proceeding from the throne of Hera?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὦ Ζεῦ, παρʼ Ἥρας ἆρʼ ὁρᾷς θρόνων τάδε;

[¶54] Heracles:
What! have I suffered something from her enmity?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀλλʼ ἦ τι κεῖθεν πολέμιον πεπόνθαμεν;

[¶55] Amphitryon:
A truce to the goddess! attend to your own troubles.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
τὴν θεὸν ἐάσας τὰ σὰ περιστέλλου κακά.

[¶56] Heracles:
I am undone; you will tell me some mischance.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀπωλόμεσθα· συμφορὰν λέξεις τινά.

[¶57] Amphitryon:
See here the corpses of your children.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἰδού, θέασαι τάδε τέκνων πεσήματα.

[¶58] Heracles:
O horror! what sight is here? ah me!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἴμοι· τίνʼ ὄψιν τήνδε δέρκομαι τάλας;

[¶59] Amphitryon:
My son, against your children you have waged unnatural war.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἀπόλεμον, ὦ παῖ, πόλεμον ἔσπευσας τέκνοις.

[¶60] Heracles:
War! what do you mean? who killed these?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί πόλεμον εἶπας; τούσδε τίς διώλεσε;

[¶61] Amphitryon:
You and your bow and some god, whoever is to blame.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
σὺ καὶ σὰ τόξα καὶ θεῶν ὃς αἴτιος.

[¶62] Heracles:
What are you saying? what have I done? Speak, father, you messenger of evil!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί φῄς; τί δράσας; ὦ κάκʼ ἀγγέλλων πάτερ.

[¶63] Amphitryon:
You were insane; it is a sad explanation you are asking.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
μανείς· ἐρωτᾷς δʼ ἄθλιʼ ἑρμηνεύματα.

[¶64] Heracles:
Was it I that slew my wife also?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἦ καὶ δάμαρτός εἰμʼ ἐγὼ φονεὺς ἐμῆς;

[¶65] Amphitryon:
Your own unaided arm has done all this.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
μιᾶς ἅπαντα χειρὸς ἔργα σῆς τάδε.

[¶66] Heracles:
Alas! a cloud of mourning wraps me round.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
αἰαῖ· στεναγμῶν γάρ με περιβάλλει νέφος.

[¶67] Amphitryon:
For this reason I lament your fate.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
τούτων ἕκατι σὰς καταστένω τύχας.

[¶68] Heracles:
Did I dash my house to pieces in my frenzy?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἦ γὰρ συνήραξʼ οἶκον ἢ βάκχευσʼ ἐμόν;

[¶69] Amphitryon:
I know nothing but this, that you are utterly undone.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· πάντα δυστυχεῖ τὰ σά.

[¶70] Heracles:
Where did the madness seize me? where did it destroy me?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ποῦ δʼ οἶστρος ἡμᾶς ἔλαβε; ποῦ διώλεσεν;

[¶71] Amphitryon:
When you were purifying yourself with fire at the altar.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ βωμὸν χεῖρας ἡγνίζου πυρί.

[¶72] Heracles:
Ah me! why do I spare my own life when I have become the murderer of my dear children? Shall I not hasten to leap from some sheer rock, or aim the sword against my heart
and avenge my children’s blood, or burn my body, which she drove mad, in the fire and so avert from my life the infamy which now awaits me?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἴμοι· τί δῆτα φείδομαι ψυχῆς ἐμῆς
τῶν φιλτάτων μοι γενόμενος παίδων φονεύς;
κοὐκ εἶμι πέτρας λισσάδος πρὸς ἅλματα
ἢ φάσγανον πρὸς ἧπαρ ἐξακοντίσας
τέκνοις δικαστὴς αἵματος γενήσομαι;
ἢ σάρκα τὴν ἔμηνεν ἐμπρήσας πυρί,
δύσκλειαν ἣ μένει μʼ ἀπώσομαι βίου;

[¶73] But here I see Theseus coming to check my deadly counsels, my kinsman and friend.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἐμποδών μοι θανασίμων βουλευμάτων
Θησεὺς ὅδʼ ἕρπει συγγενὴς φίλος τʼ ἐμός.

[¶74] Now shall I stand revealed, and the dearest of my friends will see the pollution I have incurred by my children’s murder. Ah, woe is me! what am I to do? Where can I find freedom from my sorrows? shall I take wings or plunge beneath the earth? Come, let me veil my head in darkness;

> Greek: ὀφθησόμεσθα, καὶ τεκνοκτόνον μύσος
ἐς ὄμμαθʼ ἥξει φιλτάτῳ ξένων ἐμῶν.
οἴμοι, τί δράσω; ποῖ κακῶν ἐρημίαν
εὕρω, πτερωτὸς ἢ κατὰ χθονὸς μολών;
φέρʼ … ἄν τι κρατὶ περιβάλω σκότον.

[¶75] for I am ashamed of the evil I have done, and, since for these I have incurred fresh blood-guiltiness, I do not want to harm the innocent.

> Greek: αἰσχύνομαι γὰρ τοῖς δεδραμένοις κακοῖς·
καὶ τῶνδε προστρόπαιον αἷμα προσλαβὼν
οὐδὲν κακῶσαι τοὺς ἀναιτίους θέλω.

[¶76] Theseus:
I have come, and others with me, young warriors from the land of Athens, encamped at present by the streams of Asopus,
to bring an allied army to your son, old friend. For a rumour reached the city of the Erechtheidae, that Lycus had usurped the scepter of this land and had become your enemy even to battle. Wherefore I came making recompense for the former kindness of Heracles
in saving me from the world below, if you have any need of such aid as I or my allies can give, old man.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἥκω σὺν ἄλλοις, οἳ παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥοὰς
μένουσιν, ἔνοπλοι γῆς Ἀθηναίων κόροι,
σῷ παιδί, πρέσβυ, σύμμαχον φέρων δόρυ.
κληδὼν γὰρ ἦλθεν εἰς Ἐρεχθειδῶν πόλιν
ὡς σκῆπτρα χώρας τῆσδʼ ἀναρπάσας Λύκος
ἐς πόλεμον ὑμῖν καὶ μάχην καθίσταται.
τίνων δʼ ἀμοιβὰς ὧν ὑπῆρξεν Ἡρακλῆς
σῴσας με νέρθεν, ἦλθον, εἴ τι δεῖ, γέρον,
ἢ χειρὸς ὑμᾶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἢ συμμάχων.

[¶77] Ha! why this heap of dead upon the floor? Surely I have not delayed too long and come too late to check a revolution? Who slew these children?

> Greek: ἔα·
τί νεκρῶν τῶνδε πληθύει πέδον;
οὔ που λέλειμμαι καὶ νεωτέρων κακῶν
ὕστερος ἀφῖγμαι; τίς τάδʼ ἔκτεινεν τέκνα;

[¶78] whose wife is this I see? Boys do not go to battle; no, it must be some other strange mischance I here discover.

> Greek: τίνος γεγῶσαν τήνδʼ ὁρῶ ξυνάορον;
οὐ γὰρ δορός γε παῖδες ἵστανται πέλας,
ἀλλʼ ἄλλο πού τι καινὸν εὑρίσκω κακόν.

[¶79] Amphitryon:
O king, whose home is that olive-clad hill!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὦ τὸν ἐλαιοφόρον ὄχθον ἔχων ⟨ἄναξ⟩ …

[¶80] Theseus:
Why this piteous prelude in addressing me?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί χρῆμά μʼ οἰκτροῖς ἐκάλεσας προοιμίοις;

[¶81] Amphitryon:
The gods have afflicted us with grievous suffering.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἐπάθομεν πάθεα μέλεα πρὸς θεῶν.

[¶82] Theseus:
Whose are these children, over whom you weep?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οἱ παῖδες οἵδε τίνες, ἐφʼ οἷς δακρυρροεῖς;

[¶83] Amphitryon:
My own son’s children, woe is him! he was their father and butcher both, hardening his heart to the bloody deed.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἔτεκε μέν ⟨νιν⟩ οὑμὸς ἶνις τάλας,
τεκόμενος δʼ ἔκανε, φόνιον αἷμα τλάς.

[¶84] Theseus:
Hush! good words only!

> Greek: Θησεύς:
εὔφημα φώνει.

[¶85] Amphitryon:
I would I could obey!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
βουλομένοισιν ἐπαγγέλλῃ.

[¶86] Theseus:
What dreadful words!

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὦ δεινὰ λέξας.

[¶87] Amphitryon:
Fortune has spread her wings, and we are ruined, ruined.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οἰχόμεθʼ οἰχόμεθα πτανοί.

[¶88] Theseus:
What do you mean? what has he done?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί φῄς; τί δράσας;

[¶89] Amphitryon:
Slain them in a wild fit of frenzy
with arrows dipped in the venom of the hundred-headed hydra.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
μαινομένῳ πιτύλῳ πλαγχθεὶς
ἑκατογκεφάλου ⟨τε⟩ βαφαῖς ὕδρας.

[¶90] Theseus:
This is Hera’s work; but who lies there among the dead, old man?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
Ἥρας ὅδʼ ἁγών· τίς δʼ ὅδʼ οὑν νεκροῖς, γέρον;

[¶91] Amphitryon:
My son, my own enduring son, that marched with gods to Phlegra’s plain, there to battle with giants and slay them, warrior that he was.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἐμὸς ἐμὸς ὅδε γόνος ὁ πολύπονος, ⟨ὃς⟩ ἐπὶ
δόρυ γιγαντοφόνον ἦλθεν σὺν θεοῖ-
σι Φλεγραῖον ἐς πεδίον ἀσπιστάς.

[¶92] Theseus:
Ah, ah! whose fortune was ever so cursed as his?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
φεῦ φεῦ· τίς ἀνδρῶν ὧδε δυσδαίμων ἔφυ;

[¶93] Amphitryon:
Never will you find another mortal that has suffered more or been driven harder.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
οὐκ ἂν εἰδείης ἕτερον
πολυμοχθότερον πολυπλαγκτότερόν
τε θνατῶν.

[¶94] Theseus:
Why does he veil his head, poor wretch, in his robe?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί γὰρ πέπλοισιν ἄθλιον κρύπτει κάρα;

[¶95] Amphitryon:
He is ashamed to meet your eye;
his kinsman’s kind intent and his children’s blood make him abashed.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
αἰδόμενος τὸ σὸν ὄμμα
καὶ φιλίαν ὁμόφυλον
αἷμά τε παιδοφόνον.

[¶96] Theseus:
But I come to sympathize; uncover him.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἀλλʼ, εἰ συναλγῶν γʼ ἦλθον, ἐκκάλυπτέ νιν.

[¶97] Amphitryon:
My son, remove that mantle
from your eyes, throw it from you, show your face to the sun. As a counterweight, fighting along with my tears, I entreat you as a suppliant, as I grasp your beard, your knees, your hands, and let fall
the tear from my old eyes. O my child! restrain your savage lion-like temper, for you are rushing forth on an unholy course of bloodshed, eager to join mischief to mischief, child.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ὦ τέκνον· πάρες ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων
πέπλον, ἀπόδικε, ῥέθος ἀελίῳ δεῖξον.
βάρος ἀντίπαλον, δακρύοις συναμιλλαταί,
ἱκετεύομεν ἀμφὶ γενειάδα καὶ
γόνυ καὶ χέρα σὰν προπίτνων, πολιόν τε
δάκρυον ἐκβάλλων· ἰὼ παῖ, κατά-
σχεθε λέοντος ἀγρίου θυμόν, ὡς
βρόμον ἐπὶ φόνιον ἀνόσιον ἐξάγῃ,
κακὰ θέλων κακοῖς συνάψαι, τέκνον.

[¶98] Theseus:
What! Enough! To you I call who are huddled there in your misery,
show to your friends your face; for no darkness is black enough to hide your sad mischance. Why do you wave your hand at me, signifying murder? is it that I may not be polluted by speaking with you?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
εἶἑν· σὲ τὸν θάσσοντα δυστήνους ἕδρας
αὐδῶ, φίλοισιν ὄμμα δεικνύναι τὸ σόν.
οὐδεὶς σκότος γὰρ ὧδʼ ἔχει μέλαν νέφος,
ὅστις κακῶν σῶν συμφορὰν κρύψειεν ἄν.
τί μοι προσείων χεῖρα σημαίνεις φόνον;
ὡς μὴ μύσος με σῶν βάλῃ προσφθεγμάτων;

[¶99] If I share your misfortune, what is that to me? For once I had good fortune with you. I must refer to the time when you brought me safe from the dead to the light of life. I hate a friend whose gratitude grows old; one who is ready to enjoy his friends’ prosperity
but unwilling to sail in the same ship with them when they are unfortunate. Arise, unveil your head, poor wretch! and look on me. The gallant soul endures such blows as heaven deals and does not refuse them.

> Greek: οὐδὲν μέλει μοι σύν γε σοὶ πράσσειν κακῶς·
καὶ γάρ ποτʼ εὐτύχησα. ἐκεῖσʼ ἀνοιστέον,
ὅτʼ ἐξέσῳσάς μʼ ἐς φάος νεκρῶν πάρα.
χάριν δὲ γηράσκουσαν ἐχθαίρω φίλων,
καὶ τῶν καλῶν μὲν ὅστις ἀπολαύειν θέλει,
συμπλεῖν δὲ τοῖς φίλοισι δυστυχοῦσιν οὔ.
ἀνίστασʼ, ἐκκάλυψον ἄθλιον κάρα,
βλέψον πρὸς ἡμᾶς. ὅστις εὐγενὴς βροτῶν,
φέρει τά γʼ ἐκ θεῶν πτώματʼ οὐδʼ ἀναίνεται.

[¶100] Heracles:
O Theseus, did you see this struggle with my children?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Θησεῦ, δέδορκας τόνδʼ ἀγῶνʼ ἐμῶν τέκνων;

[¶101] Theseus:
I heard of it, and now I see the horrors you mean.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἤκουσα, καὶ βλέποντι σημαίνεις κακά.

[¶102] Heracles:
Why then have you unveiled my head to the sun?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δῆτά μου κρᾶτʼ ἀνεκάλυψας ἡλίῳ;

[¶103] Theseus:
Why have I? you, a mortal, can not pollute what is of the gods.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί δʼ; οὐ μιαίνεις θνητὸς ὢν τὰ τῶν θεῶν.

[¶104] Heracles:
Try to escape, luckless wretch, from my unholy taint.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
φεῦγʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, ἀνόσιον μίασμʼ ἐμόν.

[¶105] Theseus:
The avenging fiend does not go forth from friend to friend.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὐδεὶς ἀλάστωρ τοῖς φίλοις ἐκ τῶν φίλων.

[¶106] Heracles:
For this I thank you; I do not regret the service I did you.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐπῄνεσʼ· εὖ δράσας δέ σʼ οὐκ ἀναίνομαι.

[¶107] Theseus:
While I, for kindness then received, now show my pity for you.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἐγὼ δὲ πάσχων εὖ τότʼ οἰκτίρω σε νῦν.

[¶108] Heracles:
Ah yes! I am piteous object, a murderer of my sons.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἰκτρὸς γάρ εἰμι τἄμʼ ἀποκτείνας τέκνα.

[¶109] Theseus:
I weep for you in your changed fortunes.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
κλαίω χάριν σὴν ἐφʼ ἑτέραισι συμφοραῖς.

[¶110] Heracles:
Did you ever find another more afflicted?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ηὗρες δέ γʼ ἄλλους ἐν κακοῖσι μείζοσιν;

[¶111] Theseus:
Your misfortunes reach from earth to heaven.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἅπτῃ κάτωθεν οὐρανοῦ δυσπραξίᾳ.

[¶112] Heracles:
Therefore I am resolved on death.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τοιγὰρ παρεσκευάσμεθʼ ὥστε κατθανεῖν.

[¶113] Theseus:
Do you suppose the gods attend to your threats?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
δοκεῖς ἀπειλῶν σῶν μέλειν τι δαίμοσιν;

[¶114] Heracles:
The god has been remorseless to me; so I will be the same to the gods.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
αὔθαδες ὁ θεός, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς θεοὺς ἐγώ.

[¶115] Theseus:
Hush! lest your presumption add to your sufferings.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἴσχε στόμʼ, ὡς μὴ μέγα λέγων μεῖζον πάθῃς.

[¶116] Heracles:
My ship is freighted full with sorrow; there is no room to stow anything further.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
γέμω κακῶν δή, κοὐκέτʼ ἔσθʼ ὅπῃ τεθῇ.

[¶117] Theseus:
What will you do? Where is your fury drifting you?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
δράσεις δὲ δὴ τί; ποῖ φέρῃ θυμούμενος;

[¶118] Heracles:
I will die and return to that world below from which I have just come.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
θανών, ὅθενπερ ἦλθον, εἶμι γῆς ὕπο.

[¶119] Theseus:
Such language is fit for any common fellow.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
εἴρηκας ἐπιτυχόντος ἀνθρώπου λόγους.

[¶120] Heracles:
Ah! yours is the advice of one outside sorrow.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ὤν γε συμφορᾶς με νουθετεῖς.

[¶121] Theseus:
Are these indeed the words of Heracles, the much-enduring?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὁ πολλὰ δὴ τλὰς Ἡρακλῆς λέγει τάδε;

[¶122] Heracles:
Though never so much as this. Endurance must have a limit.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐκ οὖν τοσαῦτά γʼ, εἰ μέτρῳ μοχθητέον.

[¶123] Theseus:
Is this the benefactor and great friend to mortals?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
εὐεργέτης βροτοῖσι καὶ μέγας φίλος;

[¶124] Heracles:
Mortals bring no help to me; no! Hera has her way.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἱ δʼ οὐδὲν ὠφελοῦσί μʼ, ἀλλʼ Ἥρα κρατεῖ.

[¶125] Theseus:
Never would Hellas allow you to die through sheer perversity.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὐκ ἄν ⟨σʼ⟩ ἀνάσχοιθʼ Ἑλλὰς ἀμαθίᾳ θανεῖν.

[¶126] Heracles:
Hear me a moment, that I may enter the contest with arguments in answer to your admonitions; and I will unfold to you why life now as well as formerly has been unbearable to me. First I am the son of a man who incurred the guilt of blood, before he married my mother Alcmena,
by slaying her aged father. Now when the foundation is badly laid at birth, it is necessary for the race to be cursed with woe; and Zeus, whoever this Zeus may be, begot me as an enemy to Hera; yet do not be vexed, old man;

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἄκουε δή νυν, ὡς ἁμιλληθῶ λόγοις
πρὸς νουθετήσεις σάς· ἀναπτύξω δέ σοι
ἀβίωτον ἡμῖν νῦν τε καὶ πάροιθεν ὄν.
πρῶτον μὲν ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἐγενόμην, ὅστις κτανὼν
μητρὸς γεραιὸν πατέρα προστρόπαιος ὢν
ἔγημε τὴν τεκοῦσαν Ἀλκμήνην ἐμέ.
ὅταν δὲ κρηπὶς μὴ καταβληθῇ γένους
ὀρθῶς, ἀνάγκη δυστυχεῖν τοὺς ἐκγόνους.
Ζεὺς δʼ — ὅστις ὁ Ζεύς — πολέμιόν μʼ ἐγείνατο
Ἥρᾳ — σὺ μέντοι μηδὲν ἀχθεσθῇς, γέρον·

[¶127] for you rather than Zeus I regard as my father. Then while I was being suckled, that bedfellow of Zeus foisted into my cradle fearsome snakes to cause my death. After I took on a cloak of youthful flesh,
of all the toils I then endured what need to tell? what did I not destroy, whether lions, or triple-bodied Typhons, or giants or the battle against the hosts of four-legged Centaurs? or how when I had killed the hydra,
that monster with a ring of heads with power to grow again, I passed through a herd of countless other toils besides and came to the dead to fetch to the light at the bidding of Eurystheus the three-headed hound, hell’s porter. Last, ah, woe is me! I have dared this labor,
to crown the sorrows of my house with my children’s murder. I have come to this point of necessity; no longer may I dwell in Thebes, the city that I love; for suppose I stay, to what temple or gathering of friends shall I go? For mine is no curse that invites greetings.

> Greek: πατέρα γὰρ ἀντὶ Ζηνὸς ἡγοῦμαι σὲ ἐγώ·
ἔτʼ ἐν γάλακτί τʼ ὄντι γοργωποὺς ὄφεις
ἐπεισέφρησε σπαργάνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς
ἡ τοῦ Διὸς σύλλεκτρος, ὡς ὀλοίμεθα.
ἐπεὶ δὲ σαρκὸς περιβόλαιʼ ἐκτησάμην
ἡβῶντα, μόχθους οὓς ἔτλην τί δεῖ λέγειν;
ποίους ποτʼ ἢ λέοντας ἢ τρισωμάτους
Τυφῶνας ἢ Γίγαντας ἢ τετρασκελῆ
κενταυροπληθῆ πόλεμον οὐκ ἐξήνυσα;
τήν τʼ ἀμφίκρανον καὶ παλιμβλαστῆ κύνα
ὕδραν φονεύσας μυρίων τʼ ἄλλων πόνων
διῆλθον ἀγέλας κἀς νεκροὺς ἀφικόμην,
Ἅιδου πυλωρὸν κύνα τρίκρανον ἐς φάος
ὅπως πορεύσαιμʼ ἐντολαῖς Εὐρυσθέως.
τὸν λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδʼ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,
παιδοκτονήσας δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.
ἥκω δʼ ἀνάγκης ἐς τόδʼ· οὔτʼ ἐμαῖς φίλαις
Θήβαις ἐνοικεῖν ὅσιον· ἢν δὲ καὶ μένω,
ἐς ποῖον ἱερὸν ἢ πανήγυριν φίλων
εἶμʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἄτας εὐπροσηγόρους ἔχω.

[¶128] Shall I go to Argos? how can I, when I am an exile from my country? Well, is there a single other city I can rush to? Am I then to be looked at askance as a marked man, held by cruel stabbing tongues: “Is not this the son of Zeus that once murdered children”
“and wife? Plague take him from the land!”

> Greek: ἀλλʼ Ἄργος ἔλθω; πῶς, ἐπεὶ φεύγω πάτραν;
φέρʼ ἀλλʼ ἐς ἄλλην δή τινʼ ὁρμήσω πόλιν;
κἄπειθʼ ὑποβλεπώμεθʼ ὡς ἐγνωσμένοι,
γλώσσης πικροῖς κέντροισι κλῃδουχούμενοι·
Οὐχ οὗτος ὁ Διός, ὃς τέκνʼ ἔκτεινέν ποτε
δάμαρτά τʼ; οὐ γῆς τῆσδʼ ἀποφθαρήσεται;

[¶129] Now to one who was once called happy, such changes are a grievous thing; though he who is always unfortunate feels no such pain, for sorrow is his birthright. This, I think, is the piteous pass I shall one day come to;

> Greek: κεκλημένῳ δὲ φωτὶ μακαρίῳ ποτὲ
αἱ μεταβολαὶ λυπηρόν· ᾧ δʼ ἀεὶ κακῶς
ἔστʼ, οὐδὲν ἀλγεῖ συγγενῶς δύστηνος ὤν.
ἐς τοῦτο δʼ ἥξειν συμφορᾶς οἶμαί ποτε·

[¶130] for earth will cry out forbidding me to touch her, the sea and the river-springs will refuse me a crossing, and I shall become like Ixion who revolves in chains upon that wheel. And so this is best, that I should be seen by no one of the Hellenes,
among whom in happier days I lived in bliss. What right have I to live? what profit can I have in the possession of a useless, impious life? So let that noble wife of Zeus dance, beating her foot in its shoe;

> Greek: φωνὴν γὰρ ἥσει χθὼν ἀπεννέπουσά με
μὴ θιγγάνειν γῆς καὶ θάλασσα μὴ περᾶν
πηγαί τε ποταμῶν, καὶ τὸν ἁρματήλατον
Ἰξίονʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσιν ἐκμιμήσομαι.
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἄριστα μηδένʼ Ἑλλήνων μʼ ὁρᾶν,
ἐν οἷσιν εὐτυχοῦντες ἦμεν ὄλβιοι.
τί δῆτά με ζῆν δεῖ; τί κέρδος ἕξομεν
βίον γʼ ἀχρεῖον ἀνόσιον κεκτημένοι;
χορευέτω δὴ Ζηνὸς ἡ κλεινὴ δάμαρ
κρόουσʼ Ὀλυμπίου Ζηνὸς ἀρβύλῃ πόδα.

[¶131] for now has she worked her heart’s desire in utterly confounding the first of Hellas’ sons. Who would pray to such a goddess? Her jealousy of Zeus for his love of a woman has destroyed
the benefactors of Hellas, guiltless though they were.

> Greek: ἔπραξε γὰρ βούλησιν ἣν ἐβούλετο,
ἄνδρʼ Ἑλλάδος τὸν πρῶτον αὐτοῖσιν βάθροις
ἄνω κάτω στρέψασα. — τοιαύτῃ θεῷ
τίς ἂν προσεύχοιθʼ; ἣ γυναικὸς οὕνεκα
λέκτρων φθονοῦσα Ζηνὶ τοὺς εὐεργέτας
Ἑλλάδος ἀπώλεσʼ οὐδὲν ὄντας αἰτίους.

[¶132] Chorus Leader:
This is the work of none other of the gods than the wife of Zeus; you are right in that surmise.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλου δαιμόνων ἀγὼν ὅδε
ἢ τῆς Διὸς δάμαρτος· εὖ τόδʼ αἰσθάνῃ.

[¶133] Theseus:
I cannot counsel you... rather than to go on suffering. There is not a man alive that has wholly escaped misfortune’s taint,
nor any god either, if what poets sing is true. Have they not intermarried in ways that law forbids? Have they not thrown fathers into ignominious chains to gain the sovereign power? Still they inhabit Olympus and brave the issue of their crimes.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
…
παραινέσαιμʼ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ πάσχειν κακῶς.
οὐδεὶς δὲ θνητῶν ταῖς τύχαις ἀκήρατος,
οὐ θεῶν, ἀοιδῶν εἴπερ οὐ ψευδεῖς λόγοι.
οὐ λέκτρʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν, ὧν οὐδεὶς νόμος,
συνῆψαν; οὐ δεσμοῖσι διὰ τυραννίδας
πατέρας ἐκηλίδωσαν; ἀλλʼ οἰκοῦσʼ ὅμως
Ὄλυμπον ἠνέσχοντό θʼ ἡμαρτηκότες.

[¶134] And yet what shall you say in your defence, if you, a child of man, take your fate excessively hard, while they, as gods, do not? No, then, leave Thebes in compliance with the law, and come with me to the city of Pallas. There, when I have purified you of your pollution,
I will give you homes and the half of all I have. Yes, I will give you all those presents I received from the citizens for saving their fourteen children, when I slew the bull of Crete; for I have plots of land assigned me throughout the country; these shall henceforth
be called after you by men, while you live; and at your death, when you have gone to Hades’ halls, the whole city of Athens shall exalt your honor with sacrifices and a monument of stone. For it is a noble crown of a good reputation
for citizens to win from Hellas, by helping a man of worth. This is the return that I will make you for saving me, for now you are in need of friends. But when the gods honor a man, he has no need of friends; for the god’s aid, when he chooses to give it, is enough.

> Greek: καίτοι τί φήσεις, εἰ σὺ μὲν θνητὸς γεγὼς
φέρεις ὑπέρφευ τὰς τύχας, θεοὶ δὲ μή;
Θήβας μὲν οὖν ἔκλειπε τοῦ νόμου χάριν,
ἕπου δʼ ἅμʼ ἡμῖν πρὸς πόλισμα Παλλάδος.
ἐκεῖ χέρας σὰς ἁγνίσας μιάσματος,
δόμους τε δώσω χρημάτων τʼ ἐμῶν μέρος.
ἃ δʼ ἐκ πολιτῶν δῶρʼ ἔχω σώσας κόρους
δὶς ἑπτά, ταῦρον Κνώσιον κατακτανών,
σοὶ ταῦτα δώσω. πανταχοῦ δέ μοι χθονὸς
τεμένη δέδασται· ταῦτʼ ἐπωνομασμένα
σέθεν τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκ βροτῶν κεκλήσεται
ζῶντος· θανόντα δʼ, εὖτʼ ἂν εἰς Ἅιδου μόλῃς,
θυσίαισι λαΐνοισί τʼ ἐξογκώμασι
τίμιον ἀνάξει πᾶσʼ Ἀθηναίων πόλις.
καλὸς γὰρ ἀστοῖς στέφανος Ἑλλήνων ὕπο
ἄνδρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὠφελοῦντας εὐκλείας τυχεῖν.
κἀγὼ χάριν σοι τῆς ἐμῆς σωτηρίας
τήνδʼ ἀντιδώσω· νῦν γὰρ εἶ χρεῖος φίλων.
θεοὶ δʼ ὅταν τιμῶσιν, οὐδὲν δεῖ φίλων·
ἅλις γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ὠφελῶν, ὅταν θέλῃ.

[¶135] Heracles:
No! this is quite beside the question of my troubles. For my part, I do not believe that the gods indulge in unholy unions; and as for putting bonds on hands, I have never thought that worthy of credit nor will I now be so persuaded, nor again that one god is naturally lord and master of another.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἴμοι· πάρεργα ⟨μὲν⟩ τάδʼ ἔστʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν,
ἐγὼ δὲ τοὺς θεοὺς οὔτε λέκτρʼ ἃ μὴ θέμις
στέργειν νομίζω, δεσμά τʼ ἐξάπτειν χεροῖν
οὔτʼ ἠξίωσα πώποτʼ οὔτε πείσομαι,
οὐδʼ ἄλλον ἄλλου δεσπότην πεφυκέναι.

[¶136] For the deity, if he be really such, has no wants; these are miserable tales of the poets. But I, for all my piteous plight, reflected whether I should let myself be branded as a coward for giving up my life. For whoever does not withstand disasters
will never be able to withstand even a man’s weapon. I will be steadfast in living; I will go to your city, with grateful thanks for all you offer me.

> Greek: δεῖται γὰρ ὁ θεός, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ὀρθῶς θεός,
οὐδενός· ἀοιδῶν οἵδε δύστηνοι λόγοι.
ἐσκεψάμην δὲ καίπερ ἐν κακοῖσιν ὤν,
μὴ δειλίαν ὄφλω τινʼ ἐκλιπὼν φάος·
ταῖς συμφοραῖς γὰρ ὅστις οὐχ ὑφίσταται,
οὐδʼ ἀνδρὸς ἂν δύναιθʼ ὑποστῆναι βέλος.
ἐγκαρτερήσω βίοτον· εἶμι δʼ ἐς πόλιν
τὴν σήν, χάριν τε μυρίων δώρων ἔχω.

[¶137] But I have tasted of countless troubles, as is well known; never yet did I faint at any or shed a single tear; no, nor did I ever think
that I should come to this, to let the tear-drop fall. But now, it seems, I must be fortune’s slave. Well, let it pass; my old father, you see me go forth to exile, and in me you see my own children’s murderer.

> Greek: ἀτὰρ πόνων δὴ μυρίων ἐγευσάμην·
ὧν οὔτʼ ἀπεῖπον οὐδένʼ οὔτʼ ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων
ἔσταξα πηγάς, οὐδʼ ἂν ᾠόμην ποτὲ
ἐς τοῦθʼ ἱκέσθαι, δάκρυʼ ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων βαλεῖν·
νῦν δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τῇ τύχῃ δουλευτέον.
εἶἑν· γεραιέ, τὰς ἐμὰς φυγὰς ὁρᾷς,
ὁρᾷς δὲ παίδων ὄντα μʼ αὐθέντην ἐμῶν·

[¶138] Give them burial, and lay them out in death with the tribute of a tear, for the law forbids my doing so. Rest their heads upon their mother’s bosom and fold them in her arms, sad fellowship, which I, alas! unwittingly did slay. And when you have buried these dead,
live on here still, in bitterness maybe, but still constrain your soul to share my sorrows. O children! he who begot you, your own father, has been your destroyer, and you have had no profit of my triumphs, all my restless toil to win for you by force
a fair name, a glorious advantage from a father. You too, unhappy wife, this hand has slain, a poor return to make you for preserving the honor of my bed so safely, for all the weary watch you long have kept within my house. Alas for you, my wife, my sons! alas for me,
how sad my lot, cut off from wife and child! Ah! these kisses, bitter-sweet! these weapons which it is pain to own! I am not sure whether to keep or let them go; dangling at my side they thus will say,
“With us you destroyed children and wife; we are your children’s slayers, and you keep us.” Shall I carry them after that? what answer can I make? Yet, am I to strip myself of these weapons, the comrades of my glorious career in Hellas, and put myself in the power of my foes, to die a death of shame?

> Greek: δὸς τούσδε τύμβῳ καὶ περίστειλον νεκροὺς
δακρύοισι τιμῶν — ἐμὲ γὰρ οὐκ ἐᾷ νόμος —
πρὸς στέρνʼ ἐρείσας μητρὶ δούς τʼ ἐς ἀγκάλας,
κοινωνίαν δύστηνον, ἣν ἐγὼ τάλας
διώλεσʼ ἄκων. γῇ δʼ ἐπὴν κρύψῃς νεκρούς,
οἴκει πόλιν τήνδʼ, ἀθλίως μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως
ψυχὴν βιάζου τἀμὰ συμφέρειν κακά.
ὦ τέκνʼ, ὁ φύσας καὶ τεκὼν ὑμᾶς πατὴρ
ἀπώλεσʼ, οὐδʼ ὤνασθε τῶν ἐμῶν καλῶν,
ἁγὼ παρεσκεύαζον ἐκμοχθῶν βίᾳ
εὔκλειαν ὑμῖν, πατρὸς ἀπόλαυσιν καλήν.
σέ τʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἀπώλεσα
ὥσπερ σὺ τἀμὰ λέκτρʼ ἔσῳζες ἀσφαλῶς,
μακρὰς διαντλοῦσʼ ἐν δόμοις οἰκουρίας.
οἴμοι δάμαρτος καὶ τέκνων, οἴμοι δʼ ἐμοῦ,
ὡς ἀθλίως πέπραγα κἀποζεύγνυμαι
τέκνων γυναικός τʼ· ὦ λυγραὶ φιλημάτων
τέρψεις, λυγραὶ δὲ τῶνδʼ ὅπλων κοινωνίαι.
ἀμηχανῶ γὰρ πότερʼ ἔχω τάδʼ ἢ μεθῶ,
ἃ πλευρὰ τἀμὰ προσπίτνοντʼ ἐρεῖ τάδε·
Ἡμῖν τέκνʼ εἷλες καὶ δάμαρθʼ· ἡμᾶς ἔχεις
παιδοκτόνους σούς. εἶτʼ ἐγὼ τάδʼ ὠλέναις
οἴσω; τί φάσκων; ἀλλὰ γυμνωθεὶς ὅπλων,
ξὺν οἷς τὰ κάλλιστʼ ἐξέπραξʼ ἐν Ἑλλάδι,
ἐχθροῖς ἐμαυτὸν ὑποβαλὼν αἰσχρῶς θάνω;

[¶139] No! I must not let them go, but keep them, though it grieves me. In one thing, Theseus, help my misery; come to Argos and help me to manage the conveyance of the wretched dog; lest, if I go all alone, my sorrow for my sons may do me some hurt.

> Greek: οὐ λειπτέον τάδʼ, ἀθλίως δὲ σῳστέον.
ἕν μοί τι, Θησεῦ, σύγκαμʼ· ἀθλίου κυνὸς
κόμιστρʼ ἐς Ἄργος συγκατάστησον μολών,
λύπῃ τι παίδων μὴ πάθω μονούμενος.

[¶140] O land of Cadmus, and all you people of Thebes!
cut off your hair, and mourn with me; go to my children’s burial, and with one dirge lament us all, the dead and me; for on all of us has Hera inflicted the same cruel blow of destruction.

> Greek: ὦ γαῖα Κάδμου πᾶς τε Θηβαῖος λεώς,
κείρασθε, συμπενθήσατʼ, ἔλθετʼ ἐς τάφον
παίδων· ἅπαντας δʼ ἑνὶ λόγῳ πενθήσετε
νεκρούς τε κἀμέ· πάντες ἐξολώλαμεν
Ἥρας μιᾷ πληγέντες ἄθλιοι τύχῃ.

[¶141] Theseus:
Rise, unhappy man! you have had your fill of tears.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἀνίστασʼ, ὦ δύστηνε· δακρύων δʼ ἅλις.

[¶142] Heracles:
I cannot rise; my limbs are rooted here.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· ἄρθρα γὰρ πέπηγέ μου.

[¶143] Theseus:
Yes, even the strong are overthrown by misfortunes.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
καὶ τοὺς σθένοντας γὰρ καθαιροῦσιν τύχαι.

[¶144] Heracles:
Ah! Would I could become a stone upon this spot, oblivious of trouble.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
φεῦ·
αὐτοῦ γενοίμην πέτρος ἀμνήμων κακῶν.

[¶145] Theseus:
Peace! give your hand to a friend and helper.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
παῦσαι· δίδου δὲ χεῖρʼ ὑπηρέτῃ φίλῳ.

[¶146] Heracles:
No, let me not wipe off the blood upon your robe.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀλλʼ αἷμα μὴ σοῖς ἐξομόρξωμαι πέπλοις.

[¶147] Theseus:
Wipe it off and spare not; I will not refuse you.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἔκμασσε, φείδου μηδέν· οὐκ ἀναίνομαι.

[¶148] Heracles:
Bereft of my own sons, I find you as a son to me.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
παίδων στερηθεὶς παῖδʼ ὅπως ἔχω σʼ ἐμόν.

[¶149] Theseus:
Throw your arm about my neck; I will be your guide.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
δίδου δέρῃ σὴν χεῖρʼ, ὁδηγήσω δʼ ἐγώ.

[¶150] Heracles:
A pair of friends indeed, but one a man of sorrows. Ah! aged father, this is the kind of man to make a friend.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ζεῦγός γε φίλιον· ἅτερος δὲ δυστυχής.
ὦ πρέσβυ, τοιόνδʼ ἄνδρα χρὴ κτᾶσθαι φίλον.

[¶151] Amphitryon:
Blessed in her sons, the country that gave him birth!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἡ γὰρ τεκοῦσα τόνδε πατρὶς εὔτεκνος.

[¶152] Heracles:
Theseus, turn me back again to see my children.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Θησεῦ, πάλιν με στρέψον, ὡς ἴδω τέκνα.

[¶153] Theseus:
What for? Do you think to find a drug in this to soothe your soul?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὡς δὴ τί; φίλτρον τοῦτʼ ἔχων ῥᾴων ἔσῃ;

[¶154] Heracles:
I long to do so, and would embrace my father.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ποθῶ· πατρός τε στέρνα προσθέσθαι θέλω.

[¶155] Amphitryon:
Here am I, my son; your wish is no less dear to me.

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἰδοὺ τάδʼ, ὦ παῖ· τἀμὰ γὰρ σπεύδεις φίλα.

[¶156] Theseus:
Have you so short a memory for your troubles?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὕτως πόνων σῶν οὐκέτι μνήμην ἔχεις;

[¶157] Heracles:
All that I endured before was easier to bear than this.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἅπαντʼ ἐλάσσω κεῖνα τῶνδʼ ἔτλην κακά.

[¶158] Theseus:
If anyone sees you play the woman, they will scoff.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
εἴ σʼ ὄψεταί τις θῆλυν ὄντʼ, οὐκ αἰνέσει.

[¶159] Heracles:
Have I by living grown so abject in your sight? It was not so once, I think.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ζῶ σοι ταπεινός; ἀλλὰ πρόσθεν οὐ δοκῶ.

[¶160] Theseus:
Yes, too much so; in your sickness you are not the glorious Heracles.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἄγαν γʼ· ὁ κλεινὸς Ἡρακλῆς οὐκ εἶ νοσῶν.

[¶161] Heracles:
What about you? What kind of hero were you when in trouble in the world below?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
σὺ ποῖος ἦσθα νέρθεν ἐν κακοῖσιν ὤν;

[¶162] Theseus:
I was worse than anyone as far as courage went.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὡς ἐς τὸ λῆμα παντὸς ἦν ἥσσων ἀνήρ.

[¶163] Heracles:
How then can you say of me, that I am abased by my troubles?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πῶς οὖν ἔτʼ εἴπης ὅτι συνέσταλμαι κακοῖς;

[¶164] Theseus:
Forward!

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πρόβαινε.

[¶165] Heracles:
Farewell, my aged father!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
χαῖρʼ, ὦ πρέσβυ.

[¶166] Amphitryon:
Farewell to you, my son!

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
καὶ σύ μοι, τέκνον.

[¶167] Heracles:
Bury my children as I said.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
θάφθʼ ὥσπερ εἶπον παῖδας.

[¶168] Amphitryon:
But who will bury me, my son?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
ἐμὲ δὲ τίς, τέκνον;

[¶169] Heracles:
I will.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐγώ.

[¶170] Amphitryon:
When wil you come?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
πότʼ ἐλθών;

[¶171] Heracles:
After you have buried my children.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἡνίκʼ ἂν θάψῃς τέκνα.

[¶172] Amphitryon:
How?

> Greek: Ἀμφιτρύων:
πῶς;

[¶173] Heracles:
I will fetch you from Thebes to Athens. But carry my children within, a grievous burden to the earth. And I, after ruining my house by deeds of shame, will follow as a little boat in the wake of Theseus, a total wreck.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἰς Ἀθήνας πέμψομαι Θηβῶν ἄπο.
ἀλλʼ ἐσκόμιζε τέκνα δυσκόμιστα γῇ·
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀναλώσαντες αἰσχύναις δόμον,
Θησεῖ πανώλεις ἑψόμεσθʼ ἐφολκίδες.

[¶174] Whoever prefers wealth or might to the possession of good friends, thinks wrongly.

> Greek: ὅστις δὲ πλοῦτον ἢ σθένος μᾶλλον φίλων
ἀγαθῶν πεπᾶσθαι βούλεται, κακῶς φρονεῖ.

[¶175] Chorus:
With grief and many a bitter tear we go our way, robbed of all we prized most dearly.

> Greek: Χορός:
στείχομεν οἰκτροὶ καὶ πολύκλαυτοι,
τὰ μέγιστα φίλων ὀλέσαντες.