---
title: "Women of Trachis · Τραχίνιαι"
author: "Sophocles"
translator: "Richard Jebb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-women-of-trachis/2/
cite: "Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb, Women of Trachis · Τραχίνιαι, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-women-of-trachis/2/"
---

# Women of Trachis · Τραχίνιαι

*Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb*

Deianeira tries to win back Heracles with a love charm, and destroys him.

> Greek: ed. Francis Storr, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0011.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Richard Jebb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0011.tlg001.perseus-eng3). 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 627–1278

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-women-of-trachis/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-women-of-trachis/2/#p-N

[¶0] Deianeira:
And you know, further, from your own eyes my greeting to the foreign girl, how I welcomed her warmly.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
ἀλλʼ οἶσθα μὲν δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς ξένης ὁρῶν
προσδέγματʼ, αὐτὴν ὡς ἐδεξάμην φίλως.

[¶1] Lichas:
So much so that my heart was struck with joy.

> Greek: Λίχας:
ὥστʼ ἐκπλαγῆναι τοὐμὸν ἡδονῇ κέαρ.

[¶2] Deianeira:
What more, then, is there for you to tell him? I am afraid that it would be too soon to speak of the longing on my part, before I know if I am longed for there. Exit Lichas on one side and Deianeira into the house.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
τί δῆτʼ ἂν ἄλλο γʼ ἐννέποις; δέδοικα γὰρ
μὴ πρῲ λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,
πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν εἰ ποθούμεθα.

[¶3] Chorus:
O you who dwell by the warm springs near ships’ haven and rocky cliff, and you who live by
the crags of Oeta! And you dwellers by the land-locked waters of the Malian gulf, and the headland sacred to the virgin-goddess of the golden shuttle, where are the famed councils of the Greeks at the gates!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ ναύλοχα καὶ πετραῖα
θερμὰ λουτρὰ καὶ πάγους
Οἴτας παραναιετάοντες, οἵ τε μέσσαν Μηλίδα πὰρ λίμναν
χρυσαλακάτου τʼ ἀκτὰν κόρας,
ἔνθʼ Ἑλλάνων ἀγοραὶ
Πυλάτιδες κλέονται·

[¶4] Chorus:
Soon the glorious voice of the flute will go up for you again, sounding no bothersome, strident notes, but divine music worthy of the lyre! For the son whom Alcmena bore to Zeus
is hurrying homeward, with spoils won by supreme valor.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁ καλλιβόας τάχʼ ὑμῖν
αὐλὸς οὐκ ἀναρσίαν
ἀχῶν καναχὰν ἐπάνεισιν, ἀλλὰ θείας ἀντίλυρον μούσας.
ὁ γὰρ Διὸς Ἀλκμήνας κόρος
σοῦται πάσας ἀρετᾶς
λάφυρʼ ἔχων ἐπʼ οἴκους·

[¶5] Chorus:
We thought him lost utterly to our land, a wanderer over sea, while we waited through twelve long months and knew nothing.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὃν ἀπόπτολιν εἴχομεν παντᾷ,
δυοκαιδεκάμηνον ἀμμένουσαι
χρόνον, πελάγιον, ἴδριες οὐδέν·

[¶6] She, his loving wife, miserable, was ever pining in her miserable heart, always weeping. But now Ares, stung to rage, has freed her days from their toil.

> Greek: ἁ δέ οἱ φίλα δάμαρ
τάλαιναν δυστάλαινα καρδίαν
πάγκλαυτος αἰὲν ὤλλυτο·
νῦν δʼ Ἄρης οἰστρηθεὶς
ἐξέλυσʼ ἐπίπονον ἁμέραν.

[¶7] Chorus:
May he come, may he come! Let him not halt the many-oared ship that carries him before he has reached this town, leaving the island altar where he is reported to be sacrificing!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀφίκοιτʼ ἀφίκοιτο· μὴ σταίη
πολύκωπον ὄχημα ναὸς αὐτῷ,
πρὶν τάνδε πρὸς πόλιν ἀνύσειε,
νασιῶτιν ἑστίαν
ἀμείψας, ἔνθα κλῄζεται θυτήρ·

[¶8] May he come from there full of desire, steeped in love on the pretext of the robe by Persuasion’s all-powerful ointment!
Enter Deianeira from the house.

> Greek: ὅθεν μόλοι πανίμερος,
τᾶς πειθοῦς παγχρίστῳ
συγκραθεὶς ἐπὶ προφάσει φάρους.

[¶9] Deianeira:
Friends, how I fear that I may have gone too far in all that I was doing just now!

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
γυναῖκες, ὡς δέδοικα μὴ περαιτέρω
πεπραγμένʼ ᾖ μοι πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἀρτίως ἔδρων.

[¶10] Chorus:
What has happened, Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἔστι, Δῃάνειρα, τέκνον Οἰνέως;

[¶11] Deianeira:
I do not know, but I despair that I will soon be found to have done a great wrong, when my hope was for good.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἀθυμῶ δʼ, εἰ φανήσομαι τάχα
κακὸν μέγʼ ἐκπράξασʼ ἀπʼ ἐλπίδος καλῆς.

[¶12] Chorus:
Surely it is nothing that bears on your gift to Heracles?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐ δή τι τῶν σῶν Ἡρακλεῖ δωρημάτων;

[¶13] Deianeira:
Yes, it is! So much so that I would never recommend to anybody
that he be eager for action in obscurity.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
μάλιστά γʼ, ὥστε μήποτʼ ἂν προθυμίαν
ἄδηλον ἔργου τῳ παραινέσαι λαβεῖν.

[¶14] Chorus:
Tell us the cause of your fear, if it may be told.

> Greek: Χορός:
δίδαξον, εἰ διδακτόν, ἐξ ὅτου φοβεῖ.

[¶15] Deianeira:
A thing has happened, my friends, such that, if I declare it, it will be a strange marvel for you to hear. The implement with which I was just now anointing the festal robe,
a white tuft of fleecy sheep’s wool, has disappeared, eaten away by no animal in the courtyard, but self-devoured and self-destroyed it crumbled down over a stone slab. But I must tell the story at greater length, so that you may know exactly how this thing was accomplished.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
τοιοῦτον ἐκβέβηκεν οἷον, ἢν φράσω,
γυναῖκες, ὑμᾶς θαῦμʼ ἀνέλπιστον μαθεῖν.
ᾧ γὰρ τὸν ἐνδυτῆρα πέπλον ἀρτίως
ἔχριον, ἀργὴς οἰὸς εὐέρου πόκος,
τοῦτʼ ἠφάνισται διάβορον πρὸς οὐδενὸς
τῶν ἔνδον, ἀλλʼ ἐδεστὸν ἐξ αὑτοῦ φθίνει,
καὶ ψῇ κατʼ ἄκρας σπιλάδος· ὡς δʼ εἰδῇς ἅπαν,
ᾗ τοῦτʼ ἐπράχθη, μείζονʼ ἐκτενῶ λόγον.

[¶16] I neglected no part of the precepts which the savage Centaur gave me when he was hurting from the bitter barb in his side; they were in my memory, like the graven words which no hand may wash from a tablet of bronze. Now this was his order to me, and I obeyed it:

> Greek: ἐγὼ γὰρ ὧν ὁ θήρ με Κένταυρος, πονῶν
πλευρὰν πικρᾷ γλωχῖνι, προυδιδάξατο
παρῆκα θεσμῶν οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἐσῳζόμην
χαλκῆς ὅπως δύσνιπτον ἐκ δέλτου γραφήν.
καί μοι τάδʼ ἦν πρόρρητα καὶ τοιαῦτʼ ἔδρων·

[¶17] to keep this potion hidden in inmost recesses always away from fire and untouched by the sun’s warm ray, until I should apply it, newly spread, where I wished. So I had done. And just now, when the moment for action had come, I performed the anointing secretly in the rooms of the house
with a tuft of soft wool which I had plucked from a sheep of our home-flock; then I folded up my gift, and laid it, unvisited by sunlight, within its hollow chest, as you saw. But as I am going back into the house, I see a thing inexplicable by words and beyond the knowledge of the human mind to understand.

> Greek: τὸ φάρμακον τοῦτʼ ἄπυρον ἀκτῖνός τʼ ἀεὶ
θερμῆς ἄθικτον ἐν μυχοῖς σῴζειν ἐμέ,
ἕως νιν ἀρτίχριστον ἁρμόσαιμί που.
κἄδρων τοιαῦτα. νῦν δʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν ἐργαστέον,
ἔχρισα μὲν κατʼ οἶκον ἐν δόμοις κρυφῇ
μαλλῷ, σπάσασα κτησίου βοτοῦ λάχνην,
κἄθηκα συμπτύξασʼ ἀλαμπὲς ἡλίου
κοίλῳ ζυγάστρῳ δῶρον, ὥσπερ εἴδετε.
εἴσω δʼ ἀποστείχουσα δέρκομαι φάτιν
ἄφραστον, ἀξύμβλητον ἀνθρώπῳ μαθεῖν.

[¶18] For somehow I happened to have thrown the ball of wool, with which I had been anointing the robe, into the full blaze of the sun’s rays. As it grew warm, it ran all into confusion, and quickly crumbled to powder on the ground, like nothing in appearance so much as
the morsels left by a saw’s teeth when wood is cut. It lies just so, fallen. And from the earth, where it lay exposed, clotted foam seethes up, like the rich juice of the blue fruit from the vine of Bacchus when it is poured on the ground.

> Greek: τὸ γὰρ κάταγμα τυγχάνω ῥίψασά πως
τῆς οἰός, ᾧ προύχριον, ἐς μέσην φλόγα,
ἀκτῖνʼ ἐς ἡλιῶτιν· ὡς δʼ ἐθάλπετο,
ῥεῖ πᾶν ἄδηλον καὶ κατέψηκται χθονί,
μορφῇ μάλιστʼ εἰκαστὸν ὥστε πρίονος
ἐκβρώματʼ ἂν βλέψειας ἐν τομῇ ξύλου.
τοιόνδε κεῖται προπετές· ἐκ δὲ γῆς, ὅθεν
προύκειτʼ, ἀναζέουσι θρομβώδεις ἀφροί,
γλαυκῆς ὀπώρας ὥστε πίονος ποτοῦ
χυθέντος εἰς γῆν Βακχίας ἀπʼ ἀμπέλου.

[¶19] And so I am distraught, and I do not know to which side my thoughts should fall. I only see that I have brought a terrible deed to completion. For why or in thanks for what should the monster in his death-throes have shown good will to me, because of whom he was dying? Impossible! No, he was
enchanting me in order to destroy the man who had shot him. And now too late I gain the knowledge of this, when it can no longer help. Yes, I alone—unless my outlook prove mistaken—I, miserable one, shall completely destroy him! For I know that the arrow which made the wound harmed
even the god Cheiron, and that it kills all varieties of beasts that it touches. Since it is this same black venom in the blood that has passed out through the wound of Nessus, must it not kill Heracles also? To my mind, at least, it must. Nevertheless, I am resolved that, if he is to be brought down,
at the same time I too will die along with him in the selfsame fall. No woman could bear to live with a reputation for evil, if she cares above all that her nature is not evil.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
ὥστʼ οὐκ ἔχω τάλαινα ποῖ γνώμης πέσω·
ὁρῶ δέ μʼ ἔργον δεινὸν ἐξειργασμένην.
πόθεν γὰρ ἄν ποτʼ, ἀντὶ τοῦ θνῄσκων ὁ θὴρ
ἐμοὶ παρέσχʼ εὔνοιαν, ἧς ἔθνῃσχʼ ὕπερ;
οὐκ ἔστιν, ἀλλὰ τὸν βαλόντʼ ἀποφθίσαι
χρῄζων ἔθελγέ μʼ· ὧν ἐγὼ μεθύστερον,
ὅτʼ οὐκέτʼ ἀρκεῖ, τὴν μάθησιν ἄρνυμαι.
μόνη γὰρ αὐτόν, εἴ τι μὴ ψευσθήσομαι
γνώμης, ἐγὼ δύστηνος ἐξαποφθερῶ·
τὸν γὰρ βαλόντʼ ἄτρακτον οἶδα καὶ θεὸν
Χείρωνα πημήναντα, χὦνπερ ἂν θίγῃ,
φθείρει τὰ πάντα κνώδαλʼ· ἐκ δὲ τοῦδʼ ὅδε
σφαγῶν διελθὼν ἰὸς αἵματος μέλας
πῶς οὐκ ὀλεῖ καὶ τόνδε; δόξῃ γοῦν ἐμῇ.
καίτοι δέδοκται, κεῖνος εἰ σφαλήσεται,
ταύτῃ σὺν ὁρμῇ κἀμὲ συνθανεῖν ἅμα·
ζῆν γὰρ κακῶς κλύουσαν οὐκ ἀνασχετόν,
ἥτις προτιμᾷ μὴ κακὴ πεφυκέναι.

[¶20] Chorus:
Fear is necessary when terrible deeds are done, but one should not judge one’s expectations before the outcome is known.

> Greek: Χορός:
ταρβεῖν μὲν ἔργα δείνʼ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει,
τὴν δʼ ἐλπίδʼ οὐ χρὴ τῆς τύχης κρίνειν πάρος.

[¶21] Deianeira:
There is no room for expectation when one’s plans are bad, at least the kind of expectation which lends confidence.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τοῖς μὴ καλοῖς βουλεύμασιν
οὐδʼ ἐλπίς, ἥτις καὶ θράσος τι προξενεῖ.

[¶22] Chorus:
And yet in the case of those whose mistakes were unwitting, men’s anger is softened. So it should be for you.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ τοῖς σφαλεῖσι μὴ ʼξ ἑκουσίας
ὀργὴ πέπειρα, τῆς σε τυγχάνειν πρέπει.

[¶23] Deianeira:
No, such words are not for one who took part in the wrongdoing,
but only for him who has no trouble at his own door.

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
τοιαῦτα δʼ ἂν λέξειεν οὐχ ὁ τοῦ κακοῦ
κοινωνός, ἀλλʼ ᾧ μηδέν ἐστʼ οἴκοι βαρύ.

[¶24] Chorus:
It would suit you to refrain from saying anything more, unless you would reveal anything to your own son. For he is here, the one who earlier went to seek his father.

> Greek: Χορός:
σιγᾶν ἂν ἁρμόζοι σε τὸν πλείω λόγον,
εἰ μή τι λέξεις παιδὶ τῷ σαυτῆς· ἐπεὶ
πάρεστι, μαστὴρ πατρὸς ὃς πρὶν ᾤχετο.

[¶25] Hyllus:
O Mother, how I wish I could choose one of three fates for you!
I wish that you no longer lived, or, if you remained, that someone else called you “Mother”, or that some new and kinder heart had been exchanged for your present one!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὦ μῆτερ, ὡς ἂν ἐκ τριῶν σʼ ἓν εἱλόμην,
ἢ μηκέτʼ εἶναι ζῶσαν, ἢ σεσωσμένην
ἄλλου κεκλῆσθαι μητέρʼ, ἢ λῴους φρένας
τῶν νῦν παρουσῶν τῶνδʼ ἀμείψασθαί ποθεν.

[¶26] Deianeira:
My son, what have I done to cause your hate?

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
τί δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ παῖ, πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ στυγούμενον;

[¶27] Hyllus:
Listen to me! You have killed
your husband, my father—my father!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν σὸν ἴσθι, τὸν δʼ ἐμὸν λέγω
πατέρα, κατακτείνασα τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.

[¶28] Deianeira:
oh, no! What is this you have blurted out, Hyllus?

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
οἴμοι, τινʼ ἐξήνεγκας, ὦ τέκνον, λόγον;

[¶29] Hyllus:
Only what cannot but be fulfilled. For who could undo what has happened?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὃν οὐχ οἷόν τε μὴ οὐ τελεσθῆναι· τὸ γὰρ
φανθὲν τίς ἂν δύναιτʼ ἂν ἀγένητον ποεῖν;

[¶30] Deianeira:
What do you mean, son? From whom did you hear this
that you charge me with a crime so awful?

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ; τοῦ παρʼ ἀνθρώπων μαθὼν
ἄζηλον οὕτως ἔργον εἰργάσθαι με φής;

[¶31] Hyllus:
I have seen my father’s overwhelming misfortune with my own eyes. I did not learn of it by hearsay.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
αὐτὸς βαρεῖαν ξυμφορὰν ἐν ὄμμασιν
πατρὸς δεδορκὼς κοὐ κατὰ γλῶσσαν κλύων.

[¶32] Deianeira:
Where did you find him? Where were you with him?

> Greek: Δηιάνειρα:
ποῦ δʼ ἐμπελάζεις τἀνδρὶ καὶ παρίστασαι;

[¶33] Hyllus:
If you need to hear, then I must tell all.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
εἰ χρὴ μαθεῖν σε, πάντα δὴ φωνεῖν χρεών.

[¶34] After sacking the famous city of Eurytus, he went his way with the trophies and choice spoils of victory. There is a sea-washed headland of Euboea, Cape Cenaeum, where he marked out altars and a sacred grove to the Zeus of his fathers.

> Greek: ὅθʼ εἷρπε κλεινὴν Εὐρύτου πέρσας πόλιν,
νίκης ἄγων τροπαῖα κἀκροθίνια,
ἀκτή τις ἀμφίκλυστος Εὐβοίας ἄκρον
Κήναιόν ἐστιν, ἔνθα πατρῴῳ Διὶ
βωμοὺς ὁρίζει τεμενίαν τε φυλλάδα·

[¶35] There I first saw him, to the gratification of my desire. He was about to make a sacrifice rich in offerings when his own herald, Lichas, came to him from home with your gift, the deadly robe, in his hands. This he put on as you prescribed
and then began his offering with twelve bulls, free from blemish, the prime of the spoil; but altogether he brought a hundred mixed victims to the altar. At first the miserable wretch prayed with serene soul and rejoiced in his ornate garb.

> Greek: οὗ νιν τὰ πρῶτʼ ἐσεῖδον ἄσμενος πόθῳ.
μέλλοντι δʼ αὐτῷ πολυθύτους τεύχειν σφαγὰς
κῆρυξ ἀπʼ οἴκων ἵκετʼ οἰκεῖος Λίχας,
τὸ σὸν φέρων δώρημα, θανάσιμον πέπλον·
ὃν κεῖνος ἐνδύς, ὡς σὺ προυξεφίεσο,
ταυροκτονεῖ μὲν δώδεκʼ ἐντελεῖς ἔχων
λείας ἀπαρχὴν βοῦς· ἀτὰρ τὰ πάνθʼ ὁμοῦ
ἑκατὸν προσῆγε συμμιγῆ βοσκήματα.
καὶ πρῶτα μὲν δείλαιος ἵλεῳ φρενί,
κόσμῳ τε χαίρων καὶ στολῇ, κατηύχετο·

[¶36] But when the blood-fed flame began to blaze from the holy offerings and from the resinous pine, a sweat broke out on his skin and the tunic clung to his sides close-glued at every joint, as if by a craftsman’s hand; there came
a convulsive, biting pain in his bones; and then the venom, like that of some deadly, cruel viper, began to devour him. At that he shouted for the ill-fated Lichas—who was in no way to blame for your crime—asking by what plots he had brought that robe.

> Greek: ὅπως δὲ σεμνῶν ὀργίων ἐδαίετο
φλὸξ αἱματηρὰ κἀπὸ πιείρας δρυός,
ἱδρὼς ἀνῄει χρωτί, καὶ προσπτύσσεται
πλευραῖσιν ἀρτίκολλος, ὥστε τέκτονος,
χιτὼν ἅπαν κατʼ ἄρθρον· ἦλθε δʼ ὀστέων
ἀδαγμὸς ἀντίσπαστος· εἶτα φοινίας
ἐχθρᾶς ἐχίδνης ἰὸς ὣς ἐδαίνυτο.
ἐνταῦθα δὴ ʼβόησε τὸν δυσδαίμονα
Λίχαν, τὸν οὐδὲν αἴτιον τοῦ σοῦ κακοῦ,
ποίαις ἐνέγκοι τόνδε μηχαναῖς πέπλον·

[¶37] But he, unfortunate one, all-unknowing, said that he had brought your gift from you alone, just as it had been sent. When Heracles heard it, just as a piercing spasm clutched his lungs, he caught him by the foot where the ankle bends in the socket
and threw him at a surf-beaten rock in the sea, causing the white brain to ooze from his hair, when the crown of his head had been scattered and his blood with it.

> Greek: ὁ δʼ οὐδὲν εἰδὼς δύσμορος τὸ σὸν μόνης
δώρημʼ ἔλεξεν, ὥσπερ ἦν ἐσταλμένον.
κἀκεῖνος ὡς ἤκουσε καὶ διώδυνος
σπαραγμὸς αὐτοῦ πλευμόνων ἀνθήψατο,
μάρψας ποδός νιν, ἄρθρον ᾗ λυγίζεται,
ῥιπτεῖ πρὸς ἀμφίκλυστον ἐκ πόντου πέτραν·
κόμης δὲ λευκὸν μυελὸν ἐκραίνει, μέσου
κρατὸς διασπαρέντος αἵματός θʼ ὁμοῦ.

[¶38] But all the people lifted up a cry of astounded grief when they saw that the one was frenzied, and the other destroyed;

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἅπας δʼ ἀνηυφήμησεν οἰμωγῇ λεώς,
τοῦ μὲν νοσοῦντος, τοῦ δὲ διαπεπραγμένου·

[¶39] and no one dared to approach the man. For he convulsed down to the ground and up into the air as he shouted and cried out. All around the cliffs resounded, both the steep headlands of Locris and the Euboean capes. But when he was exhausted with repeatedly
throwing himself on the ground in his anguish and repeatedly shouting with howls of grief, as he dwelled on his ill-mated marriage with miserable you and his alliance with Oeneus, which, he said, he got for himself as the ruin of his life, then from out of the shrouding altar-smoke
he raised his wildly-rolling eyes and saw me weeping among his many troops. He stared at me and called me: “O my son, come to me. Do not fly from my trouble, not even if you have to share my death. Come, lift me up and away and above all put me
in a place where no one can see me. But if you have pity, at least carry me in all speed away from this country so that I may not die here.” When he had laid this command on me, we put him onboard ship and brought him just barely to this land,
while he moaned in his convulsions. And you shall soon see him, either alive or freshly dead. Such, Mother, are the designs and deeds against my father of which you have been found guilty. May Punishing Justice and the Erinys punish you for them! Yes, if it be right, that is my prayer.

> Greek: κοὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα τἀνδρὸς ἀντίον μολεῖν.
ἐσπᾶτο γὰρ πέδονδε καὶ μετάρσιος,
βοῶν, ἰύζων· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἐκτύπουν πέτραι,
Λοκρῶν τʼ ὄρειοι πρῶνες Εὐβοίας τʼ ἄκραι.
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀπεῖπε, πολλὰ μὲν τάλας χθονὶ
ῥίπτων ἑαυτόν, πολλὰ δʼ οἰμωγῇ βοῶν,
τὸ δυσπάρευνον λέκτρον ἐνδατούμενος
σοῦ τῆς ταλαίνης, καὶ τὸν Οἰνέως γάμον
οἷον κατακτήσαιτο λυμαντὴν βίου,
τότʼ ἐκ προσέδρου λιγνύος διάστροφον
ὀφθαλμὸν ἄρας εἶδέ μʼ ἐν πολλῷ στρατῷ
δακρυρροοῦντα, καί με προσβλέψας καλεῖ·
ὦ παῖ, πρόσελθε, μὴ φύγῃς τοὐμὸν κακόν,
μηδʼ εἴ σε χρὴ θανόντι συνθανεῖν ἐμοί·
ἀλλʼ ἆρον ἔξω, καὶ μάλιστα μέν με θὲς
ἐνταῦθʼ ὅπου με μή τις ὄψεται βροτῶν·
εἰ δʼ οἶκτον ἴσχεις, ἀλλά μʼ ἔκ γε τῆσδε γῆς
πόρθμευσον ὡς τάχιστα, μηδʼ αὐτοῦ θάνω.
τοσαῦτʼ ἐπισκήψαντος, ἐν μέσῳ σκάφει
θέντες σφε πρὸς γῆν τήνδʼ ἐκέλσαμεν μόλις
βρυχώμενον σπασμοῖσι· καί νιν αὐτίκα
ἢ ζῶντʼ ἐσόψεσθʼ ἢ τεθνηκότʼ ἀρτίως.
τοιαῦτα, μῆτερ, πατρὶ βουλεύσασʼ ἐμῷ
καὶ δρῶσʼ ἐλήφθης, ὧν σε ποίνιμος Δίκη
τίσαιτʼ Ἐρινύς τʼ. εἰ θέμις δʼ, ἐπεύχομαι·

[¶40] Right it is, for to my eyes you have rejected the right by killing the best and bravest of men in all the world, whose equal you will never see again. Deianeira moves towards the house.
Chorus: To Deianeira.

> Greek: θέμις δʼ, ἐπεί μοι τὴν θέμιν σὺ προύβαλες,
πάντων ἄριστον ἄνδρα τῶν ἐπὶ χθονὶ
κτείνασʼ, ὁποῖον ἄλλον οὐκ ὄψει ποτέ.

[¶41] Why do you leave without a word? Do you not know that your silence pleads your accuser’s case?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί σῖγʼ ἀφέρπεις; οὐ κάτοισθʼ ὁθούνεκα
ξυνηγορεῖς σιγῶσα τῷ κατηγόρῳ;

[¶42] Hyllus:
Let her leave. May a fair wind speed her far from my sight! Why should she falsely keep the dignity of the name “Mother,” when she is all unlike a mother in her deeds? No, let her go—farewell to her. May such delight as
she gives my father become her own! Exit Deianeira into the house, followed at a distance by Hyllus.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἐᾶτʼ ἀφέρπειν· οὖρος ὀφθαλμῶν ἐμῶν
αὐτῇ γένοιτʼ ἄπωθεν ἑρπούσῃ καλός.
ὄγκον γὰρ ἄλλως ὀνόματος τί δεῖ τρέφειν
μητρῷον, ἥτις μηδὲν ὡς τεκοῦσα δρᾷ;
ἀλλʼ ἑρπέτω χαίρουσα· τὴν δὲ τέρψιν ἣν
τὠμῷ δίδωσι πατρί, τήνδʼ αὐτὴ λάβοι.

[¶43] Chorus:
See, maidens, how suddenly the divine word of the old prophecy has closed upon us, which allotted this destiny: that when the twelfth year
with its full complement of months should have come to an end, it would complete the undertaking of toils for the true-born son of Zeus! And that promise rides before a steady wind to sure fulfillment. For how shall he who does not see the light of day
ever have toilsome servitude any more in death?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴδʼ οἷον, ὦ παῖδες, προσέμιξεν ἄφαρ
τοὔπος τὸ θεοπρόπον ἡμῖν
τᾶς παλαιφάτου προνοίας,
ὅ τʼ ἔλακεν, ὁπότε τελεόμηνος ἐκφέροι
δωδέκατος ἄροτος, ἀναδοχὰν τελεῖν πόνων
τῷ Διὸς αὐτόπαιδι· καὶ τάδʼ ὀρθῶς
ἔμπεδα κατουρίζει. πῶς γὰρ ἂν ὁ μὴ λεύσσων
ἔτι ποτʼ ἔτʼ ἐπίπονον πόνων ἔχοι θανὼν λατρείαν;

[¶44] Chorus:
For if the Centaur’s deceitful torture smears his sides with a murderous net, where clings the venom which Death birthed and the gleaming serpent nourished,
how can he look upon tomorrow’s sun, when that appalling Hydra-shape grasps him? Those murderous goads, prepared
by the deceptive words of black-haired Nessus, torment him with confused thrashing and seethe on his skin.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ γάρ σφε Κενταύρου φονίᾳ νεφέλᾳ
χρίει δολοποιὸς ἀνάγκα
πλευρά, προστακέντος ἰοῦ,
ὃν τέκετο θάνατος, ἔτρεφε δʼ αἰόλος δράκων,
πῶς ὅδʼ ἂν ἀέλιον ἕτερον ἢ τανῦν ἴδοι,
δεινοτάτῳ μὲν ὕδρας προστετακὼς
φάσματι; μελαγχαίτα δʼ ἄμμιγά νιν αἰκίζει
Νέσσου ὑποφόνια δολιόμυθα κέντρʼ ἐπιζέσαντα.

[¶45] Chorus:
In these matters this miserable lady had no apprehension, when she foresaw in the new marriage a great plague swiftly rushing upon her household. Her own hand applied the drug. But no doubt for the results yielded by a stranger’s
counsel, given at a fatal meeting—for these she despairingly groans and sheds a tender dew of thickly-falling tears.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὧν ἅδʼ ἁ τλάμων ἄοκνος μεγάλαν προορῶσα
δόμοισι βλάβαν νέων
ἀΐσσουσαν γάμων τὰ μὲν αὐτὰ προσέβαλε, τὰ
δʼ ἀπʼ ἀλλόθρου
γνώμας μολόντʼ ὀλεθρίαισι συναλλαγαῖς
ἦ που ὀλοὰ στένει,
ἦ που ἀδινῶν χλωρὰν
τέγγει δακρύων ἄχναν.

[¶46] And the coming fate foreshadows a great disaster, contrived by guile.

> Greek: ἁ δʼ ἐρχομένα μοῖρα προφαίνει δολίαν
καὶ μεγάλαν ἄταν.

[¶47] Chorus:
Our streaming tears break forth. Ah, no! An infection pours over him, an illness more to be pitied
than any suffering that adversaries ever brought upon that glorious hero. Ah, you dark head of the spear foremost in battle, who by your mighty point recently led that swift bride from Oechalia’s heights!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔρρωγεν παγὰ δακρύων· κέχυται νόσος, ὦ πόποι,
οἷον ἀναρσίων
οὔπω Ἡρακλέους ἀγακλειτὸν ἐπέμολε πάθος οἰκτίσαι.
ἰὼ κελαινὰ λόγχα προμάχου δορός,
ἃ τότε θοὰν νύμφαν
ἄγαγες ἀπʼ αἰπεινᾶς
τάνδʼ Οἰχαλίας αἰχμᾷ·

[¶48] But the Cyprian goddess, ministering in silence, has been plainly proved the author of these deeds.

> Greek: ἁ δʼ ἀμφίπολος Κύπρις ἄναυδος φανερὰ
τῶνδʼ ἐφάνη πράκτωρ.

[¶49] First Semi-Chorus:
Is it fancy, or did I just now hear some cry of grief rushing through the house?

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον 1:
πότερον ἐγὼ μάταιος, ἢ κλύω τινὸς
οἴκτου διʼ οἴκων ἀρτίως ὁρμωμένου; τί φημι;

[¶50] What is this?
Second Semi-Chorus:
It is no uncertain sound, but a wail of anguish from inside. The house has some new trouble.
Chorus:
And note how strangely, with what consternation on her brow
that old woman approaches to give us some news.
Enter the Nurse, from the house.

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον 2:
ἠχεῖ τις οὐκ ἄσημον, ἀλλὰ δυστυχῆ
κωκυτὸν εἴσω, καί τι καινίζει στέγη.
Ἡμιχόριον:
ξύνες δὲ
τήνδʼ ὡς κατηφὴς καὶ συνωφρυωμένη
χωρεῖ πρὸς ἡμᾶς γραῖα σημανοῦσά τι.

[¶51] Nurse:
Ah, my daughters, great, indeed, are the sorrows for us that began with the gift sent to Heracles!

> Greek: Τροφός:
ὦ παῖδες, ὡς ἄρʼ ἡμὶν οὐ σμικρῶν κακῶν
ἦρξεν τὸ δῶρον Ἡρακλεῖ τὸ πόμπιμον.

[¶52] Chorus:
Old woman, what new trouble have you to tell?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ, ὦ γεραιά, καινοποιηθὲν λέγεις;

[¶53] Nurse:
Deianeira has departed on the last
of all her journeys, departed without stirring a foot.

> Greek: Τροφός:
βέβηκε Δῃάνειρα τὴν πανυστάτην
ὁδῶν ἁπασῶν ἐξ ἀκινήτου ποδός.

[¶54] Chorus:
Surely you do not mean she is dead?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐ δή ποθʼ ὡς θανοῦσα;

[¶55] Nurse:
My tale is told.

> Greek: Τροφός:
πάντʼ ἀκήκοας.

[¶56] Chorus:
Dead, the poor woman?

> Greek: Χορός:
τέθνηκεν ἡ τάλαινα;

[¶57] Nurse:
Again you hear me affirm it.

> Greek: Τροφός:
δεύτερον κλύεις.

[¶58] Chorus:
Poor, lost one! Tell me, what was the manner of her death?

> Greek: Χορός:
τάλαινʼ ὀλεθρία· τίνι τρόπῳ θανεῖν σφε φής;

[¶59] Nurse:
Oh, it was most cruel in its execution!

> Greek: Τροφός:
σχετλιώτατά γε πρὸς πρᾶξιν.

[¶60] Chorus:
Speak,
woman, with what end did she meet?

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰπὲ τῷ μόρῳ,
γύναι, ξυντρέχει.

[¶61] Nurse:
She destroyed herself.

> Greek: Τροφός:
αὑτὴν διηΐστωσε.

[¶62] Chorus:
What impulse drove her? What disease of her mind seized her on the point of its evil shaft? How did she contrive
this death upon death, accomplishing it all on her own?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίς θυμὸς ἢ τίνες νόσοι
τάνδʼ αἰχμᾷ βέλεος κακοῦ ξυνεῖλε; πως ἐμήσατο
πρὸς θανάτῳ θάνατον ἀνύσασα μόνα;

[¶63] Nurse:
By a stroke of the sword which gives cause for mourning.

> Greek: Τροφός:
στονόεντος ἐν τομᾷ σιδάρου.

[¶64] Chorus:
Did you witness that violent deed, poor helpless one?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεῖδες, ὦ ματαία, τάνδε τὴν ὕβριν;

[¶65] Nurse:
I did, yes, since I was standing close by.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ἐπεῖδον, ὡς δὴ πλησία παραστάτις.

[¶66] Chorus:
What was it? How was it done? Oh, speak!

> Greek: Χορός:
τίς ἦν; πῶς; φέρʼ εἰπέ.

[¶67] Nurse:
Of her own accord she set her hand to the deed.

> Greek: Τροφός:
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτῆς χειροποιεῖται τάδε.

[¶68] Chorus:
What are you saying?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί φωνεῖς;

[¶69] Nurse:
The certain truth.

> Greek: Τροφός:
σαφηνῆ.

[¶70] Chorus:
The firstborn, the firstborn of that newly arisen bride is
a great Erinys on this house!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔτεκεν ἔτεκε δὴ μεγάλαν
ἁ νέορτος ἅδε νύμφα
δόμοισι τοῖσδʼ ἐρινύν.

[¶71] Nurse:
Too true. And had you been close at hand and seen her do it, you would have pitied her even more.

> Greek: Τροφός:
ἄγαν γε· μᾶλλον δʼ, εἰ παροῦσα πλησία
ἔλευσσες οἷʼ ἔδρασε, κάρτʼ ἂν ᾤκτισας.

[¶72] Chorus:
And could a woman’s hand dare to carry out such deeds?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔτλη τις χεὶρ γυναικεία κτίσαι;

[¶73] Nurse:
Yes, with fierce daring. You shall hear, and then you will bear me witness.

> Greek: Τροφός:
δεινῶς γε· πεύσει δʼ, ὥστε μαρτυρεῖν ἐμοί.

[¶74] When she came alone into the house and saw her son preparing a deep litter in the court, with which to go back and meet his father, she hid herself where none would see. Falling before the altars, she moaned that
they were left desolate, and whenever she touched any household thing that she, poor lady, had habitually used in the past, her tears would flow. If, as she roamed hither and thither through the house, she beheld the form of any well-loved servant, she wept in misery at the sight,
crying aloud upon her own fate, and her childless existence thereafter. But when she finished this, I saw her suddenly rush into the bedchamber of Heracles. I hid in the shadows to keep my observation secret and was watching over her
when I saw her spread coverings on the bedstead of Heracles. When she had done this, she sprang up on them and sat in the middle of the bed. Then she broke out in warm streams of tears
and said: “Ah, my bridal bed and bridal chamber, farewell now and for ever, since you will never more receive me in these covers as his wife.” She says no more, but with a vehement hand she loosens her robe where the brooch of beaten gold
lies above her breasts and bares all her left side and arm. Then I run with all my strength, and warn her son of her intent. But even in the space between my going and our return,
we find that she has driven a two-edged sword up through her side to the heart. At that sight, her son gave a great cry. For he knew, poor boy, that in his anger he had driven her to that action. He had learned too late from the servants in the house
that she had acted without knowledge and at the will of the monster. Then and there the youth in his misery left no cry of grief unmade as he lamented over her, nor as he fell to kiss her lips; he threw himself at her side, loudly moaning
that he had rashly attacked her with a false accusation and weeping that he must now live orphaned of both alike, of his father and of her. Such are the fortunes of this house. Rash, indeed, is he who reckons on tomorrow, or perchance on days beyond it.
There is no tomorrow, until today is safely past. Exit the Nurse.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἦλθε δωμάτων εἴσω μόνη
καὶ παῖδʼ ἐν αὐλαῖς εἶδε κοῖλα δέμνια
στορνύνθʼ, ὅπως ἄψορρον ἀντῴη πατρί,
κρύψασʼ ἑαυτὴν ἔνθα μή τις εἰσίδοι,
βρυχᾶτο μὲν βωμοῖσι προσπίπτουσʼ ὅτι
γένοιντʼ ἔρημοι, ʼκλαιε δʼ ὀργάνων ὅτου
ψαύσειεν οἷς ἐχρῆτο δειλαία πάρος·
ἄλλῃ δὲ κἄλλῃ δωμάτων στρωφωμένη,
εἴ του φίλων βλέψειεν οἰκετῶν δέμας,
ἔκλαιεν ἡ δύστηνος εἰσορωμένη,
αὐτὴ τὸν αὑτῆς δαίμονʼ ἀνακαλουμένη
καὶ τὰς ἄπαιδας ἐς τὸ λοιπὸν οὐσίας.
ἐπεὶ δὲ τῶνδʼ ἔληξεν, ἐξαίφνης σφʼ ὁρῶ
τὸν Ἡράκλειον θάλαμον εἰσορμωμένην.
κἀγὼ λαθραῖον ὄμμʼ ἐπεσκιασμένη
φρούρουν· ὁρῶ δὲ τὴν γυναῖκα δεμνίοις
τοῖς Ἡρακλείοις στρωτὰ βάλλουσαν φάρη.
ὅπως δʼ ἐτέλεσε τοῦτʼ, ἐπενθοροῦσʼ ἄνω
καθέζετʼ ἐν μέσοισιν εὐνατηρίοις,
καὶ δακρύων ῥήξασα θερμὰ νάματα
ἔλεξεν· ὦ λέχη τε καὶ νυμφεῖʼ ἐμά,
τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη χαίρεθʼ, ὡς ἔμʼ οὔποτε
δέξεσθʼ ἔτʼ ἐν κοίταισι ταῖσδʼ εὐνάτριαν.
τοσαῦτα φωνήσασα συντόνῳ χερὶ
λύει τὸν αὑτῆς πέπλον, ᾗ χρυσήλατος
προύκειτο μαστῶν περονίς, ἐκ δʼ ἐλώπισεν
πλευρὰν ἅπασαν ὠλένην τʼ εὐώνυμον.
κἀγὼ δρομαία βᾶσʼ, ὅσονπερ ἔσθενον,
τῷ παιδὶ φράζω τῆς τεχνωμένης τάδε.
κἀν ᾧ τὸ κεῖσε δεῦρό τʼ ἐξορμώμεθα,
ὁρῶμεν αὐτὴν ἀμφιπλῆγι φασγάνῳ
πλευρὰν ὑφʼ ἧπαρ καὶ φρένας πεπληγμένην.
ἰδὼν δʼ ὁ παῖς ᾤμωξεν· ἔγνω γὰρ τάλας
τοὔργον κατʼ ὀργὴν ὡς ἐφάψειεν τόδε,
ὄψʼ ἐκδιδαχθεὶς τῶν κατʼ οἶκον οὕνεκα
ἄκουσα πρὸς τοῦ θηρὸς ἔρξειεν τάδε.
κἀνταῦθʼ ὁ παῖς δύστηνος οὔτʼ ὀδυρμάτων
ἐλείπετʼ οὐδέν, ἀμφί νιν γοώμενος,
οὔτʼ ἀμφιπίπτων στόμασιν, ἀλλὰ πλευρόθεν
πλευρὰν παρεὶς ἔκειτο πόλλʼ ἀναστένων,
ὥς νιν ματαίως αἰτίᾳ βάλοι κακῇ,
κλαίων ὁθούνεκʼ ἐκ δυοῖν ἔσοιθʼ ἅμα,
πατρός τʼ ἐκείνης τʼ, ὠρφανισμένος βίον.
τοιαῦτα τἀνθάδʼ ἐστίν· ὥστʼ εἴ τις δύο
ἢ καί τι πλείους ἡμέρας λογίζεται,
μάταιός ἐστιν· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ἥ γʼ αὔριον,
πρὶν εὖ πάθῃ τις τὴν παροῦσαν ἡμέραν.

[¶75] Chorus:
Which disaster shall I bewail first? Which is more to be pitied? In my grief I cannot decide.

> Greek: Χορός:
πότερα πρότερον ἐπιστένω,
πότερα μέλεα περαιτέρω,
δύσκριτʼ ἔμοιγε δυστάνῳ.

[¶76] Chorus:
One sorrow may be seen in the house; for one we wait with apprehension. To have and to await are one and the same.

> Greek: Χορός:
τάδε μὲν ἔχομεν ὁρᾶν δόμοις,
τάδε δὲ μένομεν ἐπʼ ἐλπίσιν·
κοινὰ δʼ ἔχειν τε καὶ μέλλειν.

[¶77] Chorus:
oh, that some strong breeze, a fair wind, might arise at our hearth
to bear me far from this land, so that I might not die of terror when I look but once
upon the mighty seed of Zeus! For they say that he is approaching the house in torments from which there is no deliverance, a wonder of unutterable woe.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἴθʼ ἀνεμόεσσά τις
γένοιτʼ ἔπουρος ἑστιῶτις αὔρα,
ἥτις μʼ ἀποικίσειεν ἐκ τόπων, ὅπως
τὸν Δῖον ἄλκιμον γόνον
μὴ ταρβαλέα θάνοιμι
μοῦνον εἰσιδοῦσʼ ἄφαρ·
ἐπεὶ ἐν δυσαπαλλάκτοις ὀδύναις
χωρεῖν πρὸ δόμων λέγουσιν
ἄσπετόν τι θαῦμα.

[¶78] Chorus:
Ah, he was not far off, but close to us, he for whom I cried in advance, like the shrill nightingale! Here is a foreign procession of strange men. And in what manner, then, do they bring him? In sorrow, as for some loved one, they tread their mournful, noiseless tread. Ah, he is carried on in silence!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἄρα κοὐ μακρὰν
προύκλαιον, ὀξύφωνος ὡς ἀηδών.
ξένων γὰρ ἐξόμιλος ἥδε τις βάσις.
πᾷ δʼ αὖ φορεῖ νιν; ὡς φίλου
προκηδομένα βαρεῖαν
ἄψοφον φέρει βάσιν.

[¶79] Should I think that he is dead, or just asleep?
Enter from one side an Old Man, with attendants, bearing Heracles upon a litter, and Hyllus from the house.
Hyllus:
O my father! O my misery! What is to become of me? What is my best plan? Ah!
Old Man: Whispering.

> Greek: αἰαῖ, ὅδʼ ἀναύδατος φέρεται.
τί χρὴ θανόντα νιν ἢ καθʼ
ὕπνον ὄντα κρῖναι;
Ὕλλος:
οἴμοι ἐγὼ σοῦ,
πάτερ, οἴμοι ἐγὼ σοῦ μέλεος.

[¶80] Hush, young man! Do not rouse
the cruel pain that infuriates your father! He lives, though on the very edge. Bite your tongue and hold it!
Hyllus:
What do you say, old man—is he alive?

> Greek: τί πάθω; τί δὲ μήσομαι; οἴμοι.
Πρέσβυς:
σίγα, τέκνον, μὴ κινήσῃς
ἀγρίαν ὀδύνην πατρὸς ὠμόφρονος·
ζῇ γὰρ προπετής· ἀλλʼ ἴσχε δακὼν στόμα σόν.

[¶81] Old Man:
You must not awake the slumberer! You must not rouse and revive
his fierce, recurrent infection, my son!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
πῶς φής, γέρον; ἦ ζῇ;
Πρέσβυς:
οὐ μὴ ʼξεγερεῖς τὸν ὕπνῳ κάτοχον
κἀκκινήσεις κἀναστήσεις
φοιτάδα δεινὴν νόσον, ὦ τέκνον.

[¶82] Hyllus:
But the immense weight of this misery crushes me. My heart craves release!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ ἐπί μοι μελέῳ
βάρος ἄπλετον· ἐμμέμονεν φρήν.

[¶83] Heracles:
O Zeus, in what land am I? Among what people
do I lie, tortured with unending agonies? O me, what pain! Oh, that accursed pest gnaws me once more!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ Ζεῦ,
ποῖ γᾶς ἥκω; παρὰ τοῖσι βροτῶν
κεῖμαι πεπονημένος ἀλλήκτοις
ὀδύναις; οἴμοι μοι ἐγὼ τλάμων·
ἡ δʼ αὖ μιαρὰ βρύκει. φεῦ.

[¶84] Old Man:
Did I not know how much better it was that you should keep silent, instead of scattering
sleep from his brain and eyes?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἆρʼ ἐξῄδη σʼ ὅσον ἦν κέρδος
σιγῇ κεύθειν καὶ μὴ σκεδάσαι
τῷδʼ ἀπὸ κρατὸς βλεφάρων θʼ ὕπνον;

[¶85] Hyllus:
No, I know no way to be patient when I witness this misery.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οὐ γὰρ ἔχω πῶς ἂν
στέρξαιμι κακὸν τόδε λεύσσων.

[¶86] Heracles:
O Cenaean rock, foundation of my altars, what cruel reward
you have earned me for those fair offerings, O Zeus! Ah, in what ruin you have deposited me, in what ruin! Would that I had never looked on you to my sorrow with my eyes, never come face to face with this blooming madness, which no spell can soothe!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ Κηναία κρηπὶς βωμῶν,
ἱερῶν οἵαν οἵων ἐπί μοι
μελέῳ χάριν ἠνύσω· ὦ Ζεῦ.
οἵαν μʼ ἄρʼ ἔθου λώβαν, οἵαν·
ἣν μή ποτʼ ἐγὼ προσιδεῖν ὁ τάλας
ὤφελον ὄσσοις, τόδʼ ἀκήλητον
μανίας ἄνθος καταδερχθῆναι.

[¶87] Where is the enchanter, where the practiced healer, save Zeus alone, who will charm this catastrophe away? I would be amazed if I saw him from even a great distance!

> Greek: τίς γὰρ ἀοιδός, τίς ὁ χειροτέχνης
ἰατορίας, ὃς τήνδʼ ἄτην
χωρὶς Ζηνὸς κατακηλήσει;
θαῦμʼ ἂν πόρρωθεν ἰδοίμην.

[¶88] Heracles:
Ah!
Leave me! Leave me in my misfortune! Leave me to sleep my last. Where, where do you touch me? Where do you lay me? You will kill me, you will kill me! If there was any pain that slumbered, you have aroused it!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἒ ἔ,
ἐᾶτέ μʼ, ἐᾶτέ με δύσμορον ὕστατον,
ἐᾶθʼ ὕστατον εὐνᾶσθαι.
Ἡρακλῆς:
πᾷ πᾷ μου ψαύεις; ποῖ κλίνεις;
ἀπολεῖς μʼ, ἀπολεῖς.
ἀνατέτροφας ὅ τι καὶ μύσῃ.

[¶89] It has seized me,—oh, the pest comes again!—What is your homeland, you men most ungrateful of all the Greeks? I wore out my wretched days in ridding the Greeks of pests both on the deep and throughout every forest. And now, when I am afflicted, will no man turn merciful fire or sword on me?

> Greek: ἧπταί μου, τοτοτοῖ, ἥδʼ αὖθʼ ἕρπει. πόθεν ἔστʼ, ὦ
πάντων Ἑλλάνων ἀδικώτατοι ἀνέρες, οὓς δὴ
πολλὰ μὲν ἐν πόντῳ κατά τε δρία πάντα καθαίρων
ὠλεκόμαν ὁ τάλας, καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ τῷδε νοσοῦντι
οὐ πῦρ, οὐκ ἔγχος τις ὀνήσιμον οὐκ ἐπιτρέψει;

[¶90] Oh! Oh! Will no one come and strike the head from this accursed body with one fierce stroke? Ah, me!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἒ ἔ,
οὐδʼ ἀπαράξαι κρᾶτα βίᾳ θέλει
μολὼν τοῦ στυγεροῦ; φεῦ φεῦ.

[¶91] Old Man:
You are the man’s son, and this task exceeds my strength. Help him, for the strength to save him is at your command,
more than mine.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὦ παῖ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, τοὔργον τόδε μεῖζον ἀνήκει
ἢ κατʼ ἐμὰν ῥώμαν· σὺ δὲ σύλλαβε. σοὶ γὰρ ἑτοίμα
ἐς πλέον ἢ διʼ ἐμοῦ σῴζειν.

[¶92] Hyllus:
My hands reach out to him, but no resource in myself or from another can help me make his life forget its agonies. So strong is the destiny appointed by Zeus!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ψαύω μὲν ἔγωγε,
λαθίπονον δʼ ὀδυνᾶν οὔτʼ ἔνδοθεν οὔτε θύραθεν
ἔστι μοι ἐξανύσαι βίοτον· τοιαῦτα νέμει Ζεύς.

[¶93] Heracles:
O my son, where are you?
Raise me, take hold of me here, here! Oh, oh, my god! Again, again the cruel pest leaps, leaps up to rend me, the
wild, uncombatable plague! O Pallas, Pallas, it tortures me again! oh, please, my son, pity your sire! Draw a sword—you will not be blamed for it—strike me beneath my collarbone.
Heal this pain with which your godless mother has enraged me! So may I see her fall to ruin, exactly, just exactly, as she has destroyed me!
Sweet Hades, brother of Zeus, give me sleep, give me sleep. Kill me in my misery by a swift-flying doom!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ παῖ, ποῦ ποτʼ εἶ; τᾷδέ με τᾷδέ με
πρόσλαβε κουφίσας. ἒ ἔ, ἰὼ δαῖμον.
Ἡρακλῆς:
θρῴσκει δʼ αὖ, θρῴσκει δειλαία
διολοῦσʼ ἡμᾶς
ἀποτίβατος ἀγρία νόσος.
ὦ Παλλὰς Παλλάς, τόδε μʼ αὖ λωβᾶται. ἰὼ παῖ,
τὸν φύτορʼ οἰκτίρας, ἀνεπίφθονον εἴρυσον ἔγχος,
παῖσον ἐμᾶς ὑπὸ κλῇδος· ἀκοῦ δʼ ἄχος, ᾧ μʼ ἐχόλωσεν
σὰ μάτηρ ἄθεος, τὰν ὧδʼ ἐπίδοιμι πεσοῦσαν
αὔτως, ὧδʼ αὔτως ὥς μʼ ὤλεσεν. ὦ γλυκὺς Ἅιδας,
Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ Διὸς αὐθαίμων, εὔνασον εὔνασον μʼ
ὠκυπέτᾳ μόρῳ τὸν μέλεον φθίσας.

[¶94] Chorus:
I shudder, friends, to hear these sorrows
which our King suffers. What a man is here, and what misfortunes lash at him!

> Greek: Χορός:
κλύουσʼ ἔφριξα τάσδε συμφοράς, φίλαι,
ἄνακτος, οἵαις οἷος ὢν ἐλαύνεται.

[¶95] Heracles:
Ah, many and hot and cruel not in name alone have been the labors of these hands, the burdens hoisted upon these shoulders! And yet no toil ever laid on me by the bedfellow of Zeus or by the hateful Eurystheus was as harsh
as this thing which the daughter of Oeneus, fair and false, has fastened upon my back, this woven net of the Erinyes in which I perish! Plastered to my sides, it has eaten away my inmost flesh and sucks the channels of my lungs,
making my body its home. Already it has drunk away my fresh lifeblood, and my whole body is wasted, conquered by these indescribable bonds. Not spearmen on the battlefield, nor the Giants’ earth-born army, nor the might of savage beasts,
not Hellas, nor the land of the barbarian, nor any land which I came to purify has ever done this to me. No, a woman, a weak woman, born not to the strength of man, all alone has brought me down without a stroke of the sword! Son, show yourself my trueborn son,
and do not honor your mother’s name above your father’s. Bring out the woman that bore you, and give her with your own hands into my hand, that I may know for certain which sight grieves you more—my tortured frame, or hers, when she suffers her just punishment!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ πολλὰ δὴ καὶ θερμὰ κοὐ λόγῳ κακὰ
καὶ χερσὶ καὶ νώτοισι μοχθήσας ἐγώ·
κοὔπω τοιοῦτον οὔτʼ ἄκοιτις ἡ Διὸς
προύθηκεν οὔθʼ ὁ στυγνὸς Εὐρυσθεὺς ἐμοί,
οἷον τόδʼ ἡ δολῶπις Οἰνέως κόρη
καθῆψεν ὤμοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς Ἐρινύων
ὑφαντὸν ἀμφίβληστρον, ᾧ διόλλυμαι.
πλευραῖσι γὰρ προσμαχθὲν ἐκ μὲν ἐσχάτας
βέβρωκε σάρκας, πλεύμονός τʼ ἀρτηρίας
ῥοφεῖ ξυνοικοῦν, ἐκ δὲ χλωρὸν αἷμά μου
πέπωκεν ἤδη, καὶ διέφθαρμαι δέμας
τὸ πᾶν, ἀφράστῳ τῇδε χειρωθεὶς πέδῃ.
κοὐ ταῦτα λόγχη πεδιάς, οὔθʼ ὁ γηγενὴς
στρατὸς Γιγάντων οὔτε θήρειος βία,
οὔθʼ Ἑλλὰς οὔτʼ ἄγλωσσος οὔθʼ ὅσην ἐγὼ
γαῖαν καθαίρων ἱκόμην, ἔδρασέ πω·
γυνὴ δέ, θῆλυς φῦσα κοὐκ ἀνδρὸς φύσιν,
μόνη με δὴ καθεῖλε φασγάνου δίχα.
ὦ παῖ, γενοῦ μοι παῖς ἐτήτυμος γεγώς,
καὶ μὴ τὸ μητρὸς ὄνομα πρεσβεύσῃς πλέον.
δός μοι χεροῖν σαῖν αὐτὸς ἐξ οἴκου λαβὼν
ἐς χεῖρα τὴν τεκοῦσαν, ὡς εἰδῶ σάφα
εἰ τοὐμὸν ἀλγεῖς μᾶλλον ἢ κείνης ὁρῶν
λωβητὸν εἶδος ἐν δίκῃ κακούμενον.

[¶96] Go, my son, be bold! Show your pity for me, whom many might think deserving of pity—pity me moaning and weeping like a girl! No one could say that he had ever seen this man do that before. No, always without complaint I used to pursue my troubles.

> Greek: ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τόλμησον· οἴκτιρόν τέ με
πολλοῖσιν οἰκτρόν, ὅστις ὥστε παρθένος
βέβρυχα κλαίων, καὶ τόδʼ οὐδʼ ἂν εἷς ποτε
τόνδʼ ἄνδρα φαίη πρόσθʼ ἰδεῖν δεδρακότα,
ἀλλʼ ἀστένακτος αἰὲν εἱπόμην κακοῖς.

[¶97] But now in my misery I have been found a woman, instead of the man I used to be.

> Greek: νῦν δʼ ἐκ τοιούτου θῆλυς ηὕρημαι τάλας.

[¶98] Come close, stand near your father and do examine the magnitude of the misfortune by which I suffer; for I will uncover my suffering. Look! See all of you this miserable body;
see how wretched, how pitiable I am! Ah, misery! The ruinous spasm flames again; it shoots through my sides—I must wrestle once more with that cruel, devouring plague!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ νῦν προσελθὼν στῆθι πλησίον πατρός,
σκέψαι θʼ ὁποίας ταῦτα συμφορᾶς ὕπο
πέπονθα· δείξω γὰρ τάδʼ ἐκ καλυμμάτων.
ἰδού, θεᾶσθε πάντες ἄθλιον δέμας,
ὁρᾶτε τὸν δύστηνον, ὡς οἰκτρῶς ἔχω.
αἰαῖ, ἆ τάλας,
ἔθαλψεν ἄτης σπασμὸς ἀρτίως ὅδʼ αὖ,
διῇξε πλευρῶν, οὐδʼ ἀγύμναστόν μʼ ἐᾶν
ἔοικεν ἡ τάλαινα διάβορος νόσος.

[¶99] King Hades, receive me! Strike me, O fire of Zeus! Hurl down your thunderbolt, ruler, dash it, Father, upon my head! Again the pest consumes me, it has blazed up, it has leapt to fury! O hands, my hands,
O shoulders and chest and trusty arms, you are indeed those noted arms which once subdued with your might the dweller in Nemea, the scourge of herdsmen, the lion, a creature that no man might approach or confront; you tamed the Lernaean Hydra,
and that monstrous army of beasts with double form, hostile, going on hoofed feet, violent, lawless, of surpassing violence; you tamed the beast in Erymanthia, and underground the three-headed whelp of Hades, a resistless terror, offspring of the fierce Echidna; you tamed the dragon
that guarded the golden fruit in the farthest places of the earth. These toils and thousands more have I tasted, and no man has ever erected a trophy of victory over my hands. But now, with joints unhinged and with flesh torn to shreds, I have become the miserable spoil of an unseen destroyer,
—I, who am called the son of noblest mother, I, who am reputed the seed of Zeus, lord of the starry sky. But you may be sure of one thing: though I am nothing, though I cannot move a step, yet she who has done this deed shall feel my heavy hand even so. Let her but come to me
so that she may learn to proclaim this message to all the world, that in my death, as in my life, I punished the guilty!

> Greek: ὦναξ Ἀίδη, δέξαι μʼ,
ὦ Διὸς ἀκτίς, παῖσον,
ἔνσεισον, ὦναξ, ἐγκατάσκηψον βέλος,
πάτερ, κεραυνοῦ· δαίνυται γὰρ αὖ πάλιν,
ἤνθηκεν, ἐξωρμήκεν. ὦ χέρες χέρες,
ὦ νῶτα καὶ στέρνʼ, ὦ φίλοι βραχίονες,
ὑμεῖς δὲ κεῖνοι δὴ καθέσταθʼ, οἵ ποτε
Νεμέας ἔνοικον, βουκόλων ἀλάστορα
λέοντʼ, ἄπλατον θρέμμα κἀπροσήγορον,
βίᾳ κατειργάσασθε, Λερναίαν θʼ ὕδραν,
διφυῆ τʼ ἄμικτον ἱπποβάμονα στρατὸν
θηρῶν, ὑβριστὴν ἄνομον, ὑπέροχον βίαν,
Ἐρυμάνθιόν τε θῆρα, τόν θʼ ὑπὸ χθονὸς
Ἅιδου τρίκρανον σκύλακʼ, ἀπρόσμαχον τέρας,
δεινῆς Ἐχίδνης θρέμμα, τόν τε χρυσέων
δράκοντα μήλων φύλακʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτοις τόποις.
ἄλλων τε μόχθων μυρίων ἐγευσάμην,
κοὐδεὶς τροπαῖʼ ἔστησε τῶν ἐμῶν χερῶν.
νῦν δʼ ὧδʼ ἄναρθρος καὶ κατερρακωμένος
τυφλῆς ὑπʼ ἄτης ἐκπεπόρθημαι τάλας,
ὁ τῆς ἀρίστης μητρὸς ὠνομασμένος,
ὁ τοῦ κατʼ ἄστρα Ζηνὸς αὐδηθεὶς γόνος.
ἀλλʼ εὖ γέ τοι τόδʼ ἴστε, κἂν τὸ μηδὲν ὦ
κἂν μηδὲν ἕρπω, τήν γε δράσασαν τάδε
χειρώσομαι κἀκ τῶνδε· προσμόλοι μόνον,
ἵνʼ ἐκδιδαχθῇ πᾶσιν ἀγγέλλειν ὅτι
καὶ ζῶν κακούς γε καὶ θανὼν ἐτισάμην.

[¶100] Chorus:
Ah, unhappy Greece, what mourning do I foresee for her, if she is cheated of this man!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλλάς, πένθος οἷον εἰσορῶ
ἕξουσαν, ἀνδρὸς τοῦδέ γʼ εἰ σφαλήσεται.

[¶101] Hyllus:
Father, since your pause permits an answer,
hear me, diseased though you are; I will ask you for no more than is my due. Give yourself to me in a mood not as harsh as that to which your heart is now stung. Otherwise you cannot learn in what circumstances you wrongly wish to triumph and wrongly show resentment.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἐπεὶ παρέσχες ἀντιφωνῆσαι, πάτερ,
σιγὴν παρασχὼν κλῦθί μου, νοσῶν ὅμως·
αἰτήσομαι γάρ σʼ ὧν δίκαια τυγχάνειν.
δός μοι σεαυτόν, μὴ τοσοῦτον ὡς δάκνει
θυμῷ δύσοργος· οὐ γὰρ ἂν γνοίης ἐν οἷς
χαίρειν προθυμεῖ κἀν ὅτοις ἀλγεῖς μάτην.

[¶102] Heracles:
Stop when you have said what it is you desire. In this pain of mine I understand none of your many riddles.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἰπὼν ὃ χρῄζεις λῆξον· ὡς ἐγὼ νοσῶν
οὐδὲν ξυνίημʼ ὧν σὺ ποικίλλεις πάλαι.

[¶103] Hyllus:
I come to tell you of my mother—her present circumstances and how she erred unknowingly.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
τῆς μητρὸς ἥκω τῆς ἐμῆς φράσων ἐν οἷς
νῦν ἐστιν ὥς θʼ ἥμαρτεν οὐχ ἑκουσία.

[¶104] Heracles:
You corrupt thing! Have you indeed mentioned her name again,
the name, “Mother, Murderess of Father,” in my hearing?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ παγκάκιστε, καὶ παρεμνήσω γὰρ αὖ
τῆς πατροφόντου μητρός, ὡς κλύειν ἐμέ;

[¶105] Hyllus:
Yes, for her condition is such that my silence shames me.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἔχει γὰρ οὕτως ὥστε μὴ σιγᾶν πρέπειν.

[¶106] Heracles:
No, it does not shame you, when you consider her past crimes.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ δῆτα τοῖς γε πρόσθεν ἡμαρτημένοις.

[¶107] Hyllus:
You will not say so, at least in view of her deeds today.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὲν δὴ τοῖς γʼ ἐφʼ ἡμέραν ἐρεῖς.

[¶108] Heracles:
Speak—but take care that you not be found corrupt.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
λέγʼ, εὐλαβοῦ δὲ μὴ φανῇς κακὸς γεγώς.

[¶109] Hyllus:
I will speak. She is just now dead, a new murder.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
λέγω· τέθνηκεν ἀρτίως νεοσφαγής.

[¶110] Heracles:
By whose hand? Your sinister words give a prophecy of wonder!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πρὸς τοῦ; τέρας τοι διὰ κακῶν ἐθέσπισας.

[¶111] Hyllus:
She did it by her own hand, and no other’s.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτῆς, οὐδενὸς πρὸς ἐκτόπου.

[¶112] Heracles:
Ah, no! Before she died by mine as she deserved!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἴμοι· πρὶν ὡς χρῆν σφʼ ἐξ ἐμῆς θανεῖν χερός;

[¶113] Hyllus:
Even your rage would be deflected, if you would learn the whole of it.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
κἂν σοῦ στραφείη θυμός, εἰ τὸ πᾶν μάθοις.

[¶114] Heracles:
Your tale begins strangely, but tell me what you mean.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
δεινοῦ λόγου κατῆρξας· εἰπὲ δʼ ᾗ νοεῖς.

[¶115] Hyllus:
The sum is this: she did wrong, but with a good intent.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἅπαν τὸ χρῆμʼ, ἥμαρτε χρηστὰ μωμένη.

[¶116] Heracles:
Did she do a good deed, corrupt traitor, when she killed your father?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
χρήστʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, πατέρα σὸν κτείνασα δρᾷ;

[¶117] Hyllus:
No, her plan was to apply a love-charm for your heart, when she saw your new marriage inside the house, but she missed her aim.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
στέργημα γὰρ δοκοῦσα προσβαλεῖν σέθεν
ἀπήμπλαχʼ, ὡς προσεῖδε τοὺς ἔνδον γάμους.

[¶118] Heracles:
And what Trachinian is so potent a charmer?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ τίς τοσοῦτος φαρμακεὺς Τραχινίων;

[¶119] Hyllus:
Nessus the Centaur persuaded her long ago to inflame your desire with such a potion.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
Νέσσος πάλαι Κένταυρος ἐξέπεισέ νιν
τοιῷδε φίλτρῳ τὸν σὸν ἐκμῆναι πόθον.

[¶120] Heracles:
Ah! Ah, misery! I am lost, ruined, ruined! The light of day exists for me no more!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ δύστηνος, οἴχομαι τάλας·
ὄλωλʼ ὄλωλα, φέγγος οὐκέτʼ ἔστι μοι.

[¶121] Ah, now I understand the depth of my misfortune! Go, my son! Your father is no more. Summon for me all the crop of your brothers. Summon, too, poor Alcmena, in vain the bedfellow of Zeus, so that
you may hear my final words tell what oracles I know.

> Greek: οἴμοι, φρονῶ δὴ ξυμφορᾶς ἵνʼ ἕσταμεν.
ἴθʼ, ὦ τέκνον, πατὴρ γὰρ οὐκέτʼ ἔστι σοι·
κάλει τὸ πᾶν μοι σπέρμα σῶν ὁμαιμόνων,
κάλει δὲ τὴν τάλαιναν Ἀλκμήνην, Διὸς
μάτην ἄκοιτιν, ὡς τελευταίαν ἐμοῦ
φήμην πύθησθε θεσφάτων ὅσʼ οἶδʼ ἐγώ.

[¶122] Hyllus:
I cannot. Your mother is not here. It happens that she keeps her home at Tiryns by the sea. Some of your children she has taken to raise with her there, and others, you will find, are dwelling in Thebes.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ οὔτε μήτηρ ἐνθάδʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐπακτίᾳ
Τίρυνθι συμβέβηκεν ὥστʼ ἔχειν ἕδραν.
παίδων δὲ τοὺς μὲν ξυλλαβοῦσʼ αὐτὴ τρέφει,
τοὺς δʼ ἂν τὸ Θήβης ἄστυ ναίοντας μάθοις·

[¶123] But we who are with you, Father, will render at your command all service that is needed.

> Greek: ἡμεῖς δʼ ὅσοι πάρεσμεν, εἴ τι χρή, πάτερ,
πράσσειν, κλύοντες ἐξυπηρετήσομεν.

[¶124] Heracles:
Hear, then, your task. You have come to where you will reveal what sort of man you are, who are called my son. It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would
perish by no creature that had the breath of life, but by one already dead, a dweller with Hades. So this savage Centaur in death has killed me alive, just as the divine will had been foretold. And I will show you how
later oracles tally with the first and testify to the old prophecy. I wrote them down for myself from the mouth of my father’s oak of many tongues in the grove of the Selli, who dwell on the hills and sleep on the ground. The tree said that, at the time which lives and now is,
my release from the toils laid upon me would be accomplished. And I expected prosperous days, but the meaning, it seems, was only that I would die. For toil comes no more to the dead. Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their fulfillment,
you, on your part, must fight on my behalf. You must not delay, and so sharpen my tongue, but give your consent to work with me, like one who has discovered that best of laws, the law of obedience to your father.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
σὺ δʼ οὖν ἄκουε τοὔργον· ἐξήκεις δʼ ἵνα
φανεῖς ὁποῖος ὢν ἀνὴρ ἐμὸς καλεῖ.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἦν πρόφαντον ἐκ πατρὸς πάλαι,
τῶν ἐμπνεόντων μηδενὸς θανεῖν ὕπο,
ἀλλʼ ὅστις Ἅιδου φθίμενος οἰκήτωρ πέλοι.
ὅδʼ οὖν ὁ θὴρ Κένταυρος, ὡς τὸ θεῖον ἦν
πρόφαντον, οὕτω ζῶντά μʼ ἔκτεινεν θανών.
φανῶ δʼ ἐγὼ τούτοισι συμβαίνοντʼ ἴσα
μαντεῖα καινά, τοῖς πάλαι ξυνήγορα,
ἃ τῶν ὀρείων καὶ χαμαικοιτῶν ἐγὼ
Σελλῶν ἐσελθὼν ἄλσος εἰσεγραψάμην
πρὸς τῆς πατρῴας καὶ πολυγλώσσου δρυός,
ἥ μοι χρόνῳ τῷ ζῶντι καὶ παρόντι νῦν
ἔφασκε μόχθων τῶν ἐφεστώτων ἐμοὶ
λύσιν τελεῖσθαι· κἀδόκουν πράξειν καλῶς.
τὸ δʼ ἦν ἄρʼ οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν θανεῖν ἐμέ.
τοῖς γὰρ θανοῦσι μόχθος οὐ προσγίγνεται.
ταῦτʼ οὖν ἐπειδὴ λαμπρὰ συμβαίνει, τέκνον,
δεῖ σʼ αὖ γενέσθαι τῷδε τἀνδρὶ σύμμαχον
καὶ μὴ ʼπιμεῖναι τοὐμὸν ὀξῦναι στόμα,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν εἰκαθόντα συμπράσσειν, νόμον
κάλλιστον ἐξευρόντα, πειθαρχεῖν πατρί.

[¶125] Hyllus:
Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk
I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν
τοιάνδʼ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δʼ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.

[¶126] Heracles:
First of all, put your right hand in mine.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι·

[¶127] Hyllus:
With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδʼ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις;

[¶128] Heracles:
Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδʼ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

[¶129] Hyllus:
Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

[¶130] Heracles:
Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὄμνυ Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα,

[¶131] Hyllus:
To do what deed? May this also be revealed?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἦ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδʼ ἐξειρήσεται;

[¶132] Heracles:
To perform for me the task that I shall impose.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἦ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

[¶133] Hyllus:
I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὄμνυμʼ ἔγωγε, Ζῆνʼ ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

[¶134] Heracles:
And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἰ δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

[¶135] Hyllus:
I shall not suffer, since I will keep it. Yet so I pray.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ· εὔχομαι δʼ ὅμως·

[¶136] Heracles:
Good, then do you know the summit of Oeta, Zeus’s sacred mountain?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἶσθʼ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον;

[¶137] Hyllus:
I know it. I have often stood on that height to sacrifice.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οἶδʼ, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

[¶138] Heracles:
Then, you must carry my body there after raising it up in your own hands, aided by as many of our friends as you require;

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐνταῦθά νυν χρὴ τοὐμὸν ἐξάραντά σε
σῶμʼ αὐτόχειρα καὶ ξὺν οἷς χρῄζεις φίλων.

[¶139] and when you have cut many a branch from the deep-rooted oak and chopped down many a sturdy wild-olive, you must lay my body on them and with a flaming pine-torch burn it. And let no tear of mourning show itself there.
No, do this without laments or tears, if you are indeed my son. But if you fail to do this, even from the world below my curse and my wrath shall await you for ever.

> Greek: πολλὴν μὲν ὕλην τῆς βαθυρρίζου δρυὸς
κείραντα, πολλὸν δʼ ἄρσενʼ ἐκτεμόνθʼ ὁμοῦ
ἄγριον ἔλαιον, σῶμα τοὐμὸν ἐμβαλεῖν,
καὶ πευκίνης λαβόντα λαμπάδος σέλας
πρῆσαι. γόου δὲ μηδὲν εἰσίτω δάκρυ,
ἀλλʼ ἀστένακτος κἀδάκρυτος, εἴπερ εἶ
τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, ἔρξον· εἰ δὲ μή, μενῶ σʼ ἐγὼ
καὶ νέρθεν ὢν ἀραῖος εἰσαεὶ βαρύς.

[¶140] Hyllus:
Ah, Father, what have you said? What you have done to me!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οἴμοι, πάτερ, τί δʼ εἶπας; οἷά μʼ εἴργασαι.

[¶141] Heracles:
I have spoken that which you must perform. If you refuse,
then get yourself some other father, and be called my son no longer!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὁποῖα δραστέʼ ἐστίν· εἰ δὲ μή, πατρὸς
ἄλλου γενοῦ του μηδʼ ἐμὸς κληθῇς ἔτι.

[¶142] Hyllus:
Ah, me! What deeds you call on me to do, Father—that I should become your murderer, polluted with your blood!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οἴμοι μάλʼ αὖθις, οἷά μʼ ἐκκαλεῖ, πάτερ,
φονέα γενέσθαι καὶ παλαμναῖον σέθεν.

[¶143] Heracles:
Not so, in truth, but healer of my sufferings, sole physician of my pain!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ ὧν ἔχω παιώνιον
καὶ μοῦνον ἰατῆρα τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν.

[¶144] Hyllus:
And how, by inflaming your body, shall I heal it?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
καὶ πῶς ὑπαίθων σῶμʼ ἂν ἰῴμην τὸ σόν;

[¶145] Heracles:
If your fear keeps you from this one task, at least perform the rest.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀλλʼ εἰ φοβεῖ πρὸς τοῦτο, τἄλλα γʼ ἔργασαι.

[¶146] Hyllus:
The service of carrying you will not be refused.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
φορᾶς γέ τοι φθόνησις οὐ γενήσεται.

[¶147] Heracles:
And the heaping of the pyre which I have ordered?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἦ καὶ πυρᾶς πλήρωμα τῆς εἰρημένης;

[¶148] Hyllus:
Yes, except that I will not touch fire to it with my own hands.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὅσον γʼ ἂν αὐτὸς μὴ ποτιψαύων χεροῖν·

[¶149] All else will I do, and you will have no hindrance on my part.

> Greek: τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πράξω κοὐ καμεῖ τοὐμὸν μέρος.

[¶150] Heracles:
Well, that much will be enough—yet add one small favor to your large benefits.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀλλʼ ἀρκέσει καὶ ταῦτα· πρόσνειμαι δέ μοι
χάριν βραχεῖαν πρὸς μακροῖς ἄλλοις διδούς.

[¶151] Hyllus:
Even if it is tremendously large, it will be done.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
εἰ καὶ μακρὰ κάρτʼ ἐστίν, ἐργασθήσεται.

[¶152] Heracles:
Do you know, then, the maiden, daughter of Eurytus?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τὴν Εὐρυτείαν οἶσθα δῆτα παρθένον;

[¶153] Hyllus:
You mean Iole, I would guess.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
Ἰόλην ἔλεξας, ὥς γʼ ἐπεικάζειν ἐμέ.

[¶154] Heracles:
You know her. Just this is the command that I impose upon you, my son: when I am dead, if you wish to show your piety by remembrance of your oath to your father, make this woman your wife and do not disobey your father.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἔγνως. τοσοῦτον δή σʼ ἐπισκήπτω, τέκνον·
ταύτην ἐμοῦ θανόντος, εἴπερ εὐσεβεῖν
βούλει, πατρῴων ὁρκίων μεμνημένος,
προσθοῦ δάμαρτα, μηδʼ ἀπιστήσῃς πατρί·

[¶155] Let no other but you take her who has lain close at my side. You, my son, make that marriage-bond your own. Obey; for although you were obedient in great affairs, your disobedience in small ones cancels the gratitude already won.

> Greek: μηδʼ ἄλλος ἀνδρῶν τοῖς ἐμοῖς πλευροῖς ὁμοῦ
κλιθεῖσαν αὐτὴν ἀντὶ σοῦ λάβῃ ποτέ,
ἀλλʼ αὐτός, ὦ παῖ, τοῦτο κήδευσον λέχος.
πείθου· τὸ γάρ τοι μεγάλα πιστεύσαντʼ ἐμοὶ
σμικροῖς ἀπιστεῖν τὴν πάρος συγχεῖ χάριν.

[¶156] Hyllus:
Ah, me, it is wrong to be angry with a sick man, but who could bear to see him have thoughts like these?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
οἴμοι· τὸ μὲν νοσοῦντι θυμοῦσθαι κακόν,
τὸ δʼ ὧδʼ ὁρᾶν φρονοῦντα τίς ποτʼ ἂν φέροι;

[¶157] Heracles:
Your words show no willingness to do as I say.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὡς ἐργασείων οὐδὲν ὧν λέγω θροεῖς.

[¶158] Hyllus:
Who on earth would, when she alone is to blame for my mother’s death, and for your present condition besides?
Who would choose to do so, unless he were infected by avenging fiends? It would be better, Father, that I also die, rather than live united with those whom I most detest!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
τίς γάρ ποθʼ, ἥ μοι μητρὶ μὲν θανεῖν μόνη
μεταίτιος σοί τʼ αὖθις ὡς ἔχεις ἔχειν,
τίς ταῦτʼ ἄν, ὅστις μὴ ʼξ ἀλαστόρων νοσοῖ,
ἕλοιτο; κρεῖσσον κἀμέ γʼ, ὦ πάτερ, θανεῖν
ἢ τοῖσιν ἐχθίστοισι συνναίειν ὁμοῦ.

[¶159] Heracles:
The man will render no due respect, it seems, to my dying prayer. No, be sure that the curse of the gods
will await you for disobeying my commands.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐ νεμεῖν ἐμοὶ
φθίνοντι μοῖραν· ἀλλά τοι θεῶν ἀρὰ
μενεῖ σʼ ἀπιστήσαντα τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις.

[¶160] Hyllus:
Ah, you will soon show, it seems, how diseased you are!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ὤμοι, τάχʼ, ὡς ἔοικας, ὡς νοσεῖς φράσεις.

[¶161] Heracles:
Yes, for you stir me from my slumbering plague.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
σὺ γάρ μʼ ἀπʼ εὐνασθέντος ἐκκινεῖς κακοῦ.

[¶162] Hyllus:
I am miserable! I have no way out of so many dilemmas!

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
δείλαιος, ὡς ἐς πολλὰ τἀπορεῖν ἔχω.

[¶163] Heracles:
Yes, since you think it wrong to obey your begetter.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ γὰρ δικαιοῖς τοῦ φυτεύσαντος κλύειν.

[¶164] Hyllus:
But must I then learn to be unholy, Father?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ ἐκδιδαχθῶ δῆτα δυσσεβεῖν, πάτερ;

[¶165] Heracles:
It is not unholy, if you gladden my heart.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ δυσσέβεια, τοὐμὸν εἰ τέρψεις κέαρ.

[¶166] Hyllus:
Do you, then, command me to do this as a clear duty?

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
πράσσειν ἄνωγας οὖν με πανδίκως τάδε;

[¶167] Heracles:
I do, and I call on the gods to bear me witness!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἔγωγε· τούτων μάρτυρας καλῶ θεούς.

[¶168] Hyllus:
Then I will do it, and not refuse,
—calling upon the gods to witness your deed. I can never be condemned for obeying you, Father.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
τοιγὰρ ποήσω κοὐκ ἀπώσομαι, τὸ σὸν
θεοῖσι δεικνὺς ἔργον· οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτε
κακὸς φανείην σοί γε πιστεύσας, πάτερ.

[¶169] Heracles:
Your words make a fair ending, and to them, my son, quickly add the gracious deed itself, so that you may place me on the pyre before any pain returns to tear or sting me.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καλῶς τελευτᾷς, κἀπὶ τοῖσδε τὴν χάριν
ταχεῖαν, ὦ παῖ, πρόσθες, ὡς πρὶν ἐμπεσεῖν
σπαραγμὸν ἤ τινʼ οἶστρον, ἐς πυράν με θῇς.

[¶170] Come, make haste and lift me! This, in truth, is rest from troubles, this is the end, the last end, of Heracles!

> Greek: ἄγʼ ἐγκονεῖτʼ, αἴρεσθε· παῦλά τοι κακῶν
αὕτη, τελευτὴ τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ὑστάτη.

[¶171] Hyllus:
Nothing hinders the fulfillment of your wish, since your commandment strongly compels me, Father.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν εἴργει σοὶ τελειοῦσθαι τάδε,
ἐπεὶ κελεύεις κἀξαναγκάζεις, πάτερ.

[¶172] Heracles:
Come, then, before you awaken this
plague, O my hardened soul, give me a bit of steel to bind my lips like stone to stone! Stop any cry, since the task you accomplish, though by constraint, gives cause for joy.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἄγε νυν, πρὶν τήνδʼ ἀνακινῆσαι
νόσον, ὦ ψυχὴ σκληρά, χάλυβος
λιθοκόλλητον στόμιον παρέχουσʼ,
ἀνάπαυε βοήν, ὡς ἐπίχαρτον
τελέουσʼ ἀεκούσιον ἔργον.

[¶173] Hyllus:
Lift him, attendants!
Grant me ample forgiveness for this, but also recall the great cruelty of the gods in the deeds that are being done. They beget children and are hailed as fathers, and yet they can let such sufferings pass before their eyes.

> Greek: Ὕλλος:
αἴρετʼ, ὀπαδοί, μεγάλην μὲν ἐμοὶ
τούτων θέμενοι συγγνωμοσύνην,
μεγάλην δὲ θεῶν ἀγνωμοσύνην
εἰδότες ἔργων τῶν πρασσομένων,
οἳ φύσαντες καὶ κλῃζόμενοι
πατέρες τοιαῦτʼ ἐφορῶσι πάθη.

[¶174] No man foresees the future; the present is full of mourning for us, and of shame for the powers above, and indeed of hardship beyond compare for him who endures this disaster.
To the Leader of the Chorus.

> Greek: τὰ μὲν οὖν μέλλοντʼ οὐδεὶς ἐφορᾷ,
τὰ δὲ νῦν ἑστῶτʼ οἰκτρὰ μὲν ἡμῖν,
αἰσχρὰ δʼ ἐκείνοις,
χαλεπώτατα δʼ οὖν ἀνδρῶν πάντων
τῷ τήνδʼ ἄτην ὑπέχοντι.

[¶175] And you, maiden, do not be left at the house. You have seen immense, shocking death, with sorrows great in number and strange. And in all of them there is nothing that is not Zeus.

> Greek: λείπου μηδὲ σύ, παρθένʼ, ἀπʼ οἴκων,
μεγάλους μὲν ἰδοῦσα νέους θανάτους,
πολλὰ δὲ πήματα καὶ καινοπαθῆ,
κοὐδὲν τούτων ὅ τι μὴ Ζεύς.