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preserving him； nor would father Zeus ever suffer me or Hera to harm
him。 But now that he hath accomplished the labours of Eurystheus； Hera
is minded to brand him with the guilt of shedding kindred blood by
slaying his own children； and I am one with her。 Come then； maid
unwed； child of murky Night； harden thy heart relentlessly； send forth
frenzy upon him； confound his mind even to the slaying of his
children； drive him； goad him wildly on his mad career； shake out
the sails of death； that when he has sent o'er Acheron's ferry that
fair group of children by his own murderous hand； he may learn to know
how fiercely against him the wrath of Hera burns and may also
experience mine； otherwise； if he escape punishment； the gods will
become as naught； while man's power will grow。
MADNESS
Of noble parents was I born； the daughter of Night； sprung from
the blood of Uranus； and these prerogatives I hold； not to use them in
anger against friends； nor have I any joy in visiting the homes of
men； and fain would I counsel Hera； before I see her err； and thee
too； if ye will hearken to my words。 This man； against whose house
thou art sending me； has made himself a name alike in heaven and
earth； for； after taming pathless wilds and raging sea； he by his
single might raised up again the honours of the gods when sinking
before man's impiety； wherefore I counsel thee； do not wish him dire
mishaps。
IRIS
Spare us thy advice on Hera's and my schemes。
MADNESS
I seek to turn thy steps into the best path instead of into this
one of evil。
IRIS
'Twas not to practice self…control that the wife of Zeus sent thee
hither。
MADNESS
I call the sun…god to witness that herein I am acting against my
will； but if indeed I must forthwith serve thee and Hera and follow
you in full cry as hounds follow the huntsman； why go I will； nor
shall ocean with its moaning waves； nor the earthquake； nor the
thunderbolt with blast of agony be half so furious as the headlong
rush I will make into the breast of Heracles； through his roof will
I burst my way and swoop upon his house； after first slaying his
children； nor shall their murderer know that he is killing his
own…begotten babes； till he is released from my madness。 Behold him！
see how even now he is wildly tossing his head at the outset； and
rolling his eyes fiercely from side to side without word； nor can he
control his panting breath； but like a bull in act to charge； he
bellows fearfully； calling on the goddesses of nether hell。 Soon
will I rouse thee to yet wilder dancing and sound a note of terror
in thine ear。 Soar away； O Iris； to Olympus on thy honoured course；
while I unseen will steal into the halls of Heracles。
（IRIS and MADNESS vanish。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Alas！ alas！ lament； O city； the son of Zeus； thy fairest bloom； is
being cut down。
Woe is thee； Hellas！ that wilt cast from thee thy benefactor；
and destroy him as he madly； wildly dances where no pipe is heard。
She is mounted on her car； the queen of sorrow and sighing； and is
goading on her steeds； as if for outrage； the Gorgon child of Night；
with hundred hissing serpent…heads； Madness of the flashing eyes。
Soon hath the god changed his good fortune； soon will his children
breathe their last； slain by a father's hand。
Ah me！ alas！ soon will vengeance； mad； relentless； lay low by
cruel death thy unhappy son； O Zeus； exacting a full penalty。
Alas； O house！ the fiend begins her dance of death without the
cymbal's crash； with no glad waving of the wine…god's staff。
Woe to these halls toward bloodshed she moves； and not to pour
libations of the juice of the grape。
O children； haste to fly； that is the chant of death her piping
plays。
Ah； yes！ he is chasing the children。 Never； ah！ never will Madness
lead her revel rout in vain。
Ah misery！
Ah me！ how I lament that aged sire； that mother too that bore
his babes in vain。
Look！ look！
A tempest rocks the house； the roof is falling with it。
Oh！ what art thou doing； son of Zeus？
Thou art sending hell's confusion against thy house； as erst did
Pallas on Enceladus。
（A MESSENGER enters from the palace。）
MESSENGER
Ye hoary men of eld！
CHORUS
Why； oh！ why this loud address to me？
MESSENGER
Awful is the sight within！
CHORUS
No need for me to call another to announce that。
MESSENGER
Dead lie the children。
CHORUS
Alas！
MESSENGER
Ah weep！ for here is cause for weeping。
CHORUS
A cruel murder； wrought by parents' hands！
MESSENGER
No words can utter more than we have suffered。
CHORUS
What； canst thou prove this piteous ruin was a father's outrage on
his children？ Tell me how these heaven…sent woes came rushing on the
house； say how the children met their sad mischance。
MESSENGER
Victims to purify the house were stationed before the altar of
Zeus； for Heracles had slain and cast from his halls the king of the
land。 There stood his group of lovely children； with his sire and
Megara； and already the basket was being passed round the altar； and
we were keeping holy silence。 But just as Alcmena's son was bringing
the torch in his right hand to dip it in the holy water； he stopped
without a word。 And as their father lingered； his children looked at
him； and lo！ he was changed； his eyes were rolling； he was distraught；
his eyeballs were bloodshot and starting from their sockets； and
foam was oozing down his bearded cheek。 Anon he spoke； laughing the
while a madman's laugh； 〃Father； why should I sacrifice before I
have slain Eurystheus； why kindle the purifying flame and have the
toil twice over； when I might at one stroke so fairly end it all？ Soon
as I have brought the head of Eurystheus hither； I will cleanse my
hands for those already slain。 Spill the water； cast the baskets
from your hands。 Ho！ give me now my bow and club！ To famed Mycenae
will I go； crow…bars and pick…axes must I take； for I will heave
from their very base with iron levers those city…walls which the
Cyclopes squared with red plumb…line and mason's tools。〃
Then he set out； and though he had no chariot there； he thought he
had； and was for mounting to its seat； and using a goad as though
his fingers really held one。 A twofold feeling filled his servants'
breasts； half amusement； and half fear； and one looking to his
neighbour said； 〃Is our master making sport for us； or is he mad？〃 But
he the while was pacing to and fro in his house； and； rushing into the
men's chamber； he thought he had reached the city of Nisus； albeit
he had gone into his own halls。 So he threw himself upon the floor； as
if he were there； and made ready to feast。 But after waiting a brief
space he began saying he was on his way to the plains amid the valleys
of the Isthmus； and then stripping himself of his mantle； he fell to
competing with an imaginary rival； o'er whom he proclaimed himself
victor with his own voice； calling on imaginary spectators to
listen。 Next； fancy carrying him to Mycenae； he was uttering fearful
threats agains