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himself by a solemn oath that he would one day enslave； with wife
and child； the man who had brought that calamity upon him。 Nor did
he speak the word in vain； but； when he bad been purged； gathered an
alien host； and went against the city of Eurytus。 That man； he said；
alone of mortals； had a share in causing his misfortune。 For when
Heracles； an old friend； came to his house and hearth； Eurytus
heaped on him the taunts of a bitter tongue and spiteful soul；…
saying； 'Thou hast unerring arrows in thy hands； and yet my sons
surpass thee in the trial of archery'； 'Thou art a slave；' he cried；
'a free man's broken thrall'： and at a banquet； when his guest was
full of wine； he thrust him from his doors。
Wroth thereat； when afterward Iphitus came to the hill of
Tiryns； in search for horses that had strayed； Heracles seized a
moment when the man's wandering thoughts went not with his wandering
gaze； and hurled him from a tower…like summit。 But in anger at that
deed； Zeus our lord； Olympian sire of all； sent him forth into
bondage； and spared not； because； this once； he had taken a life by
guile。 Had he wreaked his vengeance openly； Zeus would surely have
pardoned him the righteous triumph； for the gods； too； love not
insolence。
So those men； who waxed so proud with bitter speech； are
themselves in the mansions of the dead； all of them； and their city is
enslaved； while the women whom thou beholdest； fallen from happiness
to misery； come here to thee； for such was thy lord's command； which
I； his faithful servant； perform。 He himself； thou mayest be sure；… so
soon as he shall have offered holy sacrifice for his victory to Zeus
from whom he sprang；… will be with thee。 After all the fair tidings
that have been told； this； indeed； is the sweetest word to hear。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Now； O Queen； thy joy is assured； part is with thee； and thou hast
promise of the rest。
DEIANEIRA
Yea； have I not the fullest reason to rejoice at these tidings
of my lord's happy fortune？ To such fortune； such joy must needs
respond。 And yet a prudent mind can see room for misgiving lest he who
prospers should one day suffer reverse。 A strange pity hath come
over me； friends； at the sight of these ill…fated exiles； homeless and
fatherless in a foreign land； once the daughters； perchance； of
free…born sires； but now doomed to the life of slaves。 O Zeus； who
turnest the tide of battle； never may I see child of mine thus visited
by thy hand； nay； if such visitation is to be； may it not fall while
Deianeira lives！ Such dread do I feel； beholding these。
（To IOLE） Ah； hapless girl； say； who art thou？ A maiden； or a
mother？ To judge by thine aspect； an innocent maiden； and of a noble
race。 Lichas； whose daughter is this stranger？ Who is her mother；
who her sire？ Speak； I pity her more than all the rest； when I
behold her； as she alone shows due feeling for her plight。
LICHAS
How should I know？ Why should'st thou ask me？ Perchance the off；
spring of not the meanest in yonder land。
DEIANEIRA
Can she be of royal race？ Had Eurytus a daughter？
LICHAS
I know not； indeed； I asked not many questions。
DEIANEIRA
And thou hast not heard her name from any of her companions？
LICHAS
No； indeed； I went through my task in silence。
DEIANEIRA
Unhappy girl； let me； at least； hear it from thine own mouth。 It
is indeed distressing not to know thy name。
（IOLE maintains her silence。）
LICHAS
It will be unlike her former behaviour； then； I can tell thee；
if she opens her lips： for she hath not uttered one word； but hath
ever been travailing with the burden of her sorrow； and weeping
bitterly； poor girl； since she left her wind…swept home。 Such a
state is grievous for herself； but claims our forbearance。
DEIANEIRA
Then let her be left in peace； and pass under our roof as she
wishes； her present woes must not be crowned with fresh pains at my
hands； she hath enough already。…Now let us all go in； that thou mayest
start speedily on thy journey； while I make all things ready in the
house。
（LICHAS leads the captives into the house。 DEIANEIRA starts to
follow them； but the MESSENGER； who has been present during the entire
scene； detains her。 He speaks as he moves nearer to her。）
MESSENGER
Ay； but first tarry here a brief space； that thou mayest learn；
apart from yonder folk； whom thou art taking to thy hearth； and mayest
gain the needful knowledge of things which have not been told to thee。
Of these I am in full possession。
DEIANEIRA
What means this？ Why wouldest thou stay my departure？
MESSENGER
Pause and listen。 My former story was worth thy hearing； and so
will this one be； methinks。
DEIANEIRA
Shall I call those others back？ Or wilt thou speak before me and
these maidens？
MESSENGER
To thee and these I can speak freely； never mind the others。
DEIANEIRA
Well； they are gone；… so thy story can proceed。
MESSENGER
Yonder man was not speaking the straight…forward truth in aught
that he has just told。 He has given false tidings now； or else his
former report was dishonest。
DEIANEIRA
How sayest thou？ Explain thy whole drift clearly； thus far； thy
words are riddles to me。
MESSENGER
I heard this man declare； before many witnesses； that for this
maiden's sake Heracles overthrew Eurytus and the proud towers of
Oechalia； Love； alone of the gods； wrought on him to do those deeds of
arms；… not the toilsome servitude to Omphale in Lydia； nor the death
to which Iphitus was hurled。 But now the herald has thrust Love out of
sight； and tells different tale。
Well； when he could not persuade her sire to give him the maiden
for his paramour； he devised some petty complaint as a pretext； and
made war upon her land；… that in which； as he said； this Eurytus
bore sway；… and slew the prince her father； and sacked her city。 And
now； as thou seest； he comes sending her to this house not in careless
fashion； lady； nor like slave：…no； dream not of that；… it is not
likely； if his heart is kindled with desire。
I resolved； therefore； O Queen； to tell thee all that I had
heard from yonder man。 Many others were listening to it； as I was；
in the public place where the Trachinians were assembled； and they can
convict him。 If my words are unwelcome； I am grieved； but nevertheless
I have spoken out the truth。
DEIANEIRA
Ah me unhappy！ In what plight do I stand？ What secret bane have
received beneath my roof？ Hapless that I am！ Is she nameless； then； as
her convoy sware？
MESSENGER
Nay； illustrious by name as by birth； she is the daughter of
Eurytus； and was once called Iole； she of whose parentage Lichas could
say nothing； because； forsooth； he asked no questions。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Accursed； above other evil…doers； be the man whom deeds of
treachery di