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LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Accursed； above other evil…doers； be the man whom deeds of
treachery dishonour！
DEIANEIRA
Ah； maidens； what am I to do？ These latest tidings have bewildered
me！
LEADER
Go and inquire from Lichas； perchance he will tell the truth； if
thou constrain him to answer。
DEIANEIRA
Well； I will go； thy counsel is not amiss。
MESSENGER
And I； shall I wait here？ Or what is thy pleasure？
DEIANEIRA
Remain；… here he comes from the house of his own accord； without
summons from me。
（Enter LICHAS）
LICHAS
Lady； what message shall I bear to Heracles？ Give me thy commands；
for； as thou seest； I am going。
DEIANEIRA
How hastily thou art rushing away； when thy visit had been so long
delayed；… before we have had time for further talk。
LICHAS
Nay； if there be aught that thou would'st ask； I am at thy
service。
DEIANEIRA
Wilt thou indeed give me the honest truth？
LICHAS
Yes； be great Zeus my witness；… in anything that I know；
DEIANEIRA
Who is the woman； then； whom thou hast brought？
LICHAS
She is Euboean； but of what birth； I cannot say。
MESSENGER
Sirrah； look at me：… to whom art thou speaking； think'st thou？
LICHAS
And thou… what dost thou mean by such a question？
MESSENGER
Deign to answer me； if thou comprehendest。
LICHAS
To the royal Deianeira； unless mine eyes deceive me；… daughter
of Oeneus； wife of Heracles； and my queen。
MESSENGER
The very word that I wished to hear from thee：… thou sayest that
she is thy queen？
LICHAS
Yes； as in duty bound。
MESSENGER
Well； then； what art thou prepared to suffer； if found guilty of
failing in that duty？
LICHAS
Failing in duty？ What dark saying is this？
MESSENGER
'Tis none； the darkest words are thine own。
LICHAS
I will go； I was foolish to hear thee so long。
MESSENGER
No； not till thou hast answered a brief question。
LICHAS
Ask what thou wilt； thou art not taciturn。
MESSENGER
That captive； whom thou hast brought home… thou knowest whom mean？
LICHAS
Yes； but why dost thou ask？
MESSENGER
Well； saidst thou not that thy prisoner… she； on whom thy gaze now
turns so vacantly… was Iole； daughter of Eurytus？
LICHAS
Said it to whom？ Who and where is the man that will be thy witness
to hearing this from me？
MESSENGER
To many of our own folk thou saidst it： in the public gathering of
Trachinians； a great crowd heard thus much from thee。
LICHAS
Ay… said they heard…but 'tis one thing to report a fancy； and
another to make the story good。
MESSENGER
A fancy！ Didst thou not say on thine oath that thou wast
bringing her us a bride for Heracles？
LICHAS
I？ bringing a bride？… In the name of the gods； dear mistress； tell
me who this stranger may be？
MESSENGER
One who heard from thine own lips that the conquest of the whole
city was due to love for this girl： the Lydian woman was not its
destroyer； but the passion which this maid has kindled。
LICHAS
Lady； let this fellow withdraw： to prate with the brainsick befits
not sane man。
DEIANEIRA
Nay； I implore thee by Zeus whose lightnings go forth over the
high glens of Oeta； do not cheat me of the truth！ For she to whom thou
wilt speak is not ungenerous； nor hath she yet to learn that the human
heart is inconstant to its joys。 They are not wise； then； who stand
forth to buffet against Love； for Love rules the gods as he will；
and me； and why not another woman； such as I am？ So I am mad indeed；
if I blame my husband； because that distemper hath seized him； or this
woman； his partner in a thing which is no shame to them； and no
wrong to me。 Impossible！ No； if he taught thee to speak falsely；
'tis not a noble lesson that thou art learning； or if thou art thine
own teacher in this； thou wilt be found cruel when it is thy wish to
prove kind。 Nay； tell me the whole truth。 To a free…born man； the name
of liar cleaves as a deadly brand。 If thy hope is to escape detection；
that； too； is vain； there are many to whom thou hast spoken； who
will tell me。
And if thou art afraid； thy fear is mistaken。 Not to learn the
truth；…that； indeed； would pain me； but to know it… what is there
terrible in that？ Hath not Heracles wedded others ere now；… ay； more
than living man；… and no one of them hath bad harsh word or taunt from
me； nor shall this girl； though her whole being should be absorbed
in her passion； for indeed I felt a profound pity when I beheld her；
because her beauty hath wrecked her life； and she； hapless one； all
innocent； hath brought her fatherland to ruin and to bondage。
Well； those things must go with wind and stream。… To thee I
say；…deceive whom thou wilt； but ever speak the truth to me。
LEADER
Hearken to her good counsel； and hereafter thou shalt have no
cause to complain of this lady； our thanks； too； will be thine。
LICHAS
Nay； then； dear mistress；… since I see that thou thinkest as
mortals should think； and canst allow for weakness；… I will tell
thee the whole truth； and hide it not。 Yes； it is even as yon man
saith。 This girl inspired that overmastering love which long ago smote
through the soul of Heracles； for this girl's sake the desolate
Oechalia； her home； was made the prey of his spear。 And he；… it is
just to him to say so；… never denied this；… never told me to conceal
it。 But I； lady； fearing to wound thy heart by such tidings； have
sinned； if thou count this in any sort a sin。
Now； however； that thou knowest the whole story； for both your
sakes；… for his； and not less for thine own；… bear with the woman； and
be content that the words which thou hast spoken regarding her
should bind thee still。 For he； whose strength is victorious in all
else； hath been utterly vanquished by his passion for this girl。
DEIANEIRA
Indeed； mine own thoughts move me to act thus。 Trust me； I will
not add a new affliction to my burdens by waging a fruitless fight
against the gods。
But let us go into the house； that thou mayest receive my
messages； and； since gifts should be meetly recompensed with gifts；…
that thou mayest take these also。 It is not right that thou
shouldest go back with empty hands； after coming with such a goodly
train。
（Exit MESSENGER； as LICHAS and DEIANEIRA go into the house。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Great and mighty is the victory which the Cyprian queen ever bears
away。 I stay not now to speak of the gods； I spare to tell how she
beguiled the son of Cronus； and Hades； the lord of darkness； or
Poseidon； shaker of the earth。
But； when this bride was to be won； who were the valiant rivals
that entered the contest for her h