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herald； Lichas； came to him from home； bearing thy gift； the deadly
robe； which he put on； according to thy precept； and then began his
offering with twelve bulls； free from blemish； the firstlings of the
spoil； but altogether he brought a hundred victims； great or small； to
the altar。
At first； hapless one； he prayed with serene soul； rejoicing in
his comely garb。 But when the blood…fed flame began to blaze from
the holy offerings and from the resinous pine； a sweat broke forth
upon his flesh； and the tunic clung to his sides； at every joint；
close…glued； as if by a craftsman's hand； there came a biting pain
that racked his bones； and then the venom； as of some deadly； cruel
viper； began to devour him。
Thereupon he shouted for the unhappy Lichas；… in no wise to
blame for thy crime；… asking what treason had moved him to bring
that robe； but he； all…unknowing； hapless one； said that he had
brought the gift from thee alone； as it had been sent。 When his master
heard it； as a piercing spasm clutched his lungs； he caught him by the
foot； where the ankle turns in the socket； and hurled him at a
surf…beaten rock in the sea； and he made the white brain to ooze
from the hair； as the skull was dashed to splinters； and blood
scattered therewith。
But all the people lifted up a cry of awe…struck grief； seeing
that one was frenzied； and the other slain； and no one dared to come
before the man。 For the pain dragged him to earth； or made him leap
into the air； with yells and shrieks； till the cliffs rang around；
steep headlands of Locris； and Euboean capes。
But when he was spent with oft throwing himself on the ground in
his anguish； and oft making loud lament；… cursing his fatal marriage
with thee； the vile one； and his alliance with Oeneus；… saying how
he had found in it the ruin of his life；… then from out of the
shrouding altar…smoke； he lifted up his wildly…rolling eyes； and saw
me in the great crowd； weeping。 He turned his gaze on me； and called
me： 'O son； draw near； do not fly from my trouble； even though thou
must share my death。 Come； bear me forth； and set me； if thou canst；
in a place where no man shall see me； or； if thy pity forbids that； at
least convey me with all speed out of this land； and let me not die
where I am。'
That command sufficed； we laid him in mid…ship； and brought
him…but hardly brought him… to this shore； moaning in his torments。
And ye shall presently behold him； alive； or lately dead。
Such； mother； are the designs and deeds against my sire whereof
thou hast been found guilty。 May avenging justice and the Erinys visit
thee for them！ Yes； if it be right； that is my prayer： and right it
is；… for I have seen thee trample on the right； by slaying the noblest
man in all the world； whose like thou shalt see nevermore！
（DEIANEIRA moves towards the house。）
LEADER （to DEIANEIRA）
Why dost thou depart in silence？ Knowest thou not that such
silence pleads for thine accuser？
（DEIANEIRA goes in the house。）
HYLLUS
Let her depart。 A fair wind speed her far from my sight！ Why
should the name of mother bring her a semblance of respect； when she
is all unlike a mother in her deeds？ No； let her go；… farewell to her；
and may such joy as she gives my sire become her own！
（Exit HYLLUS； into the house。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
See； maidens； how suddenly the divine word of the old prophecy
hath come upon us； which said that； when the twelfth year should
have run through its full tale of months； it should end the series
of toils for the true…born son of Zeus！ And that promise is wafted
surely to its fulfilment。 For how shall he who beholds not the light
have toilsome servitude any more beyond the grave？
antistrophe 1
If a cloud of death is around him； and the doom wrought by the
Centaur's craft is stinging his sides； where cleaves the venom which
Thanatos begat and the gleaming serpent nourished； how can he look
upon tomorrow's sun；… when that appalling Hydra…shape holds him in its
grip； and those murderous goads； prepared by the wily words of
black…haired Nessus； have started into fury； vexing him with
tumultuous pain？
strophe 2
Of such things this hapless lady had no foreboding； but she saw
great mischief swiftly coming on her home from the new marriage。 Her
own hand applied the remedy； but for the issues of a stranger's
counsel； given at a fatal meeting；… for these； I ween； she makes
despairing lament； shedding the tender dew of plenteous tears。 And the
coming fate foreshadows a great misfortune； contrived by guile。
antistrophe 2
Our streaming tears break forth： alas； a plague is upon him more
piteous than any suffering that foemen ever brought upon that glorious
hero。
Ah； thou dark steel of the spear foremost in battle； by whose
might yonder bride was lately borne so swiftly from Oechalia's
heights！ But the Cyprian goddess； ministering in silence； hath been
plainly proved the doer of these deeds。
LEADER OF ONE SEMI…CHORUS
Is it fancy； or do I hear some cry of grief just passing through
the house？ What is this？
LEADER OF OTHER SEMI…CHORUS
No uncertain sound； but a wail of anguish from within： the house
hath some new trouble。
LEADER OF WHOLE CHORUS
And mark how sadly； with what a cloud upon her brow； that aged
woman approaches； to give us tidings。
（Enter NURSE； from the house。）
NURSE
Ah； my daughters； great； indeed； were the sorrows that we were
to reap from the gift sent to Heracles！
LEADER
Aged woman； what new mischance hast thou to tell？
NURSE
Deianeira hath departed on the last of all her journeys；
departed without stirring foot。
LEADER
Thou speakest not of death？
NURSE
My tale is told。
LEADER
Dead； hapless one？
NURSE
Again thou hearest it。
CHORUS
Hapless； lost one！ Say； what was the manner of her death？
NURSE
Oh； a cruel deed was there！
CHORUS
Speak； woman； how hath she met her doom？
NURSE
By her own hand hath she died。
CHORUS
What fury； what pangs of frenzy have cut her off by the edge of
a dire weapon？ How contrived she this death； following death；… all
wrought by her alone？
NURSE
By the stroke of the sword that makes sorrow。
CHORUS
Sawest thou that violent deed； poor helpless one？
NURSE
I saw it； yea； I was standing near。
CHORUS
Whence came it？ How was it done？ Oh； speak
NURSE
'Twas the work of her own mind and her own hand。
CHORUS