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thus！ Alas； my destiny！
antistrophe 2
Again； again the cruel pest leaps forth to rend me； the fierce
plague with which none may cope！
O Pallas； Pallas； it tortures me again！ Alas； my son； pity thy
sire；… draw a blameless sword； and smite beneath my collar…bone； and
heal this pain wherewith thy godless mother hath made me wild！ So
may I see her fall；… thus； even thus； as she hath destroyed me！
antistrophe 3
Sweet Hades； brother of Zeus； give me rest； give me rest；… end
my woe by a swiftly…sped doom！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I shudder； friends； to hear these sorrows of our lord； what a
man is here； and what torments afflict him！
HERACLES
Ah； fierce full oft； and grievous not in name alone； have been the
labours of these hands； the burdens borne upon these shoulders！ But no
toil ever laid on me by the wife of Zeus or by the hateful
Eurystheus was like unto this thing which the daughter of Oeneus； fair
and false； hath fastened upon my back；… this woven net of the
Furies； in which I perish！ Glued to my sides； it hath eaten my flesh
to the inmost parts； it is ever with me； sucking the channels of my
breath； already it hath drained my fresh lifeblood； and my whole
body is wasted； a captive to these unutterable bonds。
Not the warrior on the battle…field； not the Giants' earth…born
host； nor the might of savage beasts； hath ever done unto me thus；…
not Hellas； nor the land of the alien； nor any land to which I have
come as a deliverer： no； a woman； a weak woman； born not to the
strength of man； all alone hath vanquished me； without stroke of sword
Son； show thyself my son indeed； and do not honour a mother's name
above a sire's： bring forth the woman that bare thee； and give her
with thine own hands into my hand； that I may know of a truth which
sight grieves thee most；… my tortured frame； or hers； when she suffers
her righteous doom！
Go； my son； shrink not… and show thy pity for me； whom many
might deem pitiful；… for me； moaning and weeping like a girl；… and the
man lives not who can say that he ever saw me do thus before； no；
without complaining I still went whither mine evil fortune led。 But
now； alas； the strong man hath been found a woman。
Approach； stand near thy sire； and see what a fate it is that hath
brought me to this pass； for I will lift the veil。 Behold！ Look； all
of you； on this miserable body； see how wretched； how piteous is my
plight！
Ah； woe is me！
The burning throe of torment is there anew； it darts through my
sides… I must wrestle once more with that cruel； devouring plague！
O thou lord of the dark realm； receive me！ Smite me； O fire of
Zeus！ Hurl down thy thunderbolt； O King； send it； O father； upon my
head！ For again the pest is consuming me； it hath blazed forth； it
hath started into fury！ O hands； my hands； O shoulders and breast
and trusty arms； ye； now in this plight； are the same whose force of
old subdued the dweller in Nemea； the scourge of herdsmen； the lion； a
creature that no man might approach or confront； ye tamed the Lernaean
Hydra； and that monstrous host of double form； man joined to steed；
a race with whom none may commune； violent； lawless； of surpassing
might； ye tamed the Erymanthian beast； and the three…headed whelp of
Hades underground； a resistless terror； offspring of the dread
Echidna； ye tamed the dragon that guarded the golden fruit in the
utmost places of the earth。
These toils and countless others have I proved； nor hath any man
vaunted a triumph over my prowess。 But now； with joints unhinged and
with flesh torn to shreds； I have become the miserable prey of an
unseen destroyer；… I； who am called the son of noblest mother；… I；
whose reputed sire is Zeus； lord of the starry sky。
But ye may be sure of one thing：… though I am as nought； though
I cannot move a step； yet she who hath done this deed shall feel my
heavy hand even now： let her but come； and she shall learn to proclaim
this message unto all； that in my death； as in my life； I chastised
the wicked！
LEADER
Ah； hapless Greece； what mourning do I forsee for her； if she must
lose this man
HYLLUS
Father； since thy pause permits an answer； hear me； afflicted
though thou art。 I will ask thee for no more than is my due。 Accept my
counsels； in a calmer mood than that to which this anger stings
thee： else thou canst not learn how vain is thy desire for
vengeance； and how causeless thy resentment。
HERACLES
Say what thou wilt； and cease； in this my pain I understand nought
of all thy riddling words。
HYLLUS
I come to tell thee of my mother；… how it is now with her； and how
she sinned unwittingly。
HERACLES
Villain！ What… hast thou dared to breathe her name again in my
hearing；… the name of the mother who hath slain thy sire？
HYLLUS
Yea； such is her state that silence is unmeet。
HERACLES
Unmeet； truly； in view of her past crimes。
HYLLUS
And also of her deeds this day；… as thou wilt own。
HERACLES
Speak；… but give heed that thou be not found a traitor。
HYLLUS
These are my tidings。 She is dead； lately slain。
HERACLES
By whose hand？ A wondrous message； from a prophet of ill…omened
voice！
HYLLUS
By her own hand； and no stranger's。
HERACLES
Alas； ere she died by mine； as she deserved！
HYLLUS
Even thy wrath would be turned； couldst thou hear all。
HERACLES
A strange preamble； but unfold thy meaning。
HYLLUS
The sum is this；… she erred； with a good intent。
HERACLES
Is it a good deed； thou wretch； to have slain thy sire？
HYLLUS
Nay； she thought to use a love…charm for thy heart； when she saw
the new bride in the house； but missed her aim。
HERACLES
And what Trachinian deals in spells so potent？
HYLLUS
Nessus the Centaur persuaded her of old to inflame thy desire with
such a charm。
HERACLES
Alas； alas； miserable that I am！ Woe is me； I am lost；… undone；
undone！ No more for me the light of day！ Alas； now I see in what a
plight stand！ Go； my son；… for thy father's end hath come；… summon；
I pray thee； all thy brethren； summon； too； the hapless Alcmena； in
vain the bride of Zeus；… that ye may learn from my dying lips what
oracles know。
HYLLUS
Nay； thy mother is not here； as it chances； she hath her abode
at Tiryns by the sea。 Some of thy children she hath taken to live with
her there； and others； thou wilt find； are dwelling in Thebe's town。
But we who are with thee； my father； will render all service that is
needed； at thy bidding。
HERACLES
Hear； then； thy task： now is the time to show what stuff is in
thee； who art called my son。
It was foreshown to me by my Sire of old that I should perish by
no creature that had the breath of lif