Euripides, Heracles, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 1016

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Chorus

That murder wrought by the daughters of Danaus, which the rock of Argos keeps, was once the most famous and notorious in Hellas ; but this has surpassed,

has outrun those former horrors . . . for the unhappy son of Zeus.
1020

I could tell of the murder done by Procne, mother of an only child, offered to the Muses; but you had three children, wretched parent, and all of them have you in your frenzy slain.

Alas! What groans or wails, what funeral dirge, or dance of death am I to raise?
1025

Ah, ah! see, the bolted doors

of the lofty palace are being rolled apart.
1030

Ah me! see the wretched children lying before their unhappy father, who is sunk in dreadful slumber after shedding their blood.

Round him are bonds and cords, made fast with many knots about the body of Heracles, and lashed to the stone columns of his house.
1035

Chorus Leader

But he, the aged father, like mother-bird wailing

her unfledged brood, comes hastening here with halting steps on his bitter journey.
1040

The palace doors opening disclose Heracles lying asleep, bound to a shattered column.

Amphitryon

Softly, softly! you aged sons of Thebes , let him sleep on and forget his sorrows.

Chorus

For you, old friend, I weep and mourn, for the children too and that victorious chief.
1045

Amphitryon

Stand further off, make no noise nor outcry, do not rouse him from his calm

deep slumber.
1050

Chorus

O horrible! all this blood—

Amphitryon

Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.

Chorus

That he has spilled is rising up against him.

Amphitryon

Gently raise your dirge of woe, old friends;

or he will wake, and, bursting his bonds, destroy the city, rend his father, and dash his house to pieces.
1055

Chorus

I cannot, cannot—

Amphitryon

Hush! let me note his breathing;

come, let me put my ear close.
1060

Chorus

Is he sleeping?

Amphitryon

Yes, he is sleeping, a deadly sleepless sleep, having slain wife and children with the arrows of his twanging bow.

Chorus

Ah! mourn—
1065

Amphitryon

Indeed I do.

Chorus

The children’s death—

Amphitryon

Ah me!

Chorus

And your own son’s doom.

Amphitryon

Alas!

Chorus

Old friend—

Amphitryon

Hush! hush! he is turning over, he is waking! Oh!

let me hide myself, concealed beneath the roof.
1070

Chorus

Courage! darkness still holds your son’s eye.

Amphitryon

Oh beware! it is not that I shrink from leaving the light after my miseries, poor wretch! but if should he slay me, his father,

then he will be devising mischief on mischief, and to the avenging curse will add a parent’s blood.
1075

Chorus

Well for you if you had died in that day, when, for your wife, you went forth to exact vengeance for her slain brothers

by sacking the Taphians’ sea-beat town.
1080

Amphitryon

Fly, fly, my aged friends, from before the palace, escape his waking fury. Or soon he will heap up fresh slaughter on the old,

ranging wildly once more through the streets of Thebes .
1085

Chorus Leader

O Zeus, why have you shown such savage hate against your own son and plunged him in this sea of troubles?

Heracles
waking

Aha! I am alive and breathing; and my eyes resume their function, opening on

the sky and earth and the sun’s darting beam; but how my senses reel! in what strange turmoil am I plunged! my fevered breath in quick spasmodic gasps escapes my lungs. How now? why am I lying here, my brawny chest and arms made fast with cables like a ship,
1090

beside a half-shattered piece of masonry, with corpses for my neighbors; while over the floor my bow and arrows are scattered, that once like trusty squires to my arm
1095

both kept me safe and were kept safe by me? Surely I have not come a second time to Hades’ halls, having just returned from there for Eurystheus? To Hades? From where? No, I do not see Sisyphus with his stone, or Pluto, or his queen, Demeter’s child.
1100

Surely I am distraught; where am I, so helpless? Ho, there! which of my friends is near or far to cure me in my perplexity? For I have no clear knowledge of things once familiar.
1105

Amphitryon

My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?

Chorus Leader

Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble.
1110

Heracles

Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?

Amphitryon

My child! mine still, for all your misery.

Heracles

Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?

Amphitryon

That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it.
1115

Heracles

A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.

Amphitryon

Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.

Heracles

Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.

Amphitryon

I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.

Heracles

Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite!
1120

Amphitryon

I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.

Heracles

I have no recollection of being mad.

Amphitryon

Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?

Heracles

Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.

Amphitryon

Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego.
1125

Heracles

No. for is silence sufficient to learn what I wish?

Amphitryon

O Zeus, do you behold these deeds proceeding from the throne of Hera?

Heracles

What! have I suffered something from her enmity?

Amphitryon

A truce to the goddess! attend to your own troubles.

Heracles

I am undone; you will tell me some mischance.
1130

Amphitryon

See here the corpses of your children.

Heracles

O horror! what sight is here? ah me!

Amphitryon

My son, against your children you have waged unnatural war.

Heracles

War! what do you mean? who killed these?

Amphitryon

You and your bow and some god, whoever is to blame.
1135

Heracles

What are you saying? what have I done? Speak, father, you messenger of evil!

Amphitryon

You were insane; it is a sad explanation you are asking.

Heracles

Was it I that slew my wife also?

Amphitryon

Your own unaided arm has done all this.

Heracles

Alas! a cloud of mourning wraps me round.
1140

Amphitryon

For this reason I lament your fate.

Heracles

Did I dash my house to pieces in my frenzy?

Amphitryon

I know nothing but this, that you are utterly undone.

Heracles

Where did the madness seize me? where did it destroy me?

Amphitryon

When you were purifying yourself with fire at the altar.
1145

Heracles

Ah me! why do I spare my own life when I have become the murderer of my dear children? Shall I not hasten to leap from some sheer rock, or aim the sword against my heart

and avenge my children’s blood, or burn my body, which she drove mad, in the fire and so avert from my life the infamy which now awaits me?
1150

But here I see Theseus coming to check my deadly counsels, my kinsman and friend.

Now shall I stand revealed, and the dearest of my friends will see the pollution I have incurred by my children’s murder. Ah, woe is me! what am I to do? Where can I find freedom from my sorrows? shall I take wings or plunge beneath the earth? Come, let me veil my head in darkness;
1155

for I am ashamed of the evil I have done, and, since for these I have incurred fresh blood-guiltiness, I do not want to harm the innocent.
1160

Theseus

I have come, and others with me, young warriors from the land of Athens , encamped at present by the streams of Asopus,

to bring an allied army to your son, old friend. For a rumour reached the city of the Erechtheidae, that Lycus had usurped the scepter of this land and had become your enemy even to battle. Wherefore I came making recompense for the former kindness of Heracles
1165

in saving me from the world below, if you have any need of such aid as I or my allies can give, old man.
1170

Ha! why this heap of dead upon the floor? Surely I have not delayed too long and come too late to check a revolution? Who slew these children?

whose wife is this I see? Boys do not go to battle; no, it must be some other strange mischance I here discover.
1175

Amphitryon

O king, whose home is that olive-clad hill!

Theseus

Why this piteous prelude in addressing me?

Amphitryon

The gods have afflicted us with grievous suffering.
1180

Theseus

Whose are these children, over whom you weep?

Amphitryon

My own son’s children, woe is him! he was their father and butcher both, hardening his heart to the bloody deed.

Theseus

Hush! good words only!

Amphitryon

I would I could obey!
1185

Theseus

What dreadful words!

Amphitryon

Fortune has spread her wings, and we are ruined, ruined.

Theseus

What do you mean? what has he done?

Amphitryon

Slain them in a wild fit of frenzy

with arrows dipped in the venom of the hundred-headed hydra.
1190

Theseus

This is Hera’s work; but who lies there among the dead, old man?

Amphitryon

My son, my own enduring son, that marched with gods to Phlegra’s plain, there to battle with giants and slay them, warrior that he was.

Theseus

Ah, ah! whose fortune was ever so cursed as his?
1195

Amphitryon

Never will you find another mortal that has suffered more or been driven harder.

Theseus

Why does he veil his head, poor wretch, in his robe?

Amphitryon

He is ashamed to meet your eye;

his kinsman’s kind intent and his children’s blood make him abashed.
1200

Theseus

But I come to sympathize; uncover him.

Amphitryon

My son, remove that mantle

from your eyes, throw it from you, show your face to the sun. As a counterweight, fighting along with my tears, I entreat you as a suppliant, as I grasp your beard, your knees, your hands, and let fall
1205

the tear from my old eyes. O my child! restrain your savage lion-like temper, for you are rushing forth on an unholy course of bloodshed, eager to join mischief to mischief, child.
1210

Theseus

What! Enough! To you I call who are huddled there in your misery,

show to your friends your face; for no darkness is black enough to hide your sad mischance. Why do you wave your hand at me, signifying murder? is it that I may not be polluted by speaking with you?
1215

If I share your misfortune, what is that to me? For once I had good fortune with you. I must refer to the time when you brought me safe from the dead to the light of life. I hate a friend whose gratitude grows old; one who is ready to enjoy his friends’ prosperity
1220

but unwilling to sail in the same ship with them when they are unfortunate. Arise, unveil your head, poor wretch! and look on me. The gallant soul endures such blows as heaven deals and does not refuse them.
1225

Heracles

O Theseus, did you see this struggle with my children?

Theseus

I heard of it, and now I see the horrors you mean.
1230

Heracles

Why then have you unveiled my head to the sun?

Theseus

Why have I? you, a mortal, can not pollute what is of the gods.

Heracles

Try to escape, luckless wretch, from my unholy taint.

Theseus

The avenging fiend does not go forth from friend to friend.

Heracles

For this I thank you; I do not regret the service I did you.
1235

Theseus

While I, for kindness then received, now show my pity for you.

Heracles

Ah yes! I am piteous object, a murderer of my sons.

Theseus

I weep for you in your changed fortunes.

Heracles

Did you ever find another more afflicted?

Theseus

Your misfortunes reach from earth to heaven.
1240

Heracles

Therefore I am resolved on death.

Theseus

Do you suppose the gods attend to your threats?

Heracles

The god has been remorseless to me; so I will be the same to the gods.

Theseus

Hush! lest your presumption add to your sufferings.

Heracles

My ship is freighted full with sorrow; there is no room to stow anything further.
1245

Theseus

What will you do? Where is your fury drifting you?

Heracles

I will die and return to that world below from which I have just come.

Theseus

Such language is fit for any common fellow.

Heracles

Ah! yours is the advice of one outside sorrow.

Theseus

Are these indeed the words of Heracles, the much-enduring?
1250

Heracles

Though never so much as this. Endurance must have a limit.

Theseus

Is this the benefactor and great friend to mortals?

Heracles

Mortals bring no help to me; no! Hera has her way.

Theseus

Never would Hellas allow you to die through sheer perversity.

Heracles

Hear me a moment, that I may enter the contest with arguments in answer to your admonitions; and I will unfold to you why life now as well as formerly has been unbearable to me. First I am the son of a man who incurred the guilt of blood, before he married my mother Alcmena,
1255

by slaying her aged father. Now when the foundation is badly laid at birth, it is necessary for the race to be cursed with woe; and Zeus, whoever this Zeus may be, begot me as an enemy to Hera; yet do not be vexed, old man;
1260

for you rather than Zeus I regard as my father. Then while I was being suckled, that bedfellow of Zeus foisted into my cradle fearsome snakes to cause my death. After I took on a cloak of youthful flesh,
1265

of all the toils I then endured what need to tell? what did I not destroy, whether lions, or triple-bodied Typhons, or giants or the battle against the hosts of four-legged Centaurs? or how when I had killed the hydra,
1270

that monster with a ring of heads with power to grow again, I passed through a herd of countless other toils besides and came to the dead to fetch to the light at the bidding of Eurystheus the three-headed hound, hell’s porter. Last, ah, woe is me! I have dared this labor,
1275

to crown the sorrows of my house with my children’s murder. I have come to this point of necessity; no longer may I dwell in Thebes , the city that I love; for suppose I stay, to what temple or gathering of friends shall I go? For mine is no curse that invites greetings.
1280

Shall I go to Argos ? how can I, when I am an exile from my country? Well, is there a single other city I can rush to? Am I then to be looked at askance as a marked man, held by cruel stabbing tongues: Is not this the son of Zeus that once murdered children
1285

and wife? Plague take him from the land!
1290

Now to one who was once called happy, such changes are a grievous thing; though he who is always unfortunate feels no such pain, for sorrow is his birthright. This, I think, is the piteous pass I shall one day come to;

for earth will cry out forbidding me to touch her, the sea and the river-springs will refuse me a crossing, and I shall become like Ixion who revolves in chains upon that wheel. And so this is best, that I should be seen by no one of the Hellenes,
1295

among whom in happier days I lived in bliss. What right have I to live? what profit can I have in the possession of a useless, impious life? So let that noble wife of Zeus dance, beating her foot in its shoe;
1300

for now has she worked her heart’s desire in utterly confounding the first of Hellas ’ sons. Who would pray to such a goddess? Her jealousy of Zeus for his love of a woman has destroyed
1305

the benefactors of Hellas , guiltless though they were.
1310

Chorus Leader

This is the work of none other of the gods than the wife of Zeus; you are right in that surmise.

Theseus

I cannot counsel you . . . rather than to go on suffering. There is not a man alive that has wholly escaped misfortune’s taint,

nor any god either, if what poets sing is true. Have they not intermarried in ways that law forbids? Have they not thrown fathers into ignominious chains to gain the sovereign power? Still they inhabit Olympus and brave the issue of their crimes.
1315

And yet what shall you say in your defence, if you, a child of man, take your fate excessively hard, while they, as gods, do not? No, then, leave Thebes in compliance with the law, and come with me to the city of Pallas. There, when I have purified you of your pollution,
1320

I will give you homes and the half of all I have. Yes, I will give you all those presents I received from the citizens for saving their fourteen children, when I slew the bull of Crete ; for I have plots of land assigned me throughout the country; these shall henceforth
1325

be called after you by men, while you live; and at your death, when you have gone to Hades’ halls, the whole city of Athens shall exalt your honor with sacrifices and a monument of stone. For it is a noble crown of a good reputation
1330

for citizens to win from Hellas , by helping a man of worth. This is the return that I will make you for saving me, for now you are in need of friends. But when the gods honor a man, he has no need of friends; for the god’s aid, when he chooses to give it, is enough.
1335

Heracles

No! this is quite beside the question of my troubles. For my part, I do not believe that the gods indulge in unholy unions; and as for putting bonds on hands, I have never thought that worthy of credit nor will I now be so persuaded, nor again that one god is naturally lord and master of another.
1340

For the deity, if he be really such, has no wants; these are miserable tales of the poets. But I, for all my piteous plight, reflected whether I should let myself be branded as a coward for giving up my life. For whoever does not withstand disasters
1345

will never be able to withstand even a man’s weapon. I will be steadfast in living; I will go to your city, with grateful thanks for all you offer me.
1350

But I have tasted of countless troubles, as is well known; never yet did I faint at any or shed a single tear; no, nor did I ever think

that I should come to this, to let the tear-drop fall. But now, it seems, I must be fortune’s slave. Well, let it pass; my old father, you see me go forth to exile, and in me you see my own children’s murderer.
1355

Give them burial, and lay them out in death with the tribute of a tear, for the law forbids my doing so. Rest their heads upon their mother’s bosom and fold them in her arms, sad fellowship, which I, alas! unwittingly did slay. And when you have buried these dead,
1360

live on here still, in bitterness maybe, but still constrain your soul to share my sorrows. O children! he who begot you, your own father, has been your destroyer, and you have had no profit of my triumphs, all my restless toil to win for you by force
1365

a fair name, a glorious advantage from a father. You too, unhappy wife, this hand has slain, a poor return to make you for preserving the honor of my bed so safely, for all the weary watch you long have kept within my house. Alas for you, my wife, my sons! alas for me,
1370

how sad my lot, cut off from wife and child! Ah! these kisses, bitter-sweet! these weapons which it is pain to own! I am not sure whether to keep or let them go; dangling at my side they thus will say,
1375

With us you destroyed children and wife; we are your children’s slayers, and you keep us. Shall I carry them after that? what answer can I make? Yet, am I to strip myself of these weapons, the comrades of my glorious career in Hellas , and put myself in the power of my foes, to die a death of shame?
1380

No! I must not let them go, but keep them, though it grieves me. In one thing, Theseus, help my misery; come to Argos and help me to manage the conveyance of the wretched dog; lest, if I go all alone, my sorrow for my sons may do me some hurt.
1385

O land of Cadmus, and all you people of Thebes !

cut off your hair, and mourn with me; go to my children’s burial, and with one dirge lament us all, the dead and me; for on all of us has Hera inflicted the same cruel blow of destruction.
1390

Theseus

Rise, unhappy man! you have had your fill of tears.

Heracles

I cannot rise; my limbs are rooted here.
1395

Theseus

Yes, even the strong are overthrown by misfortunes.

Heracles

Ah! Would I could become a stone upon this spot, oblivious of trouble.

Theseus

Peace! give your hand to a friend and helper.

Heracles

No, let me not wipe off the blood upon your robe.

Theseus

Wipe it off and spare not; I will not refuse you.
1400

Heracles

Bereft of my own sons, I find you as a son to me.

Theseus

Throw your arm about my neck; I will be your guide.

Heracles

A pair of friends indeed, but one a man of sorrows. Ah! aged father, this is the kind of man to make a friend.

Amphitryon

Blessed in her sons, the country that gave him birth!
1405

Heracles

Theseus, turn me back again to see my children.

Theseus

What for? Do you think to find a drug in this to soothe your soul?

Heracles

I long to do so, and would embrace my father.

Amphitryon

Here am I, my son; your wish is no less dear to me.

Theseus

Have you so short a memory for your troubles?
1410

Heracles

All that I endured before was easier to bear than this.

Theseus

If anyone sees you play the woman, they will scoff.

Heracles

Have I by living grown so abject in your sight? It was not so once, I think.

Theseus

Yes, too much so; in your sickness you are not the glorious Heracles.

Heracles

What about you? What kind of hero were you when in trouble in the world below?
1415

Theseus

I was worse than anyone as far as courage went.

Heracles

How then can you say of me, that I am abased by my troubles?

Theseus

Forward!

Heracles

Farewell, my aged father!

Amphitryon

Farewell to you, my son!

Heracles

Bury my children as I said.

Amphitryon

But who will bury me, my son?

Heracles

I will.
1420

Amphitryon

When wil you come?

Heracles

After you have buried my children.

Amphitryon

How?

Heracles

I will fetch you from Thebes to Athens . But carry my children within, a grievous burden to the earth. And I, after ruining my house by deeds of shame, will follow as a little boat in the wake of Theseus, a total wreck.

Whoever prefers wealth or might to the possession of good friends, thinks wrongly.
1425

Chorus

With grief and many a bitter tear we go our way, robbed of all we prized most dearly.

Heracles. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Heracles Mad (English) (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Editions (1)

Ἡρακλῆς Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962)) — 1016 focus

Χορός

—ὁ φόνος ἦν ὃν Ἀργολὶς ἔχει πέτρα

τότε μὲν περισαμότατος καὶ ἄπιστος Ἑλλάδι

τῶν Δαναοῦ παίδων· τάδε δʼ ὑπερέβαλε, παρ-

έδραμε τὰ τότε κακὰ τάλανι διογενεῖ κόρῳ.
1020

—μονοτέκνου Πρόκνης φόνον ἔχω λέξαι

θυόμενον Μούσαις· σὺ δὲ τέκνα τρίγονʼ, ὦ

δάιε, τεκόμενος, λυσσάδι συγκατειργάσω μοίρᾳ.

—αἰαῖ, τίνα στεναγμὸν
1025

ἢ γόον ἢ φθιτῶν

ᾠδάν, ἢ τὸν Ἅιδα χορὸν ἀχήσω;

—φεῦ φεῦ·

ἴδεσθε, διάνδιχα κλῇθρα

κλίνεται ὑψιπύλων δόμων.
1030

—ἰώ μοι·

ἴδεσθε δὲ τέκνα πρὸ πατρὸς

ἄθλια κείμενα δυστάνου,

εὕδοντος ὕπνον δεινὸν ἐκ παίδων φόνου.

—περὶ δὲ δεσμὰ καὶ πολύβροχʼ ἁμμάτων
1035

ἐρείσμαθʼ Ἡράκλειον

ἀμφὶ δέμας τάδε λαΐνοις

ἀνημμένα κίοσιν οἴκων.

Χορός

—ὁ δʼ ὥς τις ὄρνις ἄπτερον καταστένων

ὠδῖνα τέκνων, πρέσβυς ὑστέρῳ ποδὶ
1040

πικρὰν διώκων ἤλυσιν πάρεσθʼ ὅδε.

Ἀμφιτρύων

Καδμεῖοι γέροντες, οὐ σῖγα σῖ-

γα τὸν ὕπνῳ παρειμένον ἐάσετʼ ἐκ-

λαθέσθαι κακῶν;

Χορός

κατὰ σὲ δακρύοις στένω, πρέσβυ, καὶ
1045

τέκεα καὶ τὸ καλλίνικον κάρα.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἑκαστέρω πρόβατε, μὴ

κτυπεῖτε, μὴ βοᾶτε, μὴ

τὸν εὔδιʼ ἰαύονθʼ

ὑπνώδεά τʼ εὐνᾶς

ἐγείρετε.
1050

Χορός

οἴμοι.

φόνος ὅσος ὅδʼ

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἆ ἆ,

διά μʼ ὀλεῖτε.

Χορός

κεχυμένος ἐπαντέλλει.

Ἀμφιτρύων

οὐκ ἀτρεμαῖα θρῆνον αἰ-

άξετʼ, ὦ γέροντες;

ἢ δέσμʼ ἀνεγειρόμενος χαλάσας ἀπολεῖ πόλιν,
1055

ἀπὸ δὲ πατέρα, μέλαθρά τε καταράξει.

Χορός

ἀδύνατʼ ἀδύνατά μοι.

Ἀμφιτρύων

σῖγα, πνοὰς μάθω·

φέρε πρὸς οὖς βάλω.
1060

Χορός

εὕδει;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ναί, εὕδει

ὕπνον γʼ ἄυπνον ὀλόμενον, ὃς ἔκανεν ἄλοχον,

ἔκανε δὲ τέκεα, τοξήρει ψαλμῷ τοξεύσας.

Χορός

στέναζέ νυν —
1065

Ἀμφιτρύων

στενάζω.

Χορός

τέκνων ὄλεθρον —

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὤμοι.

Χορός

σέθεν τε παιδὸς —

Ἀμφιτρύων

αἰαῖ.

Χορός

ὦ πρέσβυ

Ἀμφιτρύων

σῖγα σῖγα·

παλίντροπος ἐξεγειρόμενος στρέφεται· φέρε,

ἀπόκρυφον δέμας ὑπὸ μέλαθρον κρύψω.
1070

Χορός

θάρσει· νὺξ ἔχει βλέφαρα παιδὶ σῷ.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὁρᾶθʼ ὁρᾶτε. τὸ φάος ἐκ-

λιπεῖν μὲν ἐπὶ κακοῖσιν οὐ

φεύγω τάλας, ἀλλʼ εἴ με κανεῖ πατέρʼ ὄντα,

πρὸς δὲ κακοῖς κακὰ μήσεται
1075

πρὸς Ἐρινύσι θʼ αἷμα σύγγονον ἕξει.

Χορός

τότε θανεῖν σʼ ἐχρῆν, ὅτε δάμαρτι σᾷ

φόνον ὁμοσπόρων ἔμολες ἐκπράξας

Ταφίων περίκλυστον ἄστυ πέρσας.
1080

Ἀμφιτρύων

φυγὰν φυγάν, γέροντες, ἀποπρὸ δωμάτων

διώκετε· φεύγετε μάργον

ἄνδρʼ ἐπεγειρόμενον.

ἢ τάχα φόνον ἕτερον ἐπὶ φόνῳ βαλὼν

ἀνʼ αὖ βακχεύσει Καδμείων πόλιν.
1085

Χορός

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί παῖδʼ ἤχθηρας ὧδʼ ὑπερκότως

τὸν σόν, κακῶν δὲ πέλαγος ἐς τόδʼ ἤγαγες;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἔα·

ἔμπνους μέν εἰμι καὶ δέδορχʼ ἅπερ με δεῖ,

αἰθέρα τε καὶ γῆν τόξα θʼ Ἡλίου τάδε
1090

ὡς ἐν κλύδωνι καὶ φρενῶν ταράγματι

πέπτωκα δεινῷ καὶ πνοὰς θερμὰς πνέω

μετάρσιʼ, οὐ βέβαια, πνευμόνων ἄπο.

ἰδού, τί δεσμοῖς ναῦς ὅπως ὡρμισμένος

νεανίαν θώρακα καὶ βραχίονα,
1095

πρὸς ἡμιθραύστῳ λαΐνῳ τυκίσματι

ἧμαι, νεκροῖσι γείτονας θάκους ἔχων;

πτερωτά τʼ ἔγχη· τόξα δʼ ἔσπαρται πέδῳ,

ἃ πρὶν παρασπίζοντʼ ἐμοῖς βραχίοσιν

ἔσῳζε πλευρὰς ἐξ ἐμοῦ τʼ ἐσῴζετο.
1100

οὔ που κατῆλθον αὖθις εἰς Ἅιδου πάλιν,

Εὐρυσθέως δίαυλον; εἰς Ἅιδου; πόθεν;

ἀλλʼ οὔτε Σισύφειον εἰσορῶ πέτρον

Πλούτωνά τʼ, οὐδὲ σκῆπτρα Δήμητρος κόρης.

ἔκ τοι πέπληγμαι· ποῦ ποτʼ ὢν ἀμηχανῶ;
1105

ὠή, τίς ἐγγὺς ἢ πρόσω φίλων ἐμῶν,

δύσγνοιαν ὅστις τὴν ἐμὴν ἰάσεται;

σαφῶς γὰρ οὐδὲν οἶδα τῶν εἰωθότων.

Ἀμφιτρύων

γέροντες, ἔλθω τῶν ἐμῶν κακῶν πέλας;

Χορός

κἀγώ γε σὺν σοί, μὴ προδοὺς τὰς συμφοράς.
1110

Ἡρακλῆς

πάτερ, τί κλαίεις καὶ συναμπίσχῃ κόρας,

τοῦ φιλτάτου σοι τηλόθεν παιδὸς βεβώς;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὦ τέκνον· εἶ γὰρ καὶ κακῶς πράσσων ἐμός.

Ἡρακλῆς

πράσσω δʼ ἐγὼ τί λυπρόν, οὗ δακρυρροεῖς;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἃ κἂν θεῶν τις, εἰ μάθοι, καταστένοι.
1115

Ἡρακλῆς

μέγας γʼ ὁ κόμπος, τὴν τύχην δʼ οὔπω λέγεις.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὁρᾷς γὰρ αὐτός, εἰ φρονῶν ἤδη κυρεῖς.

Ἡρακλῆς

εἴπʼ, εἴ τι καινὸν ὑπογράφῃ τὠμῷ βίῳ.

Ἀμφιτρύων

εἰ μηκέθʼ Ἅιδου βάκχος εἶ, φράσαιμεν ἄν.

Ἡρακλῆς

παπαῖ, τόδʼ ὡς ὕποπτον ᾐνίξω πάλιν.
1120

Ἀμφιτρύων

καί σʼ εἰ βεβαίως εὖ φρονεῖς ἤδη σκοπῶ.

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐ γάρ τι βακχεύσας γε μέμνημαι φρένας.

Ἀμφιτρύων

λύσω, γέροντες, δεσμὰ παιδός; ἢ τί δρῶ;

Ἡρακλῆς

καὶ τόν γε δήσαντʼ εἴπʼ· ἀναινόμεσθα γάρ.

Ἀμφιτρύων

τοσοῦτον ἴσθι τῶν κακῶν· τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἔα.
1125

Ἡρακλῆς

ἀρκεῖ σιωπὴ γὰρ μαθεῖν ὃ βούλομαι;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὦ Ζεῦ, παρʼ Ἥρας ἆρʼ ὁρᾷς θρόνων τάδε;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἀλλʼ ἦ τι κεῖθεν πολέμιον πεπόνθαμεν;

Ἀμφιτρύων

τὴν θεὸν ἐάσας τὰ σὰ περιστέλλου κακά.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἀπωλόμεσθα· συμφορὰν λέξεις τινά.
1130

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἰδού, θέασαι τάδε τέκνων πεσήματα.

Ἡρακλῆς

οἴμοι· τίνʼ ὄψιν τήνδε δέρκομαι τάλας;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἀπόλεμον, ὦ παῖ, πόλεμον ἔσπευσας τέκνοις.

Ἡρακλῆς

τί πόλεμον εἶπας; τούσδε τίς διώλεσε;

Ἀμφιτρύων

σὺ καὶ σὰ τόξα καὶ θεῶν ὃς αἴτιος.
1135

Ἡρακλῆς

τί φῄς; τί δράσας; ὦ κάκʼ ἀγγέλλων πάτερ.

Ἀμφιτρύων

μανείς· ἐρωτᾷς δʼ ἄθλιʼ ἑρμηνεύματα.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἦ καὶ δάμαρτός εἰμʼ ἐγὼ φονεὺς ἐμῆς;

Ἀμφιτρύων

μιᾶς ἅπαντα χειρὸς ἔργα σῆς τάδε.

Ἡρακλῆς

αἰαῖ· στεναγμῶν γάρ με περιβάλλει νέφος.
1140

Ἀμφιτρύων

τούτων ἕκατι σὰς καταστένω τύχας.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἦ γὰρ συνήραξʼ οἶκον ἢ βάκχευσʼ ἐμόν;

Ἀμφιτρύων

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· πάντα δυστυχεῖ τὰ σά.

Ἡρακλῆς

ποῦ δʼ οἶστρος ἡμᾶς ἔλαβε; ποῦ διώλεσεν;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὅτʼ ἀμφὶ βωμὸν χεῖρας ἡγνίζου πυρί.
1145

Ἡρακλῆς

οἴμοι· τί δῆτα φείδομαι ψυχῆς ἐμῆς

τῶν φιλτάτων μοι γενόμενος παίδων φονεύς;

κοὐκ εἶμι πέτρας λισσάδος πρὸς ἅλματα

ἢ φάσγανον πρὸς ἧπαρ ἐξακοντίσας

τέκνοις δικαστὴς αἵματος γενήσομαι;
1150

ἢ σάρκα τὴν ἔμηνεν ἐμπρήσας πυρί,

δύσκλειαν ἣ μένει μʼ ἀπώσομαι βίου;

ἀλλʼ ἐμποδών μοι θανασίμων βουλευμάτων

Θησεὺς ὅδʼ ἕρπει συγγενὴς φίλος τʼ ἐμός.

ὀφθησόμεσθα, καὶ τεκνοκτόνον μύσος
1155

ἐς ὄμμαθʼ ἥξει φιλτάτῳ ξένων ἐμῶν.

οἴμοι, τί δράσω; ποῖ κακῶν ἐρημίαν

εὕρω, πτερωτὸς ἢ κατὰ χθονὸς μολών;

φέρʼ ἄν τι κρατὶ περιβάλω σκότον.

αἰσχύνομαι γὰρ τοῖς δεδραμένοις κακοῖς·
1160

καὶ τῶνδε προστρόπαιον αἷμα προσλαβὼν

οὐδὲν κακῶσαι τοὺς ἀναιτίους θέλω.

Θησεύς

ἥκω σὺν ἄλλοις, οἳ παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ ῥοὰς

μένουσιν, ἔνοπλοι γῆς Ἀθηναίων κόροι,

σῷ παιδί, πρέσβυ, σύμμαχον φέρων δόρυ.
1165

κληδὼν γὰρ ἦλθεν εἰς Ἐρεχθειδῶν πόλιν

ὡς σκῆπτρα χώρας τῆσδʼ ἀναρπάσας Λύκος

ἐς πόλεμον ὑμῖν καὶ μάχην καθίσταται.

τίνων δʼ ἀμοιβὰς ὧν ὑπῆρξεν Ἡρακλῆς

σῴσας με νέρθεν, ἦλθον, εἴ τι δεῖ, γέρον,
1170

ἢ χειρὸς ὑμᾶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἢ συμμάχων.

ἔα·

τί νεκρῶν τῶνδε πληθύει πέδον;

οὔ που λέλειμμαι καὶ νεωτέρων κακῶν

ὕστερος ἀφῖγμαι; τίς τάδʼ ἔκτεινεν τέκνα;

τίνος γεγῶσαν τήνδʼ ὁρῶ ξυνάορον;
1175

οὐ γὰρ δορός γε παῖδες ἵστανται πέλας,

ἀλλʼ ἄλλο πού τι καινὸν εὑρίσκω κακόν.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὦ τὸν ἐλαιοφόρον ὄχθον ἔχων ἄναξ

Θησεύς

τί χρῆμά μʼ οἰκτροῖς ἐκάλεσας προοιμίοις;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἐπάθομεν πάθεα μέλεα πρὸς θεῶν.
1180

Θησεύς

οἱ παῖδες οἵδε τίνες, ἐφʼ οἷς δακρυρροεῖς;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἔτεκε μέν νιν οὑμὸς ἶνις τάλας,

τεκόμενος δʼ ἔκανε, φόνιον αἷμα τλάς.

Θησεύς

εὔφημα φώνει.

Ἀμφιτρύων

βουλομένοισιν ἐπαγγέλλῃ.
1185

Θησεύς

ὦ δεινὰ λέξας.

Ἀμφιτρύων

οἰχόμεθʼ οἰχόμεθα πτανοί.

Θησεύς

τί φῄς; τί δράσας;

Ἀμφιτρύων

μαινομένῳ πιτύλῳ πλαγχθεὶς

ἑκατογκεφάλου τε βαφαῖς ὕδρας.
1190

Θησεύς

Ἥρας ὅδʼ ἁγών· τίς δʼ ὅδʼ οὑν νεκροῖς, γέρον;

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἐμὸς ἐμὸς ὅδε γόνος ὁ πολύπονος, ὃς ἐπὶ

δόρυ γιγαντοφόνον ἦλθεν σὺν θεοῖ-

σι Φλεγραῖον ἐς πεδίον ἀσπιστάς.

Θησεύς

φεῦ φεῦ· τίς ἀνδρῶν ὧδε δυσδαίμων ἔφυ;
1195

Ἀμφιτρύων

οὐκ ἂν εἰδείης ἕτερον

πολυμοχθότερον πολυπλαγκτότερόν

τε θνατῶν.

Θησεύς

τί γὰρ πέπλοισιν ἄθλιον κρύπτει κάρα;

Ἀμφιτρύων

αἰδόμενος τὸ σὸν ὄμμα

καὶ φιλίαν ὁμόφυλον
1200

αἷμά τε παιδοφόνον.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ, εἰ συναλγῶν γʼ ἦλθον, ἐκκάλυπτέ νιν.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ὦ τέκνον· πάρες ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων

πέπλον, ἀπόδικε, ῥέθος ἀελίῳ δεῖξον.
1205

βάρος ἀντίπαλον, δακρύοις συναμιλλαταί,

ἱκετεύομεν ἀμφὶ γενειάδα καὶ

γόνυ καὶ χέρα σὰν προπίτνων, πολιόν τε

δάκρυον ἐκβάλλων· ἰὼ παῖ, κατά-
1210

σχεθε λέοντος ἀγρίου θυμόν, ὡς

βρόμον ἐπὶ φόνιον ἀνόσιον ἐξάγῃ,

κακὰ θέλων κακοῖς συνάψαι, τέκνον.

Θησεύς

εἶἑν· σὲ τὸν θάσσοντα δυστήνους ἕδρας

αὐδῶ, φίλοισιν ὄμμα δεικνύναι τὸ σόν.
1215

οὐδεὶς σκότος γὰρ ὧδʼ ἔχει μέλαν νέφος,

ὅστις κακῶν σῶν συμφορὰν κρύψειεν ἄν.

τί μοι προσείων χεῖρα σημαίνεις φόνον;

ὡς μὴ μύσος με σῶν βάλῃ προσφθεγμάτων;

οὐδὲν μέλει μοι σύν γε σοὶ πράσσειν κακῶς·
1220

καὶ γάρ ποτʼ εὐτύχησα. ἐκεῖσʼ ἀνοιστέον,

ὅτʼ ἐξέσῳσάς μʼ ἐς φάος νεκρῶν πάρα.

χάριν δὲ γηράσκουσαν ἐχθαίρω φίλων,

καὶ τῶν καλῶν μὲν ὅστις ἀπολαύειν θέλει,

συμπλεῖν δὲ τοῖς φίλοισι δυστυχοῦσιν οὔ.
1225

ἀνίστασʼ, ἐκκάλυψον ἄθλιον κάρα,

βλέψον πρὸς ἡμᾶς. ὅστις εὐγενὴς βροτῶν,

φέρει τά γʼ ἐκ θεῶν πτώματʼ οὐδʼ ἀναίνεται.

Ἡρακλῆς

Θησεῦ, δέδορκας τόνδʼ ἀγῶνʼ ἐμῶν τέκνων;

Θησεύς

ἤκουσα, καὶ βλέποντι σημαίνεις κακά.
1230

Ἡρακλῆς

τί δῆτά μου κρᾶτʼ ἀνεκάλυψας ἡλίῳ;

Θησεύς

τί δʼ; οὐ μιαίνεις θνητὸς ὢν τὰ τῶν θεῶν.

Ἡρακλῆς

φεῦγʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, ἀνόσιον μίασμʼ ἐμόν.

Θησεύς

οὐδεὶς ἀλάστωρ τοῖς φίλοις ἐκ τῶν φίλων.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐπῄνεσʼ· εὖ δράσας δέ σʼ οὐκ ἀναίνομαι.
1235

Θησεύς

ἐγὼ δὲ πάσχων εὖ τότʼ οἰκτίρω σε νῦν.

Ἡρακλῆς

οἰκτρὸς γάρ εἰμι τἄμʼ ἀποκτείνας τέκνα.

Θησεύς

κλαίω χάριν σὴν ἐφʼ ἑτέραισι συμφοραῖς.

Ἡρακλῆς

ηὗρες δέ γʼ ἄλλους ἐν κακοῖσι μείζοσιν;

Θησεύς

ἅπτῃ κάτωθεν οὐρανοῦ δυσπραξίᾳ.
1240

Ἡρακλῆς

τοιγὰρ παρεσκευάσμεθʼ ὥστε κατθανεῖν.

Θησεύς

δοκεῖς ἀπειλῶν σῶν μέλειν τι δαίμοσιν;

Ἡρακλῆς

αὔθαδες ὁ θεός, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς θεοὺς ἐγώ.

Θησεύς

ἴσχε στόμʼ, ὡς μὴ μέγα λέγων μεῖζον πάθῃς.

Ἡρακλῆς

γέμω κακῶν δή, κοὐκέτʼ ἔσθʼ ὅπῃ τεθῇ.
1245

Θησεύς

δράσεις δὲ δὴ τί; ποῖ φέρῃ θυμούμενος;

Ἡρακλῆς

θανών, ὅθενπερ ἦλθον, εἶμι γῆς ὕπο.

Θησεύς

εἴρηκας ἐπιτυχόντος ἀνθρώπου λόγους.

Ἡρακλῆς

σὺ δʼ ἐκτὸς ὤν γε συμφορᾶς με νουθετεῖς.

Θησεύς

ὁ πολλὰ δὴ τλὰς Ἡρακλῆς λέγει τάδε;
1250

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐκ οὖν τοσαῦτά γʼ, εἰ μέτρῳ μοχθητέον.

Θησεύς

εὐεργέτης βροτοῖσι καὶ μέγας φίλος;

Ἡρακλῆς

οἱ δʼ οὐδὲν ὠφελοῦσί μʼ, ἀλλʼ Ἥρα κρατεῖ.

Θησεύς

οὐκ ἄν σʼ ἀνάσχοιθʼ Ἑλλὰς ἀμαθίᾳ θανεῖν.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἄκουε δή νυν, ὡς ἁμιλληθῶ λόγοις
1255

πρὸς νουθετήσεις σάς· ἀναπτύξω δέ σοι

ἀβίωτον ἡμῖν νῦν τε καὶ πάροιθεν ὄν.

πρῶτον μὲν ἐκ τοῦδʼ ἐγενόμην, ὅστις κτανὼν

μητρὸς γεραιὸν πατέρα προστρόπαιος ὢν

ἔγημε τὴν τεκοῦσαν Ἀλκμήνην ἐμέ.
1260

ὅταν δὲ κρηπὶς μὴ καταβληθῇ γένους

ὀρθῶς, ἀνάγκη δυστυχεῖν τοὺς ἐκγόνους.

Ζεὺς δʼ — ὅστις ὁ Ζεύς — πολέμιόν μʼ ἐγείνατο

Ἥρᾳ — σὺ μέντοι μηδὲν ἀχθεσθῇς, γέρον·

πατέρα γὰρ ἀντὶ Ζηνὸς ἡγοῦμαι σὲ ἐγώ·
1265

ἔτʼ ἐν γάλακτί τʼ ὄντι γοργωποὺς ὄφεις

ἐπεισέφρησε σπαργάνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς

ἡ τοῦ Διὸς σύλλεκτρος, ὡς ὀλοίμεθα.

ἐπεὶ δὲ σαρκὸς περιβόλαιʼ ἐκτησάμην

ἡβῶντα, μόχθους οὓς ἔτλην τί δεῖ λέγειν;
1270

ποίους ποτʼ ἢ λέοντας ἢ τρισωμάτους

Τυφῶνας ἢ Γίγαντας ἢ τετρασκελῆ

κενταυροπληθῆ πόλεμον οὐκ ἐξήνυσα;

τήν τʼ ἀμφίκρανον καὶ παλιμβλαστῆ κύνα

ὕδραν φονεύσας μυρίων τʼ ἄλλων πόνων
1275

διῆλθον ἀγέλας κἀς νεκροὺς ἀφικόμην,

Ἅιδου πυλωρὸν κύνα τρίκρανον ἐς φάος

ὅπως πορεύσαιμʼ ἐντολαῖς Εὐρυσθέως.

τὸν λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδʼ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,

παιδοκτονήσας δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.
1280

ἥκω δʼ ἀνάγκης ἐς τόδʼ· οὔτʼ ἐμαῖς φίλαις

Θήβαις ἐνοικεῖν ὅσιον· ἢν δὲ καὶ μένω,

ἐς ποῖον ἱερὸν ἢ πανήγυριν φίλων

εἶμʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἄτας εὐπροσηγόρους ἔχω.

ἀλλʼ Ἄργος ἔλθω; πῶς, ἐπεὶ φεύγω πάτραν;
1285

φέρʼ ἀλλʼ ἐς ἄλλην δή τινʼ ὁρμήσω πόλιν;

κἄπειθʼ ὑποβλεπώμεθʼ ὡς ἐγνωσμένοι,

γλώσσης πικροῖς κέντροισι κλῃδουχούμενοι·

Οὐχ οὗτος ὁ Διός, ὃς τέκνʼ ἔκτεινέν ποτε

δάμαρτά τʼ; οὐ γῆς τῆσδʼ ἀποφθαρήσεται;
1290

κεκλημένῳ δὲ φωτὶ μακαρίῳ ποτὲ

αἱ μεταβολαὶ λυπηρόν· ᾧ δʼ ἀεὶ κακῶς

ἔστʼ, οὐδὲν ἀλγεῖ συγγενῶς δύστηνος ὤν.

ἐς τοῦτο δʼ ἥξειν συμφορᾶς οἶμαί ποτε·

φωνὴν γὰρ ἥσει χθὼν ἀπεννέπουσά με
1295

μὴ θιγγάνειν γῆς καὶ θάλασσα μὴ περᾶν

πηγαί τε ποταμῶν, καὶ τὸν ἁρματήλατον

Ἰξίονʼ ἐν δεσμοῖσιν ἐκμιμήσομαι.

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἄριστα μηδένʼ Ἑλλήνων μʼ ὁρᾶν,

ἐν οἷσιν εὐτυχοῦντες ἦμεν ὄλβιοι.
1300

τί δῆτά με ζῆν δεῖ; τί κέρδος ἕξομεν

βίον γʼ ἀχρεῖον ἀνόσιον κεκτημένοι;

χορευέτω δὴ Ζηνὸς ἡ κλεινὴ δάμαρ

κρόουσʼ Ὀλυμπίου Ζηνὸς ἀρβύλῃ πόδα.

ἔπραξε γὰρ βούλησιν ἣν ἐβούλετο,
1305

ἄνδρʼ Ἑλλάδος τὸν πρῶτον αὐτοῖσιν βάθροις

ἄνω κάτω στρέψασα. — τοιαύτῃ θεῷ

τίς ἂν προσεύχοιθʼ; ἣ γυναικὸς οὕνεκα

λέκτρων φθονοῦσα Ζηνὶ τοὺς εὐεργέτας

Ἑλλάδος ἀπώλεσʼ οὐδὲν ὄντας αἰτίους.
1310

Χορός

οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλου δαιμόνων ἀγὼν ὅδε

ἢ τῆς Διὸς δάμαρτος· εὖ τόδʼ αἰσθάνῃ.

Θησεύς

παραινέσαιμʼ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ πάσχειν κακῶς.

οὐδεὶς δὲ θνητῶν ταῖς τύχαις ἀκήρατος,

οὐ θεῶν, ἀοιδῶν εἴπερ οὐ ψευδεῖς λόγοι.
1315

οὐ λέκτρʼ ἐν ἀλλήλοισιν, ὧν οὐδεὶς νόμος,

συνῆψαν; οὐ δεσμοῖσι διὰ τυραννίδας

πατέρας ἐκηλίδωσαν; ἀλλʼ οἰκοῦσʼ ὅμως

Ὄλυμπον ἠνέσχοντό θʼ ἡμαρτηκότες.

καίτοι τί φήσεις, εἰ σὺ μὲν θνητὸς γεγὼς
1320

φέρεις ὑπέρφευ τὰς τύχας, θεοὶ δὲ μή;

Θήβας μὲν οὖν ἔκλειπε τοῦ νόμου χάριν,

ἕπου δʼ ἅμʼ ἡμῖν πρὸς πόλισμα Παλλάδος.

ἐκεῖ χέρας σὰς ἁγνίσας μιάσματος,

δόμους τε δώσω χρημάτων τʼ ἐμῶν μέρος.
1325

ἃ δʼ ἐκ πολιτῶν δῶρʼ ἔχω σώσας κόρους

δὶς ἑπτά, ταῦρον Κνώσιον κατακτανών,

σοὶ ταῦτα δώσω. πανταχοῦ δέ μοι χθονὸς

τεμένη δέδασται· ταῦτʼ ἐπωνομασμένα

σέθεν τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκ βροτῶν κεκλήσεται
1330

ζῶντος· θανόντα δʼ, εὖτʼ ἂν εἰς Ἅιδου μόλῃς,

θυσίαισι λαΐνοισί τʼ ἐξογκώμασι

τίμιον ἀνάξει πᾶσʼ Ἀθηναίων πόλις.

καλὸς γὰρ ἀστοῖς στέφανος Ἑλλήνων ὕπο

ἄνδρʼ ἐσθλὸν ὠφελοῦντας εὐκλείας τυχεῖν.
1335

κἀγὼ χάριν σοι τῆς ἐμῆς σωτηρίας

τήνδʼ ἀντιδώσω· νῦν γὰρ εἶ χρεῖος φίλων.

θεοὶ δʼ ὅταν τιμῶσιν, οὐδὲν δεῖ φίλων·

ἅλις γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ὠφελῶν, ὅταν θέλῃ.

Ἡρακλῆς

οἴμοι· πάρεργα μὲν τάδʼ ἔστʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν,
1340

ἐγὼ δὲ τοὺς θεοὺς οὔτε λέκτρʼ ἃ μὴ θέμις

στέργειν νομίζω, δεσμά τʼ ἐξάπτειν χεροῖν

οὔτʼ ἠξίωσα πώποτʼ οὔτε πείσομαι,

οὐδʼ ἄλλον ἄλλου δεσπότην πεφυκέναι.

δεῖται γὰρ ὁ θεός, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ὀρθῶς θεός,
1345

οὐδενός· ἀοιδῶν οἵδε δύστηνοι λόγοι.

ἐσκεψάμην δὲ καίπερ ἐν κακοῖσιν ὤν,

μὴ δειλίαν ὄφλω τινʼ ἐκλιπὼν φάος·

ταῖς συμφοραῖς γὰρ ὅστις οὐχ ὑφίσταται,

οὐδʼ ἀνδρὸς ἂν δύναιθʼ ὑποστῆναι βέλος.
1350

ἐγκαρτερήσω βίοτον· εἶμι δʼ ἐς πόλιν

τὴν σήν, χάριν τε μυρίων δώρων ἔχω.

ἀτὰρ πόνων δὴ μυρίων ἐγευσάμην·

ὧν οὔτʼ ἀπεῖπον οὐδένʼ οὔτʼ ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων

ἔσταξα πηγάς, οὐδʼ ἂν ᾠόμην ποτὲ
1355

ἐς τοῦθʼ ἱκέσθαι, δάκρυʼ ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων βαλεῖν·

νῦν δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τῇ τύχῃ δουλευτέον.

εἶἑν· γεραιέ, τὰς ἐμὰς φυγὰς ὁρᾷς,

ὁρᾷς δὲ παίδων ὄντα μʼ αὐθέντην ἐμῶν·

δὸς τούσδε τύμβῳ καὶ περίστειλον νεκροὺς
1360

δακρύοισι τιμῶν — ἐμὲ γὰρ οὐκ ἐᾷ νόμος —

πρὸς στέρνʼ ἐρείσας μητρὶ δούς τʼ ἐς ἀγκάλας,

κοινωνίαν δύστηνον, ἣν ἐγὼ τάλας

διώλεσʼ ἄκων. γῇ δʼ ἐπὴν κρύψῃς νεκρούς,

οἴκει πόλιν τήνδʼ, ἀθλίως μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως
1365

ψυχὴν βιάζου τἀμὰ συμφέρειν κακά.

ὦ τέκνʼ, ὁ φύσας καὶ τεκὼν ὑμᾶς πατὴρ

ἀπώλεσʼ, οὐδʼ ὤνασθε τῶν ἐμῶν καλῶν,

ἁγὼ παρεσκεύαζον ἐκμοχθῶν βίᾳ

εὔκλειαν ὑμῖν, πατρὸς ἀπόλαυσιν καλήν.
1370

σέ τʼ οὐχ ὁμοίως, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἀπώλεσα

ὥσπερ σὺ τἀμὰ λέκτρʼ ἔσῳζες ἀσφαλῶς,

μακρὰς διαντλοῦσʼ ἐν δόμοις οἰκουρίας.

οἴμοι δάμαρτος καὶ τέκνων, οἴμοι δʼ ἐμοῦ,

ὡς ἀθλίως πέπραγα κἀποζεύγνυμαι
1375

τέκνων γυναικός τʼ· ὦ λυγραὶ φιλημάτων

τέρψεις, λυγραὶ δὲ τῶνδʼ ὅπλων κοινωνίαι.

ἀμηχανῶ γὰρ πότερʼ ἔχω τάδʼ ἢ μεθῶ,

ἃ πλευρὰ τἀμὰ προσπίτνοντʼ ἐρεῖ τάδε·

Ἡμῖν τέκνʼ εἷλες καὶ δάμαρθʼ· ἡμᾶς ἔχεις
1380

παιδοκτόνους σούς. εἶτʼ ἐγὼ τάδʼ ὠλέναις

οἴσω; τί φάσκων; ἀλλὰ γυμνωθεὶς ὅπλων,

ξὺν οἷς τὰ κάλλιστʼ ἐξέπραξʼ ἐν Ἑλλάδι,

ἐχθροῖς ἐμαυτὸν ὑποβαλὼν αἰσχρῶς θάνω;

οὐ λειπτέον τάδʼ, ἀθλίως δὲ σῳστέον.
1385

ἕν μοί τι, Θησεῦ, σύγκαμʼ· ἀθλίου κυνὸς

κόμιστρʼ ἐς Ἄργος συγκατάστησον μολών,

λύπῃ τι παίδων μὴ πάθω μονούμενος.

ὦ γαῖα Κάδμου πᾶς τε Θηβαῖος λεώς,

κείρασθε, συμπενθήσατʼ, ἔλθετʼ ἐς τάφον
1390

παίδων· ἅπαντας δʼ ἑνὶ λόγῳ πενθήσετε

νεκρούς τε κἀμέ· πάντες ἐξολώλαμεν

Ἥρας μιᾷ πληγέντες ἄθλιοι τύχῃ.

Θησεύς

ἀνίστασʼ, ὦ δύστηνε· δακρύων δʼ ἅλις.

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· ἄρθρα γὰρ πέπηγέ μου.
1395

Θησεύς

καὶ τοὺς σθένοντας γὰρ καθαιροῦσιν τύχαι.

Ἡρακλῆς

φεῦ·

αὐτοῦ γενοίμην πέτρος ἀμνήμων κακῶν.

Θησεύς

παῦσαι· δίδου δὲ χεῖρʼ ὑπηρέτῃ φίλῳ.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἀλλʼ αἷμα μὴ σοῖς ἐξομόρξωμαι πέπλοις.

Θησεύς

ἔκμασσε, φείδου μηδέν· οὐκ ἀναίνομαι.
1400

Ἡρακλῆς

παίδων στερηθεὶς παῖδʼ ὅπως ἔχω σʼ ἐμόν.

Θησεύς

δίδου δέρῃ σὴν χεῖρʼ, ὁδηγήσω δʼ ἐγώ.

Ἡρακλῆς

ζεῦγός γε φίλιον· ἅτερος δὲ δυστυχής.

ὦ πρέσβυ, τοιόνδʼ ἄνδρα χρὴ κτᾶσθαι φίλον.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἡ γὰρ τεκοῦσα τόνδε πατρὶς εὔτεκνος.
1405

Ἡρακλῆς

Θησεῦ, πάλιν με στρέψον, ὡς ἴδω τέκνα.

Θησεύς

ὡς δὴ τί; φίλτρον τοῦτʼ ἔχων ῥᾴων ἔσῃ;

Ἡρακλῆς

ποθῶ· πατρός τε στέρνα προσθέσθαι θέλω.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἰδοὺ τάδʼ, ὦ παῖ· τἀμὰ γὰρ σπεύδεις φίλα.

Θησεύς

οὕτως πόνων σῶν οὐκέτι μνήμην ἔχεις;
1410

Ἡρακλῆς

ἅπαντʼ ἐλάσσω κεῖνα τῶνδʼ ἔτλην κακά.

Θησεύς

εἴ σʼ ὄψεταί τις θῆλυν ὄντʼ, οὐκ αἰνέσει.

Ἡρακλῆς

ζῶ σοι ταπεινός; ἀλλὰ πρόσθεν οὐ δοκῶ.

Θησεύς

ἄγαν γʼ· ὁ κλεινὸς Ἡρακλῆς οὐκ εἶ νοσῶν.

Ἡρακλῆς

σὺ ποῖος ἦσθα νέρθεν ἐν κακοῖσιν ὤν;
1415

Θησεύς

ὡς ἐς τὸ λῆμα παντὸς ἦν ἥσσων ἀνήρ.

Ἡρακλῆς

πῶς οὖν ἔτʼ εἴπης ὅτι συνέσταλμαι κακοῖς;

Θησεύς

πρόβαινε.

Ἡρακλῆς

χαῖρʼ, ὦ πρέσβυ.

Ἀμφιτρύων

καὶ σύ μοι, τέκνον.

Ἡρακλῆς

θάφθʼ ὥσπερ εἶπον παῖδας.

Ἀμφιτρύων

ἐμὲ δὲ τίς, τέκνον;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐγώ.
1420

Ἀμφιτρύων

πότʼ ἐλθών;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἡνίκʼ ἂν θάψῃς τέκνα.

Ἀμφιτρύων

πῶς;

Ἡρακλῆς

εἰς Ἀθήνας πέμψομαι Θηβῶν ἄπο.

ἀλλʼ ἐσκόμιζε τέκνα δυσκόμιστα γῇ·

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀναλώσαντες αἰσχύναις δόμον,

Θησεῖ πανώλεις ἑψόμεσθʼ ἐφολκίδες.

ὅστις δὲ πλοῦτον ἢ σθένος μᾶλλον φίλων
1425

ἀγαθῶν πεπᾶσθαι βούλεται, κακῶς φρονεῖ.

Χορός

στείχομεν οἰκτροὶ καὶ πολύκλαυτοι,

τὰ μέγιστα φίλων ὀλέσαντες.

Translations (2)

Hercules (OCR draft) Experimental (Hercules. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 1016 focus

Der Mord, welchen einst Argolis' Fels gesehn,¹

Der berühmteste war er in Hellas, der größte,²

Der Mord, den Danaos' Tochter verübt.³

Doch, was diesen Mord verdunkelte, der Mord,⁴
995

Durch den Prokne's armer einziger Sohn erlag, das königliche Kind,

Für euch, Musen, sag' ich, ward er vollbracht.⁵

Du, Zeus' hoher Sohn, du trafst dreier Söhne Haupt,⁶

Die du gezeugt, in wilden Wahnsinnes Wuth.

Um wen von diesen klag' ich,
1000

Um wen stimm' ich an Todtengesang oder ein Lied,

Dem Nachtgott geweiht?

(Die Thüren öffnen sich; man erblickt den Herakles zwischen den Leichen sizend und schlafend.)

O seht des gethürmten Palastes

Riegel, sie wanken geborsten: weh!

O seht vor dem Vater die Kinder,
1005

Kläglich vom Elenden hingestreckt,

Der nach dem Mord in grauenvollem Schlummer ruht!

O seht hier die Bande, der verschlungenen

Stricke Fesseln um Herakles' Glieder hier,

Rings befestigt an des Saales marmornen Säulen!
1010

Dort aber, gleich dem Vogel, der in bangem Schmerz

Der zarten Kinder Weh beklagt, dort naht der Greis,

Mit mattem Schritte bittern Gang beschleunigend.

Amphitryon. Der Chor.

Amphitryon.

Thebische Greise, wollt ihr nicht schweigend, schweigend

Ihn sein Misgeschick, nun er in Schlummer sank,
1015

Vergessen lassen?

Der Chor.

O Greis, dich beklag' ich und die Kinder und

Das siegreiche Haupt, ach! und die Zahre fließt.

Amphitryon.

Geht weiter fort von hinnen, kein Geräusch, ihr Alten, kein Geschrei!

Weckt aus der Ruhe nicht den süß schlummernden !⁷
1020

Weh! Welch schrecklicher Mord!

Ha, ihr werdet mich todten!

Erschreckt starrt er auf.

Ihr Alten, lasset leiser das Klagelied ertönen,

Daß nicht, aus dem Schlummer geweckt, er die Bande zerreißt,
1025

Und die Stadt und den Vater vertilgt und das Haus in den Grund stürzt!

Der Chor.

Ich kann nicht, ich kann nicht.

Amphitryon.

Still! Ob er athmet wohl...? Mein Ohr neig' ich hin.

Er schläft.

Ja, schläft unseligen Schlaf,

Er, der seinem Weibe den Tod gab, und den⁸
1030

Kindern den Tod gab, sendend den rauschenden Pfeil.

Beklage nun -

Ich klage.

Das Loos der Kinder

Weh mir!

Der Chor.

Und deines Sohnes.

Amphitryon.

Ach, Ach!

Der Chor.

Ach, Alter!
1035

Stille, stille!

Amphitryon.

Er wendet sich eben wieder, vom Schlummer erwacht.

Auf! In's Haus will ich schnell, will mich verbergen gehen.

Der Chor.

Getrost! Deines Sohn's Augen umhullt noch Nacht.

O sehet, sehet!

Amphitryon.

Dem Lichte der Sonne nocht' ich in dem Leide wohl
1040

Entfliehen; indes, tödtet er mich, den Vater,

Fügt er zum Leide das Leid, und muß

Den Erinnyen auch noch bußen die Blutschuld.⁹

Der Chor.

Da war's für dich zu sterben Zeit, als du den Mord

Der Brüder deines Weibes råchend heim¹⁰
1045

Zogest, nachdem du zerstört das meerumwogte Taphos.

Amphitryon.

Entflieht, entflieht, o Greise, flieht vom Hause weg!

Entweicht vor dem wuthenden Manne,

Der aus dem Schlummer erwacht !

Denn bald häuft er euch auf Mord andern Mord,¹¹
1050

Bedroht Kadmos' Stadt in Wahnsinnes Wuth.

Der Chor.

Was hast du deinem Sohne so maßlos gegrollt,

In solches Meer von Leiden ihn versenkt, o Zeus?

(Amphitryon und der Chor verbergen sich im Hintergrunde.)

Ha!

(erwachend).

Herakles

Ich athme noch und sehe, was ich sehen soll,

Erd', Himmel und des Sonnengottes Pfeile dort.
1055

Doch faßte mich's, wie Meeressturm: in gråßlichen

Wahnsinn des Geistes fiel ich: aus den Lungen ringt

Mein glúh'nder Odem langsam nun, nun schnell empor.

O sieh! Warum mit Stricken, wie das Schiff im Port,

Ist meine jugendliche Brust, mein starker Arm
1060

Gefesselt an der Marmorsäule Trümmer hier?¹²

Der Flügelpfeil, der Bogen liegt am Grund verstreut,

Der sonst an meinen Armen hing, mein Kampfgenoß,

Und der mich stets bewahrte, wie ich ihn bewahrt.

Wohl, scheint es, wohn' ich nahe hier dem Todtenreich,¹³
1065

Ach, oder kam ich wiederum in Hades' Haus,

Wohin Eurystheus mir zurückzugehn gebot.

Doch nicht den Felsen seh' ich hier des Sisyphos

Noch Pluton oder Persephassa's Herrscherstab.

Ich bin betaubt: wo bin ich, kenne nicht den Ort?
1070

Ho! Wer von meinen Freunden weilt fern oder nah,

Der mich entreißt dem Zweifel, mein Vergessen heilt?

Denn alles sonst Gewohnte ward mir unbekannt.

(der, wie der Chor, wieder hervorgetreten).

Amphitryon

Ihr Greise, soll ich meinem Leid entgegengehn?

Der Chor.

Ich gehe mit dir, bleibe dir im Leiden treu.¹⁴
1075

Herakles.

Was weinst du, Vater, was verhållst du dein Gesicht,

Und wendest fern von deinem theuren Sohn dich ab?

Amphitryon.

Mein Kind! Denn auch unglucklich bist du dennoch mein.

Herakles.

Und welches Herbe duld' ich, das dir Thränen weckt?

Amphitryon.

Was auch ein Gott beweinte, widerführ' es ihm.
1080

Herakles.

Ein prunkend Wort: doch welches Ungluck ist geschehn?

Amphitryon.

Du siehst es selber, wenn du jest dein machtig bist.

Herakles.

Sprich: klagst du neuer Frevelthat mein Leben an?

Amphitryon.

Ich werde sprechen, wenn die Mordwuth dich verließ.

Herakles.

Wuth hatte mich befallen? Nicht entsinn' ich mich.
1085

Amphitryon.

Noch jezt erwåg' ich, ob du ganz bei Sinnen bist.¹⁵

Herakles.

Argwohnisch sprachst du wiederum ein Rathselwort.¹⁶

Amphitryon.

Was thu' ich, Greise? Los' ich ihm der Fesseln Band?

Herakles.

Auch jenen nenne, der mich band: ich schame mich.

Amphitryon.

So viel vom Leid erfährst du: laß das Andre ruhn!
1090

Herakles.

So gnugt das Schweigen, um zu wissen, was ich will?¹⁷

Amphitryon.

Zeus! Siehst du hier, was uns von Hera's Throne kam?

Herakles.

Ward uns von ihr denn zugesandt ein feindlich Loos?

Amphitryon.

Sohn, laß die Göttin; sorge nur um deine Noth.

Herakles.

Ich bin verloren! Welches Ungluck nennst du mir?
1095

Amphitryon.

D siehe! Schau die Leichen deiner Kinder hier!

Herakles.

Weh! Welchen Anblick seh' ich Unglückseliger?

Amphitryon.

Graunvollen Krieg, Sohn, führst du wider dein Geschlecht.

Herakles.

Was sprichst du mir von Kriegen? Wer entseelte sie?

Amphitryon.

Du, deine Waffen und der Gott, der dies verhängt.
1100

Herakles.

Wie? Was begann ich? Vater, Unheil meldest du!

Amphitryon.

Du rastest! Unheil thu' ich kund, wie du's erfragst.

Herakles.

Und auch an meinem Weibe ward zum Mörder ich?

Amphitryon.

Dies Alles ward von Einer, deiner Hand vollbracht.

Herakles.

Weh, weh! Des Jammers distre Wolk' umlagert mich.
1105

Amphitryon.

Deßhalb, o Sohn, beklag' ich jammernd dein Geschick.

Herakles.

War's meine Wuth auch, die das Haus zertrümmerte?¹⁸

Amphitryon.

Nur Eines weiß ich, daß du ganz unglucklich bist.

Herakles.

Wo faßte mich das Wuthen? Wo verdarb es mich?

Amphitryon.

Als dich das Opfer am Altar entsündigte.
1110

Herakles.

Weh mir! Warum denn schon' ich meines Lebens noch,

Nachdem ich meine Liebsten, meine Söhn' erschlug,

Und sturze nicht von steilem Felsen mich hinab?

Warum mit scharfgezücktem Stahl durchbohr' ich nicht

Dies Herz, um so zu rächen meiner Kinder Blut?
1115

Warum verderb' ich diesen Leib in Flammen nicht,

Vom Leben tilgend alle Schmach, die meiner harrt? ..:

Doch hier erscheint, der meine Todesgedanken hemmt,

Theseus, mein Anverwandter und mein treuer Freund.

Er wird mich sehen, und des Kindermordes Graul
1120

Wird ihm vor Augen treten, meinem Theuersten.

Weh! Was beginnen? Wie, wohin vor meinem Leid

Entfliehn? Auf Schwingen oder in der Erde Nacht?

Auf! In's Gewand verhüllen will ich dieses Haupt;¹⁹

Denn Scham erfüllt mich, daß ich solche That verübt;
1125

Das Frevlerauge wend' ich nicht dem Reinen zu,²⁰

Will nicht den Unbefleckten zieh'n in meinen Tod!

Theseus mit Gefolge. Amphitryon. Herakles.

Theseus.

Ich kam mit Andern, welche bei Asopos' Flut

In Wehr gerüstet harren, Söhnen Attika's,

Der Waffen Beistand deinem Sohn zu bringen, Greis.
1130

Denn nach der Erechtheiden Stadt erscholl der Ruf,²¹

Es habe Lykos dieses Landes Thron geraubt,

Und sich erhoben wider euch zu Krieg und Schlacht.

Dankvoll vergeltend, was Herakles mir gethan,

Der mich erlåst vom Hades, kam ich, wenn, o Greis,
1135

Ihr meinen Arm und meine Streitmacht nothig habt.

Doch ach, warum bedecken Leichen hier den Grund?

Bin ich betrogen, kam zu spåt, dem neuen Leid

Nicht mehr zu wehren? Wer erschlug die Kinder hier?

Und wessen Weib war, welche dort mein Aug' erblickt?
1140

Zum Lanzenkampfe zieh'n ja Kinder nicht hinaus:

Nein, wohl ein andres großes Leid entdeck' ich hier.

Amphitryon.

Der du den Hügel, den slreichen, bewohnst, o Fürst!

Theseus.

Was rufst du mir und hebst so klåglich an, o Greis?

Amphitryon.

Ein unselig Loos sandten die Götter uns.
1145

Theseus.

Wer sind die Knaben, über die dein Auge weint?

Amphitryon.

Erzeugt, ach, erzeugt hat sie mein armer Sohn,

Und dann legt' er kühn an sie die Mörderhand.

Theseus.

Sprich gute Worte!

Amphitryon.

Was du verlangst, ich that' es so gern.

Theseus.

Du meldest Grauses!
1150

Amphitryon.

Alle dahin sind wir, im Fluge dahin!
1150

Theseus.

Was? Wie geschah's?

Amphitryon.

In des Wahnsinns Zuckungen tobt' er umher

Von der hundertköpfigen Hydra Gift.

Theseus.

Das ist der Hera Werk!

Doch wer sizt dort unter den Leichen, o Greis?

Amphitryon.

Mein, mein Sohn ist das, der vielbuldende, der
1155

Zu dem Gigantenkampf, Göttern verbündet, einst,

Den Schild am Arm, zog in's Phlegråerfeld.

Weh, weh!

Theseus.

Wo lebt ein Andrer, welcher gleich unglucklich ist?

Amphitryon.

Keinen Sterblichen findest du,

Der so vielfach litt, der so vielfach irrend umherzog.
1160

Theseus.

Warum in Schleiern birgt er sein unselig Haupt?

Amphitryon.

Dein Auge scheut er, des Freundes

Und des Verwandten, das Blut auch,

Das den gemordeten Kindern entströmt.

Theseus.

Ich kam ja mitzutrauern, Greis; enthull' ihn denn!
1165

Amphitryon.

Auf, mein Sohn, nimm vom Auge dein Gewand,

Und wirf es hin, zeige der Sonne den Blick!

Denn es kämpft mit dem Schmerze die Pflicht: so siege

Ich werse mich flehend hin,

die Pflicht!

Und fasse dir Kinn und das Knie und die Hånde, Sohn,
1170

Und die grauen Zahren entstromen mir.

Wohlan, Sohn, båndige

Den grimmen Löwensinn: er reißt

Zu mordathmender, unheiliger Wuth dich fort,

Und Leid willst du neu zu Leid fügen, Kind!
1175

Theseus.

Wohlauf! O du, der hier in banger Trauer sizt,

Dich rus ich, zeige deinen Blick den Freunden nun!

So schwarze Wolkenhulle hat ja keine Nacht,²²

Daß deines Jammers Höhe sie verbergen mag.

Warum, die Hand vorstreckend, zeigst du mir den Mord?
1180

Wohl, daß mich deine Rede nicht entheilige?

Unglück mit dir zu dulden, Freund, mich kummert's nicht.

Denn ich war einst auch glucklich; denk' an jene Zeit,

Als du vom Hades an das Licht uns rettetest.

Wie schmählich, wenn der Freunde Dankbarkeit erlischt,
1185

Und wenn man wohl am Glucke mitgenießen will,

Doch nicht im Ungluck mit dem Freund zu Schiffe gehn!

Erhebe dich, enthülle dein unselig Haupt,

Blick auf zu mir! Der hochgesinnte Sterbliche

Trågt ohne Widerstreben, was ein Gott verhängt.
1190
(er zieht ihm die Hülle vom Gesicht.)

Herakles.

Du sahst, o Theseus, meiner Kinder Todeskampf?

Theseus,

Mein Ohr vernahm's, dem Auge zeigst du hier das Leid.

Herakles.

Was hast du Phobos' Lichte dann mein Haupt enthüllt?

Theseus.

Was? Du verunreinst Götter nicht, ein Sterblicher.

Herakles.

Fleuch, Armer, mein unreines, fluchbeladnes Haupt!
1195

Theseus.

Nie wird des Freundes Nähe ja dem Freund zum Fluch.

Herakles.

Schön! Daß ich Gutes dir gethan, es reut mich nicht.

Theseus.

Mir ward von dir einst Gutes, drum bedaur' ich dich.

Herakles.

Der Söhne Mörder, bin ich wohl bedauernswerth.

Theseus.

Ich klag' um dich, daß deines Glückes Stern erlosch.
1200

Herakles.

Und fand'st du jemals einen Unglückseligern?

Theseus.

Bis an des Himmels Sterne reicht dein Mißgeschick.

Herakles.

Drum bin ich wohlbereitet, in den Tod zu gehn.

Theseus.

Du wahnst, die Gottheit kummern deine Drohungen?

Herakles.

Uns trozt der Himmel, und dem Himmel trozen wir.
1205

Theseus.

Still, daß du nicht, großsprechend, größ'res Leid erfährst!

Herakles.

Voll Leides bin ich, habe Raum für keines mehr.

Theseus.

Was aber willst du? Zornentbrannt wo sturmst du hin?

Herakles.

Todt wandl' ich in der Erde Schooß, woher ich kam.

Theseus.

Du sprachest eben, wie's gemeinen Menschen ziemt.
1210

Herakles.

Leicht magst du tadeln; stehst du doch dem Leide fern.

Theseus.

Das spricht Herakles, der soviel erduldete?

Herakles.

Doch nie so Schweres! Ist doch auch im Leiden Maß.

Theseus.

Der seinen Menschen wohlgethan, ihr großer Freund?

Herakles.

Bu nichts ja frommen diese mir, und Hera siegt.
1215

Theseus.

Nie duldet Hellas, daß du stirbst aus Unbedacht.

Herakles.

So hore, daß ich wider deine Mahnungen

Mit Gründen kämpfe! Zeigen will ich dir sofort,

Mir war das Leben weder jezt noch früher hold.

Zuerst entsproß ich diesem Mann: er mordete
1220

Der Mutter greisen Vater, und, mit Blut befleckt,

Vermählt' er sich Alkmenen, welche mich gebar.

Ward so des Hauses erster Grund nicht wohl gelegt,

So trifft die Nachgebornen auch nothwendig Fluch.

Zeus, wer er sein mag, dieser Zeus, erzeugt' in mir
1225

Ein Kind, gehaßt von Hera; doch du zurne nicht:

Dich acht' ich meinen Vater, nicht den Zeus, o Greis.

Am Mutterbusen lag ich noch, da sandte mir

Des Zeus Gemahlin grauenvolle Schlangen zu

In meine Wiege, mir zu Tod und Untergang.
1230

Doch spåter, als ich aufgebluht in Jugendkraft,

Was soll ich sagen, welche Müh'n ich da bestand?

Welch grimme Löwen, welches Graun dreileibiger

Typhonen und Giganten und vierfüßiger

Kentauren überwältigt' ich im Kampfe nicht!
1235

Die Hydra, die mit hundert Häuptern ewig neu

Aufwuchs, erschlug ich, andrer Müh'n zahllose Schaar

Durchkampft' ich ruhmvoll, stieg in's Todtenreich hinab,

Den Hund mit treifach offnem Schlund an Hades' Thor

An's Licht zu führen, wie's Eurystheus mir gebot.
1240

Zulezt vollbracht' ich diese That: ich mordete

Die Söhne, daß des Leides Maaß voll sei daheim.

Nun will mein Unglück, daß ich nicht mehr wohnen darf

In meiner lieben Theberstadt; doch, blieb ich auch,

In welchen Tempel tråt' ich, welchen Freundeskreis?
1245

Anreden darf mich Keiner ja in meinem Leid.

Soll ich nach Argos? Aber wie? Ich bin verbannt.

Wohlan, so wend' ich einer andern Stadt mich zu!

Dort treffen scheele Blicke mich als wohlbekannt,

Und schmåhend faßt der Zungen bittrer Stachel mich:²³
1250

„Das ist ja Zeus' Sohn, der die Kinder einst erschlug

Und seine Gattin! Heb' er sich aus diesem Land!"

Wohl ist dem Manne, den man einst als glucklich pries,

Der Wechsel bitter: wem es immer übel geht,

Der fühlt den Schmerz nicht; denn die Noth wuchs auf mit ihm.
1255

Zu solchem Unheil, ahn' ich, kommt es noch mit mir:

Die Erde ruft mir wehrend: „nicht beruhre mich!"

Mir wehrt das Meer, der Ströme Quellen wehren mir,

Will ich hinuber, und dem angefesselten

Irion werd' ich gleichen, den umschwingt das Rad.
1260

Wohl ist das Beste, sieht mich kein Hellene mehr,²⁴

Wo mir in guten Tagen einst das Gluck gelacht.

Was soll ich fortan leben? Was gewonne mir

Ein thatenloses Leben, das den Fluch verwirkt?

Zeus' stolze Gattin hupse denn lautjubelnd auf,²⁵
1265

Mit goldner Sohle stampfe sie des Himmels Saal:²⁶

Sie hat ja nun errungen, was sie stets gewollt,

Den ersten Mann von Hellas in den Staub gestürzt,

In Grund hinab geschmettert! Wer verehrte noch

Solch eine Göttin, die des Kronos hohem Sohn
1270

Um eines Weibes Liebe grollt, und Griechenlands

Wohlthåter mordet, welche Nichts verschuldeten?

Theseus.

Des Zeus Gemahlin ist es, und kein andrer Gott,

Die solchen Kampf gesendet: wohl erkennst du das!

Doch unverlezt vom Schicksal ist kein Sterblicher,
1275

Der Götter keiner, lugen uns die Sånger nicht.

Vereinten sich in unerlaubtem Liebesbund

Nicht einst die Götter? Schlugen sie um Herrschermacht

Den Vater nicht in Bande? Dennoch wohnen sie

In Himmelshöhen, ihrer Schuld sich kuhn bewußt.
1280

Und nun was sagst du, wenn nur du, der Sterbliche,

Unmåßig grollst dem Schicksal, und die Götter nicht?

Ermahnen will ich lieber als elend dich sehn.²⁷

So räume Theba, weil der Brauch es also will,

Und folge mir zu Pallas' hochgepries'ner Stadt.
1285

Dort wasch' ich deine Hände rein von Sundenschuld,

Und geb' ein Haus und meines Schazes Hälfte dir.

Und was die Stadt mir, als ich Knossos' Stier erschlug,²⁸

Und ihr die zweimal sieben Sohn' errettete,

Geschenkt, es sei dein eigen: überall im Land
1290

Sind mir Gefilde zugetheilt: die nennt hinfort

Nach deinem Namen alle Welt, so lang du lebst.

Nach deinem Tode, wann du gingst in Hades' Haus,

Da wird mit Opfern und erhabnem Marmorgrab

Die ganze Stadt Athene's dich verherrlichen.
1295

Denn herrlich schmuckt von Hellas' Volke sie der Kranz

Des Ruhmes, daß sie wohlgethan dem tapfern Mann.

Ich aber will für meine Rettung also dir

Den Dank bezahlen; jezo thun dir Freunde noth.

Wenn Götter hold sind, dann bedarf's der Freunde nicht;
1300

Allein genugt ja, wenn er helfen will, der Gott.

Herakles.

Ha, weh mir! Fremd klingt alles dies für meine Noth.

Ich glaube nicht, daß Götter unerlaubter Lust

Sich freuten, noch daß Gotterhand je Fesseln trug,

Noch daß Gebieter einer war des anderen:
1305

Nie glaubt' ich Etwas dieser Art, noch glaub' ich's je.

Denn Nichts bedarf doch, ist er wahrhaft Gott, ein Gott:

Das Alles sind armsel'ge Dichtermåhrchen nur.

Indeß besorg' ich, wenn ich auch im Leide bin,

Für feig zu gelten, scheid' ich ab vom Sonnenlicht.
1310

Denn wer dem Ungluck nicht beherzt entgegentritt,

Der mag auch eines Mannes Wehr nicht widerstehn.

Ich will dem Tode trozen, eil' in deine Stadt,

Und weiß für deine Gaben dir unendlich Dank.

Wohl hab' ich Leiden ohne Zahl schon durchgekämpft,
1315

Und keines floh ich, keines auch hat Zahren mir

Entlockt, ich glaubte nimmermehr zu solcher Schmach,

Daß Thränen mir entstromten, je mich aufbewahrt !

Nun muß ich, scheint es, unterthan dem Schicksal sein.

Wohlan! Du siehst, o Vater, daß ich fliehen muß,
1320

Siehst, daß ich selbst der Mörder meiner Söhne ward:

Gib sie dem Grabe, schmucke wohl die Leichname,

Und ehre sie mit Thränen, (mir verwehrt's der Brauch!)

Und leg' an ihrer Mutter Brust und Arme sie,

O süßer Bund voll Schmerzen, den ich unbewußt
1325

Zerriß, ich Armer! Wenn du sie im Grabe bargst,

Dann wohn' in diesen Mauern, wenn unglucklich auch,

Doch zwinge dich und theile muthig mein Geschick.

O Kinder, der euch zeugte, der euch Leben gab,

Der gab den Tod euch, ihr genoßt des Glückes nicht,
1330

Das ich in schweren Kämpfen euch måhvoll gewann,

Euch Ruhm erstritt, des Vatererbes schönstes Theil!

Und, Arme, dich auch mordet' ich, vergalt dir nicht,

Daß du die Gattenliebe mir so treu bewahrt,

So lang in unsers Hauses Hut mir ausgeharrt!
1335

Weh, meine Gattin, meine Söhn', und wehe mir!

Wie ganz unselig ward ich, muß mich trennen nun

Von Weib und Kindern! O du schmerzlich suße Lust

Der Küsse! Schmerzlich süßer Bund mit meiner Wehr!

Behalt' ich euch, ihr Waffen, oder lass ich euch,
1340

Die, meine Seiten schlagend, stets mir rufen: „Weib

Und Sohn' erschlugest du mit uns, und trågest uns,

Die Kindermorder!" Und ich wollt' in meinem Arm

Euch tragen? Wie beschönt' ich's? Doch getrennt von euch,

Mit welchen ich in Hellas Großes ausgeführt,
1345

Soll ich in Schande sterben durch des Feindes Hand?

Bleibt denn, behalten muß ich euch zu meiner Qual!

In Einem, Theseus, hilf mir noch: geleite mich

Nach Argos, (dorthin tragen wir den Kerberos,)

Daß mich verlass'nen Vater nicht mein Gram verzehrt.
1350

Land des Kadmos, alles Volk der Theber, auf!

Scheert eure Locken, trauert mit, wallt hin zum Grab

Der Kinder, alle jammert in vereintem Schmerz

Um mich und diese Todten: denn Verderben traf

Uns all' in Einem schweren Schlag durch Here's Zorn.
1355

Theseus.

Erhebe dich: der Thränen, Armer, sind genug!

Herakles.

O Freund, ich kann nicht; meine Glieder sind erstarrt.

Theseus.

Auch starker Männer Nacken beugt das Misgeschick.

Herakles.

O wurd' ich hier zum Felsen, den kein Leid berührt!

Theseus.

Laß ab und gib dem dienstbereiten Freund die Hand!
1360

Herakles.

Daß ich mit Blut nur nicht beflecke dein Gewand!

Theseus.

Befleck' es immer, ohne Scheu: ich wehr' es nicht!

Herakles.

Beraubt der Söhne, sind' ich meinen Sohn in dir.

Theseus.

Schling' um den Nacken mir die Hand, ich führe dich.

Herakles.

Ein Freundespaar! Den Einen aber beugt das Leid.
1365

O Greis, zum Freund gewinnen muß man solchen Mann.

Amphitryon.

Viel edle Söhne zeugt das Land, das ihn gebar.

Herakles.

Theseus, o laß mich Einmal noch die Kinder sehn!

Theseus.

Wohl, Freund, ein Zauber, der das Herz dir leichter macht?

Herakles.

Ich wunsch' es; gern umarmt' ich auch den Vater noch.
1370

Amphitryon.

Komm, Lieber! Was du wunschest, ist auch mir erwunscht.

Theseus.

So bist du deiner Thaten nicht mehr eingedenk?

Herakles.

Keins meiner Leiden war so groß, als diese sind.

Theseus.

Sieht Einer dich so weibisch, lobt er's wahrlich nicht.

Herakles.

Dir gelt' ich schwach wohl? Früher schien's nicht also dir.²⁹
1375

Theseus.

Gar sehr! Der große Hérakles, wo kam er hin?³⁰

Herakles.

Was warest du denn, als dich drunten Leid umfing?

Theseus.

An Muthe war ich schwacher als der schwächste Mann.

Herakles.

Wie magst du denn noch sagen, daß mich Leid gebeugt?

Theseus.

Komm!
1380

Herakles.

Lebe wohl, mein Vater!

Amphitryon.

Und auch du, mein Sohn!

Herakles.

Begrabe du die Söhne, wie ich schon gesagt.

Amphitryon.

Doch wer bestattet mich, o Kind?

Herakles.

Ich.

Amphitryon.

Wann erscheinst du?

Herakles.

Wenn du sie bestattet hast.

Amphitryon,

Und wie?

Herakles.

Von Theben hol' ich dich zu Pallas' Stadt.

Doch birg in's Grab die Kinder, wenn's auch bitter schmerzt.
1385

Ich, der sein Haus vernichtet durch schmachvolle That,

Ich folge Theseus, wie am Schlepptau folgt der Kahn.

Wer lieber Reichthum oder Macht gewinnen, will,.

Als edler Freunde treuen Schuz, der denkt verkehrt.

Der Chor.

Lieftrauernd und leidvoll gehen wir hin,
1390

Von dem måchtigsten Freunde verlassen.

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Chorus Leader But he, the aged father, like mother-bird wailing her unfledged brood, comes hastening here with halting steps on his bitter journey. 1040

Amphitryon Softly, softly! you aged sons of Thebes , let him sleep on and forget his sorrows.

Chorus For you, old friend, I weep and mourn, for the children too and that victorious chief. 1045

Amphitryon Stand further off, make no noise nor outcry, do not rouse him from his calm deep slumber. 1050

Chorus O horrible! all this blood—

Amphitryon Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.

Chorus That he has spilled is rising up against him.

Amphitryon Gently raise your dirge of woe, old friends; or he will wake, and, bursting his bonds, destroy the city, rend his father, and dash his house to pieces. 1055

Chorus I cannot, cannot—

Amphitryon Hush! let me note his breathing; come, let me put my ear close. 1060

Chorus Is he sleeping?

Amphitryon Yes, he is sleeping, a deadly sleepless sleep, having slain wife and children with the arrows of his twanging bow.

Chorus Ah! mourn— 1065

Amphitryon Indeed I do.

Chorus The children’s death—

Amphitryon Ah me!

Chorus And your own son’s doom.

Amphitryon Alas!

Chorus Old friend—

Amphitryon Hush! hush! he is turning over, he is waking! Oh! let me hide myself, concealed beneath the roof. 1070

Chorus Courage! darkness still holds your son’s eye.

Amphitryon Oh beware! it is not that I shrink from leaving the light after my miseries, poor wretch! but if should he slay me, his father, then he will be devising mischief on mischief, and to the avenging curse will add a parent’s blood. 1075

Chorus Well for you if you had died in that day, when, for your wife, you went forth to exact vengeance for her slain brothers by sacking the Taphians’ sea-beat town. 1080

Amphitryon Fly, fly, my aged friends, from before the palace, escape his waking fury. Or soon he will heap up fresh slaughter on the old, ranging wildly once more through the streets of Thebes . 1085

Chorus Leader O Zeus, why have you shown such savage hate against your own son and plunged him in this sea of troubles?

Amphitryon My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?

Chorus Leader Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble. 1110

Heracles Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?

Amphitryon My child! mine still, for all your misery.

Heracles Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?

Amphitryon That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it. 1115

Heracles A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.

Amphitryon Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.

Heracles Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.

Amphitryon I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.

Heracles Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite! 1120

Amphitryon I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.

Heracles I have no recollection of being mad.

Amphitryon Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?

Heracles Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.

Amphitryon Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego. 1125

Heracles No. for is silence sufficient to learn what I wish?

Amphitryon O Zeus, do you behold these deeds proceeding from the throne of Hera?

Heracles What! have I suffered something from her enmity?

Amphitryon A truce to the goddess! attend to your own troubles.

Heracles I am undone; you will tell me some mischance. 1130

Amphitryon See here the corpses of your children.

Heracles O horror! what sight is here? ah me!

Amphitryon My son, against your children you have waged unnatural war.

Heracles War! what do you mean? who killed these?

Amphitryon You and your bow and some god, whoever is to blame. 1135

Heracles What are you saying? what have I done? Speak, father, you messenger of evil!

Amphitryon You were insane; it is a sad explanation you are asking.

Heracles Was it I that slew my wife also?

Amphitryon Your own unaided arm has done all this.

Heracles Alas! a cloud of mourning wraps me round. 1140

Amphitryon For this reason I lament your fate.

Heracles Did I dash my house to pieces in my frenzy?

Amphitryon I know nothing but this, that you are utterly undone.

Heracles Where did the madness seize me? where did it destroy me?

Amphitryon When you were purifying yourself with fire at the altar. 1145

Amphitryon O king, whose home is that olive-clad hill!

Theseus Why this piteous prelude in addressing me?

Amphitryon The gods have afflicted us with grievous suffering. 1180

Theseus Whose are these children, over whom you weep?

Amphitryon My own son’s children, woe is him! he was their father and butcher both, hardening his heart to the bloody deed.

Theseus Hush! good words only!

Amphitryon I would I could obey! 1185

Theseus What dreadful words!

Amphitryon Fortune has spread her wings, and we are ruined, ruined.

Theseus What do you mean? what has he done?

Amphitryon Slain them in a wild fit of frenzy with arrows dipped in the venom of the hundred-headed hydra. 1190

Theseus This is Hera’s work; but who lies there among the dead, old man?

Amphitryon My son, my own enduring son, that marched with gods to Phlegra’s plain, there to battle with giants and slay them, warrior that he was.

Theseus Ah, ah! whose fortune was ever so cursed as his? 1195

Amphitryon Never will you find another mortal that has suffered more or been driven harder.

Theseus Why does he veil his head, poor wretch, in his robe?

Amphitryon He is ashamed to meet your eye; his kinsman’s kind intent and his children’s blood make him abashed. 1200

Chorus Leader

But he, the aged father, like mother-bird wailing

her unfledged brood, comes hastening here with halting steps on his bitter journey.
1040

Amphitryon

Softly, softly! you aged sons of Thebes , let him sleep on and forget his sorrows.

Chorus

For you, old friend, I weep and mourn, for the children too and that victorious chief.
1045

Amphitryon

Stand further off, make no noise nor outcry, do not rouse him from his calm

deep slumber.
1050

Chorus

O horrible! all this blood—

Amphitryon

Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.

Chorus

That he has spilled is rising up against him.

Amphitryon

Gently raise your dirge of woe, old friends;

or he will wake, and, bursting his bonds, destroy the city, rend his father, and dash his house to pieces.
1055

Chorus

I cannot, cannot—

Amphitryon

Hush! let me note his breathing;

come, let me put my ear close.
1060

Chorus

Is he sleeping?

Amphitryon

Yes, he is sleeping, a deadly sleepless sleep, having slain wife and children with the arrows of his twanging bow.

Chorus

Ah! mourn—
1065

Amphitryon

Indeed I do.

Chorus

The children’s death—

Amphitryon

Ah me!

Chorus

And your own son’s doom.

Amphitryon

Alas!

Chorus

Old friend—

Amphitryon

Hush! hush! he is turning over, he is waking! Oh!

let me hide myself, concealed beneath the roof.
1070

Chorus

Courage! darkness still holds your son’s eye.

Amphitryon

Oh beware! it is not that I shrink from leaving the light after my miseries, poor wretch! but if should he slay me, his father,

then he will be devising mischief on mischief, and to the avenging curse will add a parent’s blood.
1075

Chorus

Well for you if you had died in that day, when, for your wife, you went forth to exact vengeance for her slain brothers

by sacking the Taphians’ sea-beat town.
1080

Amphitryon

Fly, fly, my aged friends, from before the palace, escape his waking fury. Or soon he will heap up fresh slaughter on the old,

ranging wildly once more through the streets of Thebes .
1085

Chorus Leader

O Zeus, why have you shown such savage hate against your own son and plunged him in this sea of troubles?

Amphitryon

My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?

Chorus Leader

Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble.
1110

Heracles

Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?

Amphitryon

My child! mine still, for all your misery.

Heracles

Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?

Amphitryon

That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it.
1115

Heracles

A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.

Amphitryon

Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.

Heracles

Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.

Amphitryon

I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.

Heracles

Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite!
1120

Amphitryon

I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.

Heracles

I have no recollection of being mad.

Amphitryon

Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?

Heracles

Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.

Amphitryon

Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego.
1125

Heracles

No. for is silence sufficient to learn what I wish?

Amphitryon

O Zeus, do you behold these deeds proceeding from the throne of Hera?

Heracles

What! have I suffered something from her enmity?

Amphitryon

A truce to the goddess! attend to your own troubles.

Heracles

I am undone; you will tell me some mischance.
1130

Amphitryon

See here the corpses of your children.

Heracles

O horror! what sight is here? ah me!

Amphitryon

My son, against your children you have waged unnatural war.

Heracles

War! what do you mean? who killed these?

Amphitryon

You and your bow and some god, whoever is to blame.
1135

Heracles

What are you saying? what have I done? Speak, father, you messenger of evil!

Amphitryon

You were insane; it is a sad explanation you are asking.

Heracles

Was it I that slew my wife also?

Amphitryon

Your own unaided arm has done all this.

Heracles

Alas! a cloud of mourning wraps me round.
1140

Amphitryon

For this reason I lament your fate.

Heracles

Did I dash my house to pieces in my frenzy?

Amphitryon

I know nothing but this, that you are utterly undone.

Heracles

Where did the madness seize me? where did it destroy me?

Amphitryon

When you were purifying yourself with fire at the altar.
1145

Amphitryon

O king, whose home is that olive-clad hill!

Theseus

Why this piteous prelude in addressing me?

Amphitryon

The gods have afflicted us with grievous suffering.
1180

Theseus

Whose are these children, over whom you weep?

Amphitryon

My own son’s children, woe is him! he was their father and butcher both, hardening his heart to the bloody deed.

Theseus

Hush! good words only!

Amphitryon

I would I could obey!
1185

Theseus

What dreadful words!

Amphitryon

Fortune has spread her wings, and we are ruined, ruined.

Theseus

What do you mean? what has he done?

Amphitryon

Slain them in a wild fit of frenzy

with arrows dipped in the venom of the hundred-headed hydra.
1190

Theseus

This is Hera’s work; but who lies there among the dead, old man?

Amphitryon

My son, my own enduring son, that marched with gods to Phlegra’s plain, there to battle with giants and slay them, warrior that he was.

Theseus

Ah, ah! whose fortune was ever so cursed as his?
1195

Amphitryon

Never will you find another mortal that has suffered more or been driven harder.

Theseus

Why does he veil his head, poor wretch, in his robe?

Amphitryon

He is ashamed to meet your eye;

his kinsman’s kind intent and his children’s blood make him abashed.
1200

Theseus

But I come to sympathize; uncover him.

Heracles

O Theseus, did you see this struggle with my children?