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Lycus
Amphitryon, it is high time you came forth from the palace; you have been too long arraying yourselves in the robes and trappings of the dead. Come, bid the wife and children of Heracles
show themselves outside the house, to die on the conditions you yourselves offered.
705
Amphitryon, it is high time you came forth from the palace; you have been too long arraying yourselves in the robes and trappings of the dead. Come, bid the wife and children of Heracles
show themselves outside the house, to die on the conditions you yourselves offered.
705
Amphitryon
Lord, you persecute me in my misery and heap insult upon me over and above the loss of my son; you should have been more moderate in your zeal, though you are my lord and master.
But since you impose death’s necessity on me, I must acquiesce; what you wish must be done.
710
Lord, you persecute me in my misery and heap insult upon me over and above the loss of my son; you should have been more moderate in your zeal, though you are my lord and master.
But since you impose death’s necessity on me, I must acquiesce; what you wish must be done.
710
Lycus
Now, where is Megara? where are the children of Alcmena’s son?
Now, where is Megara? where are the children of Alcmena’s son?
Amphitryon
She, I believe, so far as I can guess from outside—
She, I believe, so far as I can guess from outside—
Lycus
What grounds do you have to base your fancy on?
What grounds do you have to base your fancy on?
Amphitryon
Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar’s hallowed steps—
715
Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar’s hallowed steps—
715
Lycus
Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life.
Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life.
Amphitryon
And calling on her dead husband, in vain.
And calling on her dead husband, in vain.
Lycus
He is nowhere near, and he certainly will never come.
He is nowhere near, and he certainly will never come.
Amphitryon
No, unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead.
No, unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead.
Lycus
Go to her and bring her from the palace.
720
Go to her and bring her from the palace.
720
Amphitryon
By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder.
By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder.
Lycus
Since you have this scruple, I, who have left fear behind, will myself bring out the mother and her children. Follow me, servants,
that we may joyfully put an end to this delay of our work.
725
Exit Lycus.
Since you have this scruple, I, who have left fear behind, will myself bring out the mother and her children. Follow me, servants,
that we may joyfully put an end to this delay of our work.
725
Amphitryon
Then go your way along the path of fate; for what remains, maybe another will provide. Expect for your evil deeds to find some trouble yourself. Ah! my aged friends, he is marching fairly to his doom; soon will he lie entangled in the snare
of the sword, thinking to slay his neighbors, the villain! I will go, to see him fall dead; for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his misdeeds affords pleasurable feelings.
730
Exit Amphitryon.
Then go your way along the path of fate; for what remains, maybe another will provide. Expect for your evil deeds to find some trouble yourself. Ah! my aged friends, he is marching fairly to his doom; soon will he lie entangled in the snare
of the sword, thinking to slay his neighbors, the villain! I will go, to see him fall dead; for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his misdeeds affords pleasurable feelings.
730
Chorus
Evil has changed sides; he who was once a mighty king is now turning his life backward into the road to Hades. Hail to you! Justice and heavenly retribution.
735
At last have you reached the goal where your death will pay the penalty, for your insults against your betters.
740
Joy makes my tears burst forth. He has come back—
which I never once thought in my heart would happen—the prince of the land.
745
Come, old friends, let us look within to see if someone has met the fate I hope.
Evil has changed sides; he who was once a mighty king is now turning his life backward into the road to Hades. Hail to you! Justice and heavenly retribution.
735
At last have you reached the goal where your death will pay the penalty, for your insults against your betters.
740
Joy makes my tears burst forth. He has come back—
which I never once thought in my heart would happen—the prince of the land.
745
Come, old friends, let us look within to see if someone has met the fate I hope.
Lycus
(within)
Ah me! ah me!
750
Ah me! ah me!
750
Chorus
Ha! how sweet to hear that opening note of his within the house; death is not far off him now. The prince cries out, wailing a prelude of death.
Ha! how sweet to hear that opening note of his within the house; death is not far off him now. The prince cries out, wailing a prelude of death.
Lycus
(within)
O kingdom of Cadmus, I am perishing by treachery!
O kingdom of Cadmus, I am perishing by treachery!
Chorus
You were yourself for making others perish; endure your retribution; it is only the penalty of your own deeds you are paying.
755
Who was he, only a mortal, that aimed his silly saying at the blessed gods of heaven with impious blasphemy, maintaining that they are weaklings after all?
Old friends, our godless foe is now no more.
760
The house is still; let us turn to the dance.
Yes, for fortune smiles upon my friends as I desire.
You were yourself for making others perish; endure your retribution; it is only the penalty of your own deeds you are paying.
755
Who was he, only a mortal, that aimed his silly saying at the blessed gods of heaven with impious blasphemy, maintaining that they are weaklings after all?
Old friends, our godless foe is now no more.
760
The house is still; let us turn to the dance.
Yes, for fortune smiles upon my friends as I desire.
Heracles. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.