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Hercules
Then listen to me, for the time is come
When thou must prove thy.self indeed my son.
Know, Jove, my heavenly sire, long since foretold
I was not born to perish by the hand
Of living man, but from some habitant
Of Pluto's dark abode should meet my fate.
The centaur Nessus — so was it fulfilled —
Though dead destroyed me. But I'll tell thee more,
New oracles confirmed the old, for know
When to the Selli's sacred grove I came —
The wandering priests who o'er the mountains roam,
And rest their wearied limbs on the cold ground —
An ancient oak prophetic did declare
That if I lived to this decisive hour,
Here all my labours, all my toils should end.
I thought it told me I should live in peace.
Alas ! it only meant that I must die.
For death will put an end to every care.
Since thus it is, my son, thou too must join
To ease Alcides. Let me not reproach thee,
But yield thy willing aid, nor e'er forget
The best of laws, obedience to a father.
Then listen to me, for the time is come
When thou must prove thy.self indeed my son.
Know, Jove, my heavenly sire, long since foretold
I was not born to perish by the hand
Of living man, but from some habitant
Of Pluto's dark abode should meet my fate.
The centaur Nessus — so was it fulfilled —
Though dead destroyed me. But I'll tell thee more,
New oracles confirmed the old, for know
When to the Selli's sacred grove I came —
The wandering priests who o'er the mountains roam,
And rest their wearied limbs on the cold ground —
An ancient oak prophetic did declare
That if I lived to this decisive hour,
Here all my labours, all my toils should end.
I thought it told me I should live in peace.
Alas ! it only meant that I must die.
For death will put an end to every care.
Since thus it is, my son, thou too must join
To ease Alcides. Let me not reproach thee,
But yield thy willing aid, nor e'er forget
The best of laws, obedience to a father.
Trachiniae. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.