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Deianira
248
Ill CEchalia then
Hath my Alcides been this long, long time?
Lie. Not so : in Lydia (as himself reports)
Was he detained a slave. So Jove ordained ;
And who shall blame the high decrees of Jove ?
Sold to barbarian Omphale, he served
Twelve tedious months ; ill brooked he the foul shame.
Then in his wrath he made a solemn vow
He would revenge the wrong on the base author,
And bind in chains his >vife and all his race :
Nor fruitless the resolve, for when the year
Of slavery past had expiated the crime
Imputed, soon with gathered force he mai'ched
'Gainst the devoted Eurytus, the cause
Within his palace he had erst received
Alcides, but with bitterest taunts reviled him,
Boasting, in spite of his all-conquering arrows,
His son's superior skill, and Siiid a slave
Like him should bend beneath a freeman's power ;
Then, midst the banquet's mirth, inflamed with wine,
Cast forth his ancient guest. This to revenge
When Iphitus to search his pastured steeds
Came to Tyrinthia, Hercules surprised,
And, as he turned his wandering eyes aside.
Hurled headlong from the mountain's top. Great Jov
Father of men, from high Olympus saw
And disapproved the deed, unworthy him
Who ne'er before by fraud destroyed his foes ;
With open force had he revenged the wrong
Jove had forgiven, but violence concealed
250
The gods abhoi-, and therefore was he sold
250
To slavery. Eurytus' unhappy sons
250
Were punished too, and dwell in Erebus ;
250
Their city is destroyed, and they, whom here
250
Thou seest, from freedom and prosperity.
250
Reduced to wretchedness. To thee they come,
250
Such was Alcides' will ; which I, his slave.
250
Have faithfully performed. Himself ere long
250
Thou shalt behold, whon to paternal Jove
250
He hath fultilled his vows. Thus my long tale
250
Ends with the welcomest news which thou couklst
250
hear :
250
Alcides comes !
250
Ill CEchalia then
Hath my Alcides been this long, long time?
Lie. Not so : in Lydia (as himself reports)
Was he detained a slave. So Jove ordained ;
And who shall blame the high decrees of Jove ?
Sold to barbarian Omphale, he served
Twelve tedious months ; ill brooked he the foul shame.
Then in his wrath he made a solemn vow
He would revenge the wrong on the base author,
And bind in chains his >vife and all his race :
Nor fruitless the resolve, for when the year
Of slavery past had expiated the crime
Imputed, soon with gathered force he mai'ched
'Gainst the devoted Eurytus, the cause
Within his palace he had erst received
Alcides, but with bitterest taunts reviled him,
Boasting, in spite of his all-conquering arrows,
His son's superior skill, and Siiid a slave
Like him should bend beneath a freeman's power ;
Then, midst the banquet's mirth, inflamed with wine,
Cast forth his ancient guest. This to revenge
When Iphitus to search his pastured steeds
Came to Tyrinthia, Hercules surprised,
And, as he turned his wandering eyes aside.
Hurled headlong from the mountain's top. Great Jov
Father of men, from high Olympus saw
And disapproved the deed, unworthy him
Who ne'er before by fraud destroyed his foes ;
With open force had he revenged the wrong
Jove had forgiven, but violence concealed
250
The gods abhoi-, and therefore was he sold
250
To slavery. Eurytus' unhappy sons
250
Were punished too, and dwell in Erebus ;
250
Their city is destroyed, and they, whom here
250
Thou seest, from freedom and prosperity.
250
Reduced to wretchedness. To thee they come,
250
Such was Alcides' will ; which I, his slave.
250
Have faithfully performed. Himself ere long
250
Thou shalt behold, whon to paternal Jove
250
He hath fultilled his vows. Thus my long tale
250
Ends with the welcomest news which thou couklst
250
hear :
250
Alcides comes !
250
Trachiniae. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.