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Deianira
Oh ! do not, I beseech thee by that power
490
Whose thunders roll o'er CEta's lofty grove,
490
Do not conceal the truth. Thou speakst to one
490
Not unexperienced in the ways of men —
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To one who knows we cannot always joy
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In the same object. 'Tis an idle task
490
To take up arms against all-powerful love :
Love which commands the gods. Love conquered me,
And wherefore should it not subdue another,
Whose nature and whose passions are the same?
If my Alcides is indeed oppressed
With this sad malady, I blame him not ;
That were a folly. Nor this hapless maid,
Who meant no ill, no injury to me.
'Tis not for this I speak. But, mark me well ;
If thou wert taught by him to utter falsehood,
A vile and shameful lesson didst thou learn ;
And if thou art thy own instructor, know
Thou shalt seem wicked e'en when most sincere,
And never be believed. Speak then the truth ;
For to be branded with the name of liar
Is ignominy fit for slaves alone.
And not for thee. Nor think thou canst conceal it ;
Those who have heard the tale will tell it nie.
If fear deters thee, thou hast little cause ;
For to susi>ect his falsehood is my grief —
To know it, none. Already have I seen
Alcides' heart estranged to other loves,
Yet did no rival ever hear from me
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One bitter word, nor will 1 now reproach
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This wretched slave, e'en though she pines for him
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With strongest love. Alas ! I pity her.
495
Whose beauty thus hath been the fatal cause
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Of all her misery, laid her country waste,
And brought her here, far from her native land,
A helpless captive. But no more of this;
Only remember, if thou must be false,
Be false to others, but be true to me.
Oh ! do not, I beseech thee by that power
490
Whose thunders roll o'er CEta's lofty grove,
490
Do not conceal the truth. Thou speakst to one
490
Not unexperienced in the ways of men —
490
To one who knows we cannot always joy
490
In the same object. 'Tis an idle task
490
To take up arms against all-powerful love :
Love which commands the gods. Love conquered me,
And wherefore should it not subdue another,
Whose nature and whose passions are the same?
If my Alcides is indeed oppressed
With this sad malady, I blame him not ;
That were a folly. Nor this hapless maid,
Who meant no ill, no injury to me.
'Tis not for this I speak. But, mark me well ;
If thou wert taught by him to utter falsehood,
A vile and shameful lesson didst thou learn ;
And if thou art thy own instructor, know
Thou shalt seem wicked e'en when most sincere,
And never be believed. Speak then the truth ;
For to be branded with the name of liar
Is ignominy fit for slaves alone.
And not for thee. Nor think thou canst conceal it ;
Those who have heard the tale will tell it nie.
If fear deters thee, thou hast little cause ;
For to susi>ect his falsehood is my grief —
To know it, none. Already have I seen
Alcides' heart estranged to other loves,
Yet did no rival ever hear from me
495
One bitter word, nor will 1 now reproach
495
This wretched slave, e'en though she pines for him
495
With strongest love. Alas ! I pity her.
495
Whose beauty thus hath been the fatal cause
495
Of all her misery, laid her country waste,
And brought her here, far from her native land,
A helpless captive. But no more of this;
Only remember, if thou must be false,
Be false to others, but be true to me.
Trachiniae. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.