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Hyllus

Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk

I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees.
1180

Heracles

First of all, put your right hand in mine.

Hyllus

With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?

Heracles

Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!

Hyllus

Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.

Heracles

Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
1185

Hyllus

To do what deed? May this also be revealed?

Heracles

To perform for me the task that I shall impose.

Hyllus

I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.

Heracles

And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.

Hyllus

I shall not suffer, since I will keep it. Yet so I pray.
1190

Heracles

Good, then do you know the summit of Oeta, Zeus’s sacred mountain?

Hyllus

I know it. I have often stood on that height to sacrifice.

Heracles

Then, you must carry my body there after raising it up in your own hands, aided by as many of our friends as you require;

and when you have cut many a branch from the deep-rooted oak and chopped down many a sturdy wild-olive, you must lay my body on them and with a flaming pine-torch burn it.
And let no tear of mourning show itself there.
1195

No, do this without laments or tears, if you are indeed my son. But if you fail to do this, even from the world below my curse and my wrath shall await you for ever.
1200

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1892.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Trachiniae (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 5: The Trachiniae. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1892. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1179 focus

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν

τοιάνδ᾽ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δ᾽ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.
1180

ΗΡ.

ἔμβαλλε ἔμβαλε ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι.

ΥΛ.

ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδ᾽ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις ;

ΗΡ.

οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδ᾽ ἀπιστήσεις ἀπιστήσησ προστήσηισ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

ΤΡΑΧΙΝΙΑΙ.

ΥΛ.

ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

ΗΡ.

ὄμνυ ὄμνυμι Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα.
1185

ΥΛ.

ἢ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδ᾽ ἐξειρήσεται;

ΗΡ.

ἢ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

ΥΛ.

ὄμνυμ᾽ ἔγωγε, Ζῆν ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

ΗΡ.

εἰ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

ΥΛ.

οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ. εὔχομαι δ᾽ ὅμως.
1190

ΗΡ.

οἶσθ᾽ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον ;

ΥΛ.

οἶδ᾽, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

ΗΡ.

ἐνταῦθά νυν ἐνταῦθα νῦν χρὴ τοὐμὸν ἐξάραντά σε ἐξαιρέντά σε ἐξάραντά σε

σῶμ᾿ αὐτόχειρα, καὶ ξὺν οἷς χρήζεις φίλων,

πολλὴν μὲν ὕλην τῆς βαθυρρίζου δρυὸς
1195

κείραντα, πολλὸν δ᾽ ἄρσεν᾽ ἐκτεμόνθ᾽ ὁμοῦ

ἄγριον ἔλαιον ἐλαιὸν ἔλαιον, σῶμα τοὐμὸν ἐμβαλεῖν,

καὶ πευκίνης λαβόντα λαμπάδος σέλας

πρῆσαι. γόου δὲ μηδὲν εἰσίτω δάκρυ·

ἀλλ᾽ ἀστένακτος κἀδάκρυτος, εἴπερ εἶπερ εἴπερ εἶ
1200

τοῦδ᾽ ἀνδρός, ἔρξον· εἰ δὲ μή, μενῶ σ᾽ ἐγὼ

καὶ νέρθεν ὢν ἀραῖος εἰσαεὶ βαρύς.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΥΛ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1179 focus

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν

τοιάνδʼ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δʼ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.
1180

Ἡρακλῆς

ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι·

Ὕλλος

ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδʼ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις;

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδʼ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

Ὕλλος

ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

Ἡρακλῆς

ὄμνυ Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα,
1185

Ὕλλος

ἦ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδʼ ἐξειρήσεται;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἦ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

Ὕλλος

ὄμνυμʼ ἔγωγε, Ζῆνʼ ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

Ἡρακλῆς

εἰ δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

Ὕλλος

οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ· εὔχομαι δʼ ὅμως·
1190

Ἡρακλῆς

οἶσθʼ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον;

Ὕλλος

οἶδʼ, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐνταῦθά νυν χρὴ τοὐμὸν ἐξάραντά σε

σῶμʼ αὐτόχειρα καὶ ξὺν οἷς χρῄζεις φίλων.

πολλὴν μὲν ὕλην τῆς βαθυρρίζου δρυὸς
1195

κείραντα, πολλὸν δʼ ἄρσενʼ ἐκτεμόνθʼ ὁμοῦ

ἄγριον ἔλαιον, σῶμα τοὐμὸν ἐμβαλεῖν,

καὶ πευκίνης λαβόντα λαμπάδος σέλας

πρῆσαι. γόου δὲ μηδὲν εἰσίτω δάκρυ,

ἀλλʼ ἀστένακτος κἀδάκρυτος, εἴπερ εἶ
1200

τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, ἔρξον· εἰ δὲ μή, μενῶ σʼ ἐγὼ

καὶ νέρθεν ὢν ἀραῖος εἰσαεὶ βαρύς.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1179 focus

Thy mother is not here, but by the shore

Of Tiryns hath obtained a dwelling-place;

And of thy sons, some she hath with her there,

And some inhabit Thebè’s citadel.
1180

But we who are with thee, sire, if there be aught
1180

That may by us be done, will hear, and do.
1180

HER

Then hearken thou unto this task, and show

If worthily thou art reputed mine.

Now is time to prove thee. My great father

Forewarned me long ago that I should die

By none who lived and breathed, but from the will

Of one now dwelling in the house of death.

And so this Centaur, as the voice Divine

Then prophesied, in death hath slain me living.

And in agreement with that ancient word

I now interpret newer oracles

Which I wrote down on going within the grove

Of the hill-roving and earth-couching Selli,—

Dictated to me by the mystic tongue

Innumerous, of my Father’s sacred tree;

Declaring that my ever instant toils

Should in the time that new hath being and life

End and release me. And I look’d for joy.

But the true meaning plainly was my death.—

No labour is appointed for the dead.—

Then, since all argues one event, my son,

Once more thou must befriend me, and not wait

For my voice goading thee, but of thyself

Submit and second my resolve, and know

Filial obedience for thy noblest rule.

HYL

I will obey thee, father, though my heart

Sinks heavily in approaching such a theme.

HER

Before aught else, lay thy right hand in mine.

HYL

Why so intent on this assurance, sire?

HER

Give it at once and be not froward, boy.
1185

HYL

There is my hand: I will gainsay thee nought.

HER

Swear by the head of him who gave me life.

HYL

Tell me the oath, and I will utter it.

HER

Swear thou wilt do the thing I bid thee do.

HYL

I swear, and make Zeus witness of my troth.
1190

HER

But if you swerve, pray that the curse may come.

HYL

It will not come for swerving:—but I pray.

HER

Now, dost thou know on Oeta’s topmost height

The crag of Zeus?

HYL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1179 focus

Mir bangt, o Vater, daß du mir mit solchem Wort

Entgegentratest; doch befolg' ich dein Gebot.

Herakles.

So reiche mir vor Allem deine Rechte dar.

Hylos.

Wozu begehrst du solch ein Unterpfand von mir?
1160

Herakles.

Du willst damit noch säumen, folgst mir nicht sogleich?

Hyllos.

Hier hast du meine Rechte, sich, unweigerlich.

Herakles.

Bei'm Haupte meines Vaters Zeus beschwöre nun

Hylos.

Wie soll ich schwören? Sagst du mir dies nicht zugleich?

Herakles.

Das Werk mir auszurichten, das mein Wort gebeut.
1165

Hyllos.

Wohlan, ich schwör' es; höre Zeus auf meinen Eid!

Herakles.

Und schwürst du Meineid, rufe Fluch auf dich herab.

Hyllos.

Mich trifft er nicht; doch - lüg' ich, sei dies Haupt verflucht!

Herakles.

Du kennst des Oeta höchste Höh'n, den Siz des Zeus?

Hyllos.

Wohl; oft ja stand ich droben schon als Opferer.
1170

Herakles.

Auf diese Höhen trage jezt mit eigner Hand

Und auserles'ner Freunde Schaar des Vaters Leib;

Hier hauet viele Stämme tiefgewurzelter

Waldeichen, schneidet aus zugleich viel starkes Holz

Vom wilden Delbaum, und darauf legt meinen Leib;
1175

Sofort der sicht'nen Fackel Glut ergreift und dann

Verbrennt ihn; nicht des Grames Zähre darf ihm nah'n:

Nein, ohne Seufzer, ohne Thränen richt' es aus,

Bist du des Vaters ächter Sohn; sonst harr' ich dein

Auch noch in Hades' Hause stets mit schwerem Fluch.
1180

Hyllos.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1179 focus

Alcmena 's gone

To Tyrinth. With her many of thy sons

Remain. Some dwell at Thebes, the rest are here,
1180

And wait with me to hear and to obey thee.
1180

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.

Hyllus

Thy words affright me ; but declare thy

purpose —

Behold me ready to perform thy orders

Whate'er they be.

Hercules

First give me then thy hand.

Hyllus

But why this pledge, and wherefore ansious

thus

Dost thou require it?

Hercules

Wilt thou give it me
1185

Or dost refuse?
1185

Hyllus

There, take it ; I obey.

Hercules

First swear then by the head of Jove my bire.

Hyllus

I will ; but what ?

Hercules

Swear that thou wilt perform

All I enjoin thee.

Hyllus

Bear me witness, Jove !
1190

I swear.
1190

Hercules

And imprecate the wrath divine

If thou performst it not.

Hyllus

I shall not fail ;

But if I do, may vengeance swift o'ertake me !

Hercules

Tliou knowst the top of QEta's sacred hill.

Hyllus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1179 focus

I tremble at the words thy mournful state

Declaring; but thy will shall be obey'd.
1180

Hercules

First give me thy right hand.

Hyllus

This pledge of faith

Why thus demanded ?

Hercules

Wilt thou give it strait, Cl

And not oppose my will?

Nothing shall be refus'd.

Of Jove my father swear.

I stretch it, see;

Now by the head

Hyllus

To do what deed?

Speak, and receive my faith.

Hercules

What I command.
1185

Hyllus

Swear to perform

I swear; be witness, Jove.!-

Hercules

If thou art false, call vengeance on thy head.

Hyllus

I fear not vengeance, I will do the deed;

Yet be the awful imprecation made...

Hercules

Know'st thou the highest point of Cta's mount

Hyllus

Sacred to Jove?
1190

I know it well, for oft
1190

‘The victim have I offer’d on that mount,
1190

Hercules

Thither this body it behoves thee now

With thine own hands to bear, and with such friends

As thou shalt need; there raise an ample pile,

Much from the deeply-rooted oak, and much

From the wild olive hewn; and on it place

This body; waving then the blazing torch,

Set it on fire; and let no mark of grief

Attend the deed; but, if thou art my son,

Do it without a groan, without a tear;

Else shall my curse amidst the realms beneath

Await thee, and hang heavy on thy heart.

Hyllus

Ah me, my father, what hast thou enjoin'd!

Hercules

What must be done: if not, some other deem

Thy father, and be call'd my son no more.

Hyllus

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-609-1 ἀλλ’, ὦ πάτερ ¹

mvp-comment-609-2 ταρβῶ μὲν ² λόγου στάσιν τοιάνδε ³ ἐπελθών ⁴ λόγου ⁵

mvp-comment-609-3 Throughout the dialogue (1114—1156), Hyllus has been gentle and respectful. If, then,

στάσιν

means ‘strife,’

ἐπελθών

must mean merely, ‘having advanced up to it,’ i.e., ‘come to the verge of it.’ But the clause with

μέν

, opposed to

πε<*>σομαι δέ

, ought to express something which tells against obedience (as the fear of a blind promise does); not something which tells in favour of it, as the fear of strife would do. The same objection applies to conjecturing

ἐπελθεῖν

(‘I am afraid of being drawn into such a strife’).

mvp-comment-610-1 ἔμβαλλε ⁶

mvp-comment-611-1 ὡς πρός τί ⁷

mvp-comment-611-2 ἐπιστρέφεις ⁸

mvp-comment-612-1 οὐ θᾶσσον ⁹

mvp-comment-612-2 οἴσεις ¹⁰

mvp-comment-613-1 ὄμνυ … κάρα ¹¹

mvp-comment-614-1 ἐξειρήσεται ¹²

mvp-comment-615-1 ἐπώμοτον ¹³

mvp-comment-616-1 ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις ¹⁴

mvp-comment-617-1 οὐ μὴ λάβω ¹⁵

mvp-comment-618-1 τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς … πάγον ¹⁶ ὕψιστον ¹⁷ ὑψίστου ¹⁸

mvp-comment-618-2 The place traditionally known as the ‘Pyre’ was probably somewhere near ‘the proper summit of Oeta’ (Leake, Northern Greece, vol. II. pp. 19 f.), now Mount Patriótiko, about eight miles W.N.W. of Trachis. A Pyra is marked in Kiepert's Atlas von Hellas (ed. 1872, map 5), where the greatest height of Oeta is given as 2152 mètres, or about 7055 ft. It is mentioned by Theophr. Hist. Plant. 9. 10. 2 (

τῆς Οἵτης ἀμφὶ τὴν Πυράν

): cp. Liv.36. 30 , and Soph. Ph.1432.

mvp-comment-619-1 θυτήρ ¹⁹ γε ²⁰

mvp-comment-619-2 σταθεὶς ²¹

mvp-comment-620-1 ἐνταῦθα ²² ἐξάραντα ²³

mvp-comment-621-1 καὶ ²⁴ αὐτόχειρα ²⁵

mvp-comment-622-1 The pyre is to be built with (1) oak, sacred to Zeus (1168); and (2) the wild olive, which Heracles himself had brought to Greece: Paus.5. 7. 7

κομισθῆναι δὲ ἐκ τῆς Ὑπερβορέων γῆς τὸν κότινόν φασιν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἡρακλέους ἐς Ἕλληνας

. Pindar, in treating that legend, uses the generic word,

ἐλαία

, O. 3. 13. Pliny H. N. 16. 89

Olympiae oleaster, ex quo primus Hercules coronatus est:

where he also mentions that, near Heracleia in Pontus, were

quercus duae ab Hercule satae.

mvp-comment-622-2 κείραντα ²⁶ ἄγριον ἔλαιον ²⁷ ἄρσενα ²⁸

mvp-comment-622-3 πολλὸν ²⁹ σῶμα τοὐμὸν ³⁰

mvp-comment-623-1 πευκίνης ³¹

mvp-comment-623-2 πρῆσαι ³²

mvp-comment-623-3 εἰσίτω ³³

mvp-comment-623-4 The ordinary

ἐκφορά

was attended by wailing; but these obsequies, like those of the priests in Legg. 947 B, were to be

χωρὶς θρήνων καὶ ὀδυρμῶν

. Cp. Manoah's words in Samson Agonistes (1708), ‘Come, come; no time for lamentation now.’

mvp-comment-624-1 ἀστένακτος ³⁴ εἴπερ εἶ ³⁵

mvp-comment-624-2 μενῶ σ’ ἐγὼ ³⁶

mvp-comment-624-3 εἰσαεὶ ³⁷

mvp-comment-624-4 βαρύς ³⁸

mvp-comment-624-5 1203 The hiatus τί εἶπας ³⁹ τί μ’ εἶπας ⁴⁰ δ’ ⁴¹

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

1179. mvp-comment-837-1 ἐς λόγου στάσιν | τοιάνδε] The edd. compare O. Τ. 634, 5, στάσιν | γλώσσης, and would translate, Into such a debate.' But Hyllus, who is prepared to obey his father to the uttermost in all things possible, does not at this moment anticipate the contention which follows, though his promise of obedience is accompanied by a natural fear. It seems therefore better, with Dobree (who renders, 'In hujusmodi colloquium delatus') to take στάσιν in the simpler meaning of 'position,' and λόγου ας gen. of definition, and to translate, 'I tremble at having reached the point where I must speak of such things.' So the Schol. Hyllus is awestruck by his father's anticipation of death and by the tone which he has assumed.

1182. mvp-comment-838-1 πίστιν τήνδε] Cp. Ο. C. 1632, δός μοι χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ἀρχαίαν τέκνοις. ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις] 'Do you urge on me so vehemently?' Musgrave proposed ἐπιστρέφει, 'Dost thou regard?' Perhaps rightly.

1183. mvp-comment-839-1 οἴσεις] Sc. τὴν πίστιν.

1185. mvp-comment-840-1 ὄμνυ Διός νυν] The postponement of the particle νυν is due to the strong emphasis on the two first words.

1188. mvp-comment-841-1 ἐπώμοτον] Although the passive voice of ὄμνυμι is not used, the verbal adjective has here the passive sense of Sworn by.'

1191. mvp-comment-842-1 τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς . . πάγον] 'The height of Oeta, sacred to Zeus.' For the two genitives, cp. Ant. 1204, λιθόστρωτον κόρης | νυμφεῖον ῞Αιδου. ὕψιστον] Some edd., following Wakefield, read ὑψίστου, a change which, though harmless (cp. Phil. 1289), is unnecessary. The topmost height of Oeta was most suitable for the purpose which Heracles had in view.

1192. mvp-comment-843-1 ὡς .. σταθείς] ‘As having stood.' θυτήρ] 'In the act of sacrifice.'

1194. mvp-comment-844-1 αὐτόχειρα . . φίλων] • With your own hands, assisted by whom you will of your friends.'

1195-1196. mvp-comment-845-1 ὕλην. . κείραντα] These words are applicable, not to the hewing of timber, but to the lopping of such smaller boughs and brushwood as would be suitable for the pyre. The wild-olive, on the other hand, is to be cut down to the root. For δρυός, cp. supr. 766.

1196. mvp-comment-846-1 πολλόν] Cp. Ant. 86, πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει. ἄρσεν'] Herm. quotes Ovid, Fast. 4, 741, 'ure mares oleas,' where others read 'maris rorem,' but gives no other authority for the distinction between male and female olive-trees. The wild olive, associated with Heracles in connection with Olympia, may be called ἄρσην, because rougher and harder than the cultivated and fruitful tree.

1199. mvp-comment-847-1 εἰσίτω] Sc. τῷ ἔργῳ. 'Come in,' to interfere with the just rite.

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Hyllus Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees. 1180

Heracles First of all, put your right hand in mine.

Hyllus With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?

Heracles Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!

Hyllus Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.

Heracles Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter! 1185

Hyllus To do what deed? May this also be revealed?

Heracles To perform for me the task that I shall impose.

Hyllus I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.

Heracles And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.

Hyllus I shall not suffer, since I will keep it. Yet so I pray. 1190

Heracles Good, then do you know the summit of Oeta, Zeus’s sacred mountain?

Hyllus I know it. I have often stood on that height to sacrifice.

Current edition Experimental

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν τοιάνδ᾽ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δ᾽ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ. 1180

ΗΡ. ἔμβαλλε ἔμβαλε ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι.

ΥΛ. ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδ᾽ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις ;

ΗΡ. οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδ᾽ ἀπιστήσεις ἀπιστήσησ προστήσηισ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

ΤΡΑΧΙΝΙΑΙ.

ΥΛ. ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

ΗΡ. ὄμνυ ὄμνυμι Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα. 1185

ΥΛ. ἢ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδ᾽ ἐξειρήσεται;

ΗΡ. ἢ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

ΥΛ. ὄμνυμ᾽ ἔγωγε, Ζῆν ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

ΗΡ. εἰ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

ΥΛ. οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ. εὔχομαι δ᾽ ὅμως. 1190

ΗΡ. οἶσθ᾽ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον ;

ΥΛ. οἶδ᾽, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ

ΥΛ.

Ὕλλος ἀλλʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν τοιάνδʼ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δʼ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ. 1180

Ἡρακλῆς ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι·

Ὕλλος ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδʼ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις;

Ἡρακλῆς οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδʼ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

Ὕλλος ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

Ἡρακλῆς ὄμνυ Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα, 1185

Ὕλλος ἦ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδʼ ἐξειρήσεται;

Ἡρακλῆς ἦ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

Ὕλλος ὄμνυμʼ ἔγωγε, Ζῆνʼ ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

Ἡρακλῆς εἰ δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

Ὕλλος οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ· εὔχομαι δʼ ὅμως· 1190

Ἡρακλῆς οἶσθʼ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον;

Ὕλλος οἶδʼ, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

Thy mother is not here, but by the shore Of Tiryns hath obtained a dwelling-place; And of thy sons, some she hath with her there, And some inhabit Thebè’s citadel. 1180 But we who are with thee, sire, if there be aught 1180 That may by us be done, will hear, and do. 1180

HYL I will obey thee, father, though my heart Sinks heavily in approaching such a theme.

HER Before aught else, lay thy right hand in mine.

HYL Why so intent on this assurance, sire?

HER Give it at once and be not froward, boy. 1185

HYL There is my hand: I will gainsay thee nought.

HER Swear by the head of him who gave me life.

HYL Tell me the oath, and I will utter it.

HER Swear thou wilt do the thing I bid thee do.

HYL I swear, and make Zeus witness of my troth. 1190

HER But if you swerve, pray that the curse may come.

HYL It will not come for swerving:—but I pray.

HER Now, dost thou know on Oeta’s topmost height The crag of Zeus?

HYL

Mir bangt, o Vater, daß du mir mit solchem Wort Entgegentratest; doch befolg' ich dein Gebot.

Herakles. So reiche mir vor Allem deine Rechte dar.

Hylos. Wozu begehrst du solch ein Unterpfand von mir? 1160

Herakles. Du willst damit noch säumen, folgst mir nicht sogleich?

Hyllos. Hier hast du meine Rechte, sich, unweigerlich.

Herakles. Bei'm Haupte meines Vaters Zeus beschwöre nun

Hylos. Wie soll ich schwören? Sagst du mir dies nicht zugleich?

Herakles. Das Werk mir auszurichten, das mein Wort gebeut. 1165

Hyllos. Wohlan, ich schwör' es; höre Zeus auf meinen Eid!

Herakles. Und schwürst du Meineid, rufe Fluch auf dich herab.

Hyllos. Mich trifft er nicht; doch - lüg' ich, sei dies Haupt verflucht!

Herakles. Du kennst des Oeta höchste Höh'n, den Siz des Zeus?

Hyllos. Wohl; oft ja stand ich droben schon als Opferer. 1170

Hyllos.

Alcmena 's gone To Tyrinth. With her many of thy sons Remain. Some dwell at Thebes, the rest are here, 1180 And wait with me to hear and to obey thee. 1180

Hyllus Thy words affright me ; but declare thy purpose — Behold me ready to perform thy orders Whate'er they be.

Hercules First give me then thy hand.

Hyllus But why this pledge, and wherefore ansious thus Dost thou require it?

Hercules Wilt thou give it me 1185 Or dost refuse? 1185

Hyllus There, take it ; I obey.

Hercules First swear then by the head of Jove my bire.

Hyllus

Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk

I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees.
1180

Heracles

First of all, put your right hand in mine.

Hyllus

With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?

Heracles

Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!

Hyllus

Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.

Heracles

Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
1185

Hyllus

To do what deed? May this also be revealed?

Heracles

To perform for me the task that I shall impose.

Hyllus

I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.

Heracles

And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.

Hyllus

I shall not suffer, since I will keep it. Yet so I pray.
1190

Heracles

Good, then do you know the summit of Oeta, Zeus’s sacred mountain?

Hyllus

I know it. I have often stood on that height to sacrifice.

ἀλλ᾽, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν

τοιάνδ᾽ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δ᾽ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.
1180

ΗΡ.

ἔμβαλλε ἔμβαλε ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι.

ΥΛ.

ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδ᾽ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις ;

ΗΡ.

οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδ᾽ ἀπιστήσεις ἀπιστήσησ προστήσηισ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

ΥΛ.

ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

ΗΡ.

ὄμνυ ὄμνυμι Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα.
1185

ΥΛ.

ἢ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδ᾽ ἐξειρήσεται;

ΗΡ.

ἢ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

ΥΛ.

ὄμνυμ᾽ ἔγωγε, Ζῆν ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

ΗΡ.

εἰ δ᾽ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

ΥΛ.

οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ. εὔχομαι δ᾽ ὅμως.
1190

ΗΡ.

οἶσθ᾽ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον ;

ΥΛ.

οἶδ᾽, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ταρβῶ μὲν εἰς λόγου στάσιν

τοιάνδʼ ἐπελθών, πείσομαι δʼ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.
1180

Ἡρακλῆς

ἔμβαλλε χεῖρα δεξιὰν πρώτιστά μοι·

Ὕλλος

ὡς πρὸς τί πίστιν τήνδʼ ἄγαν ἐπιστρέφεις;

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐ θᾶσσον οἴσεις μηδʼ ἀπιστήσεις ἐμοί;

Ὕλλος

ἰδοὺ προτείνω, κοὐδὲν ἀντειρήσεται.

Ἡρακλῆς

ὄμνυ Διός νυν τοῦ με φύσαντος κάρα,
1185

Ὕλλος

ἦ μὴν τί δράσειν; καὶ τόδʼ ἐξειρήσεται;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἦ μὴν ἐμοὶ τὸ λεχθὲν ἔργον ἐκτελεῖν.

Ὕλλος

ὄμνυμʼ ἔγωγε, Ζῆνʼ ἔχων ἐπώμοτον.

Ἡρακλῆς

εἰ δʼ ἐκτὸς ἔλθοις, πημονὰς εὔχου λαβεῖν.

Ὕλλος

οὐ μὴ λάβω· δράσω γάρ· εὔχομαι δʼ ὅμως·
1190

Ἡρακλῆς

οἶσθʼ οὖν τὸν Οἴτης Ζηνὸς ὕψιστον πάγον;

Ὕλλος

οἶδʼ, ὡς θυτήρ γε πολλὰ δὴ σταθεὶς ἄνω.

Thy mother is not here, but by the shore

Of Tiryns hath obtained a dwelling-place;

And of thy sons, some she hath with her there,

And some inhabit Thebè’s citadel.
1180

But we who are with thee, sire, if there be aught
1180

That may by us be done, will hear, and do.
1180

HYL

I will obey thee, father, though my heart

Sinks heavily in approaching such a theme.

HER

Before aught else, lay thy right hand in mine.

HYL

Why so intent on this assurance, sire?

HER

Give it at once and be not froward, boy.
1185

HYL

There is my hand: I will gainsay thee nought.

HER

Swear by the head of him who gave me life.

HYL

Tell me the oath, and I will utter it.

HER

Swear thou wilt do the thing I bid thee do.

HYL

I swear, and make Zeus witness of my troth.
1190

HER

But if you swerve, pray that the curse may come.

HYL

It will not come for swerving:—but I pray.

HER

Now, dost thou know on Oeta’s topmost height

The crag of Zeus?

Mir bangt, o Vater, daß du mir mit solchem Wort

Entgegentratest; doch befolg' ich dein Gebot.

Herakles.

So reiche mir vor Allem deine Rechte dar.

Hylos.

Wozu begehrst du solch ein Unterpfand von mir?
1160

Herakles.

Du willst damit noch säumen, folgst mir nicht sogleich?

Hyllos.

Hier hast du meine Rechte, sich, unweigerlich.

Herakles.

Bei'm Haupte meines Vaters Zeus beschwöre nun

Hylos.

Wie soll ich schwören? Sagst du mir dies nicht zugleich?

Herakles.

Das Werk mir auszurichten, das mein Wort gebeut.
1165

Hyllos.

Wohlan, ich schwör' es; höre Zeus auf meinen Eid!

Herakles.

Und schwürst du Meineid, rufe Fluch auf dich herab.

Hyllos.

Mich trifft er nicht; doch - lüg' ich, sei dies Haupt verflucht!

Herakles.

Du kennst des Oeta höchste Höh'n, den Siz des Zeus?

Hyllos.

Wohl; oft ja stand ich droben schon als Opferer.
1170

Alcmena 's gone

To Tyrinth. With her many of thy sons

Remain. Some dwell at Thebes, the rest are here,
1180

And wait with me to hear and to obey thee.
1180

Hyllus

Thy words affright me ; but declare thy

purpose —

Behold me ready to perform thy orders

Whate'er they be.

Hercules

First give me then thy hand.

Hyllus

But why this pledge, and wherefore ansious

thus

Dost thou require it?

Hercules

Wilt thou give it me
1185

Or dost refuse?
1185

Hyllus

There, take it ; I obey.

Hercules

First swear then by the head of Jove my bire.

Hyllus

I will ; but what ?

Hercules

Swear that thou wilt perform

All I enjoin thee.

Hyllus

Bear me witness, Jove !
1190

I swear.
1190

Hercules

And imprecate the wrath divine

If thou performst it not.

Hyllus

I shall not fail ;

But if I do, may vengeance swift o'ertake me !

Hercules

Tliou knowst the top of QEta's sacred hill.

I tremble at the words thy mournful state

Declaring; but thy will shall be obey'd.
1180

Hercules

First give me thy right hand.