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Chorus
I shudder, friends, to hear these sorrows
which our King suffers. What a man is here, and what misfortunes lash at him!
1045
I shudder, friends, to hear these sorrows
which our King suffers. What a man is here, and what misfortunes lash at him!
1045
Heracles
Ah, many and hot and cruel not in name alone have been the labors of these hands, the burdens hoisted upon these shoulders! And yet no toil ever laid on me by the bedfellow of Zeus or by the hateful Eurystheus was as harsh
as this thing which the daughter of Oeneus, fair and false, has fastened upon my back, this woven net of the Erinyes in which I perish! Plastered to my sides, it has eaten away my inmost flesh and sucks the channels of my lungs,
1050
making my body its home. Already it has drunk away my fresh lifeblood, and my whole body is wasted, conquered by these indescribable bonds. Not spearmen on the battlefield, nor the Giants’ earth-born army, nor the might of savage beasts,
1055
not
Hellas
, nor the land of the barbarian, nor any land which I came to purify has ever done this to me. No, a woman, a weak woman, born not to the strength of man, all alone has brought me down without a stroke of the sword!
Son, show yourself my trueborn son,
1060
and do not honor your mother’s name above your father’s. Bring out the woman that bore you, and give her with your own hands into my hand, that I may know for certain which sight grieves you more—my tortured frame, or hers, when she suffers her just punishment!
1065
Go, my son, be bold! Show your pity for me, whom many might think deserving of pity—pity me moaning and weeping like a girl! No one could say that he had ever seen this man do that before. No, always without complaint I used to pursue my troubles.
1070
But now in my misery I have been found a woman, instead of the man I used to be.
1075
1076
Ah, many and hot and cruel not in name alone have been the labors of these hands, the burdens hoisted upon these shoulders! And yet no toil ever laid on me by the bedfellow of Zeus or by the hateful Eurystheus was as harsh
as this thing which the daughter of Oeneus, fair and false, has fastened upon my back, this woven net of the Erinyes in which I perish! Plastered to my sides, it has eaten away my inmost flesh and sucks the channels of my lungs,
1050
making my body its home. Already it has drunk away my fresh lifeblood, and my whole body is wasted, conquered by these indescribable bonds. Not spearmen on the battlefield, nor the Giants’ earth-born army, nor the might of savage beasts,
1055
not
Hellas
, nor the land of the barbarian, nor any land which I came to purify has ever done this to me. No, a woman, a weak woman, born not to the strength of man, all alone has brought me down without a stroke of the sword!
Son, show yourself my trueborn son,
1060
Son, show yourself my trueborn son,
and do not honor your mother’s name above your father’s. Bring out the woman that bore you, and give her with your own hands into my hand, that I may know for certain which sight grieves you more—my tortured frame, or hers, when she suffers her just punishment!
1065
Go, my son, be bold! Show your pity for me, whom many might think deserving of pity—pity me moaning and weeping like a girl! No one could say that he had ever seen this man do that before. No, always without complaint I used to pursue my troubles.
1070
But now in my misery I have been found a woman, instead of the man I used to be.
1075
Come close, stand near your father and do examine the magnitude of the misfortune by which I suffer; for I will uncover my suffering. Look! See all of you this miserable body;
see how wretched, how pitiable I am!
Ah, misery! The ruinous spasm flames again; it shoots through my sides—I must wrestle once more with that cruel, devouring plague!
1080
King Hades, receive me! Strike me, O fire of Zeus! Hurl down your thunderbolt, ruler, dash it, Father, upon my head! Again the pest consumes me, it has blazed up, it has leapt to fury! O hands, my hands,
1085
O shoulders and chest and trusty arms, you are indeed those noted arms which once subdued with your might the dweller in
Nemea
, the scourge of herdsmen, the lion, a creature that no man might approach or confront; you tamed the Lernaean Hydra,
1090
and that monstrous army of beasts with double form, hostile, going on hoofed feet, violent, lawless, of surpassing violence; you tamed the beast in Erymanthia, and underground the three-headed whelp of Hades, a resistless terror, offspring of the fierce Echidna; you tamed the dragon
1095
that guarded the golden fruit in the farthest places of the earth. These toils and thousands more have I tasted, and no man has ever erected a trophy of victory over my hands. But now, with joints unhinged and with flesh torn to shreds, I have become the miserable spoil of an unseen destroyer,
1100
—I, who am called the son of noblest mother, I, who am reputed the seed of Zeus, lord of the starry sky.
But you may be sure of one thing: though I am nothing, though I cannot move a step, yet she who has done this deed shall feel my heavy hand even so. Let her but come to me
1105
so that she may learn to proclaim this message to all the world, that in my death, as in my life, I punished the guilty!
1110
1112
Come close, stand near your father and do examine the magnitude of the misfortune by which I suffer; for I will uncover my suffering. Look! See all of you this miserable body;
see how wretched, how pitiable I am!
Ah, misery! The ruinous spasm flames again; it shoots through my sides—I must wrestle once more with that cruel, devouring plague!
1080
Ah, misery! The ruinous spasm flames again; it shoots through my sides—I must wrestle once more with that cruel, devouring plague!
King Hades, receive me! Strike me, O fire of Zeus! Hurl down your thunderbolt, ruler, dash it, Father, upon my head! Again the pest consumes me, it has blazed up, it has leapt to fury! O hands, my hands,
1085
O shoulders and chest and trusty arms, you are indeed those noted arms which once subdued with your might the dweller in
Nemea
, the scourge of herdsmen, the lion, a creature that no man might approach or confront; you tamed the Lernaean Hydra,
1090
and that monstrous army of beasts with double form, hostile, going on hoofed feet, violent, lawless, of surpassing violence; you tamed the beast in Erymanthia, and underground the three-headed whelp of Hades, a resistless terror, offspring of the fierce Echidna; you tamed the dragon
1095
that guarded the golden fruit in the farthest places of the earth. These toils and thousands more have I tasted, and no man has ever erected a trophy of victory over my hands. But now, with joints unhinged and with flesh torn to shreds, I have become the miserable spoil of an unseen destroyer,
1100
—I, who am called the son of noblest mother, I, who am reputed the seed of Zeus, lord of the starry sky.
But you may be sure of one thing: though I am nothing, though I cannot move a step, yet she who has done this deed shall feel my heavy hand even so. Let her but come to me
1105
But you may be sure of one thing: though I am nothing, though I cannot move a step, yet she who has done this deed shall feel my heavy hand even so. Let her but come to me
so that she may learn to proclaim this message to all the world, that in my death, as in my life, I punished the guilty!
1110
Chorus
Ah, unhappy
Greece
, what mourning do I foresee for her, if she is cheated of this man!
Ah, unhappy
Greece
, what mourning do I foresee for her, if she is cheated of this man!
Hyllus
Father, since your pause permits an answer,
hear me, diseased though you are; I will ask you for no more than is my due. Give yourself to me in a mood not as harsh as that to which your heart is now stung. Otherwise you cannot learn in what circumstances you wrongly wish to triumph and wrongly show resentment.
1115
Father, since your pause permits an answer,
hear me, diseased though you are; I will ask you for no more than is my due. Give yourself to me in a mood not as harsh as that to which your heart is now stung. Otherwise you cannot learn in what circumstances you wrongly wish to triumph and wrongly show resentment.
1115
Heracles
Stop when you have said what it is you desire. In this pain of mine I understand none of your many riddles.
1120
Stop when you have said what it is you desire. In this pain of mine I understand none of your many riddles.
1120
Hyllus
I come to tell you of my mother—her present circumstances and how she erred unknowingly.
I come to tell you of my mother—her present circumstances and how she erred unknowingly.
Heracles
You corrupt thing! Have you indeed mentioned her name again,
the name, “Mother, Murderess of Father,” in my hearing?
1125
You corrupt thing! Have you indeed mentioned her name again,
the name, “Mother, Murderess of Father,” in my hearing?
1125
Hyllus
Yes, for her condition is such that my silence shames me.
Yes, for her condition is such that my silence shames me.
Heracles
No, it does not shame you, when you consider her past crimes.
No, it does not shame you, when you consider her past crimes.
Hyllus
You will not say so, at least in view of her deeds today.
You will not say so, at least in view of her deeds today.
Heracles
Speak—but take care that you not be found corrupt.
Speak—but take care that you not be found corrupt.
Hyllus
I will speak. She is just now dead, a new murder.
1130
I will speak. She is just now dead, a new murder.
1130
Heracles
By whose hand? Your sinister words give a prophecy of wonder!
By whose hand? Your sinister words give a prophecy of wonder!
Hyllus
She did it by her own hand, and no other’s.
She did it by her own hand, and no other’s.
Heracles
Ah, no! Before she died by mine as she deserved!
Ah, no! Before she died by mine as she deserved!
Hyllus
Even your rage would be deflected, if you would learn the whole of it.
Even your rage would be deflected, if you would learn the whole of it.
Heracles
Your tale begins strangely, but tell me what you mean.
1135
Your tale begins strangely, but tell me what you mean.
1135
Hyllus
The sum is this: she did wrong, but with a good intent.
The sum is this: she did wrong, but with a good intent.
Heracles
Did she do a good deed, corrupt traitor, when she killed your father?
Did she do a good deed, corrupt traitor, when she killed your father?
Hyllus
No, her plan was to apply a love-charm for your heart, when she saw your new marriage inside the house, but she missed her aim.
No, her plan was to apply a love-charm for your heart, when she saw your new marriage inside the house, but she missed her aim.
Heracles
And what Trachinian is so potent a charmer?
1140
And what Trachinian is so potent a charmer?
1140
Hyllus
Nessus the Centaur persuaded her long ago to inflame your desire with such a potion.
1143
Nessus the Centaur persuaded her long ago to inflame your desire with such a potion.
Heracles
Ah! Ah, misery! I am lost, ruined, ruined! The light of day exists for me no more!
Ah, now I understand the depth of my misfortune! Go, my son! Your father is no more. Summon for me all the crop of your brothers. Summon, too, poor Alcmena, in vain the bedfellow of Zeus, so that
1145
you may hear my final words tell what oracles I know.
1150
Ah! Ah, misery! I am lost, ruined, ruined! The light of day exists for me no more!
Ah, now I understand the depth of my misfortune! Go, my son! Your father is no more. Summon for me all the crop of your brothers. Summon, too, poor Alcmena, in vain the bedfellow of Zeus, so that
1145
you may hear my final words tell what oracles I know.
1150
Hyllus
But we who are with you, Father, will render at your command all service that is needed.
1155
1157
But we who are with you, Father, will render at your command all service that is needed.
1155
Heracles
Hear, then, your task. You have come to where you will reveal what sort of man you are, who are called my son.
It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would
perish by no creature that had the breath of life, but by one already dead, a dweller with Hades. So this savage Centaur in death has killed me alive, just as the divine will had been foretold. And I will show you how
1160
later oracles tally with the first and testify to the old prophecy. I wrote them down for myself from the mouth of my father’s oak of many tongues in the grove of the Selli, who dwell on the hills and sleep on the ground. The tree said that, at the time which lives and now is,
1165
my release from the toils laid upon me would be accomplished. And I expected prosperous days, but the meaning, it seems, was only that I would die. For toil comes no more to the dead. Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their fulfillment,
1170
you, on your part, must fight on my behalf. You must not delay, and so sharpen my tongue, but give your consent to work with me, like one who has discovered that best of laws, the law of obedience to your father.
1175
1179
Hear, then, your task. You have come to where you will reveal what sort of man you are, who are called my son.
It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would
It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would
perish by no creature that had the breath of life, but by one already dead, a dweller with Hades. So this savage Centaur in death has killed me alive, just as the divine will had been foretold. And I will show you how
1160
later oracles tally with the first and testify to the old prophecy. I wrote them down for myself from the mouth of my father’s oak of many tongues in the grove of the Selli, who dwell on the hills and sleep on the ground. The tree said that, at the time which lives and now is,
1165
my release from the toils laid upon me would be accomplished. And I expected prosperous days, but the meaning, it seems, was only that I would die. For toil comes no more to the dead. Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their fulfillment,
1170
you, on your part, must fight on my behalf. You must not delay, and so sharpen my tongue, but give your consent to work with me, like one who has discovered that best of laws, the law of obedience to your father.
1175
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
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.
First of all, put your right hand in mine.
Hyllus
With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?
With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?
Heracles
Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!
Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!
Hyllus
Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.
Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.
Heracles
Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
1185
Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
1185
Hyllus
To do what deed? May this also be revealed?
To do what deed? May this also be revealed?
Heracles
To perform for me the task that I shall impose.
To perform for me the task that I shall impose.
Hyllus
I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.
I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.
Heracles
And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.
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
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?
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.
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
1203
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
And let no tear of mourning show itself there.
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
Hyllus
Ah, Father, what have you said? What you have done to me!
Ah, Father, what have you said? What you have done to me!
Heracles
I have spoken that which you must perform. If you refuse,
then get yourself some other father, and be called my son no longer!
1205
I have spoken that which you must perform. If you refuse,
then get yourself some other father, and be called my son no longer!
1205
Hyllus
Ah, me! What deeds you call on me to do, Father—that I should become your murderer, polluted with your blood!
Ah, me! What deeds you call on me to do, Father—that I should become your murderer, polluted with your blood!
Heracles
Not so, in truth, but healer of my sufferings, sole physician of my pain!
Not so, in truth, but healer of my sufferings, sole physician of my pain!
Hyllus
And how, by inflaming your body, shall I heal it?
1210
And how, by inflaming your body, shall I heal it?
1210
Heracles
If your fear keeps you from this one task, at least perform the rest.
If your fear keeps you from this one task, at least perform the rest.
Hyllus
The service of carrying you will not be refused.
The service of carrying you will not be refused.
Heracles
And the heaping of the pyre which I have ordered?
And the heaping of the pyre which I have ordered?
Hyllus
Yes, except that I will not touch fire to it with my own hands.
All else will I do, and you will have no hindrance on my part.
1215
Yes, except that I will not touch fire to it with my own hands.
All else will I do, and you will have no hindrance on my part.
1215
Heracles
Well, that much will be enough—yet add one small favor to your large benefits.
Well, that much will be enough—yet add one small favor to your large benefits.
Hyllus
Even if it is tremendously large, it will be done.
Even if it is tremendously large, it will be done.
Heracles
Do you know, then, the maiden, daughter of Eurytus?
Do you know, then, the maiden, daughter of Eurytus?
Hyllus
You mean Iole, I would guess.
1220
1221
You mean Iole, I would guess.
1220
Heracles
You know her. Just this is the command that I impose upon you, my son: when I am dead, if you wish to show your piety by remembrance of your oath to your father, make this woman your wife and do not disobey your father.
Let no other but you take her who has lain close at my side. You, my son, make that marriage-bond your own. Obey; for although you were obedient in great affairs, your disobedience in small ones cancels the gratitude already won.
1225
1230
You know her. Just this is the command that I impose upon you, my son: when I am dead, if you wish to show your piety by remembrance of your oath to your father, make this woman your wife and do not disobey your father.
Let no other but you take her who has lain close at my side. You, my son, make that marriage-bond your own. Obey; for although you were obedient in great affairs, your disobedience in small ones cancels the gratitude already won.
1225
Hyllus
Ah, me, it is wrong to be angry with a sick man, but who could bear to see him have thoughts like these?
1230
Ah, me, it is wrong to be angry with a sick man, but who could bear to see him have thoughts like these?
1230
Heracles
Your words show no willingness to do as I say.
Your words show no willingness to do as I say.
Hyllus
Who on earth would, when she alone is to blame for my mother’s death, and for your present condition besides?
Who would choose to do so, unless he were infected by avenging fiends? It would be better, Father, that I also die, rather than live united with those whom I most detest!
1235
Who on earth would, when she alone is to blame for my mother’s death, and for your present condition besides?
Who would choose to do so, unless he were infected by avenging fiends? It would be better, Father, that I also die, rather than live united with those whom I most detest!
1235
Heracles
The man will render no due respect, it seems, to my dying prayer. No, be sure that the curse of the gods
will await you for disobeying my commands.
1240
The man will render no due respect, it seems, to my dying prayer. No, be sure that the curse of the gods
will await you for disobeying my commands.
1240
Hyllus
Ah, you will soon show, it seems, how diseased you are!
Ah, you will soon show, it seems, how diseased you are!
Heracles
Yes, for you stir me from my slumbering plague.
Yes, for you stir me from my slumbering plague.
Hyllus
I am miserable! I have no way out of so many dilemmas!
I am miserable! I have no way out of so many dilemmas!
Heracles
Yes, since you think it wrong to obey your begetter.
Yes, since you think it wrong to obey your begetter.
Hyllus
But must I then learn to be unholy, Father?
1245
But must I then learn to be unholy, Father?
1245
Heracles
It is not unholy, if you gladden my heart.
It is not unholy, if you gladden my heart.
Hyllus
Do you, then, command me to do this as a clear duty?
Do you, then, command me to do this as a clear duty?
Heracles
I do, and I call on the gods to bear me witness!
I do, and I call on the gods to bear me witness!
Hyllus
Then I will do it, and not refuse,
—calling upon the gods to witness your deed. I can never be condemned for obeying you, Father.
1250
Then I will do it, and not refuse,
—calling upon the gods to witness your deed. I can never be condemned for obeying you, Father.
1250
Heracles
Your words make a fair ending, and to them, my son, quickly add the gracious deed itself, so that you may place me on the pyre before any pain returns to tear or sting me.
Come, make haste and lift me! This, in truth, is rest from troubles, this is the end, the last end, of Heracles!
1255
Your words make a fair ending, and to them, my son, quickly add the gracious deed itself, so that you may place me on the pyre before any pain returns to tear or sting me.
Come, make haste and lift me! This, in truth, is rest from troubles, this is the end, the last end, of Heracles!
1255
Hyllus
Nothing hinders the fulfillment of your wish, since your commandment strongly compels me, Father.
1259
Nothing hinders the fulfillment of your wish, since your commandment strongly compels me, Father.
Heracles
Come, then, before you awaken this
plague, O my hardened soul, give me a bit of steel to bind my lips like stone to stone! Stop any cry, since the task you accomplish, though by constraint, gives cause for joy.
1260
Come, then, before you awaken this
plague, O my hardened soul, give me a bit of steel to bind my lips like stone to stone! Stop any cry, since the task you accomplish, though by constraint, gives cause for joy.
1260
Hyllus
Lift him, attendants!
Grant me ample forgiveness for this, but also recall the great cruelty of the gods in the deeds that are being done. They beget children and are hailed as fathers, and yet they can let such sufferings pass before their eyes.
1265
No man foresees the future; the present is full of mourning for us, and of shame for the powers above, and indeed of hardship beyond compare for him who endures this disaster.
1270
To the Leader of the Chorus.
And you, maiden, do not be left at the house. You have seen immense, shocking death, with sorrows great in number and strange. And in all of them there is nothing that is not Zeus.
1275
Lift him, attendants!
Grant me ample forgiveness for this, but also recall the great cruelty of the gods in the deeds that are being done. They beget children and are hailed as fathers, and yet they can let such sufferings pass before their eyes.
1265
No man foresees the future; the present is full of mourning for us, and of shame for the powers above, and indeed of hardship beyond compare for him who endures this disaster.
1270
And you, maiden, do not be left at the house. You have seen immense, shocking death, with sorrows great in number and strange. And in all of them there is nothing that is not Zeus.
1275
Trachiniae. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1892.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.