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HERACLES
by Euripides
translated by E。 P。 Coleridge
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
AMPHITRYON； husband of Alcmena； the mother of HERACLES
MEGARA； wife of HERACLES； daughter of Creon
LYCUS； unlawful King of Thebes
IRIS
MADNESS
MESSENGER
HERACLES； son of Zeus and Alcmena
THESEUS； King of Athens
CHORUS OF OLD MEN OF THEBES
Sons of HERACLES； guards； attendants
HERACLES
HERACLES
（SCENE：…Before the palace of HERACLES at Thebes。 Nearby stands the
altar of Zeus； on the steps of which are now seated AMPHITRYON； MEGARA
and her sons by HERACLES。 They are seeking refuge at the altar。）
AMPHITRYON
WHAT mortal hath not heard of him who shared a wife with Zeus；
Amphitryon of Argos； whom on a day Alcaeus； son of Perseus begat；
Amphitryon the father of Heracles？ He it was dwelt here in Thebes；
where from the sowing of the dragon's teeth grew up a crop of
earth…born giants； for of these Ares saved a scanty band； and their
children's children people the city of Cadmus。 Hence sprung Creon； son
of Menoeceus； king of this land； and Creon became the father of this
lady Megara； whom once all Cadmus' race escorted with the glad music
of lutes at her wedding； in the day that Heracles； illustrious
chief； led her to my halls。 Now he； my son； left Thebes where I was
settled； left his wife Megara and her kin； eager to make his home in
Argolis； in that walled town which the Cyclopes built； whence I am
exiled for the slaying of Electryon； so he； wishing to lighten my
affliction and to find a home in his own land； did offer Eurystheus
a mighty price for my recall； even to free the world of savage
monsters； whether it was that Hera goaded him to submit to this； or
that fate was leagued against him。 Divers are the toils he hath
accomplished； and last of all hath he passed through the mouth of
Taenarus into the halls of Hades to drag to the light that hound
with bodies three； and thence is he never returned。 Now there is an
ancient legend amongst the race of Cadmus； that one Lycus in days gone
by was husband to Dirce being king of this city with its seven towers；
before that Amphion and Zethus； sons of Zeus； lords of the
milk…white steeds； became rulers in the land。 His son； called by the
same name as his father； albeit no Theban but a stranger from
Euboea； slew Creon； and after that seized the government； having
fallen on this city when weakened by dissension。 So this connection
with Creon is likely to prove to us a serious evil； for now that my
son is in the bowels of the earth； this illustrious monarch Lycus is
bent on extirpating the children of Heracles； to quench one bloody
feud with another； likewise his wife and me； if useless age like
mine is to rank amongst men； that the boys may never grow up to
exact a blood…penalty of their uncle's family。 So I； left here by my
son； whilst he is gone into the pitchy darkness of the earth； to
tend and guard his children in his house； am taking my place with
their mother； that the race of Heracles may not perish； here at the
altar of Zeus the Saviour； which my own gallant child set up to
commemorate his glorious victory over the Minyae。 And here we are
careful to keep our station； though in need of everything； of food； of
drink； and raiment； huddled together on the hard bare ground； for we
are barred out from our house and sit here for want of any other
safety。 As for friends； some I see are insincere； while others； who
are staunch； have no power to help us further。 This is what misfortune
means to man； God grant it may never fall to the lot of any who
bears the least goodwill to me； to apply this never…failing test of
friendship！
MEGARA
Old warrior； who erst did raze the citadel of the Taphians leading
on the troops of Thebes to glory； how uncertain are God's dealings
with man！ For I； as far as concerned my sire was never an outcast of
fortune； for he was once accounted a man of might by reason of his
wealth； possessed as he was of royal power； for which long spears
are launched at the lives of the fortunate through love of it；
children too he had； and me did he betroth to thy son； matching me
in glorious marriage with Heracles。 Whereas now all that is dead and
gone from us； and I and thou； old friend； art doomed to die； and these
children of Heracles； whom I am guarding 'neath my wing as a bird
keepeth her tender chicks under her。 And they the while in turn keep
asking me； 〃Mother； whither is our father gone from the land？ what
is he about？ when will he return？〃 Thus they inquire for their father；
in childish perplexity； while I put them off with excuses； inventing
stories； but still I wonder if 'tis he whenever a door creaks on its
hinges； and up they all start； thinking to embrace their father's
knees。 What hope or way of salvation art thou now devising； old
friend？ for to thee I look。 We can never steal beyond the boundaries
of the land unseen； for there is too strict a watch set on us at every
outlet； nor have we any longer hopes of safety in our friends。
Whatever thy scheme is； declare it； lest our death be made ready；
while we are only prolonging the time； powerless to escape。
AMPHITRYON
'Tis by no means easy； my daughter； to give one's earnest advice
on such matters easily； without weary thought。
MEGARA
Dost need a further taste of grief； or cling so fast to life？
AMPHITRYON
Yes； I love this life； and cling to its hopes。
MEGARA
So do I； but it boots not to expect the unexpected； old friend。
AMPHITRYON
In these delays is left the only cure for our evils。
MEGARA
'Tis the pain of that interval I feel so。
AMPHITRYON
Daughter； there may yet be a happy escape from present troubles
for me and thee； my son； thy husband； may yet arrive。 So calm thyself；
and wipe those tears from thy children's eyes； and soothe them with
soft words； inventing a tale to delude them； piteous though such fraud
be。 Yea； for men's misfortunes ofttimes flag； and the stormy wind doth
not always blow so strong； nor are the prosperous ever so； for all
things change； making way for each other。 The bravest man is he who
relieth ever on his hopes； but despair is the mark of a coward。
（The CHORUS OF OLD MEN OF THEBES enters。）
CHORUS （chanting）
strophe
To the sheltering roof； to the old man's couch； leaning on my
staff have I set forth； chanting a plaintive dirge like some bird
grown grey； I that am but a voice and nothing more； a fancy bred of
the visions of sleep by night； palsied with age； yet meaning kindly。
All hail！ ye orphaned babes！ all hail； old friend thou too； …unhappy
mother； wailing for thy husband in the halls of Hades！
antistrophe
Faint not too soon upon your way； nor let your limbs grow weary；
even as a colt beneath the yoke grows weary as he mounts some stony
hill； dragging the weight of a wheeled car。 Take hold of hand or robe；
whoso feels his footsteps falter。 Old friend； escort another like
thyself； who erst amid his toiling peers in the days of our youth
would take his place beside thee； no blot upon his country's
glorious record。
See； how like their father's sternly flash these children's
eyes！ Misfortune； God wot； hath not failed his children； nor yet
hath his comeliness been denied them。 O Hellas！ if thou lose these； of
what allies wilt thou rob thyself！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But I see Lycus； the ruler of this land； drawing near the house。
（Lycus and his attendants enter。）
LYCUS
One question； if I may； to this father of Heracles and his wife；
and certainly as your lord and master I have a right to put what
questions choose。 How long do ye seek to prolong your lives？ What
hope； what succour do ye see to save you from death？ Do you trust that
these children's father； who lies dead in the halls of Hades； will
return？ How unworthily ye show your sorrow at having to die； thou
（to AMPHITRYON） after thy idle boasts； scattered broadcast through
Hellas； that Zeus was partner in thy marriage…bed and there begat a
new god； and thou （to MEGARA） after calling thyself the wife of so
peerless a lord。
After all； what was the fine exploit thy husband achieved； if he
did kil a hydra in a marsh or that monster of Nemea？ which he caught
in a snare； for all he says he strangled it to death in his arms。
Are these your weapons for the hard struggle？ Is it for this then that
Heracles' children should be spared？ a man who has won a reputation
for valour in his contests with beasts； in all else a weakling； who
ne'er buckled shield to arm nor faced the spear； but with a bow；
that coward's weapon； was ever ready to run away。 Archery is no test
of manly bravery； no！ he is a man who keeps his post in the ranks
and steadily faces the swift wound the spear may plough。 My policy；
again； old man； shows no reckless cruelty； but caution； for I am
well aware I slew Creon； the father of Megara； and am in possession of
his thr