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well aware I slew Creon； the father of Megara； and am in possession of
his throne。 So I have no wish that these children should grow up and
be left to take vengeance on me in requital for what I have done。
AMPHITRYON
As for Zeus； let Zeus defend his son's case； but as for me；
Heracles； I am only anxious on thy behalf to prove by what I say
this tyrant's ignorance； for I cannot allow thee to be ill spoken
of。 First then for that which should never have been said；…for to
speak of thee Heracles as coward is； methinks； outside the pale of
speech；…of that must I clear the with heaven to witness。 I appeal then
to the thunder of Zeus； and the chariot wherein he rode； when he
pierced the giants； earth's brood； to the heart with his winged
shafts； and with gods uplifted the glorious triumph…song； or go to
Pholoe and ask the insolent tribe of four…legged Centaurs； thou craven
king； ask them who they would judge their bravest foe； will they not
say my son； who according to thee is but a pretender？ Wert thou to ask
Euboean Dirphys； thy native place； it would nowise sing thy praise；
for thou hast never done a single gallant deed to which thy country
can witness。 Next thou dost disparage that clever invention； an
archer's weapon； come； listen to me and learn wisdom。 A man who fights
in line is a slave to his weapons； and if his fellow…comrades want for
courage he is slain himself through the cowardice of his neighbours；
or； if he break his spear； he has not wherewithal to defend his body
from death； having only one means of defence； whereas all who are
armed with the trusty bow； though they have but one weapon； yet is
it the best； for a man； after discharging countless arrows； still
has others wherewith to defend himself from death； and standing at a
distance keeps off the enemy； wounding them for all their watchfulness
with shafts invisible； and never exposing himself to the foe； but
keeping under cover； and this is far the wisest course in battle； to
harm the enemy； if they are not stationed out of shot； and keep safe
oneself。 These arguments are completely opposite to thine with
regard to the point at issue。 Next； why art thou desirous of slaying
these children？ What have they done to thee？ One piece of wisdom
credit thee with； thy coward terror of a brave man's descendants。
Still it is hard on us； if for thy cowardice we must die； a fate
that ought to have overtaken thee at our braver hands； if Zeus had
been fairly disposed towards us。 But； if thou art so anxious to make
thyself supreme in the land； let us at least go into exile； abstain
from all violence； else thou wilt suffer by it whenso the deity causes
fortune's breeze to veer round。
Ah！ thou land of Cadmus；…for to thee too will I turn； upbraiding
thee with words of reproach；…is this your succour of Heracles and
his children？ the man who faced alone the Minyan host in battle and
allowed Thebes to see the light with freemen's eyes。 I cannot praise
Hellas； nor will I ever keep silence； finding her so craven as regards
my son； she should have come with fire and sword and warrior's arms to
help these tender babes； to requite him for all his labours in purging
land and sea。 Such help； my children； neither Hellas nor the city of
Thebes affords you； to me a feeble friend ye look； that am but empty
sound and nothing more。 For the vigour which once I had； is gone
from me； my limbs are palsied with age； and my strength is decayed。
Were I but young and still a man of my hands； I would have seized my
spear and dabbled those flaxen locks of his with blood； so that the
coward would now be flying from my prowes beyond the bounds of Atlas。
LEADER
Have not the brave amongst mankind a fair opening for speech；
albeit slow to begin？
LYCUS
Say what thou wilt of me in thy exalted phrase； but I by deeds
will make thee rue those words。 （Calling to his servants） Ho！ bid
wood…cutters go； some to Helicon； others to the glens of Parnassus；
and cut me logs of oak； and when they are brought to the town； pile up
a stack of wood all round the altar on either side thereof； and set
fire to it and burn them all alive； that they may learn that the
dead no longer rules this land； but that for the present I am king。
（angrily to the CHORUS） As for you； old men； since ye thwart my views；
not for the children of Heracles alone shall ye lament but likewise
for every blow that strikes his house； and ye shall ne'er forget ye
are slaves and I your prince。
LEADER
Ye sons of Earth； whom Ares on a day did sow； when from the
dragon's ravening jaw he had torn the teeth； up with your staves；
whereon ye lean your hands； and dash out this miscreant's brains！ a
fellow who； without even being a Theban； but a foreigner； lords it
shamefully o'er the younger folk； but my master shalt thou never be to
thy joy； nor shalt thou reap the harvest of all my toil； begone with
my curse upon thee！ carry thy insolence back to the place whence it
came。 For never whilst I live； shalt thou slay these sons of Heracles；
not so deep beneath the earth hath their father disappeared from his
children's ken。 Thou art in possession of this land which thou hast
ruined； while he its benefactor has missed his just reward； and yet do
I take too much upon myself because I help those I love after their
death； when most they need a friend？ Ah！ right hand； how fain
wouldst thou wield the spear； but thy weakness is a death…blow to
thy fond desire； for then had I stopped thee calling me slave； and I
would have governed Thebes； wherein thou art now exulting； with
credit； for city sick with dissension and evil counsels thinketh not
aright； otherwise it would never have accepted thee as its master。
MEGARA
Old sirs； I thank you； 'tis right that friends should feel
virtuous indignation on behalf of those they love； but do not on our
account vent your anger on the tyrant to your own undoing。 Hear my
advice； Amphitryon； if haply there appear to thee to be aught in
what I say。 I love my children； strange if I did not love those whom I
laboured to bring forth！ Death I count a dreadful fate； but the man
who wrestles with necessity I esteem a fool。 Since we must die； let us
do so without being burnt alive； to furnish our foes with food for
merriment； which to my mind is an evil worse than death； for many a
fair guerdon do we owe our family。 Thine has ever been a warrior's
fair fame； so 'tis not to be endured that thou shouldst die a coward's
death； and my husband's reputation needs no one to witness that he
would ne'er consent to save these children's lives by letting them
incur the stain of cowardice； for the noble are afflicted by
disgrace on account of their children； nor must I shrink from
following my lord's example。 As to thy hopes consider how I weigh
them。 Thou thinkest thy son will return from beneath the earth： who
ever has come back from the dead out of the halls of Hades？ Thou
hast a hope perhaps of softening this man by entreaty： no； no！
better to fly from one's enemy when he is so brutish； but yield to men
of breeding and wisdom； for thou wilt more easily obtain mercy there
by friendly overtures。 True； a thought has already occurred to me that
we might by entreaty obtain a sentence of exile for the children；
yet this too is misery； to compass their deliverance with dire
penury as the result； for 'tis a saying that hosts look sweetly on
banished friends for a day and no more。 Steel thy heart to die with
us； for that awaits thee after all。 By thy brave soul I challenge
thee； old friend； for whoso struggles hard to escape destiny shows
zeal no doubt； but 'tis zeal with a taint of folly； for what must
be； no one will ever avail to alter。
LEADER
If a man had insulted thee； while yet my arms were lusty； there
would have been an easy way to stop him； but now am I a thing of
naught； and so thou henceforth； Amphitryon； must scheme how to avert
misfortune。
AMPHITRYON
'Tis not cowardice or any longing for life that hinders my
dying； but my wish to save my son's children； though no doubt I am
vainly wishing for impossibilities。 Lo！ here is my neck ready for
thy sword to pierce； my body for thee to hack or hurl from the rock；
only one boon I crave for both of us； O king； slay me and this hapless
mother before thou slay the children； that we may not see the
hideous sight； as they gasp out their lives； calling on their mother
and their father's sire； for the rest work thy will； if so thou art
inclined； for we have no defence against death。
MEGARA
I too implore thee add a second boon； that by thy single act
thou mayst put us both under a double obligation； suffer me to deck my
children in the robes of death；…first opening the palace gates； for
now are we shut out；…that this at least they may obtain from their
father's halls。
LYCUS
I grant it； and bid my servants undo the bolts。 Go in and deck
yourselves； robes I grudge not。 But soon as ye have clothed
yourselves； I will return to you to consign you to the nether world。
（Lycus and his retinue withdraw。）
MEGARA
Children； follow the footsteps of your hapless mother to your
father's halls； where others po