按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
MEGARA
Children； follow the footsteps of your hapless mother to your
father's halls； where others possess his substance； though his name is
still ours。
（MEGARA and her children enter the palace。）
AMPHITRYON
O Zeus； in vain it seems； did I get thee to share my bride with
me； in vain used we to call thee father of my son。 After all thou
art less our friend than thou didst pretend。 Great god as thou art； I；
a mere mortal。 surpass thee in true worth。 For I did not betray the
children of Heracles； but thou by stealth didst find thy way to my
couch； taking another's wife without leave given； while to save thy
own friends thou hast no skill。 Either thou art a god of little sense；
or else naturally unjust。
（AMPHITRYON follows MEGARA into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Phoebus is singing a plaintive dirge to drown his happier strains；
striking with key of gold his sweet…tongued lyre； so too am I fain
to sing a song of praise； a crown to all his toil； concerning him
who is gone to the gloom beneath the nether world； whether I am to
call him son of Zeus or of Amphitryon。 For the praise of noble toils
accomplished is a glory to the dead。 First he cleared the grove of
Zeus of a lion； and put its skin upon his back； hiding his auburn hair
in its fearful gaping jaws；
antistrophe 1
Then on a day； with murderous bow he wounded the race of wild
Centaurs； that range the hills； slaying them with winged shafts；
Peneus； the river of fair eddies； knows him well； and those far fields
unharvested； and the steadings on Pelion and they who haunt the
glens of Homole bordering thereupon； whence they rode forth to conquer
Thessaly； arming themselves with pines for clubs； likewise he slew
that dappled hind with horns of gold； that preyed upon the
country…folk； glorifying Artemis； huntress queen of Oenoe；
strophe 2
Next he mounted on a car and tamed with the bit the steeds of
Diomede； that greedily champed their bloody food at gory mangers
with jaws unbridled； devouring with hideous joy the flesh of men； then
crossing Hebrus' silver stream he still toiled on to perform the hests
of the tyrant of Mycenae； till he came to the strand of the Malian
gulf by the streams of Anaurus； where he slew with his arrows
Cycnus； murderer of his guests； the savage wretch who dwelt in
Amphanae；
antistrophe 2
Also he came to those minstrel maids； to their orchard in the
west； to pluck from the leafy apple…tree its golden fruit； when he had
slain the tawny dragon； whose awful coils were twined all round to
guard it； and he made his way into ocean's lairs； bringing calm to men
that use the oar； moreover he sought the home of Atlas； and
stretched out his hands to uphold the firmament； and on his manly
shoulders took the starry mansions of the gods；
strophe 3
Then he went through the waves of heaving Euxine against the
mounted host of Amazons dwelling round Maeotis； the lake that is fed
by many a stream； having gathered to his standard all his friends from
Hellas； to fetch the gold…embroidered raiment of the warrior queen；
a deadly quest for a girdle。 And Hellas won those glorious spoils of
the barbarian maid； and safe in Mycenae are they now。 On Lerna's
murderous hound； the many…headed hydra； he set his branding…iron；
and smeared its venom on his darts； wherewith he slew the shepherd
of Erytheia； a monster with three bodies；
antistrophe 3
And many another glorious achievement he brought to a happy issue；
to Hades' house of tears hath he now sailed； the goal of his
labours； where he is ending his career of toil； nor cometh he thence
again。 Now is thy house left without a friend； and Charon's boat
awaits thy children to bear them on that journey out of life； whence
is no returning； contrary to God's law and man's justice； and it is to
thy prowess that thy house is looking although thou art not here。
Had I been strong and lusty； able to brandish the spear in battle's
onset； my Theban compeers too； I would have stood by thy children to
champion them； but now my happy youth is gone and I am left。
But lo！ I see the children of Heracles who was erst so great； clad
in the vesture of the grave； and his loving wife dragging her babes
along at her side； and that hero's aged sire。 Ah！ woe is me！ no longer
can I stem the flood of tears that spring to my old eyes。
（MEGARA； AMPHITRYON； and the children enter from the palace。）
MEGARA
Come now； who is to sacrifice or butcher these poor children？ or
rob me of my wretched life？ Behold！ the victims are ready to be led to
Hades' halls。 O my children！ an ill…matched company are we hurried off
to die； old men and babes； and mothers； all together。 Alas！ for my sad
fate and my children's； whom these eyes now for the last time
behold。 So I gave you birth and reared you only for our foes to
mock； to flout； and slay。 Ah me！ how bitterly my hopes have
disappointed me in the expectation once formed from the words of
your father。 （Addressing each of her sons in turn） To thee thy dead
sire was for giving Argos； and thou wert to dwell in the halls of
Eurystheus； lording it o'er the fair fruitful land of Argolis； and
o'er thy head would he throw that lion's skin wherewith himself was
girt。 Thou wert to be king of Thebes； famed for its chariots；
receiving as thy heritage my broad lands； for so thou didst coax thy
father dear； and to thy hand used he to resign the carved club； his
sure defence； pretending to give it thee。 To thee he promised to
give Oechalia； which once his archery had wasted。 Thus with three
principalities would your father exalt you his three sons； proud of
your manliness； while I was choosing the best brides for you； scheming
to link you by marriage to Athens； Thebes； and Sparta； that ye might
live a happy life with a fast sheet…anchor to hold by。 And now that is
all vanished； fortune's breeze hath veered and given to you for brides
the maidens of death in their stead； and tears to me to bathe them in；
woe is me for my foolish thoughts and your grandsire here is
celebrating your marriage…feast； accepting Hades as the father of your
brides； a grim relationship to make。 Ah me！ which of you shall I first
press to my bosom； which last？ on which bestow my kiss； or clasp close
to me？ Oh！ would that like the bee with russet wing； I could collect
from every source my sighs in one； and； blending them together； shed
them in one copious flood！ Heracles； dear husband mine； to thee I
call； if haply mortal voice can make itself heard in Hades' halls； thy
father and children are dying and I am doomed； I who once because of
thee was counted blest as men count bliss。 Come to our rescue； appear；
I pray； if but as a phantom； since thy mere coming would be enough；
for they are cowards compared with thee； who are slaying thy children。
AMPHITRYON
Lady； do thou prepare the funeral rites； but I； O Zeus； stretching
out my hand to heaven； call on thee to help these children； if such be
thy intention； for soon will any aid of thine be unavailing； and yet
thou hast been oft invoked； my toil is wasted； death seems inevitable。
Ye aged friends； the joys of life are few； so take heed that ye pass
through it as gladly as ye may； without a thought of sorrow from
morn till night； for time recks little of preserving our hopes； and；
when he has busied himself on his own business； away he flies。 Look at
me； a man who had made mark amongst his fellows by deeds of note；
yet hath fortune in a single day robbed me of it as of a feather
that floats away toward the sky。 know not any whose plenteous wealth
and high reputation is fixed and sure； fare ye well； for now have ye
seen the last of your old friend； my comrades。
（MEGARA catches sight of HERACLES approaching。）
MEGARA Ha！ old friend； is it my own； my dearest I behold？ or what am
I to say？
AMPHITRYON
I know not； my daughter； I too am struck dumb。
MEGARA
Is this he who； they told us； was beneath the earth？
AMPHITRYON
'Tis he； unless some day…dream mocks our sight。
MEGARA
What am I saying？ What visions do these anxious eyes behold？ Old
man； this is none other than thy own son。 Come hither； my children；
cling to your father's robe； make haste to come； never loose your
hold； for here is one to help you； nowise behind our saviour Zeus。
（HERACLES enters。）
HERACLES
All hail！ my house； and portals of my home； how glad am I to
emerge to the light and see thee。 Ha！ what is this？ I see my
children before the house in the garb of death； with chaplets on their
heads； my wife amid a throng of men； and my father weeping o'er some
mischance。 Let me draw near to them and inquire； lady； what strange
stroke of fate hath fallen on the house？
MEGARA