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mischance。 Let me draw near to them and inquire； lady； what strange
stroke of fate hath fallen on the house？
MEGARA
Dearest of all mankind to me！ O ray of light appearing to thy
sire！ art thou safe； and is thy coming just in time to help thy dear
ones？
HERACLES
What meanest thou？ what is this confusion I find on my arrival；
father？
MEGARA
We are being ruined； forgive me； old friend； if I have anticipated
that which thou hadst a right to tell him； for woman's nature is
perhaps more prone than man's to grief； and they are my children
that were being led to death； which was my own lot too。
HERACLES
Great Apollo！ what a prelude to thy story！
MEGARA
Dead are my brethren； dead my hoary sire。
HERACLES
How so？ what befell him？ who dealt the fatal blow？
MEGARA
Lycus； our splendid monarch； slew him。
HERACLES
Did he meet him in fair fight； or was the land sick and weak？
MEGARA
Aye； from faction； now is he master of the city of Cadmus with its
seven gates。
HERACLES
Why hath panic fallen on thee and my aged sire？
MEGARA
He meant to kill thy father； me； and my children。
HERACLES
Why； what had he to fear from my orphan babes？
MEGARA
He was afraid they might some day avenge Creon's death。
HERACLES
What means this dress they wear； suited to the dead？
MEGARA
'Tis the garb of death we have already put on。
HERACLES
And were ye being haled to death？ O woe is me！
MEGARA
Yes； deserted by every friend； and informed that thou wert dead。
HERACLES
What put such desperate thoughts into your heads？
MEGARA
That was what the heralds of Eurystheus kept proclaiming。
HERACLES
Why did ye leave my hearth and home？
MEGARA
He forced us； thy father was dragged from his bed。
HERACLES
Had he no mercy； to ill…use the old man so？
MEGARA
Mercy forsooth！ that goddess and he dwell far enough apart。
HERACLES
Was I so poor in friends in my absence？
MEGARA
Who are the friends of a man in misfortune？
HERACLES
Do they make so light of my hard warring with the Minyae？
MEGARA
Misfortune； to repeat it to thee； has no friends。
HERACLES
Cast from your heads these chaplets of death； look up to the
light； for instead of the nether gloom your eyes behold the welcome
sun。 I； meantime； since here is work for my hand； will first go raze
this upstart tyrant's halls； and when I have beheaded the miscreant； I
will throw him to dogs to tear； and every Theban who I find has played
the traitor after my kindness； will I destroy with this victorious
club； the rest will I scatter with my feathered shafts and fill
Ismenus full of bloody corpses； and Dirce's clear fount shall run
red with gore。 For whom ought I to help rather than wife and
children and aged sire？ Farewell my labours！ for it was in vain I
accomplished them rather than succoured these。 And yet I ought to
die in their defence； since they for their sire were doomed； else what
shall we find so noble in having fought a hydra and a lion at the
hests of Eurystheus； if I make no effort to save my own children
from death？ No longer I trow； as heretofore； shall I be called
Heracles the victor。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
'Tis only right that parents should help their children； their
aged sires； and the partners of their marriage。
AMPHITRYON
My son； 'tis like thee to show thy love for thy dear ones and
thy hate for all that is hostile； only curb excessive hastiness。
HERACLES
Wherein； father； am I now showing more than fitting haste？
AMPHITRYON
The king hath a host of allies； needy villains though pretending
to be rich； who sowed dissension and o'erthrew the state with a view
to plundering their neighbours； for the wealth they had in their
houses was ali spent； dissipated by their sloth。 Thou wast seen
entering the city； and； that being so； beware that thou bring not
thy enemies together and be slain unawares。
HERACLES
Little I reck if the whole city saw me； but chancing to see a bird
perched in an ill…omened spot； from it I learnt that some trouble
had befallen my house； so I purposely made my entry to the land by
stealth。
AMPHITRYON
For thy lucky coming hither； go salute thy household altar； and
let thy father's halls behold thy face。 For soon will the king be here
in person to drag away thy wife and children and murder them； and to
add me to the bloody list。 But if thou remain on the spot all will
go well； and thou wilt profit by this security； but do not rouse thy
city ere thou hast these matters well in train； my son。
HERACLES
I will do so； thy advice is good； I will enter my house。 After
my return at length from the sunless den of Hades and the maiden queen
of hell； I will not neglect to greet first of all the gods beneath
my roof。
AMPHITRYON
Why； didst thou in very deed go to the house of Hades； my son？
HERACLES
Aye； and brought to the light that three…headed monster。
AMPHITRYON
Didst worst him in fight； or receive him from the goddess？
HERACLES
In fair fight； for I had been lucky enough to witness the rites of
the initiated。
AMPHITRYON
Is the monster really lodged in the house of Eurystheus？
HERACLES
The grove of Demeter and the city of Hermione are his prison。
AMPHITRYON
Does not Eurystheus know that thou hast returned to the upper
world？
HERACLES
He knows not； I came hither first to learn your news。
AMPHITRYON
How is it thou wert so long beneath the earth？
HERACLES
I stayed awhile attempting to bring back Theseus from Hades；
father。
AMPHITRYON
Where is he？ gone to his native land？
HERACLES
He set out for Athens right glad to have escaped from the lower
world。 Come； children； attend your father to the house。 My entering in
is fairer in your eyes； I trow； than my going out。 Take heart； and
no more let the tears stream from your eyes； thou too； dear wife；
collect thy courage； cease from fear； let go my robe； for I cannot fly
away； nor have I any wish to flee from those I love。 Ah！ they do not
loose their hold； but cling to my garments all the more； were ye in
such jeopardy？ Well； I must lead them； taking them by the hand to draw
them after me； like a ship when towing； for I too do not reject the
care of my children； here all mankind are equal； all love their
children； both those of high estate and those； who are naught； 'tis
wealth that makes distinctions among them； some have； others want； but
all the human race loves its offspring。
（HERACLES； MEGARA； AMPHITRYON and the children enter the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Dear to me is youth； but old age is ever hanging o'er my head； a
burden heavier than Aetna's crags； casting its pall of gloom upon my
eyes。 Oh！ never may the wealth of Asia's kings tempt me to barter
for houses stored with gold my happy youth； which is in wealth and
poverty alike most fair！ But old age is gloomy and deathly； I hate it；
let it sink beneath the waves！ Would it had never found its way to the
homes and towns of mortal men； but were still drifting on for ever
down the wind。
antistrophe 1
Had the gods shown discernment and wisdom； as mortals count
these things； men would have gotten youth twice over； a visible mark
of worth amongst whomsoever found； and after death would these have
retraced their steps once more to the sun…light； while the mean man
would have had but a single portion of life； and thus would it have
been possible to distinguish the good and the bad； just as sailors
know the number of the stars amid the clouds。 But； as it is； the
gods have set no certain boundary 'twixt good and bad； but time's
onward roll brings increase only to man's wealth。
strophe 2
Never will I cease to link in one the Graces and the Muses；
fairest union。 Never may my lines be cast among untutored boors； but
ever may I find a place among the crowned choir！ Yes； still the aged
bard lifts up his voice of bygone memories； still is my song of the
triumphs of Heracles； whether Bromius the giver of wine is nigh； or
the strains of the seven…stringed lyre and the Libyan flute are
rising； not yet will I cease to sing the Muses' praise； my patrons
in the dance。
antistrophe 2
As the maids of Delos raise their song of joy； circling round
the temple gates in honour of Leto's fair son； the graceful dancer； so
with my old lips will sing songs of victory at thy palace…doors；
song of my old age； such as sings the dying swan； for there is a
goodly theme for minstrelsy； he is the son of Zeus； yet high above his
noble birth tower his deeds of prowess； for his toil secured this life
of calm for man； having destroyed all fearsome beasts。
（AMPHITRYON comes out of the palace as Lycus and his retinue enter。）
LYCUS
Ha！ Amphitryon； 'tis high time thou camest forth from the
palace； ye have been too long arraying yourselv