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LYCUS
Ha！ Amphitryon； 'tis high time thou camest forth from the
palace； ye have been too long arraying yourselves in the robes and
trappings of the dead。 Come； bid the wife and children of Heracles
show themselves outside the house； to die on the conditions you
yourselves offered。
AMPHITRYON
O king； thou dost persecute me in my misery and heapest insult
upon me over and above the loss of my son； thou shouldst have been
more moderate in thy zeal； though thou art my lord and master。 But
since thou dost impose death's stern necessity on me； needs must I
acquiesce and do thy will。
LYCUS
Pray； where is Megara？ where are the children of Alcmena's son？
AMPHITRYON
She； I believe； so far as I can guess from outside…
LYCUS
What grounds hast thou to base thy fancy on？
AMPHITRYON
Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar's hallowed steps。
LYCUS
Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life。
AMPHITRYON
And calling on her dead husband； quite in vain。
LYCUS
He is nowhere near； and he certainly will never come。
AMPHITRYON
No； unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead。
LYCUS
Go to her and bring her from the palace。
AMPHITRYON
By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder。
LYCUS
Since thou hast this scruple； I； who have left fear behind； will
myself bring out the mother and her children。 Follow me； servants；
that we may put an end to this delay of our work to our joy。
（Lycus and his servants enter the palace。）
AMPHITRYON
Then go thy way along the path of fate； for what remains； maybe
another will provide。 Expect for thy evil deeds to find some ill
thyself。 Ah！ my aged friends； he is marching fairly to his doom；
soon will he be entangled in the snare of the sword； thinking to
slay his neighbours； the villain！ I will hence； to see him fall
dead； for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his
misdeeds gives pleasure。
（AMPHITRYON follows Lycus into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
Evil has changed sides； he who was erst a mighty king is now
turning his life backward into the road to Hades。
Hail to thee！ justice and heavenly retribution。
At last hast thou reached the goal where thy death will pay the
forfeit；
For thy insults against thy betters。
Joy makes my tears burst forth。
There is come a retribution； which the prince of the land never
once thought in his heart would happen。
Come； old friends； let us look within to see if one we know has
met the fate I hope。
LYCUS （within）
Ah me！ ah me！
CHORUS （singing）
Ha！ how sweet to hear that opening note of his within the house；
death is not far off him now。
Hark！ the prince cries out in his agony； that preludes death。
LYCUS （within）
O kingdom of Cadmus； by treachery I am perishing！
CHORUS （singing）
Thou wert thyself for making others perish； endure thy
retribution； 'tis only the penalty of thy own deeds thou art paying。
Who was he； weak son of man； that aimed his silly saying at the
blessed gods of heaven with impious blasphemy； maintaining that they
are weaklings after all？
Old friends； our godless foe is now no more。
The house is still； let us to our dancing。
Yea； for fortune smiles upon my friends as I desire。
strophe 1
Dances and banquets now prevail throughout the holy town of
Thebes。 For release from tears and respite from sorrow give birth to
song。 The upstart king is dead and gone； our former monarch now is
prince； having made his way even from the bourn of Acheron。 Hope
beyond all expectation is fulfilled。
antistrophe 1
To heed the right and wrong is heaven's care。 'Tis their gold
and their good luck that lead men's hearts astray； bringing in their
train unholy tyranny。 For no man ever had the courage to reflect
what reverses time might bring； but； disregarding law to gratify
lawlessness； he shatters in gloom the car of happiness。
strophe 2
Deck thee with garlands； O Ismenus！ break forth into dancing； ye
paved streets of our seven…gated city！ come Dirce； fount of waters
fair； and joined with her ye daughters of Asopus； come from your
father's waves to add your maiden voices to our hymn； the victor's
prize that Heracles hath won。 O Pythian rock； with forests crowned；
and haunts of the Muses on Helicon！ make my city and her walls re…echo
with cries of joy； where sprang the earth…born crop to view； a
warrior…host with shields of brass； who are handing on their realm
to children's children； a light divine to Thebes。
antistrophe 2
All hail the marriage！ wherein two bridegrooms shared； the one；
a mortal； the other； Zeus； who came to wed the maiden sprung from
Perseus； for that marriage of thine； O Zeus； in days gone by has
been proved to me a true story beyond all expectation； and time hath
shown the lustre of Heracles' prowess； who emerged from caverns 'neath
the earth after leaving Pluto's halls below。 To me art thou a worthier
lord than that base…born king； who now lets it be plainly seen in this
struggle 'twixt armed warriors； whether justice still finds favour
in heaven。
（The spectres of MADNESS and IRIS appear
from above。 The CHORUS sees them。）
Ha！ see there； my old comrades！ is the same wild panic fallen on
us all； what phantom is this I see hovering o'er the house？ Fly；
fly； bestir thy tardy steps！ begone！ away！ away！ O saviour prince；
avert calamity from me！
IRIS
Courage； old men！ she； whom you see； is Madness； daughter of
Night； and I am Iris； the handmaid of the gods。 We have not come to do
your city any hurt； but against the house of one man only is our
warfare； even against him whom they call the son of Zeus and
Alcmena。 For until he had finished all his grievous toils； Destiny was
preserving him； nor would father Zeus ever suffer me or Hera to harm
him。 But now that he hath accomplished the labours of Eurystheus； Hera
is minded to brand him with the guilt of shedding kindred blood by
slaying his own children； and I am one with her。 Come then； maid
unwed； child of murky Night； harden thy heart relentlessly； send forth
frenzy upon him； confound his mind even to the slaying of his
children； drive him； goad him wildly on his mad career； shake out
the sails of death； that when he has sent o'er Acheron's ferry that
fair group of children by his own murderous hand； he may learn to know
how fiercely against him the wrath of Hera burns and may also
experience mine； otherwise； if he escape punishment； the gods will
become as naught； while man's power will grow。
MADNESS
Of noble parents was I born； the daughter of Night； sprung from
the blood of Uranus； and these prerogatives I hold； not to use them in
anger against friends； nor have I any joy in visiting the homes of
men； and fain would I counsel Hera； before I see her err； and thee
too； if ye will hearken to my words。 This man； against whose house
thou art sending me； has made himself a name alike in heaven and
earth； for； after taming pathless wilds and raging sea； he by his
single might raised up again the honours of the gods when sinking
before man's impiety； wherefore I counsel thee； do not wish him dire
mishaps。
IRIS
Spare us thy advice on Hera's and my schemes。
MADNESS
I seek to turn thy steps into the best path instead of into this
one of evil。
IRIS
'Twas not to practice self…control that the wife of Zeus sent thee
hither。
MADNESS
I call the sun…god to witness that herein I am acting against my
will； but if indeed I must forthwith serve thee and Hera and follow
you in full cry as hounds follow the huntsman； why go I will； nor
shall ocean with its moaning waves； nor the earthquake； nor the
thunderbolt with blast of agony be half so furious as the headlong
rush I will make into the breast of Heracles； through his roof will
I burst my way and swoop upon his house； after first slaying his
children； nor shall their murderer know that he is killing his
own…begotten babes； till he is released from my madness。 Behold him！
see how even now he is wildly tossing his head at the outset； and
rolling his eyes fiercely from side to side without word； nor can he
control his panting breath； but like a bull in act to charge； he
bellows fearfully； calling on the goddesses of nether hell。 Soon
will I rouse thee to yet wilder dancing and sound a note of terror
in thine ear。 Soar away； O Iris； to Olympus on thy honoured course；
while I unseen will steal into the halls of Heracles。
（IRIS and MADNESS vanish。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Alas！ alas！ lament； O city； the son of Zeus； thy fairest bloom； is
being cut down。
Woe is thee； Hellas！ that wilt cast from thee thy benefactor；
and destroy him as he madly； wildly dances where no pipe is heard。
She is mounted on her car； the queen of