Heracles

Euripides

Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891.

  1. I could tell of the murder done by Procne, mother of an only child, offered to the Muses; but you had three children, wretched parent, and all of them have you in your frenzy slain.
  2. Alas! What groans or wails, what funeral dirge, or dance of death am I to raise?
  3. Ah, ah! see, the bolted doors
  4. of the lofty palace are being rolled apart.
  5. Ah me! see the wretched children lying before their unhappy father, who is sunk in dreadful slumber after shedding their blood.
  6. Round him are bonds and cords, made fast with many knots about the body of Heracles, and lashed to the stone columns of his house.
Chorus Leader
  1. But he, the aged father, like mother-bird wailing
  2. her unfledged brood, comes hastening here with halting steps on his bitter journey.
The palace doors opening disclose Heracles lying asleep, bound to a shattered column.
Amphitryon
  1. Softly, softly! you aged sons of Thebes, let him sleep on and forget his sorrows.
Chorus
  1. For you, old friend, I weep and mourn, for the children too and that victorious chief.
Amphitryon
  1. Stand further off, make no noise nor outcry, do not rouse him from his calm
  2. deep slumber.
Chorus
  1. O horrible! all this blood—
Amphitryon
  1. Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.
Chorus
  1. That he has spilled is rising up against him.
Amphitryon
  1. Gently raise your dirge of woe, old friends;
  2. or he will wake, and, bursting his bonds, destroy the city, rend his father, and dash his house to pieces.
Chorus
  1. I cannot, cannot—
Amphitryon
  1. Hush! let me note his breathing;
  2. come, let me put my ear close.