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.
- the sky and earth and the sun’s darting beam; but how my senses reel! in what strange turmoil am I plunged! my fevered breath in quick spasmodic gasps escapes my lungs. How now? why am I lying here, my brawny chest and arms made fast with cables like a ship,
- beside a half-shattered piece of masonry, with corpses for my neighbors; while over the floor my bow and arrows are scattered, that once like trusty squires to my arm
- both kept me safe and were kept safe by me? Surely I have not come a second time to Hades’ halls, having just returned from there for Eurystheus? To Hades? From where? No, I do not see Sisyphus with his stone, or Pluto, or his queen, Demeter’s child.
- Surely I am distraught; where am I, so helpless? Ho, there! which of my friends is near or far to cure me in my perplexity? For I have no clear knowledge of things once familiar.
- My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?
- Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble.
- Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?
- My child! mine still, for all your misery.
- Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?
- That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it.
- A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.
- Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.
- Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.
- I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.
- Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite!
- I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.
- I have no recollection of being mad.
- Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?
- Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.
- Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego.