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.
- 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, it is high time you came forth from the palace; you 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.
- Lord, you persecute me in my misery and heap insult upon me over and above the loss of my son; you should have been more moderate in your zeal, though you are my lord and master.
- But since you impose death’s necessity on me, I must acquiesce; what you wish must be done.
- Now, where is Megara? where are the children of Alcmena’s son?
- She, I believe, so far as I can guess from outside—
- What grounds do you have to base your fancy on?
- Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar’s hallowed steps—
- Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life.
- And calling on her dead husband, in vain.
- He is nowhere near, and he certainly will never come.
- No, unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead.
- Go to her and bring her from the palace.
- By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder.
- Since you have this scruple, I, who have left fear behind, will myself bring out the mother and her children. Follow me, servants,
- that we may joyfully put an end to this delay of our work.
- Then go your way along the path of fate; for what remains, maybe another will provide. Expect for your evil deeds to find some trouble yourself. Ah! my aged friends, he is marching fairly to his doom; soon will he lie entangled in the snare
- of the sword, thinking to slay his neighbors, the villain! I will go, to see him fall dead; for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his misdeeds affords pleasurable feelings.