heracles-第3章
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of breeding and wisdom； for thou wilt more easily obtain mercy there
by friendly overtures。 True； a thought has already occurred to me that
we might by entreaty obtain a sentence of exile for the children；
yet this too is misery； to compass their deliverance with dire
penury as the result； for 'tis a saying that hosts look sweetly on
banished friends for a day and no more。 Steel thy heart to die with
us； for that awaits thee after all。 By thy brave soul I challenge
thee； old friend； for whoso struggles hard to escape destiny shows
zeal no doubt； but 'tis zeal with a taint of folly； for what must
be； no one will ever avail to alter。
LEADER
If a man had insulted thee； while yet my arms were lusty； there
would have been an easy way to stop him； but now am I a thing of
naught； and so thou henceforth； Amphitryon； must scheme how to avert
misfortune。
AMPHITRYON
'Tis not cowardice or any longing for life that hinders my
dying； but my wish to save my son's children； though no doubt I am
vainly wishing for impossibilities。 Lo！ here is my neck ready for
thy sword to pierce； my body for thee to hack or hurl from the rock；
only one boon I crave for both of us； O king； slay me and this hapless
mother before thou slay the children； that we may not see the
hideous sight； as they gasp out their lives； calling on their mother
and their father's sire； for the rest work thy will； if so thou art
inclined； for we have no defence against death。
MEGARA
I too implore thee add a second boon； that by thy single act
thou mayst put us both under a double obligation； suffer me to deck my
children in the robes of death；…first opening the palace gates； for
now are we shut out；…that this at least they may obtain from their
father's halls。
LYCUS
I grant it； and bid my servants undo the bolts。 Go in and deck
yourselves； robes I grudge not。 But soon as ye have clothed
yourselves； I will return to you to consign you to the nether world。
（Lycus and his retinue withdraw。）
MEGARA
Children； follow the footsteps of your hapless mother to your
father's halls； where others possess his substance； though his name is
still ours。
（MEGARA and her children enter the palace。）
AMPHITRYON
O Zeus； in vain it seems； did I get thee to share my bride with
me； in vain used we to call thee father of my son。 After all thou
art less our friend than thou didst pretend。 Great god as thou art； I；
a mere mortal。 surpass thee in true worth。 For I did not betray the
children of Heracles； but thou by stealth didst find thy way to my
couch； taking another's wife without leave given； while to save thy
own friends thou hast no skill。 Either thou art a god of little sense；
or else naturally unjust。
（AMPHITRYON follows MEGARA into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Phoebus is singing a plaintive dirge to drown his happier strains；
striking with key of gold his sweet…tongued lyre； so too am I fain
to sing a song of praise； a crown to all his toil； concerning him
who is gone to the gloom beneath the nether world； whether I am to
call him son of Zeus or of Amphitryon。 For the praise of noble toils
accomplished is a glory to the dead。 First he cleared the grove of
Zeus of a lion； and put its skin upon his back； hiding his auburn hair
in its fearful gaping jaws；
antistrophe 1
Then on a day； with murderous bow he wounded the race of wild
Centaurs； that range the hills； slaying them with winged shafts；
Peneus； the river of fair eddies； knows him well； and those far fields
unharvested； and the steadings on Pelion and they who haunt the
glens of Homole bordering thereupon； whence they rode forth to conquer
Thessaly； arming themselves with pines for clubs； likewise he slew
that dappled hind with horns of gold； that preyed upon the
country…folk； glorifying Artemis； huntress queen of Oenoe；
strophe 2
Next he mounted on a car and tamed with the bit the steeds of
Diomede； that greedily champed their bloody food at gory mangers
with jaws unbridled； devouring with hideous joy the flesh of men； then
crossing Hebrus' silver stream he still toiled on to perform the hests
of the tyrant of Mycenae； till he came to the strand of the Malian
gulf by the streams of Anaurus； where he slew with his arrows
Cycnus； murderer of his guests； the savage wretch who dwelt in
Amphanae；
antistrophe 2
Also he came to those minstrel maids； to their orchard in the
west； to pluck from the leafy apple…tree its golden fruit； when he had
slain the tawny dragon； whose awful coils were twined all round to
guard it； and he made his way into ocean's lairs； bringing calm to men
that use the oar； moreover he sought the home of Atlas； and
stretched out his hands to uphold the firmament； and on his manly
shoulders took the starry mansions of the gods；
strophe 3
Then he went through the waves of heaving Euxine against the
mounted host of Amazons dwelling round Maeotis； the lake that is fed
by many a stream； having gathered to his standard all his friends from
Hellas； to fetch the gold…embroidered raiment of the warrior queen；
a deadly quest for a girdle。 And Hellas won those glorious spoils of
the barbarian maid； and safe in Mycenae are they now。 On Lerna's
murderous hound； the many…headed hydra； he set his branding…iron；
and smeared its venom on his darts； wherewith he slew the shepherd
of Erytheia； a monster with three bodies；
antistrophe 3
And many another glorious achievement he brought to a happy issue；
to Hades' house of tears hath he now sailed； the goal of his
labours； where he is ending his career of toil； nor cometh he thence
again。 Now is thy house left without a friend； and Charon's boat
awaits thy children to bear them on that journey out of life； whence
is no returning； contrary to God's law and man's justice； and it is to
thy prowess that thy house is looking although thou art not here。
Had I been strong and lusty； able to brandish the spear in battle's
onset； my Theban compeers too； I would have stood by thy children to
champion them； but now my happy youth is gone and I am left。
But lo！ I see the children of Heracles who was erst so great； clad
in the vesture of the grave； and his loving wife dragging her babes
along at her side； and that hero's aged sire。 Ah！ woe is me！ no longer
can I stem the flood of tears that spring to my old eyes。
（MEGARA； AMPHITRYON； and the children enter from the palace。）
MEGARA
Come now； who is to sacrifice or butcher these poor children？ or
rob me of my wretched life？ Behold！ the victims are ready to be led to
Hades' halls。 O my children！ an ill…matched company are we hurried off
to die； old men and babes； and mothers； all together。 Alas！ for my sad
fate and my children's； whom these eyes now for the last time
behold。 So I gave you birth and reared you only for our foes to
mock； to flout； and slay。 Ah me！ how bitterly my hopes have
disappointed me in the expectation once formed from the words of
your father。 （Addressing each of her sons in turn） To thee thy dead
sire was for giving Argos； and thou wert to dwell in the halls of
Eurystheus； lording it o'er the fair fruitful land of Argolis； and
o'er thy head would he throw that lion's skin wherewith himself was
girt。 Thou wert to be king of Thebes； famed for its chariots；
receiving as thy heritage my broad lands； for so thou didst coax thy
father dear； and to thy hand used he to resign the carved club； his
sure defence； pretending to give it thee。 To thee he promised to
give Oechalia； which once his archery had wasted。 Thus with three
principalities would your father exalt you his three sons； proud of
your manliness； while I was choosing the best brides for you； scheming
to link you by marriage to Athens； Thebes
