heracles-第9章
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it。
THESEUS
Hush！ lest thy presumption add to thy sufferings。
HERACLES
My barque is freighted full with sorrow； there is no room to
stow aught further。
THESEUS
What wilt thou do？ whither is thy fury drifting thee？
HERACLES
I will die and return to that world below whence I have just come。
THESEUS
Such language is fit for any common fellow。
HERACLES
Ah！ thine is the advice of one outside sorrow's pale。
THESEUS
Are these indeed the words of Heracles； the much…enduring？
HERACLES
Though never so much as this。 Endurance must have a limit。
THESEUS
Is this man's benefactor； his chiefest friend？
HERACLES
Man brings no help to me； no！ Hera has her way。
THESEUS
Never will Hellas suffer thee to die through sheer perversity。
HERACLES
Hear me a moment； that I may enter the lists with words in
answer to thy admonitions； and I will unfold to thee why life now as
well as formerly has been unbearable to me。 First I am the son of a
man who incurred the guilt of blood； before he married my mother
Alcmena； by slaying her aged sire。 Now when the foundation is badly
laid at birth； needs must the race be cursed with woe； and Zeus；
whoever this Zeus may be； begot me as a butt for Hera's hate； yet be
not thou vexed thereat； old man； for thee rather than Zeus do I regard
as my father。 Then whilst I was yet being suckled； that bride of
Zeus did foist into my cradle fearsome snakes to compass my death。
After I was grown to man's estate； of all the toils I then endured
what need to tell？ of all the lions； Typhons triple…bodied； and giants
that I slew； or of the battle I won against the hosts of four…legged
Centaurs？ or how when I had killed the hydra； that monster with a ring
of heads with power to grow again； I passed through countless other
toils besides and came unto the dead to fetch to the light at the
bidding of Eurystheus the three…headed hound； hell's porter。 Last； ah；
woe is me have I perpetrated this bloody deed to crown the sorrows
of my house with my children's murder。 To this sore strait am I
come； no longer may I dwell in Thebes； the city that I love； for
suppose I stay； to what temple or gathering of friends shall I repair？
For mine is no curse that invites address。 Shall I to Argos？ how can
I； when I am an exile from my country？ Well； is there a single other
city I can fly to？ And if there were； am I to be looked at askance
as a marked man； branded by cruel stabbing tongues； 〃Is not this the
son of Zeus that once murdered wife and children？ Plague take him from
the land！〃
Now to one who was erst called happy； such changes are a
grievous thing； though he who is always unfortunate feels no such
pain； for sorrow is his birthright。 This； methinks； is the piteous
pass I shall one day come to； for earth will cry out forbidding me
to touch her； the sea and the river…springs will refuse me a crossing；
and I shall become like Ixion who revolves in chains upon that
wheel。 Wherefore this is best； that henceforth I be seen by none of
the Hellenes； amongst whom in happier days I lived in bliss。 What
right have I to live？ what profit can I have in the possession of a
useless； impious life？ So let that noble wife of Zeus break forth in
dancing； beating with buskined foot on heaven's bright floor； for
now hath she worked her heart's desire in utterly confounding the
chiefest of Hellas' sons。 Who would pray to such a goddess？ Her
jealousy of Zeus for his love of a woman hath destroyed the
benefactors of Hellas； guiltless though they were。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This is the work of none other of the gods than the wife of
Zeus； thou art right in that surmise。
THESEUS
I cannot counsel you to die rather than to go on suffering。
There is not a man alive that hath wholly 'scaped misfortune's
taint； nor any god either； if what poets sing is true。 Have they not
intermarried in ways that law forbids？ Have they not thrown fathers
into ignominious chains to gain the sovereign power？ Still they
inhabit Olympus and brave the issue of their crimes。 And yet what
shalt thou say in thy defence； if thou； child of man； dost kick
against the pricks of fate； while they do not？ Nay； then； leave Thebes
in compliance with the law； and come with me to the city of Pallas。
There； when I have purified thee of thy pollution； will I give thee
temples and the half of all I have。 Yea； I will give thee all those
presents I received from the citizens for saving their children； seven
sons and daughters seven； on the day I slew the bull of Crete； for I
have plots of land assigned me throughout the country； these shall
henceforth be called after thee by men； whilst thou livest； and at thy
death； when thou art gone to Hades' halls； the city of Athens shall
unite in exalting thy honour with sacrifices and a monument of
stone。 For 'tis a noble crown for citizens to win from Hellas； even
a reputation fair； by helping a man of worth。 This is the return
that I will make thee for saving me； for now art thou in need of
friends。 But when heaven delights to honour a man； he has no need of
friends； for the god's aid； when he chooses to give it； is enough。
HERACLES
Alas！ this is quite beside the question of my troubles。 For my
part； I do not believe that the gods indulge in unholy unions； and
as for putting fetters on parents' hands； I have never thought that
worthy of belief； nor will I now be so persuaded； nor again that one
god is naturally lord and master of another。 For the deity； if he be
really such； has no wants； these are miserable fictions of the
poets。 But I； for all my piteous plight； reflected whether I should
let myself be branded as a coward for giving up my life。 For whoso
schooleth not his frail mortal nature to bear fate's buffets as he
ought； will never be able to withstand even a man's weapon。 I will
harden my heart against death and seek thy city； with grateful
thanks for all thou offerest me。
（He weeps。）
Of countless troubles have I tasted； God knows； but never yet
did faint at any or shed a single tear； nay； nor ever dreamt that I
should come to this； to let the tear…drop fall。 But now； it seems； I
must be fortune's slave。 Well； let it pass； old father mine； thou
seest me go forth to exile； and in me beholdest my own children's
murderer。 Give them burial and lay them out in death with the
tribute of a tear； for the law forbids my doing so。 Rest their heads
upon their mother's bosom and fold them in her arms； sad pledges of
our union； whom I； alas！ unwittingly did slay。 And when thou hast
buried these dead； live on here still； in bitternes maybe； but still
constrain thy soul to share my sorrows。 O children！ he who begat
you； your own father； hath been your destroyer； and ye have had no
profit of my triumphs； all my restless toil to win you a fair name
in life； a glorious guerdon from a sire。 Thee too； unhappy wife；
this hand hath slain； a poor return to make thee for preserving mine
honour so safe； for all the weary watch thou long hast kept within
my house。 Alas for you； my wife； my sons！ and woe for me； how sad my
lot； cut off from wife and child！ Ah！ these kisses； bitter…sweet！
these weapons which 'tis pain to own！ I am not sure whether to keep or
let them go； dangling at my side they thus will say； 〃With us didst
thou destroy children and wife； we are thy children's slayers； and
thou keepest us。〃 Shall I carry them after that？ what answer can I
make？ Yet； am I to strip me of these weapons； the comrades of my
glorious career in Hellas； and put myself thereby in the power of my
foes； to die a death of shame？ No！ I must not let them go； but keep
them； though it grieve me。 In one thing； Theseus； help my misery； come
to Argos with me and aid in settling my reward for bringing Cerberus
thither； lest； if I go all alone； my sorrow for my sons do me some
hurt。
O land of Cadmus； and all ye folk of Thebes！ cut off your hair；
and mourn with me； go to my children's burial； and with united dirge
lament alike the dead and me； for on all of us hath Hera inflicted the
same cruel blow of destruction。
THESEUS
