the trachiniae-第9章
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obedience to a sire。
HYLLUS
Yea； father；… though I fear the issue to which our talk hath
brought me；… I will do thy good pleasure。
HERACLES
First of all； lay thy right hand in mine。
HYLLUS
For what purpose dost thou insist upon his pledge？
HERACLES
Give thy hand at once… disobey me not！
HYLLUS
Lo； there it is： thou shalt not be gainsaid。
HERACLES
Now； swear by the head of Zeus my sire！
HYLLUS
To do what deed？ May this also be told？
HERACLES
To perform for me the task that I shall enjoin。
HYLLUS
I swear it； with Zeus for witness of the oath。
HERACLES
And pray that； if thou break this oath； thou mayest suffer。
HYLLUS
I shall not suffer； for I shall keep it：… yet so I pray。
HERACLES
Well； thou knowest the summit of Oeta； sacred to Zeus？
HYLLUS
Ay； I have often stood at his altar on that height。
HERACLES
Thither； then； thou must carry me up with thine own hands； aided
by what friends thou wilt； thou shalt lop many a branch from the
deep…rooted oak； and hew many a faggot also from the sturdy stock of
the wild…olive； thou shalt lay my body thereupon； and kindle it with
flaming pine…torch。
And let no tear of mourning be seen there； no； do this without
lament and without weeping； if thou art indeed my son。 But if thou
do it not； even from the world below my curse and my wrath shall
wait on thee for ever。
HYLLUS
Alas； my father； what hast thou spoken？ How hast thou dealt with
me！
HERACLES
I have spoken that which thou must perform； if thou wilt not； then
get thee some other sire； and be called my son no more！
HYLLUS
Woe； woe is me！ What a deed dost thou require of me； my
father；…that I should become thy murderer； guilty of thy blood！
HERACLES
Not so； in truth； but healer of my sufferings； sole physician of
my pain！
HYLLUS
And how； by enkindling thy body； shall I heal it？
HERACLES
Nay； if that thought dismay thee； at least perform the rest。
HYLLUS
The service of carrying thee shall not be refused。
HERACLES
And the heaping of the pyre； as I have bidden？
HYLLUS
Yea； save that I will not touch it with mine own hand。 All else
will I do； and thou shalt have no hindrance on my part。
HERACLES
Well； so much shall be enough。… But add one small boon to thy
large benefits。
HYLLUS
Be the boon never so large； it shall be granted。
HERACLES
Knowest thou； then； the girl whose sire was Eurytus？
HYLLUS
It is of Iole that thou speakest； if I mistake not。
HERACLES
Even so。 This； in brief； is the charge that I give thee； my son。
When am dead； if thou wouldest show a pious remembrance of thine
oath unto thy father； disobey me not； but take this woman to be thy
wife。 Let no other espouse her who hath lain at my side； but do
thou； O my son； make that marriage…bond thine own。 Consent： after
loyalty in great matters； to rebel in less is to cancel the grace that
bad been won。
HYLLUS
Ah me； it is not well to be angry with a sick man： but who could
bear to see him in such a mind？
HERACLES
Thy words show no desire to do my bidding。
HYLLUS
What！ When she alone is to blame for my mother's death； and for
thy present plight besides？ Lives there the man who would make such
choice； unless he were maddened by avenging fiends？
Better were it； father； that I too should die； rather than live
united to the worst of our foes！
HERACLES
He will render no reverence； it seems； to my dying prayer。… Nay；
be sure that the curse of the gods will attend thee for disobedience
to my voice。
HYLLUS
Ah； thou wilt soon show； methinks； how distempered thou art！
HERACLES
Yea； for thou art breaking the slumber of my plague。
HYLLUS
Hapless that I am！ What perplexities surround me！
HERACLES
Yea； since thou deignest not to hear thy sire。
HYLLUS
But must I learn； then； to be impious； my father？
HERACLES
'Tis not impiety； if thou shalt gladden my heart。
HYLLUS
Dost thou command me； then； to do this deed； as a clear duty？
HERACLES
I command thee；… the gods bear me witness！
HYLLUS
Then will I do it； and refuse not；… calling upon the gods to
witness thy deed。 I can never be condemned for loyalty to thee； my
father。
HERACLES
Thou endest well； and to these words； my son； quickly add the
gracious deed； that thou mayest lay me on the pyre before any pain
returns to rend or sting me。
Come； make haste and lift me！ This； in truth； is rest from
troubles； this is the end； the last end； of Heracles！
HYLLUS
Nothing； indeed； hinders the fulfilment of thy wish； since thy
command constrains us； my father。
HERACLES （chanting）
Come； then； ere thou arouse this plague； O my stubborn soul；
give me a curb as of steel on lips set like stone to stone； and let no
cry escape them； seeing that the deed which thou art to do； though
done perforce； is yet worthy of thy joy！
HYLLUS （chanting）
Lift him； followers！ And grant me full forgiveness for this； but
mark the great cruelty of the gods in the deeds that are being done。
They beget children； they are hailed as fathers； and yet they can look
upon such sufferings。
（The attendants raise HERACLES
on the litter and move slowly off； as HYLLUS chants
to the CHORUS in the closing lines。）
No man foresees the future； but the present is fraught with
mourning for us； and with shame for the powers above； and verily
with anguish beyond compare for him who endures this doom。
Maidens； come ye also； nor linger at the house； ye who have lately
seen a dread death； with sorrows manifold and strange： and in all this
there is nought but Zeus。
…THE END…
。
