heracles-第7章
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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
Rise； unhappy man！ thou hast had thy fill of tears。
HERACLES
I cannot rise； my limbs are rooted here。
THESEUS
Yea； even the strong are o'erthrown by misfortunes。
HERACLES
Ah！ would I could grow into a stone upon this spot； oblivious of
trouble！
THESEUS
Peace！ give thy hand to a friend and helper。
HERACLES
Nay； let me not wipe off the blood upon thy robe。
THESEUS
Wipe it off and spare not； I will not say thee nay。
HERACLES
Reft of my own sons； I find thee as a son to me。
THESEUS
Throw thy arm about my neck； I will be thy guide。
HERACLES
A pair of friends in sooth are we； but one a man of sorrows。 Ah！
aged sire； this is the kind of man to make a friend。
AMPHITRYON
Blest in her sons； the country that gave him birth！
HERACLES
O Theseus； turn me back again to see my babes。
THESEUS
What charm dost think to find in this to soothe thy soul？
HERACLES
I long to do so； and would fain embrace my sire。
AMPHITRYON
Here am I； my son； thy wish is no less dear to me。
THESEUS
Hast thou so short a memory for thy troubles？
HERACLES
All that I endured of yore was easier to bear than this。
THESEUS
If men see thee play the woman； they will scoff。
HERACLES
Have I by living grown so abject in thy sight？ 'twas not so
once； methinks。
THESEUS
Aye； too much so； for how dost show thyself the glorious
Heracles of yore？
HERACLES
What about thyself？ what kind of hero wert thou when in trouble in
the world below？
THESEUS
I was worse than anyone as far as courage went。
HERACLES
How then canst thou say of me； that I am abased by my troubles？
THESEUS
Forward！
HERACLES
Farewell； my aged sire！
AMPHITRYON
Farewell to thee； my son！
HERACLES
Bury my children as I said。
AMPHITRYON
But who will bury me； my son？
HERACLES
I will。
AMPHITRYON
When wilt thou come？
HERACLES
After thou hast buried my children。
AMPHITRYON
How？
HERACLES
I will fetch thee from Thebes to Athens。 But carry my children
within； a grievous burden to the earth。 And I； after ruining my
house by deeds of shame； will follow in the wake of Theseus； totally
destroyed。 Whoso prefers wealth or might to the possession of good
friends； thinketh amiss。
（THESEUS and his attendants lead HERACLES away。）
CHORUS （chanting）
With grief and many a bitter tear we go our way； robbed of all
we prized most dearly。
…THE END…
