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430 BC
THE TRACHINIAE
by Sophocles
transalated by R。 C。 Jebb
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
DEIANEIRA
NURSE
HYLLUS； son of HERACLES and DEIANEIRA
MESSENGER
LICHAS； the herald of HERACLES
HERACLES
AN OLD MAN
CHORUS OF TRACHINIAN MAIDENS
THE TRACHINIAE
（SCENE：… At Trachis； before the house of HERACLES。
Enter DEIANEIRA from the house； accompanied by the NURSE。）
DEIANEIRA
THERE is a saying among men； put forth of old； that thou canst not
rightly judge whether a mortal's lot is good or evil； ere he die。
But I； even before I have passed to the world of death； know well that
my life is sorrowful and bitter； I； who in the house of my father
Oeneus； while yet I dwelt at Pleuron； had such fear of bridals as
never vexed any maiden of Aetolia。 For my wooer was a river…god；
Achelous； who in three shapes was ever asking me from my sire；… coming
now as a bull in bodily form； now as serpent with sheeny coils； now
with trunk of man and front of ox； while from a shaggy beard the
streams of fountain…water flowed abroad。 With the fear of such a
suitor before mine eyes； I was always praying in my wretchedness
that I might die； or ever I should come near to such a bed。
But at last； to my joy； came the glorious son of Zeus and Alcmena；
who dosed with him in combat； and delivered me。 How the fight was
waged； I cannot clearly tell； I know not； if there be any one who
watched that sight without terror； such might speak： I； as I sat
there； was distraught with dread； lest beauty should bring me sorrow
at the last。 But finally the Zeus of battles ordained well；… if well
indeed it be： for since I have been joined to Heracles as his chosen
bride； fear after fear hath haunted me on his account； one night
brings a trouble； and the next night； in turn； drives it out。 And then
children were born to us； whom he has seen only as the husbandman sees
his distant field； which he visits at seedtime； and once again at
harvest。 Such was the life that kept him journeying to and fro； in the
service of a certain master。
But now； when he hath risen above those trials；… now it is that my
anguish is sorest。 Ever since he slew the valiant Iphitus； we have
been dwelling here in Trachis； exiles from our home； and the guests of
stranger； but where he is； no one knows； I only know that he is
gone； and hath pierced my heart with cruel pangs for him。 I am
almost sure that some evil hath befallen him； it is no short space
that hath passed； but ten long months； and then five more；… and
still no message from him。 Yes； there has been some dread
mischance；… witness that tablet which he left with me ere he went
forth： oft do I pray to the gods that I may not have received it for
my sorrow。
NURSE
Deianeira； my mistress； many a time have I marked thy bitter tears
and lamentations； as thou bewailedst the going forth of Heracles；
but now；… if it be meet to school the free…born with the counsels of a
slave； and if I must say what behoves thee；… why； when thou art so
rich in sons； dost thou send no one of them to seek thy lord；… Hyllus；
before all； who might well go on that errand； if he cared that there
should be tidings of his father's welfare？ Lo！ there he comes；
speeding towards the house with timely step； if； then； thou deemest
that I speak in season； thou canst use at once my counsel； and the
man。
（HYLLUS comes in from the side。）
DEIANEIRA
My child； my son； wise words may fall； it seems； from humble lips；
this woman is a slave； but hath spoken in the spirit of the free。
HYLLUS
How； mother？ Tell me； if it may be told。
DEIANEIRA
It brings thee shame； she saith； that； when thy father hath been
so long a stranger； thou hast not sought to learn where he is。
HYLLUS
Nay； I know；… if rumour can be trusted。
DEIANEIRA
And in what region； my child； doth rumour place him？
HYLLUS
Last year； they say； through all the months； he toiled as
bondman to Lydian woman。
DEIANEIRA
If he bore that； then no tidings can surprise。
HYLLUS
Well； he has been delivered from that； as I hear。
DEIANEIRA
Where； then； is he reported to be now；… alive or dead？
HYLLUS
He is waging or planning a war； they say； upon Euboea； the realm
of Eurytus。
DEIANEIRA
Knowest thou； my son； that he hath left with me sure oracles
touching that land？
HYLLUS
What are they； mother？ I know not whereof thou speakest。
DEIANEIRA
That either he shall meet his death； or； having achieved this
task； shall have rest thenceforth； for all his days to come。
So； my child； when his fate is thus trembling in the scale； wilt
thou not go to succour him？ For we are saved； if he find safety； or we
perish with him。
HYLLUS
Ay； I will go； my mother； and； had I known the import of these
prophecies； I had been there long since； but； as it was； my father's
wonted fortune suffered me not to feel fear for him； or to be
anxious overmuch。 Now that I have the knowledge； I will spare no pains
to learn the whole truth in this matter。
DEIANEIRA
Go； then； my son； be the seeker ne'er so late； he is rewarded if
he learn tidings of joy。
（HYLLUS departs as the CHORUS OF TRACHINIAN MAIDENS enters。 They
are free…born young women of Trachis who are friends and confidantes
of DEIANEIRA。 She remains during their opening choral song。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Thou whom Night brings forth at the moment when she is despoiled
of her starry crown； and lays to rest in thy splendour； tell me；
pray thee； O Sun…god； tell me where abides Alcmena's son？ Thou
glorious lord of flashing light； say； is he threading the straits of
the sea； or hath he found an abode on either continent？ Speak； thou
who seest as none else can see！
antistrophe 1
For Deianeira； as I hear； hath ever an aching heart； she； the
battle…prize of old； is now like some bird lorn of its mate； she can
never lull her yearning； nor stay her tears； haunted by a sleepless
fear for her absent lord； she pines on her anxious； widowed couch；
miserable in her foreboding of mischance。
strophe 2
As one may see billow after billow driven over the wide deep by
the tireless south…wind or the north； so the trouble of his life；
stormy as the Cretan sea； now whirls back the son of Cadmus； now lifts
him to honour。 But some god ever saves him from the house of death；
and suffers him not to fail。
antistrophe 2
Lady； I praise not this thy mood； with all reverence will I speak；
yet in reproof。 Thou dost not well； I say； to kill fair hope by
fretting； remember that the son of Cronus himself； the all…disposing
king； hath not appointed a painless lot for mortals。 Sorrow and joy
come round to all； as the Bear moves in his circling paths。
epode
Yea； starry night abides not with men； nor tribulation； nor
wealth； in a moment it is gone from us； and another hath his turn of
gladness； and of bereavement。 So would I wish thee also； the Queen； to
keep that prospect ever in thy thoughts； for when hath Zeus been found
so careless of his children？
DEIANEIRA
Ye have heard of my trouble； I think； and that hath brought you
here； but the anguish which consumes my heart… ye are strangers to
that； and never may ye learn it by suffering！ Yes； the tender plant
grows in those sheltered regions of its own！ and the Sun…god's heat
vexes it not； nor rain； nor any wind； but it rejoices in its sweet；
untroubled being； til such time as the maiden is called a wife； and
finds her portion of anxious thoughts in the night； brooding on danger
to husband or to children。 Such an one could understand the burden
of my cares； she could judge them by her own。
Well； I have had many a sorrow to weep for ere now； but I am going
to speak of one more grievous than them all。
When Heracles my lord was going from home on his last journey；
he left in the house an ancient tablet； inscribed with tokens which he
had never brought himself to explain to me before； many as were the
ordeals to which he had gone forth。 He had always departed as if to
conquer； not to die。 But now； as if he were a doomed man； he told me
what portion of his substance I was to take for my dower； and how he
would have his sons share their father's land amongst them。 And he
fixed the time； saying th