按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
silence pleads for thine accuser？
（DEIANEIRA goes in the house。）
HYLLUS
Let her depart。 A fair wind speed her far from my sight！ Why
should the name of mother bring her a semblance of respect； when she
is all unlike a mother in her deeds？ No； let her go；… farewell to her；
and may such joy as she gives my sire become her own！
（Exit HYLLUS； into the house。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
See； maidens； how suddenly the divine word of the old prophecy
hath come upon us； which said that； when the twelfth year should
have run through its full tale of months； it should end the series
of toils for the true…born son of Zeus！ And that promise is wafted
surely to its fulfilment。 For how shall he who beholds not the light
have toilsome servitude any more beyond the grave？
antistrophe 1
If a cloud of death is around him； and the doom wrought by the
Centaur's craft is stinging his sides； where cleaves the venom which
Thanatos begat and the gleaming serpent nourished； how can he look
upon tomorrow's sun；… when that appalling Hydra…shape holds him in its
grip； and those murderous goads； prepared by the wily words of
black…haired Nessus； have started into fury； vexing him with
tumultuous pain？
strophe 2
Of such things this hapless lady had no foreboding； but she saw
great mischief swiftly coming on her home from the new marriage。 Her
own hand applied the remedy； but for the issues of a stranger's
counsel； given at a fatal meeting；… for these； I ween； she makes
despairing lament； shedding the tender dew of plenteous tears。 And the
coming fate foreshadows a great misfortune； contrived by guile。
antistrophe 2
Our streaming tears break forth： alas； a plague is upon him more
piteous than any suffering that foemen ever brought upon that glorious
hero。
Ah； thou dark steel of the spear foremost in battle； by whose
might yonder bride was lately borne so swiftly from Oechalia's
heights！ But the Cyprian goddess； ministering in silence； hath been
plainly proved the doer of these deeds。
LEADER OF ONE SEMI…CHORUS
Is it fancy； or do I hear some cry of grief just passing through
the house？ What is this？
LEADER OF OTHER SEMI…CHORUS
No uncertain sound； but a wail of anguish from within： the house
hath some new trouble。
LEADER OF WHOLE CHORUS
And mark how sadly； with what a cloud upon her brow； that aged
woman approaches； to give us tidings。
（Enter NURSE； from the house。）
NURSE
Ah； my daughters； great； indeed； were the sorrows that we were
to reap from the gift sent to Heracles！
LEADER
Aged woman； what new mischance hast thou to tell？
NURSE
Deianeira hath departed on the last of all her journeys；
departed without stirring foot。
LEADER
Thou speakest not of death？
NURSE
My tale is told。
LEADER
Dead； hapless one？
NURSE
Again thou hearest it。
CHORUS
Hapless； lost one！ Say； what was the manner of her death？
NURSE
Oh； a cruel deed was there！
CHORUS
Speak； woman； how hath she met her doom？
NURSE
By her own hand hath she died。
CHORUS
What fury； what pangs of frenzy have cut her off by the edge of
a dire weapon？ How contrived she this death； following death；… all
wrought by her alone？
NURSE
By the stroke of the sword that makes sorrow。
CHORUS
Sawest thou that violent deed； poor helpless one？
NURSE
I saw it； yea； I was standing near。
CHORUS
Whence came it？ How was it done？ Oh； speak
NURSE
'Twas the work of her own mind and her own hand。
CHORUS
What dost thou tell us？
NURSE
The sure truth。
CHORUS
The first…born； the first…born of that new bride is a dread Erinys
for this house！
NURSE
Too true； and； hadst thou been an eye…witness of the action；
verily thy pity would have been yet deeper。
LEADER
And could a woman's hand dare to do such deeds？
NURSE
Yea； with dread daring； thou shalt hear； and then thou wilt bear
me witness。
When she came alone into the house； and saw her son preparing a
deep litter in the court； that he might go back with it to meet his
sire； then she hid herself where none might see； and； falling before
the altars； she wailed aloud that they were left desolate； and； when
she touched any…household thing that she had been wont to use； poor
lady； in the past； her tears would flow； or when； roaming hither and
thither through the house； she beheld the form of any well…loved
servant； she wept； hapless one； at that sight； crying aloud upon her
own fate； and that of the household which would thenceforth be in
the power of others。
But when she ceased from this； suddenly I beheld her rush into the
chamber of Heracles。 From a secret place of espial； I watched her； and
saw her spreading coverings on the couch of her lord。 When she had
done this； she sprang thereon； and sat in the middle of the bed； her
tears burst forth in burning streams； and thus she spake： 'Ah；
bridal bed and bridal chamber mine； farewell now and for ever； never
more shall ye receive me to rest upon this couch。' She said no more；
but with a vehement hand loosed her robe； where the gold…wrought
brooch lay above her breast； baring all her left side and arm。 Then
I ran with all my strength； and warned her son of her intent。 But
lo； in the space between my going and our return； she had driven a
two…edged sword through her side to the heart。
At that sight； her son uttered a great cry； for he knew； alas；
that in his anger he had driven her to that deed； and he had
learned； too late； from the servants in the house that she had acted
without knowledge； by the prompting of the Centaur。 And now the youth；
in his misery； bewailed her with all passionate lament； he knelt；
and showered kisses on her lips； he threw himself at her side upon the
ground； bitterly crying that he had rashly smitten her with a
slander；… weeping that he must now live bereaved of both alike；… of
mother and of sire。
Such are the fortunes of this house。 Rash indeed； is he who
reckons on the morrow； or haply on days beyond it； for to…morrow is
not； until to…day is safely past。
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Which woe shall I bewail first； which misery is the greater？ Alas；
'tis hard for me to tell。
antistrophe 1
One sorrow may be seen in the house； for one we wait with
foreboding： and suspense hath a kinship with pain。
strophe 2
Oh that some strong breeze might come with wafting power unto
our hearth； to bear me far from this land； lest I die of terror；
when look but once upon the mighty son of Zeus！
For they say that he is approaching the house in torments from
which there is no deliverance； a wonder of unutterable woe。
antistrophe 2
Ah； it was not far off； but close to us； that woe of which my
lament gave warning； like the nightingale's piercing note！
Men of an alien race are coming yonder。 And how； then； are they
bringing him？ In sorrow； as for some loved one； they move on their
mournful； noiseless march。
Alas； he is brought in silence！ What are we to think； that he is
dead； or sleeping？
（Enter HYLLUS and an OLD MAN；
with attendants；bearing HERACLES upon a litter。）
HYLLUS
Woe is me for thee； my father； woe is me for thee； wretched that I
am！ Whither shall I turn？ What can I do？ Ah me！
OLD MAN （whispering）
Hush； my son！ Rouse not the cruel pain that infuriates thy sire！
He lives； though prostrated。 Oh； put a stern restraint upon thy lips！
HYLLUS
How sayest thou； old man… is he alive？
OLD MAN （whispering）
Thou must not awake the slumberer！ Thou must not rouse and
revive the dread frenzy that visits him； my son！
HYLLUS
Nay； I am crushed with this weight of misery… there is madness
in my heart！
HERACLES （awaking）
O Zeus； to what land have I come？ Who are these among whom I
lie； tortured with unending agonies？ Wretched； wretched that I am！ Oh；
that dire pest is gnawing me once more！
OLD MAN （to HYLLUS）
Knew I not how much better it was that thou shouldest keep
silence； instead of scaring slumber from his brain and eyes？
HYLLUS
Nay； I cannot be patient when I behold th