The Trachiniae [15]
Alcmena, in
vain the bride of Zeus,- that ye may learn from my dying lips what
oracles know.
HYLLUS
Nay, thy mother is not here; as it chances, she hath her abode
at Tiryns by the sea. Some of thy children she hath taken to live with
her there, and others, thou wilt find, are dwelling in Thebe's town.
But we who are with thee, my father, will render all service that is
needed, at thy bidding.
HERACLES
Hear, then, thy task: now is the time to show what stuff is in
thee, who art called my son.
It was foreshown to me by my Sire of old that I should perish by
no creature that had the breath of life, but by one that had passed to
dwell with Hades. So I have been slain by this savage Centaur, the
living by the dead, even as the divine will had been foretold.
And I will show thee how later oracles tally therewith, confirming
the old prophecy. I wrote them down in the grove of the Selli,
dwellers on the hills, whose couch is on the ground; they were given
by my Father's oak of many tongues; which said that, at the time which
liveth and now is, my release from the toils laid upon me should be
accomplished. And I looked for prosperous days; but the meaning, it
seems, was only that should die; for toil comes no more to the dead.
Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their
fulfilment, thou, on thy part, must lend me thine aid. Thou must not
delay, and so provoke me to bitter speech: thou must consent and
help with a good grace, as one who hath learned that best of laws,
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
vain the bride of Zeus,- that ye may learn from my dying lips what
oracles know.
HYLLUS
Nay, thy mother is not here; as it chances, she hath her abode
at Tiryns by the sea. Some of thy children she hath taken to live with
her there, and others, thou wilt find, are dwelling in Thebe's town.
But we who are with thee, my father, will render all service that is
needed, at thy bidding.
HERACLES
Hear, then, thy task: now is the time to show what stuff is in
thee, who art called my son.
It was foreshown to me by my Sire of old that I should perish by
no creature that had the breath of life, but by one that had passed to
dwell with Hades. So I have been slain by this savage Centaur, the
living by the dead, even as the divine will had been foretold.
And I will show thee how later oracles tally therewith, confirming
the old prophecy. I wrote them down in the grove of the Selli,
dwellers on the hills, whose couch is on the ground; they were given
by my Father's oak of many tongues; which said that, at the time which
liveth and now is, my release from the toils laid upon me should be
accomplished. And I looked for prosperous days; but the meaning, it
seems, was only that should die; for toil comes no more to the dead.
Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their
fulfilment, thou, on thy part, must lend me thine aid. Thou must not
delay, and so provoke me to bitter speech: thou must consent and
help with a good grace, as one who hath learned that best of laws,
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