The Trachiniae [2]
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 that, when a year and three months should
have passed since he had left the country, then he was fated to die;
or, if he should have survived that term, to live thenceforth an
untroubled life.
Such, he said, was the doom ordained by the gods to be
accomplished in the toils of Heracles; as the ancient oak at Dodona
had spoken of yore, by the mouth of the two Peleiades. And this is the
precise moment when the fulfilment of that word becomes due; so that I
start up from sweet slumber, my friends, stricken with terror at the
thought that I must remain widowed of the noblest among men.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Hush- no more ill-omened words; I see a man approaching, who wears
a wreath, as if for joyous tidings.
(A MESSENGER enters.)
MESSENGER
Queen Deianeira, I shall be the first of messengers to free thee
from fear. Know that Alcmena's son lives and triumphs, and from battle
brings the first-fruits to the gods of this land.
DEIANEIRA
What news is this, old man, that thou hast told me?
MESSENGER
That thy lord, admired of all, will soon come to thy house,
restored to thee in his victorious might.
DEIANEIRA
What citizen or stranger hath told thee this?
MESSENGER
In the meadow, summer haunt of oxen, Lichas the herald is
proclaiming it to many: from him I heard it, and flew hither, that I
might be the first to give thee these tidings, and so might reap
some guerdon from thee, and win thy grace.
DEIANEIRA
And why is he not here, if he brings good news?
MESSENGER
His task, lady, is no easy one; all the Malian folk have
thronged around him with questions, and he cannot move forward: each
and all are bent on learning what they desire, and will not release
him until they are satisfied. Thus their eagerness detains him against
his will; but thou shalt presently see him face to face.
DEIANEIRA
O Zeus, who rulest the meads of Oeta, sacred from the scythe, at
last, though late, thou hast given us joy! Uplift your voices, ye
women within the house and ye beyond our gates, since now we are
gladdened by the light of this message, that hath risen on us beyond
my hope!
LEADER OF ONE SEMI-CHORUS (singing)
Let the maidens raise a joyous strain for the house, with songs of
triumph at the hearth; and, amidst them, let the shout of the men go
up with one accord for Apollo of the bright quiver, our Defender!
And at the same time, ye maidens, lift up a paean, cry aloud to his
sister, the Ortygian Artemis, smiter of deer, goddess of the twofold
torch, and to the Nymphs her neighbours!
LEADER OF OTHER SEMI-CHORUS
My spirit soars; I will not reject the wooing of the flute.- O
thou sovereign of my soul! Lo, the ivy's spell begins to work upon me!
Euoe!- even now it moves me to whirl in the swift dance of Bachanals!
CHORUS
Praise, praise unto the Healer!
LEADER OF WHOLE CHORUS
See, dear lady, see! Behold, these tidings are taking shape before
thy gaze.
DEIANEIRA
I see it, dear maidens; my watching eyes had not failed to note
yon company. (Enter LICHAS, followed by Captive Maidens.
Conspicuous among them is IOLE.) -All hail to the herald, whose
coming hath been so long delayed!- if indeed thou
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 that, when a year and three months should
have passed since he had left the country, then he was fated to die;
or, if he should have survived that term, to live thenceforth an
untroubled life.
Such, he said, was the doom ordained by the gods to be
accomplished in the toils of Heracles; as the ancient oak at Dodona
had spoken of yore, by the mouth of the two Peleiades. And this is the
precise moment when the fulfilment of that word becomes due; so that I
start up from sweet slumber, my friends, stricken with terror at the
thought that I must remain widowed of the noblest among men.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Hush- no more ill-omened words; I see a man approaching, who wears
a wreath, as if for joyous tidings.
(A MESSENGER enters.)
MESSENGER
Queen Deianeira, I shall be the first of messengers to free thee
from fear. Know that Alcmena's son lives and triumphs, and from battle
brings the first-fruits to the gods of this land.
DEIANEIRA
What news is this, old man, that thou hast told me?
MESSENGER
That thy lord, admired of all, will soon come to thy house,
restored to thee in his victorious might.
DEIANEIRA
What citizen or stranger hath told thee this?
MESSENGER
In the meadow, summer haunt of oxen, Lichas the herald is
proclaiming it to many: from him I heard it, and flew hither, that I
might be the first to give thee these tidings, and so might reap
some guerdon from thee, and win thy grace.
DEIANEIRA
And why is he not here, if he brings good news?
MESSENGER
His task, lady, is no easy one; all the Malian folk have
thronged around him with questions, and he cannot move forward: each
and all are bent on learning what they desire, and will not release
him until they are satisfied. Thus their eagerness detains him against
his will; but thou shalt presently see him face to face.
DEIANEIRA
O Zeus, who rulest the meads of Oeta, sacred from the scythe, at
last, though late, thou hast given us joy! Uplift your voices, ye
women within the house and ye beyond our gates, since now we are
gladdened by the light of this message, that hath risen on us beyond
my hope!
LEADER OF ONE SEMI-CHORUS (singing)
Let the maidens raise a joyous strain for the house, with songs of
triumph at the hearth; and, amidst them, let the shout of the men go
up with one accord for Apollo of the bright quiver, our Defender!
And at the same time, ye maidens, lift up a paean, cry aloud to his
sister, the Ortygian Artemis, smiter of deer, goddess of the twofold
torch, and to the Nymphs her neighbours!
LEADER OF OTHER SEMI-CHORUS
My spirit soars; I will not reject the wooing of the flute.- O
thou sovereign of my soul! Lo, the ivy's spell begins to work upon me!
Euoe!- even now it moves me to whirl in the swift dance of Bachanals!
CHORUS
Praise, praise unto the Healer!
LEADER OF WHOLE CHORUS
See, dear lady, see! Behold, these tidings are taking shape before
thy gaze.
DEIANEIRA
I see it, dear maidens; my watching eyes had not failed to note
yon company. (Enter LICHAS, followed by Captive Maidens.
Conspicuous among them is IOLE.) -All hail to the herald, whose
coming hath been so long delayed!- if indeed thou