Heracles
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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theme for minstrelsy; he is the son of Zeus; yet high above his noble birth tower his deeds of prowess, for his toil secured this life of calm for man,
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having destroyed all fearsome beasts.
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Chorus
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Dances, dances and banquets now prevail throughout the holy town of Thebes.
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For change from tears, change from sorrow give birth to song. The new king is gone; our former monarch
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rules, having made his way even from the harbor of Acheron. Hope beyond all expectation is fulfilled.
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Chorus
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The gods, the gods take care to heed the right and wrong. It is their gold and their good luck
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that lead men’s hearts astray, bringing in their train unjust power. For no man ever had the courage to reflect what reverses Time might bring; but, disregarding law to gratify lawlessness, he shatters
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the black chariot of prosperity.
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Chorus
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Then he went through the waves of heaving Euxine against the mounted host of Amazons dwelling round Maeotis,
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the lake that is fed by many a stream, having gathered to his standard all his friends from Hellas, to fetch the gold-embroidered raiment of the warrior queen,
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a deadly quest for a girdle. Hellas won those glorious spoils of the barbarian maid, and they are safe in Mycenae.
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Chorus
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He burned to ashes Lerna’s murderous hound,
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the many-headed water-snake, and smeared its venom on his darts, with which he slew the shepherd of Erytheia, a monster with three bodies.
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Chorus
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And many another glorious achievement he brought to a happy issue; to Hades’ house of tears has he now sailed, the goal of his labors, where he is ending his career of toil, nor does he come back again.
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Now your house is left without a friend, and Charon’s boat awaits your children to bear them on that journey out of life, without return, contrary to the gods’ law and man’s justice; and it is to your prowess
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that your house is looking although you are not here.
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Chorus
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Had I been strong and lusty, able to brandish the spear in battle’s onset, and my Theban companions too, I would have stood by your children
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to champion them; but now my happy youth is gone and I am left.
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Chorus
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O Ismenus, deck yourself with garlands! Break forth into dancing, you paved streets of our seven-gated city! come Dirce, fount of waters fair;
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and joined with her you nymphs of Asopus, come from your father’s waves to add your voices to our hymn, the victor’s prize that Heracles has won.
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O Pythian rock with forests crowned, and haunts of the Muses on Helicon! you will come to my city and her walls with cries of joy; where the earth-born crop sprang to view,
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a warrior-host with shields of brass, who are handing on their realm to children’s children, a divine light to Thebes.
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Chorus
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All hail the marriage! in which two bridegrooms shared; the one, a mortal;
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the other, Zeus, who came to wed the bride sprung from Perseus; for that marriage of yours, O Zeus, in days gone by has been proved to me a true story beyond all expectation;
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and time has shown the brightness of Heracles’ strength; for he emerged from caverns beneath the earth after leaving Pluto’s halls below. To me you are a worthier lord
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than that base-born king, who now lets it be plainly seen in this struggle between armed warriors, whether justice still finds favor in heaven.
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Amphitryon
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O ray of light appearing to your father!
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Amphitryon
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Alas, O house!
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Chorus
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That is the chant of death, of death, to the music of pipes.
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Chorus
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Why this loud
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Messenger
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It is dreadful within!
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Chorus
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No need for me to call another prophet for that.
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Chorus
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Alas!
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Chorus
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A cruel murder,
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Chorus
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O horrible! all this blood—
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Amphitryon
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Hush, hush! you will be my ruin.
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Chorus
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That he has spilled is rising up against him.
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Amphitryon
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Hush! let me note his breathing;
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Chorus
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Is he sleeping?
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Amphitryon
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Yes, he is sleeping, a deadly sleepless sleep, having slain wife and children with the arrows of his twanging bow.
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Amphitryon
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Indeed I do.
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Amphitryon
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Ah me!
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Amphitryon
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Alas!
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Amphitryon
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Hush! hush! he is turning over, he is waking! Oh!
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Heracles
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Farewell, my aged father!
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Amphitryon
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Farewell to you, my son!
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Amphitryon
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But who will bury me, my son?
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Amphitryon
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When wil you come?
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Heracles
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After you have buried my children.
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Heracles
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I will fetch you 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 as a little boat in the wake of Theseus, a total wreck.