Heracles Mad (655-730)

Amphitryon, it is high time you came forth from the palace; you have been too long arraying yourselves in the robes and trappings of the dead. Come, bid the wife and children of Heracles

show themselves outside the house, to die on the conditions you yourselves offered.

Lord, you persecute me in my misery and heap insult upon me over and above the loss of my son; you should have been more moderate in your zeal, though you are my lord and master.

But since you impose death’s necessity on me, I must acquiesce; what you wish must be done.

Now, where is Megara? where are the children of Alcmena’s son?

She, I believe, so far as I can guess from outside—

What grounds do you have to base your fancy on?

Is sitting as a suppliant on the altar’s hallowed steps—

Imploring them quite uselessly to save her life.

And calling on her dead husband, in vain.

He is nowhere near, and he certainly will never come.

No, unless perhaps a god should raise him from the dead.

Go to her and bring her from the palace.

By doing so I should become an accomplice in her murder.

Since you have this scruple, I, who have left fear behind, will myself bring out the mother and her children. Follow me, servants,

that we may joyfully put an end to this delay of our work.

Then go your way along the path of fate; for what remains, maybe another will provide. Expect for your evil deeds to find some trouble yourself. Ah! my aged friends, he is marching fairly to his doom; soon will he lie entangled in the snare

of the sword, thinking to slay his neighbors, the villain! I will go, to see him fall dead; for the sight of a foe being slain and paying the penalty of his misdeeds affords pleasurable feelings.