Evil has changed sides; he who was once a mighty king is now turning his life backward into the road to Hades. Hail to you! Justice and heavenly retribution.At last have you reached the goal where your death will pay the penalty, for your insults against your betters.Joy makes my tears burst forth. He has come back—which I never once thought in my heart would happen—the prince of the land.Come, old friends, let us look within to see if someone has met the fate I hope.Lycus(within)Ah me! ah me!

ChorusHa! how sweet to hear that opening note of his within the house; death is not far off him now. The prince cries out, wailing a prelude of death.Lycus(within)O kingdom of Cadmus, I am perishing by treachery!ChorusYou were yourself for making others perish; endure your retribution; it is only the penalty of your own deeds you are paying.Who was he, only a mortal, that aimed his silly saying at the blessed gods of heaven with impious blasphemy, maintaining that they are weaklings after all?Old friends, our godless foe is now no more.The house is still; let us turn to the dance.Yes, for fortune smiles upon my friends as I desire.

ChorusDances, dances and banquets now prevail throughout the holy town of Thebes. For change from tears, change from sorrow give birth to song. The new king is gone; our former monarch rules, having made his way even from the harbor of Acheron. Hope beyond all expectation is fulfilled.

ChorusThe gods, the gods take care to heed the right and wrong. It is their gold and their good luck 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 the black chariot of prosperity.

ChorusO Ismenus, deck yourself with garlands! Break forth into dancing, you paved streets of our seven-gated city! come Dirce, fount of waters fair; 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. 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, a warrior-host with shields of brass, who are handing on their realm to children’s children, a divine light to Thebes.

ChorusAll hail the marriage! in which two bridegrooms shared; the one, a mortal; 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; 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 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.

Catching sight of the spectre of Madness.Chorus—Ha! see there, my old comrades! is the same wild panic fallen on us all; what phantom is this I see hovering over the house?—Fly, fly, bestir your tardy steps! begone! away!—O savior prince, avert calamity from me!