Trachiniae (595-675)

already at the doors. He will soon depart. Only I ask that I may be well sheltered by you! When you accomplish even shameful deeds under the cover of darkness, you will never fall into disgrace.

What are your instructions? Tell me, daughter of Oeneus, for already I am tardy because of my long stay.

In fact I have just been seeing to this very thing for you, Lichas, while you were addressing the foreign women in the house: take for me this long robe, prepared by my own hand, a gift to my absent husband. Give it to him and tell him to be sure that no man

puts it on his body before him and that it not be seen by the light of the sun, nor by the sacred precinct, nor by the blaze at the hearth, until he stands conspicuous before all eyes and shows it clearly to the gods on a day for the sacrifice of bulls.

For so had I vowed, that if I should ever see or hear that he had come safely home, I would dutifully adorn him with this robe and reveal him to the god as a new sacrificer in new garb. As proof of your commission you will carry a token which he will easily recognize

within the circle of this seal. Now go; and first, observe the rule that messengers should be unwilling to act out of line, and second, see to it that my thanks may be joined to his, doubling the gratitude you earn.

If I practice Hermes’ art of heraldry with any skill, I certainly will never slip up while doing your errand. I will not fail to carry and present this chest in the same condition, nor to add to it the proper assurance of the reasons which you have for sending it.

You may go now, for you know well

how things are with us in the house.

I know and will report that all is well.

And you know, further, from your own eyes my greeting to the foreign girl, how I welcomed her warmly.

So much so that my heart was struck with joy.

What more, then, is there for you to tell him? I am afraid that it would be too soon to speak of the longing on my part, before I know if I am longed for there. Exit Lichas on one side and Deianeira into the house.

Friends, how I fear that I may have gone too far in all that I was doing just now!

What has happened, Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus?

I do not know, but I despair that I will soon be found to have done a great wrong, when my hope was for good.

Surely it is nothing that bears on your gift to Heracles?

Yes, it is! So much so that I would never recommend to anybody

that he be eager for action in obscurity.

Tell us the cause of your fear, if it may be told.

A thing has happened, my friends, such that, if I declare it, it will be a strange marvel for you to hear. The implement with which I was just now anointing the festal robe,

a white tuft of fleecy sheep’s wool, has disappeared, eaten away by no animal in the courtyard, but self-devoured and self-destroyed it crumbled down over a stone slab. But I must tell the story at greater length, so that you may know exactly how this thing was accomplished.