that old woman approaches to give us some news. Enter the Nurse, from the house. Nurse Ah, my daughters, great, indeed, are the sorrows for us that began with the gift sent to Heracles! Chorus Old woman, what new trouble have you to tell? Nurse Deianeira has departed on the last of all her journeys, departed without stirring a foot. Chorus Surely you do not mean she is dead? Nurse My tale is told. Chorus Dead, the poor woman? Nurse Again you hear me affirm it. Chorus Poor, lost one! Tell me, what was the manner of her death? Nurse Oh, it was most cruel in its execution! Chorus Speak, woman, with what end did she meet? Nurse She destroyed herself. Chorus What impulse drove her? What disease of her mind seized her on the point of its evil shaft? How did she contrive this death upon death, accomplishing it all on her own? Nurse By a stroke of the sword which gives cause for mourning. Chorus Did you witness that violent deed, poor helpless one? Nurse I did, yes, since I was standing close by. Chorus What was it? How was it done? Oh, speak! Nurse Of her own accord she set her hand to the deed. Chorus What are you saying? Nurse The certain truth. Chorus The firstborn, the firstborn of that newly arisen bride is a great Erinys on this house! Nurse Too true. And had you been close at hand and seen her do it, you would have pitied her even more. Chorus And could a woman’s hand dare to carry out such deeds? Nurse Yes, with fierce daring. You shall hear, and then you will bear me witness. When she came alone into the house and saw her son preparing a deep litter in the court, with which to go back and meet his father, she hid herself where none would see. Falling before the altars, she moaned that they were left desolate, and whenever she touched any household thing that she, poor lady, had habitually used in the past, her tears would flow. If, as she roamed hither and thither through the house, she beheld the form of any well-loved servant, she wept in misery at the sight,