The Trachiniae
The Trachiniae Characters in the Play
[ Scene:- At Trachis, before the house of Heracles .
Deianeira THERE is a saying among men, put forth of old, that thou canst not rightly judge whether a mortal's lot is good or evil, ere he die. But I,
[ Hyllus comes in from the side. ]
Deianeira My child, my son, wise words may fall, it seems, from humble lips this woman is a slave, but hath spoken in the spirit of the free.
[ A Messenger enters. ]
Messenger Queen Deianeira, I shall be the first of messengers to free thee from fear. Know that Alcmena's son lives and triumphs, and from battle brin
[ Iole maintains her silence. ]
Lichas It will be unlike her former behaviour, then, I can tell thee, if she opens her lips: for she hath not uttered one word, but hath ever been tra
[ Enter Lichas ]
Lichas Lady, what message shall I bear to Heracles? Give me thy commands, for, as thou seest, I am going.
[ Exit Messenger , as Lichas Deianeira ]
Chorus [ singing
[ Lichas enters from the house. ]
Lichas What are thy commands? Give me my charge, daughter of Oeneus for already I have tarried over long.
[ Lichas departs with the casket and Deianeira ]
Chorus [ Singing
[ Deianeira comes out of the house in agitation. ]
Deianeira Friends, how I fear that I may have gone too far in all that I have been doing just now!
[ Enter Hyllus ]
Hyllus O mother, would that one of three things had befallen thee! Would that thou wert dead, - or, if living, no mother of mine, - or that some new a
[ Deianeira moves towards the house. ]
Leader [ to Deianeira
[ Deianeira goes in the house. ]
Hyllus Let her depart. A fair wind speed her far from my sight! Why should the name of mother bring her a semblance of respect, when she is all unlike
[ Exit Hyllus , into the house. ]
Chorus [ singing
[ Enter Nurse , from the house. ]
Nurse Ah, my daughters, great, indeed, were the sorrows that we were to reap from the gift sent to Heracles!
[ Enter Hyllus and an Old Man Heracles ]
Hyllus Woe is me for thee, my father, woe is me for thee, wretched that I am! Whither shall I turn? What can I do? Ah me!
[ The attendants raise Heracles on the litter and move slowly off, as Hyllus Chorus ]
No man foresees the future but the present is fraught with mourning for us, and with shame for the powers above, and verily with anguish beyond compa
