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

[ Deianeira moves towards the house.]