Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/227

197 HERACLES 197

Children long since — now hard to discover —

Of the once so potent Herakles I

And the loved wife dragging, in one tether

About her feet, the boys together ;

And the hero's aged sire comes last I tts

Unhappy that I am ! Of tears which rise, —

How am I all unable to hold fast.

Longer, the aged fountains of these eyes !

THE MADNESS OF HERACLES

Heracles returned from the lower world just in time to save his family from death by himself slaying Lycus. While he is ofiFering sacrifice to cleanse him from this murder, the frenzy comes upon him. Since it was against the Greek spirit to put such a scene as the following before the eyes of the audience, it is narrated to the Chorus by a messenger.

The victims were before the hearth of Zeus,

A household-expiation : since the king

O' the country, Herakles had killed and cast

From out the dwelling ; and a beauteous choir 98.5

Of boys stood by, his sire, too, and his wife.

And now the basket had been carried round

The altar in a circle, and we used

The consecrated speech. Alkmene's son, —

Just as he was about, in his right hand, 990

To bear the torch, that he might dip into

The cleansing-water, — came to a stand-still ;

And, as their father yet delayed, his boys

Had their eyes on him. But he was himself

No longer : lost in rollings of the eyes ; 995

Out-thrusting eyes — their very roots — like blood !

Froth he dropped down his bushy-bearded cheek,

And said, — together with a madman's laugh —