Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/407



Amphitryon, Megara, and her three sons by Herakles, seated on the steps of the altar of Zeus the Deliverer.

knows not Zeus's couch-mate, who of men,

Argive Amphitryon, sprung from Perseus' son

Alkaius, father of great Herakles?

Here in Thebes dwelt he, whence the earth-born crop

Of Sown Men rose, scant remnant of whose race

The War-god spared to people Kadmus' town

With children of their children. Sprang from these

Kreon, Menœkeus' son, king of this land,

Kreon, the father of this Megara,

Whose spousals all the sons of Kadmus once

Acclaimed with flutes, what time unto mine halls

Glorious Herakles brought home his bride.

But Thebes, wherein I dwelt, and Megara,

And all his marriage-kin, my son forsook,

Yearning to dwell in Argive walls, the town

Cyclopian, whence I am outlawed, since I slew

Elektryon: he, to lighten mine affliction,