EURIPIDES
Heracles
How did you come to give up hope for me?
Megara
The heralds of Eurystheus proclaimed you dead.
Heracles
Why did you abandon my house and hearth?
Megara
By force. He dragged your father from his bed. 555
Heracles
He had no shame, but so dishonored age?
Megara
Lycus have shame? He knows no such goddess.
Heracles
And were my friends so scarce when I was gone?
Megara
In misfortune, what friend remains a friend?
Heracles
They thought so little of my Minyan wars? 560
Megara
Again I say, misfortune has no friends.
Heracles
Rip from your heads those wreaths of Hades!
Lift your faces to the light; with seeing eyes,
take your sweet reprieve from death and darkness.
And I—a task for my one hand alone— 565
shall go and raze this upstart tyrant's house,
cut off that blaspheming head and give it
to the dogs to paw. All those men of Thebes
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