HERACLES
And seeing me, the taint of murdered sons 115 5
shall enter at the eye of my dearest friend.
What shall I do? Where can this shame be hid?
Oh for wings to fly! to plunge beneath the earth!
Here: let my garments hide my head in darkness,
in shame, in horror of this deed I did, 1160
and so concealed, 111 shelter him from harm,
and keep pollution from the innocent.
(Enter Theseus, unattended.)
Theseus
I come, old man, leading the youth of Athens,
bringing alliance to your son; my men
wait under arms by the stream of Asopos. 1165
A rumor came to Erechtheus' city
that Lycus had seized the sceptre of this land
and was engaged in war against your house.
And so, in gratitude to Heracles
who saved me from Hades, I have come, 1170
old man, if you should need a helping hand.
(He sees the corpses of the children.)
Ah!
What bodies are these scattered on the ground?
Have I arrived too late, preceded here
by some disaster? Who killed these boys?
That woman lying there, whose wife was she? 1175
Children are not mustered on the field of war:
no, this is some newer sorrow I find here,
Amphitryon
O lord of the olive-bearing hill. . . .
Theseus
Why do you speak in those heavy tones of grief?
Amphitryon
See what grief the gods have given. 1180
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