HERACLES
greater wretchedness, greater suffering
than this.
Theseus
Why does he hide his head beneath his robes?
Amphitryon
Shame of meeting your eye,
shame before friends and kin, 1200
shame for his murdered sons.
Theseus
I come to share his grief. Uncover him.
Amphitryon
My son, drop your robe from your eyes,
show your forehead to the sun. 1205
A friend has come, a rival weight
to counterpoise your grief.
0 my son, I implore you,
by your beard, your knees, your hand,
by an old man's tears: 1210
tame that lion of your rage
that roars you on to death,
yoking grief to grief.
Theseus
1 call on you, huddled there in misery:
lift up your head and show your face to friends. 1215
There is no cloud whose utter blackness
could conceal in night a sorrow like yours.
Why wave me off, warning me of blood?
Are you afraid mere words would pollute me?
What do I care if your misfortunes fall 1220
on me? You were my good fortune once:
you saved me from the dead, brought me back to light.
I loathe a friend whose gratitude grows old,
a friend who takes his friend's prosperity
355