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HER.
This youth withdraws his reverence in my death.
But, if thou yield’st not to thy father’s best,
The curse from Heaven shall dog thy footsteps still.

HYL.
Ah! thou wilt tell me that thy pain is come.

HER.
Yea, for thou wak’st the torment that had slept.

HYL.
Ay me! how cross and doubtful is my way!

HER.
Because you will reject your father’s word.

HYL.
Must I be taught impiety from thee?

HER.
It is not impious to content my heart.

HYL.
Then you require this with an absolute will?

HER.
And bid Heaven witness to my strong command.

HYL.
Then I will do it, for the act is thine.
I will not cast it off. Obeying thee,
My sire, the Gods will ne’er reprove my deed.

HER.
Thou endest fairly. Now, then, O my son,
Add the performance swiftly, that, before
Some spasm or furious onset of my pain
Have seized me, ye may place me on the pyre.
Come, loiter not, but lift me. Now my end
Is near, the last cessation of my woe.

HYL.
Since thy command is urgent, O my sire!
We tarry not, but bear thee to the pyre.

HER.
Stubborn heart, ere yet again
Wakes the fierce rebound of pain,
While the evil holds aloof,
Thou, with bit of diamond proof,
Curb thy cry, with forced will
Seeming to do gladly still!

HYL.
Lift him, men, and hate not me
For the evil deeds ye see,
Since the Heavens’ relentless sway
Recks not of the righteous way.
He who gave life and doth claim
From his seed a Father’s name
Can behold this hour of blame.
Though the future none can tell,
Yet the present is not well:
Sore for him who bears the blow,
Sad for us who feel his woe,
Shameful to the Gods, we trow.

CH.
Maidens from the palace-hall,
Come ye forth, too, at our call!
Mighty deaths beyond belief,
Many an unknown form of grief,
Ye have seen to-day; and nought
But the power of Zeus hath wrought.

[THE END]

NOTES:

SOME PROPER NAMES

AIDONEUS, Hades or Pluto.
ARES, The War-God, a destructive Power.
DEO, Demeter.
ERINYES, the Furies.
HELIOS, The Sun-God.
RHEA, the Mother of the Gods.
THEBE, the town of Thebes personified.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Bride of battle-wooing.‘Deanira’ signifies ‘Cause of strife to heroes.’

[2] Ne’er may I see thee. The Spartan captives from Pylos had lately been at Athens, and some of them were reputed descendants of Hyllus, the son of Deanira.

[3] Frees him for ever. His last contest brings his final deliverance.

[4] From Love’s dread minister, i.e. from Aphrodite, working through the concealed and silent Iole.