Heracles Aha! I am alive and breathing; and my eyes resume their function, opening on the sky and earth and the sun’s darting beam; but how my senses reel! in what strange turmoil am I plunged! my fevered breath in quick spasmodic gasps escapes my lungs. How now? why am I lying here, my brawny chest and arms made fast with cables like a ship, beside a half-shattered piece of masonry, with corpses for my neighbors; while over the floor my bow and arrows are scattered, that once like trusty squires to my arm both kept me safe and were kept safe by me? Surely I have not come a second time to Hades’ halls, having just returned from there for Eurystheus? To Hades? From where? No, I do not see Sisyphus with his stone, or Pluto, or his queen, Demeter’s child. Surely I am distraught; where am I, so helpless? Ho, there! which of my friends is near or far to cure me in my perplexity? For I have no clear knowledge of things once familiar.
Amphitryon My aged friends, shall I approach the scene of my sorrow?
Chorus Leader Yes, and let me go with you, not desert you in your trouble.
Heracles Father, why do you weep and veil your eyes, standing far from your beloved son?
Amphitryon My child! mine still, for all your misery.
Heracles Why, what is there so sad in my case that you weep?
Amphitryon That which might make any of the gods weep, if he were to learn it.
Heracles A bold assertion that, but you are not yet explaining what has happened.
Amphitryon Your own eyes see that, if by this time you are restored to your senses.
Heracles Fill in your sketch if any change awaits my life.
Amphitryon I will explain, if you are no longer mad as a fiend of hell.
Heracles Oh! what suspicions these dark hints of yours again excite!
Amphitryon I am still doubtful whether you are in your sober senses.
Heracles I have no recollection of being mad.
Amphitryon Am I to loose my son, old friends, or what shall I do?
Heracles Loose me, yes, and say who bound me; for I feel shame at this.
Amphitryon Rest content with what you know of your woes; the rest forego.
Heracles No. for is silence sufficient to learn what I wish?
Amphitryon O Zeus, do you behold these deeds proceeding from the throne of Hera?
Heracles What! have I suffered something from her enmity?
Amphitryon A truce to the goddess! attend to your own troubles.
Heracles I am undone; you will tell me some mischance.
Amphitryon See here the corpses of your children.
Heracles O horror! what sight is here? ah me!
Amphitryon My son, against your children you have waged unnatural war.
Heracles War! what do you mean? who killed these?
Amphitryon You and your bow and some god, whoever is to blame.
Heracles What are you saying? what have I done? Speak, father, you messenger of evil!
Amphitryon You were insane; it is a sad explanation you are asking.
Heracles Was it I that slew my wife also?
Amphitryon Your own unaided arm has done all this.
Heracles Alas! a cloud of mourning wraps me round.
Amphitryon For this reason I lament your fate.
Heracles Did I dash my house to pieces in my frenzy?
Amphitryon I know nothing but this, that you are utterly undone.
Heracles Where did the madness seize me? where did it destroy me?
Amphitryon When you were purifying yourself with fire at the altar.
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