Heracles Ah! Ah, misery! I am lost, ruined, ruined! The light of day exists for me no more! Ah, now I understand the depth of my misfortune! Go, my son! Your father is no more. Summon for me all the crop of your brothers. Summon, too, poor Alcmena, in vain the bedfellow of Zeus, so that you may hear my final words tell what oracles I know.
Hyllus I cannot. Your mother is not here. It happens that she keeps her home at Tiryns by the sea. Some of your children she has taken to raise with her there, and others, you will find, are dwelling in Thebes. But we who are with you, Father, will render at your command all service that is needed.
Heracles
Hear, then, your task. You have come to where you will reveal what sort of man you are, who are called my son. It was foreshown to me by my father far in the past that I would perish by no creature that had the breath of life, but by one already dead, a dweller with Hades. So this savage Centaur in death has killed me alive, just as the divine will had been foretold. And I will show you how later oracles tally with the first and testify to the old prophecy. I wrote them down for myself from the mouth of my father’s oak of many tongues in the grove of the Selli, who dwell on the hills and sleep on the ground. The tree said that, at the time which lives and now is, my release from the toils laid upon me would be accomplished. And I expected prosperous days, but the meaning, it seems, was only that I would die. For toil comes no more to the dead. Since, then, my son, those words are clearly finding their fulfillment, you, on your part, must fight on my behalf. You must not delay, and so sharpen my tongue, but give your consent to work with me, like one who has discovered that best of laws, the law of obedience to your father.
Hyllus Yes, Father—though in coming to this point in our talk I begin to have some fear—I will obey you in all your decrees.
Heracles First of all, put your right hand in mine.
Hyllus With what purpose in mind do you so strongly urge this pledge on me?
Heracles Give your hand at once—do not disobey me!
Hyllus Here, I hold it out to you. Nothing will be denied you.
Heracles Now, swear by the head of Zeus my begetter!
Hyllus To do what deed? May this also be revealed?
Heracles To perform for me the task that I shall impose.
Hyllus I swear it with Zeus for witness of the oath.
Heracles And pray that, if you break this oath, you may suffer.
Hyllus I shall not suffer, since I will keep it. Yet so I pray.
Heracles Good, then do you know the summit of Oeta, Zeus’s sacred mountain?
Hyllus I know it. I have often stood on that height to sacrifice.
Cite This Text