THE ' AGAMEMNON^ AND ' TRACHINI^' 21 



of pain, in the grip of disease, even the mightiest are crushed. 

 Pain then we have, not continuous, for this would exclude all 

 other emotions, but, with truth to nature, in mighty spasms, 

 with intervals of rest. 



When the tragedy of Deianira to which we will presently 

 return has wrought the audience to such a point that they are 

 prepared for any scene, however terrible, Heracles is brought 

 upon the stage in fevered sleep. Hyllus, who now knows that 

 his mother had wrought innocently, stands near his father, and 

 by heedless speech wakes him to conscious pain. 



Heracles' first impulse is to complain of the ingratitude and 

 injustice of the gods. For a moment the hope that even yet 

 Zeus may send a healer deludes him, only to cause a bitterer 

 agony. The attendants would fain help him, as in the eagerness 

 of prayer and hope he strives to raise himself; but their touch 

 brings on a paroxysm. Then comes the thought of failure, 

 of how much he had done for men ; and this was the end of 

 all: 



Where are ye, men, whom over Hellas wide 



This arm hath freed, and o'er the ocean tide, 



And through rough brakes, from every monstrous thing ? 



But now in my misfortune none will bring 



A sword to aid, a fire to quell this fire. 



The attendants flinch in terror, and the son takes their place, 

 when, in an agony of still more terrible pain, the hero calls 

 upon his son to kill him, and then thinks upon the cause of all 

 the mother. Observe with what perfect nature Deianira is 

 brought to his mind. Looking on the son he thinks of the 

 mother, and to think and to curse are one. The boy is taken 

 too much unawares to be ready with exculpation, and Heracles 

 continues wildly : 



Many hot toils and hard beyond report 



With hands and struggling shoulders have I borne, 



But no such labour has the Thunderer's wife 



Or sour Eurystheus ever given, as this, 



Which CEneus' daughter of the treacherous eye 



Hath fastened on my back, this amply woven 



Net of the Furies that is breaking me. 



