The Supernatural in the Tragedies of Euripides 39 



H. F. 1127-28: 



A: d) ZeD, ■wap' Hpas ap' opas ^povcov raSe; 

 H : dXX' 'q TL KeWev iroXe/j.LOV ■Keirbvd^ap.ev ; 



A: "Zeus seest thou this bolt from Hera's throne?" 

 H: "Ha; have I suffered mischief of her hate?" 



Hera drives Hercules mad and makes him slayer of his own 

 innocent children, all because of the Goddess's jealousy of Zeus. 

 In reference to her fierce resentment the chorus exclaim : 



H. F. 888-90 : 



tcb ZeD, TO aov ykvo^ ayovov avriKa 

 XfcrcraSes cb(Uo/3pcores aTroivodiKoi diKai 

 KUKoZaiP eKireTaaovffLV. 



"Ah misery! Zeus, mad vengeance ravenous-wild 

 Straightway, athirst for requital, with evils on evils piled, 

 Shall trample thy son unto dust, as though he were not thy 

 child." 



Such a Goddess has no claim on the adoration of men. No 

 wonder that Hercules when the dreadful truth is brought home 

 to him, cries : 



H. F. 1307-10 : 



Totaurrj i?eai 

 Tts a.v Trpoaeuxoi-^' ; rj ywacKos elveKa 

 XenTpccv 4>i}ovovaa Zrjvl tovs evepyeras 

 EXXdSos airoiXea ovdev ovras alriovs. 



" To such a Goddess 

 Who shall pray now? — who, for a woman's sake 

 Jealous of Zeus, from Hellas hath cut off 

 Her benefactors, guiltless though they were ! " 



" Dare not with thine admonitions trammel Hera's schemes and 

 mine!" (885) 



is Iris's answer to Lyssa who appeals in vain for mercy : 



H.F. 847-54: 



wapaweff at 8k, irplv dfj^akeiffav elaibtlv, 

 Hpa d^eKw croi r', k. t. X. 



" Fain would I plead with Hera and with thee. 

 Ere she have erred, if ye will heed my words. 

 This man, against whose house ye thrust me on. 

 Nor on the earth is fameless, nor in heaven. 



93 



