HERACLES 193
The following portions of the play are from the trans- lation of Robert Browning, which is included in his poem Aristophanes' Apology.^
THE FATE OF HERACLES
This ode is sung by the Chorus of Thebans in honor of Hera- cles, who they fear may have perished on his mission to Hades. They give an account of his former labors, wrought for Eurys- theus, and lament that he is not at hand to deliver his father, his wife, and his children, who are even now to be slain by Lycus, the usurping king.
Even a dirge, can Phoibos suit see
In song to music jubilant
For all its sorrow : making shoot
His golden plectron o'er the lute,
Melodious ministrant. aw
And I, too, am of mind to raise,
Despite the imminence of doom,
A song of joy, outpour my praise
To him — what is it rumor says ? —
Whether — now buried in the ghostly gloom 395
Below ground — he was child of Zeus indeed,
Or mere Amphitruon's mortal seed —
To him I weave the wreath of song, his labor's meed.
For, is my hero perished in the feat ?
^ Mr. Brooming preferred to transliterate Greek proper names in- stead of using the Latin forms, -which are more familiar to English readers. Thus Phoibos is for Phoebus Apollo ; Peneios for Peneus, the chief river of Thessaly ; Haides for Hades, the place of departed spir- its ; Kentaur for Centaur, a fabulous race of beings, half horse and half man ; Mukenai for Mycenae, the chief fortress and palace in Ar- golis ; Kuknos for Cycnus ; Kuklops for Cyclops, one of the race which was said to have built the " Cyclopean walls of Tiryns ; Herakles for Hercules ; Eurustheus for Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, who was allowed by tlie gods to impose twelve tasks or " labors " on his mightier kinsman Hercules ; Asklepios for Aesculapius ; Plouton for Pluto ; Amphitruun for Amphitryo.
