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Hyllus
1230Ah me! You are too sick to rouse my anger,
but how could any bear to hear such thoughts?

Heracles
Your words show no intent to do my bidding.

Hyllus
How can I? She alone has killed my mother
and brought you to the plight you are now in.
Who but a man possessed of vengeful spirits
could want this? Father, let me die with you
rather than live with her whose sight I loathe.

Heracles
It seems you are unwilling to respect
my dying wish! The curses of the gods
1240will hound you if you disregard my words.

Hyllus
Oh, you will soon make clear how mad you are!

Heracles
Yes, for you have stirred up my sleeping plague.

Hyllus
Wretch that I am, I know not what to do.

Heracles
Will you not deign to listen to your father?

Hyllus
But need you teach me, father, to be godless?

Heracles
It is not godless to delight my heart.

Hyllus
Do you consider what you ask me just?

Heracles
I do; and call the gods to bear me witness.

Hyllus
Then I will not refuse you - but I pray
1250the gods may look upon your deed. I cannot
be blamed for doing what you tell me, father.

Heracles
At last you speak well! Now perform this favor
swiftly, my child, and place me on the pyre
before the stinging spasm comes again.
Make haste and lift me. Now I feel release
from troubles, for my final end is here.

Hyllus
Nothing prevents fulfillment of these deeds,
since you command it and compel us, father.

load focus Notes (Sir Richard C. Jebb, 1902)
load focus English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1892)
load focus Greek (Francis Storr, 1913)
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