_Hyllus:_ Wouldst to ruin doom Thy house already tottering? This crime, Whate'er it is, is all from error sprung. 885 He is not guilty who unwitting sins. _Deianira:_ Whoe'er ignores his fate and spares himself, Deservedly has erred, deserves to die. _Hyllus:_ He must be guilty who desires to die. _Deianira:_ Death, only, makes the erring innocent. 890 _Hyllus:_ Fleeing the sun-- _Deianira:_ The sun himself flees me. _Hyllus:_ Wouldst leave thy life? _Deianira:_ A wretched life indeed; I long to go where Hercules has gone. _Hyllus:_ He still survives, and breathes the air of heaven. _Deianira:_ Alcides died when first he was o'ercome. _Hyllus:_ Wilt leave thy son behind? forestall thy fates? 895 _Deianira:_ She whom her own son buries has lived long. _Hyllus:_ Follow thy husband. _Deianira:_ Chaste wives go before. _Hyllus:_ Who dooms himself to death confesses sin. _Deianira:_ No sinner seeks to shirk his punishment. _Hyllus:_ The life of many a man has been restored 900 Whose guilt in judgment not in action lay. Who blames the lot by fate assigned to him? _Deianira:_ He blames it to whom fate has been unkind. _Hyllus:_ But Hercules himself killed Megara, And by his raging hands with deadly darts 905 Transfixed his sons. Still, though a parricide, Thrice guilty, he forgave himself the deed, Blaming his madness. In Cinyphian waves In Libya's land he washed his sin away, And cleansed his hands. Then why, poor soul, shouldst thou So hastily condemn thine own misdeeds? _Deianira:_ The fact that I have ruined Hercules 910 Condemns my deeds. I welcome punishment. _Hyllus:_ If I know Hercules, he soon will come Victorious over all his deadly woe; And agony, o'ercome, will yield to him. _Deianira:_ The hydra's venom preys upon his frame; A boundless pestilence consumes his limbs. 915 _Hyllus:_ Think'st thou the poison of that serpent, slain, Cannot be overcome by that brave man Who met the living foe and conquered it? He slew the hydra, and victorious stood, Though in his flesh the poisonous fangs were fixed, And o'er his limbs the deadly venom flowed. 920 Shall he, who overcame dread Nessus' self, By this same Nessus' blood be overcome? _Deianira:_ 'Tis vain to stay one who is bent on death. It is my will at once to flee the light. Who dies with Hercules has lived enough. _Nurse:_ Now by these hoary locks, as suppliant, 925 And by these breasts which suckled thee, I beg: Abate thy wounded heart's wild threatenings, Give o'er thy dread resolve for cruel death. _Deianira:_ Whoe'er persuades the wretched not to die Is cruel. Death is sometimes punishment, 930 But oft a boon, and brings forgiveness oft.