But if, perchance, thou still art strong to slay, Undaunted husband, I await thy hand; Yea, for this cause will I postpone my death. As thou didst Lichas crush, though innocent, Crush me, to other cities scatter me, Yea, hurl me to a land to thee unknown. 980 Destroy me as thou didst the Arcadian boar, And every monster that resisted[35] thee. But Oh, from them, my husband, thou didst come Victorious and safe. _Hyllus:_ Give o'er, I pray, My mother; cease to blame thy guiltless fates. Thy deed was but an error, not a fault. _Deianira:_ My son, if thou wouldst truly filial be, Come, slay thy mother. Why with trembling hand 985 Dost thou stand there? Why turn away thy face? Such crime as this is truest piety. Still dost thou lack incentive for the deed? Behold, this hand took Hercules from thee, Took that great sire through whom thou dost derive Thy blood from thundering Jove. I've stolen from thee A greater glory than the life I gave 990 At birth. If thou art all unskilled in crime, Learn from thy mother; wouldst thou thrust the sword Into my neck, or sheath it in my womb, I'll make thy soul courageous for the deed. Thou wilt not be the doer of this crime; For though 'tis by thy hand that I shall fall, 995 'Twill be my will. O son of Hercules, Art thou afraid? Wilt thou not be like him, Perform thy bidden tasks, the monsters slay? Prepare thy dauntless hand. Behold my breast, So full of cares, lies open to thy stroke. 1000 Smite: I forgive the deed; the very fiends, The dread Eumenides, will spare thy hand. But hark! I hear their dreadful scourges sound. See! Who is that who coils her snaky locks, And at her ugly temples brandishes Two deadly[36] darts? Why dost thou follow me, 1005 O dire Megaera, with thy blazing brand? Dost thou seek penalty for Hercules? I will discharge it. O thou dreadful one, Already have the arbiters of hell Passed judgment on me? Lo, I see the doors Of that sad prison-house unfold for me. Who is that ancient man who on his back, Worn with the toil, the stone's huge burden heaves? 1010 And even as I look the conquered stone Rolls back again. Who on the whirling wheel Is racked? And see! There stands Tisiphone, With ghastly, cruel face; she seeks revenge. Oh, spare thy scourge, Megaera, spare, I pray, Thy Stygian brands. 'Twas love that prompted me. 1015 But what is this? The earth is tottering, The palace roof is crashing to its fall. Whence comes that threatening throng? Against me comes The whole world rushing; see, on every side The nations gnash at me, demanding back Their savior. O ye cities, spare, I pray. 1020 Oh, whither shall I hide me from their rage? Death is the only haven left to me.