Will to the upper world emerge; a way He'll find--or make. Oh, come unharmed, I pray; As victor come at last unto thy home Which now in ruins lies. O husband, come, With thy strong hand break through the shades of hell. 280 And if no way is open, if the road Is closely barred, then rend the earth and come; And all that lies in keep of dismal night Bring forth with thee. As once, through riven hills A passage seeking for a headlong stream, Thou stood'st, and, with thy strength gigantic cleft, 285 The vale of Tempe opened wide; as then, Impelled by might of thy resistless breast, The mountains fell away from either side, And through the broken masses poured the stream Of Thessaly along a channel new: So now to parents, children, native land, A passage burst. And bring away with thee 290 The shapes of death, and all that greedy time Through countless rounds of years has hidden away; Those nations who have drunk forgetfulness, Drive out before thee, fearful of the light. The spoils are all unworthy of thy fame, If thou shouldst bring from hades only that 295 Which was commanded. But too bold my words, And thoughtless of my present lot I speak. Oh, when will come at last that day for me When I shall clasp my husband once again, And weep no more his long-delayed return, His long forgetfulness of me? To thee, O ruler of the gods, a hundred bulls Shall bleed; to thee, thou goddess of the fruits, 300 Thy secret rites I'll pay: for thee shall blaze Upon Eleusin's shrine the sacred torch In celebration of thy mysteries. Then shall I think my brothers' lives restored, My father once again upon his throne. 305 But if some power more potent than thine own Holds thee in durance, we shall come to thee. Return in safety and protect us all, Or drag us down with thee. This wilt thou do; No god will e'er our broken fortunes mend. _Amphitr.:_ O ally of my house, with wifely faith Preserving for the great-souled Hercules 310 His couch and children, be of better mind. Take heart again, for surely he will come, Increased in fame by this, as is his wont By other tasks. _Megara:_ What wretched men desire They readily believe. _Amphitryon:_ Nay, what they fear They think can never be escaped or borne. 315 For fear is prone to see the darker side. _Megara:_ Submerged, deep buried, crushed beneath the world, What chance has he to reach the upper realms? _Amphitr.:_ The same he had, when, through the arid plain, And sands that billowed like the stormy sea, 320 Those twice receding, twice returning gulfs, He made his way; when on the dangerous shoals Of Syrtes he was wrecked, he left his ship A helpless hulk and crossed the sea on foot.