§1278incaluit ardor— unde nunc fulmen mihi?
Hercules: The heat has intensified—where is the thunderbolt for me now?
§1279Quid non possit superare
Chorus: What is there that cannot be overcome [by pain]?
§1280quondam Getico durior Haemo §1281nec Parrhasio lenior axe §1282saevo cessit membra dolori §1283fessumque movens per colla caput §1284latus alterno pondere flectit, §1285fletum virtus saepe resorbet.
He who was once harder than Getic Haemus, and not gentler than the Parrhasian pole, has yielded his limbs to fierce pain, and moving his weary head upon his neck, bends his side with alternating weight; his valor often swallows back his tears.
§1286sic arctoas laxare nives §1287quamvis tepido sidere Titan §1288non tamen audet vincitque faces §1289solis adulti glaciale iubar.
Thus, although under a warm constellation, Titan does not dare to loosen the northern snows, and the icy splendor conquers the rays of the full-grown sun.
§1290Converte voltus ad meas clades, pater: §1291numquam ad tuas confugit Alcides manus, §1292non cum per artus hydra fecundum meos §1293caput explicaret; inter infernos lacus §1294possessus atra nocte cum Fato steti §1295nec invocavi; tot feras, vici horridas, §1296reges, tyrannos, nec tamen voltus meos §1297in astra torsi: semper haec nobis manus §1298votum spopondit; nulla propter me sacro §1299micuere caelo fulmina— hic aliquid dies §1300optare iussit, primus audierit preces §1301idemque summus: unicum fulmen peto;
Hercules: Turn your face to my disasters, father: Alcides never fled to your hands, not even when the hydra unfolded its fertile head throughout my limbs; among the infernal lakes, possessed by dark night, I stood with Fate, and did not invoke you; I conquered so many dreadful beasts, kings, tyrants, yet I did not turn my face to the stars: always this hand of ours guaranteed our vow; no lightnings flashed in the sacred heaven on my account—this day has ordered me to wish for something; it shall hear my first and likewise my last prayers: I ask for a single thunderbolt; believe me a giant: I could have claimed heaven for myself no less—while I believed you to be my true father, I spared heaven.
§1302giganta crede: non minus caelum mihi §1303asserere potui— dum patrem verum puto, §1304caelo peperci, sive crudelis, pater, §1305sive es misericors, commoda nato manum §1306properante morte et occupa hanc laudem tibi.
Whether you are cruel, father, or merciful, lend your hand to your son as death hastens, and seize this praise for yourself.
§1307vel si piget manusque detrectat nefas, §1308emitte Siculo vertice ardentes, pater, §1309Titanas in me, qui manu Pindon ferant §1310† aut Ossa qui me monte proiecto opprimat.
Or if you loathe it and your hand refuses this dreadful deed, send forth from the Sicilian peak, father, the burning Titans against me, who would carry Pindus in their hands, or one who would crush me by throwing Mount Ossa.
§1311abrumpat Erebi claustra, me stricto petat §1312Bellona ferro; mitte Gradivum trucem, §1313armetur in me dirus: est frater quidem,
Let Bellona break the barriers of Erebus and attack me with drawn sword; send fierce Gradivus, let the dread god be armed against me: he is indeed my brother, but from my stepmother.
§1314sed ex noverca, tu quoque, Alcidae soror §1315tantum ex parente, cuspidem in fratrem tuum §1316iaculare, Pallas, supplices tendo manus §1317ad te, noverca: sparge tu saltem, precor, §1318telum (perire feminae possum manu) §1319iam fracta, iam satiata— quid pascis minas?
You too, sister of Alcides, sister only by our parent, hurl your spear against your brother, Pallas; I stretch out suppliant hands to you, stepmother: do you at least, I pray, scatter your weapon (I can perish by a woman's hand), now broken, now satisfied—why do you feed your threats?
§1320quid quaeris ultra? supplicem Alciden vides,
What do you seek further?
You see a suppliant Alcides, yet no land, no beast ever saw me begging you.
nunc milli irata † pater §1323opus est noverca— nunc tuus cessat dolor?
Now I need an angry stepmother—now does your pain cease?
§1324nunc odia ponis? parcis ubi votum est mori,
Now do you lay aside your hatreds? You spare me when my wish is to die.
O earth and cities, will no one hand a torch to Hercules, no one hand weapons? Do you withhold weapons from me?
§1327ita nulla saevas terra concipiat feras §1328post me sepultum nec meas umquam manus §1329imploret orbis, si qua nascentur mala, §1330nascatur ultor: undique infelix caput
Thus may no land conceive fierce beasts after my burial, nor may the world ever implore my hands; if any evils shall be born, let an avenger be born.
§1331mactate saxis, vincite aerumnas meas.
From all sides crush my unhappy head with stones, conquer my distresses.
§1332ingrate cessas orbis? excidimus tibi?
Do you hesitate, ungrateful world? Have we slipped from your memory?
You would still be subjected to evils and monster-filled gates, had you not borne me.
vindicem vestri malis §1335eripite, populi: tempus hoc vobis datur §1336pensare merita— mors erit pretium omnium.
Snatched your avenger from his woes, ye peoples: this time is given to you to repay my merits—death will be the reward of all.
§1337Quas misera terras mater Alcidae petam?
Alcmene: What lands shall I, the wretched mother of Alcides, seek?
§1338ubi natus, ubinam? certa si visus notat,
Where is my son, where indeed?
If my sight marks clearly, behold, reclining, he seethes with gasping heart; he groans: it is finished.
membra conplecti ultima, §1341o nate, liceat, spiritus fugiens meo §1342legatur ore: bracchia, amplexus cape.
Oh son, let me embrace your limbs for the last time, let your fleeing spirit be caught by my mouth: receive my arms, my embraces.
Where are your limbs? Where is that star-bearing neck which bore the world?
§1345partem reliquit?
Who has left to you but a tiny part of yourself?
Hercules: You look indeed upon Hercules, mother, but a shadow and some vile thing of me.
§1347agnosce, mater— ora quid Sectis retro
Recognize me, mother—why do you turn your face away and bury your look?
Are you ashamed that Hercules is called your offspring?
Alcmene: What world, what land generated this new beast? Or what so dreadful horror triumphs over you?
§1351de te triumphat? victor Herculeus quis est?
Who is the conqueror of Hercules?
§1352Nuptae iacentem cernis Alciden dolis.
Hercules: You see Alcides lying low by the deceits of his wife.
§1353Quis tantus est qui vincat Alciden dolus?
Alcmene: What deceit is so great as to conquer Alcides?
§1354Quicumque, mater, feminae iratae sat est.
Hercules: Whatever it is, mother, it is enough for an angry woman.
§1355Et unde in artus pestis aut ossa incidit?
Alcmene: And whence did the plague fall into your limbs or bones?
§1356Aditum venenis palla femineis dedit.
Hercules: A robe gave entrance to the woman's poisons.
§1357Vbinam ista palla est? membra nudata intuor.
Alcmene: Where is that robe? I look upon naked limbs.
§1358Consumpta mecum est.
Hercules: It was consumed along with me.
§1358bTantane inventa est lues?
Alcmene: Was so great a destruction found?
Hercules: Believe, mother, that the hydra and a thousand beasts along with Lerna wander in the midst of my vitals.