CHORUS.

They are there no longer:

But Noman stands before you.

Where art thou?

POLYPHEME.

O thou villain,

ULYSSES, POLYPHEME, CHORUS.

ULYSSES.

Keeping cautiously aloof,

Thus I, Ulysses, guard my threaten'd life.

POLYPHEME.

What said'st thou? Wherefore hast thou chang'd thy

name

T'assume a new one?

ULYSSES.

Me my father nam'd
Ulysses. It was destin'd you should suffer
A just requital for your impious feast;
For I in vain had with consuming flames
Laid Ilion waste, had I forborn t' avenge
On you the murder of my valiant friends.

POLYPHEME.

Now is that antient oracle, alas,

Accomplish'd, which foretold, that I by thee,
On thy return from Troy, should be depriv'd
Of sight but that thou also for a deed

:

So cruel, shalt be punish'd, and full long
Endure the beating of tempestuous waves.

ULYSSES.

Go weep, my (15) actions justify these words. But to the shore I haste; and to my country

Will steer the vessel o'er Sicilia's waves.

(15) Dr. Musgrave cites the authority of two manuscripts for altering dedogy, video, into dɛdgax', effeci.

POLYPHEME.

Thou shalt not; with this fragment of the rock Hurl'd at thy head, thee and thy perjur'd crew Will I demolish: for I yet, tho' blind, Can mount the cliff which overhangs the port, And in its wonted crannies fix my steps.

CHORUS.

But we, blest partners in Ulysses' voyage, Henceforth the laws of Bacchus will obey.

THE

CHILDREN OF HERCULES.

Ultor adest, primisque ducem profitetur in annis,
Bellaque non puero tractat agenda puer.
Auspiciis, animisque patris puer arma movebis,
Et vinces animis, auspiciisque patris :

Tale rudimentum tanto sub nomine debes.

OVID.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

IOLAUS.

COPREUS.

CHORUS OF ATHENIAN OLD MEN.

DEMOPHOON.

MACARIA.

ALCMENA.

MESSENGER.

EURYSTHEUS.

SCENE BEFORE THE ALTAR OF JUPITER, IN THE FORUM AT MARATHON, A CITY IN THE ATHENIAN DOMINIONS.

THE

CHILDREN OF HERCULES.

IOLAUS.

LONG have I held this sentiment; the just
Are born the streams of bounty to diffuse
On all around them: while the man whose soul
Is warp'd by interest, useless in the state,
Untractable and harsh to every friend,
Lives only for himself: in words alone
This doctrine I imbib'd not. Thro' a sense

Of virtuous shame and reverence for my kindred (1)
When I in peace at Argos might have dwelt,

I singly shar'd the toils of Hercules,

While he on earth remain'd: but now he dwells
In Heaven, I guard his children, tho' protection
Be what I need myself. For when their Sire
Forsook this nether world, Eurystheus strove
Immediately to slay us; but I 'scap'd
From that oppressor's fangs, and tho' to me
Lost is my country, I have sav'd my life.
But we poor vagabonds, from city fly
To some fresh city, ever forc'd to change
Our dwelling: for Eurystheus deems it meet
To add this wrong to former wrongs, he sends
His Heralds wheresoe'er he hears we settle,
And claims and drives us forth from every land;
No slight resentment from the Argive realm

(1) Iolaus, whom Pausanias and Apollodorus call the charioteer of Hercules, was son of Iphicles, Brother of that Hero by Automedusa daughter of Alcathons, and accompanied his Uncle in most of his labours.