Book 2, Chapter 9

“‘My son, prove to your father you deserve that name:“‘Do not let love for your mother outweigh your dying father.“‘Drag her here to me, with hands that honor their duty;“‘Let me see now which of us you prize the more.

21 “‘Go on, be bold, my son! Weep for your father’s ruin, “‘Pity him: nations will weep over our misery. “‘Ah, that my voice should raise a maiden’s lament, “‘When no one ever saw me groan at any ill! “‘My courage, unmanned and broken, has fallen dead. “‘Come near, my son, stand beside me; look with pity “‘On your father’s mangled body, its flesh torn open! “‘Look, all of you; and you, begetter of the gods, “‘Hurl your flashing thunderbolt at me, I beg! “‘Now, now the whirling agonies twist and torment me; “‘Now the burning creeps. O hands, once victorious,

22 “‘O chest, O back, O knotted muscles of my arms, “‘Was it in your grip that once the Nemean lion “‘Gnashed its teeth and heaved its final breath? “‘Did this right hand bring peace to Lerna, killing the hideous Hydra? “‘Did this hand strike down the host of double-bodied creatures? “‘Did it fell the ravaging beast of Erymanthus? “‘Did it drag out of Tartarus’s shadowed region “‘The three-headed hound, offspring of Hydra, and bring it up? “‘Did it kill the dragon with its coils on coils, “‘Its watchful eye guarding the tree of gold? “‘My victorious hand passed through many other trials, “‘And no one ever took the spoils of my renown.’”

“‘My son, show your father you truly deserve that name.“‘Don’t let love for your mother outweigh me as I die.“‘Drag her away and bring her here in your dutiful hands.“‘Then I’ll see whether you care more for me or her.

21 “‘Come, son, take courage! Shed tears for your father’s ruin; “‘Feel pity; nations will mourn the misery that’s ours. “‘Ah, my mouth is making a girl’s sobbing sounds, “‘Though nobody ever saw me groaning under any trouble! “‘Courage has gone soft, collapsed, and died. “‘Come closer, son, stay by me; pity what you see: “‘Your father’s mangled body, with its flesh torn out! “‘Everyone, look! And you who fathered the gods, “‘Please strike me with the flashing force of lightning! “‘Now, now these whirlwinds of torment twist through me; “‘Now the heat spreads. Hands that used to conquer,

22 “‘My chest, my back, the bulging muscles in my arms! “‘Didn’t your pressure make the lion of Nemea “‘Snarl as it breathed its last heavy breath? “‘Wasn’t it this right hand that killed the foul Hydra and quieted Lerna? “‘Wasn’t it this hand that broke the two-bodied troop? “‘That brought down the destructive creature of Erymanthus? “‘That pulled from the darkness of Tartarus “‘The dog with three heads, Hydra’s offspring, and led it out? “‘That killed the dragon wound in coil after coil, “‘Its gaze fixed on guarding the tree that grew gold? “‘My conquering hand has gone through many other trials, “‘And nobody has taken spoils from my achievements.’”