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A monologue from the play by Sophocles
NOTE: This kind of monologue is usually reprinted via Dramas. Sophocles. London: J. Meters. Dent & Sons, 1906.
HERACLES: How many and exactly how fierce and sore to see
The labours I with body and hands have wrought!
And such an a single not even the Spouse of Jove
Set me, or maybe the abhorred Eurystheus, ever
Since this, which? neus girl crafty-faced
Fitted upon my personal shouldersthe web-toil
Woven of the Furies, which can be killing me.
For plastered to my sides, they have gnawed away
The surface of my drag, and settles in
And battens for the channels in the lungs
And has already exhausted all my new life-blood
And through my personal whole shape I are overthrown
Worsted by this unthought-for fetterment!
Treatment such as My spouse and i never however endured
Zero, not by lances in the battle-field
Or Giants earthborn army, or perhaps Centaurs may possibly
Or Grecian or churl, or all lands
That we, cleansing all their borders, went to
But one sole womana female, not only a male
By sexweaponlessputs an end to me.
Um boy, now show yourself my true-born son
Set not the name of mother all too high
But with your own hands good out of the house
And render her that uncovered you on to mine
That I may know whether you grieve to see
This form of mine abused, rather than hers
Righteously penalized. Up, my personal son, consider courage!
Have pity in me, whom any men might shame
Weeping and moaning such as a girla point
No one could say that he previously seen myself do
Before, rather, where hardships led
I implemented uncomplaining. At this point, alas
Falling from thence, I have been proven a woman.
And now come near, prepare your dads side
See under what mischance My spouse and i suffer as a result
Here, Let me show you devoid of coverings
Lo, behold most, a miserable framework!
Mark me, poor wretch, how I are pitiable! U woe! Sadly, ah me personally
Again, once again, that racking fever pain
Right through my personal side! The desperate gnawing plague
Will not likely release me from its bothering
O Hades, king, acquire me! Um Joves super, strike me!
Smite me personally, O king! Dart down thy thunderbold
Father, in me! onc again this revels
It has blossomedit provides burst out. O handshands
O as well as breast, O shoulder-blades of mine
And have you come to this, who also formerly
Conquer down simply by force the lion habitant
Of Nemea, the perilous beast and wild
Fatal to herdsmen, and the water-snake
Of Lerna, and the two-form prancing web host
Of Centaurs, insolent, unsocial, rude
Rampant at may possibly, and the Erymanthian boar
As well as the infernal triple-headed hound
Of Hades, the resistless list, whelp
From the dread Basilisk, and the Dragon-guard
Of gold apples, developing at the realms end?
And countless other toils I tasted of
And no guy set up trophies over myself!
Now below I rest, with dislocated bones
With lacerated flesh, by a dark mischief
Entirely cast away, unhappy! We
Named of the mother the majority of illustrious
Respected son of Zeus, Master of the actors!
But end up being ye certain of this, though I end up being nothing
Although I cannot move, even as My spouse and i am
Her who performed this, nonetheless, I can defeat
Let her come simply, that she may be trained
And have this to connect with all, could
Living and dying, punished wickedness!
