372
EURIPIDES.
Herakles.
How?—by what deed, or stricken by what spear? 540
Megara.
'Twas Lykus slew them, this land's upstart king.
Herakles.
Met in fair fight?—or plague-struck was the land?
Megara.
By faction. So he rules seven-gated Thebes.
Herakles.
Why fell on thee and on the old man dread?
Megara.
Thy sire, thy sons, and me he fain would slay. 545
Herakles.
How?—of my fatherless children what feared he?
Megara.
Lest Kreon's death one day they might avenge.
Herakles.
This vesture meet for dead folk, what means it?
Megara.
In this attire we shrouded us for death.
Herakles.
And were to die by violence?—woe is me! 550
