And many a male wild olive,[1] and on them
Place this my body, and then, taking fire
Of pine-wood torch, must burn it. Let no tear
Of wailing enter in, but do thy deed,
If thou art mine, without or tear or groan;1200
Or else, though I be in the grave, my curse
Shall rest upon thee, grievous evermore.
Hyllos. What say'st thou, Ο my father? Woe is me,
That thou hast thus dealt with me!
Hera. I have said
What thou must do, or nevermore be called
My son, but seek another father for thee.
Hyllos. Ah me! once more. And dost thou bid me, father,
To be thy slayer and thy murderer?
Hera. Not so bid I; but of the ills I bear,
To be the one great healer, strong to save.
Hyllos. And how can I work health by burning thee?1210
Hera. If this thou fearest, do at least the rest.
Hyllos. I shall not grudge to bear thy body there.
Hera. And wilt thou heap the pyre I bade thee heap?
Hyllos. All but the touching it with these my hands:
In all things else my labour shall not fail.
Hera. That, then, shall be enough. But add for me
One little favour to these greater ones.
Hyllos. Though it be very great, it shall be done.
Hera. Thou knowest that maiden, child of Eurytos?
Hyllos. Thou speakest, so I guess, of Iole?1220
Hera. E'en so. And this I charge thee, Ο my son,
When I am dead, if thou wilt reverence show,
Be mindful of the oath thou now hast sworn,
- ↑ Oak, because it was from that tree at Dodona that the prediction of his death had come; wild olive, because that was sacred to Heracles, as having been brought by him from the land of the Hyperboreans, (Pind. Ol. iv. 13.)
