1295-1313

Amphitryon returns the bow and arrows to Hercules, who aims it at his own chest. Amphitryon changes persuasive tactics, arguing that Hercules’ suicide would be committing a crime with foreknowledge (volens sciensque 1301) rather than in madness, and tantamount to killing Amphitryon himself, since Amphitryon is on death’s door and determined to die if Hercules does. This would be a deliberate and unforgivable crime.

1295 Vox: “remark,” “words.” genitōre: ablative of specification with the adjective digna (AG 418.b).

1296–97 spiculō, manibus: ablative of means (AG 409). Hercules identifies arrow that killed his son, and Amphitryon argues that it was actually Juno who shot it, using Hercules’ hands.

1298 hōc: ablative governed by utar (AG 410). quam: “how,” modifying palpitat and ferit. metū: ablative of cause, depending on palpitat.

1300 aptāta: “nocked,” i.e., “fitted [against the bowstring].” faciēs: “you will commit.”

1301 Pande: “explain,” a poetic use of the verb, which has the basic meaning “open, spread out” (LS pando -ere II.B.2).

1302 tūtō: substantive adjective: “in a safe [place].” That is, as Amphitryon goes on to explain, Hercules cannot steal Amphitryon’s son from him (nātum … eripere nec tū [potes], 1303–04). This is because, if Hercules kills himself, Amphitryon will die with him.

1303 nātum … tū: both referring to Hercules.  

1304 maximum … metum: i.e., the fear of losing his son.

1306–07 statue sīc … ut … scias: “decide in this way: that you know...,” substantive clause of result (AG 569).

1307 in artō … et ancipitī: substantive adjectives, “in a tight and precarious place,” the opposite of Amphitryon’s tūtō (1302).

1308 occīdis: supply mē. Amphitryon is making it clear that, for Hercules, suicide (which the Romans claimed to be justifiable in certain circumstances) is tantamount to killing his father (always a horrible crime).

1309 seniō … malīs: ablatives of means (AG 409), depending on the repeated adjective fessam.

1310 in ōre prīmō teneō: “I am holding (my soul) on my very lips.” He is so close to death that his soul may escape his body at any moment.

1310–11 tam ... aliquis: Amphitryon is surprised that anyone would hesitate to save his own father’s life.

1311–12 nōn ... induam:  Amphytrion has drawn a sword and threatens to stab himself. 

1312 “I will plunge the deadly blade into my chest pressed against it.” induam describes Amphitryon pushing the sword into his chest; impresso describes Amphitryon’s chest “pressed onto,” i.e. pushing back against the sword.

1313 sānī: this is the key word. Hercules was furēns when he killed his wife and children, but if he drive his father to kill himself, then this would be a crime committed while sane.