---
title: "Persians · Πέρσαι"
author: "Aeschylus"
translator: "Herbert Weir Smyth"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-persians/2/
cite: "Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth, Persians · Πέρσαι, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-persians/2/"
---

# Persians · Πέρσαι

*Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth*

The defeat at Salamis seen from the Persian court, by a poet who fought there.

> Greek: ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0085.tlg002, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0085.tlg002.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Lines 517–1076

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-persians/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-persians/2/#p-N

[¶0] Atossa:
How the utter destruction of our host distresses me! O vivid vision of my dreams at night, how clearly did you signify misfortune to me!

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα διαπεπραγμένου στρατοῦ·
ὦ νυκτὸς ὄψις ἐμφανὴς ἐνυπνίων,
ὡς κάρτα μοι σαφῶς ἐδήλωσας κακά.

[¶1] And all too lightly did you in turn interpret it. However, since your explanation determined thus, first of all I wish to offer prayers to the gods, and then I will return after I have brought from the palace a sacrificial cake as a gift to Earth and the dead.
I know indeed that it is for what cannot be undone, yet I do this in the hope that something more auspicious may come to pass in the future. But you should confer faithfully with the faithful counsellors in view of what has befallen. And as for my son, if he should come here before I return,
comfort him and escort him to the palace, so that he will not inflict on himself some further ill to crown those already ours. Exit
Chorus:
O sovereign Zeus, by destroying the army of the haughty and multitudinous Persians,
you have shrouded in the gloom of grief the city of Susa and of Agbatana! Many a woman, who has a share in this sorrow, tears her veil with tender hands
and moistens with drenching tears the robe covering her bosom. And the Persian wives, indulging in soft wailing through longing to behold their lords and abandoning the daintily wrought coverlets of their couches, the delight of their youth,
mourn with complainings that know no end. So I too sustain the truly woeful fate of those who are gone.

> Greek: ὑμεῖς δὲ φαύλως αὔτʼ ἄγαν ἐκρίνατε.
ὅμως δʼ, ἐπειδὴ τῇδʼ ἐκύρωσεν φάτις
ὑμῶν, θεοῖς μὲν πρῶτον εὔξασθαι θέλω·
ἔπειτα Γῇ τε καὶ φθιτοῖς δωρήματα
ἥξω λαβοῦσα πέλανον ἐξ οἴκων ἐμῶν,—
ἐπίσταμαι μὲν ὡς ἐπʼ ἐξειργασμένοις,
ἀλλʼ ἐς τὸ λοιπὸν εἴ τι δὴ λῷον πέλοι.
ὑμᾶς δὲ χρὴ ʼπὶ τοῖσδε τοῖς πεπραγμένοις
πιστοῖσι πιστὰ ξυμφέρειν βουλεύματα·
καὶ παῖδʼ, ἐάν περ δεῦρʼ ἐμοῦ πρόσθεν μόλῃ,
παρηγορεῖτε, καὶ προπέμπετʼ ἐς δόμους,
μὴ καί τι πρὸς κακοῖσι προσθῆται κακόν.
Χορός:
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ, νῦν ⟨γὰρ⟩ Περσῶν
τῶν μεγαλαύχων καὶ πολυάνδρων
στρατιὰν ὀλέσας
ἄστυ τὸ Σούσων ἠδʼ Ἀγβατάνων
πένθει δνοφερῷ κατέκρυψας·
πολλαὶ δʼ ἀταλαῖς χερσὶ καλύπτρας
κατερεικόμεναι
διαμυδαλέοις δάκρυσι κόλπους
τέγγουσʼ, ἄλγους μετέχουσαι.
αἱ δʼ ἁβρόγοοι Περσίδες ἀνδρῶν
ποθέουσαι ἰδεῖν ἀρτιζυγίαν,
λέκτρων εὐνὰς ἁβροχίτωνας,
χλιδανῆς ἥβης τέρψιν, ἀφεῖσαι,
πενθοῦσι γόοις ἀκορεστοτάτοις.
κἀγὼ δὲ μόρον τῶν οἰχομένων
αἴρω δοκίμως πολυπενθῆ.

[¶2] Chorus:
For now in truth the whole land of Asia, decimated, moans:

> Greek: Χορός:
νῦν γὰρ δὴ πρόπασα μὲν στένει γαῖʼ
Ἀσιὰς ἐκκενουμένα.

[¶3] Xerxes led forth (woe!), Xerxes laid low (woe!), Xerxes disposed all things imprudently with his sea-going vessels. Why then was Darius
in his time so unscathed by disaster, he who was ruler of archers, to the men of Susa a beloved leader?

> Greek: Ξέρξης μὲν ἄγαγεν, ποποῖ,
Ξέρξης δʼ ἀπώλεσεν, τοτοῖ,
Ξέρξης δὲ πάντʼ ἐπέσπε δυσφρόνως
βαρίδεσσι ποντίαις.
τίπτε Δαρεῖος μὲν οὕ-
τω τότʼ ἀβλαβὴς ἐπῆν
τόξαρχος πολιήταις,
Σουσίδαις φίλος ἄκτωρ;

[¶4] Chorus:
For infantry and seamen both, the ships, dark-eyed and linen-winged,
led forth (woe!), the ships laid them low (woe!), the ships, under the deadly impact of the foe and by the hands of Ionians.
The King himself, as we learn, has barely made his escape over the wintry paths which traverse the plains of Thrace.

> Greek: Χορός:
πεζούς τε γὰρ καὶ θαλασσίους
λινόπτεροι κυανώπιδες
νᾶες μὲν ἄγαγον, ποποῖ,
νᾶες δʼ ἀπώλεσαν, τοτοῖ,
νᾶες πανωλέθροισιν ἐμβολαῖς,
αἵ τʼ Ἰαόνων χέρες.
τυτθὰ δʼ ἐκφυγεῖν ἄνακτʼ
αὐτὸν εἰσακούομεν
Θρῄκης ἂμ πεδιήρεις
δυσχίμους τε κελεύθους.

[¶5] Chorus:
And they who were first to meet their doom (alas!), left behind by dire necessity (alas!),
are swept along the Cychrean strand (woe!). Groan and gnash your teeth; in grievous strain shout forth our woes till they reach the heavens (alas!), raise high
your wailing clamor in cries of misery.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοὶ δʼ ἄρα πρωτόμοιροι, φεῦ,
λειφθέντες πρὸς ἀνάγκας, ἠέ,
ἀκτὰς ἀμφὶ Κυχρείας, ὀᾶ,
⟨σύρονται⟩· στένε καὶ δακνά-
ζου, βαρὺ δʼ ἀμβόασον
οὐράνιʼ ἄχη, ὀᾶ·
τεῖνε δὲ δυσβάυκτον
βοᾶτιν τάλαιναν αὐδάν.

[¶6] Chorus:
Lacerated by the swirling waters (alas!) they are gnawed (alas!) by the voiceless children of the undefiled sea (alas!). The home, bereaved of his presence, laments its head;
and parents, bereft of their children, in their old age bewail their heaven- sent woes (alas!), now that they learn the full measure of their afflictions.

> Greek: Χορός:
γναπτόμενοι δὲ δίνᾳ, φεῦ,
σκύλλονται πρὸς ἀναύδων, ἠέ,
παίδων τᾶς ἀμιάντου, ὀᾶ.
πενθεῖ δʼ ἄνδρα δόμος στερη-
θείς τοκέες τʼ ἄπαιδες
δαιμόνιʼ ἄχη, ὀᾶ,
δυρόμενοι γέροντες
τὸ πᾶν δὴ κλύουσιν ἄλγος.

[¶7] Chorus:
Not now for long will those who dwell throughout the length and breadth of Asia
abide under the sway of the Persians, nor will they pay further tribute at the compulsion of their lord, nor will they prostrate themselves to the earth and do him reverence;
for the royal power has perished utterly.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοὶ δʼ ἀνὰ γᾶν Ἀσίαν δὴν
οὐκέτι περσονομοῦνται,
οὐδʼ ἔτι δασμοφοροῦσιν
δεσποσύνοισιν ἀνάγκαις,
οὐδʼ ἐς γᾶν προπίτνοντες
ἅζονται· βασιλεία
γὰρ διόλωλεν ἰσχύς.

[¶8] No longer will men keep a curb upon their tongues; for the people are set free to utter their thoughts at will, now that the yoke of power has been broken.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδʼ ἔτι γλῶσσα βροτοῖσιν
ἐν φυλακαῖς· λέλυται γὰρ
λαὸς ἐλεύθερα βάζειν,
ὡς ἐλύθη ζυγὸν ἀλκᾶς.

[¶9] The blood-stained soil of Ajax’ sea-washed isle holds all that once was Persia.
Enter Atossa
Atossa:
My friends, whoever has experience of misery knows that when a sea
of troubles comes upon mortal men, they view all things with alarm; but when fortune flows with prosperous tide, they believe that this same fortune will forever bring them success. Now in my case everything seems full of dread; before my eyes appears the enmity of the gods,
and in my ears there rings a sound that has no note of joy; such is my consternation at the evil tidings which terrify my soul. It is for this reason that I have come here from the palace once again, without my chariot and my former pomp, and bring, as propitiatory libations for the father of my son,
offerings that soothe the dead, both white milk, pleasant to drink, from an unblemished cow, and bright honey, distillation wrought from blossoms by the bee, together with lustral water from a virgin spring;
and from a rustic source, this unmixed draught, the quickening juice of an ancient vine. Here too is the fragrant fruit of the pale-green olive that lives the entirety of its life in luxuriant foliage; and garlanded flowers, produce of the bounteous earth. But come, my friends,
chant solemn songs as I make these libations to the dead, and summon forth the divine spirit of Darius, while I convey, in honor of the gods, these offerings for the earth to drink.

> Greek: αἱμαχθεῖσα δʼ ἄρουραν
Αἴαντος περικλύστα
νᾶσος ἔχει τὰ Περσᾶν.
Ἄτοσσα:
φίλοι, κακῶν μὲν ὅστις ἔμπειρος κυρεῖ,
ἐπίσταται βροτοῖσιν ὡς ὅταν κλύδων
κακῶν ἐπέλθῃ πάντα δειμαίνειν φιλεῖ·
ὅταν δʼ ὁ δαίμων εὐροῇ, πεποιθέναι
τὸν αὐτὸν αἰεὶ δαίμονʼ οὐριεῖν τύχην.
ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἤδη πάντα μὲν φόβου πλέα
ἐν ὄμμασιν τἀνταῖα φαίνεται θεῶν,
βοᾷ δʼ ἐν ὠσὶ κέλαδος οὐ παιώνιος·
τοία κακῶν ἔκπληξις ἐκφοβεῖ φρένας.
τοιγὰρ κέλευθον τήνδʼ ἄνευ τʼ ὀχημάτων
χλιδῆς τε τῆς πάροιθεν ἐκ δόμων πάλιν
ἔστειλα, παιδὸς πατρὶ πρευμενεῖς χοὰς
φέρουσʼ, ἅπερ νεκροῖσι μειλικτήρια,
βοός τʼ ἀφʼ ἁγνῆς λευκὸν εὔποτον γάλα,
τῆς τʼ ἀνθεμουργοῦ στάγμα, παμφαὲς μέλι,
λιβάσιν ὑδρηλαῖς παρθένου πηγῆς μέτα,
ἀκήρατόν τε μητρὸς ἀγρίας ἄπο
ποτὸν παλαιᾶς ἀμπέλου γάνος τόδε·
τῆς τʼ αἰὲν ἐν φύλλοισι θαλλούσης βίον
ξανθῆς ἐλαίας καρπὸς εὐώδης πάρα,
ἄνθη τε πλεκτά, παμφόρου γαίας τέκνα,
ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλοι, χοαῖσι ταῖσδε νερτέρων
ὕμνους ἐπευφημεῖτε, τόν τε δαίμονα
Δαρεῖον ἀνακαλεῖσθε, γαπότους δʼ ἐγὼ
τιμὰς προπέμψω τάσδε νερτέροις θεοῖς.

[¶10] Chorus:
Royal lady, august queen of the Persians, pour these libations down to the chambers of the earth,
while we, in solemn chant, beseech the guides of the dead beneath the earth to be gracious to our prayers. O holy divinities of the nether world, Earth and Hermes, and you, Lord of the dead,
send up to the light the spirit from below; for if, beyond our prayers, he knows any further remedy for our distress, he alone of mortals can declare how to bring it to accomplishment.

> Greek: Χορός:
βασίλεια γύναι, πρέσβος Πέρσαις,
σύ τε πέμπε χοὰς θαλάμους ὑπὸ γῆς,
ἡμεῖς θʼ ὕμνοις αἰτησόμεθα
φθιμένων πομποὺς
εὔφρονας εἶναι κατὰ γαίας.
ἀλλά, χθόνιοι δαίμονες ἁγνοί,
Γῆ τε καὶ Ἑρμῆ, βασιλεῦ τʼ ἐνέρων,
πέμψατʼ ἔνερθεν ψυχὴν ἐς φῶς·
εἰ γάρ τι κακῶν ἄκος οἶδε πλέον,
μόνος ἂν θνητῶν πέρας εἴποι.

[¶11] Chorus:
Does our sainted and godlike king hear me as I utter,
in obscure barbaric speech, my dismal and dolorous cries? Or must I shout aloud the utter misery of my anguish so that it pierces the earth? Does he hear me from below?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ ῥʼ ἀίει μου μακαρίτας
ἰσοδαίμων βασιλεὺς
βάρβαρʼ ἀσαφηνῆ
ἱέντος τὰ παναίολʼ αἰ-
ανῆ δύσθροα βάγματʼ, ἢ
παντάλανʼ ἄχη διαβοάσω;
νέρθεν ἆρα κλύει μου;

[¶12] Chorus:
O Earth, and you other rulers of those who dwell in the nether world, ensure, I implore, that the glorious spirit, the god of the Persians, whom Susa bore, may quit his abode.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ σύ μοι Γᾶ τε καὶ ἄλλοι
χθονίων ἁγεμόνες
δαίμονα μεγαυχῆ
ἰόντʼ αἰνέσατʼ ἐκ δόμων,
Περσᾶν Σουσιγενῆ θεόν·

[¶13] Send to the upper world him the likes of whom the Persian earth has never entombed.

> Greek: πέμπετε δʼ ἄνω οἷον οὔπω
Περσὶς αἶʼ ἐκάλυψεν.

[¶14] Chorus:
Beloved indeed was the hero, beloved is his burial mound; beloved are the qualities that lie buried there. O Aidoneus,
Aidoneus, who convey shades to the upper air, permit our divine lord Darius to come forth!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ φίλος ἁνήρ, φίλος ὄχθος·
φίλα γὰρ κέκευθεν ἤθη.
Ἀιδωνεὺς δʼ ἀναπομ-
πὸς ἀνείης, Ἀιδωνεύς,
θεῖον ἀνάκτορα Δαριᾶνα. ἠέ.

[¶15] Chorus:
For since he did not ever cause the destruction of his people by senseless and ruinous wars, he bore the name of divine counsellor
to the Persians; and a divine counsellor he was, since he guided his people well.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἄνδρας ποτʼ ἀπώλλυ
πολεμοφθόροισιν ἄταις,
θεομήστωρ δʼ ἐκικλή-
σκετο Πέρσαις, θεομήστωρ δʼ
ἔσκεν,ἐπεὶ στρατὸν εὖ ποδούχει. ἠέ.

[¶16] Chorus:
King, our king of old, come forth, draw near! Rise to the barrow’s topmost point,
lift your saffron-dyed sandal, display the crest of your royal tiara! Come forth, O blameless father Darius.

> Greek: Χορός:
βαλήν, ἀρχαῖος βαλήν,
ἴθι, ἱκοῦ·
ἔλθʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρον κόρυμβον ὄχθου,
κροκόβαπτον ποδὸς εὔμαριν ἀείρων,
βασιλείου τιάρας
φάλαρον πιφαύσκων.
βάσκε πάτερ ἄκακε Δαριάν, οἶ.

[¶17] Chorus:
That you may hear
pitiable and unheard-of sorrows, O Lord of our lord, appear! For a gloom, like that of Styx, hovers over us, since all the youth of the land
is now utterly destroyed. Come forth, O blameless father Darius!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅπως αἰανῆ κλύῃς
νέα τʼ ἄχη,
δέσποτα δεσπότου φάνηθι.
Στυγία γάρ τις ἐπʼ ἀχλὺς πεπόταται·
νεολαία γὰρ ἤδη
κατὰ πᾶσʼ ὄλωλεν.
βάσκε πάτερ ἄκακε Δαριάν, οἶ.

[¶18] Chorus:
Alas, alas! You whose death your friends bewailed with bitter tears,
why, my king, my king, why is it that our land has lost all its three-tiered galleys,
ships that are no more, no more?
The ghost of Darius rises from his tomb
Ghost of Darius:
O most faithful of the faithful, comrades of my youth, aged Persians, what is it that is troubling the state? The earth groans and is furrowed by the stamp of men. As I behold my wife by my tomb,
I feel alarm, and I accept her libations in kindly mood; while you, standing near my tomb, make lament, and with shrill cries that summon the spirits of the dead, invoke me piteously. Not easy is the path out of the tomb, for this reason above all, that the gods beneath the earth
are readier to seize than to release. Nevertheless, since I have obtained dominion among them, I have come. But make haste, so that I may not incur blame regarding the time of my sojourn. What is this unexpected ill that weighs the Persians down?

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ·
ὦ πολύκλαυτε φίλοισι θανών,
τί τάδε δυνάτα δυνάτα
περὶ τᾷ σᾷ δίδυμα [διαγόεν ] ἁμάρτια;
πᾶσαι γᾷ τᾷδʼ
ἐξέφθινται τρίσκαλμοι
νᾶες ἄναες ἄναες.
Εἴδωλον Δαρείου:
ὦ πιστὰ πιστῶν ἥλικές θʼ ἥβης ἐμῆς
Πέρσαι γεραιοί, τίνα πόλις πονεῖ πόνον;
στένει, κέκοπται, καὶ χαράσσεται πέδον.
λεύσσων δʼ ἄκοιτιν τὴν ἐμὴν τάφου πέλας
ταρβῶ, χοὰς δὲ πρευμενὴς ἐδεξάμην.
ὑμεῖς δὲ θρηνεῖτʼ ἐγγὺς ἑστῶτες τάφου
καὶ ψυχαγωγοῖς ὀρθιάζοντες γόοις
οἰκτρῶς καλεῖσθέ μʼ· ἐστὶ δʼ οὐκ εὐέξοδον,
ἄλλως τε πάντως χοἰ κατὰ χθονὸς θεοὶ
λαβεῖν ἀμείνους εἰσὶν ἢ μεθιέναι.
ὅμως δʼ ἐκείνοις ἐνδυναστεύσας ἐγὼ
ἥκω. τάχυνε δʼ ὡς ἄμεμπτος ὦ χρόνου.
τί ἐστι Πέρσαις νεοχμὸν ἐμβριθὲς κακόν·

[¶19] Chorus:
I shrink in awe from gazing upon you.
I shrink in awe from speaking in your presence by reason of my former dread of you.

> Greek: Χορός:
σέβομαι μὲν προσιδέσθαι,
σέβομαι δʼ ἀντία λέξαι
σέθεν ἀρχαίῳ περὶ τάρβει.

[¶20] Darius:
Since, in compliance with your moanings, I have come from the world below, lay aside your awe of me; make your tale not long, but brief; speak out and deliver your story in its entirety.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ κάτωθεν ἦλθον σοῖς γόοις πεπεισμένος,
μή τι μακιστῆρα μῦθον, ἀλλὰ σύντομον λέγων
εἰπὲ καὶ πέραινε πάντα, τὴν ἐμὴν αἰδῶ μεθείς.

[¶21] Chorus:
I fear to do your bidding; I fear to speak in your presence and deliver to those I love news hard to utter.

> Greek: Χορός:
δίεμαι μὲν χαρίσασθαι,
δίεμαι δʼ ἀντία φάσθαι,
λέξας δύσλεκτα φίλοισιν.

[¶22] Darius:
Since dread long ingrained in your mind restrains you,
cease, noble woman, venerable partner of my bed, from your tears and laments, speak to me with all frankness. Afflictions ordained for human life must, we know, befall mankind. For many calamities from the sea, many from the land, arise to mortal men if their span of life is extended far.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ δέος παλαιὸν σοὶ φρενῶν ἀνθίσταται,
τῶν ἐμῶν λέκτρων γεραιὰ ξύννομʼ εὐγενὲς γύναι,
κλαυμάτων λήξασα τῶνδε καὶ γόων σαφές τί μοι
λέξον· ἀνθρώπεια δʼ ἄν τοι πήματʼ ἂν τύχοι βροτοῖς.
πολλὰ μὲν γὰρ ἐκ θαλάσσης, πολλὰ δʼ ἐκ χέρσου κακὰ
γίγνεται θνητοῖς, ὁ μάσσων βίοτος ἢν ταθῇ, πρόσω.

[¶23] Atossa:
O you who in prosperity surpassed all mortal men by your happy destiny,
since, so long as you gazed upon the beams of the sun, you lived a life of felicity, envied of all, in Persian eyes a god, so now too I consider you fortunate in that you died before you beheld the depth of our calamities. The whole tale, O Darius, you will hear in brief space of time: the power of Persia is ruined almost utterly.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ὦ βροτῶν πάντων ὑπερσχὼν ὄλβον εὐτυχεῖ πότμῳ
ὡς ἕως τʼ ἔλευσσες αὐγὰς ἡλίου ζηλωτὸς ὢν
βίοτον εὐαίωνα Πέρσαις ὡς θεὸς διήγαγες,
νῦν τέ σε ζηλῶ θανόντα, πρὶν κακῶν ἰδεῖν βάθος.
πάντα γάρ, Δαρεῖʼ ἀκούσῃ μῦθον ἐν βραχεῖ χρόνῳ.
διαπεπόρθηται τὰ Περσῶν πράγμαθʼ, ὡς εἰπεῖν ἔπος.

[¶24] Darius:
How did it happen? Did some stroke of pestilence or factional strife come upon the State?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
τίνι τρόπῳ; λοιμοῦ τις ἦλθε σκηπτὸς ἢ στάσις πόλει;

[¶25] Atossa:
Neither; but near Athens our whole host has been brought to ruin.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
οὐδαμῶς· ἀλλʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀθήνας πᾶς κατέφθαρται στρατός.

[¶26] Darius:
Tell me, what son of mine led our army there?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
τίς δʼ ἐμῶν ἐκεῖσε παίδων ἐστρατηλάτει; φράσον.

[¶27] Atossa:
Impetuous Xerxes, depopulating the whole surface of the continent.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
θούριος Ξέρξης, κενώσας πᾶσαν ἠπείρου πλάκα.

[¶28] Darius:
Was it by land or sea that he made this mad expedition, the reckless man?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
πεζὸς ἢ ναύτης δὲ πεῖραν τήνδʼ ἐμώρανεν τάλας;

[¶29] Atossa:
By both. There was a twofold front of double armies.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ἀμφότερα· διπλοῦν μέτωπον ἦν δυοῖν στρατευμάτοιν.

[¶30] Darius:
But how was it that so vast a land force won a passage to the farther shore?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
πῶς δὲ καὶ στρατὸς τοσόσδε πεζὸς ἤνυσεν περᾶν;

[¶31] Atossa:
By a clever device he yoked the Hellespont so as to gain a passage.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
μηχαναῖς ἔζευξεν Ἕλλης πορθμόν, ὥστʼ ἔχειν πόρον.

[¶32] Darius:
What! Did he succeed in closing the mighty Bosporus?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
καὶ τόδʼ ἐξέπραξεν, ὥστε Βόσπορον κλῇσαι μέγαν·

[¶33] Atossa:
Yes indeed. One of the divine powers must have assisted him in his purpose.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ὧδʼ ἔχει· γνώμης δέ πού τις δαιμόνων ξυνήψατο.

[¶34] Darius:
Alas! Some mighty power came upon him so that he was not able to think clearly.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
φεῦ, μέγας τις ἦλθε δαίμων, ὥστε μὴ φρονεῖν καλῶς.

[¶35] Atossa:
Yes, since we can see the outcome, what ruin he wrought.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ὡς ἰδεῖν τέλος πάρεστιν οἷον ἤνυσεν κακόν.

[¶36] Darius:
And how then did they fare that you now lament them?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
καὶ τί δὴ πράξασιν αὐτοῖς ὧδʼ ἐπιστενάζετε;

[¶37] Atossa:
Disaster to the naval force brought ruin to the force on land.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ναυτικὸς στρατὸς κακωθεὶς πεζὸν ὤλεσε στρατόν.

[¶38] Darius:
And did the whole army utterly perish by the spear?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ὧδε παμπήδην δὲ λαὸς πᾶς κατέφθαρται δορί;

[¶39] Atossa:
Yes, and it is for this reason that the whole city of Susa groans at its desolation.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
πρὸς τάδʼ ὡς Σούσων μὲν ἄστυ πᾶν κενανδρίαν στένει.

[¶40] Darius:
Alas for the loss of our warriors’ valiant force and defence!

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ὦ πόποι κεδνῆς ἀρωγῆς κἀπικουρίας στρατοῦ.

[¶41] Atossa:
And the host of the Bactrians is lost, wholly destroyed: not even an old man is left.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
Βακτρίων δʼ ἔρρει πανώλης δῆμος, οὐδέ τις γέρων.

[¶42] Darius:
Unhappy man, since he has brought to ruin the youth of our allies.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ὦ μέλεος, οἵαν ἄρʼ ἥβην ξυμμάχων ἀπώλεσεν.

[¶43] Atossa:
But Xerxes, alone and forlorn, with scanty train, they say—

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
μονάδα δὲ Ξέρξην ἔρημόν φασιν οὐ πολλῶν μέτα—

[¶44] Darius:
Met his end, how, tell me, and where? Of his safety is there any hope?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
πῶς τε δὴ καὶ ποῖ τελευτᾶν; ἔστι τις σωτηρία;

[¶45] Atossa:
To his joy he reached the bridge yoking the two continents.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ἄσμενον μολεῖν γέφυραν γαῖν δυοῖν ζευκτηρίαν.

[¶46] Darius:
And reached our continent in safety? Is this certain?

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
καὶ πρὸς ἤπειρον σεσῶσθαι τήνδε, τοῦτʼ ἐτήτυμον;

[¶47] Atossa:
Yes, a proven report establishes this. Doubt there is none.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ναί· λόγος κρατεῖ σαφηνὴς τοῦτό γʼ, οὐδʼ ἔνι στάσις.

[¶48] Darius:
Alas! The fulfilment of the oracles has indeed come swiftly, and it is my son upon whom
Zeus has caused their issue to descend. Yet I was confident that, only after long lapse of time, the gods would in some way bring them to accomplishment; nevertheless, when man hastens to his own undoing, the god too participates with him. A fountain of misfortune has now, I think, been discovered for all I love. A son of mine it was who, in his ignorance, brought these things to pass through youthful recklessness;

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
φεῦ, ταχεῖά γʼ ἦλθε χρησμῶν πρᾶξις, ἐς δὲ παῖδʼ ἐμὸν
Ζεὺς ἀπέσκηψεν τελευτὴν θεσφάτων· ἐγὼ δέ που
διὰ μακροῦ χρόνου τάδʼ ηὔχουν ἐκτελευτήσειν θεούς·
ἀλλʼ ὅταν σπεύδῃ τις αὐτός, χὠ θεὸς συνάπτεται.
νῦν κακῶν ἔοικε πηγὴ πᾶσιν ηὑρῆσθαι φίλοις.
παῖς δʼ ἐμὸς τάδʼ οὐ κατειδὼς ἤνυσεν νέῳ θράσει·

[¶49] for he conceived the hope that he could by shackles, as if it were a slave, restrain the current of the sacred Hellespont, the Bosporus, a stream divine; he set himself to fashion a roadway of a new type, and, by casting upon it hammer-wrought fetters, made a spacious causeway for his mighty host. Mortal though he was, he thought in his folly that he would gain the mastery of all the gods,
yes, even over Poseidon. Must this not have been a disease of the soul that possessed my son? I fear that the plenteous treasure amassed by my toil may become the prey of the spoiler.

> Greek: ὅστις Ἑλλήσποντον ἱρὸν δοῦλον ὣς δεσμώμασιν
ἤλπισε σχήσειν ῥέοντα, Βόσπορον ῥόον θεοῦ·
καὶ πόρον μετερρύθμιζε, καὶ πέδαις σφυρηλάτοις
περιβαλὼν πολλὴν κέλευθον ἤνυσεν πολλῷ στρατῷ,
θνητὸς ὢν θεῶν τε πάντων ᾤετʼ, οὐκ εὐβουλίᾳ,
καὶ Ποσειδῶνος κρατήσειν. πῶς τάδʼ οὐ νόσος φρενῶν
εἶχε παῖδʼ ἐμόν; δέδοικα μὴ πολὺς πλούτου πόνος
οὑμὸς ἀνθρώποις γένηται τοῦ φθάσαντος ἁρπαγή.

[¶50] Atossa:
This lesson impetuous Xerxes learned through conversation with evil men. For they kept telling him that, whereas you
won plentiful treasure for your children by your spear, he, on his part, through lack of manly spirit, played the warrior at home and did not increase his father’s wealth. Hearing such taunts many a time from evil counsellors, he planned this expedition and army against Hellas.

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ταῦτά τοι κακοῖς ὁμιλῶν ἀνδράσιν διδάσκεται
θούριος Ξέρξης· λέγουσι δʼ ὡς σὺ μὲν μέγαν τέκνοις
πλοῦτον ἐκτήσω ξὺν αἰχμῇ, τὸν δʼ ἀνανδρίας ὕπο
ἔνδον αἰχμάζειν, πατρῷον δʼ ὄλβον οὐδὲν αὐξάνειν.
τοιάδʼ ἐξ ἀνδρῶν ὀνείδη πολλάκις κλύων κακῶν
τήνδʼ ἐβούλευσεν κέλευθον καὶ στράτευμʼ ἐφʼ Ἑλλάδα.

[¶51] Darius:
Therefore a calamity
dreadful and unforgettable has been caused by him, a desolating calamity such as never before befell this city of Susa since our Lord Zeus first ordained that one ruler should bear sway over all Asia with its flocks and wield the sceptre of its government.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
τοιγάρ σφιν ἔργον ἐστὶν ἐξειργασμένον
μέγιστον, ἀείμνηστον, οἷον οὐδέπω
τόδʼ ἄστυ Σούσων ἐξεκείνωσεν πεσόν,
ἐξ οὗτε τιμὴν Ζεὺς ἄναξ τήνδʼ ὤπασεν,
ἕνʼ ἄνδρʼ ἁπάσης Ἀσίδος μηλοτρόφου
ταγεῖν, ἔχοντα σκῆπτρον εὐθυντήριον.

[¶52] For Medus was first to be the leader of its host; and another, his son, completed his work since wisdom ruled his spirit. Third, after him, Cyrus, blessed in good fortune, came to the throne and established peace for all his people.

> Greek: Μῆδος γὰρ ἦν ὁ πρῶτος ἡγεμὼν στρατοῦ·
ἄλλος δʼ ἐκείνου παῖς τόδʼ ἔργον ἤνυσεν·
φρένες γὰρ αὐτοῦ θυμὸν ᾠακοστρόφουν.
τρίτος δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ Κῦρος, εὐδαίμων ἀνήρ,
ἄρξας ἔθηκε πᾶσιν εἰρήνην φίλοις·

[¶53] The Lydians and Phrygians he won to his rule, and the whole of Ionia he subdued by force; for he won the favor of the gods through his right-mindedness. Fourth in succession, the son of Cyrus ruled the host. Fifth in the list, Mardus came to power, a disgrace to his native land
and to the ancient throne; but he was slain in his palace by the guile of noble Artaphrenes, with the help of friends whose duty this was. Sixth came Maraphis, and seventh Artaphrenes. And I in turn attained the lot I desired,
and many a campaign I made with a valiant force; but disaster so dire as this I brought not upon the state. Yet Xerxes my son, youth that he is, has the mind of youth and does not remember my injunctions. Be sure of this, my age-mates:
all of us who have held this sovereign power cannot be shown to have wrought ruin as great as this.

> Greek: Λυδῶν δὲ λαὸν καὶ Φρυγῶν ἐκτήσατο,
Ἰωνίαν τε πᾶσαν ἤλασεν βίᾳ.
θεὸς γὰρ οὐκ ἤχθηρεν, ὡς εὔφρων ἔφυ.
Κύρου δὲ παῖς τέταρτος ηὔθυνε στρατόν.
πέμπτος δὲ Μάρδος ἦρξεν, αἰσχύνη πάτρᾳ
θρόνοισί τʼ ἀρχαίοισι· τὸν δὲ σὺν δόλῳ
Ἀρταφρένης ἔκτεινεν ἐσθλὸς ἐν δόμοις,
ξὺν ἀνδράσιν φίλοισιν, οἷς τόδʼ ἦν χρέος.
[ἕκτος δὲ Μάραφις, ἕβδομος δʼ Ἀρταφρένης.]
κἀγὼ πάλου τʼ ἔκυρσα τοῦπερ ἤθελον,
κἀπεστράτευσα πολλὰ σὺν πολλῷ στρατῷ·
ἀλλʼ οὐ κακὸν τοσόνδε προσέβαλον πόλει.
Ξέρξης δʼ ἐμὸς παῖς ὢν νέος νέα φρονεῖ,
κοὐ μνημονεύει τὰς ἐμὰς ἐπιστολάς·
εὖ γὰρ σαφῶς τόδʼ ἴστʼ, ἐμοὶ ξυνήλικες,
ἅπαντες ἡμεῖς, οἳ κράτη τάδʼ ἔσχομεν,
οὐκ ἂν φανεῖμεν πήματʼ ἔρξαντες τόσα.

[¶54] Chorus:
What then, O king Darius? What is the intention of your words? How, after this reverse, may we, the people of Persia, best prosper in time to come?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί οὖν, ἄναξ Δαρεῖε, ποῖ καταστρέφεις
λόγων τελευτήν; πῶς ἂν ἐκ τούτων ἔτι
πράσσοιμεν ὡς ἄριστα Περσικὸς λεώς;

[¶55] Darius:
If you do not take the field against the Hellenes’ land, even if the forces of the Medes outnumber theirs. The land itself is their ally.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
εἰ μὴ στρατεύοισθʼ ἐς τὸν Ἑλλήνων τόπον,
μηδʼ εἰ στράτευμα πλεῖον τὸ Μηδικόν.
αὐτὴ γὰρ ἡ γῆ ξύμμαχος κείνοις πέλει.

[¶56] Chorus:
What do you mean? In what way “their ally”?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας, τίνι τρόπῳ δὲ συμμαχεῖ;

[¶57] Darius:
It wastes with famine an enemy force which is too large.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
κτείνουσα λιμῷ τοὺς ὑπερπόλλους ἄγαν.

[¶58] Chorus:
But we will dispatch a force of select and easily managed troops.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ εὐσταλῆ τοι λεκτὸν ἀροῦμεν στόλον.

[¶59] Darius:
Not even the host which now remains in Hellas will be able to return to safety.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὁ μείνας νῦν ἐν Ἑλλάδος τόποις
στρατὸς κυρήσει νοστίμου σωτηρίας.

[¶60] Chorus:
How is that? Will not the whole barbarian army cross from Europe over the Hellespont?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ πᾶν στράτευμα βαρβάρων
περᾷ τὸν Ἕλλης πορθμὸν Εὐρώπης ἄπο;

[¶61] Darius:
Few indeed out of many, if it is right to put any faith in the oracles of Heaven, with regard to what has just been brought to pass; for they are fulfilled, not just some, while others fail. And if this is truth, it is through persuasion of vain hopes that he is leaving behind a body of picked troops.

> Greek: Δαρεῖος:
παῦροι γε πολλῶν, εἴ τι πιστεῦσαι θεῶν
χρὴ θεσφάτοισιν, ἐς τὰ νῦν πεπραγμένα
βλέψαντα· συμβαίνει γὰρ οὐ τὰ μέν, τὰ δʼ οὔ.
κεἴπερ τάδʼ ἐστί, πλῆθος ἔκκριτον στρατοῦ
λείπει κεναῖσιν ἐλπίσιν πεπεισμένος.

[¶62] They are now lingering where the plain is watered by the stream of Asopus which nourishes Boeotia’s fields. Here they will meet their crowning disaster in requital for their presumptuous pride and impious thoughts. For, on reaching the land of Hellas,
restrained by no religious awe, they ravaged the images of the gods and set fire to their temples. Altars have been destroyed, statues of the gods have been thrown from their bases in utter ruin and confusion. Therefore, since they wrought such evil, evil they suffer in no less measure; and other evils are still in store:
the spring of their woes is not yet quenched, but it still wells forth. For so great will be the mass of clotted gore spilled by the Dorian lance upon Plataean soil that heaps of dead will reveal, even to the third generation, a voiceless record for the eyes of men
that mortal man should not vaunt himself excessively. For presumptuous pride, when it has matured, bears as its fruit a crop of calamity, from which it reaps an abundant harvest of tears. Bear in mind that such are the penalties for deeds like these, and hold Athens and Hellas in your memory. Let no one of you,
through disdain of present fortune and lust for more, squander his abundant wealth. Zeus, in truth, is a chastiser of overweening pride and corrects with heavy hand. Therefore, now that my son has been warned to be prudent by the voice of God,
instruct him with admonitions of reason to cease from drawing the punishment of Heaven on himself by his vaunting rashness. And as for you, beloved and venerable mother of Xerxes, withdraw to the palace and bring from there clothing which is suitable for him, and prepare to meet your son. For
through grief at his misfortunes, the embroidered apparel which he was wearing has been torn into tattered shreds. Soothe him with words of kindness; for it is to your voice alone, I know, that he will listen. As for me, I depart to the darkness beneath the earth.

> Greek: μίμνουσι δʼ ἔνθα πεδίον Ἀσωπὸς ῥοαῖς
ἄρδει, φίλον πίασμα Βοιωτῶν χθονί·
οὗ σφιν κακῶν ὕψιστʼ ἐπαμμένει παθεῖν,
ὕβρεως ἄποινα κἀθέων φρονημάτων·
οἳ γῆν μολόντες Ἑλλάδʼ οὐ θεῶν βρέτη
ᾐδοῦντο συλᾶν οὐδὲ πιμπράναι νεώς·
βωμοὶ δʼ ἄιστοι, δαιμόνων θʼ ἱδρύματα
πρόρριζα φύρδην ἐξανέστραπται βάθρων.
τοιγὰρ κακῶς δράσαντες οὐκ ἐλάσσονα
πάσχουσι, τὰ δὲ μέλλουσι, κοὐδέπω κακῶν
κρηνὶς ἀπέσβηκʼ ἀλλʼ ἔτʼ ἐκπιδύεται.
τόσος γὰρ ἔσται πέλανος αἱματοσφαγὴς
πρὸς γῇ Πλαταιῶν Δωρίδος λόγχης ὕπο·
θῖνες νεκρῶν δὲ καὶ τριτοσπόρῳ γονῇ
ἄφωνα σημανοῦσιν ὄμμασιν βροτῶν
ὡς οὐχ ὑπέρφευ θνητὸν ὄντα χρὴ φρονεῖν.
ὕβρις γὰρ ἐξανθοῦσʼ ἐκάρπωσεν στάχυν
ἄτης, ὅθεν πάγκλαυτον ἐξαμᾷ θέρος.
τοιαῦθʼ ὁρῶντες τῶνδε τἀπιτίμια
μέμνησθʼ Ἀθηνῶν Ἑλλάδος τε, μηδέ τις
ὑπερφρονήσας τὸν παρόντα δαίμονα
ἄλλων ἐρασθεὶς ὄλβον ἐκχέῃ μέγαν.
Ζεύς τοι κολαστὴς τῶν ὑπερκόμπων ἄγαν
φρονημάτων ἔπεστιν, εὔθυνος βαρύς.
πρὸς ταῦτʼ ἐκεῖνον, σωφρονεῖν κεχρημένον,
πινύσκετʼ εὐλόγοισι νουθετήμασιν,
λῆξαι θεοβλαβοῦνθʼ ὑπερκόμπῳ θράσει.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ γεραιὰ μῆτερ ἡ Ξέρξου φίλη,
ἐλθοῦσʼ ἐς οἴκους κόσμον ὅστις εὐπρεπὴς
λαβοῦσʼ ὑπαντίαζε παιδί. πάντα γὰρ
κακῶν ὑπʼ ἄλγους λακίδες ἀμφὶ σώματι
στημορραγοῦσι ποικίλων ἐσθημάτων.
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν εὐφρόνως σὺ πράυνον λόγοις·
μόνης γάρ, οἶδα, σοῦ κλύων ἀνέξεται.
ἐγὼ δʼ ἄπειμι γῆς ὑπὸ ζόφον κάτω.

[¶63] Farewell, Elders, and despite your troubles, rejoice while each day is yours; for wealth does not profit the dead at all. The ghost of Darius descends
Chorus:
I grieve as I hear the many misfortunes that are now, and are yet to be, the lot of the barbarians.

> Greek: ὑμεῖς δέ, πρέσβεις, χαίρετʼ, ἐν κακοῖς ὅμως
ψυχῇ διδόντες ἡδονὴν καθʼ ἡμέραν,
ὡς τοῖς θανοῦσι πλοῦτος οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖ.
Χορός:
ἦ πολλὰ καὶ παρόντα καὶ μέλλοντʼ ἔτι
ἤλγησʼ ἀκούσας βαρβάροισι πήματα.

[¶64] Atossa:
O God! How much grief assails me! But most of all this sorrow wounds me, to hear of the shameful clothes which are now worn by my son. But I will depart, and when I have brought appropriate garments from the palace,
I will make attempt to meet my son; for I will not forsake him whom I love so well in his affliction. Exit

> Greek: Ἄτοσσα:
ὦ δαῖμον, ὥς με πόλλʼ ἐσέρχεται κακὰ
ἄλγη, μάλιστα δʼ ἥδε συμφορὰ δάκνει,
ἀτιμίαν γε παιδὸς ἀμφὶ σώματι
ἐσθημάτων κλύουσαν, ἥ νιν ἀμπέχει.
ἀλλʼ εἶμι, καὶ λαβοῦσα κόσμον ἐκ δόμων
ὑπαντιάζειν παιδί μου πειράσομαι.
οὐ γὰρ τὰ φίλτατʼ ἐν κακοῖς προδώσομεν.

[¶65] Chorus:
Oh yes, it was in truth a glorious and good life under civil government that we enjoyed so long as our aged
and all-powerful king, who did no wrong and did not favor war, god-like Darius, ruled the realm.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ πόποι ἦ μεγάλας ἀγαθᾶς τε πο-
λισσονόμου βιοτᾶς ἐπεκύρσαμεν,
εὖθʼ ὁ γηραιὸς
πανταρκὴς ἀκάκας
ἄμαχος βασιλεὺς
ἰσόθεος Δαρεῖος ἆρχε χώρας.

[¶66] Chorus:
In the first place we showed to the world armies worthy of our fame, and civil institutions, like towers in strength,
regulated all the state; and our return from war brought back our men, unworn and unsuffering, to happy homes.

> Greek: Χορός:
πρῶτα μὲν εὐδοκίμους στρατιὰς ἀπε-
φαινόμεθʼ, ἠδὲ νομίσματα πύργινα
πάντʼ ἐπηύθυνε,
νόστοι δʼ ἐκ πολέμων
ἀπόνους ἀπαθεῖς
⟨ἀνέρας⟩ εὖ πράσσοντας ἆγον οἴκους.

[¶67] Chorus:
And what a number of cities he captured!—
without crossing the stream of Halys or even stirring from his own hearth: such as the Acheloan cities on the Strymonian sea which is located beside
the Thracian settlements.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅσσας δʼ εἷλε πόλεις πόρον
οὐ διαβὰς Ἅλυος ποταμοῖο,
οὐδʼ ἀφʼ ἑστίας συθείς,
οἷαι Στρυμονίου πελά-
γους Ἀχελωίδες εἰσὶ πάροικοι
Θρῃκίων ἐπαύλων,

[¶68] Chorus:
And those outside the lake, the cities on the mainland, surrounded with a rampart, obeyed him as their king;
those, too, that boast to be on both sides of the broad Hellespont and Propontis, deeply-recessed, and the outlet of Pontus.

> Greek: Χορός:
λίμνας τʼ ἔκτοθεν αἳ κατὰ
χέρσον ἐληλαμέναι πέρι πύργον
τοῦδʼ ἄνακτος ἄιον,
Ἕλλας τʼ ἀμφὶ πόρον πλατὺν
εὐχόμεναι, μυχία τε Προποντίς,
καὶ στόμωμα Πόντου·

[¶69] Chorus:
The sea-washed islands, also, off the projecting arm
of the sea, lying close to this land of ours, such as Lesbos, and olive-planted Samos, Chios and Paros, Naxos, Mykonos,
and Andros which lies adjacent to Tenos.

> Greek: Χορός:
νᾶσοί θʼ αἳ κατὰ πρῶνʼ
ἅλιον περίκλυστοι
τᾷδε γᾷ προσήμεναι
οἵα Λέσβος ἐλαι-
όφυτός τε Σάμος, Χίος
ἠδὲ Πάρος, Νάξος, Μύκο-
νος, Τήνῳ τε συνάπτουσʼ
Ἀνδρος ἀγχιγείτων,

[¶70] Chorus:
And he held under his sway the sea-girt islands midway between the continents,
Lemnos, and the settlement of Icarus, and Rhodes, and Cnidos, and the Cyprian cities Paphos, Soli, and Salamis,
whose mother-city is now the cause of our lament.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ τὰς ἀγχιάλους
ἐκράτυνε μεσάκτους,
Λῆμνον, Ἰκάρου θʼ ἕδος,
καὶ Ῥόδον ἠδὲ Κνίδον
Κυπρίας τε πόλεις, Πάφον,
ἠδὲ Σόλους, Σαλαμῖνά τε,
τᾶς νῦν ματρόπολις τῶνδʼ
αἰτία στεναγμῶν.

[¶71] Chorus:
And the rich and populous cities of the Hellenes in the Ionian heritage
he controlled by his own will; and at his command he had an unwearied strength of men-at-arms and of allies from every nation. But now,
worsted completely in war through disasters on the sea, we endure this change of fortune no doubt from the hand of god.
Enter Xerxes in tattered robes, and attended by a scanty retinue

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ τὰς εὐκτεάνους κατὰ
κλῆρον Ἰαόνιον πολυάνδρους
Ἑλλάνων ἐκράτει σφετέραις φρεσίν.
ἀκάματον δὲ παρῆν σθένος
ἀνδρῶν τευχηστήρων
παμμίκτων τʼ ἐπικούρων.
νῦν δʼ οὐκ ἀμφιλόγως
θεότρεπτα τάδʼ αὖ
φέρομεν πολέμοισι
δμαθέντες μεγάλως
πλαγαῖσι ποντίαισιν.

[¶72] Xerxes:
Alas, wretched am I who have met this cruel doom
which did not give the faintest sign of its coming! In what savage mood has Fortune trampled upon the Persian race? What misery is yet in store for me, unhappy wretch? The strength of my limbs is loosened as I look upon this aged group of citizens.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἰώ,
δύστηνος ἐγὼ στυγερᾶς μοίρας
τῆσδε κυρήσας ἀτεκμαρτοτάτης,
ὡς ὠμοφρόνως δαίμων ἐνέβη
Περσῶν γενεᾷ· τί πάθω τλήμων;
λέλυται γὰρ ἐμοὶ γυίων ῥώμη
τήνδʼ ἡλικίαν ἐσιδόντʼ ἀστῶν.

[¶73] Ah, Zeus, I wish that the doom of death had buried me, too, together with the men who have been laid low!

> Greek: εἴθʼ ὄφελεν, Ζεῦ, κἀμὲ μετʼ ἀνδρῶν
τῶν οἰχομένων
θανάτου κατὰ μοῖρα καλύψαι.

[¶74] Chorus:
Alas, my king, for our noble army, for the high honor of Persia’s rule,
and for the splendor of the men now cut off by Fate! The land bewails her native youth, slaughtered for Xerxes, who has crowded Hades with Persian slain.
Many warriors, masters of the bow, our country’s pride, a great multitude of men, have perished. Alas, alas, for our trusty defence! The land of Asia, the leading power of the earth,
has piteously, yes piteously, been bowed to her knees.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὀτοτοῖ, βασιλεῦ, στρατιᾶς ἀγαθῆς
καὶ περσονόμου τιμῆς μεγάλης,
κόσμου τʼ ἀνδρῶν,
οὓς νῦν δαίμων ἐπέκειρεν.
γᾶ δʼ αἰάζει τὰν ἐγγαίαν
ἥβαν Ξέρξᾳ κταμέναν Ἅιδου
σάκτορι Περσᾶν. ᾁδοβάται γὰρ
πολλοὶ φῶτες, χώρας ἄνθος,
τοξοδάμαντες, πάνυ ταρφύς τις
μυριὰς ἀνδρῶν, ἐξέφθινται.
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ κεδνᾶς ἀλκᾶς.
Ἀσία δὲ χθών, βασιλεῦ γαίας,
αἰνῶς αἰνῶς
ἐπὶ γόνυ κέκλιται.

[¶75] Xerxes:
Behold me, alas, a fitting subject for lamentation, born a source of ruin to my race and fatherland.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ὅδʼ ἐγώ, οἰοῖ, αἰακτὸς
μέλεος γέννᾳ γᾷ τε πατρῴᾳ
κακὸν ἄρʼ ἐγενόμαν.

[¶76] Chorus:
As a greeting for your return home I will lift up an ill-omened cry of woe, the voice, versed in lamentation, of a Mariandynian mourner,
a wail attended by many a tear.

> Greek: Χορός:
πρόσφθογγόν σοι νόστου τὰν
κακοφάτιδα βοάν,
κακομέλετον ἰὰν
Μαριανδυνοῦ θρηνητῆρος
πέμψω πέμψω,
πολύδακρυν ἰαχάν.

[¶77] Xerxes:
Utter a strain of lamentation, plaintive and discordant. For Fortune has now veered and turned against me.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἵετʼ αἰανῆ [καὶ] πάνδυρτον
δύσθροον αὐδάν. δαίμων γὰρ ὅδʼ αὖ
μετάτροπος ἐπʼ ἐμοί.

[¶78] Chorus:
I will indeed utter the song of lamentation
in commemoration of your sufferings and of our strongly-manned ships, buffeted by waves; the plaintive strain of our land which mourns its sons. And I will cry aloud in lamentation, shedding many a tear.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἥσω τοι τὰν πάνδυρτον,
σὰ πάθη τε σέβων
ἁλίτυπά τε βάρη,
πόλεως γέννας πενθητῆρος·
⟨κλάγξω⟩ κλάγξω
δὲ γόον ἀρίδακρυν.

[¶79] Xerxes:
Yes, for the Ionian naval force, turning the tide of battle, swept them away, the Ionian host, ravaging the dark sea and the shore of doom.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
Ἰάνων γὰρ ἀπηύρα,
Ἰάνων ναύφρακτος
Ἄρης ἑτεραλκὴς
νυχίαν πλάκα κερσάμενος
δυσδαίμονά τʼ ἀκτάν.

[¶80] Chorus:
Woe! woe! cry aloud, learn about the whole disaster. Where is the rest of the multitude of your comrades? Where are those who stood by your side, such as Pharandaces, Susas, Pelagon, Dotamas, and
Agdabatas, Psammis, and Susiscanes of Agbatana?

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰοιοῖ βόα καὶ πάντʼ ἐκπεύθου.—
ποῦ δὲ φίλων ἄλλος ὄχλος,
ποῦ δέ σοι παραστάται,
οἷος ἦν Φαρανδάκης,
Σούσας, Πελάγων, [καὶ] Δοτάμας, ἠδʼ Ἀ-
γδαβάτας, Ψάμμις, Σουσισκάνης τʼ
Ἀγβάτανα λιπών;

[¶81] Xerxes:
By the shores of Salamis, dashing against its rugged shore,
I left them, fallen in death from a Tyrian ship.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ὀλοοὺς ἀπέλειπον
Τυρίας ἐκ ναὸς
ἔρροντας ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς
Σαλαμινιάσι στυφελοῦ
θείνοντας ἐπʼ ἀκτᾶς.

[¶82] Chorus:
Woe! woe! cry aloud! Where is your beloved Pharnuchus, and the courageous Ariomardus? Where is prince Seualces,
or Lilaeus of noble lineage, Memphis, Tharybis and Masistras, Artembares and Hystaechmas? This I ask you.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰοιοῖ, ⟨βόα⟩· ποῦ σοι Φαρνοῦχος
Ἀριόμαρδός τʼ ἀγαθός,
ποῦ δὲ Σευάλκης ἄναξ,
ἢ Λίλαιος εὐπάτωρ,
Μέμφις, Θάρυβις, καὶ Μασίστρας,
Ἀρτεμβάρης τʼ ἠδʼ Ὑσταίχμας;
τάδε σʼ ἐπανερόμαν.

[¶83] Xerxes:
Woe, woe is me!
They beheld ancient and hateful Athens and with one convulsive struggle (alas, alas!) poor wretches, they lie gasping on the shore.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἰὼ ἰώ μοί μοι
τὰς ὠγυγίους κατιδόντες
στυγνὰς Ἀθάνας πάντες ἑνὶ πιτύλῳ,
ἐὴ ἐή, τλάμονες ἀσπαίρουσι χέρσῳ.

[¶84] Chorus:
Did you really lose your trusty eye there, that which
counted tens upon tens of thousands of the Persians, Batanochus’ son Alpistus... son of Sesames, Megabates’ son, Parthos and mighty Oebares, did you leave these behind?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ καὶ τὸν Περσᾶν αὐτοῦ
τὸν σὸν πιστὸν πάντʼ ὀφθαλμὸν
μυρία μυρία πεμπαστὰν
Βατανώχου παῖδʼ Ἄλπιστον
…
τοῦ Σησάμα τοῦ Μεγαβάτα,
Πάρθον τε μέγαν τʼ Οἰβάρην
ἔλιπες ἔλιπες;

[¶85] Alas, alas, the unhappy men! You speak of woe, surpassing woe, for noble Persians.

> Greek: ὢ ὢ ⟨ὢ⟩ δᾴων.
Πέρσαις ἀγαυοῖς κακὰ πρόκακα λέγεις.

[¶86] Xerxes:
In truth you stir yearning in me for my gallant comrades
when you tell me of woe, surpassing woe, hateful and unforgettable. The heart within me cries out aloud for the wretched ones.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
⟨ἰὼ ἰὼ⟩ δῆτα
ἴυγγʼ ἀγαθῶν ἑτάρων μοι [ὑπομιμνήσκεις]
⟨κινεῖς⟩ ἄλαστα στυγνὰ πρόκακα λέγων.
βοᾷ βοᾷ ⟨μοι⟩ μελέων ἔντοσθεν ἦτορ.

[¶87] Chorus:
And yet there are others too whom we miss: Xanthis, commander of a myriad Mardian men, and warlike Anchares,
Diaexis, too, and Arsaces, captains of the horse, Cegdadatas and Lythimnas, and Tolmus, insatiate in war. I marvel,
that they do not follow behind around your wheeled tent.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἄλλους γε ποθοῦμεν,
Μάρδων ἀνδρῶν μυριοταγὸν
Ξάνθιν ἄρειόν τʼ Ἀγχάρην,
Δίαιξίν τʼ ἠδʼ Ἀρσάκην
ἱππιάνακτας,
Κηγδαδάταν καὶ Λυθίμναν
Τόλμον τʼ αἰχμᾶς ἀκόρεστον.
ἔταφον ἔταφον,
οὐκ ἀμφὶ σκηναῖς
τροχηλάτοισιν ὄπιθεν [δʼ·] ἑπομένους.

[¶88] Xerxes:
Gone are they who were leaders of the host.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
βεβᾶσι γὰρ τοίπερ ἀγρέται στρατοῦ.

[¶89] Chorus:
Gone, alas, ingloriously.

> Greek: Χορός:
βεβᾶσιν, οἴ, νώνυμοι.

[¶90] Xerxes:
Alas, alas!

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἰὴ ἰή, ἰὼ ἰώ.

[¶91] Chorus:
Alas, alas, you powers divine, you brought ruin upon us, unexpected, unmistakable to see, as is the glance of calamity.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ, δαίμονες,
ἔθεθʼ ἄελπτον κακὸν
διαπρέπον, οἷον δέδορκεν Ἄτα.

[¶92] Xerxes:
We have been stricken by misfortune such as will endure for ages.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
πεπλήγμεθʼ οἵᾳ διʼ αἰῶνος τύχᾳ·

[¶93] Chorus:
We have been stricken; it is abundantly clear.

> Greek: Χορός:
πεπλήγμεθʼ· εὔδηλα γάρ·

[¶94] Xerxes:
By strange woe, strange woe!

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
νέᾳ νέᾳ δύᾳ δύᾳ.

[¶95] Chorus:
It was with bad luck that we encountered Ionia’s mariners. Unfortunate in war, indeed, is Persia’s race.

> Greek: Χορός:
κύρσαντες οὐκ εὐτυχῶς
Ἰάνων ναυβατᾶν.
δυσπόλεμον δὴ γένος τὸ Περσᾶν.

[¶96] Xerxes:
How true it is. In the loss of so great an army
I have indeed been dealt a blow, wretched as I am.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
πῶς δʼ οὔ; στρατὸν μὲν τοσοῦ-
τον τάλας πέπληγμαι.

[¶97] Chorus:
What that belonged to Persia, unfortunate one, has not been destroyed?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ οὔκ; ὄλωλεν μεγάλως τὰ Περσᾶν.

[¶98] Xerxes:
Do you see this remnant of my royal robe?

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ὁρᾷς τὸ λοιπὸν τόδε τᾶς ἐμᾶς στολᾶς;

[¶99] Chorus:
Yes, I do indeed.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁρῶ ὁρῶ.

[¶100] Xerxes:
And this quiver—

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
τόνδε τʼ ὀιστοδέγμονα—

[¶101] Chorus:
What is this you say has been saved?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τόδε λέγεις σεσωσμένον;

[¶102] Xerxes:
Treasury for shafts?

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
θησαυρὸν βελέεσσιν;

[¶103] Chorus:
Truly a small remnant from an ample store.

> Greek: Χορός:
βαιά γʼ ὡς ἀπὸ πολλῶν.

[¶104] Xerxes:
We have been deprived of defenders.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἐσπανίσμεθʼ ἀρωγῶν.

[¶105] Chorus:
Ionia’s people shrink not from the spear.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἰάνων λαὸς οὐ φυγαίχμας.

[¶106] Xerxes:
They are a war-like people. I have lived to behold a calamity I never expected.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἀγανόρειος· κατεῖ-
δον δὲ πῆμʼ ἄελπτον.

[¶107] Chorus:
Are you speaking of the routed multitude which manned your ships?

> Greek: Χορός:
τραπέντα ναύφρακτον ἐρεῖς ὅμιλον;

[¶108] Xerxes:
And I rent my robe at the disastrous event.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
πέπλον δʼ ἐπέρρηξʼ ἐπὶ συμφορᾷ κακοῦ.

[¶109] Chorus:
Alas, alas!

> Greek: Χορός:
παπαῖ παπαῖ.

[¶110] Xerxes:
No, far worse than alas.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
καὶ πλέον ἢ παπαῖ μὲν οὖν.

[¶111] Chorus:
Yes, for twofold and threefold—

> Greek: Χορός:
δίδυμα γάρ ἐστι καὶ τριπλᾶ—

[¶112] Xerxes:
Pain to us, but exultation to our enemies

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
λυπρά, χάρματα δʼ ἐχθροῖς.

[¶113] Chorus:
Yes, and our strength has been maimed.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ σθένος γʼ ἐκολούσθη—

[¶114] Xerxes:
I am stripped of my escort.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
γυμνός εἰμι προπομπῶν.

[¶115] Chorus:
By the disasters of your comrades upon the sea.

> Greek: Χορός:
φίλων ἄταισι ποντίαισιν·

[¶116] Xerxes:
Weep, weep over our calamity, and depart to your homes.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
δίαινε δίαινε πῆμα· πρὸς δόμους δʼ ἴθι.

[¶117] Chorus:
Alas, alas, woe, woe!

> Greek: Χορός:
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δύα δύα.

[¶118] Xerxes:
Cry aloud now in response to me.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
βόα νυν ἀντίδουπά μοι.

[¶119] Chorus:
A wretched offering from the wretched to the wretched.

> Greek: Χορός:
δόσιν κακὰν κακῶν κακοῖς.

[¶120] Xerxes:
Cry out, tuning your strain to mine.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἴυζε μέλος ὁμοῦ τιθείς.

[¶121] Chorus:
Oh, oh! That which has happened is grievous indeed.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὀτοτοτοτοῖ.
βαρεῖά γʼ ἅδε συμφορά.

[¶122] Alas, for I too share in your sorrow.

> Greek: οἲ μάλα καὶ τόδʼ ἀλγῶ.

[¶123] Xerxes:
Strike, strike, and groan for my sake.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἔρεσσʼ ἔρεσσε καὶ στέναζʼ ἐμὴν χάριν.

[¶124] Chorus:
I weep in lamentation!

> Greek: Χορός:
διαίνομαι γοεδνὸς ὤν.

[¶125] Xerxes:
Now cry aloud in response to me.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
βόα νυν ἀντίδουπά μοι.

[¶126] Chorus:
This care, my lord, is mine.

> Greek: Χορός:
μέλειν πάρεστι, δέσποτα.

[¶127] Xerxes:
Lift up your voice now in lamentation.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἐπορθίαζέ νυν γόοις.

[¶128] Chorus:
Oh, oh! And with our wailing, alas, will be mingled bruising blows and shrieks of pain.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὀτοτοτοτοῖ.
μέλαινα δʼ ἀμμεμείξεται,
οἴ, στονόεσσα πλαγά.

[¶129] Xerxes:
Beat your breast too, and raise the Mysian wail.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
καὶ στέρνʼ ἄρασσε κἀπιβόα τὸ Μύσιον.

[¶130] Chorus:
Anguish, anguish!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄνιʼ ἄνια.

[¶131] Xerxes:
And tear, I beg of you, the white hair from your beard.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
καί μοι γενείου πέρθε λευκήρη τρίχα.

[¶132] Chorus:
With clenched nails, with clenched nails, with loud wailing.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄπριγδʼ ἄπριγδα μάλα γοεδνά.

[¶133] Xerxes:
And utter shrill cries.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἀύτει δʼ ὀξύ.

[¶134] Chorus:
This too I will do.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ τάδʼ ἔρξω.

[¶135] Xerxes:
And with your fingers tear the robe which drapes you.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
πέπλον δʼ ἔρεικε κολπίαν ἀκμῇ χερῶν.

[¶136] Chorus:
Anguish, anguish!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄνιʼ ἄνια.

[¶137] Xerxes:
Pluck out your locks, and lament our host.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
καὶ ψάλλʼ ἔθειραν καὶ κατοίκτισαι στρατόν.

[¶138] Chorus:
With clenched nails, with clenched nails, with loud wailing.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄπριγδʼ ἄπριγδα μάλα γοεδνά.

[¶139] Xerxes:
Let tears moisten your eyes.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
διαίνου δʼ ὄσσε.

[¶140] Chorus:
I am drenched with tears.

> Greek: Χορός:
τέγγομαί τοι.

[¶141] Xerxes:
Cry aloud now in response to me.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
βόα νυν ἀντίδουπά μοι.

[¶142] Chorus:
Alas, alas!

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰοῖ οἰοῖ.

[¶143] Xerxes:
With sounds of wailing go to your homes.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
αἰακτὸς ἐς δόμους κίε.

[¶144] Chorus:
Alas, alas!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ, [Περσὶς αἶα δύσβατος].

[¶145] Xerxes:
Alas! through the city.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἰωὰ δὴ κατʼ ἄστυ.

[¶146] Chorus:
Alas, indeed!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰωὰ δῆτα, ναὶ ναί.

[¶147] Xerxes:
Pour forth your wails as you move along with soft steps.

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
γοᾶσθʼ ἁβροβάται.

[¶148] Chorus:
Alas, alas, O Persian land, grievous now to walk upon!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ, Περσὶς αἶα δύσβατος.

[¶149] Xerxes:
Ah me!
Those that perished in three-tiered galleys, ah me!

> Greek: Ξέρξης:
ἰὴ ἰὴ τρισκάλμοισιν,
ἰὴ ἰή, βάρισιν ὀλόμενοι.

[¶150] Chorus:
I will escort you with dismal sounds of woe. Exeunt omnes

> Greek: Χορός:
πέμψω τοί σε δυσθρόοις γόοις.