1st Half-Chorus:Unhappy mothers of those hapless chiefs! How wildly in my heart pale fear stirs up alarm!2nd Half-Chorus:What is this new cry thou utterest?
Χορός:— ὦ μέλεαι μελέων ματέρες λοχαγῶν,ὥς μοι ὑφʼ ἥπατι χλωρὸν δεῖμα θάσσει —— τίνʼ αὐδὰν τάνδε προσφέρεις νέαν;
1st Half-Chorus:I fear the issue of the strife, whereto the hosts of Pallas march.
— στράτευμα πᾷ Παλλάδος κριθήσεται;
2nd Half-Chorus:Dost speak of issues of the sword, or interchange of words?
— διὰ δορὸς εἶπας, ἢ λόγων ξυναλλαγαῖς;
1st Half-Chorus:That last were gain indeed; but if the carnage of battle, fighting, andthe noise of beaten breasts again be heard in the land, what, alas! will be said of me, who am the cause thereof?
— γένοιτʼ ἂν κέρδος· εἰ δʼ ἀρείφατοιφόνοι μάχαι στερνοτυπεῖς τʼ ἀνὰ πτόλινκτύποι φανήσονται, τάλαι-να, τίνα λόγον, τίνʼ ἂν τῶνδʼ αἰτία λάβοιμι;
2nd Half-Chorus:Yet may fate again bring low the brilliant victor;’tis this brave thought that twines about my heart.
Χορός:— ἀλλὰ τὸν εὐτυχίᾳ λαμπρὸν ἄν τις αἱροῖμοῖρα πάλιν· τόδε μοι θράσος ἀμφιβαίνει.
1st Half-Chorus:Thou speak’st of the gods as if they were just.
— δικαίους δαίμονας σύ γʼ ἐννέπεις.
2nd Half-Chorus:For who but they allot whate’er betides?
— τίνες γὰρ ἄλλοι νέμουσι συμφοράς;
1st Half-Chorus:I see many a contradiction in their dealings with men.
— διάφορα πολλὰ θεῶν βροτοῖσιν εἰσορῶ.
2nd Half-Chorus:The former fear hath warped thy judgment. Vengeance calls vengeance forth; slaughter calls for slaughter,but the gods give respite from affliction, holding in their own hands each thing’s allotted end.
— φόβῳ γὰρ τῷ πάρος διόλλυσαι·δίκα δίκαν δʼ ἐκάλεσε καὶ φόνος φόνον,κακῶν δʼ ἀναψυχὰς θεοὶβροτοῖς νέμουσι, πάντων τέρμʼ ἔχοντες αὐτοί.
1st Half-Chorus:Would I could reach yon plains with turrets crowned, leaving Callichorus, fountain of the goddess!2nd Half-Chorus:O that some god would give me wings to fly to the city of rivers twain!
Χορός:— τὰ καλλίπυργα πεδία πῶς ἱκοίμεθʼ ἄν,Καλλίχορον θεᾶς ὕδωρ λιποῦσαι —— ποτανὰν εἴ σέ τις θεῶν κτίσαι.— διπόταμον ἵνα πόλιν μόλω.
1st Half-Chorus:So might’st thou see and know the fortunes of thy friends.
— εἰδείης ἂν φίλων εἰδείης ἂν τύχας.
2nd Half-Chorus:What fate, what issue there awaits the valiantmonarch of this land?
— τίς ποτʼ αἶσα, τίς ἄρα πότμοςἐπιμένει τὸν ἄλκιμοντᾶσδε γᾶς ἄνακτα;
1st Half-Chorus:Once more do we invoke the gods we called upon before; yea, in our fear this is our first and chiefest trust.
Χορός:— κεκλημένους μὲν ἀνακαλούμεθʼ αὖ θεούς·— ἀλλὰ φόβων πίστις ἅδε πρώτα.
2nd Half-Chorus:O Zeus, father to the child the heifer-mother bore in days long past, that daughter of Inachus!
— ἰὼ Ζεῦ, τᾶς παλαιομάτοροςπαιδογόνε πόριος Ἰνάχου.
1st Half-Chorus:O be gracious, I pray, and champion this city!
— πόλει μοι ξύμμαχος γενοῦ τᾷδʼ εὐμενής.
2nd Half-Chorus:’Tis thy own darling, thy own settler in the city of Argos that I am striving to rescue for the funeral pyre from outrageous insult.
— τὸ σὸν ἄγαλμα, τὸ σὸν ἵδρυμαπόλεος, ἐκκομίζομαιπρὸς πυρὰν ὑβρισθέν.
Messenger:Ladies, I bring you tidings of great joy, myself escaped—for I was taken prisoner in the battlewhich cost those chieftains seven their lives near Dirce’s fount—to bear the news of Theseus’ victory. But I will save thee tedious questioning; I was the servant of Capaneus,whom Zeus with scorching bolt to ashes burnt.
Ἄγγελος:γυναῖκες, ἥκω πόλλʼ ἔχων λέγειν φίλα,αὐτός τε σωθείς· ᾑρέθην γὰρ ἐν μάχῃ,ἣν οἱ θανόντων ἑπτὰ δεσποτῶν λόχοιἠγωνίσαντο ῥεῦμα Διρκαῖον πάρα·νίκην τε Θησέως ἀγγελῶν. λόγου δέ σεμακροῦ ἀποπαύσω· Καπανέως γὰρ ἦ λάτρις,ὃν Ζεὺς κεραυνῷ πυρπόλῳ καταιθαλοῖ.
Chorus:Friend of friends, fair thy news of thy own return, nor less the news about Theseus; and if the host of Athens, too, is safe, welcome will all thy message be.
Χορός:ὦ φίλτατʼ, εὖ μὲν νόστον ἀγγέλλεις σέθεντήν τʼ ἀμφὶ Θησέως βάξιν· εἰ δὲ καὶ στρατὸςσῶς ἐστʼ Ἀθηνῶν, πάντʼ ἂν ἀγγέλλοις φίλα.
Messenger:’Tis safe, and all hath happened as I would it had befallen Adrastusand his Argives, whom from Inachus he led, to march against the city of the Cadmeans.
Ἄγγελος:σῶς, καὶ πέπραγεν ὡς Ἄδραστος ὤφελενπρᾶξαι ξὺν Ἀργείοισιν, οὓς ἀπʼ Ἰνάχουστείλας ἐπεστράτευσε Καδμείων πόλιν.
Chorus:How did the son of Aegeus and his fellow-warriors raise their trophy to Zeus? Tell us, for thou wert there and canst gladden us who were not.
Χορός:πῶς γὰρ τροπαῖα Ζηνὸς Αἰγέως τόκοςἔστησεν οἵ τε συμμετασχόντες δορός;λέξον· παρὼν γὰρ οὐ παρόντας εὐφρανεῖς.
Messenger:Bright shone the sun, one levelled line of light, upon the world, as by Electra’s gate I stood to watch, from a turret with a far outlook. And lo! I saw the host in three divisions, deploying its mail-clad warriorson the high ground by the banks of Ismenus; this last I heard; and with them was the king himself, famous son of Aegeus; his own men, natives of old Cecropia, were ranged upon the right; while on the left,hard by the fountain of Ares, were the dwellers by the sea, harnessed spearmen they; on either wing were posted cavalry, in equal numbers, and chariots were stationed in the shelter of Amphion’s holy tomb. Meantime, the folk of Cadmus set themselves before the walls,placing in the rear the bodies for which they fought. Horse to horse, and car to car stood ranged. Then did the herald of Theseus cry aloud to all: “Be still, ye folk! hush, ye ranks of Cadmus,”“hearken! we are come to fetch the bodies of the slain, wishing to bury them in observance of the universal law of Hellas; no wish have we to lengthen out the slaughter.”
Ἄγγελος:λαμπρὰ μὲν ἀκτὶς ἡλίου, κανὼν σαφής,ἔβαλλε γαῖαν· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἠλέκτρας πύλαςἔστην θεατὴς πύργον εὐαγῆ λαβών.ὁρῶ δὲ φῦλα τρία τριῶν στρατευμάτων·τευχεσφόρον μὲν λαὸν ἐκτείνοντʼ ἄνωἸσμήνιον πρὸς ὄχθον, ὡς μὲν ἦν λόγος,αὐτόν τʼ ἄνακτα, παῖδα κλεινὸν Αἰγέως,καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ, δεξιὸν τεταγμένουςκέρας, παλαιᾶς Κεκροπίας ⟨τʼ⟩ οἰκήτορας,ἴσους ἀριθμόν· ἁρμάτων δʼ ὀχήματααὐτόν τε Πάραλον ἐστολισμένον δορὶκρήνην παρʼ αὐτὴν Ἄρεος· ἱππότην δʼ ὄχλονπρὸς κρασπέδοισι στρατοπέδου τεταγμένον.Κάδμου δὲ λαὸς ἧστο πρόσθε τειχέων,νεκροὺς ὄπισθεν θέμενος, ὧν ἔκειτʼ ἀγών,ἔνερθε σεμνῶν μνημάτων Ἀμφίονος.ἱππεῦσι δʼ ἱππῆς ἦσαν ἀνθωπλισμένοιτετραόροισί τʼ ἀντίʼ ἅρμαθʼ ἅρμασιν.κῆρυξ δὲ Θησέως εἶπεν ἐς πάντας τάδε·Σιγᾶτε, λαοί· σῖγα, Καδμείων στίχες,ἀκούσαθʼ· ἡμεῖς ἥκομεν νεκροὺς μέτα,θάψαι θέλοντες, τὸν Πανελλήνων νόμονσῴζοντες, οὐδὲν δεόμενοι τεῖναι φόνον.
Not a word would Creon let his herald answer back, but there he stood in silence under arms. Then did the drivers of the four-horse carsbegin the fray; on, past each other they drave their chariots, bringing the warriors at their sides up into line. Some fought with swords, some wheeled the horses back to the fray again for those they drove.
κοὐδὲν Κρέων τοῖσδʼ ἀντεκήρυξεν λόγοις,ἀλλʼ ἧστʼ ἐφʼ ὅπλοις σῖγα. ποιμένες δʼ ὄχωντετραόρων κατῆρχον ἐντεῦθεν μάχης·πέραν δὲ διελάσαντες ἀλλήλων ὄχους,παραιβάτας ἔστησαν ἐς τάξιν δορός.χοἳ μὲν σιδήρῳ διεμάχονθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔστρεφονπώλους ἐς ἀλκὴν αὖθις ἐς παραιβάτας.
Now when Phorbas, who captained the cavalry of the Erechthidae, saw the thronging chariots, he and they who had the charge of the Theban horse met hand to hand, and by turns were victors and vanquished. The many horrors happening there I saw, not merely heard about, for I was at the spotwhere the chariots and their riders met and fought, but which to tell of first I know not,—the clouds of dust that mounted to the sky, the warriors tangled in the reins and dragged this way and that,the streams of crimson gore, when men fell dead, or when, from shattered chariot-seats, they tumble headlong to the ground, and, mid the splinters of their cars, gave up the ghost. But Creon, when he marked our cavalry’s success on one wing,caught up a shield and rushed into the fray, ere that despondency should seize his men; but not for that did Theseus recoil in fear; no! snatching up at once his glittering harness he hied him on. And the twain, clashing their shields together as they met in the midst of the assembled host,were dealing death and courting it, shouting loudly each to his fellow the battle-cry: “Slay, and with thy spear strike home against the sons of Erechtheus.” Fierce foes to cope with were the warriors whom the dragon’s teeth to manhood reared; so fierce, they brokeour left wing, albeit theirs was routed by our right and put to flight, so that the struggle was evenly balanced. Here again our chief deserved all praise, for this success was not the only advantage he gained; no! next he sought that part of his army which was wavering;
ἰδὼν δὲ Φόρβας, ὃς μοναμπύκων ἄναξἦν τοῖς Ἐρεχθείδαισιν, ἁρμάτων ὄχλον,οἵ τʼ αὖ τὸ Κάδμου διεφύλασσον ἱππικόν,συνῆψαν ἀλκὴν κἀκράτουν ἡσσῶντό τε.λεύσσων δὲ ταῦτα κοὐ κλύων — ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἦἔνθʼ ἅρματʼ ἠγωνίζεθʼ οἵ τʼ ἐπεμβάται —τἀκεῖ παρόντα πολλὰ πήματʼ, οὐκ ἔχωτί πρῶτον εἴπω, πότερα τὴν ἐς οὐρανὸνκόνιν προσαντέλλουσαν, ὡς πολλὴ παρῆν,ἢ τοὺς ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω φορουμένουςἱμᾶσιν, αἵματός τε φοινίου ῥοάς,τῶν μὲν πιτνόντων, τῶν δὲ θραυσθέντων δίφρωνἐς κρᾶτα πρὸς γῆν ἐκκυβιστώντων βίᾳπρὸς ἁρμάτων τʼ ἀγαῖσι λειπόντων βίον;νικῶντα δʼ ἵπποις ὡς ὑπείδετο στρατὸνΚρέων τὸν ἐνθένδʼ, ἰτέαν λαβὼν χερὶχωρεῖ, πρὶν ἐλθεῖν ξυμμάχοις δυσθυμίαν.καὶ συμπατάξαντες μέσον πάντα στρατὸνἔκτεινον ἐκτείνοντο, καὶ παρηγγύωνκελευσμὸν ἀλλήλοισι σὺν πολλῇ βοῇ·Θεῖνʼ· ἀντέρειδε τοῖς Ἐρεχθείδαις δόρυ.καὶ μὴν τὰ Θησέως γʼ οὐκ ὄκνῳ διεφθάρη,ἀλλʼ ἵετʼ εὐθὺς λάμπρʼ ἀναρπάσας ὅπλα·λόχος δʼ ὀδόντων ὄφεος ἐξηνδρωμένοςδεινὸς παλαιστὴς ἦν· ἔκλινε γὰρ κέραςτὸ λαιὸν ἡμῶν· δεξιοῦ δʼ ἡσσώμενονφεύγει τὸ κείνων· ἦν δʼ ἀγὼν ἰσόρροπος.κἀν τῷδε τὸν στρατηγὸν αἰνέσαι παρῆν·οὐ γὰρ τὸ νικῶν τοῦτʼ ἐκέρδαινεν μόνον,ἀλλʼ ᾤχετʼ ἐς τὸ κάμνον οἰκείου στρατοῦ.
and loud he called to them, that the earth rang again, “My sons, if ye cannot restrain the earth-born warriors’ stubborn spear, the cause of Pallas is lost.” His word inspired new courage in all the Danaid host. Therewith himself did seize a fearsome mace, weapon of Epidaurian warfare,and swung it to and fro, and with that club, as with a sickle, he shore off necks and heads and helmets thereupon. Scarce even then they turned them- selves to fly. For joy cried I, and dancedand clapped my hands; while to the gates they ran. Throughout the town echoed the shrieks of young and old, as they crowded the temples in terror. But Theseus, when he might have come inside the walls, held back his men, for he had not come, said he,to sack the town, but to ask for the bodies of the dead.
ἔρρηξε δʼ αὐδήν, ὥσθʼ ὑπηχῆσαι χθόνα·Ὦ παῖδες, εἰ μὴ σχήσετε στερρὸν δόρυσπαρτῶν τόδʼ ἀνδρῶν, οἴχεται τὰ Παλλάδος.θάρσος δʼ ἐνῶρσε παντὶ Κραναϊδῶν στρατῷ.αὐτός θʼ ὅπλισμα τοὐπιδαύριον λαβὼνδεινῆς κορύνης διαφέρων ἐσφενδόναὁμοῦ τραχήλους κἀπικείμενον κάρα,κυνέας θερίζων κἀποκαυλίζων ξύλῳ.μόλις δέ πως ἔτρεψαν ἐς φυγὴν πόδα.ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνηλάλαξα κἀνωρχησάμηνκἄκρουσα χεῖρας. οἳ δʼ ἔτεινον ἐς πύλας.βοὴ δὲ καὶ κωκυτὸς ἦν ἀνὰ πτόλιννέων γερόντων, ἱερά τʼ ἐξεπίμπλασανφόβῳ. παρὸν δὲ τειχέων ἔσω μολεῖν,Θησεὺς ἐπέσχεν· οὐ γὰρ ὡς πέρσων πόλινμολεῖν ἔφασκεν, ἀλλʼ ἀπαιτήσων νεκρούς.
Such the general men should choose, one who shows his bravery in danger, yet hates the pride of those that in their hour of fortune lose the bliss they might have enjoyed,through seeking to scale the ladder’s topmost step.
τοιόνδε τὸν στρατηγὸν αἱρεῖσθαι χρεών,ὃς ἔν τε τοῖς δεινοῖσίν ἐστιν ἄλκιμοςμισεῖ θʼ ὑβριστὴν λαόν, ὃς πράσσων καλῶςἐς ἄκρα βῆναι κλιμάκων ἐνήλαταζητῶν ἀπώλεσʼ ὄλβον ᾧ χρῆσθαι παρῆν.
Chorus:Now do I believe in the gods after seeing this unexpected day, and I feel my woes are lighter now that these have paid their penalty.
Χορός:νῦν τήνδʼ ἄελπτον ἡμέραν ἰδοῦσʼ ἐγὼθεοὺς νομίζω, καὶ δοκῶ τῆς συμφορᾶςἔχειν ἔλασσον, τῶνδε τεισάντων δίκην.
Adrastus:O Zeus, why do men assert the wisdom of the wretchedhuman race? On thee we all depend, and all we do is only what thou listest. We thought our Argos irresistible, ourselves a young and lusty host, and so when Eteocles was for making terms,in spite of his fair offer we would not accept them, and so we perished. Then in their turn those foolish folk of Cadmus, to fortune raised, like some beggar with his newly-gotten wealth, waxed wanton, and, waxing so, were ruined in their turn. Ye foolish sons of men! who strain your bow like men who shootbeyond their mark, and only by suffering many evils as ye deserve, though deaf to friends, yet yield to circumstances; ye cities likewise, though ye might by parley end your mischief, yet ye choose the sword instead of reason to settle all disputes.
Ἄδραστος:ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δῆτα τοὺς ταλαιπώρους βροτοὺςφρονεῖν λέγουσι; σοῦ γὰρ ἐξηρτήμεθαδρῶμέν τε τοιαῦθʼ ἃν σὺ τυγχάνῃς θέλων.ἡμῖν γὰρ ἦν τό τʼ Ἄργος οὐχ ὑποστατόν,αὐτοί τε πολλοὶ καὶ νέοι βραχίοσιν·Ἐτεοκλέους τε σύμβασιν ποιουμένου,μέτρια θέλοντος, οὐκ ἐχρῄζομεν λαβεῖν,κἄπειτʼ ἀπωλόμεσθα. ὁ δʼ αὖ τότʼ εὐτυχής,λαβὼν πένης ὣς ἀρτίπλουτα χρήματα,ὕβριζʼ, ὑβρίζων τʼ αὖθις ἀνταπώλετοΚάδμου κακόφρων λαός. ὦ καιροῦ πέρατὸ τόξον ἐντείνοντες· ὦ κενοὶ βροτῶν,καὶ πρὸς δίκης γε πολλὰ πάσχοντες κακά,φίλοις μὲν οὐ πείθεσθε, τοῖς δὲ πράγμασιν·πόλεις τʼ, ἔχουσαι διὰ λόγου κάμψαι κακά,φόνῳ καθαιρεῖσθʼ, οὐ λόγῳ, τὰ πράγματα.
But wherefore these reflections? This I fain would learn, the way thou didst escape; and after that I will ask thee of the rest.
ἀτὰρ τί ταῦτα; κεῖνο βούλομαι μαθεῖν,πῶς ἐξεσώθης· εἶτα τἄλλʼ ἐρήσομαι.
Messenger:During the uproar which prevailed in the city owing to the battle, I passed the gates, just as the host had entered them.
Ἄγγελος:ἐπεὶ ταραγμὸς πόλιν ἐκίνησεν δορί,πύλας διῆλθον, ᾗπερ εἰσῄει στρατός.
Adrastus:Are ye bringing the bodies, for the which the strife arose?
Ἄδραστος:ὧν δʼ οὕνεχʼ ἁγὼν ἦν, νεκροὺς κομίζετε;
Messenger:Ay, each of the seven chiefs who led their famous hosts.
Ἄγγελος:ὅσοι γε κλεινοῖς ἕπτʼ ἐφέστασαν δόμοις.
Adrastus:What sayest thou? the rest who fell—say, where are they?
Ἄδραστος:πῶς φῄς; ὁ δʼ ἄλλος ποῦ κεκμηκότων ὄχλος;
Messenger:They have found burial in the dells of Cithseron.
Ἄγγελος:τάφῳ δέδονται πρὸς Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.
Adrastus:On this or that side of the mount? And who did bury them?
Ἄδραστος:τοὐκεῖθεν ἢ τοὐνθένδε; τίς δʼ ἔθαψέ νιν;
Messenger:Theseus buried them ’neath the shadow of Eleutherae’s cliff.
Ἄγγελος:Θησεύς, σκιώδης ἔνθʼ Ἐλευθερὶς πέτρα.
Adrastus:Where didst thou leave the dead he hath not buried?
Ἄδραστος:οὓς δʼ οὐκ ἔθαψε ποῦ νεκροὺς ἥκεις λιπών;
Messenger:Not far away; earnest haste makes every goal look close.
Ἄγγελος:ἐγγύς· πέλας γὰρ πᾶν ὅ τι σπουδάζεται.
Adrastus:No doubt in sorrow slaves would gather them from the carnage.
Ἄδραστος:ἦ που πικρῶς νιν θέραπες ἦγον ἐκ φόνου;
Messenger:Slaves! not one of them was set to do this toil.
Ἄγγελος:οὐδεὶς ἐπέστη τῷδε δοῦλος ὢν πόνῳ.
Messenger:Thou wouldst say so, hadst thou been there to see his loving tendance of the dead.
Ἄγγελος:φαίης ἄν, εἰ παρῆσθʼ ὅτʼ ἠγάπα νεκρούς.
Adrastus:Did he himself wash the bloody wounds of the hapless youths?
Ἄδραστος:ἔνιψεν αὐτὸς τῶν ταλαιπώρων σφαγάς;
Messenger:Ay, and strewed their biers and wrapped them in their shrouds.
Ἄγγελος:κἄστρωσέ γʼ εὐνὰς κἀκάλυψε σώματα.
Adrastus:An awful burden this, involving some disgrace.
Ἄδραστος:δεινὸν μὲν ἦν βάσταγμα κᾀσχύνην ἔχον.
Messenger:Why, what disgrace to men are their fellows’ sorrows?
Ἄγγελος:τί δʼ αἰσχρὸν ἀνθρώποισι τἀλλήλων κακά;
Adrastus:Ah me! how much rather had I died with them!
Ἄδραστος:οἴμοι· πόσῳ σφιν συνθανεῖν ἂν ἤθελον.
Messenger:’Tis vain to weep and move to tears these women.
Ἄγγελος:ἄκραντʼ ὀδύρῃ ταῖσδέ τʼ ἐξάγεις δάκρυ.
Adrastus:Methinks ’tis they who give the lesson. Enough of that! My hands I lift at meeting of the dead, and pour forth a tearful dirge to Hades, calling on my friends,whose loss I mourn in wretched solitude; for this one thing, when once ’tis spent, man cannot recover, the breath of life, though he knoweth ways to get his wealth again.
Ἄδραστος:δοκῶ μέν, αὐταί γʼ εἰσὶν αἱ διδάσκαλοι.ἀλλʼ εἶἑν· αἴρω χεῖρʼ ἀπαντήσας νεκροῖςἍιδου τε μολπὰς ἐκχέω δακρυρρόους,φίλους προσαυδῶν, ὧν λελειμμένος τάλαςἔρημα κλαίω· τοῦτο γὰρ μόνον βροτοῖςοὐκ ἔστι τἀνάλωμʼ ἀναλωθὲν λαβεῖν,ψυχὴν βροτείαν· χρημάτων δʼ εἰσὶν πόροι.
Chorus:Joy is here and sorrow too,—for the state fair fame, and for our captains double meed of honour. Bitter for me it is to see the limbs of my dead sons, and yet a welcome sight withal, because I shall behold the unexpected dayafter sorrow’s cup was full.
Χορός:— τὰ μὲν εὖ, τὰ δὲ δυστυχῆ.πόλει μὲν εὐδοξίακαὶ στρατηλάταις δορὸςδιπλάζεται τιμά·ἐμοὶ δὲ παίδων μὲν εἰσιδεῖν μέληπικρόν, καλὸν θέαμα δʼ, εἴπερ ὄψομαι,τὰν ἄελπτον ἁμέρανἰδοῦσα, πάντων μέγιστον ἄλγος.
Chorus:Would that Father Time had kept me unwed from my youth up e’en till now when I am old! What need had I of children?
Χορός:— ἄγαμόν μʼ ἔτι δεῦρʼ ἀεὶΧρόνος παλαιὸς πατὴρὤφελʼ ἁμερᾶν κτίσαι.τί γάρ μʼ ἔδει παίδων;
Methinks I should not have suffered excessively, had I never borne the marriage-yoke; but now I have my sorrow full in view, the loss of children dear.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἤλπιζον ἂν πεπονθέναιπάθος περισσόν, εἰ γάμων ἀπεζύγην,νῦν δʼ ὁρῶ σαφέστατονκακόν, τέκνων φιλτάτων στερεῖσα.
Chorus:Lo! I see the bodiesof the fallen youths. Woe is me! would I could join these children in their death and descend to Hades with them!
Χορός:ἀλλὰ τάδʼ ἤδη σώματα λεύσσωτῶν οἰχομένων παίδων· μελέαπῶς ἂν ὀλοίμην σὺν τοῖσδε τέκνοιςκοινὸν ἐς Ἅιδην καταβᾶσα;
Adrastus:Mothers, raise the wail for the dead departed;cry in answer when ye hear my note of woe.
Ἄδραστος:στεναγμόν, ὦ ματέρες,τῶν κατὰ χθονὸς νεκρῶνἀύσατʼ ἀπύσατʼ ἀντίφωνʼ ἐμῶνστεναγμάτων κλύουσαι.
Chorus:My sons, my sons! O bitter words for loving mothers to address to you! To thee, my lifeless child, I call.
Χορός:— ὦ παῖδες, ὦ πικρὸν φίλωνπροσηγόρημα ματέρων,προσαυδῶ σε τὸν θανόντα.
Adrastus:Woe! woe!
Ἄδραστος:ἰὼ ἰώ.
Chorus:Ah me, my sufferings!
Χορός:τῶν γʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν ἐγώ.
Adrastus:Alas!
Ἄδραστος:αἰαῖ.
Adrastus:We have endured, alas!—
Ἄδραστος:ἐπάθομεν ὤ …
Chorus:Sorrows most grievous.
Χορός:τὰ κύντατʼ ἄλγη κακῶν.
Adrastus:O citizens of Argos! do ye not behold my fate?
Ἄδραστος:ὦ πόλις Ἀργεία, τὸν ἐμὸν πότμον οὐκ ἐσορᾶτε;
Chorus:They see thee, and me the hapless mother,reft of her children.
Χορός:— ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ τὰν τάλαι-ναν, τέκνων ἄπαιδα.
Adrastus:Bring near the blood-boltered corpses of those hapless chiefs, foully slain by foes unworthy, with whom lay the decision of the contest.
Ἄδραστος:προσάγετε ⟨τῶν⟩ δυσπότμωνσώμαθʼ αἱματοσταγῆ,σφαγέντας οὐκ ἄξιʼ οὐδʼ ὑπʼ ἀξίων,ἐν οἷς ἀγὼν ἐκράνθη.
Chorus:Let me embrace and hold my children to my bosom in my enfolding arms.
Χορός:— δόθʼ, ὡς περιπτυχαῖσι δὴχέρας προσαρμόσασʼ ἐμοῖςἐν ἀγκῶσι τέκνα θῶμαι.
Adrastus:There, there! thou hast—
Ἄδραστος:ἔχεις ἔχεις.
Chorus:Sorrows heavy enough to bear.
Χορός:— πημάτων γʼ ἅλις βάρος.
Adrastus:Ah me!
Ἄδραστος:αἰαῖ.
Chorus:Thy groans mingle with those of their parents.
Χορός:τοῖς τεκοῦσι δʼ οὐ λέγεις;
Adrastus:Hear me.
Ἄδραστος:ἀίετέ μου.
Chorus:O’er both of us thou dost lament.
Χορός:στένεις ἐπʼ ἀμφοῖν ἄχη.
Adrastus:Would God the Theban ranks had laid me dead in the dust!
Ἄδραστος:εἴθε με Καδμείων ἔναρον στίχες ἐν κονίαισιν.
Chorus:Oh that I had ne’er been wedded to a husband!
Χορός:— ἐμὸν δὲ μήποτʼ ἐζύγηδέμας ἐς ἀνδρὸς εὐνάν.
Adrastus:Behold this sea of troubles!Ah! hapless mothers.
Ἄδραστος:ἴδετε κακῶν πέλαγος, ὦματέρες τάλαιναι τέκνων.
Chorus:Our nails have ploughed our cheeks in furrows, and o’er our heads have we strewn ashes.
Χορός:— κατὰ μὲν ὄνυξιν ἠλοκίσμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲσποδὸν κάρᾳ κεχύμεθα.
Adrastus:Ah me! ah me! Oh that earth’s floor would swallow me,or the whirlwind snatch me away, or Zeus’s flaming bolt descend upon my head!
Ἄδραστος:ἰὼ ἰώ μοί μοι·κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι,διὰ δὲ θύελλα σπάσαι,πυρός τε φλογμὸς ὁ Διὸς ἐν κάρᾳ πέσοι.
Chorus:Bitter the marriages thou didst witness, bitter the oracle of Phoebus!
Χορός:— πικροὺς ἐσεῖδες γάμους,πικρὰν δὲ Φοίβου φάτιν·
The curse of Oedipus, fraught with sorrow, after desolating his house, is come on thee.
ἔρημά σʼ ἁ πολύστονος Οἰδιπόδαδώματα λιποῦσʼ ἦλθʼ Ἐρινύς.
Theseus:I meant to question thee when thou wert venting thy lamentations to the host, but I will let it pass; yet, though I dropped the matter thenand left it alone, I now do ask Adrastus, Of what lineage sprang those youths, to shine so bright in chivalry? Tell it to our younger citizens of thy fuller wisdom, for thou art skilled to know. Myself beheld their daring deeds, too high for words to tell,whereby they thought to capture Thebes. One question will I spare thee, lest I provoke thy laughter; the foe that each of them encountered in the fray, the spear from which each received his death-wound. These be idle tales alike for those who hearor him who speaks, that any man amid the fray, when clouds of darts are hurtling before his eyes, should declare for certain who each champion is. I could not ask such questions, nor yet believe those who dare assert the like;
Θησεύς:μέλλων σʼ ἐρωτᾶν, ἡνίκʼ ἐξήντλεις στρατῷγόους, ἀφήσω· τοὺς ἐκεῖ μὲν ἐκλιπὼνεἴασα μύθους, νῦν δʼ Ἄδραστον εἰσορῶ·πόθεν ποθʼ οἵδε διαπρεπεῖς εὐψυχίᾳθνητῶν ἔφυσαν; εἰπέ γʼ ὡς σοφώτεροςνέοισιν ἀστῶν τῶνδʼ· ἐπιστήμων γὰρ εἶ.εἶδον γὰρ αὐτῶν κρείσσονʼ ἢ λέξαι λόγῳτολμήμαθʼ, οἷς ἤλπιζον αἱρήσειν πόλιν.ἓν δʼ οὐκ ἐρήσομαί σε, μὴ γέλωτʼ ὄφλω,ὅτῳ ξυνέστη τῶνδʼ ἕκαστος ἐν μάχῃἢ τραῦμα λόγχης πολεμίων ἐδέξατο.κενοὶ γὰρ οὗτοι τῶν τʼ ἀκουόντων λόγοικαὶ τοῦ λέγοντος, ὅστις ἐν μάχῃ βεβὼςλόγχης ἰούσης πρόσθεν ὀμμάτων πυκνῆςσαφῶς ἀπήγγειλʼ ὅστις ἐστὶν ἁγαθός.οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην οὔτʼ ἐρωτῆσαι τάδεοὔτʼ αὖ πιθέσθαι τοῖσι τολμῶσιν λέγειν·
for when a man is face to face with the foe, he scarce can see even that which ’tis his bounden duty to observe.
μόλις γὰρ ἄν τις αὐτὰ τἀναγκαῖʼ ὁρᾶνδύναιτʼ ἂν ἑστὼς πολεμίοις ἐναντίος.
Adrastus:Hearken then. For in giving this task to me thou findest a willing eulogist of friends, whose praise I would declare in all truth and sincerity.
Ἄδραστος:ἄκουε δή νυν· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄκοντί μοιδίδως ἔπαινον ὧν ἔγωγε βούλομαιφίλων ἀληθῆ καὶ δίκαιʼ εἰπεῖν πέρι.
Dost see yon corpse by Zeus’s bolt transfixed? That is Capaneus; though he had ample wealth, yet was he the last to boast of his prosperity; nor would he ever vaunt himself above a poorer neighbour, but shunned the man whose sumptuous board had puffed him up too highand made him scorn mere competence, for he held that virtue lies not in greedy gluttony, but that moderate means suffice. True friend was he, alike to present or to absent friends the same; of such the number is not great. His was a guileless character,a courteous address, that left no promise unperformed either towards his own household or his fellow-citizens. The next I name is Eteocles; a master he of other kinds of excellence; young, nor richly dowered with store, yet high in honour in the Argive land.
ὁρᾷς τὸν ἁβρόν, οὗ βέλος διέπτατο;Καπανεὺς ὅδʼ ἐστίν· ᾧ βίος μὲν ἦν πολύς,ἥκιστα δʼ ὄλβῳ γαῦρος ἦν· φρόνημα δὲοὐδέν τι μεῖζον εἶχεν ἢ πένης ἀνήρ,φεύγων τραπέζαις ὅστις ἐξογκοῖτʼ ἄγαντἀρκοῦντʼ ἀτίζων· οὐ γὰρ ἐν γαστρὸς βορᾷτὸ χρηστὸν εἶναι, μέτρια δʼ ἐξαρκεῖν ἔφη.φίλοις τʼ ἀληθὴς ἦν φίλος, παροῦσί τεκαὶ μὴ παροῦσιν· ὧν ἀριθμὸς οὐ πολύς.ἀψευδὲς ἦθος, εὐπροσήγορον στόμα,ἄκραντον οὐδὲν οὔτʼ ἐς οἰκέτας ἔχωνοὔτʼ ἐς πολίτας. τὸν δὲ δεύτερον λέγωἘτέοκλον, ἄλλην χρηστότητʼ ἠσκηκότα·νεανίας ἦν τῷ βίῳ μὲν ἐνδεής,πλείστας δὲ τιμὰς ἔσχʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί.
And though his friends oft offered gifts of gold, he would not have it in his house, to make his character its slave by taking wealth’s yoke upon him. Not his city, but those that sinned against her did he hate, for a city is no wise to be blamedif it get an evil name by reason of an evil governor.
φίλων δὲ χρυσὸν πολλάκις δωρουμένωνοὐκ εἰσεδέξατʼ οἶκον ὥστε τοὺς τρόπουςδούλους παρασχεῖν χρημάτων ζευχθεὶς ὕπο.τοὺς δʼ ἐξαμαρτάνοντας, οὐχὶ τὴν πόλινἤχθαιρʼ· ἐπεί τοι κοὐδὲν αἰτία πόλιςκακῶς κλύουσα διὰ κυβερνήτην κακόν.
Such another was Hippomedon, third of all this band; from his very boyhood he refrained from turning towards the allurements of the Muses, to lead a life of ease; his home was in the fields, and gladly would he school his nature to hardshipswith a view to manliness, aye hasting to the chase, rejoicing in his steeds or straining of his bow, because he would make himself of use unto his state. Next behold the huntress Atalanta’s son, Parthenopaeus, a youth of peerless beauty;from Arcady he came even to the streams of Inachus, and in Argos spent his boyhood. There, when he grew to man’s estate, first, as is the duty of strangers settled in another land, he showed no pique or jealousy against the state, became no quibbler, chiefest source of annoyancecitizen or stranger can give, but took his stand amid the host, and fought for Argos as he were her own son, glad at heart whenso the city prospered, deeply grieved if e’er reverses came; many a lover though he had midst men and maids,yet was he careful to avoid offence.
ὁ δʼ αὖ τρίτος τῶνδʼ Ἱππομέδων τοιόσδʼ ἔφυ·παῖς ὢν ἐτόλμησʼ εὐθὺς οὐ πρὸς ἡδονὰςΜουσῶν τραπέσθαι πρὸς τὸ μαλθακὸν βίου,ἀγροὺς δὲ ναίων, σκληρὰ τῇ φύσει διδοὺςἔχαιρε πρὸς τἀνδρεῖον, ἔς τʼ ἄγρας ἰὼνἵπποις τε χαίρων τόξα τʼ ἐντείνων χεροῖν,πόλει παρασχεῖν σῶμα χρήσιμον θέλων.ὁ τῆς κυναγοῦ δʼ ἄλλος Ἀταλάντης γόνος[παῖς] Παρθενοπαῖος, εἶδος ἐξοχώτατος,Ἀρκὰς μὲν ἦν, ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰνάχου ῥοὰςπαιδεύεται κατʼ Ἄργος. ἐκτραφεὶς δʼ ἐκεῖπρῶτον μέν, ὡς χρὴ τοὺς μετοικοῦντας ξένους,λυπηρὸς οὐκ ἦν οὐδʼ ἐπίφθονος πόλειοὐδʼ ἐξεριστὴς τῶν λόγων, ὅθεν βαρὺςμάλιστʼ ἂν εἴη δημότης τε καὶ ξένος.λόχοις δʼ ἐνεστὼς ὥσπερ Ἀργεῖος γεγὼςἤμυνε χώρᾳ, χὡπότʼ εὖ πράσσοι πόλις,ἔχαιρε, λυπρῶς δʼ ἔφερεν, εἴ τι δυστυχοῖ.πολλοὺς δʼ ἐραστὰς κἀπὸ θηλειῶν ὅσαςἔχων ἐφρούρει μηδὲν ἐξαμαρτάνειν.
Of Tydeus next the lofty praise I will express in brief; no brilliant spokesman he, but a clever craftsman in the art of war, with many a shrewd device; inferior in judgment to his brother Meleager,yet through his warrior skill lending his name to equal praise, for he had found in arms a perfect science; his was an ambitious nature, a spirit rich in store of deeds, with words less fully dowered. From this account then wonder not,Theseus, that they dared to die before the towers; for noble nurture carries honour with it, and every man, when once he hath practised virtue, scorns the name of villain. Courage may be learnt, for even a babe doth learnto speak and hear things it cannot comprehend; and whatso’er a child hath learnt, this it is his wont to treasure up till he is old. So train up your children in a virtuous way.
Τυδέως δʼ ἔπαινον ἐν βραχεῖ θήσω μέγαν·[οὐκ ἐν λόγοις ἦν λαμπρός, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀσπίδι][δεινὸς σοφιστής, πολλά τʼ ἐξευρεῖν σοφά.][γνώμῃ δʼ ἀδελφοῦ Μελεάγρου λελειμμένος,][ἴσον παρέσχεν ὄνομα διὰ τέχνης δορός,][εὑρὼν ἀκριβῆ μουσικὴν ἐν ἀσπίδι·]φιλότιμον ἦθος πλούσιον, φρόνημα δὲἐν τοῖσιν ἔργοις, οὐχὶ τοῖς λόγοις, ἴσον.ἐκ τῶνδε μὴ θαύμαζε τῶν εἰρημένων,Θησεῦ, πρὸ πύργων τούσδε τολμῆσαι θανεῖν.τὸ γὰρ τραφῆναι μὴ κακῶς αἰδῶ φέρει·αἰσχύνεται δὲ τἀγάθʼ ἀσκήσας ἀνὴρκακὸς γενέσθαι πᾶς τις. ἡ δʼ εὐανδρίαδιδακτός, εἴπερ καὶ βρέφος διδάσκεταιλέγειν ἀκούειν θʼ ὧν μάθησιν οὐκ ἔχει.ἃ δʼ ἂν μάθῃ τις, ταῦτα σῴζεσθαι φιλεῖπρὸς γῆρας. οὕτω παῖδας εὖ παιδεύετε.
Chorus:Alas! my son, to sorrow I bare thee and carried thee within my womb,enduring the pangs of travail; but now Hades takes the fruit of all my hapless toil, and I that; had a son am left, ah me! with none to nurse my age.
Χορός:ἰὼ τέκνον, δυστυχῆ σʼἔτρεφον, ἔφερον ὑφʼ ἥπατοςπόνους ἐνεγκοῦσʼ ἐν ὠδῖσι· καὶνῦν Ἅιδας τὸν ἐμὸνἔχει μόχθον ἀθλίας,ἐγὼ δὲ γηροβοσκὸν οὐκ ἔχω, τεκοῦσʼἁ τάλαινα παῖδα.
Theseus:As for the noble son of Oecleus, him, while yet he lived, the gods snatched hence to the bowels of the earth, and. his chariot too, manifestly blessing him; while I myself may truthfully tell the praises of the son of Oedipus, that is, Polynices,for he was my guest-friend ere he left the town of Cadmus and crossed to Argos in voluntary exile. But dost thou know what I would have thee do in this matter?
Θησεύς:καὶ μὴν τὸν Οἰκλέους γε γενναῖον τόκονθεοὶ ζῶντʼ ἀναρπάσαντες ἐς μυχοὺς χθονὸςαὐτοῖς τεθρίπποις εὐλογοῦσιν ἐμφανῶς·τὸν Οἰδίπου τε παῖδα, Πολυνείκην λέγω,ἡμεῖς ἐπαινέσαντες οὐ ψευδοίμεθʼ ἄν.ξένος γὰρ ἦν μοι πρὶν λιπὼν Κάδμου πόλινφυγῇ πρὸς Ἄργος διαβαλεῖν αὐθαίρετος.ἀλλʼ οἶσθʼ ὃ δρᾶσαι βούλομαι τούτων πέρι;
Adrastus:I know naught save this,—to yield obedience to thy hests.
Ἄδραστος:οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν, σοῖσι πείθεσθαι λόγοις.
Theseus:As for yon Capaneus, stricken by the bolt of Zeus—
Θησεύς:τὸν μὲν Διὸς πληγέντα Καπανέα πυρὶ …
Adrastus:Wilt bury him apart as a consecrated corpse?
Ἄδραστος:ἦ χωρὶς ἱερὸν ὡς νεκρὸν θάψαι θέλεις;
Theseus:Even so; but all the rest on one funeral pyre.
Θησεύς:ναί· τοὺς δέ γʼ ἄλλους πάντας ἐν μιᾷ πυρᾷ.
Adrastus:Where wilt thou set the tomb apart for him?
Ἄδραστος:ποῦ δῆτα θήσεις μνῆμα τῷδε χωρίσας;
Theseus:Here near this temple have I builded him a sepulchre.
Θησεύς:αὐτοῦ παρʼ οἴκους τούσδε συμπήξας τάφον.
Adrastus:Thy thralls forthwith must undertake this toil.
Ἄδραστος:οὗτος μὲν ἤδη δμωσὶν ἂν μέλοι πόνος.
Theseus:Myself will look to those others; let the biers advance.
Θησεύς:ἡμῖν δέ γʼ οἵδε· στειχέτω δʼ ἄχθη νεκρῶν.
Adrastus:Approach your sons, unhappy mothers.
Ἄδραστος:ἴτʼ, ὦ τάλαιναι μητέρες, τέκνων πέλας.
Theseus:This thy proposal, Adrastus, is anything but good.
Θησεύς:ἥκιστʼ, Ἄδραστε, τοῦτο πρόσφορον λέγεις.
Adrastus:Must not the mothers touch their sons?
Ἄδραστος:πῶς; τὰς τεκούσας οὐ χρεὼν ψαῦσαι τέκνων;
Theseus:It would kill them to see how they are altered.
Θησεύς:ὄλοιντʼ ἰδοῦσαι τούσδʼ ἂν ἠλλοιωμένους.
Adrastus:’Tis bitter, truly, to see the dead even at the moment of death.
Ἄδραστος:πικρὰ γὰρ ὄψις αἷμα κὠτειλαὶ νεκρῶν.
Theseus:Why then wilt thou add fresh grief to them?
Θησεύς:τί δῆτα λύπην ταῖσδε προσθεῖναι θέλεις;
Adrastus:Thou art right. Ye needs must patiently abide, for the words of Theseus are good. But when we have committed them unto the flames, ye shall collect their bones. O wretched sons of men!Why do ye get you weapons and bring slaughter on one another? Cease therefrom, give o’er your toiling, and in mutual peace keep safe your cities. Short is the span of life, so ’twere best to run its course as lightly as we may, from trouble free.
Ἄδραστος:νικᾷς. μένειν χρὴ τλημόνως· λέγει γὰρ εὖΘησεύς· ὅταν δὲ τούσδε προσθῶμεν πυρί,ὀστᾶ προσάξεσθε. ὦ ταλαίπωροι βροτῶν,τί κτᾶσθε λόγχας καὶ κατʼ ἀλλήλων φόνουςτίθεσθε; παύσασθʼ, ἀλλὰ λήξαντες πόνωνἄστη φυλάσσεθʼ ἥσυχοι μεθʼ ἡσύχων.σμικρὸν τὸ χρῆμα τοῦ βίου· τοῦτον δὲ χρὴὡς ῥᾷστα καὶ μὴ σὺν πόνοις διεκπερᾶν.
Chorus:No more a happy mother I, with children blest; no more I share, among Argive women, who have sons, their happy lot; nor any more will Artemis in the hour of travail kindly greet these childless mothers.
Χορός:— οὐκέτʼ εὔτεκνος, οὐκέτʼ εὔ-παις, οὐδʼ εὐτυχίας μέτε-στίν μοι κουροτόκοις ἐν Ἀργείαις·οὐδʼ Ἄρτεμις λοχίαπροσφθέγξαιτʼ ἂν τὰς ἀτέκνους.
Most dreary is my life, and like some wandering cloud I drift before the howling blast.
δυσαίων δʼ ὁ βίος,πλαγκτὰ δʼ ὡσεί τις νεφέλαπνευμάτων ὑπὸ δυσχίμων ἀίσσω.
Chorus:The seven noblest sons in Argos once we had,we seven hapless mothers; but now my sons are dead, I have no child, and on me steals old age in piteous wise, nor ’mongst the dead nor ’mongst the living do I count myself,having as it were a lot apart from these.
Χορός:— ἑπτὰ ματέρες ἑπτὰ κού-ρους ἐγεινάμεθʼ αἱ ταλαί-πωροι κλεινοτάτους ἐν Ἀργείοις·καὶ νῦν ἄπαις ἄτεκνοςγηράσκω δυστανοτάτως,οὔτʼ ἐν φθιμένοιςοὔτʼ ἐν ζωοῖσιν ἀριθμουμένη,χωρὶς δή τινα τῶνδʼ ἔχουσα μοῖραν.
Chorus:Tears alone are left me; in my house sad memories of my son are stored; mournful tresses shorn from his head, chaplets that he wore, libations for the dead departed,and songs, but not such as golden-haired Apollo welcometh; and when I wake to weep, my tears will ever drench the folds of my robe upon my bosom.
Χορός:— ὑπολελειμμένα μοι δάκρυα·μέλεα παιδὸς ἐν οἴκοιςκεῖται μνήματα, πένθιμοικουραὶ καὶ στέφανοι κόμας,⟨λοιβαί τε νεκύων φθιμένων,⟩ἀοιδαί θʼ ἃς χρυσοκόμαςἈπόλλων οὐκ ἐνδέχεται·γόοισι δʼ ὀρθρευομέναδάκρυσι νοτερὸν ἀεὶ πέπλωνπρὸς στέρνῳ πτύχα τέγξω.
Chorus:Ah! there I see the sepulchre ready e’en now for Capaneus, his consecrated tomb, and the votive offerings Theseus gives unto the dead outside the shrine, and nigh yon lightning-smitten chiefI see his noble bride, Evadne, daughter of King Iphis. Wherefore stands she on the towering rock, which o’ertops this temple, advancing along yon path?
Χορός:— καὶ μὴν θαλάμας τάσδʼ ἐσορῶ δὴΚαπανέως ἤδη τύμβον θʼ ἱερὸνμελάθρων τʼ ἐκτὸςΘησέως ἀναθήματα νεκροῖς,κλεινήν τʼ ἄλοχον τοῦ καπφθιμένουτοῦδε κεραυνῷ πέλας Εὐάδνην,ἣν Ἶφις ἄναξ παῖδα φυτεύει.τί ποτʼ αἰθερίαν ἕστηκε πέτραν,ἣ τῶνδε δόμων ὑπερακρίζει,τήνδʼ ἐμβαίνουσα κέλευθον;
Evadne:What light, what radiancy did the sun-god’s car dart forth, and the moon athwart the firmament, while round her in the gloom swift stars careered,in the day that the city of Argos raised the stately chant of joy at my wedding, in honour of my marriage with mail-clad Capaneus?
Εὐάδνη:τί φέγγος, τίνʼ αἴγλανἐδίφρευε τόθʼ ἅλιοςσελάνα τε κατʼ αἰθέρα,λαμπάδʼ ἵνʼ ὠκυθόαι νύμφαι,ἱππεύουσι διʼ ὀρφναίας,ἁνίκα ⟨γάμων⟩ γάμωντῶν ἐμῶν πόλις Ἄργουςἀοιδάς, εὐδαιμονίας,ἐπύργωσε καὶ γαμέταχαλκεοτευχοῦς, αἰαῖ, Καπανέως.
Now from my home in frantic haste with frenzied mind I rush to join thee, seeking to share with thee the fire’s bright flame and the self-same tomb, to rid me of my wearylife in Hades’ halls, and of the pains of existence; yea, for ’tis the sweetest end to share the death of those we love, if only fate will sanction it.
πρός σʼ ἔβαν δρομὰς ἐξ ἐμῶνοἴκων ἐκβακχευσαμένα,πυρᾶς φῶς τάφον τεβατεύσουσα τὸν αὐτόν,ἐς Ἅιδαν καταλύσουσʼ ἔμμοχθονβίοτον αἰῶνός τε πόνους·ἥδιστος γάρ τοι θάνατοςσυνθνῄσκειν θνῄσκουσι φίλοις,εἰ δαίμων τάδε κραίνοι.
Chorus:Behold yon pyre, which thou art overlooking, nigh thereto,set apart for Zeus! There is thy husband’s body, vanquished by the blazing bolt.
Χορός:καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς τήνδʼ ἧς ἐφέστηκας πέλαςπυράν, Διὸς θησαυρόν, ἔνθʼ ἔνεστι σὸςπόσις δαμασθεὶς λαμπάσιν κεραυνίοις.
Evadne:Life’s goal I now behold from my station here; may fortune aid me in my headlong leap from this rockin honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blazewith my husband’s, to lay me side by side with him, there in the couch of Persephone; for ne’er will I, to save my life, prove untrue to thee where thou liest in thy grave.
Εὐάδνη:ὁρῶ δὴ τελευτάν,ἵνʼ ἕστακα· τύχα δέ μοιξυνάπτοι ποδός· ἀλλὰ τᾶςεὐκλεΐας χάριν ἔνθεν ὁρ-μάσω τᾶσδʼ ἀπὸ πέτρας πη-δήσασα πυρὸς ἔσω,σῶμά τʼ αἴθοπι φλογμῷπόσει συμμείξασα, φίλονχρῶτα χρωτὶ πέλας θεμένα,Φερσεφονείας ἥξω θαλάμους,σὲ τὸν θανόντʼ οὔποτʼ ἐμᾷπροδοῦσα ψυχᾷ κατὰ γᾶς.
Away with life and marriage too! Oh! may my children live to see the dawn of a fairer, happier wedding-day in Argos! May loyalty inspire the husband’s heart,his nature fusing with his wife’s!
ἴτω φῶς γάμοι τε·ἴθʼ αἵτινες εὐναὶδικαίων ὑμεναίων ἐν Ἄργειφανῶσιν τέκνοις· ὅσιος δʼ⟨ὅσιος⟩ εὐναῖος γαμέταςσυντηχθεὶς αὔραις ἀδόλοιςγενναίας [ψυχᾶς] ἀλόχοιο.
Chorus:Lo! the aged Iphis, thy father, draweth nigh to hear thy startling scheme, which yet he knows not and will grieve to learn.
Χορός:καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ αὐτὸς σὸς πατὴρ βαίνει πέλαςγεραιὸς Ἶφις ἐς νεωτέρους λόγους,οὓς οὐ κατειδὼς πρόσθεν ἀλγήσει κλύων.
Iphis:Unhappy child! lo! I am come, a poor old man,with twofold sorrow in my house to mourn, that I may carry to his native land the corpse of my son Eteocles, slain by the Theban spear, and further in quest of my daughter who rushed headlong from the house, for she was the wife of Capaneusand longed with him to die. Ere this she was well guarded in my house, but, when I took the watch away in the present troubles, she escaped. But I feel sure that she is here; tell me if ye have seen her.
Ἶφις:ὦ δυστάλαιναι, δυστάλας δʼ ἐγὼ γέρων,ἥκω διπλοῦν πένθημʼ ὁμαιμόνων ἔχων,τὸν μὲν θανόντα παῖδα Καδμείων δορὶἘτέοκλον ἐς γῆν πατρίδα ναυσθλώσων νεκρόν,ζητῶν τʼ ἐμὴν παῖδʼ, ἣ δόμων ἐξώπιοςβέβηκε πηδήσασα Καπανέως δάμαρ,θανεῖν ἐρῶσα σὺν πόσει. χρόνον μὲν οὖντὸν πρόσθʼ ἐφρουρεῖτʼ ἐν δόμοις· ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐγὼφυλακὰς ἀνῆκα τοῖς παρεστῶσιν κακοῖς,βέβηκεν. ἀλλὰ τῇδέ νιν δοξάζομενμάλιστʼ ἂν εἶναι· φράζετʼ εἰ κατείδετε.
Evadne:Why question them? Lo, here upon the rock, father, o’er the pyre of Capaneus, like some bird I hover lightly, in my wretchedness.
Εὐάδνη:τί τάσδʼ ἐρωτᾷς; ἥδʼ ἐγὼ πέτρας ἔπιὄρνις τις ὡσεὶ Καπανέως ὑπὲρ πυρᾶςδύστηνον αἰώρημα κουφίζω, πάτερ.
Iphis:What wind hath blown thee hither, child? Whither away? Why didst thou pass the threshold of my house and seek this land?
Ἶφις:τέκνον, τίς αὔρα; τίς στόλος; τίνος χάρινδόμων ὑπεκβᾶσʼ ἦλθες ἐς τήνδε χθόνα;
Evadne:It would but anger thee to hear what I intend, and so I fain would keep thee ignorant, my father.
Εὐάδνη:ὀργὴν λάβοις ἂν τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτωνκλύων· ἀκοῦσαι δʼ οὔ σε βούλομαι, πάτερ.
Iphis:What! hath not thy own father a right to know?
Ἶφις:τί δʼ; οὐ δίκαιον πατέρα τὸν σὸν εἰδέναι;
Evadne:Thou wouldst not wisely judge my intention.
Εὐάδνη:κριτὴς ἂν εἴης οὐ σοφὸς γνώμης ἐμῆς.
Iphis:Why dost thou deck thyself in that apparel?
Ἶφις:σκευῇ δὲ τῇδε τοῦ χάριν κοσμεῖς δέμας;
Evadne:A purport strange this robe conveys, father.
Εὐάδνη:θέλει τι κλεινὸν οὗτος ὁ στολμός, πάτερ.
Iphis:Thou hast no look of mourning for thy lord.
Ἶφις:ὡς οὐκ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ πένθιμος πρέπεις ὁρᾶν.
Evadne:No, the reason why I thus am decked is strange, maybe.
Εὐάδνη:ἐς γάρ τι πρᾶγμα νεοχμὸν ἐσκευάσμεθα.
Iphis:Dost thou in such garb appear before a funeral-pyre?
Ἶφις:κἄπειτα τύμβῳ καὶ πυρᾷ φαίνῃ πέλας;
Evadne:Yea, for hither it is I come to take the meed of victory.
Εὐάδνη:ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ καλλίνικος ἔρχομαι.
Iphis:“Victory!” what victory? This would I learn of thee.
Ἶφις:νικῶσα νίκην τίνα; μαθεῖν χρῄζω σέθεν.
Evadne:A victory o’er all women on whom the sun looks down.
Εὐάδνη:πάσας γυναῖκας ἃς δέδορκεν ἥλιος.
Iphis:In Athena’s handiwork or in prudent counsel?
Ἶφις:ἔργοις Ἀθάνας ἢ φρενῶν εὐβουλίᾳ;
Evadne:In bravery; for I will lay me down and die with my lord.
Εὐάδνη:ἀρετῇ· πόσει γὰρ συνθανοῦσα κείσομαι.
Iphis:What dost thou say? What is this silly riddle thou propoundest?
Ἶφις:τί φῄς; τί τοῦτʼ αἴνιγμα σημαίνεις σαθρόν;
Evadne:To yonder pyre where lies dead Capaneus, I will leap down.
Εὐάδνη:ᾄσσω θανόντος Καπανέως τήνδʼ ἐς πυράν.
Iphis:My daughter, speak not thus before the multitude!
Ἶφις:ὦ θύγατερ, οὐ μὴ μῦθον ἐς πολλοὺς ἐρεῖς.
Evadne:The very thing I wish, that every Argive should learn it.
Εὐάδνη:τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ χρῄζω, πάντας Ἀργείους μαθεῖν.
Iphis:Nay, I will ne’er consent to let thee do this deed.
Ἶφις:ἀλλʼ οὐδέ τοί σοι πείσομαι δρώσῃ τάδε.
Evadne:(as she is throwing herself).’Tis all one; thou shalt never catch me in thy grasp.
Εὐάδνη:ὅμοιον· οὐ γὰρ μὴ κίχῃς μʼ ἑλὼν χερί.
Lo! I cast me down, no joy to thee, but to myself and to my husband blazing on the pyre with me.
καὶ δὴ παρεῖται σῶμα — σοὶ μὲν οὐ φίλον,ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ τῷ συμπυρουμένῳ πόσει.
Chorus:O lady, what a fearful deed!
Χορός:ἰώ, γύναι, δεινὸν ἔργον ἐξειργάσω.
Iphis:Ah me! I am undone, ye dames of Argos!
Ἶφις:ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, Ἀργείων κόραι.
Chorus: chantingAlack, alack! a cruel blow is this to thee,but thou must yet witness, poor wretch, the full horror of this deed.
Χορός:ἒ ἔ, σχέτλια τάδε παθών,τὸ πάντολμον ἔργον ὄψῃ τάλας.
Iphis:A more unhappy wretch than me ye could not find.
Ἶφις:οὐκ ἄν τινʼ εὕροιτʼ ἄλλον ἀθλιώτερον.
Chorus:Woe for thee, unhappy man! Thou, old sir, hast been made partaker in the fortune of Oedipus, thou and my poor city too.
Χορός:ἰὼ τάλας·μετέλαχες τύχας Οἰδιπόδα, γέρον,μέρος καὶ σὺ ⟨καὶ⟩ πόλις ἐμὰ τλάμων.
Iphis:Ah, why are mortal men denied this boon, to live their youth twice o’er, and twice in turn to reach old age? If aught goes wrong within our homes, we set it right by judgment more maturely formed, but our life we may not so correct. Now if we had a second spell of youthand age, this double term of life would let us then correct each previous slip. I, for instance, seeing others blest with children, longed to have them too, and found my ruin in that wish. Whereas if I had had my present experience,and by a father’s light had learnt how cruel a thing it is to be bereft of children, never should I have fallen on such evil days as these,—I who did beget a brave young son, proud parent that I was, and after all am now bereft of him. Enough of this. What remains for such a hapless wretch as me?
Ἶφις:οἴμοι· τί δὴ βροτοῖσιν οὐκ ἔστιν τόδε,νέους δὶς εἶναι καὶ γέροντας αὖ πάλιν;ἀλλʼ ἐν δόμοις μὲν ἤν τι μὴ καλῶς ἔχῃ,γνώμαισιν ὑστέραισιν ἐξορθούμεθα,αἰῶνα δʼ οὐκ ἔξεστιν. εἰ δʼ ἦμεν νέοιδὶς καὶ γέροντες, εἴ τις ἐξημάρτανε,διπλοῦ βίου λαχόντες ἐξωρθούμεθʼ ἄν.ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄλλους εἰσορῶν τεκνουμένουςπαίδων ἐραστὴς ἦ πόθῳ τʼ ἀπωλλύμην.εἰ δʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἦλθον κἀξεπειράθην τέκνωνοἷον στέρεσθαι πατέρα γίγνεται τέκνων,οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ἐς τόδʼ ἦλθον εἰς ὃ νῦν κακόν·ὅστις φυτεύσας καὶ νεανίαν τεκὼνἄριστον, εἶτα τοῦδε νῦν στερίσκομαι.εἶἑν· τί δὴ χρὴ τὸν ταλαίπωρόν με δρᾶν;
Shall I to my home, there to see its utter desolation and the blank within my life? or shall I to the halls of that dead Capaneus?—halls I smiled to see in days gone by, when yet my daughter was alive. But she is lost and gone, she that would ever draw down my cheekto her lips, and take my head between her hands; for naught is there more sweet unto an aged sire than a daughter’s love; our sons are made of sterner stuff, but less winning are their caresses. Oh! take me to my house at once,in darkness hide me there, to waste and fret this aged frame with fasting! What shall it avail me to touch my daughter’s bones? Old age, resistless foe, how do I loathe thy presence! Them too I hate, whoso desire to lengthen out the span of life,seeking to turn the tide of death aside by philtres, drugs, and magic spells,—folk that death should take away to leave the young their place, when they no more can benefit the world.
στείχειν πρὸς οἴκους; κᾆτʼ ἐρημίαν ἴδωπολλῶν μελάθρων, ἀπορίαν τʼ ἐμῷ βίῳ;ἢ πρὸς μέλαθρα τοῦδε Καπανέως μόλω;ἥδιστα πρίν γε δῆθʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν παῖς ἥδε μοι.ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔστιν, ἥ γʼ ἐμὴν γενειάδαπροσήγετʼ αἰεὶ στόματι καὶ κάρα τόδεκατεῖχε χειρί· πατρὶ δʼ οὐδὲν ἥδιονγέροντι θυγατρός· ἀρσένων δὲ μείζονεςψυχαί, γλυκεῖαι δʼ ἧσσον ἐς θωπεύματα.οὐχ ὡς τάχιστα δῆτά μʼ ἄξετʼ ἐς δόμους;σκότῳ δὲ δώσετʼ· ἔνθʼ ἀσιτίαις ἐμὸνδέμας γεραιὸν συντακεὶς ἀποφθερῶ.τί μʼ ὠφελήσει παιδὸς ὀστέων θιγεῖν;ὦ δυσπάλαιστον γῆρας, ὡς μισῶ σʼ ἔχων,μισῶ δʼ ὅσοι χρῄζουσιν ἐκτείνειν βίον,βρωτοῖσι καὶ ποτοῖσι καὶ μαγεύμασιπαρεκτρέποντες ὀχετὸν ὥστε μὴ θανεῖν·οὓς χρῆν, ἐπειδὰν μηδὲν ὠφελῶσι γῆν,θανόντας ἔρρειν κἀκποδὼν εἶναι νέοις.
Chorus:Woe, woe! Behold your dead sons’bones are brought hither; take them, servants of your weak old mistress, for in me is no strength left by reason of my mourning for my sons; time’s comrade long have I been, and many a tear for many a sorrow have I shed.
Χορός:— ἰὼ ⟨ἰώ·⟩τάδε δὴ παίδων καὶ δὴ φθιμένωνὀστᾶ φέρεται. λάβετʼ, ἀμφίπολοι,γραίας ἀμενοῦς — οὐ γὰρ ἔνεστινῥώμη παίδων ὑπὸ πένθους —πολλοῦ τε χρόνου ζώσης μέτρα δὴκαταλειβομένης τʼ ἄλγεσι πολλοῖς.
For what sharper pang wilt thou ever find for mortals than the sight of children dead?
τί γὰρ ἂν μεῖζον τοῦδʼ ἔτι θνητοῖςπάθος ἐξεύροιςἢ τέκνα θανόντʼ ἐσιδέσθαι;
Children:Poor mother mine, behold I bring my father’s bones gathered from the fire,a burden grief has rendered heavy, though this tiny urn contains my all.
Παῖδες:— φέρω φέρω,τάλαινα μᾶτερ, ἐκ πυρὸς πατρὸς μέλη,βάρος μὲν οὐκ ἀβριθὲς ἀλγέων ὕπερ,ἐν δʼ ὀλίγῳ τἀμὰ πάντα συνθείς.
Chorus:Ah me! ah me! Why bear thy tearful load to the fond mother of the dead,a handful of ashes in the stead of those who erst were men of mark in Mycenae?
Χορός:— ἰὼ ἰώ,πᾶ φέρεις δάκρυα φίλᾳματρὶ τῶν ὀλωλότων;σποδοῦ τε πλῆθος ὀλίγον ἀντὶ σωμάτωνεὐδοκίμων δήποτʼ ἐν Μυκήναις;
Children:Woe worth the hour! woe worth the day! Reft of my hapless sire, a wretched orphan shall I inherit a desolate house, torn from my father’s arms.
Παῖδες:— ἄπαις, ἄπαις·ἐγὼ δʼ ἔρημος ἀθλίου πατρὸς τάλαςἔρημον οἶκον ὀρφανεύσομαι λαβών,οὐ πατρὸς ἐν χερσὶ τοῦ τεκόντος.
Chorus:Woe is thee! Where is now the toil I spent upon my sons? what thank have I for nightly watch? Where the mother’s nursing care? the sleepless vigils mine eyes have kept? the loving kiss upon my children’s brow?
Χορός:— ἰὼ ἰώ·ποῦ δὲ πόνος ἐμῶν τέκνων,ποῦ λοχευμάτων χάρις;τροφαί τε ματρὸς ἄυπνά τʼ ὀμμάτων τέλη,καὶ φίλιαι προσβολαὶ προσώπων;
Children:Thy sons are dead and gone. Poor mother!
Παῖδες:— βεβᾶσιν, οὐκέτʼ εἰσίν· οἴμοι πάτερ·
dead and gone; the boundless air now wraps them round.Chorus:Turned to ashes by the flame, they have winged their flight to Hades.
βεβᾶσιν.Χορός:αἰθὴρ ἔχει νιν ἤδη,πυρὸς τετακότας σποδῷ·ποτανοὶ δʼ ἤνυσαν τὸν Ἅιδαν.
Children:Father, thou hearest thy children’s lamentation; say, shall I e’er, as warrior dight, avenge thy slaughter?Chorus:God grant it, O my child!
Παῖδες:— πάτερ, μῶν σῶν κλύεις τέκνων γόους;ἆρʼ ἀσπιδοῦχος ἔτι ποτʼ ἀντιτάσσομαισὸν φόνον — εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο — τεκνῶν;
Children:Some day, if god so will, shall the avenging of my father be my task; not yet this sorrow sleeps.
Παῖδες:— ἔτʼ ἂν θεοῦ θέλοντος ἔλθοι δίκαπατρῷος·Χορός:οὔπω κακὸν τόδʼ εὕδει.
Chorus:Alas! Fortune’s sorrows are enough for me, I have troubles and to spare already.
αἰαῖ γόων· ἅλις τύχας,ἅλις δʼ ἀλγέων ἐμοὶ πάρεστι.
Children:Shall Asopus’ laughing tide ever reflect my brazen arms as I lead on my Argive troops?Chorus:To avenge thy fallen sire.
Παῖδες:— ἔτʼ Ἀσωποῦ με δέξεται γάνοςχαλκέοις ἐν ὅπλοις Δαναϊδῶν στρατηλάταν,τοῦ φθιμένου πατρὸς ἐκδικαστάν.
Children:Methinks I see thee still before my eyes, my father—
Παῖδες:— ἔτʼ εἰσορᾶν σε, πάτερ, ἐπʼ ὀμμάτων δοκῶ …
Chorus:Printing a loving kiss upon thy cheek.
Χορός:— φίλον φίλημα παρὰ γένυν τιθέντα σόν.
Children:But thy words of exhortation are borne on the winds away.
Παῖδες:— λόγων δὲ παρακέλευσμα σῶνἀέρι φερόμενον οἴχεται.
Chorus:Two mourners hath he left behind, thy mother and thee, bequeathing to thee an endless legacy of grief for thy father.
Χορός:— δυοῖν δʼ ἄχη, ματρί τʼ ἔλιπεν —σέ τʼ οὔποτʼ ἄλγη πατρῷα λείψει.
Children:The weight of grief I have to bear hath crushed me utterly.
Παῖδες:— ἔχω τοσόνδε βάρος ὅσον μʼ ἀπώλεσεν.
Chorus:Come, let me clasp the ashes of my son to my bosom.
Χορός:— φέρʼ, ἀμφὶ μαστὸν ὑποβάλω ⟨φίλαν⟩ σποδόν.
Children:I weep to hear that piteous word; it stabs me to the heart.
Παῖδες:— ἔκλαυσα τόδε κλύων ἔποςστυγνότατον· ἔθιγέ μου φρενῶν.
Chorus:My child, thou art undone; no more shall I behold thee, thy own fond mother’s treasure.
Χορός:— ὦ τέκνον, ἔβας· οὐκέτι φίλονφίλας ἄγαλμʼ ὄψομαί σε ματρός.
Theseus:Adrastus, and ye dames from Argos sprung, ye see these children bearing in their hands the bodies of their valiant sires whom I redeemed; to thee I give these gifts, I and Athens. And ye must bear in mind the memory of this favour,marking well the treatment ye have had of me. And to these children I repeat the self-same words, that they may honour this city, to children’s children ever handing on the kindness ye received from us. Be Zeus the witness, with the gods in heaven,of the treatment we vouchsafed you ere you left us.
Θησεύς:Ἄδραστε καὶ γυναῖκες Ἀργεῖαι γένος,ὁρᾶτε παῖδας τούσδʼ ἔχοντας ἐν χεροῖνπατέρων ἀρίστων σώμαθʼ ὧν ἀνειλόμην·τούτοις ἐγώ σφε καὶ πόλις δωρούμεθα.ὑμᾶς δὲ τῶνδε χρὴ χάριν μεμνημένουςσῴζειν, ὁρῶντας ὧν ἐκύρσατʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ,παισίν θʼ ὑπειπεῖν τούσδε τοὺς αὐτοὺς λόγους,τιμᾶν πόλιν τήνδʼ, ἐκ τέκνων ἀεὶ τέκνοιςμνήμην παραγγέλλοντας ὧν ἐκύρσατε.Ζεὺς δὲ ξυνίστωρ οἵ τʼ ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοὶοἵων ὑφʼ ἡμῶν στείχετʼ ἠξιωμένοι.
Adrastus:Theseus, well we know all the kindness thou hast conferred upon the land of Argos in her need, and ours shall be a gratitude that never waxeth old, for your generous treatment makes us debtors for a like return.
Ἄδραστος:Θησεῦ, ξύνισμεν πάνθʼ ὅσʼ Ἀργείαν χθόναδέδρακας ἐσθλὰ δεομένην εὐεργετῶν,χάριν τʼ ἀγήρων ἕξομεν· γενναῖα γὰρπαθόντες ὑμᾶς ἀντιδρᾶν ὀφείλομεν.
Theseus:What yet remains, wherein I can serve you?
Θησεύς:τί δῆτʼ ἔθʼ ὑμῖν ἄλλʼ ὑπουργῆσαί με χρή;
Adrastus:Fare thee well, for such is thy desert and such thy city’s too.
Ἄδραστος:χαῖρʼ· ἄξιος γὰρ καὶ σὺ καὶ πόλις σέθεν.
Theseus:Fare thee well, for such is thy desert and such thy city’s too.
Θησεύς:ἔσται τάδʼ· ἀλλὰ καὶ σὺ τῶν αὐτῶν τύχοις.
Athena:Hearken, Theseus, to the words that I Athena utter, telling thee thy duty, which, if thou perform it, will serve thy city.
Ἀθήνα:ἄκουε, Θησεῦ, τούσδʼ Ἀθηναίας λόγους,ἃ χρή σε δρᾶσαι, δρῶντα δʼ ὠφελεῖν τάδε.
Give not these bones to the children to carry to the land of Argos, letting them go so lightly; nay, take first an oath of them that they will requite thee and thy city for your efforts. This oath must Adrastus swear, for as their king it is his rightto take the oath for the whole realm of Argos. And this shall be the form thereof: “We Argives swear we never will against this land lead on our mail-clad troops to war, and, if others come, we will repel them.” But if they violate their oath and come against the city, praythat the land of Argos may be miserably destroyed.
μὴ δῷς τάδʼ ὀστᾶ τοῖσδʼ ἐς Ἀργείαν χθόναπαισὶν κομίζειν ῥᾳδίως οὕτω μεθείς,ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τῶν σῶν καὶ πόλεως μοχθημάτωνπρῶτον λάβʼ ὅρκον. τόνδε δʼ ὀμνύναι χρεὼνἌδραστον· οὗτος κύριος, τύραννος ὤν,πάσης ὑπὲρ γῆς Δαναϊδῶν ὁρκωμοτεῖν.ὁ δʼ ὅρκος ἔσται, μήποτʼ Ἀργείους χθόναἐς τήνδʼ ἐποίσειν πολέμιον παντευχίαν,ἄλλων τʼ ἰόντων ἐμποδὼν θήσειν δόρυ.ἢν δʼ ὅρκον ἐκλιπόντες ἔλθωσιν, πάλινκακῶς ὀλέσθαι πρόστρεπʼ Ἀργείων χθόνα.
Now hearken while I tell thee where thou must slay the victims. Thou hast within thy halls a tripod with brazen feet, which Heracles, in days gone by, after he had o’erthrown the foundations of Ilium and was starting on another enterprise,enjoined thee to set up at the Pythian shrine. O’er it cut the throats of three sheep; then grave within the tripod’s hollow belly the oath; this done, deliver it to the god who watches over Delphi to keep, a witness and memorial unto Hellas of the oath.
ἐν ᾧ δὲ τέμνειν σφάγια χρή σʼ, ἄκουέ μου.ἔστιν τρίπους σοι χαλκόπους ἔσω δόμων,ὃν Ἰλίου ποτʼ ἐξαναστήσας βάθρασπουδὴν ἐπʼ ἄλλην Ἡρακλῆς ὁρμώμενοςστῆσαί σʼ ἐφεῖτο Πυθικὴν πρὸς ἐσχάραν.ἐν τῷδε λαιμοὺς τρεῖς τριῶν μήλων τεμὼνἔγγραψον ὅρκους τρίποδος ἐν κοίλῳ κύτει,κἄπειτα σῴζειν θεῷ δὸς ᾧ Δελφῶν μέλει,μνημεῖά θʼ ὅρκων μαρτύρημά θʼ Ἑλλάδι.
And bury the sharp-edged knife, wherewith thou shalt have laid the victims open and shed their blood, deep in the bowels of the earth, hard by the pyres where the seven chieftains burn; for its appearance shall strike them with dismay, if e’er against thy town they come, and shall cause them to return with sorrow.
ᾗ δʼ ἂν διοίξῃς σφάγια καὶ τρώσῃς φόνονὀξύστομον μάχαιραν ἐς γαίας μυχοὺςκρύψον παρʼ αὐτὰς ἑπτὰ πυρκαιὰς νεκρῶν·φόβον γὰρ αὐτοῖς, ἤν ποτʼ ἔλθωσιν πόλιν,δειχθεῖσα θήσει καὶ κακὸν νόστον πάλιν.
When thou hast done all this, dismiss the dead from thy land. And to the god resign as sacred land the spot where their bodies were purified by fire, there by the meeting of the triple roads that lead unto the Isthmus. Thus much to thee, Theseus, I address; next to the sons of Argos I speak; when ye are grown to men’s estate, the town beside Ismenus shall ye sack,avenging the slaughter of your dead sires; thou too, Aegialeus, shalt take thy father’s place and in thy youth command the host, and with thee Tydeus’ son marching from Aetolia,—him whom his father named Diomedes. Soon as the beards your cheeks o’ershadowmust ye lead an armed Danaid host against the battlements of Thebes with sevenfold gates. For to their sorrow shall ye come like lion’s whelps in full-grown might to sack their city. No otherwise is it to be;and ye shall be a theme for minstrels’ songs in days to come, known through Hellas as “the After-born” so famous shall your expedition be, thanks to Heaven.
δράσας δὲ ταῦτα πέμπε γῆς ἔξω νεκρούς.τεμένη δʼ, ἵνʼ αὐτῶν σώμαθʼ ἡγνίσθη πυρί,μέθες παρʼ αὐτὴν τρίοδον Ἰσθμίας θεοῦ·σοὶ μὲν τάδʼ εἶπον· παισὶ δʼ Ἀργείων λέγω·πορθήσεθʼ ἡβήσαντες Ἰσμηνοῦ πόλιν,πατέρων θανόντων ἐκδικάζοντες φόνον,σύ τʼ ἀντὶ πατρός, Αἰγιαλεῦ, στρατηλάτηςνέος καταστάς, παῖς τʼ ἀπʼ Αἰτωλῶν μολὼνΤυδέως, ὃν ὠνόμαζε Διομήδην πατήρ.ἀλλʼ οὐ φθάνειν χρὴ συσκιάζοντας γένυνκαὶ χαλκοπληθῆ Δαναϊδῶν ὁρμᾶν στρατὸνἑπτάστολον πύργωμα Καδμείων ἔπι·πικροὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἥξετʼ, ἐκτεθραμμένοισκύμνοι λεόντων, πόλεος ἐκπορθήτορες.κοὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως· Ἔκγονοι δʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδακληθέντες ᾠδὰς ὑστέροισι θήσετε·τοῖον στράτευμα σὺν θεῷ πορεύσετε.
Theseus:Queen Athena, I will hearken to thy bidding; for thou it is dost set me up, so that I go not astray. And I will bind this monarch by an oath; do thou but guide mysteps aright. For if thou art friendly to our state, we shall henceforth live secure.
Θησεύς:δέσποινʼ Ἀθάνα, πείσομαι λόγοισι σοῖς·σὺ γάρ μʼ ἀνορθοῖς, ὥστε μὴ ʼξαμαρτάνειν·καὶ τόνδʼ ἐν ὅρκοις ζεύξομαι· μόνον σύ μεἐς ὀρθὸν ἵστη· σοῦ γὰρ εὐμενοῦς πόλειοὔσης τὸ λοιπὸν ἀσφαλῶς οἰκήσομεν.
Chorus:Let us go, Adrastus, and take the oath to this monarch and his state; for the service they have already done us claims our warm regard.
Χορός:στείχωμεν, Ἄδρασθʼ, ὅρκια δῶμεντῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ πόλει τʼ· ἄξια δʼ ἡμῖνπρομεμοχθήκασι σέβεσθαι.