Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

5634

Euripides, Orestes, 1366-1536

ἀλλὰ κτυπεῖ γὰρ κλῇθρα βασιλείων δόμων

But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within. Phrygian

σιγήσατ': ἔξω γάρ τις ἐκβαίνει Φρυγῶν

But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within. Phrygian

οὗ πευσόμεσθα τἀν δόμοις ὅπως ἔχει.

But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within. Phrygian

̓Αργέϊον ξίφος ἐκ θανάτου πέφευγα

(expressing the most abject terror.) I have escaped from death by Argive sword

βαρβάροις ἐν εὐμάρι-

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

σιν, κεδρωτὰ παστάδων ὑπὲρ τέραμνα

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

Δωρικάς τε τριγλύφους

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

φροῦδα φροῦδα, γᾶ γᾶ

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

βαρβάροισι δρασμοῖς.

in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

αἰαῖ:

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace? Chorus Leader

πᾷ φύγω, ξέναι, πολιὸν αἰθέρ' ἀμ-

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace? Chorus Leader

πτάμενος ἢ πόντον, ̓Ωκεανὸς ὃν

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace? Chorus Leader

ταυρόκρανος ἀγκάλαις

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace? Chorus Leader

ἑλίσσων κυκλοῖ χθόνα;

Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace? Chorus Leader

τί δ' ἔστιν, ̔Ελένης πρόσπολ'. ̓Ιδαῖον κάρα;

What is it, Helen’s slave, creature from Ida? Phrygian

̓́Ιλιον ̓́Ιλιον, ὤμοι μοι

Ilium , Ilium , oh me! city of Phrygia , and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction a shrill song

Φρύγιον ἄστυ καὶ καλλίβωλον ̓́Ι-

Ilium , Ilium , oh me! city of Phrygia , and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction a shrill song

δας ὄρος ἱερόν, ὥς ς' ὀλόμενον στένω

Ilium , Ilium , oh me! city of Phrygia , and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction a shrill song

ἁρμάτειον ἁρμάτειον μέλος

Ilium , Ilium , oh me! city of Phrygia , and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction a shrill song

βαρβάρῳ βοᾷ δι' ὀρνιθόγονον

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

ὄμμα κυκνοπτέρου καλλοσύνας, Λήδας

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

σκύμνου, δυσελένας

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

δυσελένας

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

ξεστῶν περγάμων ̓Απολλωνίων

with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

ἐρινύν: ὀττοτοῖ:

woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus. Chorus Leader

ἰαλέμων ἰαλέμων

woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus. Chorus Leader

Δαρδανία τλᾶμον Γανυμήδεος

woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus. Chorus Leader

ἱπποσύνᾳ, Διὸς εὐνέτα.

woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus. Chorus Leader

σαφῶς λέγ' ἡμῖν αὔθ' ἕκαστα τἀν δόμοις.

Tell us clearly each event within the house. for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand. Phrygian

τὰ γὰρ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα συμβαλοῦς' ἔχω.

Tell us clearly each event within the house. for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand. Phrygian

αἴλινον αἴλινον ἀρχὰν θανάτου

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

βάρβαροι λέγουσιν, αἰαῖ

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

̓Ασιάδι φωνᾷ, βασιλέων

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

ὅταν αἷμα χυθῇ κατὰ γᾶν ξίφεσιν

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

σιδαρέοισιν ̔́Αιδα.

Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

ἦλθον ἐς δόμους, ἵν' αὔθ' ἕ-

To tell you everything in turn, they came into the house, two twin lions of Hellas ; one was called the general’s son; the other was the son of Strophius, a crafty plotter, like Odysseus, treacherous in silence

καστά σοι λέγω, λέοντες

̔́Ελλανες δύο διδύμω:

τῷ μὲν ὁ στρατηλάτας πατὴρ ἐκλῄζεθ'

ὃ δὲ παῖς Στροφίου, κακόμητις ἀνήρ

οἷος ̓Οδυσσεύς, σιγᾷ δόλιος

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

πιστὸς δὲ φίλοις, θρασὺς εἰς ἀλκάν

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

ξυνετὸς πολέμου, φόνιός τε δράκων.

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

ἔρροι τᾶς ἡσύχου

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

προνοίας κακοῦργος ὤν.

but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

οἳ δὲ πρὸς θρόνους ἔσω

In they came to the throne of the wife of Paris the archer

μολόντες ἇς ἔγημ' ὁ τοξότας Πάρις

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

γυναικός, ὄμμα δακρύοις

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

πεφυρμένοι, ταπεινοὶ

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

ἕζονθ', ὃ μὲν τὸ κεῖθεν, ὃ δὲ

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

τὸ κεῖθεν, ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν πεφραγμένοι.

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

περὶ δὲ γόνυ χέρας ἱκεσίους ἔβαλον ἔβαλον

faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knee

̔Ελένας ἄμφω.

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

ἀνὰ δὲ δρομάδες ἔθορον ἔθορον

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

ἀμφίπολοι Φρύγες:

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

προσεῖπε δ' ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐν φόβῳ πεσών

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

μή τις εἴη δόλος.

of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

κἀδόκει τοῖς μὲν οὔ

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot. Chorus Leader

τοῖς δ' ἐς ἀρκυστάταν

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot. Chorus Leader

μηχανὰν ἐμπλέκειν

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot. Chorus Leader

παῖδα τὰν Τυνδαρίδ' ὁ

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot. Chorus Leader

μητροφόντας δράκων.

To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot. Chorus Leader

σὺ δ' ἦσθα ποῦ τότ'; ἢ πάλαι φεύγεις φόβῳ

And where were you? fled long before in terror? Phrygian

Φρυγίοις ἔτυχον Φρυγίοισι νόμοις

It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face

παρὰ βόστρυχον αὔραν αὔραν

It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face

̔Ελένας ̔Ελένας εὐπαγεῖ

It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face

κύκλῳ πτερίνῳ πρὸ παρηίδος

It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face

ἀίσσων βαρβάροις νόμοισιν.

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth

ἃ δὲ λίνον ἠλακάτᾳ

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth

δακτύλοις ἕλισσεν

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth

νῆμα δ' ἵετο πέδῳ

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth

σκύλων Φρυγίων ἐπὶ τύμβον ἀγάλ-

in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth

ματα συστολίσαι χρῄζουσα λίνῳ

as adornment for the tomb from the Trojan spoils, a gift to Clytemnestra.

φάρεα πορφύρεα, δῶρα Κλυταιμήστρᾳ.

as adornment for the tomb from the Trojan spoils, a gift to Clytemnestra.

προσεῖπεν δ' ̓Ορέστας

Orestes said to the Spartan girl: Daughter of Zeus, get up from your chair

Λάκαιναν κόραν: ὦ

Orestes said to the Spartan girl: Daughter of Zeus, get up from your chair

Διὸς παῖ, θὲς ἴχνος

Orestes said to the Spartan girl: Daughter of Zeus, get up from your chair

πέδῳ δεῦρ' ἀποστᾶσα κλισμοῦ

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed

Πέλοπος ἐπὶ προπάτορος ἕδραν

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed

παλαιᾶς ἑστίας

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed

ἵν' εἰδῇς λόγους ἐμούς. —

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed

ἄγει δ' ἄγει νιν: ἃ δ' ἐφείπετ'

and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say. He led her, led her, and she followed

οὐ πρόμαντις ὧν ἔμελλεν:

no prophet of the future. But his accomplice, the Phocian villain, was off on other business: Out of my way! Well, Phrygians always were cowards. So he shut them up in different parts of the house, some in the stables, others in the halls

ὁ δὲ συνεργὸς ἄλλ' ἔπρασς'

ἰὼν κακὸς Φωκεύς:

οὐκ ἐκποδὼν ἴτ'; ἀλλ' ἀεὶ κακοὶ Φρύγες.

ἔκλῃσε δ' ἄλλον ἄλλος' ἐν

στέγαισι: τοὺς μὲν ἐν σταθμοῖ-

one here, one there, disposing of them severally at a distance from their mistress. Chorus Leader

έδραισι, τοὺς δ' ἐκεῖς' ἐκεῖθεν ἄλλον ἄλ-

one here, one there, disposing of them severally at a distance from their mistress. Chorus Leader

σιν ἱππικοῖσι, τοὺς δ' ἐν ἐξ-

one here, one there, disposing of them severally at a distance from their mistress. Chorus Leader

λοσε διαρμόσας ἀποπρὸ δεσποίνας.

one here, one there, disposing of them severally at a distance from their mistress. Chorus Leader

τί τοὐπὶ τῷδε συμφορᾶς ἐγίγνετο;

What happened next? Phrygian

̓Ιδαία μᾶτερ

Mother of Ida, great, great mother!

μᾶτερ ὀβρίμα ὀβρίμα

Mother of Ida, great, great mother!

αἰαὶ φονίων παθέων ἀνόμων

Oh! the murderous scenes and lawless wickedness that I saw, I saw, in the palace! They drew forth swords from hiding under their purple-bordered cloaks, each darting his eye a different way, lest anyone should be near. Like boar of the hills

τε κακῶν ἅπερ ἔδρακον ἔδρακον

ἐν δόμοις τυράννων.

ἀμφιπορφυρέων πέπλων

ὑπὸ σκότου ξίφη σπάσα-

ντες ἄλλος ἄλλος' ἐν χεροῖν

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

ὡς κάπροι δ' ὀρέστεροι γυ-

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

δίνασεν ὄμμα, μή τις παρὼν τύχοι.

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

ναικὸς ἀντίοι σταθέντες

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

ἐννέπουσι: Κατθανῇ

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

κατθανῇ

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

κακός ς' ἀποκτείνει πόσις

they stood opposite the woman and said: You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos .

κασιγνήτου προδοὺς

She screamed, oh, oh! she screamed, and brought down her white arm upon her breast and beat her poor head; then turned her golden-sandalled steps in flight, in flight; but Orestes got before her in his Mycenean boots and clutched his fingers in her hair

ἃ δ' ἀνίαχεν ἴ-

ἐν ̓́Αργει θανεῖν γόνον.

αχεν: ̓́Ωμοι μοι.

λευκὸν δ' ἐμβαλοῦσα πῆχυν στέρνοις

κτύπησε κρᾶτα μέλεον πλαγᾷ:

φυγᾷ δὲ ποδὶ τὸ χρυσεοσάνδαλον

ἴχνος ἔφερεν ἔφερεν: ἐς

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat. Chorus Leader

Μυκηνίδ' ἀρβύλαν προβάς

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat. Chorus Leader

κόμας δὲ δακτύλους δικὼν ̓Ορέστας

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat. Chorus Leader

ὤμοις ἀριστεροῖσιν ἀνακλάσας δέρην

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat. Chorus Leader

παίειν λαιμῶν ἔμελ-

and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat. Chorus Leader

ποῦ δ' ἦτ' ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες;

Where were you Phrygians in the house to help her? Phrygian

ἰαχᾷ

With a loud cry from the house we battered down with bars the doors and doorposts where we had been

δόμων θύρετρα καὶ σταθμοὺς

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

βοηδρομοῦμεν ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν στέγης

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

μοχλοῖσιν ἐκβαλόντες, ἔνθ' ἐμίμνομεν

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

ὃ μὲν πέτρους, ὃ δ' ἀγκύλας

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

ὃ δὲ ξίφος πρόκωπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων.

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

ἔναντα δ' ἦλθε Πυλάδης

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

ἀλίαστος, οἷος οἷος ̔́Εκ-

and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like

τωρ ὁ Φρύγιος ἢ τρικόρυθος Αἴας

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were

ὃν εἶδον εἶδον ἐν πύλαις

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were

Πριαμίσι: φασγάνων δ' ἀκμὰς

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were

συνήψαμεν.

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were

δὴ τότε διαπρεπεῖς τότ' ἐγένοντο Φρύγες

Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were

ὅσον ̓́Αρεως ἀλκὰν

how much less we were in battle strength to the Hellene might. There was one man gone in flight, another slain, another wounded, yet another pleading to stave off death; but we escaped under cover of the darkness; while some were falling, some were about to fall, and others were lying dead.

ἥσσονες ̔Ελλάδος ἐγενόμεθ' αἰχμᾶς

ὃ μὲν οἰχόμενος φυγάς, ὃ δὲ νέκυς ὤν

ὃ δὲ τραῦμα φέρων, ὃ δὲ λισσόμενος

θανάτου προβολάν:

ὑπὸ σκότον δ' ἐφεύγομεν:

νεκροὶ δ' ἔπιπτον, οἳ δ' ἔμελλον, οἳ δ' ἔκειντ'.

And just as her unhappy mother sank to the ground to die, the luckless Hermione came in. Those two, like Bacchantes when they drop the thyrsus for a mountain cub, rushed and seized her; then turned again to the daughter of Zeus to slay her; but she had vanished from the room

ἔμολε δ' ἁ τάλαιν' ̔Ερμιόνα δόμους

ἐπὶ φόνῳ χαμαιπετεῖ ματρός, ἅ

νιν ἔτεκεν τλάμων.

ἄθυρσοι δ'

οἷά νιν δραμόντε Βάκχαι

σκύμνον ἐν χεροῖν ὀρείαν