Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

5640

Euripides, Suppliant Women, 980-1113

πρός ς' ἔβαν δρομὰς ἐξ ἐμῶν

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 weary

οἴκων ἐκβακχευσαμένα

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 weary

πυρᾶς φῶς τάφον τε

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 weary

βατεύσουσα τὸν αὐτόν

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 weary

ἐς ̔́Αιδαν καταλύσους' ἔμμοχθον

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 weary

βίοτον αἰῶνός τε πόνους:

life 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. Choru

ἥδιστος γάρ τοι θάνατος

life 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. Choru

συνθνῄσκειν θνῄσκουσι φίλοις

life 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. Choru

εἰ δαίμων τάδε κραίνοι.

life 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. Choru

καὶ μὴν ὁρᾷς τήνδ' ἧς ἐφέστηκας πέλας

Behold yon pyre, which thou art overlooking, nigh thereto

πυράν, Διὸς θησαυρόν, ἔνθ' ἔνεστι σὸς

et apart for Zeus! There is thy husband’s body, vanquished by the blazing bolt. Evadne

πόσις δαμασθεὶς λαμπάσιν κεραυνίοις.

et apart for Zeus! There is thy husband’s body, vanquished by the blazing bolt. Evadne

ὁρῶ δὴ τελευτάν

Life’s goal I now behold from my station here; may fortune aid me in my headlong leap from this rock

ἵν' ἕστακα: τύχα δέ μοι

Life’s goal I now behold from my station here; may fortune aid me in my headlong leap from this rock

ξυνάπτοι ποδός: ἀλλὰ τᾶς

Life’s goal I now behold from my station here; may fortune aid me in my headlong leap from this rock

εὐκλεί̈ας χάριν ἔνθεν ὁρ-

in honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blaze

μάσω τᾶσδ' ἀπὸ πέτρας πη-

in honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blaze

δήσασα πυρὸς ἔσω

in honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blaze

σῶμά τ' αἴθοπι φλογμῷ

in honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blaze

nan	in honour’s cause, down into the fire below, to mix my ashes in the ruddy blaze

πόσει συμμείξασα, φίλον

with 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.

χρῶτα χρωτὶ πέλας θεμένα

with 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.

Φερσεφονείας ἥξω θαλάμους

with 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.

σὲ τὸν θανόντ' οὔποτ' ἐμᾷ

with 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.

προδοῦσα ψυχᾷ κατὰ γᾶς.

with 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.

ἴτω φῶς γάμοι τε:

Away with life and marriage too! Oh! The following verses are corrupt almost beyond hope of emendation, nor is it quite clear what the poet intended. By reading φανεῖεν , as Paley suggests, with τέκνοισιν ἐμοῖς and supplying the hiatus by εἴη δ’ , it is possible to extract an intelligible sense, somewhat different, however, from that proposed by Hermann or Hartung, and only offered here for want of a better. may my children live to see the dawn of a fairer, happier wedding-day in Argos! May loyalty inspire the husband’s heart

ἴθ' αἵτινες εὐναὶ

δικαίων ὑμεναίων ἐν ̓́Αργει

φανῶσιν τέκνοις: ὅσιος δ'

ὅσιος εὐναῖος γαμέτας

συντηχθεὶς αὔραις ἀδόλοις

his nature fusing with his wife’s! Choru

καὶ μὴν ὅδ' αὐτὸς σὸς πατὴρ βαίνει πέλας

Lo! the aged Iphis, thy father, draweth nigh to hear thy startling scheme, which yet he knows not and will grieve to learn. Iphi

γεραιὸς ̓͂Ιφις ἐς νεωτέρους λόγους

Lo! the aged Iphis, thy father, draweth nigh to hear thy startling scheme, which yet he knows not and will grieve to learn. Iphi

οὓς οὐ κατειδὼς πρόσθεν ἀλγήσει κλύων.

Lo! the aged Iphis, thy father, draweth nigh to hear thy startling scheme, which yet he knows not and will grieve to learn. Iphi

ὦ δυστάλαιναι, δυστάλας δ' ἐγὼ γέρων

Unhappy child! lo! I am come, a poor old man

ἥκω διπλοῦν πένθημ' ὁμαιμόνων ἔχων

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 Capaneu

τὸν μὲν θανόντα παῖδα Καδμείων δορὶ

̓Ετέοκλον ἐς γῆν πατρίδα ναυσθλώσων νεκρόν

ζητῶν τ' ἐμὴν παῖδ', ἣ δόμων ἐξώπιος

βέβηκε πηδήσασα Καπανέως δάμαρ

θανεῖν ἐρῶσα σὺν πόσει. χρόνον μὲν οὖν

and 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. Evadne

τὸν πρόσθ' ἐφρουρεῖτ' ἐν δόμοις: ἐπεὶ δ' ἐγὼ

φυλακὰς ἀνῆκα τοῖς παρεστῶσιν κακοῖς

βέβηκεν. ἀλλὰ τῇδέ νιν δοξάζομεν

μάλιστ' ἂν εἶναι: φράζετ' εἰ κατείδετε.

τί τάσδ' ἐρωτᾷς; ἥδ' ἐγὼ πέτρας ἔπι

Why question them? Lo, here upon the rock, father, o’er the pyre of Capaneus, like some bird I hover lightly, in my wretchedness. Iphi

ὄρνις τις ὡσεὶ Καπανέως ὑπὲρ πυρᾶς

Why question them? Lo, here upon the rock, father, o’er the pyre of Capaneus, like some bird I hover lightly, in my wretchedness. Iphi

δύστηνον αἰώρημα κουφίζω, πάτερ.

Why question them? Lo, here upon the rock, father, o’er the pyre of Capaneus, like some bird I hover lightly, in my wretchedness. Iphi

τέκνον, τίς αὔρα; τίς στόλος; τίνος χάριν

What wind hath blown thee hither, child? Whither away? Why didst thou pass the threshold of my house and seek this land? Evadne

δόμων ὑπεκβᾶς' ἦλθες ἐς τήνδε χθόνα;

What wind hath blown thee hither, child? Whither away? Why didst thou pass the threshold of my house and seek this land? Evadne

ὀργὴν λάβοις ἂν τῶν ἐμῶν βουλευμάτων

It would but anger thee to hear what I intend, and so I fain would keep thee ignorant, my father. Iphi

κλύων: ἀκοῦσαι δ' οὔ σε βούλομαι, πάτερ.

It would but anger thee to hear what I intend, and so I fain would keep thee ignorant, my father. Iphi

τί δ'; οὐ δίκαιον πατέρα τὸν σὸν εἰδέναι;

What! hath not thy own father a right to know? Evadne

κριτὴς ἂν εἴης οὐ σοφὸς γνώμης ἐμῆς.

Thou wouldst not wisely judge my intention. Iphi

σκευῇ δὲ τῇδε τοῦ χάριν κοσμεῖς δέμας;

Why dost thou deck thyself in that apparel? Evadne

θέλει τι κλεινὸν οὗτος ὁ στολμός, πάτερ.

A purport strange this robe conveys, father. Iphi

ὡς οὐκ ἐπ' ἀνδρὶ πένθιμος πρέπεις ὁρᾶν.

Thou hast no look of mourning for thy lord. Evadne

ἐς γάρ τι πρᾶγμα νεοχμὸν ἐσκευάσμεθα.

No, the reason why I thus am decked is strange, maybe. Iphi

κἄπειτα τύμβῳ καὶ πυρᾷ φαίνῃ πέλας;

Dost thou in such garb appear before a funeral-pyre? Evadne

ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ καλλίνικος ἔρχομαι.

Yea, for hither it is I come to take the meed of victory. Iphi

νικῶσα νίκην τίνα; μαθεῖν χρῄζω σέθεν.

Victory! what victory? This would I learn of thee. Evadne

πάσας γυναῖκας ἃς δέδορκεν ἥλιος.

A victory o’er all women on whom the sun looks down. Iphi

ἔργοις ̓Αθάνας ἢ φρενῶν εὐβουλίᾳ;

In Athena’s handiwork or in prudent counsel? Evadne

ἀρετῇ: πόσει γὰρ συνθανοῦσα κείσομαι.

In bravery; for I will lay me down and die with my lord. Iphi

τί φῄς; τί τοῦτ' αἴνιγμα σημαίνεις σαθρόν;

What dost thou say? What is this silly riddle thou propoundest? Evadne

ᾄσσω θανόντος Καπανέως τήνδ' ἐς πυράν.

To yonder pyre where lies dead Capaneus, I will leap down. Iphi

ὦ θύγατερ, οὐ μὴ μῦθον ἐς πολλοὺς ἐρεῖς.

My daughter, speak not thus before the multitude! Evadne

τοῦτ' αὐτὸ χρῄζω, πάντας ̓Αργείους μαθεῖν.

The very thing I wish, that every Argive should learn it. Iphi

ἀλλ' οὐδέ τοί σοι πείσομαι δρώσῃ τάδε.

Nay, I will ne’er consent to let thee do this deed. Evadne

ὅμοιον: οὐ γὰρ μὴ κίχῃς μ' ἑλὼν χερί.

(as she is throwing herself). ’Tis all one; thou shalt never catch me in thy grasp.

καὶ δὴ παρεῖται σῶμα — σοὶ μὲν οὐ φίλον

Lo! I cast me down, no joy to thee, but to myself and to my husband blazing on the pyre with me. Choru

ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ τῷ συμπυρουμένῳ πόσει.

Lo! I cast me down, no joy to thee, but to myself and to my husband blazing on the pyre with me. Choru

ἰώ, γύναι, δεινὸν ἔργον ἐξειργάσω.

O lady, what a fearful deed! Iphi

ἀπωλόμην δύστηνος, ̓Αργείων κόραι.

Ah me! I am undone, ye dames of Argos! Chorus chanting

ἒ ἔ, σχέτλια τάδε παθών

Alack, alack! a cruel blow is this to thee

τὸ πάντολμον ἔργον ὄψῃ τάλας.

but thou must yet witness, poor wretch, the full horror of this deed. Iphi

οὐκ ἄν τιν' εὕροιτ' ἄλλον ἀθλιώτερον.

A more unhappy wretch than me ye could not find. Choru

ἰὼ τάλας:

Woe for thee, unhappy man! Thou, old sir, hast been made partaker in the fortune of Oedipus, thou and my poor city too. Iphi

μετέλαχες τύχας Οἰδιπόδα, γέρον

Woe for thee, unhappy man! Thou, old sir, hast been made partaker in the fortune of Oedipus, thou and my poor city too. Iphi

μέρος καὶ σὺ καὶ πόλις ἐμὰ τλάμων.

Woe for thee, unhappy man! Thou, old sir, hast been made partaker in the fortune of Oedipus, thou and my poor city too. Iphi

οἴμοι: τί δὴ βροτοῖσιν οὐκ ἔστιν τόδε

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 youth

νέους δὶς εἶναι καὶ γέροντας αὖ πάλιν;

ἀλλ' ἐν δόμοις μὲν ἤν τι μὴ καλῶς ἔχῃ

γνώμαισιν ὑστέραισιν ἐξορθούμεθα

αἰῶνα δ' οὐκ ἔξεστιν. εἰ δ' ἦμεν νέοι

δὶς καὶ γέροντες, εἴ τις ἐξημάρτανε

and 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

διπλοῦ βίου λαχόντες ἐξωρθούμεθ' ἄν.

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄλλους εἰσορῶν τεκνουμένους

παίδων ἐραστὴς ἦ πόθῳ τ' ἀπωλλύμην.

†εἰ δ' ἐς τόδ' ἦλθον κἀξεπειράθην τέκνων

οἷον στέρεσθαι πατέρα γίγνεται τέκνων

and by a father’s light Following Paley’s τεκών for the MSS. τέκνων . 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?

οὐκ ἄν ποτ' ἐς τόδ' ἦλθον εἰς ὃ νῦν κακόν:†

ὅστις φυτεύσας καὶ νεανίαν τεκὼν

ἄριστον, εἶτα τοῦδε νῦν στερίσκομαι.

εἶἑν: τί δὴ χρὴ τὸν ταλαίπωρόν με δρᾶν;

στείχειν πρὸς οἴκους; κᾆτ' ἐρημίαν ἴδω

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 cheek

πολλῶν μελάθρων, ἀπορίαν τ' ἐμῷ βίῳ;

ἢ πρὸς μέλαθρα τοῦδε Καπανέως μόλω;

ἥδιστα πρίν γε δῆθ', ὅτ' ἦν παῖς ἥδε μοι.

ἀλλ' οὐκέτ' ἔστιν, ἥ γ' ἐμὴν γενειάδα

προσήγετ' αἰεὶ στόματι καὶ κάρα τόδε

to 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

κατεῖχε χειρί: πατρὶ δ' οὐδὲν †ἥδιον†

γέροντι θυγατρός: ἀρσένων δὲ μείζονες

ψυχαί, γλυκεῖαι δ' ἧσσον ἐς θωπεύματα.

οὐχ ὡς τάχιστα δῆτά μ' ἄξετ' ἐς δόμους;

σκότῳ δὲ δώσετ': ἔνθ' ἀσιτίαις ἐμὸν

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

δέμας γεραιὸν συντακεὶς ἀποφθερῶ.

τί μ' ὠφελήσει παιδὸς ὀστέων θιγεῖν;

ὦ δυσπάλαιστον γῆρας, ὡς μισῶ ς' ἔχων

μισῶ δ' ὅσοι χρῄζουσιν ἐκτείνειν βίον

βρωτοῖσι καὶ ποτοῖσι καὶ μαγεύμασι

eeking to turn the tide of death aside by philtres, Reading βρωτοῖσι καὶ βοτοῖσι καῖ μαγεύμασι , as restored from Plutarch’s quotation of the passage. drugs, and magic spells,—folk that death should take away to leave the young their place, when they no more can benefit the world. Choru

παρεκτρέποντες ὀχετὸν ὥστε μὴ θανεῖν:

οὓς χρῆν, ἐπειδὰν μηδὲν ὠφελῶσι γῆν

θανόντας ἔρρειν κἀκποδὼν εἶναι νέοις.

καὶ μὴν θαλάμας τάσδ' ἐσορῶ δὴ

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 chief

Καπανέως ἤδη τύμβον θ' ἱερὸν

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 chief

μελάθρων τ' ἐκτὸς

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 chief

Θησέως ἀναθήματα νεκροῖς

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 chief

κλεινήν τ' ἄλοχον τοῦ καπφθιμένου

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 chief

τοῦδε κεραυνῷ πέλας Εὐάδνην

I 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? Evadne

ἣν ̓͂Ιφις ἄναξ παῖδα φυτεύει.

I 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? Evadne

τί ποτ' αἰθερίαν ἕστηκε πέτραν

I 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? Evadne

ἣ τῶνδε δόμων ὑπερακρίζει

I 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? Evadne

τήνδ' ἐμβαίνουσα κέλευθον;

I 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? Evadne

τί φέγγος, τίν' αἴγλαν

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 None of the proposed emendations of this corrupt passage are convincing. Hermann’s λάμπαι δ’ ὠκύθοοί νιν ἀμφιππεύουσι is here followed. Nauck has λαμπαδ’ ἱν’ ὠκυθόαι νύμφαι ἱππεύουσι . careered

ἐδίφρευε τόθ' ἅλιος

σελάνα τε κατ' αἰθέρα

†λαμπάδ' ἵν' ὠκυθόαι νύμφαι†

ἱππεύουσι δι' ὀρφναίας

ἁνίκα γάμων γάμων