Happy are they who find the goddess come in moderate might, sharing with self-restraintin Aphrodite’s gift of marriage and enjoying calm and rest from frenzied passions, where the Love-god, golden-haired, stretches his charmed bow with twin arrows,and one is aimed at happiness, the other at life’s confusion. O lady Cypris, queen of beauty! far from my bridal bower I ban the last. Be mine delight in moderationand pure desires, and may I have a share in love, but shun excess!
ChorusMen’s natures vary, and their habits differ,but virtue is always manifest. Likewise the training that come of education conduces greatly to virtue; for not only is modesty wisdom, but it has also the rare graceἐξαλλάσσουσαν χάριν. Liddell and Scott render as above. Paley follows Hermann in rendering a compensating pleasure.
The whole of this chorus is so full, however, of corruption, and possibly interpolation, that it is not unlikely that this phrase was not of Euripides’ coining.of seeing by its better judgment what is right; whereby a glory, ever young, is shed over life by reputation. A great thing it is to hunt virtue, for women when they lovesecretly; while in men, an inborn sense of order, shown in countless ways,Reading κόσμος ἐνὼν ὁ μυριπληθὴς with Markland, but here again it is hopeless to recover the true reading. adds to a city’s greatness.
ChorusYou came, O Paris, to the place where you were reared to herd the cowsamong the white heifers of Ida, piping in foreign strain and breathing on your reeds an echo of the Phrygian airs Olympus played. Full-uddered cows were browsing at the spotwhereReading ὄθι with Hartung. that verdict between goddesses was awaiting you—the cause of your going to Hellas to stand before the ivory palace, kindling love in Helen’sentranced eyes and feeling its flutter in your own breast; from which the fiend of strife brought Hellas with her spear and ships to the towers of Troy. Chorus of Argive menOh! great is the bliss the great enjoy. Behold Iphigenia, the king’s child, my lady, and Clytemnestra, the daughter of Tyndareus; how proud their lineage!how high their pinnacle of fortune! These mighty ones, whom wealth attends, are very gods in the eyes of less favored folk.
ChorusLet us stand here, maidens of Chalcis, and lift the queen from her chariotto the ground without stumbling, supporting her gently in our arms, with kind intent, that the renowned daughter of Agamemnon, just arrived, may feel no fear; strangers ourselves, let us avoid anything that may disturbor frighten the strangers from Argos.The whole passage from l. 574-606 is regarded by Paley and Dindorf as an interpolation; while most editors concur in regarding 11. 599-606 as undoubtedly spurious.ClytemnestraI take this as a lucky omen, your kindness and auspicious greeting, and have good hope that it is to a happy marriageI conduct the bride. To attendants. Take from the chariot the dowry I am bringing for my daughter and convey it within with careful heed.My daughter, leave the horse-drawn chariot, planting your faltering footstep delicately.κῶλον ἀσθενές θ’ ἅμα, but Hermann’s κῶλον ἀσφαλῶς χαμαί is tempting. To the Chorus.