The Suppliant Maidens
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- A purport strange this robe conveys, father.
- Thou hast no look of mourning for thy lord.
- No, the reason why I thus am decked is strange, maybe.
- Dost thou in such garb appear before a funeral-pyre?
- Yea, for hither it is I come to take the meed of victory.
- Victory! what victory? This would I learn of thee.
- A victory o’er all women on whom the sun looks down.
- In Athena’s handiwork or in prudent counsel?
- In bravery; for I will lay me down and die with my lord.
- What dost thou say? What is this silly riddle thou propoundest?
- To yonder pyre where lies dead Capaneus, I will leap down.
- My daughter, speak not thus before the multitude!
- The very thing I wish, that every Argive should learn it.
- Nay, I will ne’er consent to let thee do this deed.
- (as she is throwing herself). ’Tis all one; thou shalt never catch me in thy grasp.
- Lo! I cast me down, no joy to thee, but to myself and to my husband blazing on the pyre with me.
- O lady, what a fearful deed!
- Ah me! I am undone, ye dames of Argos!
- Alack, alack! a cruel blow is this to thee,
- but thou must yet witness, poor wretch, the full horror of this deed.