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.
- To thee, in thy mantle muffled, I address my inquiries; unveil thy head, let lamentation be, and speak; for naught can be achieved save through the utterance of thy tongue.[*](Markland’s emendation περᾷς … ’ιών, is certainly tempting. Hartung adopts it; but Paley and Nauck, whom I have followed, retain the old reading πάρας … ’ιόν.)
- Victorious prince of the Athenian realm, Theseus, to thee and to thy city I, a suppliant, come.
- What seekest thou? What need is thine?
- Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?
- Assuredly; thou didst not pass through Hellas, all in silence.
- There I lost the pick of Argos’ sons.
- These are the results of that unhappy war.
- I went and craved their bodies from Thebes.
- Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?
- I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.
- Why, what say they to thy just request?
- Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.