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.

  1. by one man, but is free. The people rule in succession year by year, allowing no preference to wealth, but the poor man shares equally with the rich.
Herald
  1. Thou givest me here an advantage, as it might be in a game of draughts[*](Possibly referring to a habit of allowing the weaker player so many moves or points.);
  2. for the city, whence I come, is ruled by one man only, not by the mob; none there puffs up the citizens with specious words, and for his own advantage twists them this way or that,—one moment dear to them and lavish of his favours,
  3. the next a bane to all; and yet by fresh calumnies of others he hides his former failures and escapes punishment. Besides, how shall the people, if it cannot form true judgments, be able rightly to direct the state? Nay, ’tis time, not haste, that affords a better
  4. understanding. A poor hind, granted he be not all unschooled, would still be unable from his toil to give his mind to politics. Verily[*](Kirchhoff considers lines 423 to 425 spurious.) the better sort count it no healthy sign when the worthless man obtains a reputation
  5. by beguiling with words the populace, though aforetime he was naught.
Theseus
  1. This herald is a clever fellow, a dabbler in the art of talk. But since thou hast thus entered the lists with me, listen awhile, for ’twas thou didst challenge a discussion. Naught is more hostile to a city than a despot;
  2. where he is, there are in the first place no laws common to all, but one
    man is tyrant, in whose keeping and in his alone the law resides, and in that case equality is at an end. But when the laws are written down, rich and poor alike have equal justice,
  3. and[*](Nauck omits lines 435, 436, as they are not given by Stobaeus in quoting the passage.) it is open to the weaker to use the same language to the prosperous when he is reviled by him, and the weaker prevails over the stronger if he have justice on his side. Freedom’s mark is also seen in this: Who[*](A reference to the question put by the herald in the Athenian ἐκκλησία, Τίς ἀγορεύειν βούλεται; It here serves as a marked characteristic of democracy.) hath wholesome counsel to declare unto the state?
  4. And he who chooses to do so gains renown, while he, who hath no wish, remains silent. What greater equality can there be in a city?
  5. Again, where the people are absolute rulers of the land, they rejoice in having a reserve of youthful citizens, while a king counts[*](The words ἐχθρὸν . . . ἀρίστους are regarded by Nauck as spurious.) this a hostile element,
  6. and strives to slay the leading men, all such as he deems discreet, for he feareth for his power. How then can a city remain stable, where one cuts short all[*](i.e. τόλμας for which Prinz suggests κλῶνας.) enterprise and mows down the young like meadow-flowers in spring-time?
  7. What boots it to acquire wealth and livelihood for children, merely[*](Kirchhoff rejects this line.) to add to the tyrant’s substance by one’s toil? Why train up virgin daughters virtuously in our homes to gratify a tyrant’s whim, whenso he will, and cause tears to those who rear them? May my life end
  8. if ever my children are to be wedded by violence! This bolt I launch in answer to thy words. Now say, why art thou come? what needest thou of this land? Had not thy city sent thee, to thy cost hadst thou come with thy outrageous utterances; for it is the herald’s duty
  9. to tell the message he is bidden and hie him back in haste. Henceforth
    forth let Creon send to my city some other messenger less talkative than thee.
Chorus
  1. Look you! how insolent the villains are, when Fortune is kind to them, just as if it would be well with them for ever.