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.
- Wilt thou that I sum up in brief all thou wouldst say?
- Say what thou wilt; for thou art not silent as it is.
- Thou shalt never take the sons of Argos from our land.
- Hear, then, my answer too to that, if so thou wilt.
- I will hear thee; not that I wish it, but I must give thee thy turn.
- I will bury the dead, when from Asopus’ land I have removed them.
- First must thou adventure somewhat in the front of war.
- Many an enterprise and of a different kind have I ere this endured.
- Wert thou then begotten of thy sire to cope with every foe?
- Ay, with all wanton villains; virtue I punish not.
- To meddle is aye thy wont and thy city’s too.
- Hence her enterprise on many a held hath won her frequent success.
- Come then, that the warriors of the dragon-crop may catch thee in our city.
- What furious warrior-host could spring from dragon’s seed?
- Thou shalt learn that to thy cost. As yet thou art young and rash.
- Thy boastful speech stirs not my heart at all to rage. Yet get thee gone from my land, taking with thee the idle words thou broughtest; for we are making no advance. [Exit Herald.]
- ’Tis time for all to start,
- each stout footman, and whoso mounts the car; ’tis time the bit, dripping with foam, should urge the charger on toward the land of Cadmus. For I will march in person to the seven gates thereof
- with the sharp sword in my hand, and be myself my herald. But thee, Adrastus, I bid stay, nor blend with mine thy fortunes, for I will take my own good star to lead my host, a chieftain famed in famous deeds of arms. One thing alone I need, the favour of all gods that reverence right, for the presence of these things
- insures victory. For their valour availeth men naught, unless they have the god’s goodwill. [Exit Theseus.