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. if it get an evil name by reason of an evil governor.
  2. Such another was Hippomedon, third of all this band; from his very boyhood he refrained from turning towards the allurements of the Muses, to lead a life of ease; his home was in the fields, and gladly would he school his nature to hardships
  3. with a view to manliness, aye hasting to the chase, rejoicing in his steeds or straining of his bow, because he would make himself of use unto his state. Next behold the huntress Atalanta’s son, Parthenopaeus, a youth of peerless beauty;
  4. from Arcady he came even to the streams of Inachus, and in Argos spent his boyhood. There, when he grew to man’s estate, first, as is the duty of strangers settled in another land, he showed no pique or jealousy against the state, became no quibbler, chiefest source of annoyance
  5. citizen or stranger can give, but took his stand amid the host, and fought for Argos as he were her own son,
    glad at heart whenso the city prospered, deeply grieved if e’er reverses came; many[*](Dindorf regards this line as an interpolation.) a lover though he had midst men and maids,
  6. yet was he careful to avoid offence.
  7. Of Tydeus next the lofty praise I will express in brief; no brilliant spokesman he, but a clever craftsman in the art of war, with many a shrewd[*](Valckenaer σοφός for MS. σοφά. Porson condemns the line.) device; inferior in judgment to his brother Meleager,
  8. yet through his warrior skill lending his name to equal praise, for he had found in arms a perfect science; his was an ambitious nature, a spirit rich in store of deeds, with words less fully dowered. From this account then wonder not,
  9. Theseus, that they dared to die before the towers; for noble nurture carries honour with it, and every man, when once he hath practised virtue, scorns the name of villain. Courage may be learnt, for even a babe doth learn
  10. to speak and hear things it cannot comprehend; and whatso’er a child[*](Reading παῖς with Valckenaer.) hath learnt, this it is his wont to treasure up till he is old. So train up your children in a virtuous way.
Chorus
  1. Alas! my son, to sorrow I bare thee and carried thee within my womb,
  2. enduring the pangs of travail; but now Hades takes the fruit of all my hapless toil, and I that; had a son am left, ah me! with none to nurse my age.
Theseus
  1. As for the noble son of Oecleus, him, while yet he lived, the gods snatched hence to the bowels of the earth, and. his chariot too, manifestly blessing him; while I myself may truthfully tell the praises of the son of Oedipus, that is, Polynices,
  2. for he was my guest-friend ere he left the town of Cadmus and crossed to Argos in voluntary exile. But dost thou know what I would have thee do in this matter?
Adrastus
  1. I know naught save this,—to yield obedience to thy hests.
Theseus
  1. As for yon Capaneus, stricken by the bolt of Zeus—
Adrastus
  1. Wilt bury him apart as a consecrated corpse?
Theseus
  1. Even so; but all the rest on one funeral pyre.
Adrastus
  1. Where wilt thou set the tomb apart for him?
Theseus
  1. Here near this temple have I builded him a sepulchre.