The Phoenician Women
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891.
- Ah, ah! How proud, how fearful to see, like an earth-born giant, with stars engraved on his shield, not resembling
- mortal race.
- Do you see the one crossing Dirce’s stream?
- His armor is quite different. Who is that?
- Tydeus, the son of Oeneus, Aetolian battle-spirit in his breast.
- Is this the one, old man, who married a sister of Polyneices’ wife? What a foreign look his armor has, half-barbarian!
- Yes, my child; all Aetolians carry shields,
- and are most unerring marksmen with their darts.
- How do you know them so clearly, old man?
- I saw and learned the devices on their shields before, when I went with the terms of the truce to your brother, since I looked closely at them, I know the armed men.
- Who is that youth passing by the tomb of Zethus, with long flowing hair, fierce to see? Is he a captain? For an armed crowd follows at his heels.
- That is Parthenopaeus, Atalanta’s son.
- May Artemis, who rushes over the hills with his mother, lay him low with an arrow, for coming against my city to sack it!
- May it be so, my child; but they have come here with justice,
- and my fear is that the gods will take the rightful view.
- Where is the one who was born of the same mother as I was, by a painful destiny? Oh! tell me, old friend, where Polyneices is.
- He is standing by Adrastus,
- near the tomb of Niobe’s seven unwed daughters. Do you see him?
- I see him, yes! but not clearly; I see the outline of his form, the likeness of his breast. Would I could speed through the sky, swift as a cloud before the wind,
- towards my own dear brother, and throw my arms about my darling’s neck, so long, poor boy! an exile. How distinguished he is with his golden weapons, old man, flashing like the morning rays!