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.

  1. is close and the house is not deserted. Come, let me sheath my sword in its dark scabbard and ask these women standing near the house, who they are.
  2. Ladies of another land, tell me from what country do you come to the halls of Hellas?
Chorus Leader
  1. Phoenicia is my native land where I was born and bred; and the grandsons of Agenor sent me here as first-fruits of the spoil of war for Phoebus. But when the noble son of Oedipus was about to send me to the hallowed oracle and the altars of Loxias,
  2. the Argive army came against his city. Now tell me in return who you are, who have come to this fortress of the Theban land with its seven gates.
Polyneices
  1. My father was Oedipus, the son of Laius; my mother Jocasta, daughter of Menoeceus;
  2. and I am called Polyneices by the people of Thebes.