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.
- save us, and reconcile my sons! For you, if you are really wise, must not allow the same mortal to be forever wretched. Exit Jocasta.
- From the roof.Antigone, famous child in your father’s house, although your mother allowed you at your entreaty to leave your maiden chamber
- for the topmost story of the house, to see the Argive army, wait, so that I may first investigate the path, whether there be any of the citizens visible on the road, and reproach, a slight matter to a slave like me, should come
- to you, my royal mistress; and when I have examined everything, I will tell you what I saw and heard from the Argives, when I carried the terms of the truce from here to Polyneices and back from him again.
- No, there is no citizen near the house,
- so mount the ancient cedar steps, and view the plains; beside Ismenus’ streams and the fountain of Dirce see the great army of the enemy.
- Stretch out your hand to me from the stairs now, stretch it out, the hand of age to youth,
- helping me to rise.
- There! clasp it, maiden; you have come at the right time; for Pelasgia’s army is just upon the move, and they are separating the companies.
- O Lady Hecate,
- child of Leto! The plain is one lightning-flash of bronze.
- Ah! this is no ordinary home-coming of Polyneices, with the clash of many horses, many arms.
- Are the gates barred, and the brazen bolts
- fitted into Amphion’s walls of stone?
- Never fear! All is safe within the town. But see the first one, if you want to know him.
- Who is that one with the white crest,
- who marches before the army, lightly bearing on his arm a shield all of bronze?
- A captain, mistress.
- Who is he? Who is his family? Tell me his name, old man.
- He claims to be Mycenaean; by Lerna’s streams he dwells, the lord Hippomedon.