Iphigenia in Aulis

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. Pallas set in a winged chariot drawn by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight for mariners.
Chorus
  1. Then I saw Boeotia’s fleet of fifty sails
  2. decked with ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born Leitus
  3. was their admiral. And there were ships from Phocis; and from Locris came the son of Oileus with an equal contingent, leaving famed Thronium’s citadel.
Chorus
  1. And from Mycenae, the Cyclopes’ town, Atreus’ son sent a hundred well-manned galleys, and [*](Paley reads ἀδελφὸς with Markland for Ἄδραστος of the old copies.) was with him in command, as friend with friend,
  2. that Hellas might exact vengeance on the one who had fled her home to wed a foreigner. Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor’s prows from Pylos
  3. the ensign of his neighbour Alpheus, four-footed like a bull.
Chorus
  1. Moreover there was a squadron of twelve Aenianian sail under King Gouneus; and then near them
  2. the lords of Elis, whom all the people named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; Iikewise he led the Taphian warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects of Meges,
  3. son of Phyleus, who had left the isles of the Echinades, where sailors cannot land.
Chorus
  1. Lastly, Aias, reared in Salamis,
  2. was joining his right wing to the left[*](This line is corrupt, and perhaps the next also. The attempted version follows Weil.) of those near whom he was posed, closing the line with his outermost ships, twelve barques obedient to the helm, as I heard and then
  3. saw the crews; the one who brings his barbaric boats to grapple Aias shall obtain no safe return. There I saw[*](The word ἄιον before εἰδόμαν is probably a gloss on that verb. Some editors adopt Hermann’s οἶον, but there is no certainty in it.)
  4. the naval armament, but some things I heard at home about the gathered army, of which I still have a recollection.
Old man
  1. Strange daring yours, Menelaus, where you have no right.
Menelaus
  1. Stand back! You carry loyalty to your master too far.
Old man
  1. The very reproach you have for me is to my credit.
Menelaus
  1. You shall rue it, if you meddle in matters that do not concern you.
Old man
  1. You had no right to open a letter, which I was carrying.
Menelaus
  1. No, nor you to be carrying sorrow to all Hellas.