Rhesus
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.
- Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temples.
- Then what greater prize than these will you ask me for?
- Achilles’ horses. The prize must be worth the toil when one stakes one’s life on Fortune’s dice.
- Ah! but your desires clash with mine about those horses;
- for they are immortal and born from immortals, who bear the son of Peleus on his headlong course. Poseidon, lord of the ocean, broke them and gave them to Peleus, so runs the legend. Yet, for I urged you on, I will not break my word; I will give to you
- Achilles’ team, a fair possession for your house.
- I thank you; in receiving then, I assert that I am taking a fairer gift than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet you should not be envious; you have other things to gladden your heart, in your kingship over this land.
- Great the enterprise, and great the reward you design to receive. Happy, yes, happy will you be, if you succeed; fair the fame your toil shall win. Yet it is a great thing to become the brother-in-law of princes. On the gods’ decrees let Justice keep her eye!
- what man can give you have, it seems, in full.
- I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.
- Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?
- One that fits my task and furtive steps.
- One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?
- I will fasten a wolf-skin about my back, and over my head put the brute’s gaping jaws;
- then fitting its fore-feet to ny hands and its hind-feet to my legs, I will go on all-fours in imitation of a wolf’s gait to puzzle the enemy, when I approach their trenches and barriers round the ships. Rut whenever I come to a deserted spot,
- I will walk on two feet; such is the ruse I have decided on.
- May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.
- I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus
- when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon.
- Lord of Thymbra and of Delos, who haunt