Rhesus

Euripides

Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Translated into English rhyming verse with explanatory notes by Gilbert Murray. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.

  1. We cannot force Fortune against her will.
DIOMEDE.
  1. Could we not find Aeneas? Or the bed
  2. Of Paris the accurst, and have his head?
ODYSSEUS.
  1. Go by night searching through these lines of men
  2. For chiefs to kill? ’Twere death and death again.
DIOMEDE.
  1. But to go empty back—what shame ’twill be!—
  2. And not one blow struck home at the enemy!
ODYSSEUS.
  1. How not one blow? Did we not baulk and kill
  2. Dolon, their spy, and bear his tokens still?
  3. Dost think the whole camp should be thine to quell?
DIOMEDE takes DOLON’S wolf-mask off his belt and hangs it in HECTOR’S tent, then turns.[*](P. 33, l. 594, Stage direction.]—They bear Dolon’s spoils or tokens: probably his wolf-skin. If they bring it with them they must probably do something with it, and to hang it where it may give Hector a violent start seems the natural proceeding. Also, they can hardly be carrying it in the scene with the Guards, 1. 675 ff., p. 38 f. That would be madness. They must have got rid of it before then, and this seems the obvious place for doing so.)
DIOMEDE.
  1. Good. Now for home! And may the end be well!
As they turn there appears at the back a luminous and gigantic shape, the Goddess ATHENA.
ATHENA.
  1. What make ye, from these sleepers thus to part
  2. Desponding and with sorrow-wounded heart
  3. If Hector be not granted you to slay
  4. Nor Paris? Little know ye what great stay
  5. Of help is found for Troy. This very night
  6. Rhesus is come; who, if he see the light
  7. Of morning, not Achilles nor the rack
  8. Of Ajax’ spear hath power to hold him back,
  9. Ere wall and gate be shattered and inside