Trachiniae

Sophocles

Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 5: The Trachiniae. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1892.

  1. that old woman approaches to give us some news.
Enter the Nurse, from the house.
Nurse
  1. Ah, my daughters, great, indeed, are the sorrows for us that began with the gift sent to Heracles!
Chorus
  1. Old woman, what new trouble have you to tell?
Nurse
  1. Deianeira has departed on the last
  2. of all her journeys, departed without stirring a foot.
Chorus
  1. Surely you do not mean she is dead?
Nurse
  1. My tale is told.
Chorus
  1. Dead, the poor woman?
Nurse
  1. Again you hear me affirm it.
Chorus
  1. Poor, lost one! Tell me, what was the manner of her death?
Nurse
  1. Oh, it was most cruel in its execution!
Chorus
  1. Speak,
  2. woman, with what end did she meet?
Nurse
  1. She destroyed herself.
Chorus
  1. What impulse drove her? What disease of her mind seized her on the point of its evil shaft? How did she contrive
  2. this death upon death, accomplishing it all on her own?
Nurse
  1. By a stroke of the sword which gives cause for mourning.
Chorus
  1. Did you witness that violent deed, poor helpless one?
Nurse
  1. I did, yes, since I was standing close by.
Chorus
  1. What was it? How was it done? Oh, speak!