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Macaria
Sirs, impute not boldness to me, because
I venture forth; this shall be my first request, for a woman’s fairest crown is this, to practise silence and discretion, and abide at home in peace. But when I heard thy lamentations, Iolaus, I came forth, albeit I was not appointed to take the lead in my family.
475
Still in some sense am I fit to do so, for these my brothers are my chiefest care, and I fain would ask, as touching myself, whether some new trouble, added to the former woes, is gnawing at thy heart.
480
Sirs, impute not boldness to me, because
I venture forth; this shall be my first request, for a woman’s fairest crown is this, to practise silence and discretion, and abide at home in peace. But when I heard thy lamentations, Iolaus, I came forth, albeit I was not appointed to take the lead in my family.
475
Still in some sense am I fit to do so, for these my brothers are my chiefest care, and I fain would ask, as touching myself, whether some new trouble, added to the former woes, is gnawing at thy heart.
480
Iolaus
My daughter, ’tis nothing new that I should praise thee, as I justly may,
above all the children of Heracles. Our house seemed to be prospering, when back it fell again into a hopeless state; for the king declares the prophets signify that he must order the sacrifice, not of bull or heifer, but of some tender maid
485
of noble lineage, if we and this city are to exist. Herein is our perplexity; the king refuses either to sacrifice his own or any other’s child.
1
Wherefore, though he use not terms express, yet doth he hint,
490
that, unless we find some way out of this perplexity, we must seek some other land, for he this country fain would save.
495
My daughter, ’tis nothing new that I should praise thee, as I justly may,
above all the children of Heracles. Our house seemed to be prospering, when back it fell again into a hopeless state; for the king declares the prophets signify that he must order the sacrifice, not of bull or heifer, but of some tender maid
485
of noble lineage, if we and this city are to exist. Herein is our perplexity; the king refuses either to sacrifice his own or any other’s child.
1
Wherefore, though he use not terms express, yet doth he hint,
490
that, unless we find some way out of this perplexity, we must seek some other land, for he this country fain would save.
495
Macaria
Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends?
Are these indeed the terms on which our safety depends?
Iolaus
Yea, on these; if, that is, we are successful otherwise.
Yea, on these; if, that is, we are successful otherwise.
Macaria
No longer then cower before the hated Argive spear; for I, of my own free will, or ever they bid me, am ready to die and offer myself as a victim. For what excuse have we, if, while this city deems it right to incur a great danger on our behalf,
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we, though we might save ourselves, fly from death, by foisting our trouble on others? No! indeed, ’twere surely most ridiculous to sit and mourn as suppliants of the gods, and show ourselves but cowards, children as we are of that illustrious sire.
505
Where among the brave is such conduct seen? Better, I suppose, this city should be taken and I (which Heaven forefend!) fall into the hands of the enemy, and then, for all I am my noble father’s child, meet an awful doom, and face the Death-god none the less.
510
Shall I wander as an exile from this land? Shall I not feel shame then, when someone says, as say they will,
Why are ye come hither with suppliant boughs, loving your lives too well? Begone from our land! for we will not succour cowards.
515
No longer then cower before the hated Argive spear; for I, of my own free will, or ever they bid me, am ready to die and offer myself as a victim. For what excuse have we, if, while this city deems it right to incur a great danger on our behalf,
500
we, though we might save ourselves, fly from death, by foisting our trouble on others? No! indeed, ’twere surely most ridiculous to sit and mourn as suppliants of the gods, and show ourselves but cowards, children as we are of that illustrious sire.
505
Where among the brave is such conduct seen? Better, I suppose, this city should be taken and I (which Heaven forefend!) fall into the hands of the enemy, and then, for all I am my noble father’s child, meet an awful doom, and face the Death-god none the less.
510
Shall I wander as an exile from this land? Shall I not feel shame then, when someone says, as say they will,
Why are ye come hither with suppliant boughs, loving your lives too well? Begone from our land! for we will not succour cowards.
515
Heracleidae. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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