Euripides, Hippolytus, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 776

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Weh, weh!

Zu Hülf ihr alle, die dem Hause nahe sind!

Theseus' Gemahlinn, unsre Frau erhenkte sich.

Chor.

Es ist gescheh'n, ach! unsre Königinn dahin!

Sie schlang um ihren Nacken sich das Todesband.
770

Diener.

Ihr eilet nicht, holt nicht ein doppelschneidig Schwert,

Und trennt von ihrem Halse gleich die Schlinge los?

Erster Halbchor.

Was thun wir, Frauen? Dringen wir in's Haus hinein,

Sie loszumachen aus dem festgezognen Strang?

Zweiter Halb chor.

Wie? Sind im Haus nicht junge Dienerinnen schon?
775

Gefährlich ist es, sich um Alzuvieles mühn.

Ein Diener (im Palaste).

Reckt aus die Todte, richtet auf das arme Weib!

Das ist ein bittrer Liebesdienst für meinen Herrn.

Chor.

Dahin (wir hdren's) ist die Unglückselige;

Bereits als eine Todte wird sie ausgestreckt.
780

Theseus.

Ihr Frauen, wißt ihr, welcher Lärm im Hause schaut ?

Der Diener schwere Klage drang zum Dhre mir.

Mich als Drakelbringer hålt nicht werth das Haus,

Mir seine Pforten freudiggrüßend aufzuthun.

Ist doch des Pittheus Alter nicht ein Leid geschehn?
785

Zwar vorgeruckt ist seine Zeit; doch wird' es uns

Noch immer schmerzen, wenn er schied' aus diesem Haus.

Chor.

Nicht nach des Greises Haupte zielt dir das Geschick,

Theseus! Betrüben werden Junggestorbne dich.

Theseus.

Weh! Ward der Kinder Leben mir doch nicht geraubt?
790

Chor.

Sie leben, dir zum Schmerze, da die Mutter starb.

Theseus.

Wie sagst du? Meine Gattinn starb? Durch welches Loos?

Chor.

Die Todesschlinge wand sie selbst um ihren Hals.

Theseus.

Erstarrt in Trauer? Oder wie begab es sich?

-Chor.

Nur dieses weiß ich: eben kam auch ich daher
795

Zum Hause, Theseus, und bejammre dein Geschick.

Was kränzen Lorbeerzweige doch die Schlafe mir,

Der, ach, zu boser Stunde kam von Delphis Haus?

Die Pfortenriegel schließet mir, o Diener, auf,

Und lost die Fugen, daß ich mein unselig Weib
800

Erblicke, welches sterbend mich vernichtete!

Chor.

Hippolytus. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1841; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 1, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1841. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἱππόλυτος Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.) — 776-1101 focus

Τροφός
ἔσωθεν

ἰοὺ ἰού·

βοηδρομεῖτε πάντες οἱ πέλας δόμων·

ἐν ἀγχόναις δέσποινα, Θησέως δάμαρ.

Χορός

— φεῦ φεῦ, πέπρακται· βασιλὶς οὐκέτ’ ἔστι δὴ

γυνή, κρεμαστοῖς ἐν βρόχοις ἠρτημένη.

Τροφός

οὐ σπεύσετ’; οὐκ οἴσει τις ἀμφιδέξιον
780

σίδηρον, ᾧ τόδ’ ἅμμα λύσομεν δέρης;

Χορός

— φίλαι, τί δρῶμεν; ἢ δοκεῖ περᾶν δόμους

λῦσαί τ’ ἄνασσαν ἐξ ἐπισπαστῶν βρόχων;

— τί δ’; οὐ πάρεισι πρόσπολοι νεανίαι;

τὸ πολλὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ βίου.
785

Τροφός

ὀρθώσατ’ ἐκτείνοντες ἄθλιον νέκυν·

πικρὸν τόδ’ οἰκούρημα δεσπόταις ἐμοῖς.

Χορός

— ὄλωλεν ἡ δύστηνος, ὡς κλύω, γυνή·

ἤδη γὰρ ὡς νεκρόν νιν ἐκτείνουσι δή.

Θησεύς

γυναῖκες, ἴστε τίς ποτ’ ἐν δόμοις βοή;
790

ἠχὼ βαρεῖα προσπόλων ἀφίκετο.

οὐ γάρ τί μ’ ὡς θεωρὸν ἀξιοῖ δόμος

πύλας ἀνοίξας εὐφρόνως προσεννέπειν.

μῶν Πιτθέως τι γῆρας εἴργασται νέον;

πρόσω μὲν ἤδη βίοτος, ἀλλ’ ὅμως ἔτ’ ἂν
795

λυπηρὸς ἡμῖν τούσδ’ ἂν ἐκλίποι δόμους.

Χορός

οὐκ ἐς γέροντας ἥδε σοι τείνει τύχη,

Θησεῦ· νέοι θανόντες ἀλγυνοῦσί σε.

Θησεύς

οἴμοι· τέκνων μοι μή τι συλᾶται βίος;

Χορός

ζῶσιν, θανούσης μητρὸς ὡς ἄλγιστά σοι.
800

Θησεύς

τί φῄς; ὄλωλεν ἄλοχος; ἐκ τίνος τύχης;

Χορός

βρόχον κρεμαστὸν ἀγχόνης ἀνήψατο.

Θησεύς

λύπῃ παχνωθεῖσ’, ἢ ἀπὸ συμφορᾶς τινος;

Χορός

τοσοῦτον ἴσμεν· ἄρτι γὰρ κἀγὼ δόμοις,

Θησεῦ, πάρειμι σῶν κακῶν πενθήτρια.
805

Θησεύς

αἰαῖ· τί δῆτα τοῖσδ’ ἀνέστεμμαι κάρα

πλεκτοῖσι φύλλοις, δυστυχὴς θεωρὸς ὤν;

χαλᾶτε κλῇθρα, πρόσπολοι, πυλωμάτων,

ἐκλύεθ’ ἁρμούς, ὡς ἴδω πικρὰν θέαν
825

γυναικός, ἥ με κατθανοῦσ’ ἀπώλεσεν.
810

811

Χορός

— ἰὼ ἰὼ τάλαινα μελέων κακῶν·

ἔπαθες, εἰργάσω

τοσοῦτον ὥστε τούσδε συγχέαι δόμους.

— αἰαῖ τόλμας, ὦ βιαίως θανοῦσ’

ἀνοσίῳ τε συμφορᾷ, σᾶς χερὸς

πάλαισμα μελέας.
815

— τίς ἄρα σάν, τάλαιν’, ἀμαυροῖ ζόαν;

817

Θησεύς

ὤμοι ἐγὼ πόνων· ἔπαθον, ὦ πόλις,

τὰ μάκιστ’ ἐμῶν κακῶν. ὦ τύχα,

ὥς μοι βαρεῖα καὶ δόμοις ἐπεστάθης,

κηλὶς ἄφραστος ἐξ ἀλαστόρων τινός.
820

κατακονὰ μὲν οὖν ἀβίοτος βίου·

κακῶν δ’, ὢ τάλας, πέλαγος εἰσορῶ

τοσοῦτον ὥστε μήποτ’ ἐκνεῦσαι πάλιν,

μηδ’ ἐκπερᾶσαι κῦμα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς.

τίνα λόγον τάλας, τίνα τύχαν σέθεν

βαρύποτμον, γύναι, προσαυδῶν τύχω;

ὄρνις γὰρ ὥς τις ἐκ χερῶν ἄφαντος εἶ,

πήδημ’ ἐς Ἅιδου κραιπνὸν ὁρμήσασά μοι.

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, μέλεα μέλεα τάδε πάθη.
830

πρόσωθεν δέ ποθεν ἀνακομίζομαι

τύχαν δαιμόνων

ἀμπλακίαισι τῶν πάροιθέν τινος.

834

Χορός

οὐ σοὶ τάδ’, ὦναξ, ἦλθε δὴ μόνῳ κακά,

πολλῶν μετ’ ἄλλων δ’ ὤλεσας κεδνὸν λέχος.
835

836

Θησεύς

τὸ κατὰ γᾶς θέλω, τὸ κατὰ γᾶς κνέφας

μετοικεῖν σκότῳ θανὼν ὁ τλάμων,

τῆς σῆς στερηθεὶς φιλτάτης ὁμιλίας·

ἀπώλεσας γὰρ μᾶλλον ἢ κατέφθισο.

τίνος κλύω; πόθεν θανάσιμος τύχα,
840

γύναι, σὰν ἔβα, τάλαινα, καρδίαν;

εἴποι τις ἂν τὸ πραχθέν, ἢ μάτην ὄχλον

στέγει τύραννον δῶμα προσπόλων ἐμῶν;

ὤμοι μοι σέθεν,

μέλεος, οἷον εἶδον ἄλγος δόμων,
845

οὐ τλητὸν οὐδὲ ῥητόν. ἀλλ’ ἀπωλόμην·

ἔρημος οἶκος, καὶ τέκν’ ὀρφανεύεται.

ἔλιπες οὓς ἔτεκες, ἔλιπες, ὦ φίλα

γυναικῶν ἀρίστα θ’ ὁπόσας ὁρᾷ

φέγγος ἀελίου
850

τε καὶ νυκτὸς ἀστερωπὸν σέλας.

852

Χορός

ἰὼ τάλας· ὦ τάλας· ὅσον κακὸν ἔχει δόμος.

δάκρυσί μου βλέφαρα

καταχυθέντα τέγγεται σᾷ τύχᾳ·

τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ τῷδε πῆμα φρίσσω πάλαι.
855

856

Θησεύς

ἔα ἔα·

τί δή ποθ’ ἥδε δέλτος ἐκ φίλης χερὸς

ἠρτημένη; θέλει τι σημῆναι νέον;

ἀλλ’ ἦ λέχους μοι καὶ τέκνων ἐπιστολὰς

ἔγραψεν ἡ δύστηνος, ἐξαιτουμένη;

θάρσει, τάλαινα· λέκτρα γὰρ τὰ Θησέως
860

οὐκ ἔστι δῶμά θ’ ἥτις εἴσεισιν γυνή.

καὶ μὴν τύποι γε σφενδόνης χρυσηλάτου

τῆς οὐκέτ’ οὔσης τῆσδε προσσαίνουσί με.

φέρ’, ἐξελίξας περιβολὰς σφραγισμάτων

ἴδω τί λέξαι δέλτος ἥδε μοι θέλει.
865

866

Χορός

— φεῦ φεῦ· τόδ’ αὖ νεοχμὸν ἐκδοχαῖς

ἐπιφέρει θεὸς κακόν. ἐμοὶ μὲν οὖν

ἀβίοτος βίου τύχα πρὸς τὸ κρανθέν· εἴη τυχεῖν.

— ὀλομένους γάρ, οὐκέτ’ ὄντας λέγω,

φεῦ φεῦ, τῶν ἐμῶν τυράννων δόμους.
870

— ὦ δαῖμον, εἴ πως ἔστι, μὴ σφήλῃς δόμους,

αἰτουμένης δὲ κλῦθί μου· πρὸς γάρ τινος

οἰωνὸν ὥστε μάντις εἰσορῶ κακοῦ.

874

Θησεύς

οἴμοι· τόδ’ οἷον ἄλλο πρὸς κακῷ κακόν,

οὐ τλητὸν οὐδὲ λεκτόν. ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
875

Χορός

τί χρῆμα; λέξον, εἴ τί μοι λόγου μέτα.

877

Θησεύς

βοᾷ βοᾷ δέλτος ἄλαστα. πᾷ φύγω

βάρος κακῶν; ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλόμενος οἴχομαι,

οἷον οἷον εἶδον ἐν γραφαῖς μέλος

φθεγγόμενον τλάμων.
880

Χορός

αἰαῖ, κακῶν ἀρχηγὸν ἐκφαίνεις λόγον.

Θησεύς

τόδε μὲν οὐκέτι στόματος ἐν πύλαις

καθέξω δυσεκπέρατον, ὀλοὸν

κακόν· ἰὼ πόλις.

Ἱππόλυτος εὐνῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἔτλη θιγεῖν
885

βίᾳ, τὸ σεμνὸν Ζηνὸς ὄμμ’ ἀτιμάσας.

ἀλλ’, ὦ πάτερ Πόσειδον, ἃς ἐμοί ποτε

ἀρὰς ὑπέσχου τρεῖς, μιᾷ κατέργασαι

τούτων ἐμὸν παῖδ’, ἡμέραν δὲ μὴ φύγοι

τήνδ’, εἴπερ ἡμῖν ὤπασας σαφεῖς ἀράς.
890

891

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἀπεύχου ταῦτα πρὸς θεῶν πάλιν·

γνώσῃ γὰρ αὖθις ἀμπλακών. ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ.

Θησεύς

οὐκ ἔστι· καὶ πρός γ’ ἐξελῶ σφε τῆσδε γῆς,

δυοῖν δὲ μοίραιν θατέρᾳ πεπλήξεται·

ἢ γὰρ Ποσειδῶν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἅιδου δόμους
895

θανόντα πέμψει τὰς ἐμὰς ἀρὰς σέβων,

ἢ τῆσδε χώρας ἐκπεσὼν ἀλώμενος

ξένην ἐπ’ αἶαν λυπρὸν ἀντλήσει βίον.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὅδ’ αὐτὸς παῖς σὸς ἐς καιρὸν πάρα,

Ἱππόλυτος· ὀργῆς δ’ ἐξανεὶς κακῆς, ἄναξ
900

Θησεῦ, τὸ λῷστον σοῖσι βούλευσαι δόμοις.

Ἱππόλυτος

κραυγῆς ἀκούσας σῆς ἀφικόμην, πάτερ,

σπουδῇ· τὸ μέντοι πρᾶγμ’ ἐφ’ ᾧτινι στένεις

οὐκ οἶδα, βουλοίμην δ’ ἂν ἐκ σέθεν κλύειν.

ἔα, τί χρῆμα; σὴν δάμαρθ’ ὁρῶ, πάτερ,
905

νεκρόν· μεγίστου θαύματος τόδ’ ἄξιον·

ἣν ἀρτίως ἔλειπον, ἣ φάος τόδε

οὔπω χρόνον παλαιὸν εἰσεδέρκετο.

τί χρῆμα πάσχει; τῷ τρόπῳ διόλλυται;

πάτερ, πυθέσθαι βούλομαι σέθεν πάρα.
910

σιγᾷς· σιωπῆς δ’ οὐδὲν ἔργον ἐν κακοῖς·

ἡ γὰρ ποθοῦσα πάντα καρδία κλύειν

κἀν τοῖς κακοῖσι λίχνος οὖσ’ ἁλίσκεται.

οὐ μὴν φίλους γε κἄτι μᾶλλον ἢ φίλους

κρύπτειν δίκαιον σάς, πάτερ, δυσπραξίας.
915

Θησεύς

ὦ πόλλ’ ἁμαρτάνοντες ἄνθρωποι μάτην,

τί δὴ τέχνας μὲν μυρίας διδάσκετε

καὶ πάντα μηχανᾶσθε κἀξευρίσκετε,

ἓν δ’ οὐκ ἐπίστασθ’ οὐδ’ ἐθηράσασθέ πω,

φρονεῖν διδάσκειν οἷσιν οὐκ ἔνεστι νοῦς;
920

Ἱππόλυτος

δεινὸν σοφιστὴν εἶπας, ὅστις εὖ φρονεῖν

τοὺς μὴ φρονοῦντας δυνατός ἐστ’ ἀναγκάσαι.

ἀλλ’ οὐ γὰρ ἐν δέοντι λεπτουργεῖς, πάτερ,

δέδοικα μή σου γλῶσσ’ ὑπερβάλῃ κακοῖς.

Θησεύς

φεῦ, χρῆν βροτοῖσι τῶν φίλων τεκμήριον
925

σαφές τι κεῖσθαι καὶ διάγνωσιν φρενῶν,

ὅστις τ’ ἀληθής ἐστιν ὅς τε μὴ φίλος,

δισσάς τε φωνὰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ἔχειν,

τὴν μὲν δικαίαν, τὴν δ’ ὅπως ἐτύγχανεν,

ὡς ἡ φρονοῦσα τἄδικ’ ἐξηλέγχετο
930

πρὸς τῆς δικαίας, κοὐκ ἂν ἠπατώμεθα.

Ἱππόλυτος

ἀλλ’ ἦ τις ἐς σὸν οὖς με διαβαλὼν ἔχει

φίλων, νοσοῦμεν δ’ οὐδὲν ὄντες αἴτιοι;

ἔκ τοι πέπληγμαι· σοὶ γὰρ ἐκπλήσσουσί με

λόγοι παραλλάσσοντες ἔξεδροι φρενῶν.
935

936

Θησεύς

φεῦ τῆς βροτείας· ποῖ προβήσεται; φρενός.

τί τέρμα τόλμης καὶ θράσους γενήσεται;

εἰ γὰρ κατ’ ἀνδρὸς βίοτον ἐξογκώσεται,

ὁ δ’ ὕστερος τοῦ πρόσθεν εἰς ὑπερβολὴν

πανοῦργος ἔσται, θεοῖσι προσβαλεῖν χθονὶ
940

ἄλλην δεήσει γαῖαν, ἣ χωρήσεται

τοὺς μὴ δικαίους καὶ κακοὺς πεφυκότας.

σκέψασθε δ’ ἐς τόνδ’, ὅστις ἐξ ἐμοῦ γεγὼς

ᾔσχυνε τἀμὰ λέκτρα κἀξελέγχεται

πρὸς τῆς θανούσης ἐμφανῶς κάκιστος ὤν.
945

δεῖξον δ’, ἐπειδή γ’ ἐς μίασμ’ ἐλήλυθας,

τὸ σὸν πρόσωπον δεῦρ’ ἐναντίον πατρί.

σὺ δὴ θεοῖσιν ὡς περισσὸς ὢν ἀνὴρ

ξύνει; σὺ σώφρων καὶ κακῶν ἀκήρατος;

οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην τοῖσι σοῖς κόμποις ἐγὼ
950

θεοῖσι προσθεὶς ἀμαθίαν φρονεῖν κακῶς.

ἤδη νυν αὔχει καὶ δι’ ἀψύχου βορᾶς

σίτοις καπήλευ’, Ὀρφέα τ’ ἄνακτ’ ἔχων

βάκχευε πολλῶν γραμμάτων τιμῶν καπνούς·

ἐπεί γ’ ἐλήφθης. τοὺς δὲ τοιούτους ἐγὼ
955

φεύγειν προφωνῶ πᾶσι· θηρεύουσι γὰρ

σεμνοῖς λόγοισιν, αἰσχρὰ μηχανώμενοι.

τέθνηκεν ἥδε· τοῦτό σ’ ἐκσώσειν δοκεῖς;

ἐν τῷδ’ ἁλίσκῃ πλεῖστον, ὦ κάκιστε σύ·

ποῖοι γὰρ ὅρκοι κρείσσονες, τίνες λόγοι
960

τῆσδ’ ἂν γένοιντ’ ἄν, ὥστε σ’ αἰτίαν φυγεῖν;

μισεῖν σε φήσεις τήνδε καὶ τὸ δὴ νόθον

τοῖς γνησίοισι πολέμιον πεφυκέναι·

κακὴν ἄρ’ αὐτὴν ἔμπορον βίου λέγεις,

εἰ δυσμενείᾳ σῇ τὰ φίλτατ’ ὤλεσεν.
965

ἀλλ’ ὡς τὸ μῶρον ἀνδράσιν μὲν οὐκ ἔνι,

γυναιξὶ δ’ ἐμπέφυκεν; οἶδ’ ἐγὼ νέους,

οὐδὲν γυναικῶν ὄντας ἀσφαλεστέρους,

ὅταν ταράξῃ Κύπρις ἡβῶσαν φρένα·

τὸ δ’ ἄρσεν αὐτοὺς ὠφελεῖ προσκείμενον.
970

νῦν οὖν — τί ταῦτα σοῖς ἁμιλλῶμαι λόγοις

νεκροῦ παρόντος μάρτυρος σαφεστάτου;

ἔξερρε γαίας τῆσδ’ ὅσον τάχος φυγάς,

καὶ μήτ’ Ἀθήνας τὰς θεοδμήτους μόλῃς,

μήτ’ εἰς ὅρους γῆς ἧς ἐμὸν κρατεῖ δόρυ.
975

εἰ γὰρ παθών γε σοῦ τάδ’ ἡσσηθήσομαι,

οὐ μαρτυρήσει μ’ Ἴσθμιος Σίνις ποτὲ

κτανεῖν ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ κομπάζειν μάτην,

οὐδ’ αἱ θαλάσσῃ σύννομοι Σκιρωνίδες

φήσουσι πέτραι τοῖς κακοῖς μ’ εἶναι βαρύν.
980

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπως εἴποιμ’ ἂν εὐτυχεῖν τινα

θνητῶν· τὰ γὰρ δὴ πρῶτ’ ἀνέστραπται πάλιν.

983

Ἱππόλυτος

πάτερ, μένος μὲν ξύστασίς τε σῶν φρενῶν

δεινή· τὸ μέντοι πρᾶγμ’ ἔχον καλοὺς λόγους,

εἴ τις διαπτύξειεν, οὐ καλὸν τόδε.
985

ἐγὼ δ’ ἄκομψος εἰς ὄχλον δοῦναι λόγον,

ἐς ἥλικας δὲ κὠλίγους σοφώτερος.

ἔχει δὲ μοῖραν καὶ τόδ’· οἱ γὰρ ἐν σοφοῖς

φαῦλοι παρ’ ὄχλῳ μουσικώτεροι λέγειν.

ὅμως δ’ ἀνάγκη, ξυμφορᾶς ἀφιγμένης,
990

γλῶσσάν μ’ ἀφεῖναι. πρῶτα δ’ ἄρξομαι λέγειν,

ὅθεν μ’ ὑπῆλθες πρῶτον ὡς διαφθερῶν

κοὐκ ἀντιλέξοντ’. εἰσορᾷς φάος τόδε

καὶ γαῖαν· ἐν τοῖσδ’ οὐκ ἔνεστ’ ἀνὴρ ἐμοῦ,

οὐδ’ ἢν σὺ μὴ φῇς, σωφρονέστερος γεγώς.
995

ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ πρῶτα μὲν θεοὺς σέβειν,

φίλοις τε χρῆσθαι μὴ ἀδικεῖν πειρωμένοις,

ἀλλ’ οἷσιν αἰδὼς μήτ’ ἐπαγγέλλειν κακὰ

μήτ’ ἀνθυπουργεῖν αἰσχρὰ τοῖσι χρωμένοις·

οὐκ ἐγγελαστὴς τῶν ὁμιλούντων, πάτερ,
1000

ἀλλ’ αὑτὸς οὐ παροῦσι κἀγγὺς ὢν φίλοις.

ἑνὸς δ’ ἄθικτος, ᾧ με νῦν ἑλεῖν δοκεῖς·

λέχους γὰρ ἐς τόδ’ ἡμέρας ἁγνὸν δέμας·

οὐκ οἶδα πρᾶξιν τήνδε πλὴν λόγῳ κλύων

γραφῇ τε λεύσσων· οὐδὲ ταῦτα γὰρ σκοπεῖν
1005

πρόθυμός εἰμι, παρθένον ψυχὴν ἔχων.

καὶ δὴ τὸ σῶφρον τοὐμὸν οὐ πείθει σ’· ἴτω·

δεῖ δή σε δεῖξαι τῷ τρόπῳ διεφθάρην.

πότερα τὸ τῆσδε σῶμ’ ἐκαλλιστεύετο

πασῶν γυναικῶν; ἢ σὸν οἰκήσειν δόμον
1010

ἔγκληρον εὐνὴν προσλαβὼν ἐπήλπισα;

μάταιος ἆρ’ ἦν, οὐδαμοῦ μὲν οὖν φρενῶν.

ἀλλ’ ὡς τυραννεῖν ἡδύ; τοῖσι σώφροσιν

ἥκιστά γ’, εἰ μὴ τὰς φρένας διέφθορεν

θνητῶν ὅσοισιν ἁνδάνει μοναρχία.
1015

ἐγὼ δ’ ἀγῶνας μὲν κρατεῖν Ἑλληνικοὺς

πρῶτος θέλοιμ’ ἄν, ἐν πόλει δὲ δεύτερος

σὺν τοῖς ἀρίστοις εὐτυχεῖν ἀεὶ φίλοις.

πράσσειν τε γὰρ πάρεστι, κίνδυνός τ’ ἀπὼν

κρείσσω δίδωσι τῆς τυραννίδος χάριν.
1020

ἓν οὐ λέλεκται τῶν ἐμῶν, τὰ δ’ ἄλλ’ ἔχεις·

εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἦν μοι μάρτυς οἷός εἰμ’ ἐγώ,

καὶ τῆσδ’ ὁρώσης φέγγος ἠγωνιζόμην,

ἔργοις ἂν εἶδες τοὺς κακοὺς διεξιών·

νῦν δ’ ὅρκιόν σοι Ζῆνα καὶ πέδον χθονὸς
1025

ὄμνυμι τῶν σῶν μήποθ’ ἅψασθαι γάμων

μηδ’ ἂν θελῆσαι μηδ’ ἂν ἔννοιαν λαβεῖν.

ἦ τἄρ’ ὀλοίμην ἀκλεὴς ἀνώνυμος,

ἄπολις ἄοικος, φυγὰς ἀλητεύων χθόνα,

καὶ μήτε πόντος μήτε γῆ δέξαιτό μου
1030

σάρκας θανόντος, εἰ κακὸς πέφυκ’ ἀνήρ.

εἰ δ’ ἥδε δειμαίνουσ’ ἀπώλεσεν βίον

οὐκ οἶδ’· ἐμοὶ γὰρ οὐ θέμις πέρα λέγειν.

ἐσωφρόνησεν οὐκ ἔχουσα σωφρονεῖν,

ἡμεῖς δ’ ἔχοντες οὐ καλῶς ἐχρώμεθα.
1035

Χορός

ἀρκοῦσαν εἶπας αἰτίας ἀποστροφήν,

ὅρκους παρασχών, πίστιν οὐ σμικράν, θεῶν.

Θησεύς

ἆρ’ οὐκ ἐπῳδὸς καὶ γόης πέφυχ’ ὅδε,

ὃς τὴν ἐμὴν πέποιθεν εὐοργησίᾳ

ψυχὴν κρατήσειν, τὸν τεκόντ’ ἀτιμάσας;
1040

Ἱππόλυτος

καὶ σοῦ γε ταὐτὰ κάρτα θαυμάζω, πάτερ·

εἰ γὰρ σὺ μὲν παῖς ἦσθ’, ἐγὼ δὲ σὸς πατήρ,

ἔκτεινά τοί σ’ ἂν κοὐ φυγαῖς ἐζημίουν,

εἴπερ γυναικὸς ἠξίουν σ’ ἐμῆς θιγεῖν.

Θησεύς

ὡς ἄξιον τόδ’ εἶπας· οὐχ οὕτω θανῇ.
1045

ταχὺς γὰρ Ἅιδης ῥᾷστος ἀνδρὶ δυστυχεῖ·

ἀλλ’ ἐκ πατρῴας φυγὰς ἀλητεύων χθονὸς

ὥσπερ σὺ σαυτῷ τόνδε προύθηκας νόμον —

ξένην ἐπ’ αἶαν λυπρὸν ἀντλήσεις βίον·

μισθὸς γὰρ οὗτός ἐστιν ἀνδρὶ δυσσεβεῖ.
1050

Ἱππόλυτος

οἴμοι, τί δράσεις; οὐδὲ μηνυτὴν χρόνον

δέξῃ καθ’ ἡμῶν, ἀλλά μ’ ἐξελᾷς χθονός;

Θησεύς

πέραν γε πόντου καὶ τόπων Ἀτλαντικῶν,

εἴ πως δυναίμην, ὡς σὸν ἐχθαίρω κάρα.

Ἱππόλυτος

οὐδ’ ὅρκον οὐδὲ πίστιν οὐδὲ μάντεων
1055

φήμας ἐλέγξας ἄκριτον ἐκβαλεῖς με γῆς;

Θησεύς

ἡ δέλτος ἥδε κλῆρον οὐ δεδεγμένη

κατηγορεῖ σου πιστά· τοὺς δ’ ὑπὲρ κάρα

φοιτῶντας ὄρνις πόλλ’ ἐγὼ χαίρειν λέγω.

1060

Ἱππόλυτος

ὦ θεοί, τί δῆτα τοὐμὸν οὐ λύω στόμα,
1060

ὅστις γ’ ὑφ’ ὑμῶν, οὓς σέβω, διόλλυμαι;

οὐ δῆτα· πάντως οὐ πίθοιμ’ ἂν οὕς με δεῖ,

μάτην δ’ ἂν ὅρκους συγχέαιμ’ οὓς ὤμοσα.

Θησεύς

οἴμοι, τὸ σεμνὸν ὥς μ’ ἀποκτενεῖ τὸ σόν.

οὐκ εἶ πατρῴας ἐκτὸς ὡς τάχιστα γῆς;
1065

Ἱππόλυτος

ποῖ δῆθ’ ὁ τλήμων τρέψομαι; τίνος ξένων

δόμους ἔσειμι, τῇδ’ ἐπ’ αἰτίᾳ φυγών;

Θησεύς

ὅστις γυναικῶν λυμεῶνας ἥδεται

ξένους κομίζων καὶ ξυνοικούρους κακῶν.

Ἱππόλυτος

αἰαῖ, πρὸς ἧπαρ· δακρύων τ’ ἐγγὺς τόδε,
1070

εἰ δὴ κακός γε φαίνομαι, δοκῶ τέ σοι.

Θησεύς

τότε στενάζειν καὶ προγιγνώσκειν σ’ ἐχρῆν

ὅτ’ ἐς πατρῴαν ἄλοχον ὑβρίζειν ἔτλης.

Ἱππόλυτος

ὦ δώματ’, εἴθε φθέγμα γηρύσαισθέ μοι

καὶ μαρτυρήσαιτ’ εἰ κακὸς πέφυκ’ ἀνήρ.
1075

Θησεύς

ἐς τοὺς ἀφώνους μάρτυρας φεύγεις σοφῶς·

τὸ δ’ ἔργον οὐ λέγον σε μηνύει κακόν.

Ἱππόλυτος

φεῦ·

εἴθ’ ἦν ἐμαυτὸν προσβλέπειν ἐναντίον

στάνθ’, ὡς ἐδάκρυσ’ οἷα πάσχομεν κακά.

Θησεύς

πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον σαυτὸν ἤσκησας σέβειν
1080

ἢ τοὺς τεκόντας ὅσια δρᾶν δίκαιος ὤν.

Ἱππόλυτος

ὦ δυστάλαινα μῆτερ, ὦ πικραὶ γοναί·

μηδείς ποτ’ εἴη τῶν ἐμῶν φίλων νόθος.

Θησεύς

οὐχ ἕλξετ’ αὐτόν, δμῶες; οὐκ ἀκούετε

πάλαι ξενοῦσθαι τόνδε προυννέποντά με;
1085

Ἱππόλυτος

κλαίων τις αὐτῶν ἆρ’ ἐμοῦ τεθίξεται·

σὺ δ’ αὐτός, εἴ σοι θυμός, ἐξώθει χθονός.

Θησεύς

δράσω τάδ’, εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πείσῃ λόγοις·

οὐ γάρ τις οἶκτος σῆς μ’ ὑπέρχεται φυγῆς.

Ἱππόλυτος

ἄραρεν, ὡς ἔοικεν· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ·
1090

ὡς οἶδα μὲν ταῦτ’, οἶδα δ’ οὐχ ὅπως φράσω.

ὦ φιλτάτη μοι δαιμόνων Λητοῦς κόρη,

σύνθακε, συγκύναγε, φευξόμεσθα δὴ

κλεινὰς Ἀθήνας. ἀλλὰ χαιρέτω πόλις

καὶ γαῖ’ Ἐρεχθέως· ὦ πέδον Τροζήνιον,
1095

ὡς ἐγκαθηβᾶν πόλλ’ ἔχεις εὐδαίμονα,

χαῖρ’· ὕστατον γάρ σ’ εἰσορῶν προσφθέγγομαι.

ἴτ’ ὦ νέοι μοι τῆσδε γῆς ὁμήλικες,

προσείπαθ’ ἡμᾶς καὶ προπέμψατε χθονός·

ὡς οὔποτ’ ἄλλον ἄνδρα σωφρονέστερον
1100

ὄψεσθε, κεἰ μὴ ταῦτ’ ἐμῷ δοκεῖ πατρί.

Translations (2)

Hippolytus Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 776-1100 focus

Messenger

Help!¹ ho! To the rescue all who near the palace stand! She hath hung herself, our queen, the wife of Theseus.

Chorus

Woe worth the day! the deed is done; our royal mistress is no more, dead she hangs in the dangling noose.

Messenger

Haste!² some one bring a two-edged knife wherewith to cut the knot about her neck!
780

1st Half Chorus

Friends, what shall we do? think you we should enter the house, and loose the queen from the tight-drawn noose?

2nd Half Chorus

Why should we? Are there not young servants here?

To do too much is not a safe course in life.
785

Messenger

Lay³ out the hapless corpse, straighten the limbs. This was a bitter way to sit at home and keep my master’s house! [Exit Messenger.

Chorus

She is dead, poor lady, so I hear. Already are they laying out the corpse.

Theseus

Ladies, can ye tell me what the uproar in the palace means? There came the sound of servants weeping bitterly to mine ear. None of my household deign to open wide the gates and give me glad welcome as a traveller from prophetic shrines.
790

Hath aught befallen old Pittheus?

No. Though he be well advanced in years, yet should I mourn, were he to quit this house.
795

Chorus

’Tis not against the old, Theseus, that fate, to strike thee, aims this blow; prepare thy sorrow for a younger corpse.

Theseus

Woe is me! is it a child’s life death robs me of?

Chorus

They live; but, cruellest news of all for thee, their mother is no more.
800

Theseus

What! my wife dead? By what cruel mischance?

Chorus

About her neck she tied the hangman’s knot.

Theseus

Had grief so chilled her blood? or what had befallen her?

Chorus

I know but this, for I am myself but now arrived at the house

to mourn thy sorrows, O Theseus.
805

Theseus

Woe is me! why have I crowned my head with woven garlands, when misfortune greets my embassage? Unbolt the doors, servants,

loose their fastenings, that I may see the piteous sight,
825

my wife, whose death is death to me. [The palace opens, disclosing the corpse.
810

811

Chorus

Woe! woe is thee for thy piteous lot! thou hast done thyself a hurt deep enough to overthrow this family. Ah! ah! the daring of it! done to death by violence and unnatural means, the desperate effort

of thy own poor hand! Who cast the shadow o’er thy life, poor lady?
815

817

Theseus

Ah me, my cruel lot! sorrow hath done her worst on me. O fortune, how heavily hast thou set thy foot on me and on my house,

by fiendish hands inflicting an unexpected stain? Nay, ’tis complete effacement of my life, making it impossible; for I see, alas! so wide an ocean of grief that I can never swim to shore again, nor breast the tide of this calamity.
820

How shall I speak of thee, my poor wife, what tale of direst suffering tell? Thou art vanished like a bird from the covert of my hand, taking one headlong leap from me to Hades’ halls.

Alas, and woe! this is a bitter, bitter sight! This must be a judgment sent by God for the sins of an ancestor, which from some far source I am bringing on myself.
830

834

Chorus

My prince, ’tis not to thee alone such sorrows come;

thou hast lost a noble wife, but so have many others.
835

836

Theseus

Fain would I go hide me ’neath earth’s blackest depth, to dwell in darkness with the dead in misery, now that I am reft of thy dear presence! for thou hast slain me than thyself e’en more.

Who can tell me what caused the fatal stroke that reached thy heart, dear wife? Will no one tell me what befell?
840

doth my palace all in vain give shelter to a herd of menials? Woe, woe for thee, my wife! sorrows past speech, past bearing, I behold within my house; myself a ruined man, my home a solitude, my children orphans!
845

Chorus

Gone⁴ and left us hast thou, fondest wife and noblest of all women

’neath the sun’s bright eye or night’s star-lit radiance.⁵
850

852

Chorus

Poor house, what sorrows are thy portion now! My eyes are wet with streams of tears to see thy fate;

but the sequel to this tragedy has long with terror filled me.
855

856

Theseus

Ha! what means this letter? clasped in her dear hand it hath some strange tale to tell. Hath she, poor lady, as a last request, written her bidding as to my marriage and her children?

Take heart, poor ghost; no wife henceforth shall wed thy Theseus or invade his house. Ah! how yon seal of my dead wife stamped with her golden ring affects my sight! Come, I will unfold the sealed packet
860

and read her letter’s message to me.
865

866

Chorus

Woe unto us! Here is yet another evil in the train by heaven sent. Looking to what has happened, I should count my lot in life no longer worth one’s while to gain.⁶ My master’s house,

alas! is ruined, brought to naught, I say. ⁷Spare it, O Heaven, if it may be. Hearken to my prayer, for I see, as with prophetic eye, an omen boding mischief.
870

874

Theseus

O horror! woe on woe!

and still they come, too deep for words, too heavy to bear. Ah me!
875

Chorus

What is it? speak, if I may share in it.

877

Theseus

This letter loudly tells a hideous tale! where can I escape my load of woe? For I am ruined and undone, so awful are the words I find here written clear

as if she cried them to me; woe is me!
880

Chorus

Alas! thy words declare themselves the harbingers of woe.

Theseus

I can no longer keep the cursed tale within the portal of my lips, cruel though its utterance be. Ah me!

Hippolytus hath dared by brutal force to violate my honour, recking naught of Zeus, whose awful eye is over all. O father Poseidon, once didst thou promise to fulfil three prayers of mine ; answer one of these and slay my son, let him not escape this single day,
885

if the prayers thou gavest me were indeed with issue fraught.
890

891

Chorus

O king, I do conjure thee, call back that prayer; hereafter thou wilt know thy error. Hear, I pray.

Theseus

Impossible! Moreover I will banish him from this land, and by one of two fates shall he be struck down;

either Poseidon, out of respect to my prayer, will cast his dead body into the house of Hades; or exiled from this land, a wanderer to some foreign shore, shall he eke out a life of misery.
895

Chorus

Lo! where himself doth come, thy son Hippolytus, in good time;

dismiss thy hurtful rage, King Theseus, and bethink thee what is best for thy family.
900

Hippolytus

I heard thy voice, father, and hasted to come hither; yet know I not the cause of thy present⁸ sorrow, but would fain learn of thee.

Ha! what is this? thy wife a corpse I see; this is passing strange; ’twas but now I left her; a moment since she looked upon the light.
905

How came she thus? the manner of her death?

this would I learn of thee, father. Art dumb? silence availeth not in trouble; nay, for the heart that fain would know all must show its curiosity even in sorrow’s hour. Be sure it is not right, father,
910

to hide misfortunes from those who love, ay, more than love thee.
915

Theseus

O ye sons of men, victims of a thousand idle errors, why teach your countless crafts, why scheme and seek to find a way for everything, while one thing ye know not nor ever yet have made your prize,

a way to teach them wisdom whose souls are void of sense?
920

Hippolytus

A very master in his craft the man, who can force fools to be wise! But these ill-timed subtleties of thine, father, make me fear thy tongue is running riot through trouble.

Theseus

Fie upon thee! man needs should have some certain test set up to try his friends, some touchstone of their hearts, to know each friend whether he be true or false; all men should have two voices, one the voice of honesty, expediency’s the other,
925

so would honesty confute its knavish opposite, and then we could not be deceived.
930

Hippolytus

Say, hath some friend been slandering me and hath he still thine ear? am I, though guiltless, banned? I am amazed indeed;

thy random, frantic words fill me with wild alarm.
935

936

Theseus

O the mind of mortal man! to what lengths will it proceed? What limit will its bold assurance have? for if it goes on growing as man’s life advances, and each successor outdo the man before him

in villainy, the gods will have to add another sphere unto the world, which shall take in the knaves and villains.
940

Behold this man; he, my own son, hath outraged mine honour, his guilt most clearly proved

by my dead wife. Now, since thou hast dared this loathly crime, come, look thy father in the face. Art thou the man who dost with gods consort, as one above the vulgar herd? art thou the chaste and sinless saint?
945

Thy boasts will never persuade me to be guilty of attributing ignorance to gods. Go then, vaunt thyself, and drive1⁹ thy petty trade in viands formed of lifeless food; take Orpheus for thy chief and go a-revelling, with all honour for the vapourings of many a written scroll,
950

seeing thou now art caught. Let all beware, I say, of such hypocrites! who hunt their prey with fine words, and all the while are scheming villainy. She is dead; dost think that this will save thee? Why this convicts thee more than all, abandoned wretch!
955

What oaths, what pleas can outweigh this letter, so that thou shouldst ’scape thy doom? Thou wilt assert she hated thee, that ’twixt the bastard and the true-born child nature has herself put war; it seems then by thy showing she made a sorry bargain with her life,
960

if to gratify her hate of thee she lost what most she prized. ’Tis said, no doubt, that frailty finds no place in man but is innate in woman; my experience is, young men are no more secure than women, whenso the Queen of Love excites a youthful breast;
965

although their sex comes in to help them.¹⁰ Yet why do I thus bandy words with thee, when before me lies the corpse, to be the clearest witness? Begone at once, an exile from this land, and ne’er set foot again in god-built Athens
970

nor in the confines of my dominion. For if I am tamely to submit to this treatment from such as thee, no more will Sinis,¹¹ robber of the Isthmus, bear me witness how I slew him, but say my boasts are idle, nor will those rocks Scironian, that fringe the sea,
975

call me the miscreants’ scourge.
980

Chorus

I know not how to call happy any child of man; for that which was first has turned and now is last.

983

Hippolytus

Father, thy wrath and the tension of thy mind are terrible; yet this charge, specious though its arguments appear,

becomes a calumny, if one lay it bare. Small skill have I in speaking to a crowd, but have a readier wit for comrades of mine own age and small companies. Yea, and this is as it should be; for they, whom the wise despise, are better qualified to speak before a mob.
985

Yet am I constrained under the present circumstances to break silence. And at the outset will I take the point which formed the basis of thy stealthy attack on me, designed to put me out of court unheard; dost see yon sun, this earth? These do not contain,
990

for all thou dost deny it, chastity surpassing mine. To reverence God I count the highest knowledge, and to adopt as friends not those who attempt injustice, but such as would blush to propose to their companions aught disgraceful or pleasure them by shameful services;
995

to mock at friends is not my way, father, but I am still the same behind their backs as to their face. The very crime thou thinkest to catch me in, is just the one I am untainted with, for to this day have I kept me pure from women. Nor know I aught thereof, save what I hear
1000

or see in pictures, for I have no wish to look even on these, so pure my virgin soul. I grant my claim to chastity may not convince thee; well, ’tis then for thee to show the way I was corrupted. Did this woman exceed in beauty
1005

all her sex? Did I aspire to fill the husband’s place after thee and succeed to thy house?¹² That surely would have made me out a fool, a creature void of sense. Thou wilt say, Your chaste man loves to lord it. No, no! say I, sovereignty pleases only those
1010

whose hearts are quite corrupt. Now, I would be the first and best at all the games in Hellas, but second in the state, for ever happy thus with the noblest for my friends. For there one may be happy, and the absence of danger
1015

gives a charm beyond all princely joys.
1020

One thing I have not said, the rest thou hast. Had I a witness to attest my purity, and were I pitted ’gainst her still alive, facts would show thee on enquiry who the culprit was.

Now by Zeus, the god of oaths, and by the earth, whereon we stand, I swear to thee I never did lay hand upon thy wife nor would have wished to, or have harboured such a thought Slay me, ye gods! rob me of name and honour, from home and city cast me forth, a wandering exile o’er the earth!
1025

nor sea nor land receive my bones when I am dead, if I am such a miscreant! I cannot say if she through fear destroyed herself, for more than this am I forbid. With her discretion took the place of chastity,
1030

while I, though chaste, was not discreet in using this virtue.¹³
1035

Chorus

Thy oath by heaven, strong security, sufficiently refutes the charge.

Theseus

A wizard or magician must the fellow be, to think he can first flout me, his father,

then by coolness master my resolve.
1040

Hippolytus

Father, thy part in this doth fill me with amaze; wert thou my son and I thy sire, by heaven! I would have slain, not let thee off with banishment, hadst thou presumed to violate my honour.

Theseus

A just remark! yet shalt thou not die by the sentence thine own lips pronounce upon thyself; for death, that cometh in a moment, is an easy end for wretchedness. Nay, thou shalt be exiled from thy fatherland, and wandering to a foreign shore drag out a life of misery;
1045

for such are the wages of sin.¹⁴
1050

Hippolytus

Oh! what wilt thou do? Wilt thou banish me, without so much as waiting for Time’s evidence on my case?

Theseus

Ay, beyond the sea, beyond the bounds of Atlas, if I could, so deeply do I hate thee.

Hippolytus

What! banish me untried, without even testing my oath, the pledge I offer, or the voice of seers?
1055

Theseus

This letter here, though it bears no seers’ signs, arraigns thy pledges; as for birds that fly o’er our heads, a long farewell to them.

1060

Hippolytus

(aside). Great gods! why do I not unlock my lips, seeing that I am ruined by you, the objects of my reverence? No, I will not; I should nowise persuade those whom I ought to, and in vain should break the oath I swore.
1060

Theseus

Fie upon thee! that solemn air of thine is more than I can bear.

Begone from thy native land forthwith!
1065

Hippolytus

Whither shall I turn? Ah me! whose friendly house will take me in, an exile on so grave a charge?

Theseus

Seek one who loves to entertain as guests and partners in his crimes corrupters of men’s wives.

Hippolytus

Ah me! this wounds my heart and brings me nigh to tears to think that I should appear so vile, and thou believe me so.
1070

Theseus

Thy tears and forethought had been more in season when thou didst presume to outrage thy father’s wife.

Hippolytus

O house, I would thou couldst speak for me and witness if I am so vile!

Theseus

Dost fly to speechless witnesses? This deed, though it speaketh not, proves thy guilt clearly.

Hippolytus

Alas! Would I could stand and face myself, so should I weep to see the sorrows I endure.

Theseus

Ay, ’tis thy character to honour thyself far more than reverence thy parents, as thou shouldst.
1080

Hippolytus

Unhappy mother! son of sorrow! Heaven keep all friends of mine from bastard birth!

Theseus

Ho! servants, drag him hence! You heard

my proclamation long ago condemning him to exile.
1085

Hippolytus

Whoso of them doth lay a hand on me shall rue it; thyself expel me, if thy spirit move thee, from the land.

Theseus

I will, unless my word thou straight obey; no pity for thy exile steals into my heart. [Exit Theseus.

Hippolytus

The sentence then, it seems, is passed. Ah, misery I How well I know the truth herein, but know no way to tell it! O daughter of Latona, dearest to me of all deities, partner, comrade in the chase, far from glorious Athens must I fly. Farewell, city
1090

and land of Erechtheus; farewell, Troezen, most joyous home wherein to pass the spring of life; ’tis my last sight of thee, farewell!
1095

Come, my comrades in this land, young like me, greet me kindly and escort me forth,

for never will ye behold a purer soul, for all my father’s doubts. [Exit Hippolytus.
1100

Hippolytus (OCR draft) Experimental (Hippolytus. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

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Weh, weh! Zu Hülf ihr alle, die dem Hause nahe sind! Theseus' Gemahlinn, unsre Frau erhenkte sich.

Chor. Es ist gescheh'n, ach! unsre Königinn dahin! Sie schlang um ihren Nacken sich das Todesband. 770

Diener. Ihr eilet nicht, holt nicht ein doppelschneidig Schwert, Und trennt von ihrem Halse gleich die Schlinge los?

Erster Halbchor. Was thun wir, Frauen? Dringen wir in's Haus hinein, Sie loszumachen aus dem festgezognen Strang?

Zweiter Halb chor. Wie? Sind im Haus nicht junge Dienerinnen schon? 775 Gefährlich ist es, sich um Alzuvieles mühn.

Ein Diener (im Palaste). Reckt aus die Todte, richtet auf das arme Weib! Das ist ein bittrer Liebesdienst für meinen Herrn.

Chor. Dahin (wir hdren's) ist die Unglückselige; Bereits als eine Todte wird sie ausgestreckt. 780

Chor. Nicht nach des Greises Haupte zielt dir das Geschick, Theseus! Betrüben werden Junggestorbne dich.

Theseus. Weh! Ward der Kinder Leben mir doch nicht geraubt? 790

Chor. Sie leben, dir zum Schmerze, da die Mutter starb.

Theseus. Wie sagst du? Meine Gattinn starb? Durch welches Loos?

Chor. Die Todesschlinge wand sie selbst um ihren Hals.

Chor.

Current edition Experimental

Τροφός ἔσωθεν ἰοὺ ἰού· βοηδρομεῖτε πάντες οἱ πέλας δόμων· ἐν ἀγχόναις δέσποινα, Θησέως δάμαρ.

Χορός — φεῦ φεῦ, πέπρακται· βασιλὶς οὐκέτ’ ἔστι δὴ γυνή, κρεμαστοῖς ἐν βρόχοις ἠρτημένη.

Τροφός οὐ σπεύσετ’; οὐκ οἴσει τις ἀμφιδέξιον 780 σίδηρον, ᾧ τόδ’ ἅμμα λύσομεν δέρης;

Τροφός ὀρθώσατ’ ἐκτείνοντες ἄθλιον νέκυν· πικρὸν τόδ’ οἰκούρημα δεσπόταις ἐμοῖς.

Χορός — ὄλωλεν ἡ δύστηνος, ὡς κλύω, γυνή· ἤδη γὰρ ὡς νεκρόν νιν ἐκτείνουσι δή.

Χορός οὐκ ἐς γέροντας ἥδε σοι τείνει τύχη, Θησεῦ· νέοι θανόντες ἀλγυνοῦσί σε.

Θησεύς οἴμοι· τέκνων μοι μή τι συλᾶται βίος;

Χορός ζῶσιν, θανούσης μητρὸς ὡς ἄλγιστά σοι. 800

Θησεύς τί φῄς; ὄλωλεν ἄλοχος; ἐκ τίνος τύχης;

Χορός βρόχον κρεμαστὸν ἀγχόνης ἀνήψατο.

Θησεύς λύπῃ παχνωθεῖσ’, ἢ ἀπὸ συμφορᾶς τινος;

Χορός τοσοῦτον ἴσμεν· ἄρτι γὰρ κἀγὼ δόμοις, Θησεῦ, πάρειμι σῶν κακῶν πενθήτρια. 805

Χορός οὐ σοὶ τάδ’, ὦναξ, ἦλθε δὴ μόνῳ κακά, πολλῶν μετ’ ἄλλων δ’ ὤλεσας κεδνὸν λέχος. 835

Χορός ἰὼ τάλας· ὦ τάλας· ὅσον κακὸν ἔχει δόμος. δάκρυσί μου βλέφαρα καταχυθέντα τέγγεται σᾷ τύχᾳ· τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ τῷδε πῆμα φρίσσω πάλαι. 855

Θησεύς οἴμοι· τόδ’ οἷον ἄλλο πρὸς κακῷ κακόν, οὐ τλητὸν οὐδὲ λεκτόν. ὦ τάλας ἐγώ. 875

Χορός τί χρῆμα; λέξον, εἴ τί μοι λόγου μέτα.

Θησεύς βοᾷ βοᾷ δέλτος ἄλαστα. πᾷ φύγω βάρος κακῶν; ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλόμενος οἴχομαι, οἷον οἷον εἶδον ἐν γραφαῖς μέλος φθεγγόμενον τλάμων. 880

Χορός αἰαῖ, κακῶν ἀρχηγὸν ἐκφαίνεις λόγον.

Χορός ἄναξ, ἀπεύχου ταῦτα πρὸς θεῶν πάλιν· γνώσῃ γὰρ αὖθις ἀμπλακών. ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ.

Χορός καὶ μὴν ὅδ’ αὐτὸς παῖς σὸς ἐς καιρὸν πάρα, Ἱππόλυτος· ὀργῆς δ’ ἐξανεὶς κακῆς, ἄναξ 900 Θησεῦ, τὸ λῷστον σοῖσι βούλευσαι δόμοις.

Χορός οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπως εἴποιμ’ ἂν εὐτυχεῖν τινα θνητῶν· τὰ γὰρ δὴ πρῶτ’ ἀνέστραπται πάλιν.

Χορός ἀρκοῦσαν εἶπας αἰτίας ἀποστροφήν, ὅρκους παρασχών, πίστιν οὐ σμικράν, θεῶν.

Θησεύς ἆρ’ οὐκ ἐπῳδὸς καὶ γόης πέφυχ’ ὅδε, ὃς τὴν ἐμὴν πέποιθεν εὐοργησίᾳ ψυχὴν κρατήσειν, τὸν τεκόντ’ ἀτιμάσας; 1040

Ἱππόλυτος οἴμοι, τί δράσεις; οὐδὲ μηνυτὴν χρόνον δέξῃ καθ’ ἡμῶν, ἀλλά μ’ ἐξελᾷς χθονός;

Θησεύς πέραν γε πόντου καὶ τόπων Ἀτλαντικῶν, εἴ πως δυναίμην, ὡς σὸν ἐχθαίρω κάρα.

Ἱππόλυτος οὐδ’ ὅρκον οὐδὲ πίστιν οὐδὲ μάντεων 1055 φήμας ἐλέγξας ἄκριτον ἐκβαλεῖς με γῆς;

Θησεύς ἡ δέλτος ἥδε κλῆρον οὐ δεδεγμένη κατηγορεῖ σου πιστά· τοὺς δ’ ὑπὲρ κάρα φοιτῶντας ὄρνις πόλλ’ ἐγὼ χαίρειν λέγω.

Θησεύς οἴμοι, τὸ σεμνὸν ὥς μ’ ἀποκτενεῖ τὸ σόν. οὐκ εἶ πατρῴας ἐκτὸς ὡς τάχιστα γῆς; 1065

Ἱππόλυτος ποῖ δῆθ’ ὁ τλήμων τρέψομαι; τίνος ξένων δόμους ἔσειμι, τῇδ’ ἐπ’ αἰτίᾳ φυγών;

Θησεύς ὅστις γυναικῶν λυμεῶνας ἥδεται ξένους κομίζων καὶ ξυνοικούρους κακῶν.

Ἱππόλυτος αἰαῖ, πρὸς ἧπαρ· δακρύων τ’ ἐγγὺς τόδε, 1070 εἰ δὴ κακός γε φαίνομαι, δοκῶ τέ σοι.

Θησεύς τότε στενάζειν καὶ προγιγνώσκειν σ’ ἐχρῆν ὅτ’ ἐς πατρῴαν ἄλοχον ὑβρίζειν ἔτλης.

Ἱππόλυτος ὦ δώματ’, εἴθε φθέγμα γηρύσαισθέ μοι καὶ μαρτυρήσαιτ’ εἰ κακὸς πέφυκ’ ἀνήρ. 1075

Θησεύς ἐς τοὺς ἀφώνους μάρτυρας φεύγεις σοφῶς· τὸ δ’ ἔργον οὐ λέγον σε μηνύει κακόν.

Ἱππόλυτος φεῦ· εἴθ’ ἦν ἐμαυτὸν προσβλέπειν ἐναντίον στάνθ’, ὡς ἐδάκρυσ’ οἷα πάσχομεν κακά.

Θησεύς πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον σαυτὸν ἤσκησας σέβειν 1080 ἢ τοὺς τεκόντας ὅσια δρᾶν δίκαιος ὤν.

Ἱππόλυτος ὦ δυστάλαινα μῆτερ, ὦ πικραὶ γοναί· μηδείς ποτ’ εἴη τῶν ἐμῶν φίλων νόθος.

Θησεύς οὐχ ἕλξετ’ αὐτόν, δμῶες; οὐκ ἀκούετε πάλαι ξενοῦσθαι τόνδε προυννέποντά με; 1085

Ἱππόλυτος κλαίων τις αὐτῶν ἆρ’ ἐμοῦ τεθίξεται· σὺ δ’ αὐτός, εἴ σοι θυμός, ἐξώθει χθονός.

Θησεύς δράσω τάδ’, εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πείσῃ λόγοις· οὐ γάρ τις οἶκτος σῆς μ’ ὑπέρχεται φυγῆς.

Messenger Help! 1 ho! To the rescue all who near the palace stand! She hath hung herself, our queen, the wife of Theseus.

Chorus Woe worth the day! the deed is done; our royal mistress is no more, dead she hangs in the dangling noose.

Messenger Haste! 2 some one bring a two-edged knife wherewith to cut the knot about her neck! 780

1st Half Chorus Friends, what shall we do? think you we should enter the house, and loose the queen from the tight-drawn noose?

2nd Half Chorus Why should we? Are there not young servants here? To do too much is not a safe course in life. 785

Messenger Lay 3 out the hapless corpse, straighten the limbs. This was a bitter way to sit at home and keep my master’s house! [Exit Messenger.

Chorus She is dead, poor lady, so I hear. Already are they laying out the corpse.

Chorus ’Tis not against the old, Theseus, that fate, to strike thee, aims this blow; prepare thy sorrow for a younger corpse.

Theseus Woe is me! is it a child’s life death robs me of?

Chorus They live; but, cruellest news of all for thee, their mother is no more. 800

Theseus What! my wife dead? By what cruel mischance?

Chorus About her neck she tied the hangman’s knot.

Theseus Had grief so chilled her blood? or what had befallen her?

Chorus I know but this, for I am myself but now arrived at the house to mourn thy sorrows, O Theseus. 805

Theseus Woe is me! why have I crowned my head with woven garlands, when misfortune greets my embassage? Unbolt the doors, servants, loose their fastenings, that I may see the piteous sight, 825 my wife, whose death is death to me. [The palace opens, disclosing the corpse. 810

Chorus Woe! woe is thee for thy piteous lot! thou hast done thyself a hurt deep enough to overthrow this family. Ah! ah! the daring of it! done to death by violence and unnatural means, the desperate effort of thy own poor hand! Who cast the shadow o’er thy life, poor lady? 815

Chorus My prince, ’tis not to thee alone such sorrows come; thou hast lost a noble wife, but so have many others. 835

Chorus Gone 4 and left us hast thou, fondest wife and noblest of all women ’neath the sun’s bright eye or night’s star-lit radiance. 5 850

Chorus Poor house, what sorrows are thy portion now! My eyes are wet with streams of tears to see thy fate; but the sequel to this tragedy has long with terror filled me. 855

Theseus O horror! woe on woe! and still they come, too deep for words, too heavy to bear. Ah me! 875

Chorus What is it? speak, if I may share in it.

Theseus This letter loudly tells a hideous tale! where can I escape my load of woe? For I am ruined and undone, so awful are the words I find here written clear as if she cried them to me; woe is me! 880

Chorus Alas! thy words declare themselves the harbingers of woe.

Chorus O king, I do conjure thee, call back that prayer; hereafter thou wilt know thy error. Hear, I pray.

Weh, weh!

Zu Hülf ihr alle, die dem Hause nahe sind!

Theseus' Gemahlinn, unsre Frau erhenkte sich.

Chor.

Es ist gescheh'n, ach! unsre Königinn dahin!

Sie schlang um ihren Nacken sich das Todesband.
770

Diener.

Ihr eilet nicht, holt nicht ein doppelschneidig Schwert,

Und trennt von ihrem Halse gleich die Schlinge los?

Erster Halbchor.

Was thun wir, Frauen? Dringen wir in's Haus hinein,

Sie loszumachen aus dem festgezognen Strang?

Zweiter Halb chor.

Wie? Sind im Haus nicht junge Dienerinnen schon?
775

Gefährlich ist es, sich um Alzuvieles mühn.

Ein Diener (im Palaste).

Reckt aus die Todte, richtet auf das arme Weib!

Das ist ein bittrer Liebesdienst für meinen Herrn.

Chor.

Dahin (wir hdren's) ist die Unglückselige;

Bereits als eine Todte wird sie ausgestreckt.
780

Chor.

Nicht nach des Greises Haupte zielt dir das Geschick,

Theseus! Betrüben werden Junggestorbne dich.

Theseus.

Weh! Ward der Kinder Leben mir doch nicht geraubt?
790

Chor.

Sie leben, dir zum Schmerze, da die Mutter starb.

Theseus.

Wie sagst du? Meine Gattinn starb? Durch welches Loos?

Chor.

Die Todesschlinge wand sie selbst um ihren Hals.

Τροφός
ἔσωθεν

ἰοὺ ἰού·

βοηδρομεῖτε πάντες οἱ πέλας δόμων·

ἐν ἀγχόναις δέσποινα, Θησέως δάμαρ.

Χορός

— φεῦ φεῦ, πέπρακται· βασιλὶς οὐκέτ’ ἔστι δὴ

γυνή, κρεμαστοῖς ἐν βρόχοις ἠρτημένη.

Τροφός

οὐ σπεύσετ’; οὐκ οἴσει τις ἀμφιδέξιον
780

σίδηρον, ᾧ τόδ’ ἅμμα λύσομεν δέρης;

Τροφός

ὀρθώσατ’ ἐκτείνοντες ἄθλιον νέκυν·

πικρὸν τόδ’ οἰκούρημα δεσπόταις ἐμοῖς.

Χορός

— ὄλωλεν ἡ δύστηνος, ὡς κλύω, γυνή·

ἤδη γὰρ ὡς νεκρόν νιν ἐκτείνουσι δή.

Χορός

οὐκ ἐς γέροντας ἥδε σοι τείνει τύχη,

Θησεῦ· νέοι θανόντες ἀλγυνοῦσί σε.

Θησεύς

οἴμοι· τέκνων μοι μή τι συλᾶται βίος;

Χορός

ζῶσιν, θανούσης μητρὸς ὡς ἄλγιστά σοι.
800

Θησεύς

τί φῄς; ὄλωλεν ἄλοχος; ἐκ τίνος τύχης;

Χορός

βρόχον κρεμαστὸν ἀγχόνης ἀνήψατο.

Θησεύς

λύπῃ παχνωθεῖσ’, ἢ ἀπὸ συμφορᾶς τινος;

Χορός

τοσοῦτον ἴσμεν· ἄρτι γὰρ κἀγὼ δόμοις,

Θησεῦ, πάρειμι σῶν κακῶν πενθήτρια.
805

Χορός

οὐ σοὶ τάδ’, ὦναξ, ἦλθε δὴ μόνῳ κακά,

πολλῶν μετ’ ἄλλων δ’ ὤλεσας κεδνὸν λέχος.
835

Χορός

ἰὼ τάλας· ὦ τάλας· ὅσον κακὸν ἔχει δόμος.

δάκρυσί μου βλέφαρα

καταχυθέντα τέγγεται σᾷ τύχᾳ·

τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ τῷδε πῆμα φρίσσω πάλαι.
855

Θησεύς

οἴμοι· τόδ’ οἷον ἄλλο πρὸς κακῷ κακόν,

οὐ τλητὸν οὐδὲ λεκτόν. ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
875

Χορός

τί χρῆμα; λέξον, εἴ τί μοι λόγου μέτα.

Θησεύς

βοᾷ βοᾷ δέλτος ἄλαστα. πᾷ φύγω

βάρος κακῶν; ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλόμενος οἴχομαι,

οἷον οἷον εἶδον ἐν γραφαῖς μέλος

φθεγγόμενον τλάμων.
880

Χορός

αἰαῖ, κακῶν ἀρχηγὸν ἐκφαίνεις λόγον.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἀπεύχου ταῦτα πρὸς θεῶν πάλιν·

γνώσῃ γὰρ αὖθις ἀμπλακών. ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ὅδ’ αὐτὸς παῖς σὸς ἐς καιρὸν πάρα,

Ἱππόλυτος· ὀργῆς δ’ ἐξανεὶς κακῆς, ἄναξ
900

Θησεῦ, τὸ λῷστον σοῖσι βούλευσαι δόμοις.

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπως εἴποιμ’ ἂν εὐτυχεῖν τινα

θνητῶν· τὰ γὰρ δὴ πρῶτ’ ἀνέστραπται πάλιν.

Χορός

ἀρκοῦσαν εἶπας αἰτίας ἀποστροφήν,

ὅρκους παρασχών, πίστιν οὐ σμικράν, θεῶν.

Θησεύς

ἆρ’ οὐκ ἐπῳδὸς καὶ γόης πέφυχ’ ὅδε,

ὃς τὴν ἐμὴν πέποιθεν εὐοργησίᾳ

ψυχὴν κρατήσειν, τὸν τεκόντ’ ἀτιμάσας;
1040

Ἱππόλυτος

οἴμοι, τί δράσεις; οὐδὲ μηνυτὴν χρόνον

δέξῃ καθ’ ἡμῶν, ἀλλά μ’ ἐξελᾷς χθονός;

Θησεύς

πέραν γε πόντου καὶ τόπων Ἀτλαντικῶν,

εἴ πως δυναίμην, ὡς σὸν ἐχθαίρω κάρα.

Ἱππόλυτος

οὐδ’ ὅρκον οὐδὲ πίστιν οὐδὲ μάντεων
1055

φήμας ἐλέγξας ἄκριτον ἐκβαλεῖς με γῆς;

Θησεύς

ἡ δέλτος ἥδε κλῆρον οὐ δεδεγμένη

κατηγορεῖ σου πιστά· τοὺς δ’ ὑπὲρ κάρα

φοιτῶντας ὄρνις πόλλ’ ἐγὼ χαίρειν λέγω.

Θησεύς

οἴμοι, τὸ σεμνὸν ὥς μ’ ἀποκτενεῖ τὸ σόν.

οὐκ εἶ πατρῴας ἐκτὸς ὡς τάχιστα γῆς;
1065

Ἱππόλυτος

ποῖ δῆθ’ ὁ τλήμων τρέψομαι; τίνος ξένων

δόμους ἔσειμι, τῇδ’ ἐπ’ αἰτίᾳ φυγών;

Θησεύς

ὅστις γυναικῶν λυμεῶνας ἥδεται

ξένους κομίζων καὶ ξυνοικούρους κακῶν.

Ἱππόλυτος

αἰαῖ, πρὸς ἧπαρ· δακρύων τ’ ἐγγὺς τόδε,
1070

εἰ δὴ κακός γε φαίνομαι, δοκῶ τέ σοι.

Θησεύς

τότε στενάζειν καὶ προγιγνώσκειν σ’ ἐχρῆν

ὅτ’ ἐς πατρῴαν ἄλοχον ὑβρίζειν ἔτλης.

Ἱππόλυτος

ὦ δώματ’, εἴθε φθέγμα γηρύσαισθέ μοι

καὶ μαρτυρήσαιτ’ εἰ κακὸς πέφυκ’ ἀνήρ.
1075

Θησεύς

ἐς τοὺς ἀφώνους μάρτυρας φεύγεις σοφῶς·

τὸ δ’ ἔργον οὐ λέγον σε μηνύει κακόν.

Ἱππόλυτος

φεῦ·

εἴθ’ ἦν ἐμαυτὸν προσβλέπειν ἐναντίον

στάνθ’, ὡς ἐδάκρυσ’ οἷα πάσχομεν κακά.

Θησεύς

πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον σαυτὸν ἤσκησας σέβειν
1080

ἢ τοὺς τεκόντας ὅσια δρᾶν δίκαιος ὤν.

Ἱππόλυτος

ὦ δυστάλαινα μῆτερ, ὦ πικραὶ γοναί·

μηδείς ποτ’ εἴη τῶν ἐμῶν φίλων νόθος.

Θησεύς

οὐχ ἕλξετ’ αὐτόν, δμῶες; οὐκ ἀκούετε

πάλαι ξενοῦσθαι τόνδε προυννέποντά με;
1085

Ἱππόλυτος

κλαίων τις αὐτῶν ἆρ’ ἐμοῦ τεθίξεται·

σὺ δ’ αὐτός, εἴ σοι θυμός, ἐξώθει χθονός.

Θησεύς

δράσω τάδ’, εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πείσῃ λόγοις·

οὐ γάρ τις οἶκτος σῆς μ’ ὑπέρχεται φυγῆς.

Messenger

Help!¹ ho! To the rescue all who near the palace stand! She hath hung herself, our queen, the wife of Theseus.

Chorus

Woe worth the day! the deed is done; our royal mistress is no more, dead she hangs in the dangling noose.

Messenger

Haste!² some one bring a two-edged knife wherewith to cut the knot about her neck!
780

1st Half Chorus

Friends, what shall we do? think you we should enter the house, and loose the queen from the tight-drawn noose?

2nd Half Chorus

Why should we? Are there not young servants here?

To do too much is not a safe course in life.
785

Messenger

Lay³ out the hapless corpse, straighten the limbs. This was a bitter way to sit at home and keep my master’s house! [Exit Messenger.

Chorus

She is dead, poor lady, so I hear. Already are they laying out the corpse.

Chorus

’Tis not against the old, Theseus, that fate, to strike thee, aims this blow; prepare thy sorrow for a younger corpse.

Theseus

Woe is me! is it a child’s life death robs me of?

Chorus

They live; but, cruellest news of all for thee, their mother is no more.
800

Theseus

What! my wife dead? By what cruel mischance?

Chorus

About her neck she tied the hangman’s knot.

Theseus

Had grief so chilled her blood? or what had befallen her?

Chorus

I know but this, for I am myself but now arrived at the house

to mourn thy sorrows, O Theseus.
805

Theseus

Woe is me! why have I crowned my head with woven garlands, when misfortune greets my embassage? Unbolt the doors, servants,

loose their fastenings, that I may see the piteous sight,
825

my wife, whose death is death to me. [The palace opens, disclosing the corpse.
810

Chorus

Woe! woe is thee for thy piteous lot! thou hast done thyself a hurt deep enough to overthrow this family. Ah! ah! the daring of it! done to death by violence and unnatural means, the desperate effort

of thy own poor hand! Who cast the shadow o’er thy life, poor lady?
815

Chorus

My prince, ’tis not to thee alone such sorrows come;

thou hast lost a noble wife, but so have many others.
835

Chorus

Gone⁴ and left us hast thou, fondest wife and noblest of all women

’neath the sun’s bright eye or night’s star-lit radiance.⁵
850

Chorus

Poor house, what sorrows are thy portion now! My eyes are wet with streams of tears to see thy fate;

but the sequel to this tragedy has long with terror filled me.
855

Theseus

O horror! woe on woe!

and still they come, too deep for words, too heavy to bear. Ah me!
875

Chorus

What is it? speak, if I may share in it.

Theseus

This letter loudly tells a hideous tale! where can I escape my load of woe? For I am ruined and undone, so awful are the words I find here written clear

as if she cried them to me; woe is me!
880

Chorus

Alas! thy words declare themselves the harbingers of woe.

Chorus

O king, I do conjure thee, call back that prayer; hereafter thou wilt know thy error. Hear, I pray.

Chorus

Lo! where himself doth come, thy son Hippolytus, in good time;

dismiss thy hurtful rage, King Theseus, and bethink thee what is best for thy family.
900

Theseus

O ye sons of men, victims of a thousand idle errors, why teach your countless crafts, why scheme and seek to find a way for everything, while one thing ye know not nor ever yet have made your prize,

a way to teach them wisdom whose souls are void of sense?
920

Hippolytus

A very master in his craft the man, who can force fools to be wise! But these ill-timed subtleties of thine, father, make me fear thy tongue is running riot through trouble.

Hippolytus

Say, hath some friend been slandering me and hath he still thine ear? am I, though guiltless, banned? I am amazed indeed;

thy random, frantic words fill me with wild alarm.
935