Euripides, Hecuba, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 475

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Wehe, weh' um die Kinder mir!

Weh, Vater und Vaterstadt,
470

Die, zerstört von des Feuers Wuth,

Sank in den Staub, von dem Speere

Der Achder erobert! Ich

Heiß' im Fremdlingslande Sklavinn,

Muß fliehn aus Asia, dem
475

Nun Europa gebeut,

Tausch' um bräutliche Wonne den Tod!

Talthybios.

Hecuba. 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)

Ἑκάβη Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902. (Reprinted 1906-1974)) — 484-628 focus

Ταλθύβιος

ποῦ τὴν ἄνασσαν δή ποτʼ οὖσαν Ἰλίου

Ἑκάβην ἂν ἐξεύροιμι, Τρῳάδες κόραι;
485

Χορός

αὕτη πέλας σου νῶτʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐπὶ χθονί,

Ταλθύβιε, κεῖται ξυγκεκλῃμένη πέπλοις.

Ταλθύβιος

ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξω; πότερά σʼ ἀνθρώπους ὁρᾶν;

ἢ δόξαν ἄλλως τήνδε κεκτῆσθαι μάτην,

ψευδῆ, δοκοῦντας δαιμόνων εἶναι γένος
490

τύχην δὲ πάντα τἀν βροτοῖς ἐπισκοπεῖν;

οὐχ ἥδʼ ἄνασσα τῶν πολυχρύσων Φρυγῶν,

οὐχ ἥδε Πριάμου τοῦ μέγʼ ὀλβίου δάμαρ;

καὶ νῦν πόλις μὲν πᾶσʼ ἀνέστηκεν δορί,

αὐτὴ δὲ δούλη γραῦς ἄπαις ἐπὶ χθονὶ
495

κεῖται, κόνει φύρουσα δύστηνον κάρα.

φεῦ φεῦ· γέρων μέν εἰμʼ, ὅμως δέ μοι θανεῖν

εἴη πρὶν αἰσχρᾷ περιπεσεῖν τύχῃ τινί.

ἀνίστασʼ, ὦ δύστηνε, καὶ μετάρσιον

πλευρὰν ἔπαιρε καὶ τὸ πάλλευκον κάρα.
500

Ἑκάβη

ἔα· τίς οὗτος σῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ

κεῖσθαι; τί κινεῖς μʼ, ὅστις εἶ, λυπουμένην;

Ταλθύβιος

Ταλθύβιος ἥκω Δαναϊδῶν ὑπηρέτης,

Ἀγαμέμνονος πέμψαντος, ὦ γύναι, μέτα.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξαι τάφῳ
505

δοκοῦν Ἀχαιοῖς ἦλθες; ὡς φίλʼ ἂν λέγοις.

σπεύδωμεν, ἐγκονῶμεν· ἡγοῦ μοι, γέρον.

Ταλθύβιος

σὴν παῖδα κατθανοῦσαν ὡς θάψῃς, γύναι,

ἥκω μεταστείχων σε· πέμπουσιν δέ με

δισσοί τʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι καὶ λεὼς Ἀχαιικός.
510

Ἑκάβη

οἴμοι, τί λέξεις; οὐκ ἄρʼ ὡς θανουμένους

μετῆλθες ἡμᾶς, ἀλλὰ σημανῶν κακά;

ὄλωλας, ὦ παῖ, μητρὸς ἁρπασθεῖσʼ ἄπο·

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἄτεκνοι τοὐπὶ σʼ· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

πῶς καί νιν ἐξεπράξατʼ; ἆρʼ αἰδούμενοι;
515

ἢ πρὸς τὸ δεινὸν ἤλθεθʼ ὡς ἐχθράν, γέρον,

κτείνοντες; εἰπέ, καίπερ οὐ λέξων φίλα.

518

Ταλθύβιος

διπλᾶ με χρῄζεις δάκρυα κερδᾶναι, γύναι,

σῆς παιδὸς οἴκτῳ· νῦν τε γὰρ λέγων κακὰ

τέγξω τόδʼ ὄμμα, πρὸς τάφῳ θʼ ὅτʼ ὤλλυτο.
520

παρῆν μὲν ὄχλος πᾶς Ἀχαιικοῦ στρατοῦ

πλήρης πρὸ τύμβου σῆς κόρης ἐπὶ σφαγάς·

λαβὼν δʼ Ἀχιλλέως παῖς Πολυξένην χερὸς

ἔστησʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρου χώματος, πέλας δʼ ἐγώ·

λεκτοί τʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἔκκριτοι νεανίαι,
525

σκίρτημα μόσχου σῆς καθέξοντες χεροῖν,

ἕσποντο. πλῆρες δʼ ἐν χεροῖν λαβὼν δέπας

πάγχρυσον αἴρει χειρὶ παῖς Ἀχιλλέως

χοὰς θανόντι πατρί· σημαίνει δέ μοι

σιγὴν Ἀχαιῶν παντὶ κηρῦξαι στρατῷ.
530

κἀγὼ καταστὰς εἶπον ἐν μέσοις τάδε·

Σιγᾶτʼ, Ἀχαιοί, σῖγα πᾶς ἔστω λεώς,

σίγα σιώπα· νήνεμον δʼ ἔστησʼ ὄχλον.

ὃ δʼ εἶπεν· Ὦ παῖ Πηλέως, πατὴρ δʼ ἐμός,

δέξαι χοάς μοι τάσδε κηλητηρίους,
535

νεκρῶν ἀγωγούς· ἐλθὲ δʼ, ὡς πίῃς μέλαν

κόρης ἀκραιφνὲς αἷμʼ, ὅ σοι δωρούμεθα

στρατός τε κἀγώ· πρευμενὴς δʼ ἡμῖν γενοῦ

λῦσαί τε πρύμνας καὶ χαλινωτήρια

νεῶν δὸς ἡμῖν πρευμενοῦς τʼ ἀπʼ Ἰλίου
540

νόστου τυχόντας πάντας ἐς πάτραν μολεῖν.

τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε, πᾶς δʼ ἐπηύξατο στρατός.

εἶτʼ ἀμφίχρυσον φάσγανον κώπης λαβὼν

ἐξεῖλκε κολεοῦ, λογάσι δʼ Ἀργείων στρατοῦ

νεανίαις ἔνευσε παρθένον λαβεῖν.
545

ἣ δʼ, ὡς ἐφράσθη, τόνδʼ ἐσήμηνεν λόγον·

Ὦ τὴν ἐμὴν πέρσαντες Ἀργεῖοι πόλιν,

ἑκοῦσα θνῄσκω· μή τις ἅψηται χροὸς

τοὐμοῦ· παρέξω γὰρ δέρην εὐκαρδίως.

ἐλευθέραν δέ μʼ, ὡς ἐλευθέρα θάνω,
550

πρὸς θεῶν, μεθέντες κτείνατʼ· ἐν νεκροῖσι γὰρ

δούλη κεκλῆσθαι βασιλὶς οὖσʼ αἰσχύνομαι.

553

λαοὶ δʼ ἐπερρόθησαν, Ἀγαμέμνων τʼ ἄναξ

εἶπεν μεθεῖναι παρθένον νεανίαις.

οἳ δʼ, ὡς τάχιστʼ ἤκουσαν ὑστάτην ὄπα,
555

μεθῆκαν, οὗπερ καὶ μέγιστον ἦν κράτος.

κἀπεὶ τόδʼ εἰσήκουσε δεσποτῶν ἔπος,

λαβοῦσα πέπλους ἐξ ἄκρας ἐπωμίδος

ἔρρηξε λαγόνας ἐς μέσας παρʼ ὀμφαλόν,

μαστούς τʼ ἔδειξε στέρνα θʼ ὡς ἀγάλματος
560

κάλλιστα, καὶ καθεῖσα πρὸς γαῖαν γόνυ

ἔλεξε πάντων τλημονέστατον λόγον·

Ἰδού, τόδʼ, εἰ μὲν στέρνον, ὦ νεανία,

παίειν προθυμῇ, παῖσον, εἰ δʼ ὑπʼ αὐχένα

χρῄζεις, πάρεστι λαιμὸς εὐτρεπὴς ὅδε.
565

ὃ δʼ οὐ θέλων τε καὶ θέλων οἴκτῳ κόρης,

τέμνει σιδήρῳ πνεύματος διαρροάς·

κρουνοὶ δʼ ἐχώρουν. ἣ δὲ καὶ θνῄσκουσʼ ὅμως

πολλὴν πρόνοιαν εἶχεν εὐσχήμων πεσεῖν,

κρύπτουσʼ ἃ κρύπτειν ὄμματʼ ἀρσένων χρεών.
570

ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀφῆκε πνεῦμα θανασίμῳ σφαγῇ,

οὐδεὶς τὸν αὐτὸν εἶχεν Ἀργείων πόνον·

ἀλλʼ οἳ μὲν αὐτῶν τὴν θανοῦσαν ἐκ χερῶν

φύλλοις ἔβαλλον, οἳ δὲ πληροῦσιν πυρὰν

κορμοὺς φέροντες πευκίνους, ὁ δʼ οὐ φέρων
575

πρὸς τοῦ φέροντος τοιάδʼ ἤκουεν κακά·

Ἕστηκας, ὦ κάκιστε, τῇ νεάνιδι

οὐ πέπλον οὐδὲ κόσμον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων;

οὐκ εἶ τι δώσων τῇ περίσσʼ εὐκαρδίῳ

ψυχήν τʼ ἀρίστῃ; τοιάδʼ ἀμφὶ σῆς λέγων
580

παιδὸς θανούσης, εὐτεκνωτάτην τέ σε

πασῶν γυναικῶν δυστυχεστάτην θʼ ὁρῶ.

Χορός

δεινόν τι πῆμα Πριαμίδαις ἐπέζεσεν

πόλει τε τἠμῇ θεῶν ἀνάγκαισιν τόδε.

585

Ἑκάβη

ὦ θύγατερ, οὐκ οἶδʼ εἰς ὅ τι βλέψω κακῶν,
585

πολλῶν παρόντων· ἢν γὰρ ἅψωμαί τινος,

τόδʼ οὐκ ἐᾷ με, παρακαλεῖ δʼ ἐκεῖθεν αὖ

λύπη τις ἄλλη διάδοχος κακῶν κακοῖς.

καὶ νῦν τὸ μὲν σὸν ὥστε μὴ στένειν πάθος

οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην ἐξαλείψασθαι φρενός·
590

τὸ δʼ αὖ λίαν παρεῖλες ἀγγελθεῖσά μοι

γενναῖος. οὔκουν δεινόν, εἰ γῆ μὲν κακὴ

τυχοῦσα καιροῦ θεόθεν εὖ στάχυν φέρει,

χρηστὴ δʼ ἁμαρτοῦσʼ ὧν χρεὼν αὐτὴν τυχεῖν

κακὸν δίδωσι καρπόν, ἀνθρώποις δʼ ἀεὶ
595

ὁ μὲν πονηρὸς οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν κακός,

ὁ δʼ ἐσθλὸς ἐσθλός, οὐδὲ συμφορᾶς ὕπο

φύσιν διέφθειρʼ, ἀλλὰ χρηστός ἐστʼ ἀεί;

ἆρʼ οἱ τεκόντες διαφέρουσιν ἢ τροφαί;

ἔχει γε μέντοι καὶ τὸ θρεφθῆναι καλῶς
600

δίδαξιν ἐσθλοῦ· τοῦτο δʼ ἤν τις εὖ μάθῃ,

οἶδεν τό γʼ αἰσχρόν, κανόνι τοῦ καλοῦ μαθών.

καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ νοῦς ἐτόξευσεν μάτην·

σὺ δʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ σήμηνον Ἀργείοις τάδε,

μὴ θιγγάνειν μοι μηδένʼ, ἀλλʼ εἴργειν ὄχλον,
605

τῆς παιδός. ἔν τοι μυρίῳ στρατεύματι

ἀκόλαστος ὄχλος ναυτική τʼ ἀναρχία

κρείσσων πυρός, κακὸς δʼ ὁ μή τι δρῶν κακόν.

σὺ δʼ αὖ λαβοῦσα τεῦχος, ἀρχαία λάτρι,

βάψασʼ ἔνεγκε δεῦρο ποντίας ἁλός,
610

ὡς παῖδα λουτροῖς τοῖς πανυστάτοις ἐμήν,

νύμφην τʼ ἄνυμφον παρθένον τʼ ἀπάρθενον,

λούσω προθῶμαί θʼ — ὡς μὲν ἀξία, πόθεν;

οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην· ὡς δʼ ἔχω — τί γὰρ πάθω; —

κόσμον τʼ ἀγείρασʼ αἰχμαλωτίδων πάρα,
615

αἵ μοι πάρεδροι τῶνδʼ ἔσω σκηνωμάτων

ναίουσιν, εἴ τις τοὺς νεωστὶ δεσπότας

λαθοῦσʼ ἔχει τι κλέμμα τῶν αὑτῆς δόμων.

ὦ σχήματʼ οἴκων, ὦ ποτʼ εὐτυχεῖς δόμοι,

ὦ πλεῖστʼ ἔχων κάλλιστά τʼ, εὐτεκνώτατε
620

Πρίαμε, γεραιά θʼ ἥδʼ ἐγὼ μήτηρ τέκνων,

ὡς ἐς τὸ μηδὲν ἥκομεν, φρονήματος

τοῦ πρὶν στερέντες. εἶτα δῆτʼ ὀγκούμεθα,

ὃ μέν τις ἡμῶν πλουσίοις ἐν δώμασιν,

ὃ δʼ ἐν πολίταις τίμιος κεκλημένος.
625

τὰ δʼ οὐδὲν ἄλλως, φροντίδων βουλεύματα

γλώσσης τε κόμποι. κεῖνος ὀλβιώτατος,

ὅτῳ κατʼ ἦμαρ τυγχάνει μηδὲν κακόν.

Translations (2)

Hecuba Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 484-625 focus

The herald, Talthybius, enters.

Talthybius

Where can I find Hecuba, who once was

queen of Ilium , you Trojan maidens?
485

Chorus Leader

There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.

Talthybius

O Zeus! what can I say? that your eye is over man? or that we hold this opinion all to no purpose,

falsely thinking there is any race of gods, when it is chance that rules the mortal sphere? Was not this the queen of wealthy Phrygia , the wife of Priam highly blessed? And now her city is utterly overthrown by the foe,
490

and she, a slave in her old age, her children dead, lies upon the ground, soiling her wretched head in the dust. Ah! old as I am, may death be my lot before I am caught in any shameful mischance. Arise, poor lady! lift up
495

yourself and raise that white head.
500

Hecuba
stirring

Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?

Talthybius

I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.

Hecuba
rising

Good friend, have you come because the Achaeans are resolved after all to slay me too at the grave? How welcome your tidings would be! Let us hasten and lose no time; please lead the way, old man.
505

Talthybius

I have come to fetch you to bury your daughter’s corpse, lady; and those that send me are

the two sons of Atreus and the Achaean people.
510

Hecuba

Alas! What will you say? Have you not after all come to fetch me to my doom, but to announce ill news? Lost, my child! snatched from your mother’s arms! and I am childless now, at least as regards you; ah, woe is me!

How did you end her life? was any mercy shown? or did you deal ruthlessly with her as though your victim were a foe, old man? Speak, though your words must be pain to me.
515

518

Talthybius

Lady, you wish me to have a double benefit of tears in pity for your child; for now too as I tell the sad tale

my eyes will be wet, as they were at the tomb when she was dying.
520

All Achaea ’s army was gathered there in full array before the tomb to see your daughter sacrificed; and the son of Achilles took Polyxena by the hand and set her on the top of the mound, while I was near;

and a chosen band of young Achaeans followed to hold your child and prevent her struggling. Then Achilles’ son took in his hands a brimming cup of gold and raised in his hand an offering to his dead father, making a sign to me
525

to proclaim silence throughout the Achaean army. So I stood at his side and in their midst proclaimed, Silence, you Achaeans! let all the people be silent! peace! be still! So I hushed the army. Then he spoke: Son of Peleus, my father,
530

accept the offering I pour for you to appease your spirit, strong to raise the dead; and come to drink the black blood of a pure girl, which I and the army are offering you; oh! be propitious to us; grant that we may loose our prows and the
535

cables of our ships, and, meeting with a prosperous voyage from Ilium , all come to our country. So he spoke; and all the army echoed his prayer. Then seizing his golden sword by the hilt he drew it from its scabbard, signing to the picked young Argive
540

warriors to hold the maid. But she, when she perceived it, uttered this speech: O Argives, who have sacked my city! of my free will I die; let no one lay hand on me; for bravely will I yield my neck.
545

By the gods, leave me free; so slay me, that death may find me free; for to be called a slave among the dead fills my royal heart with shame.
550
553

Then the people shouted their applause, and king Agamemnon told the young men to let go the maid.

So they set her free, as soon as they heard this last command from him whose might was over all. And she, hearing her master’s words, took her robe and tore it open from the shoulder to the waist,
555

displaying a breast and bosom fair as a statue’s; then sinking on her knee, one word she spoke more piteous than all the rest, Young prince, if it is my breast you are eager to strike, see, here it is, strike home! or if at my neck your sword
560

you will aim, that throat is here and ready.
565

Then he, half glad, half sorry in his pity for the maid, cut with the steel the channels of her breath, and streams of blood gushed forth; but she, even in death, took good heed to fall with grace,

hiding from the gaze of men what must be hidden. When she had breathed her last through the fatal gash, no Argive set his hand to the same task, but some were strewing leaves over the corpse in handfuls, others bringing pine-logs
570

and heaping up a pyre; and the one who brought nothing would hear from him who did such taunts as these, Do you stand still, ignoble wretch, with no robe or ornament to bring for the maiden? will you give nothing to her that showed such peerless bravery
575

and spirit? Such is the tale I tell about your daughter’s death, and regard you as blessed beyond all mothers in your noble child, yet crossed in fortune more than all.
580

Chorus Leader

Upon the race of Priam and my city some fearful curse has burst; it is sent by God, and we must bear it.

585

Hecuba

O my daughter! among this crowd of sorrows I do not know where to turn my gaze; for if I set myself to one, another will not let me be; while from this again another grief summons me, finding a successor to sorrow’s throne. And now I can not efface from my mind the memory of your sufferings
585

sufficiently to stay my tears; yet the story of your noble death has taken from the keenness of my grief. Is it not then strange that a poor land, when blessed by heaven with a lucky year, yields a good crop, while that which is good, if robbed of needful care,
590

bears little fruit; yet among men the base is nothing else but wicked, the good man is good, never changing for the worse because of misfortune, but ever the same? Is then the difference due to birth or bringing up?
595

Good training doubtless gives lessons in good conduct, and if a man has mastered this, he knows what is shameful by the standard of the good. And these are random shafts from my mind, I know.
600

To Talthybius Go and proclaim to the Argives

that they do not touch my daughter’s body but keep the crowd away. For when a countless army is gathered, the mob knows no restraint, and the unruliness of sailors exceeds that of fire, all abstinence from crime being counted criminal. Talthybius goes out.
605

Addressing a servant Now you, my aged handmaid, take a pitcher

and dip it in the salt sea and bring it here, that I for the last time may wash my child, an unwed bride, a ravished virgin, and lay her out, as she deserves, ah! how can I? impossible! but as best I can; and what will that amount to?
610

I will collect adornment from the captives, my companions in these tents, if perhaps any of them escaping her new master’s eye has made some theft from her home. The servant departs. O towering halls, O home so happy once,
615

O Priam, rich in store of fairest wealth, most blessed of fathers, and I no less, the grey-haired mother of your race, how are we brought to nothing, stripped of our former pride! And in spite of all we vaunt ourselves, one on the riches of his house,
620

another because he has an honored name among his fellow-citizens! But these things are nothing; in vain are all our thoughtful schemes, in vain our boastful words. He is happiest who meets no sorrow day by day. Hecuba enters the tent.
625

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

No corresponding passage available

Euripides Hecuba 475

Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Wehe, weh' um die Kinder mir!

Weh, Vater und Vaterstadt,
470

Die, zerstört von des Feuers Wuth,

Sank in den Staub, von dem Speere

Der Achder erobert! Ich

Heiß' im Fremdlingslande Sklavinn,

Muß fliehn aus Asia, dem
475

Nun Europa gebeut,

Tausch' um bräutliche Wonne den Tod!

Talthybios.

Current edition Experimental

Ταλθύβιος

ποῦ τὴν ἄνασσαν δή ποτʼ οὖσαν Ἰλίου

Ἑκάβην ἂν ἐξεύροιμι, Τρῳάδες κόραι;
485

Χορός

αὕτη πέλας σου νῶτʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐπὶ χθονί,

Ταλθύβιε, κεῖται ξυγκεκλῃμένη πέπλοις.

Ἑκάβη

ἔα· τίς οὗτος σῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ

κεῖσθαι; τί κινεῖς μʼ, ὅστις εἶ, λυπουμένην;

Ταλθύβιος

Ταλθύβιος ἥκω Δαναϊδῶν ὑπηρέτης,

Ἀγαμέμνονος πέμψαντος, ὦ γύναι, μέτα.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξαι τάφῳ
505

δοκοῦν Ἀχαιοῖς ἦλθες; ὡς φίλʼ ἂν λέγοις.

σπεύδωμεν, ἐγκονῶμεν· ἡγοῦ μοι, γέρον.

Ταλθύβιος

σὴν παῖδα κατθανοῦσαν ὡς θάψῃς, γύναι,

ἥκω μεταστείχων σε· πέμπουσιν δέ με

δισσοί τʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι καὶ λεὼς Ἀχαιικός.
510

Χορός

δεινόν τι πῆμα Πριαμίδαις ἐπέζεσεν

πόλει τε τἠμῇ θεῶν ἀνάγκαισιν τόδε.

Talthybius

Where can I find Hecuba, who once was

queen of Ilium , you Trojan maidens?
485

Chorus Leader

There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.

Hecuba
stirring

Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?

Talthybius

I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.

Hecuba
rising

Good friend, have you come because the Achaeans are resolved after all to slay me too at the grave? How welcome your tidings would be! Let us hasten and lose no time; please lead the way, old man.
505

Talthybius

I have come to fetch you to bury your daughter’s corpse, lady; and those that send me are

the two sons of Atreus and the Achaean people.
510

Chorus Leader

Upon the race of Priam and my city some fearful curse has burst; it is sent by God, and we must bear it.

Stable identifiers

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Wehe, weh' um die Kinder mir! Weh, Vater und Vaterstadt, 470 Die, zerstört von des Feuers Wuth, Sank in den Staub, von dem Speere Der Achder erobert! Ich Heiß' im Fremdlingslande Sklavinn, Muß fliehn aus Asia, dem 475 Nun Europa gebeut, Tausch' um bräutliche Wonne den Tod!

Talthybios.

Current edition Experimental

Ταλθύβιος ποῦ τὴν ἄνασσαν δή ποτʼ οὖσαν Ἰλίου Ἑκάβην ἂν ἐξεύροιμι, Τρῳάδες κόραι; 485

Χορός αὕτη πέλας σου νῶτʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐπὶ χθονί, Ταλθύβιε, κεῖται ξυγκεκλῃμένη πέπλοις.

Ἑκάβη ἔα· τίς οὗτος σῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ κεῖσθαι; τί κινεῖς μʼ, ὅστις εἶ, λυπουμένην;

Ταλθύβιος Ταλθύβιος ἥκω Δαναϊδῶν ὑπηρέτης, Ἀγαμέμνονος πέμψαντος, ὦ γύναι, μέτα.

Ἑκάβη ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξαι τάφῳ 505 δοκοῦν Ἀχαιοῖς ἦλθες; ὡς φίλʼ ἂν λέγοις. σπεύδωμεν, ἐγκονῶμεν· ἡγοῦ μοι, γέρον.

Ταλθύβιος σὴν παῖδα κατθανοῦσαν ὡς θάψῃς, γύναι, ἥκω μεταστείχων σε· πέμπουσιν δέ με δισσοί τʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι καὶ λεὼς Ἀχαιικός. 510

Χορός δεινόν τι πῆμα Πριαμίδαις ἐπέζεσεν πόλει τε τἠμῇ θεῶν ἀνάγκαισιν τόδε.

Talthybius Where can I find Hecuba, who once was queen of Ilium , you Trojan maidens? 485

Chorus Leader There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.

Hecuba stirring Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?

Talthybius I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.

Hecuba rising Good friend, have you come because the Achaeans are resolved after all to slay me too at the grave? How welcome your tidings would be! Let us hasten and lose no time; please lead the way, old man. 505

Talthybius I have come to fetch you to bury your daughter’s corpse, lady; and those that send me are the two sons of Atreus and the Achaean people. 510

Chorus Leader Upon the race of Priam and my city some fearful curse has burst; it is sent by God, and we must bear it.

Stable identifiers

Wehe, weh' um die Kinder mir!

Weh, Vater und Vaterstadt,
470

Die, zerstört von des Feuers Wuth,

Sank in den Staub, von dem Speere

Der Achder erobert! Ich

Heiß' im Fremdlingslande Sklavinn,

Muß fliehn aus Asia, dem
475

Nun Europa gebeut,

Tausch' um bräutliche Wonne den Tod!

Ταλθύβιος

ποῦ τὴν ἄνασσαν δή ποτʼ οὖσαν Ἰλίου

Ἑκάβην ἂν ἐξεύροιμι, Τρῳάδες κόραι;
485

Χορός

αὕτη πέλας σου νῶτʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐπὶ χθονί,

Ταλθύβιε, κεῖται ξυγκεκλῃμένη πέπλοις.

Ἑκάβη

ἔα· τίς οὗτος σῶμα τοὐμὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ

κεῖσθαι; τί κινεῖς μʼ, ὅστις εἶ, λυπουμένην;

Ταλθύβιος

Ταλθύβιος ἥκω Δαναϊδῶν ὑπηρέτης,

Ἀγαμέμνονος πέμψαντος, ὦ γύναι, μέτα.

Ἑκάβη

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἆρα κἄμʼ ἐπισφάξαι τάφῳ
505

δοκοῦν Ἀχαιοῖς ἦλθες; ὡς φίλʼ ἂν λέγοις.

σπεύδωμεν, ἐγκονῶμεν· ἡγοῦ μοι, γέρον.

Ταλθύβιος

σὴν παῖδα κατθανοῦσαν ὡς θάψῃς, γύναι,

ἥκω μεταστείχων σε· πέμπουσιν δέ με

δισσοί τʼ Ἀτρεῖδαι καὶ λεὼς Ἀχαιικός.
510

Χορός

δεινόν τι πῆμα Πριαμίδαις ἐπέζεσεν

πόλει τε τἠμῇ θεῶν ἀνάγκαισιν τόδε.

Talthybius

Where can I find Hecuba, who once was

queen of Ilium , you Trojan maidens?
485

Chorus Leader

There she lies near you, Talthybius, stretched full length upon the ground, wrapped in her robe.

Hecuba
stirring

Oh! who are you that will not let my body rest? Why disturb me in my anguish, whoever you are?

Talthybius

I, Talthybius, have come, the servant of the Danaids; Agamemnon has sent me for you, lady.

Hecuba
rising

Good friend, have you come because the Achaeans are resolved after all to slay me too at the grave? How welcome your tidings would be! Let us hasten and lose no time; please lead the way, old man.
505

Talthybius

I have come to fetch you to bury your daughter’s corpse, lady; and those that send me are

the two sons of Atreus and the Achaean people.
510

Chorus Leader

Upon the race of Priam and my city some fearful curse has burst; it is sent by God, and we must bear it.