Euripides, The Suppliant Maidens, Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator), 778

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Mit dem Glucke vermählt sich das Leid:

Die Stadt erringt hohen Ruhm,

Ihres Heeres Fürsten schmuckt
770

Zwiefacher Ehre Kranz;

Ich aber (bittrer Kummer!) muß die Leichen sehn

Der Kinder: doch ein schönes Schauspiel ist mir auch

Dieser ungeahnte Tag,

Nachdem ich fühlt' aller Schmerzen größten.
775
Erste Gegenstrophe.

The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. Johann Jakob Christian Donner (Translator). . .

Current edition Experimental

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) (German) (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. 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)

Ἱκέτιδες Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962)) — 778-836 focus

Χορός

— τὰ μὲν εὖ, τὰ δὲ δυστυχῆ.

πόλει μὲν εὐδοξία

καὶ στρατηλάταις δορὸς
780

διπλάζεται τιμά·

ἐμοὶ δὲ παίδων μὲν εἰσιδεῖν μέλη

πικρόν, καλὸν θέαμα δʼ, εἴπερ ὄψομαι,

τὰν ἄελπτον ἁμέραν

ἰδοῦσα, πάντων μέγιστον ἄλγος.
785

786

Χορός

— ἄγαμόν μʼ ἔτι δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ

Χρόνος παλαιὸς πατὴρ

ὤφελʼ ἁμερᾶν κτίσαι.

τί γάρ μʼ ἔδει παίδων;

τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἤλπιζον ἂν πεπονθέναι
790

πάθος περισσόν, εἰ γάμων ἀπεζύγην,

νῦν δʼ ὁρῶ σαφέστατον

κακόν, τέκνων φιλτάτων στερεῖσα.

794

Χορός

ἀλλὰ τάδʼ ἤδη σώματα λεύσσω

τῶν οἰχομένων παίδων· μελέα
795

πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμην σὺν τοῖσδε τέκνοις

κοινὸν ἐς Ἅιδην καταβᾶσα;

798

Ἄδραστος

στεναγμόν, ὦ ματέρες,

τῶν κατὰ χθονὸς νεκρῶν

ἀύσατʼ ἀπύσατʼ ἀντίφωνʼ ἐμῶν
800

στεναγμάτων κλύουσαι.

Χορός

— ὦ παῖδες, ὦ πικρὸν φίλων

προσηγόρημα ματέρων,

προσαυδῶ σε τὸν θανόντα.

Ἄδραστος

ἰὼ ἰώ.
805

Χορός

τῶν γʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν ἐγώ.

Ἄδραστος

αἰαῖ.

Χορός

Ἄδραστος

ἐπάθομεν ὤ

Χορός

τὰ κύντατʼ ἄλγη κακῶν.

Ἄδραστος

ὦ πόλις Ἀργεία, τὸν ἐμὸν πότμον οὐκ ἐσορᾶτε;

Χορός

— ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ τὰν τάλαι-

ναν, τέκνων ἄπαιδα.
810

811

Ἄδραστος

προσάγετε τῶν δυσπότμων

σώμαθʼ αἱματοσταγῆ,

σφαγέντας οὐκ ἄξιʼ οὐδʼ ὑπʼ ἀξίων,

ἐν οἷς ἀγὼν ἐκράνθη.

Χορός

— δόθʼ, ὡς περιπτυχαῖσι δὴ
815

χέρας προσαρμόσασʼ ἐμοῖς

ἐν ἀγκῶσι τέκνα θῶμαι.

Ἄδραστος

ἔχεις ἔχεις.

Χορός

— πημάτων γʼ ἅλις βάρος.

Ἄδραστος

αἰαῖ.

Χορός

τοῖς τεκοῦσι δʼ οὐ λέγεις;

Ἄδραστος

ἀίετέ μου.
820

Χορός

στένεις ἐπʼ ἀμφοῖν ἄχη.

Ἄδραστος

εἴθε με Καδμείων ἔναρον στίχες ἐν κονίαισιν.

Χορός

— ἐμὸν δὲ μήποτʼ ἐζύγη

δέμας ἐς ἀνδρὸς εὐνάν.

824

Ἄδραστος

ἴδετε κακῶν πέλαγος, ὦ

ματέρες τάλαιναι τέκνων.
825

Χορός

— κατὰ μὲν ὄνυξιν ἠλοκίσμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ

σποδὸν κάρᾳ κεχύμεθα.

Ἄδραστος

ἰὼ ἰώ μοί μοι·

κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι,

διὰ δὲ θύελλα σπάσαι,
830

πυρός τε φλογμὸς ὁ Διὸς ἐν κάρᾳ πέσοι.

Χορός

— πικροὺς ἐσεῖδες γάμους,

πικρὰν δὲ Φοίβου φάτιν·

ἔρημά σʼ ἁ πολύστονος Οἰδιπόδα
835

δώματα λιποῦσʼ ἦλθʼ Ἐρινύς.

Translations (2)

The Suppliants Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 778-835 focus

Chorus

Joy is here and sorrow too,—

for the state fair fame, and for our captains double meed of honour. Bitter for me it is to see the limbs of my dead sons, and yet a welcome sight withal, because I shall behold the unexpected day
780

after sorrow’s cup was full.
785

786

Chorus

Would that Father Time had kept me unwed from my youth up e’en till now when I am old! What need had I of children?

Methinks I should not have suffered excessively, had I never borne the marriage-yoke; but now I have my sorrow full in view, the loss of children dear.
790

794

Chorus

Lo! I see the bodies

of the fallen youths. Woe is me! would I could join these children in their death and descend to Hades with them!
795

798

Adrastus

Mothers, raise the wail for the dead departed;

cry in answer when ye hear my note of woe.
800

Chorus

My sons, my sons! O bitter words for loving mothers to address to you! To thee, my lifeless child, I call.

Adrastus

Woe! woe!
805

Chorus

Ah me, my sufferings!

Adrastus

Alas!

Chorus

¹

Adrastus

We have endured, alas!—

Chorus

Sorrows most grievous.

Adrastus

O citizens of Argos ! do ye not behold my fate?

Chorus

They see thee, and me the hapless mother,

reft of her children.
810

811

Adrastus

Bring near the blood-boltered corpses of those hapless chiefs, foully slain by foes unworthy, with whom lay the decision of the contest.

Chorus

Let me embrace and hold my children to my bosom in my enfolding arms.
815

Adrastus

There, there! thou hast—

Chorus

Sorrows heavy enough to bear.

Adrastus

Ah me!

Chorus

Thy groans mingle with those of their parents.²

Adrastus

Hear me.
820

Chorus

O’er both of us thou dost lament.

Adrastus

Would God the Theban ranks had laid me dead in the dust!

Chorus

Oh that I had ne’er been wedded to a husband!

824

Adrastus

Behold this sea of troubles!³

Ah! hapless mothers.
825

Chorus

Our nails have ploughed our cheeks in furrows, and o’er our heads have we strewn ashes.

Adrastus

Ah me! ah me! Oh that earth’s floor would swallow me,

or the whirlwind snatch me away, or Zeus’s flaming bolt descend upon my head!
830

Chorus

Bitter the marriages thou didst witness, bitter the oracle of Phoebus!

The curse of Oedipus, fraught with sorrow, after desolating⁴ his house, is come on thee.
835

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

No corresponding passage available

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἀλλὰ τάδʼ ἤδη σώματα λεύσσω τῶν οἰχομένων παίδων· μελέα 795 πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμην σὺν τοῖσδε τέκνοις κοινὸν ἐς Ἅιδην καταβᾶσα;

Ἄδραστος στεναγμόν, ὦ ματέρες, τῶν κατὰ χθονὸς νεκρῶν ἀύσατʼ ἀπύσατʼ ἀντίφωνʼ ἐμῶν 800 στεναγμάτων κλύουσαι.

Χορός — ὦ παῖδες, ὦ πικρὸν φίλων προσηγόρημα ματέρων, προσαυδῶ σε τὸν θανόντα.

Ἄδραστος ἰὼ ἰώ. 805

Χορός τῶν γʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν ἐγώ.

Ἄδραστος αἰαῖ.

Χορός

Ἄδραστος ἐπάθομεν ὤ

Χορός τὰ κύντατʼ ἄλγη κακῶν.

Ἄδραστος ὦ πόλις Ἀργεία, τὸν ἐμὸν πότμον οὐκ ἐσορᾶτε;

Χορός — ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ τὰν τάλαι- ναν, τέκνων ἄπαιδα. 810

Ἄδραστος προσάγετε τῶν δυσπότμων σώμαθʼ αἱματοσταγῆ, σφαγέντας οὐκ ἄξιʼ οὐδʼ ὑπʼ ἀξίων, ἐν οἷς ἀγὼν ἐκράνθη.

Χορός — δόθʼ, ὡς περιπτυχαῖσι δὴ 815 χέρας προσαρμόσασʼ ἐμοῖς ἐν ἀγκῶσι τέκνα θῶμαι.

Ἄδραστος ἔχεις ἔχεις.

Χορός — πημάτων γʼ ἅλις βάρος.

Ἄδραστος αἰαῖ.

Χορός τοῖς τεκοῦσι δʼ οὐ λέγεις;

Ἄδραστος ἀίετέ μου. 820

Χορός στένεις ἐπʼ ἀμφοῖν ἄχη.

Ἄδραστος εἴθε με Καδμείων ἔναρον στίχες ἐν κονίαισιν.

Χορός — ἐμὸν δὲ μήποτʼ ἐζύγη δέμας ἐς ἀνδρὸς εὐνάν.

Ἄδραστος ἴδετε κακῶν πέλαγος, ὦ ματέρες τάλαιναι τέκνων. 825

Χορός — κατὰ μὲν ὄνυξιν ἠλοκίσμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ σποδὸν κάρᾳ κεχύμεθα.

Ἄδραστος ἰὼ ἰώ μοί μοι· κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι, διὰ δὲ θύελλα σπάσαι, 830 πυρός τε φλογμὸς ὁ Διὸς ἐν κάρᾳ πέσοι.

Χορός — πικροὺς ἐσεῖδες γάμους, πικρὰν δὲ Φοίβου φάτιν· ἔρημά σʼ ἁ πολύστονος Οἰδιπόδα 835 δώματα λιποῦσʼ ἦλθʼ Ἐρινύς.

Chorus Joy is here and sorrow too,— for the state fair fame, and for our captains double meed of honour. Bitter for me it is to see the limbs of my dead sons, and yet a welcome sight withal, because I shall behold the unexpected day 780 after sorrow’s cup was full. 785

Chorus Would that Father Time had kept me unwed from my youth up e’en till now when I am old! What need had I of children? Methinks I should not have suffered excessively, had I never borne the marriage-yoke; but now I have my sorrow full in view, the loss of children dear. 790

Chorus Lo! I see the bodies of the fallen youths. Woe is me! would I could join these children in their death and descend to Hades with them! 795

Adrastus Mothers, raise the wail for the dead departed; cry in answer when ye hear my note of woe. 800

Chorus My sons, my sons! O bitter words for loving mothers to address to you! To thee, my lifeless child, I call.

Adrastus Woe! woe! 805

Chorus Ah me, my sufferings!

Adrastus Alas!

Chorus 1

Adrastus We have endured, alas!—

Chorus Sorrows most grievous.

Adrastus O citizens of Argos ! do ye not behold my fate?

Chorus They see thee, and me the hapless mother, reft of her children. 810

Adrastus Bring near the blood-boltered corpses of those hapless chiefs, foully slain by foes unworthy, with whom lay the decision of the contest.

Chorus Let me embrace and hold my children to my bosom in my enfolding arms. 815

Adrastus There, there! thou hast—

Chorus Sorrows heavy enough to bear.

Adrastus Ah me!

Chorus Thy groans mingle with those of their parents. 2

Adrastus Hear me. 820

Chorus O’er both of us thou dost lament.

Adrastus Would God the Theban ranks had laid me dead in the dust!

Chorus Oh that I had ne’er been wedded to a husband!

Adrastus Behold this sea of troubles! 3 Ah! hapless mothers. 825

Chorus Our nails have ploughed our cheeks in furrows, and o’er our heads have we strewn ashes.

Adrastus Ah me! ah me! Oh that earth’s floor would swallow me, or the whirlwind snatch me away, or Zeus’s flaming bolt descend upon my head! 830

Chorus Bitter the marriages thou didst witness, bitter the oracle of Phoebus! The curse of Oedipus, fraught with sorrow, after desolating 4 his house, is come on thee. 835

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ἀλλὰ τάδʼ ἤδη σώματα λεύσσω

τῶν οἰχομένων παίδων· μελέα
795

πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμην σὺν τοῖσδε τέκνοις

κοινὸν ἐς Ἅιδην καταβᾶσα;

Ἄδραστος

στεναγμόν, ὦ ματέρες,

τῶν κατὰ χθονὸς νεκρῶν

ἀύσατʼ ἀπύσατʼ ἀντίφωνʼ ἐμῶν
800

στεναγμάτων κλύουσαι.

Χορός

— ὦ παῖδες, ὦ πικρὸν φίλων

προσηγόρημα ματέρων,

προσαυδῶ σε τὸν θανόντα.

Ἄδραστος

ἰὼ ἰώ.
805

Χορός

τῶν γʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν ἐγώ.

Ἄδραστος

αἰαῖ.

Ἄδραστος

ἐπάθομεν ὤ

Χορός

τὰ κύντατʼ ἄλγη κακῶν.

Ἄδραστος

ὦ πόλις Ἀργεία, τὸν ἐμὸν πότμον οὐκ ἐσορᾶτε;

Χορός

— ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ τὰν τάλαι-

ναν, τέκνων ἄπαιδα.
810

Ἄδραστος

προσάγετε τῶν δυσπότμων

σώμαθʼ αἱματοσταγῆ,

σφαγέντας οὐκ ἄξιʼ οὐδʼ ὑπʼ ἀξίων,

ἐν οἷς ἀγὼν ἐκράνθη.

Χορός

— δόθʼ, ὡς περιπτυχαῖσι δὴ
815

χέρας προσαρμόσασʼ ἐμοῖς

ἐν ἀγκῶσι τέκνα θῶμαι.

Ἄδραστος

ἔχεις ἔχεις.

Χορός

— πημάτων γʼ ἅλις βάρος.

Ἄδραστος

αἰαῖ.

Χορός

τοῖς τεκοῦσι δʼ οὐ λέγεις;

Ἄδραστος

ἀίετέ μου.
820

Χορός

στένεις ἐπʼ ἀμφοῖν ἄχη.

Ἄδραστος

εἴθε με Καδμείων ἔναρον στίχες ἐν κονίαισιν.

Χορός

— ἐμὸν δὲ μήποτʼ ἐζύγη

δέμας ἐς ἀνδρὸς εὐνάν.

Ἄδραστος

ἴδετε κακῶν πέλαγος, ὦ

ματέρες τάλαιναι τέκνων.
825

Χορός

— κατὰ μὲν ὄνυξιν ἠλοκίσμεθʼ, ἀμφὶ δὲ

σποδὸν κάρᾳ κεχύμεθα.

Ἄδραστος

ἰὼ ἰώ μοί μοι·

κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι,

διὰ δὲ θύελλα σπάσαι,
830

πυρός τε φλογμὸς ὁ Διὸς ἐν κάρᾳ πέσοι.

Χορός

— πικροὺς ἐσεῖδες γάμους,

πικρὰν δὲ Φοίβου φάτιν·

ἔρημά σʼ ἁ πολύστονος Οἰδιπόδα
835

δώματα λιποῦσʼ ἦλθʼ Ἐρινύς.

Chorus

Joy is here and sorrow too,—

for the state fair fame, and for our captains double meed of honour. Bitter for me it is to see the limbs of my dead sons, and yet a welcome sight withal, because I shall behold the unexpected day
780

after sorrow’s cup was full.
785

Chorus

Would that Father Time had kept me unwed from my youth up e’en till now when I am old! What need had I of children?

Methinks I should not have suffered excessively, had I never borne the marriage-yoke; but now I have my sorrow full in view, the loss of children dear.
790

Chorus

Lo! I see the bodies

of the fallen youths. Woe is me! would I could join these children in their death and descend to Hades with them!
795

Adrastus

Mothers, raise the wail for the dead departed;

cry in answer when ye hear my note of woe.
800

Chorus

My sons, my sons! O bitter words for loving mothers to address to you! To thee, my lifeless child, I call.

Adrastus

Woe! woe!
805

Chorus

Ah me, my sufferings!

Adrastus

Alas!

Chorus

¹

Adrastus

We have endured, alas!—

Chorus

Sorrows most grievous.

Adrastus

O citizens of Argos ! do ye not behold my fate?

Chorus

They see thee, and me the hapless mother,

reft of her children.
810

Adrastus

Bring near the blood-boltered corpses of those hapless chiefs, foully slain by foes unworthy, with whom lay the decision of the contest.

Chorus

Let me embrace and hold my children to my bosom in my enfolding arms.
815

Adrastus

There, there! thou hast—

Chorus

Sorrows heavy enough to bear.

Adrastus

Ah me!

Chorus

Thy groans mingle with those of their parents.²

Adrastus

Hear me.
820

Chorus

O’er both of us thou dost lament.

Adrastus

Would God the Theban ranks had laid me dead in the dust!

Chorus

Oh that I had ne’er been wedded to a husband!

Adrastus

Behold this sea of troubles!³

Ah! hapless mothers.
825

Chorus

Our nails have ploughed our cheeks in furrows, and o’er our heads have we strewn ashes.

Adrastus

Ah me! ah me! Oh that earth’s floor would swallow me,

or the whirlwind snatch me away, or Zeus’s flaming bolt descend upon my head!
830

Chorus

Bitter the marriages thou didst witness, bitter the oracle of Phoebus!

The curse of Oedipus, fraught with sorrow, after desolating⁴ his house, is come on thee.
835