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Adrastus
rising
Victorious prince of the Athenian realm, Theseus, to thee and to thy city I, a suppliant, come.
Victorious prince of the Athenian realm, Theseus, to thee and to thy city I, a suppliant, come.
Theseus
What seekest thou? What need is thine?
115
What seekest thou? What need is thine?
115
Adrastus
Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?
Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?
Theseus
Assuredly; thou didst not pass through
Hellas
, all in silence.
Assuredly; thou didst not pass through
Hellas
, all in silence.
Adrastus
There I lost the pick of
Argos
’ sons.
There I lost the pick of
Argos
’ sons.
Theseus
These are the results of that unhappy war.
These are the results of that unhappy war.
Adrastus
I went and craved their bodies from
Thebes
.
120
I went and craved their bodies from
Thebes
.
120
Theseus
Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?
Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?
Adrastus
I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.
I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.
Theseus
Why, what say they to thy just request?
Why, what say they to thy just request?
Adrastus
Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.
Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.
Theseus
Art come to me then for counsel? or wherefore?
125
Art come to me then for counsel? or wherefore?
125
Adrastus
With the wish that thou, O Theseus, shouldst recover the sons of the Argives.
With the wish that thou, O Theseus, shouldst recover the sons of the Argives.
Theseus
Where is your
Argos
now? were its vauntings all in vain?
Where is your
Argos
now? were its vauntings all in vain?
Adrastus
Defeat and ruin are our lot. To thee for aid we come.
Defeat and ruin are our lot. To thee for aid we come.
Theseus
this thy own private resolve, or the wish of all the city?
this thy own private resolve, or the wish of all the city?
Adrastus
The sons of Danaus, one and all, implore thee to bury the dead.
130
The sons of Danaus, one and all, implore thee to bury the dead.
130
Theseus
Why didst lead thy seven armies against
Thebes
?
Why didst lead thy seven armies against
Thebes
?
Adrastus
To confer that favour on the husbands of my daughters twain.
To confer that favour on the husbands of my daughters twain.
Theseus
To which of the Argives didst thou give thy daughters in marriage?
To which of the Argives didst thou give thy daughters in marriage?
Adrastus
I made no match for them with kinsmen of my family.
I made no match for them with kinsmen of my family.
Theseus
What! didst give Argive maids to foreign lords?
135
What! didst give Argive maids to foreign lords?
135
Adrastus
Yea, to Tydeus, and to Polynices, who was Theban-born.
Yea, to Tydeus, and to Polynices, who was Theban-born.
Theseus
What induced thee to select this alliance?
What induced thee to select this alliance?
Adrastus
Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment.
Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment.
Theseus
What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage?
What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage?
Adrastus
That I should give my daughters twain to a wild boar and a lion.
140
That I should give my daughters twain to a wild boar and a lion.
140
Theseus
How dost thou explain the message of the god?
How dost thou explain the message of the god?
Adrastus
One night came to my door two exiles.
One night came to my door two exiles.
Theseus
The name of each declare; thou art speaking of both together.
The name of each declare; thou art speaking of both together.
Adrastus
They fought together, Tydeus with Polynices.
They fought together, Tydeus with Polynices.
Theseus
Didst thou give thy daughters to them as to wild beasts?
145
Didst thou give thy daughters to them as to wild beasts?
145
Adrastus
Yea, for, as they fought, I likened them to those monsters twain.
Yea, for, as they fought, I likened them to those monsters twain.
Theseus
Why had they left the borders of their native land and come to thee?
Why had they left the borders of their native land and come to thee?
Adrastus
Tydeus was exiled for the murder of a kinsman.
Tydeus was exiled for the murder of a kinsman.
Theseus
Wherefore had the son of Oedipus left
Thebes
?
Wherefore had the son of Oedipus left
Thebes
?
Adrastus
By reason of his father’s curse, not to spill his brother’s blood.
150
By reason of his father’s curse, not to spill his brother’s blood.
150
Theseus
Wise no doubt that voluntary exile.
Wise no doubt that voluntary exile.
Adrastus
But those who stayed at home were for injuring the absent.
But those who stayed at home were for injuring the absent.
Theseus
What! did brother rob brother of his inheritance?
What! did brother rob brother of his inheritance?
Adrastus
To avenge this I set out; hence my ruin.
To avenge this I set out; hence my ruin.
Theseus
Didst consult seers, and gaze into the flame of burnt-offerings?
155
Didst consult seers, and gaze into the flame of burnt-offerings?
155
Adrastus
Ah me! thou pressest on the very point, wherein I most did fail.
Ah me! thou pressest on the very point, wherein I most did fail.
Theseus
It seems thy going was not favoured by heaven.
It seems thy going was not favoured by heaven.
Adrastus
Worse; I went in spite even of Amphiaraus.
Worse; I went in spite even of Amphiaraus.
Theseus
And so heaven lightly turned
1
its face from thee.
And so heaven lightly turned
1
its face from thee.
Adrastus
I was carried away by the clamour of younger men.
160
I was carried away by the clamour of younger men.
160
Theseus
Thou didst favour courage instead of discretion.
Thou didst favour courage instead of discretion.
The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. E. P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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