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Theseus
Mother mine, why weepest thou, drawing o’er thine eyes thy veil? Is it because thou didst hear their piteous lamentations? To my own heart it goes. Raise thy silvered head, weep not
where thou sittest at the holy altar of Demeter.
290
Mother mine, why weepest thou, drawing o’er thine eyes thy veil? Is it because thou didst hear their piteous lamentations? To my own heart it goes. Raise thy silvered head, weep not
where thou sittest at the holy altar of Demeter.
290
Aethra
Ah woe!
Ah woe!
Theseus
’Tis not for thee their sorrows to lament.
’Tis not for thee their sorrows to lament.
Aethra
Ye hapless dames!
Ye hapless dames!
Theseus
Thou art not of their company.
Thou art not of their company.
Aethra
May I a scheme declare, my son, that shall add to thy glory and the state’s?
May I a scheme declare, my son, that shall add to thy glory and the state’s?
Theseus
Yea, for oft even from women’s lips issue wise counsels.
Yea, for oft even from women’s lips issue wise counsels.
Aethra
Yet the word, that lurks within my heart, makes me hesitate.
295
Yet the word, that lurks within my heart, makes me hesitate.
295
Theseus
Shame! to hide from friends good counsel.
Shame! to hide from friends good counsel.
Aethra
Nay then, I will not hold my peace to blame myself hereafter for having now kept silence to my shame, nor will I forego my honourable proposal, from the common fear
that it is useless for women to give good advice. First, my son, I exhort thee give good heed to heaven’s will, lest from slighting it thou suffer shipwreck;
1
for in this one single point thou failest, though well-advised in all else. Further, I would have patiently endured, had it not been my duty
300
to venture somewhat for injured folk; and this, my son, it is that brings thee now thy honour, and causes me no fear to urge that thou shouldst use
2
thy power to make men of violence, who prevent the dead from receiving their meed of burial and funeral rites,
305
perform this bounden duty, and check those who would confound the customs of all
Hellas
; for this it is that holds men’s states together,—strict observance of the laws. And some, no doubt, will say, ’twas cowardice made thee stand aloof in terror,
310
when thou mightest have won for thy city a crown of glory, and, though thou didst encounter a savage swine,
3
labouring for a sorry task, yet when the time came for thee to face the helmet and pointed spear, and do thy best, thou wert found to be a coward.
315
Nay! do not so if thou be son of mine. Dost see how fiercely thy country looks on its revilers when they mock her for want of counsel? Yea, for in her toils she groweth greater. But states, whose policy is dark and cautious,
320
have their sight darkened by their carefulness. My son, wilt thou not go succour the dead and these poor women in their need? I have no fears for thee, starting as thou dost with right upon thy side; and although I see the prosperity of Cadmus’ folk,
325
still am I confident they will throw a different die; for the deity reverses all things again.
330
Nay then, I will not hold my peace to blame myself hereafter for having now kept silence to my shame, nor will I forego my honourable proposal, from the common fear
that it is useless for women to give good advice. First, my son, I exhort thee give good heed to heaven’s will, lest from slighting it thou suffer shipwreck;
1
for in this one single point thou failest, though well-advised in all else. Further, I would have patiently endured, had it not been my duty
300
to venture somewhat for injured folk; and this, my son, it is that brings thee now thy honour, and causes me no fear to urge that thou shouldst use
2
thy power to make men of violence, who prevent the dead from receiving their meed of burial and funeral rites,
305
perform this bounden duty, and check those who would confound the customs of all
Hellas
; for this it is that holds men’s states together,—strict observance of the laws. And some, no doubt, will say, ’twas cowardice made thee stand aloof in terror,
310
when thou mightest have won for thy city a crown of glory, and, though thou didst encounter a savage swine,
3
labouring for a sorry task, yet when the time came for thee to face the helmet and pointed spear, and do thy best, thou wert found to be a coward.
315
Nay! do not so if thou be son of mine. Dost see how fiercely thy country looks on its revilers when they mock her for want of counsel? Yea, for in her toils she groweth greater. But states, whose policy is dark and cautious,
320
have their sight darkened by their carefulness. My son, wilt thou not go succour the dead and these poor women in their need? I have no fears for thee, starting as thou dost with right upon thy side; and although I see the prosperity of Cadmus’ folk,
325
still am I confident they will throw a different die; for the deity reverses all things again.
330
Chorus
Ah! best of friends, right well hast thou pleaded for me and for Adrastus, and hence my joy is doubled.
Ah! best of friends, right well hast thou pleaded for me and for Adrastus, and hence my joy is doubled.
The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. E. P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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