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Go, triflers, learn the lesson of human misery;
our life is made up of struggles; some men there be that find their fortune soon, others have to wait, while some at once are blest. Fortune lives a dainty life; to her the wretched pays his court and homage to win her smile; her likewise doth the prosperous man extol, for fear the favouring gale
550
may leave him. These lessons should we take to heart, to bear with moderation, free from wrath, our wrongs, and do naught to hurt a whole city. What then? Let us, who will the pious deed perform, bury the corpses of the slain.
555
Else is the issue clear; I will go and bury them by force. For never shall it be proclaimed through
Hellas
that heaven’s ancient law was set at naught, when it devolved on me and the city of Pandion.
560
Go, triflers, learn the lesson of human misery;
our life is made up of struggles; some men there be that find their fortune soon, others have to wait, while some at once are blest. Fortune lives a dainty life; to her the wretched pays his court and homage to win her smile; her likewise doth the prosperous man extol, for fear the favouring gale
550
may leave him. These lessons should we take to heart, to bear with moderation, free from wrath, our wrongs, and do naught to hurt a whole city. What then? Let us, who will the pious deed perform, bury the corpses of the slain.
555
Else is the issue clear; I will go and bury them by force. For never shall it be proclaimed through
Hellas
that heaven’s ancient law was set at naught, when it devolved on me and the city of Pandion.
560
Chorus
Be of good cheer; for if thou preserve the light of justice,
thou shalt escape many a charge that men might urge.
565
Be of good cheer; for if thou preserve the light of justice,
thou shalt escape many a charge that men might urge.
565
Herald
Wilt thou that I sum up in brief all thou wouldst say?
Wilt thou that I sum up in brief all thou wouldst say?
Theseus
Say what thou wilt; for thou art not silent as it is.
Say what thou wilt; for thou art not silent as it is.
Herald
Thou shalt never take the sons of
Argos
from our land.
Thou shalt never take the sons of
Argos
from our land.
Theseus
Hear, then, my answer too to that, if so thou wilt.
Hear, then, my answer too to that, if so thou wilt.
Herald
I will hear thee; not that I wish it, but I must give thee thy turn.
570
I will hear thee; not that I wish it, but I must give thee thy turn.
570
Theseus
I will bury the dead, when from Asopus’ land I have removed them.
I will bury the dead, when from Asopus’ land I have removed them.
Herald
First must thou adventure somewhat in the front of war.
First must thou adventure somewhat in the front of war.
Theseus
Many an enterprise and of a different kind have I ere this endured.
Many an enterprise and of a different kind have I ere this endured.
Herald
Wert thou then begotten of thy sire to cope with every foe?
Wert thou then begotten of thy sire to cope with every foe?
Theseus
Ay, with all wanton villains; virtue I punish not.
575
Ay, with all wanton villains; virtue I punish not.
575
Herald
To meddle is aye thy wont and thy city’s too.
To meddle is aye thy wont and thy city’s too.
Theseus
Hence her enterprise on many a held hath won her frequent success.
Hence her enterprise on many a held hath won her frequent success.
Herald
Come then, that the warriors of the dragon-crop may catch thee in our city.
Come then, that the warriors of the dragon-crop may catch thee in our city.
Theseus
What furious warrior-host could spring from dragon’s seed?
What furious warrior-host could spring from dragon’s seed?
Herald
Thou shalt learn that to thy cost. As yet thou art young and rash.
580
Thou shalt learn that to thy cost. As yet thou art young and rash.
580
Theseus
Thy boastful speech stirs not my heart at all to rage. Yet get thee gone from my land, taking with thee the idle words thou broughtest; for we are making no advance.
[Exit Herald.]
’Tis time for all to start,
each stout footman, and whoso mounts the car; ’tis time the bit, dripping with foam, should urge the charger on toward the land of Cadmus. For I will march in person to the seven gates thereof
585
with the sharp sword in my hand, and be myself my herald. But thee, Adrastus, I bid stay, nor blend with mine thy fortunes, for I will take my own good star to lead my host, a chieftain famed in famous deeds of arms. One thing alone I need, the favour of all gods that reverence right, for the presence of these things
590
insures victory. For their valour availeth men naught, unless they have the god’s goodwill.
[Exit Theseus.
595
Thy boastful speech stirs not my heart at all to rage. Yet get thee gone from my land, taking with thee the idle words thou broughtest; for we are making no advance.
[Exit Herald.]
’Tis time for all to start,
each stout footman, and whoso mounts the car; ’tis time the bit, dripping with foam, should urge the charger on toward the land of Cadmus. For I will march in person to the seven gates thereof
585
with the sharp sword in my hand, and be myself my herald. But thee, Adrastus, I bid stay, nor blend with mine thy fortunes, for I will take my own good star to lead my host, a chieftain famed in famous deeds of arms. One thing alone I need, the favour of all gods that reverence right, for the presence of these things
590
insures victory. For their valour availeth men naught, unless they have the god’s goodwill.
[Exit Theseus.
595
The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. E. P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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