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Such the general men should choose, one who shows his bravery in danger, yet hates the pride of those that in their hour of fortune lose the bliss they might have enjoyed,
through seeking to scale the ladder’s topmost step.
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Such the general men should choose, one who shows his bravery in danger, yet hates the pride of those that in their hour of fortune lose the bliss they might have enjoyed,
through seeking to scale the ladder’s topmost step.
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Chorus
Now do I believe in the gods after seeing this unexpected day, and I feel my woes are lighter now that these have paid their penalty.
Now do I believe in the gods after seeing this unexpected day, and I feel my woes are lighter now that these have paid their penalty.
Adrastus
O Zeus, why do men assert the wisdom of the wretched
human race? On thee we all depend, and all we do is only what thou listest. We thought our
Argos
irresistible, ourselves a young and lusty host, and so when Eteocles was for making terms,
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in spite of his fair offer we would not accept them, and so we perished. Then in their turn those foolish folk of Cadmus, to fortune raised, like some beggar with his newly-gotten wealth, waxed wanton, and, waxing so, were ruined in their turn. Ye foolish sons of men! who strain your bow like men who shoot
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beyond their mark, and only by suffering many evils as ye deserve, though deaf to friends, yet yield to circumstances; ye cities likewise, though ye might by parley end your mischief, yet ye choose the sword instead of reason to settle all disputes.
745
But wherefore these reflections? This I fain would learn, the way thou didst escape; and after that I will ask thee of the rest.
750
O Zeus, why do men assert the wisdom of the wretched
human race? On thee we all depend, and all we do is only what thou listest. We thought our
Argos
irresistible, ourselves a young and lusty host, and so when Eteocles was for making terms,
735
in spite of his fair offer we would not accept them, and so we perished. Then in their turn those foolish folk of Cadmus, to fortune raised, like some beggar with his newly-gotten wealth, waxed wanton, and, waxing so, were ruined in their turn. Ye foolish sons of men! who strain your bow like men who shoot
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beyond their mark, and only by suffering many evils as ye deserve, though deaf to friends, yet yield to circumstances; ye cities likewise, though ye might by parley end your mischief, yet ye choose the sword instead of reason to settle all disputes.
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But wherefore these reflections? This I fain would learn, the way thou didst escape; and after that I will ask thee of the rest.
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Messenger
During the uproar which prevailed in the city owing to the battle, I passed the gates, just as the host had entered them.
During the uproar which prevailed in the city owing to the battle, I passed the gates, just as the host had entered them.
Adrastus
Are ye bringing the bodies, for the which the strife arose?
Are ye bringing the bodies, for the which the strife arose?
Messenger
Ay, each of the seven chiefs who led their famous hosts.
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Ay, each of the seven chiefs who led their famous hosts.
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Adrastus
What sayest thou? the rest who fell—say, where are they?
What sayest thou? the rest who fell—say, where are they?
Messenger
They have found burial in the dells of Cithseron.
They have found burial in the dells of Cithseron.
Adrastus
On this or that side of the mount? And who did bury them?
On this or that side of the mount? And who did bury them?
Messenger
Theseus buried them ’neath the shadow of Eleutherae’s cliff.
Theseus buried them ’neath the shadow of Eleutherae’s cliff.
Adrastus
Where didst thou leave the dead he hath not buried?
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Where didst thou leave the dead he hath not buried?
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Messenger
Not far away; earnest haste makes every goal look close.
Not far away; earnest haste makes every goal look close.
Adrastus
No doubt in sorrow slaves would gather them from the carnage.
No doubt in sorrow slaves would gather them from the carnage.
Messenger
Slaves! not one of them was set to do this toil.
Slaves! not one of them was set to do this toil.
Adrastus
Messenger
Thou wouldst say so, hadst thou been there to see his loving tendance of the dead.
Thou wouldst say so, hadst thou been there to see his loving tendance of the dead.
Adrastus
Did he himself wash the bloody wounds of the hapless youths?
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Did he himself wash the bloody wounds of the hapless youths?
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Messenger
Ay, and strewed their biers and wrapped them in their shrouds.
Ay, and strewed their biers and wrapped them in their shrouds.
Adrastus
An awful burden
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this, involving some disgrace.
An awful burden
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this, involving some disgrace.
Messenger
Why, what disgrace to men are their fellows’ sorrows?
Why, what disgrace to men are their fellows’ sorrows?
Adrastus
Ah me! how much rather had I died with them!
Ah me! how much rather had I died with them!
Messenger
’Tis vain to weep and move to tears these women.
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’Tis vain to weep and move to tears these women.
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Adrastus
Methinks ’tis they who give the lesson. Enough
3
of that! My hands I lift at meeting of the dead, and pour forth a tearful dirge to Hades, calling on my friends,
whose loss I mourn in wretched solitude; for this one thing, when once ’tis spent, man cannot recover, the breath of life, though he knoweth ways to get his wealth again.
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Methinks ’tis they who give the lesson. Enough
3
of that! My hands I lift at meeting of the dead, and pour forth a tearful dirge to Hades, calling on my friends,
whose loss I mourn in wretched solitude; for this one thing, when once ’tis spent, man cannot recover, the breath of life, though he knoweth ways to get his wealth again.
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The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. E. P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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