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Such another was Hippomedon, third of all this band; from his very boyhood he refrained from turning towards the allurements of the Muses, to lead a life of ease; his home was in the fields, and gladly would he school his nature to hardships
with a view to manliness, aye hasting to the chase, rejoicing in his steeds or straining of his bow, because he would make himself of use unto his state. Next behold the huntress Atalanta’s son, Parthenopaeus, a youth of peerless beauty;
885
from Arcady he came even to the streams of Inachus, and in
Argos
spent his boyhood. There, when he grew to man’s estate, first, as is the duty of strangers settled in another land, he showed no pique or jealousy against the state, became no quibbler, chiefest source of annoyance
890
citizen or stranger can give, but took his stand amid the host, and fought for
Argos
as he were her own son, glad at heart whenso the city prospered, deeply grieved if e’er reverses came; many
1
a lover though he had midst men and maids,
895
yet was he careful to avoid offence.
900
Of Tydeus next the lofty praise I will express in brief; no brilliant spokesman he, but a clever craftsman in the art of war, with many a shrewd
2
device; inferior in judgment to his brother Meleager,
yet through his warrior skill lending his name to equal praise, for he had found in arms a perfect science; his was an ambitious nature, a spirit rich in store of deeds, with words less fully dowered. From this account then wonder not,
905
Theseus, that they dared to die before the towers; for noble nurture carries honour with it, and every man, when once he hath practised virtue, scorns the name of villain. Courage may be learnt, for even a babe doth learn
910
to speak and hear things it cannot comprehend; and whatso’er a child
3
hath learnt, this it is his wont to treasure up till he is old. So train up your children in a virtuous way.
915
Such another was Hippomedon, third of all this band; from his very boyhood he refrained from turning towards the allurements of the Muses, to lead a life of ease; his home was in the fields, and gladly would he school his nature to hardships
with a view to manliness, aye hasting to the chase, rejoicing in his steeds or straining of his bow, because he would make himself of use unto his state. Next behold the huntress Atalanta’s son, Parthenopaeus, a youth of peerless beauty;
885
from Arcady he came even to the streams of Inachus, and in
Argos
spent his boyhood. There, when he grew to man’s estate, first, as is the duty of strangers settled in another land, he showed no pique or jealousy against the state, became no quibbler, chiefest source of annoyance
890
citizen or stranger can give, but took his stand amid the host, and fought for
Argos
as he were her own son, glad at heart whenso the city prospered, deeply grieved if e’er reverses came; many
1
a lover though he had midst men and maids,
895
yet was he careful to avoid offence.
900
Of Tydeus next the lofty praise I will express in brief; no brilliant spokesman he, but a clever craftsman in the art of war, with many a shrewd
2
device; inferior in judgment to his brother Meleager,
yet through his warrior skill lending his name to equal praise, for he had found in arms a perfect science; his was an ambitious nature, a spirit rich in store of deeds, with words less fully dowered. From this account then wonder not,
905
Theseus, that they dared to die before the towers; for noble nurture carries honour with it, and every man, when once he hath practised virtue, scorns the name of villain. Courage may be learnt, for even a babe doth learn
910
to speak and hear things it cannot comprehend; and whatso’er a child
3
hath learnt, this it is his wont to treasure up till he is old. So train up your children in a virtuous way.
915
The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. E. P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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