Euripides, The Suppliant Maidens, ed. Gilbert Murray, 113

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Ἄδραστος

ὦ καλλίνικε γῆς Ἀθηναίων ἄναξ,

Θησεῦ, σὸς ἱκέτης καὶ πόλεως ἥκω σέθεν.

Θησεύς

τί χρῆμα θηρῶν καὶ τίνος χρείαν ἔχων;
115

Ἄδραστος

οἶσθʼ ἣν στρατείαν ἐστράτευσʼ ὀλεθρίαν.

Θησεύς

οὐ γάρ τι σιγῇ διεπέρασας Ἑλλάδα.

Ἄδραστος

ἐνταῦθʼ ἀπώλεσʼ ἄνδρας Ἀργείων ἄκρους.

Θησεύς

τοιαῦθʼ ὁ τλήμων πόλεμος ἐξεργάζεται.

Ἄδραστος

τούτους θανόντας ἦλθον ἐξαιτῶν πόλιν.
120

Θησεύς

κήρυξιν Ἑρμοῦ πίσυνος, ὡς θάψῃς νεκρούς;

Ἄδραστος

κἄπειτά γʼ οἱ κτανόντες οὐκ ἐῶσί με.

Θησεύς

τί γὰρ λέγουσιν, ὅσια χρῄζοντος σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος

τί δʼ; εὐτυχοῦντες οὐκ ἐπίστανται φέρειν.

Θησεύς

ξύμβουλον οὖν μʼ ἐπῆλθες; ἢ τίνος χάριν;
125

Ἄδραστος

κομίσαι σε, Θησεῦ, παῖδας Ἀργείων θέλων.

Θησεύς

τὸ δʼ Ἄργος ἡμῖν ποῦ ʼστιν; ἢ κόμποι μάτην;

Ἄδραστος

σφαλέντες οἰχόμεσθα. πρὸς σὲ δʼ ἥκομεν.

Θησεύς

ἰδίᾳ δοκῆσάν σοι τόδʼ ἢ πάσῃ πόλει;

Ἄδραστος

πάντες σʼ ἱκνοῦνται Δαναΐδαι θάψαι νεκρούς.
130

Θησεύς

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐλαύνεις ἑπτὰ πρὸς Θήβας λόχους;

Ἄδραστος

δισσοῖσι γαμβροῖς τήνδε πορσύνων χάριν.

Θησεύς

τῷ δʼ ἐξέδωκας παῖδας Ἀργείων σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος

οὐκ ἐγγενῆ συνῆψα κηδείαν δόμοις.

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ ξένοις ἔδωκας Ἀργείας κόρας;
135

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεῖ γε Πολυνείκει τε τῷ Θηβαιγενεῖ.

Θησεύς

τίνʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τῆσδε κηδείας μολών;

Ἄδραστος

Φοίβου μʼ ὑπῆλθε δυστόπαστʼ αἰνίγματα.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ εἶπʼ Ἀπόλλων παρθένοις κραίνων γάμον;

Ἄδραστος

κάπρῳ με δοῦναι καὶ λέοντι παῖδʼ ἐμώ.
140

Θησεύς

σὺ δʼ ἐξελίσσεις πῶς θεοῦ θεσπίσματα;

Ἄδραστος

ἐλθόντε φυγάδε νυκτὸς εἰς ἐμὰς πύλας —

Θησεύς

τίς καὶ τίς; εἰπέ· δύο γὰρ ἐξαυδᾷς ἅμα.

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεὺς μάχην ξυνῆψε Πολυνείκης θʼ ἅμα.

Θησεύς

ἦ τοῖσδʼ ἔδωκας θηρσὶν ὣς κόρας σέθεν;
145

Ἄδραστος

μάχην γε δισσοῖν κνωδάλοιν ἀπεικάσας.

Θησεύς

ἦλθον δὲ δὴ πῶς πατρίδος ἐκλιπόνθʼ ὅρους;

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεὺς μὲν αἷμα συγγενὲς φεύγων χθονός.

Θησεύς

ὁ δʼ Οἰδίπου τί, τίνι τρόπῳ Θήβας λιπών;

Ἄδραστος

ἀραῖς πατρῴαις, μὴ κασίγνητον κτάνοι.
150

Θησεύς

σοφήν γʼ ἔλεξας τήνδʼ ἑκούσιον φυγήν.

Ἄδραστος

ἀλλʼ οἱ μένοντες τοὺς ἀπόντας ἠδίκουν.

Θησεύς

οὔ πού σφʼ ἀδελφὸς χρημάτων νοσφίζεται;

Ἄδραστος

ταύτῃ δικάζων ἦλθον· εἶτʼ ἀπωλόμην.

Θησεύς

μάντεις δʼ ἐπῆλθες ἐμπύρων τʼ εἶδες φλόγα;
155

Ἄδραστος

οἴμοι; διώκεις μʼ ᾗ μάλιστʼ ἐγὼ ʼσφάλην.

Θησεύς

οὐκ ἦλθες, ὡς ἔοικεν, εὐνοίᾳ θεῶν.

Ἄδραστος

τὸ δὲ πλέον, ἦλθον Ἀμφιάρεώ γε πρὸς βίαν.

Θησεύς

οὕτω τὸ θεῖον ῥᾳδίως ἀπεστράφης;

Ἄδραστος

νέων γὰρ ἀνδρῶν θόρυβος ἐξέπλησσέ με.
160

Θησεύς

εὐψυχίαν ἔσπευσας ἀντʼ εὐβουλίας.

The Suppliant Maidens. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἱκέτιδες (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962))

Translations (3)

The Suppliants Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 113 focus

Adrastus
rising

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

Adrastus

Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?

Theseus

Assuredly; thou didst not pass through Hellas , all in silence.

Adrastus

There I lost the pick of Argos ’ sons.

Theseus

These are the results of that unhappy war.

Adrastus

I went and craved their bodies from Thebes .
120

Theseus

Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?

Adrastus

I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.

Theseus

Why, what say they to thy just request?

Adrastus

Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.

Theseus

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.

Theseus

Where is your Argos now? were its vauntings all in vain?

Adrastus

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?

Adrastus

The sons of Danaus, one and all, implore thee to bury the dead.
130

Theseus

Why didst lead thy seven armies against Thebes ?

Adrastus

To confer that favour on the husbands of my daughters twain.

Theseus

To which of the Argives didst thou give thy daughters in marriage?

Adrastus

I made no match for them with kinsmen of my family.

Theseus

What! didst give Argive maids to foreign lords?
135

Adrastus

Yea, to Tydeus, and to Polynices, who was Theban-born.

Theseus

What induced thee to select this alliance?

Adrastus

Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment.

Theseus

What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage?

Adrastus

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?

Adrastus

One night came to my door two exiles.

Theseus

The name of each declare; thou art speaking of both together.

Adrastus

They fought together, Tydeus with Polynices.

Theseus

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.

Theseus

Why had they left the borders of their native land and come to thee?

Adrastus

Tydeus was exiled for the murder of a kinsman.

Theseus

Wherefore had the son of Oedipus left Thebes ?

Adrastus

By reason of his father’s curse, not to spill his brother’s blood.
150

Theseus

Wise no doubt that voluntary exile.

Adrastus

But those who stayed at home were for injuring the absent.

Theseus

What! did brother rob brother of his inheritance?

Adrastus

To avenge this I set out; hence my ruin.

Theseus

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.

Theseus

It seems thy going was not favoured by heaven.

Adrastus

Worse; I went in spite even of Amphiaraus.

Theseus

And so heaven lightly turned¹ its face from thee.

Adrastus

I was carried away by the clamour of younger men.
160

Theseus

Thou didst favour courage instead of discretion.

The Supplicants (OCR draft) Experimental (The Supplicants. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 113 focus

O sieggekrönter Herrscher im Athenerland,

Theseus, ich komme flehend dir und deiner Stadt.

Theseus.

Wonach verlangt dich und wozu bedarfst du mein?
110

Adrastos.

Wohl weißt du, welch' unseligen Heereszug ich that?

Theseus.

Du zogst ja nicht so stille durch's Hellenenland.

Adrastos.

Und Argos' Edle fanden da durch mich den Tod.

Theseus.

So Grauses schafft der furchtbar ungeheure Krieg.

Adrastos.

Und diese Todten fordert' ich von Kadmos' Stadt.
115

Theseus.

Aussendend Hermes' Boten, daß du sie begrübst?¹

Adrastos.

Doch ihre Mörder gonnen mir die Leichen nicht.

Theseus.

Zu solch gerechtem Wunsche - was erklären sie ?

Adrastos.

Шав? - Nicht zu tragen wissen sie des Glückes Gunst.²

Theseus.

So kamst du mich zu fragen? Oder wessenthalb ?
120

Adrastos.

Heimführen Argos' Söhne sollst du mir, o Fürst.

Theseus.

Wo kam es hin mit Argos? War sein Prahlen Nichts?³

Adrastos.

Getäuscht, verloren, fliehen wir in deinen Schuz.

Theseus.

Gesiel es dir so, oder will ganz Argos dies?

Adrastos.

Begrabe du die Todten, fleht mein ganzes Volk.
125

Theseus.

Was triebst du sieben Wagen aus vor Kadmos' Stadt?⁴

Adrastos.

Den Gatten meiner Tochter that ich diesen Dienst.

Theseus.

An wen in Argos gabest du die Tochter aus?

Adrastos.

Nicht Eingeborne wählt' ich als Verwandte mir.

Theseus.

So gabest du wohl Fremden Argos' Tochter hin?
130

Adrastos.

An Tydeus und Polyneikes, Theba's edlen Sohn.

Theseus.

Warum erkorst du diese dir als Eidame?

Adrastos.

Des Phobos dunkler Nathselspruch beruckte mich.

Theseus.

Wie sprach Apollon, als er ſchlang der Ehe Band?

Adrastos.

„Der Eber und dem Löwen gib die Töchter hin."
135

Theseus.

Und welche Deutung gabest du des Gottes Spruch?

Adrastos.

Die Beiden kamen fluchtig Nachts an unser Thor .

Theseus.

Sprich: welche Beiden? Denn du nenust ja zwei zugleich.

Adrastos.

Tydeus begann mit Polyneikes schweren Kampf.

Theseus.

Wie Thieren, gabst du diesen deine Tochter hin?
140

Adrastos.

Ein Kampfen zweier Thiere sei's, vermuthet' ich.

Theseus.

Weßhalb verließen beide denn ihr Ahnenland?

Adrastos.

Tydeus, des Brudermordes offen angeklagt -

Theseus.

Und Polyneikes, was verließ er Kadmos' Stadt?

Adrastos.

Verslucht vom Vater, scheut' er sich vor Brudermord.
145

Theseus.

Klug that er wohl bei dieser freigewählten Flucht.

Adrastos.

Doch die zu Hause frevelten an dem Flüchtigen.

Theseus.

Der Bruder hat wohl seines Erbes ihn beraubt?

Adrastos.

Ich wollt ihn schůzen, und ich fand den Untergang.

Theseus.

Befragtest du die Seher, sahst der Opfer Strahl?
150

Adrastos.

Du drångst mich, mahnst an meinen årgsten Frevel mich.

Theseus.

Du zogest aus, so scheint es, nicht mit Göttergunst.

Adrastos.

Noch mehr, ich that es wider Amphiaraos' Spruch.⁵

Theseus.

Leicht wandten so die Götter ihren Sinn von dir.

Adrastos.

Der jungen Männer Ungestum riß mich dahin.
155

Theseus.

Um guten Muth nur warbst du, nicht um guten Rath:

Schon vielen Feldherrn brachte dies den Untergang.

Adrastos.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ἄδραστος ὦ καλλίνικε γῆς Ἀθηναίων ἄναξ, Θησεῦ, σὸς ἱκέτης καὶ πόλεως ἥκω σέθεν.

Θησεύς τί χρῆμα θηρῶν καὶ τίνος χρείαν ἔχων; 115

Ἄδραστος οἶσθʼ ἣν στρατείαν ἐστράτευσʼ ὀλεθρίαν.

Θησεύς οὐ γάρ τι σιγῇ διεπέρασας Ἑλλάδα.

Ἄδραστος ἐνταῦθʼ ἀπώλεσʼ ἄνδρας Ἀργείων ἄκρους.

Θησεύς τοιαῦθʼ ὁ τλήμων πόλεμος ἐξεργάζεται.

Ἄδραστος τούτους θανόντας ἦλθον ἐξαιτῶν πόλιν. 120

Θησεύς κήρυξιν Ἑρμοῦ πίσυνος, ὡς θάψῃς νεκρούς;

Ἄδραστος κἄπειτά γʼ οἱ κτανόντες οὐκ ἐῶσί με.

Θησεύς τί γὰρ λέγουσιν, ὅσια χρῄζοντος σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος τί δʼ; εὐτυχοῦντες οὐκ ἐπίστανται φέρειν.

Θησεύς ξύμβουλον οὖν μʼ ἐπῆλθες; ἢ τίνος χάριν; 125

Ἄδραστος κομίσαι σε, Θησεῦ, παῖδας Ἀργείων θέλων.

Θησεύς τὸ δʼ Ἄργος ἡμῖν ποῦ ʼστιν; ἢ κόμποι μάτην;

Ἄδραστος σφαλέντες οἰχόμεσθα. πρὸς σὲ δʼ ἥκομεν.

Θησεύς ἰδίᾳ δοκῆσάν σοι τόδʼ ἢ πάσῃ πόλει;

Ἄδραστος πάντες σʼ ἱκνοῦνται Δαναΐδαι θάψαι νεκρούς. 130

Θησεύς ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐλαύνεις ἑπτὰ πρὸς Θήβας λόχους;

Ἄδραστος δισσοῖσι γαμβροῖς τήνδε πορσύνων χάριν.

Θησεύς τῷ δʼ ἐξέδωκας παῖδας Ἀργείων σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος οὐκ ἐγγενῆ συνῆψα κηδείαν δόμοις.

Θησεύς ἀλλὰ ξένοις ἔδωκας Ἀργείας κόρας; 135

Ἄδραστος Τυδεῖ γε Πολυνείκει τε τῷ Θηβαιγενεῖ.

Θησεύς τίνʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τῆσδε κηδείας μολών;

Ἄδραστος Φοίβου μʼ ὑπῆλθε δυστόπαστʼ αἰνίγματα.

Θησεύς τί δʼ εἶπʼ Ἀπόλλων παρθένοις κραίνων γάμον;

Ἄδραστος κάπρῳ με δοῦναι καὶ λέοντι παῖδʼ ἐμώ. 140

Θησεύς σὺ δʼ ἐξελίσσεις πῶς θεοῦ θεσπίσματα;

Ἄδραστος ἐλθόντε φυγάδε νυκτὸς εἰς ἐμὰς πύλας —

Θησεύς τίς καὶ τίς; εἰπέ· δύο γὰρ ἐξαυδᾷς ἅμα.

Ἄδραστος Τυδεὺς μάχην ξυνῆψε Πολυνείκης θʼ ἅμα.

Θησεύς ἦ τοῖσδʼ ἔδωκας θηρσὶν ὣς κόρας σέθεν; 145

Ἄδραστος μάχην γε δισσοῖν κνωδάλοιν ἀπεικάσας.

Θησεύς ἦλθον δὲ δὴ πῶς πατρίδος ἐκλιπόνθʼ ὅρους;

Ἄδραστος Τυδεὺς μὲν αἷμα συγγενὲς φεύγων χθονός.

Θησεύς ὁ δʼ Οἰδίπου τί, τίνι τρόπῳ Θήβας λιπών;

Ἄδραστος ἀραῖς πατρῴαις, μὴ κασίγνητον κτάνοι. 150

Θησεύς σοφήν γʼ ἔλεξας τήνδʼ ἑκούσιον φυγήν.

Ἄδραστος ἀλλʼ οἱ μένοντες τοὺς ἀπόντας ἠδίκουν.

Θησεύς οὔ πού σφʼ ἀδελφὸς χρημάτων νοσφίζεται;

Ἄδραστος ταύτῃ δικάζων ἦλθον· εἶτʼ ἀπωλόμην.

Θησεύς μάντεις δʼ ἐπῆλθες ἐμπύρων τʼ εἶδες φλόγα; 155

Ἄδραστος οἴμοι; διώκεις μʼ ᾗ μάλιστʼ ἐγὼ ʼσφάλην.

Θησεύς οὐκ ἦλθες, ὡς ἔοικεν, εὐνοίᾳ θεῶν.

Ἄδραστος τὸ δὲ πλέον, ἦλθον Ἀμφιάρεώ γε πρὸς βίαν.

Θησεύς οὕτω τὸ θεῖον ῥᾳδίως ἀπεστράφης;

Ἄδραστος νέων γὰρ ἀνδρῶν θόρυβος ἐξέπλησσέ με. 160

Θησεύς εὐψυχίαν ἔσπευσας ἀντʼ εὐβουλίας.

Current edition Perseus

Adrastus rising 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

Adrastus Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?

Theseus Assuredly; thou didst not pass through Hellas , all in silence.

Adrastus There I lost the pick of Argos ’ sons.

Theseus These are the results of that unhappy war.

Adrastus I went and craved their bodies from Thebes . 120

Theseus Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?

Adrastus I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.

Theseus Why, what say they to thy just request?

Adrastus Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.

Theseus 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.

Theseus Where is your Argos now? were its vauntings all in vain?

Adrastus 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?

Adrastus The sons of Danaus, one and all, implore thee to bury the dead. 130

Theseus Why didst lead thy seven armies against Thebes ?

Adrastus To confer that favour on the husbands of my daughters twain.

Theseus To which of the Argives didst thou give thy daughters in marriage?

Adrastus I made no match for them with kinsmen of my family.

Theseus What! didst give Argive maids to foreign lords? 135

Adrastus Yea, to Tydeus, and to Polynices, who was Theban-born.

Theseus What induced thee to select this alliance?

Adrastus Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment.

Theseus What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage?

Adrastus 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?

Adrastus One night came to my door two exiles.

Ἄδραστος

ὦ καλλίνικε γῆς Ἀθηναίων ἄναξ,

Θησεῦ, σὸς ἱκέτης καὶ πόλεως ἥκω σέθεν.

Θησεύς

τί χρῆμα θηρῶν καὶ τίνος χρείαν ἔχων;
115

Ἄδραστος

οἶσθʼ ἣν στρατείαν ἐστράτευσʼ ὀλεθρίαν.

Θησεύς

οὐ γάρ τι σιγῇ διεπέρασας Ἑλλάδα.

Ἄδραστος

ἐνταῦθʼ ἀπώλεσʼ ἄνδρας Ἀργείων ἄκρους.

Θησεύς

τοιαῦθʼ ὁ τλήμων πόλεμος ἐξεργάζεται.

Ἄδραστος

τούτους θανόντας ἦλθον ἐξαιτῶν πόλιν.
120

Θησεύς

κήρυξιν Ἑρμοῦ πίσυνος, ὡς θάψῃς νεκρούς;

Ἄδραστος

κἄπειτά γʼ οἱ κτανόντες οὐκ ἐῶσί με.

Θησεύς

τί γὰρ λέγουσιν, ὅσια χρῄζοντος σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος

τί δʼ; εὐτυχοῦντες οὐκ ἐπίστανται φέρειν.

Θησεύς

ξύμβουλον οὖν μʼ ἐπῆλθες; ἢ τίνος χάριν;
125

Ἄδραστος

κομίσαι σε, Θησεῦ, παῖδας Ἀργείων θέλων.

Θησεύς

τὸ δʼ Ἄργος ἡμῖν ποῦ ʼστιν; ἢ κόμποι μάτην;

Ἄδραστος

σφαλέντες οἰχόμεσθα. πρὸς σὲ δʼ ἥκομεν.

Θησεύς

ἰδίᾳ δοκῆσάν σοι τόδʼ ἢ πάσῃ πόλει;

Ἄδραστος

πάντες σʼ ἱκνοῦνται Δαναΐδαι θάψαι νεκρούς.
130

Θησεύς

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐλαύνεις ἑπτὰ πρὸς Θήβας λόχους;

Ἄδραστος

δισσοῖσι γαμβροῖς τήνδε πορσύνων χάριν.

Θησεύς

τῷ δʼ ἐξέδωκας παῖδας Ἀργείων σέθεν;

Ἄδραστος

οὐκ ἐγγενῆ συνῆψα κηδείαν δόμοις.

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ ξένοις ἔδωκας Ἀργείας κόρας;
135

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεῖ γε Πολυνείκει τε τῷ Θηβαιγενεῖ.

Θησεύς

τίνʼ εἰς ἔρωτα τῆσδε κηδείας μολών;

Ἄδραστος

Φοίβου μʼ ὑπῆλθε δυστόπαστʼ αἰνίγματα.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ εἶπʼ Ἀπόλλων παρθένοις κραίνων γάμον;

Ἄδραστος

κάπρῳ με δοῦναι καὶ λέοντι παῖδʼ ἐμώ.
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Θησεύς

σὺ δʼ ἐξελίσσεις πῶς θεοῦ θεσπίσματα;

Ἄδραστος

ἐλθόντε φυγάδε νυκτὸς εἰς ἐμὰς πύλας —

Θησεύς

τίς καὶ τίς; εἰπέ· δύο γὰρ ἐξαυδᾷς ἅμα.

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεὺς μάχην ξυνῆψε Πολυνείκης θʼ ἅμα.

Θησεύς

ἦ τοῖσδʼ ἔδωκας θηρσὶν ὣς κόρας σέθεν;
145

Ἄδραστος

μάχην γε δισσοῖν κνωδάλοιν ἀπεικάσας.

Θησεύς

ἦλθον δὲ δὴ πῶς πατρίδος ἐκλιπόνθʼ ὅρους;

Ἄδραστος

Τυδεὺς μὲν αἷμα συγγενὲς φεύγων χθονός.

Θησεύς

ὁ δʼ Οἰδίπου τί, τίνι τρόπῳ Θήβας λιπών;

Ἄδραστος

ἀραῖς πατρῴαις, μὴ κασίγνητον κτάνοι.
150

Θησεύς

σοφήν γʼ ἔλεξας τήνδʼ ἑκούσιον φυγήν.

Ἄδραστος

ἀλλʼ οἱ μένοντες τοὺς ἀπόντας ἠδίκουν.

Θησεύς

οὔ πού σφʼ ἀδελφὸς χρημάτων νοσφίζεται;

Ἄδραστος

ταύτῃ δικάζων ἦλθον· εἶτʼ ἀπωλόμην.

Θησεύς

μάντεις δʼ ἐπῆλθες ἐμπύρων τʼ εἶδες φλόγα;
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Ἄδραστος

οἴμοι; διώκεις μʼ ᾗ μάλιστʼ ἐγὼ ʼσφάλην.

Θησεύς

οὐκ ἦλθες, ὡς ἔοικεν, εὐνοίᾳ θεῶν.

Ἄδραστος

τὸ δὲ πλέον, ἦλθον Ἀμφιάρεώ γε πρὸς βίαν.

Θησεύς

οὕτω τὸ θεῖον ῥᾳδίως ἀπεστράφης;

Ἄδραστος

νέων γὰρ ἀνδρῶν θόρυβος ἐξέπλησσέ με.
160

Θησεύς

εὐψυχίαν ἔσπευσας ἀντʼ εὐβουλίας.

Adrastus
rising

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

Adrastus

Dost know how I did lead an expedition to its ruin?

Theseus

Assuredly; thou didst not pass through Hellas , all in silence.

Adrastus

There I lost the pick of Argos ’ sons.

Theseus

These are the results of that unhappy war.

Adrastus

I went and craved their bodies from Thebes .
120

Theseus

Didst thou rely on heralds, Hermes’ servants, in order to bury them?

Adrastus

I did; and even then their slayers said me nay.

Theseus

Why, what say they to thy just request?

Adrastus

Say! Success makes them forget how to bear their fortune.

Theseus

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.

Theseus

Where is your Argos now? were its vauntings all in vain?

Adrastus

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?

Adrastus

The sons of Danaus, one and all, implore thee to bury the dead.
130

Theseus

Why didst lead thy seven armies against Thebes ?

Adrastus

To confer that favour on the husbands of my daughters twain.

Theseus

To which of the Argives didst thou give thy daughters in marriage?

Adrastus

I made no match for them with kinsmen of my family.

Theseus

What! didst give Argive maids to foreign lords?
135

Adrastus

Yea, to Tydeus, and to Polynices, who was Theban-born.

Theseus

What induced thee to select this alliance?

Adrastus

Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment.

Theseus

What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage?

Adrastus

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?

Adrastus

One night came to my door two exiles.

Theseus

The name of each declare; thou art speaking of both together.

Adrastus

They fought together, Tydeus with Polynices.

Theseus

Didst thou give thy daughters to them as to wild beasts?
145