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Chorus
Had the gods shown discernment and wisdom, as mortals count these things, men would have won youth twice over, a visible mark of worth
655
among whomever found, and after death these would have run a double course once more to the sun-light, while the low born would have had a single portion of life;
660
and thus would it have been possible to distinguish the good and the bad, just as sailors know the number of the stars amid the clouds. But, as it is, the gods have set no certain boundary
665
between good and bad, but time’s onward roll brings increase only to man’s wealth.
670
Had the gods shown discernment and wisdom, as mortals count these things, men would have won youth twice over, a visible mark of worth
655
among whomever found, and after death these would have run a double course once more to the sun-light, while the low born would have had a single portion of life;
660
and thus would it have been possible to distinguish the good and the bad, just as sailors know the number of the stars amid the clouds. But, as it is, the gods have set no certain boundary
665
between good and bad, but time’s onward roll brings increase only to man’s wealth.
670
Heracles. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.