Euripides, The Trojan Women, ed. Gilbert Murray, 608

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Χορός

ὡς ἡδὺ δάκρυα τοῖς κακῶς πεπραγόσι

θρήνων τʼ ὀδυρμοὶ μοῦσά θʼ ἣ λύπας ἔχει.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ὦ μῆτερ ἀνδρός, ὅς ποτʼ Ἀργείων δορὶ
610

πλείστους διώλεσʼ, Ἕκτορος, τάδʼ εἰσορᾷς;

Ἑκάβη

ὁρῶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν, ὡς τὰ μὲν πυργοῦσʼ ἄνω

τὸ μηδὲν ὄντα, τὰ δὲ δοκοῦντʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ἀγόμεθα λεία σὺν τέκνῳ· τὸ δʼ εὐγενὲς

ἐς δοῦλον ἥκει, μεταβολὰς τοσάσδʼ ἔχον.
615

Ἑκάβη

τὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης δεινόν· ἄρτι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ

βέβηκʼ ἀποσπασθεῖσα Κασάνδρα βίᾳ.

Ἀνδρομάχη

φεῦ φεῦ·

ἄλλος τις Αἴας, ὡς ἔοικε, δεύτερος

παιδὸς πέφηνε σῆς. νοσεῖς δὲ χἅτερα.

Ἑκάβη

ὧν γʼ οὔτε μέτρον οὔτʼ ἀριθμός ἐστί μοι·
620

κακῷ κακὸν γὰρ εἰς ἅμιλλαν ἔρχεται.

Ἀνδρομάχη

τέθνηκέ σοι παῖς πρὸς τάφῳ Πολυξένη

σφαγεῖσʼ Ἀχιλλέως, δῶρον ἀψύχῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἑκάβη

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα. τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὅ μοι πάλαι

Ταλθύβιος αἴνιγμʼ οὐ σαφῶς εἶπεν σαφές.
625

Ἀνδρομάχη

εἶδόν νιν αὐτή, κἀποβᾶσα τῶνδʼ ὄχων

ἔκρυψα πέπλοις κἀπεκοψάμην νεκρόν.

Ἑκάβη

αἰαῖ, τέκνον, σῶν ἀνοσίων προσφαγμάτων·

αἰαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις, ὡς κακῶς διόλλυσαι.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ὄλωλεν ὡς ὄλωλεν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐμοῦ
630

ζώσης γʼ ὄλωλεν εὐτυχεστέρῳ πότμῳ.

Ἑκάβη

οὐ ταὐτόν, ὦ παῖ, τῷ βλέπειν τὸ κατθανεῖν·

τὸ μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν, τῷ δʼ ἔνεισιν ἐλπίδες.

The Trojan Women. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

The Trojan Women Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 608 focus

Chorus Leader

What sweet relief to sufferers it is to weep, to mourn, lament, and chant the dirge that tells of grief!

Andromache

Do you see this, mother of that man, Hector, who once laid low in battle many a son of Argos ?
610

Hecuba

I see that it is heaven’s way to exalt what men accounted nothing, and ruin what they most esteemed.

Andromache

Hence with my child as booty am I borne; the noble

are brought to slavery—a bitter change.
615

Hecuba

This is necessity’s grim law; it was just now that Cassandra was torn with brutal violence from my arms.

Andromache

Alas, alas! it seems a second Aias has appeared to wrong your daughter; but there are other ills for you.

Hecuba

Yes, beyond all count or measure are my sorrows; evil vies with evil in the struggle to be first.
620

Andromache

Your daughter Polyxena is dead, slain at Achilles ’ tomb, an offering to his lifeless corpse.

Hecuba

O woe is me! This is that riddle Talthybius

long ago told me, a truth obscurely uttered.
625

Andromache

I saw her myself; so I alighted from the chariot, and covered her corpse with a mantle, and struck upon my breast.

Hecuba

Alas! my child, for your unhallowed sacrifice! and yet again, alas! for your shameful death!

Andromache

Her death was even as it was, and yet that death of hers was after all a happier fate than my life.
630

Hecuba

Death and life are not the same, my child; the one is annihilation, the other keeps a place for hope.

The Trojan Dames (OCR draft) Experimental (The Trojan Dames. 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.) — 608 focus

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Χορός ὡς ἡδὺ δάκρυα τοῖς κακῶς πεπραγόσι θρήνων τʼ ὀδυρμοὶ μοῦσά θʼ ἣ λύπας ἔχει.

Ἀνδρομάχη ὦ μῆτερ ἀνδρός, ὅς ποτʼ Ἀργείων δορὶ 610 πλείστους διώλεσʼ, Ἕκτορος, τάδʼ εἰσορᾷς;

Ἑκάβη ὁρῶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν, ὡς τὰ μὲν πυργοῦσʼ ἄνω τὸ μηδὲν ὄντα, τὰ δὲ δοκοῦντʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἀνδρομάχη ἀγόμεθα λεία σὺν τέκνῳ· τὸ δʼ εὐγενὲς ἐς δοῦλον ἥκει, μεταβολὰς τοσάσδʼ ἔχον. 615

Ἑκάβη τὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης δεινόν· ἄρτι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ βέβηκʼ ἀποσπασθεῖσα Κασάνδρα βίᾳ.

Ἀνδρομάχη φεῦ φεῦ· ἄλλος τις Αἴας, ὡς ἔοικε, δεύτερος παιδὸς πέφηνε σῆς. νοσεῖς δὲ χἅτερα.

Ἑκάβη ὧν γʼ οὔτε μέτρον οὔτʼ ἀριθμός ἐστί μοι· 620 κακῷ κακὸν γὰρ εἰς ἅμιλλαν ἔρχεται.

Ἀνδρομάχη τέθνηκέ σοι παῖς πρὸς τάφῳ Πολυξένη σφαγεῖσʼ Ἀχιλλέως, δῶρον ἀψύχῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἑκάβη οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα. τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὅ μοι πάλαι Ταλθύβιος αἴνιγμʼ οὐ σαφῶς εἶπεν σαφές. 625

Ἀνδρομάχη εἶδόν νιν αὐτή, κἀποβᾶσα τῶνδʼ ὄχων ἔκρυψα πέπλοις κἀπεκοψάμην νεκρόν.

Ἑκάβη αἰαῖ, τέκνον, σῶν ἀνοσίων προσφαγμάτων· αἰαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις, ὡς κακῶς διόλλυσαι.

Ἀνδρομάχη ὄλωλεν ὡς ὄλωλεν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐμοῦ 630 ζώσης γʼ ὄλωλεν εὐτυχεστέρῳ πότμῳ.

Ἑκάβη οὐ ταὐτόν, ὦ παῖ, τῷ βλέπειν τὸ κατθανεῖν· τὸ μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν, τῷ δʼ ἔνεισιν ἐλπίδες.

Current edition Perseus

Chorus Leader What sweet relief to sufferers it is to weep, to mourn, lament, and chant the dirge that tells of grief!

Andromache Do you see this, mother of that man, Hector, who once laid low in battle many a son of Argos ? 610

Hecuba I see that it is heaven’s way to exalt what men accounted nothing, and ruin what they most esteemed.

Andromache Hence with my child as booty am I borne; the noble are brought to slavery—a bitter change. 615

Hecuba This is necessity’s grim law; it was just now that Cassandra was torn with brutal violence from my arms.

Andromache Alas, alas! it seems a second Aias has appeared to wrong your daughter; but there are other ills for you.

Hecuba Yes, beyond all count or measure are my sorrows; evil vies with evil in the struggle to be first. 620

Andromache Your daughter Polyxena is dead, slain at Achilles ’ tomb, an offering to his lifeless corpse.

Hecuba O woe is me! This is that riddle Talthybius long ago told me, a truth obscurely uttered. 625

Andromache I saw her myself; so I alighted from the chariot, and covered her corpse with a mantle, and struck upon my breast.

Hecuba Alas! my child, for your unhallowed sacrifice! and yet again, alas! for your shameful death!

Andromache Her death was even as it was, and yet that death of hers was after all a happier fate than my life. 630

Hecuba Death and life are not the same, my child; the one is annihilation, the other keeps a place for hope.

Wie sind die Thränen doch so süß dem Leidenden, Der Schmerz des Jammers und der Muse klagend Lied! 610

Andromache. O Mutter du des Helden, der von Argos' Heer Erschlug so Viele, Hektors Mutter, siehst du das?

Hekabe. Die Götter seh' ich, wie sie dort das Nichtige Hochstellen, hier vernichten, was erhaben schien.

Andromache. Weg führt man mich und meinen Sohn: in Knechtschaft sinkt 615 Der edle Stamm, der solche Schicksalswechsel litt.

Hekabe. Ha, furchtbar ist das Schicksal! Eben ward auch mir Entführt Kassandra, mit Gewalt hinweggeschleppt.

Andromache. Ein andrer Ajas, wie es scheint, ein zweiter ist Erschienen deinem Kind! Dich traf noch andres Leid. 620

Hekabe. Ja, sonder Maß und Ende wühlt es fort an mir: Wetteifernd liegt mit Leide Leid in stetem Kampf.

Andromache. Todt ist dein Kind, am Grab' Achillens hingewurgt, Dem todten Leichnam zum Geschenk, Polyrena.

Hekabe. Ich Arme! Dieses war es, was Talthybios 625 Mir jüngst in dunklem Rathsel klar verkündigte!

Andromache. Ich sah sie selber, stieg vom Wagen hier herab, Barg ihren Leichnam in Gewand' und klagt' um sie.

Hekabe. Weh, Tochter, daß du frevelhaft geopfert wardſt! Und wehe nochmals! Traurig war dein lektes Loos. 630

Andromache. Ihr Sterben sei wie's wolle: doch ein schönres Glück Ward ihr, der so Gestorbnen, als mir Lebenden.

Hekabe. D Tochter, Tod und Leben sind nicht Eins: der Tod Vernichtet; wo das Leben, ist die Hoffnung auch.

Andromache.

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ὡς ἡδὺ δάκρυα τοῖς κακῶς πεπραγόσι

θρήνων τʼ ὀδυρμοὶ μοῦσά θʼ ἣ λύπας ἔχει.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ὦ μῆτερ ἀνδρός, ὅς ποτʼ Ἀργείων δορὶ
610

πλείστους διώλεσʼ, Ἕκτορος, τάδʼ εἰσορᾷς;

Ἑκάβη

ὁρῶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν, ὡς τὰ μὲν πυργοῦσʼ ἄνω

τὸ μηδὲν ὄντα, τὰ δὲ δοκοῦντʼ ἀπώλεσαν.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ἀγόμεθα λεία σὺν τέκνῳ· τὸ δʼ εὐγενὲς

ἐς δοῦλον ἥκει, μεταβολὰς τοσάσδʼ ἔχον.
615

Ἑκάβη

τὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης δεινόν· ἄρτι κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ

βέβηκʼ ἀποσπασθεῖσα Κασάνδρα βίᾳ.

Ἀνδρομάχη

φεῦ φεῦ·

ἄλλος τις Αἴας, ὡς ἔοικε, δεύτερος

παιδὸς πέφηνε σῆς. νοσεῖς δὲ χἅτερα.

Ἑκάβη

ὧν γʼ οὔτε μέτρον οὔτʼ ἀριθμός ἐστί μοι·
620

κακῷ κακὸν γὰρ εἰς ἅμιλλαν ἔρχεται.

Ἀνδρομάχη

τέθνηκέ σοι παῖς πρὸς τάφῳ Πολυξένη

σφαγεῖσʼ Ἀχιλλέως, δῶρον ἀψύχῳ νεκρῷ.

Ἑκάβη

οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα. τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὅ μοι πάλαι

Ταλθύβιος αἴνιγμʼ οὐ σαφῶς εἶπεν σαφές.
625

Ἀνδρομάχη

εἶδόν νιν αὐτή, κἀποβᾶσα τῶνδʼ ὄχων

ἔκρυψα πέπλοις κἀπεκοψάμην νεκρόν.

Ἑκάβη

αἰαῖ, τέκνον, σῶν ἀνοσίων προσφαγμάτων·

αἰαῖ μάλʼ αὖθις, ὡς κακῶς διόλλυσαι.

Ἀνδρομάχη

ὄλωλεν ὡς ὄλωλεν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἐμοῦ
630

ζώσης γʼ ὄλωλεν εὐτυχεστέρῳ πότμῳ.

Ἑκάβη

οὐ ταὐτόν, ὦ παῖ, τῷ βλέπειν τὸ κατθανεῖν·

τὸ μὲν γὰρ οὐδέν, τῷ δʼ ἔνεισιν ἐλπίδες.

Chorus Leader

What sweet relief to sufferers it is to weep, to mourn, lament, and chant the dirge that tells of grief!

Andromache

Do you see this, mother of that man, Hector, who once laid low in battle many a son of Argos ?
610

Hecuba

I see that it is heaven’s way to exalt what men accounted nothing, and ruin what they most esteemed.

Andromache

Hence with my child as booty am I borne; the noble

are brought to slavery—a bitter change.
615

Hecuba

This is necessity’s grim law; it was just now that Cassandra was torn with brutal violence from my arms.

Andromache

Alas, alas! it seems a second Aias has appeared to wrong your daughter; but there are other ills for you.

Hecuba

Yes, beyond all count or measure are my sorrows; evil vies with evil in the struggle to be first.
620

Andromache

Your daughter Polyxena is dead, slain at Achilles ’ tomb, an offering to his lifeless corpse.

Hecuba

O woe is me! This is that riddle Talthybius

long ago told me, a truth obscurely uttered.
625

Andromache

I saw her myself; so I alighted from the chariot, and covered her corpse with a mantle, and struck upon my breast.

Hecuba

Alas! my child, for your unhallowed sacrifice! and yet again, alas! for your shameful death!

Andromache

Her death was even as it was, and yet that death of hers was after all a happier fate than my life.
630

Hecuba

Death and life are not the same, my child; the one is annihilation, the other keeps a place for hope.

Wie sind die Thränen doch so süß dem Leidenden,

Der Schmerz des Jammers und der Muse klagend Lied!
610

Andromache.

O Mutter du des Helden, der von Argos' Heer

Erschlug so Viele, Hektors Mutter, siehst du das?

Hekabe.

Die Götter seh' ich, wie sie dort das Nichtige

Hochstellen, hier vernichten, was erhaben schien.

Andromache.

Weg führt man mich und meinen Sohn: in Knechtschaft sinkt
615

Der edle Stamm, der solche Schicksalswechsel litt.

Hekabe.

Ha, furchtbar ist das Schicksal! Eben ward auch mir

Entführt Kassandra, mit Gewalt hinweggeschleppt.

Andromache.

Ein andrer Ajas, wie es scheint, ein zweiter ist

Erschienen deinem Kind! Dich traf noch andres Leid.
620

Hekabe.

Ja, sonder Maß und Ende wühlt es fort an mir:

Wetteifernd liegt mit Leide Leid in stetem Kampf.

Andromache.

Todt ist dein Kind, am Grab' Achillens hingewurgt,

Dem todten Leichnam zum Geschenk, Polyrena.

Hekabe.

Ich Arme! Dieses war es, was Talthybios
625

Mir jüngst in dunklem Rathsel klar verkündigte!

Andromache.

Ich sah sie selber, stieg vom Wagen hier herab,

Barg ihren Leichnam in Gewand' und klagt' um sie.

Hekabe.

Weh, Tochter, daß du frevelhaft geopfert wardſt!

Und wehe nochmals! Traurig war dein lektes Loos.
630

Andromache.

Ihr Sterben sei wie's wolle: doch ein schönres Glück

Ward ihr, der so Gestorbnen, als mir Lebenden.

Hekabe.

D Tochter, Tod und Leben sind nicht Eins: der Tod

Vernichtet; wo das Leben, ist die Hoffnung auch.