Euripides, Helen, ed. Gilbert Murray, 211

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Χορός

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ·

ὦ δαίμονος πολυστόνου

μοίρας τε σᾶς, γύναι.

αἰὼν δυσαίων

τις ἔλαχεν ἔλαχεν, ὅτε σʼ ἐτέκετο ματρόθεν

χιονόχρως κύκνου πτερῷ
215

Ζεὺς πρέπων διʼ αἰθέρος·

τί γὰρ ἄπεστί σοι κακῶν;

τίνα δὲ βίοτον οὐκ ἔτλας;

μάτηρ μὲν οἴχεται,

δίδυμά τε Διὸς οὐκ εὐ-
220

δαιμονεῖ τέκεα φίλα,

χθόνα δὲ πάτριον οὐχ ὁρᾷς,

διὰ δὲ πόλεας ἔρχεται

βάξις, ἅ σε βαρβάροισι,

πότνια, παραδίδωσι λέχεσιν,
225

ὁ δὲ σὸς ἐν ἁλὶ κύμασί τε λέ-

λοιπε βίοτον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔτι

πάτρια μέλαθρα καὶ τὰν

Χαλκίοικον ὀλβιεῖς.

Helen. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἑλένη (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978))

Translations (3)

Helen Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 211 focus

Chorus

Alas, alas! for your mournful fate and destiny, lady! You were fated, fated to have a life full of pain, when Zeus begot you on your mother,

shining through the air on the wings of a snow-white swan. What evil is not yours? What life have you not endured? Your mother is dead;
215

the twin beloved sons of Zeus do not enjoy happiness; and you do not see your fatherland, while through the cities a rumor goes, mistress, which hands you over
220

to the bed of a barbarian; your husband has lost his life in the salty waves, and never again will you bring glee to your father’s halls and Athene of the Bronze House.
225

Helen (OCR draft) Experimental (Helen. 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, 1845; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 2, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1845. 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.) — 211 focus

Welch thrånenwerthes Schicksal, weh, kam über dich, o Frau!

Dir fiel ein unglückseliges Erdenloos,

Als Kronion dich gezeugt, der, ein Schwan, durch helle Luft
195

Schimmernd flog in Leda's Schooß. Welches Leid blieb fern

Welches Unheil trugst du nicht?

Die Mutter ging dahin;

von dir?

Auch Zeus' Zwillingsöhnen lächelt nicht des Glückes Stern;

Dein Geburtsland siehst du nicht, und durch die Städte geht der Ruf,
200

Edle Frau, du habest fremder Liebe dich dahingegeben;

Dein Gemahl versank im Meere, Flut verschlang ihn; deine

Heimkehr

Beglückt nie dein Haus, nie Pallas' eh'rnen Tempel mehr.

Schlußgesang.

Euripides Helen 211

ed. Gilbert Murray

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Current edition Perseus

Helena.

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