Euripides, The Phoenician Women, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 834

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Teiresias

led in by his daughter. Lead on, my daughter; for you are an eye

to my blind feet, as a star is to sailors; lead my steps on to level ground; then go before, so that I do not stumble, for your father has no strength; keep safe for me in your maiden hand the auguries I took when I observed omens from birds,
835

seated in my holy prophet’s chair. Tell me, Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward the city is it, to your father? For my knees grow weary, I have come a long way and can scarcely go on.
840

Creon

Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.
845

Teiresias

Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?

Creon

I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.
850

Teiresias

I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.

I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.
855

Creon

I take your crown of victory as an omen. We, as you know, are exposed to the waves

of war with the Danaids, and great is the struggle for Thebes . Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full armor to meet Mycenae ’s champions; and he has bidden me inquire of you our best course to save the city.
860

The Phoenician Women. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

The Phoenician Maidens (English) (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Editions (1)

Φοίνισσαι Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978)) — 834 focus

Τειρεσίας

ἡγοῦ πάροιθε, θύγατερ· ὡς τυφλῷ ποδὶ

ὀφθαλμὸς εἶ σύ, ναυβάταισιν ἄστρον ὥς·
835

δεῦρʼ ἐς τὸ λευρὸν πέδον ἴχνος τιθεῖσʼ ἐμόν,

πρόβαινε, μὴ σφαλῶμεν· ἀσθενὴς πατήρ·

κλήρους τέ μοι φύλασσε παρθένῳ χερί,

οὓς ἔλαβον οἰωνίσματʼ ὀρνίθων μαθὼν

θάκοισιν ἐν ἱεροῖσιν, οὗ μαντεύομαι.
840

τέκνον Μενοικεῦ, παῖ Κρέοντος, εἰπέ μοι

πόση τις ἡ ʼπίλοιπος ἄστεως ὁδὸς

πρὸς πατέρα τὸν σόν· ὡς ἐμὸν κάμνει γόνυ,

πυκνὴν δὲ βαίνων ἤλυσιν μόλις περῶ.

Κρέων

θάρσει· πέλας γάρ, Τειρεσία, φίλοισι σοῖς
845

ἐξώρμισαι σὸν πόδα· λαβοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ, τέκνον·

ὡς πᾶσʼ ἀπήνη πούς τε πρεσβύτου φιλεῖ

χειρὸς θυραίας ἀναμένειν κουφίσματα.

Τειρεσίας

εἶἑν, πάρεσμεν· τί με καλεῖς σπουδῇ, Κρέον;

Κρέων

οὔπω λελήσμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ σύλλεξαι σθένος
850

καὶ πνεῦμʼ ἄθροισον, αἶπος ἐκβαλὼν ὁδοῦ.

Τειρεσίας

κόπῳ παρεῖμαι γοῦν Ἐρεχθειδῶν ἄπο

δεῦρʼ ἐκκομισθεὶς τῆς πάροιθεν ἡμέρας·

κἀκεῖ γὰρ ἦν τις πόλεμος Εὐμόλπου δορός,

οὗ καλλινίκους Κεκροπίδας ἔθηκʼ ἐγώ·
855

καὶ τόνδε χρυσοῦν στέφανον, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἔχω

λαβὼν ἀπαρχὰς πολεμίων σκυλευμάτων.

Κρέων

οἰωνὸν ἐθέμην καλλίνικα σὰ στέφη·

ἐν γὰρ κλύδωνι κείμεθʼ, ὥσπερ οἶσθα σύ,

δορὸς Δαναϊδῶν, καὶ μέγας Θήβαις ἀγών.
860

βασιλεὺς μὲν οὖν βέβηκε κοσμηθεὶς ὅπλοις

ἤδη πρὸς ἀλκὴν Ἐτεοκλῆς Μυκηνίδα·

ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπέσταλκʼ ἐκμαθεῖν σέθεν πάρα,

τί δρῶντες ἂν μάλιστα σώσαιμεν πόλιν.

Translations (2)

The Phoenician Virgins (OCR draft) Experimental (The Phoenician Virgins. 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, 1841; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 1, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1841. 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.) — 834 focus

Vorwärts, o Tochter, führe mich; dem blinden Fuß

Bist du das Auge, wie der Stern dem Schiffenden.

Auf ebnen Grund hier leite meines Fußes Tritt;

Schwach ist der Vater; schreite vor und strauchle nicht:
825

Bewahre mir in deiner jungfräulichen Hand

Des Vogelfluges Loose, die ich sammelte

Um heiligen Orte, wo sich Gottheit mir enthullt.

Du Sohn des Kreon, Kind Mendkeus, sage mir:

Wie weit entfernt ist noch der Weg von hier zur Stadt,
830

Zu deinem Vater? Meine Knie' ermatteten,

Und nach so langem Wege schreit' ich mühsam fort.

Kreon.

Sei ruhig, schon gelangtest du, Teiresias,

In deiner Freunde Nähe: fass ihn an, mein Sohn;

Denn wie der Wagen, liebt der Fuß des Greises auch
835

Nach Stüzen einer fremden Hand sich umzusehn.

Teiresias.

Da sind wir: was so eilig, Kreon, riefst du mich?¹

Kreon.

Noch nicht vergessen hab' ich's: aber sammle dir

Von neuem Kraft und Athem nach des Weges Mühn.²

Teiresias.

Matt wanken mir die Kniee, weil ich gestern schon³
840

Hierher gezogen aus der Erechtheiden Land.

Dort war ein Krieg entglommen mit Eumolpos' Heer,

Worin ich Kekrops' Söhnen edlen Sieg verlieh.

Zum Lohne ward mir, den du siehst, der goldne Kranz;

Vom Raub' erschlagener Feinde sind's die Erstlinge.
845

Kreon.

Ein glucklich Zeichen sei für uns dein Siegeskranz!

Denn heiß umwogt uns, wie du weißt, die Noth vom Speer

Der Danaiden, Thebå ringt in schwerem Kampf.

Eteokles, unser König, zog bereits hinaus

Im Waffenschmucke wider Argos Heeresmacht.
850

Mir hat er ausgegeben, dich zu fragen, Greis,

Was hier zu thun sei, daß wir retten unsre Stadt.

Euripides The Phoenician Women 834

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Creon

Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.
845

Teiresias

Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?

Creon

I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.
850

Teiresias

I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.

I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.
855

Current edition Perseus

Τειρεσίας

εἶἑν, πάρεσμεν· τί με καλεῖς σπουδῇ, Κρέον;

Κρέων

οὔπω λελήσμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ σύλλεξαι σθένος
850

καὶ πνεῦμʼ ἄθροισον, αἶπος ἐκβαλὼν ὁδοῦ.

Kreon.

Sei ruhig, schon gelangtest du, Teiresias,

In deiner Freunde Nähe: fass ihn an, mein Sohn;

Denn wie der Wagen, liebt der Fuß des Greises auch
835

Nach Stüzen einer fremden Hand sich umzusehn.

Teiresias.

Da sind wir: was so eilig, Kreon, riefst du mich?¹

Kreon.

Noch nicht vergessen hab' ich's: aber sammle dir

Von neuem Kraft und Athem nach des Weges Mühn.²

Teiresias.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Creon Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age. 845

Teiresias Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?

Creon I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey. 850

Teiresias I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus. I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils. 855

Current edition Perseus

Τειρεσίας εἶἑν, πάρεσμεν· τί με καλεῖς σπουδῇ, Κρέον;

Κρέων οὔπω λελήσμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ σύλλεξαι σθένος 850 καὶ πνεῦμʼ ἄθροισον, αἶπος ἐκβαλὼν ὁδοῦ.

Kreon. Sei ruhig, schon gelangtest du, Teiresias, In deiner Freunde Nähe: fass ihn an, mein Sohn; Denn wie der Wagen, liebt der Fuß des Greises auch 835 Nach Stüzen einer fremden Hand sich umzusehn.

Teiresias. Da sind wir: was so eilig, Kreon, riefst du mich? 1

Kreon. Noch nicht vergessen hab' ich's: aber sammle dir Von neuem Kraft und Athem nach des Weges Mühn. 2

Teiresias.

Stable identifiers

Creon

Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.
845

Teiresias

Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?

Creon

I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.
850

Teiresias

I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.

I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.
855

Τειρεσίας

εἶἑν, πάρεσμεν· τί με καλεῖς σπουδῇ, Κρέον;

Κρέων

οὔπω λελήσμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ σύλλεξαι σθένος
850

καὶ πνεῦμʼ ἄθροισον, αἶπος ἐκβαλὼν ὁδοῦ.

Kreon.

Sei ruhig, schon gelangtest du, Teiresias,

In deiner Freunde Nähe: fass ihn an, mein Sohn;

Denn wie der Wagen, liebt der Fuß des Greises auch
835

Nach Stüzen einer fremden Hand sich umzusehn.

Teiresias.

Da sind wir: was so eilig, Kreon, riefst du mich?¹

Kreon.

Noch nicht vergessen hab' ich's: aber sammle dir

Von neuem Kraft und Athem nach des Weges Mühn.²