Euripides, The Phoenician Women, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 1284-1305

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Chorus

Alas, alas! My mind is trembling with fear,

trembling; and through my flesh goes a throb of pity, of pity for the hapless mother. Which of her two sons will stain the other with blood—
1285

ah, for the suffering! O Zeus, O earth, alas!—a brother’s throat, a brother’s life, through his shield, through his blood? Ah me! ah me! which of them
1290

will I lament as dead?
1295

1296

Chorus

Ah, the earth! Ah, the earth! Twin savage beasts, two murderous souls with brandished spears will soon be draining the fallen, fallen enemy’s blood. Unhappy,

that they ever thought of single combat! In foreign voice I will chant a dirge of tears and wailing, in mourning for the dead. Close to murder stands their fortune;
1300

the coming day will decide it. Fatal this slaughter, fatal, because of the Furies.
1305

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)) — 1284-1306 focus

Χορός

αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, τρομερὰν φρίκᾳ

τρομερὰν φρένʼ ἔχω· διὰ σάρκα δʼ ἐμὰν
1285

ἔλεος ἔλεος ἔμολε μα-

τέρος δειλαίας.

δίδυμα τέκεα πότερος ἄρα

πότερον αἱμάξει —

ἰώ μοι πόνων, ἰὼ Ζεῦ, ἰὼ γᾶ —
1290

ὁμογενῆ δέραν, ὁμογενῆ ψυχὰν

διʼ ἀσπίδων, διʼ αἱμάτων;

τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ τάλαινα, πό-

τερον ἄρα νέκυν ὀλόμενον ἰαχήσω;
1295

1296

Χορός

φεῦ δᾶ φεῦ δᾶ, δίδυμοι θῆρες,

φόνιαι ψυχαὶ δορὶ παλλόμεναι

πέσεα πέσεα δάιʼ αὐ-

τίχʼ αἱμάξετον.

τάλανες, ὅ τι ποτὲ μονομάχον
1300

ἐπὶ φρένʼ ἠλθέτην,

βοᾷ βαρβάρῳ στενακτὰν ἰαχὰν

μελομέναν νεκροῖς δάκρυσι θρηνήσω.

σχεδὸν τύχα πέλας φόνου·

κρινεῖ φάος τὸ μέλλον. ἄ-
1305

ποτμος ἄποτμος ὁ φόνος ἕνεκʼ Ἐρινύων.

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.) — 1284 focus

Ich zittere, mich durchschaudert es kalt,

Und das Herz durchdringt

Um die leidende Mutter mir das Mitleid, der Gram.

Welcher, ach! von den Söhnen wird den Mordstrahl mit

( gramvolles Leid!
1275

Zeus! Erde, weh uns!)

Blut

Rothen in Bruders Brust, sendet des Bruders Geist

Durch Kampf und Mord in Hades Nacht?

Ach! Ueber wessen Leiche

Werd' ich der Klage Ruf heben? Ich Arme, weh!
1280

Ach, Erd', Erde!

Gegenstrophe.

Ein Raubthierpaar, wildlechzend nach Mord,

Wird feindlich alsbald

Sich mit Speeren durchbohrend, hinstürzen in seinem Blut.

Unglückselige, daß ihr Herz zum Zweikampf sie trieb!
1285

Ein fremdtonend Lied

Der Wehklage stimm' ich,

Wie es den Todten ziemt, trauernd in Thränen an.

Ihr Todesschicksal naht, es naht;

Noch dieser Tag entscheidet:
1290

Gråßliches Morden droht von den Erinnyen.

Euripides The Phoenician Women 1284-1305

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

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