Euripides, The Phoenician Women, ed. Gilbert Murray, 387

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Ἰοκάστη

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ πρῶτον ὧν χρῄζω τυχεῖν,

τί τὸ στέρεσθαι πατρίδος; ἦ κακὸν μέγα;

Πολυνείκης

μέγιστον· ἔργῳ δʼ ἐστὶ μεῖζον ἢ λόγῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

τίς ὁ τρόπος αὐτοῦ; τί φυγάσιν τὸ δυσχερές;
390

Πολυνείκης

ἓν μὲν μέγιστον, οὐκ ἔχει παρρησίαν.

Ἰοκάστη

δούλου τόδʼ εἶπας, μὴ λέγειν ἅ τις φρονεῖ.

Πολυνείκης

τὰς τῶν κρατούντων ἀμαθίας φέρειν χρεών.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τοῦτο λυπρόν, συνασοφεῖν τοῖς μὴ σοφοῖς.

Πολυνείκης

ἀλλʼ ἐς τὸ κέρδος παρὰ φύσιν δουλευτέον.
395

Ἰοκάστη

αἱ δʼ ἐλπίδες βόσκουσι φυγάδας, ὡς λόγος.

Πολυνείκης

καλοῖς βλέπουσαί γʼ ὄμμασιν, μέλλουσι δέ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὐδʼ ὁ χρόνος αὐτὰς διεσάφησʼ οὔσας κενάς;

Πολυνείκης

ἔχουσιν Ἀφροδίτην τινʼ ἡδεῖαν κακῶν.

Ἰοκάστη

πόθεν δʼ ἐβόσκου, πρὶν γάμοις εὑρεῖν βίον;
400

Πολυνείκης

ποτὲ μὲν ἐπʼ ἦμαρ εἶχον, εἶτʼ οὐκ εἶχον ἄν.

Ἰοκάστη

φίλοι δὲ πατρὸς καὶ ξένοι σʼ οὐκ ὠφέλουν;

Πολυνείκης

εὖ πρᾶσσε· τὰ φίλων δʼ οὐδέν, ἤν τι δυστυχῇς.

Ἰοκάστη

οὐδʼ ηὑγένειά σʼ ἦρεν εἰς ὕψος μέγαν;

Πολυνείκης

κακὸν τὸ μὴ ἔχειν· τὸ γένος οὐκ ἔβοσκέ με.
405

Ἰοκάστη

ἡ πατρίς, ὡς ἔοικε, φίλτατον βροτοῖς.

Πολυνείκης

οὐδʼ ὀνομάσαι δύναιʼ ἂν ὡς ἐστὶν φίλον.

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς δʼ ἦλθες Ἄργος; τίνʼ ἐπίνοιαν ἔσχεθες;

Πολυνείκης

ἔχρησʼ Ἀδράστῳ Λοξίας χρησμόν τινα.

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον; τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; οὐκ ἔχω μαθεῖν.
410

Πολυνείκης

κάπρῳ λέοντί θʼ ἁρμόσαι παίδων γάμους.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ σοὶ τί θηρῶν ὀνόματος μετῆν, τέκνον;

Πολυνείκης

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὁ δαίμων μʼ ἐκάλεσεν πρὸς τὴν τύχην.

Ἰοκάστη

σοφὸς γὰρ ὁ θεός· τίνι τρόπῳ δʼ ἔσχες λέχος;

Πολυνείκης

νὺξ ἦν, Ἀδράστου δʼ ἦλθον ἐς παραστάδας.
415

Ἰοκάστη

κοίτας ματεύων, ᾗ φυγὰς πλανώμενος;

Πολυνείκης

ἦν ταῦτα· κᾆτά γʼ ἦλθεν ἄλλος αὖ φυγάς.

Ἰοκάστη

τίς οὗτος; ὡς ἄρʼ ἄθλιος κἀκεῖνος ἦν.

Πολυνείκης

Τυδεύς, ὃν Οἰνέως φασὶν ἐκφῦναι πατρός.

Ἰοκάστη

τί θηρσὶν ὑμᾶς δῆτʼ Ἄδραστος ᾔκασεν;
420

Πολυνείκης

στρωμνῆς ἐς ἀλκὴν οὕνεκʼ ἤλθομεν πέρι.

Ἰοκάστη

ἐνταῦθα Ταλαοῦ παῖς συνῆκε θέσφατα;

Πολυνείκης

κἄδωκέ γʼ ἡμῖν δύο δυοῖν νεάνιδας.

Ἰοκάστη

ἆρʼ εὐτυχεῖς οὖν τοῖς γάμοις ἢ δυστυχεῖς;

Πολυνείκης

οὐ μεμπτὸς ἡμῖν ὁ γάμος ἐς τόδʼ ἡμέρας.
425

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς δʼ ἐξέπεισας δεῦρό σοι σπέσθαι στρατόν;

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

The Phoenician Maidens Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 387 focus

Jocasta

Well then, first I ask you what I long to have answered. What is it, to be deprived of one’s country? Is it a great evil?

Polyneices

The greatest; harder to bear than tell.

Jocasta

What is it like? What annoys the exile?
390

Polyneices

One thing most of all; he cannot speak his mind.

Jocasta

This is a slave’s lot you speak of, not to say what one thinks.

Polyneices

The follies of the rulers must be borne.

Jocasta

That too is painful, to join in the folly of fools.

Polyneices

Yet to gain our ends we must serve against our nature.
395

Jocasta

Hope, they say, is the exile’s food.

Polyneices

Yes, hope that looks so fair; but always in the future.

Jocasta

But doesn’t time expose its emptiness?

Polyneices

It has a certain winsome charm in misfortune.

Jocasta

Where did you get your living, before your marriage found it for you?
400

Polyneices

Sometimes I would have enough for the day, and sometimes not.

Jocasta

Didn’t your father’s friends and guests assist you?

Polyneices

Seek to be prosperous; friends are nothing in misfortune.

Jocasta

Didn’t your noble breeding lead you to the heights?

Polyneices

Poverty is a curse; breeding did not find me food.
405

Jocasta

Man’s dearest treasure, it seems, is his country.

Polyneices

You could not name how dear it is!

Jocasta

How did you come to Argos ? What was your scheme?

Polyneices

Loxias gave Adrastus an oracle.

Jocasta

What was it? What are you saying? I cannot guess.
410

Polyneices

That he should marry his daughters to a boar and a lion.

Jocasta

What did you, my son, have to do with the name of beasts?

Polyneices

I don’t know; the deity summoned me there to my destiny.

Jocasta

Yes, for the god is wise; but how did you win your wife?

Polyneices

It was night when I reached the porch of Adrastus.
415

Jocasta

In search of a resting-place, because you were in exile?

Polyneices

Yes; and then another exile came there.

Jocasta

Who was he? He too was in trouble, surely.

Polyneices

Tydeus; they say that Oineus is his father.

Jocasta

But why did Adrastus compare you to wild beasts?
420

Polyneices

Because we came to blows about our bed.

Jocasta

Was it then that the son of Talaus understood the oracle?

Polyneices

Yes, and he gave the two of us his two daughters.

Jocasta

Are you blessed or cursed in your marriage?

Polyneices

As yet I have no fault to find with it.
425

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.) — 387 focus

Erst also frag' ich, was zu wissen mich verlangt:

Das Vaterland entbehren, ist es ein hartes Loos?

Polyneikes.

Das herbste, herber, als das Wort es schildern kann.

Jokaste.

Wie dieses? Was fällt denn so hart dem Flüchtlinge?

Polyneikes.

Eins ist das großte, daß er nicht frei reden darf -
385

Jokaste.

Nicht sagen dürfen, was man denkt, ist Sklavenloos.

Polyneikes.

Den Aberwiz der Großen still ertragen muß.

Jokaste.

Mit Thoren Thor sein müssen, Kind, auch dieses schmerzt.

Polyneikes.

Er muß um Vortheil frohnen, wenn unwillig auch.

Jokaste.

Doch sagt man, Hoffnung labe wohl den Flüchtigen.
390

Polyneikes.

Sie blickt mit heiterm Aug' ihn an, doch zögert sie.

Jokaste.

Und lehrt die Zeit nicht endlich, daß sie eitel war?

Polyneikes.

Ihr wohnt ein holder Zauber bei im Ungemach.

Jokaste.

Eh dir die Heirath Mittel schuf, was nährte dich?

Polyneikes.

Oft hatt' ich, oft auch wieder nicht, für einen Tag.
395

Jokaste.

Des Vaters Freunde nahmen nie sich deiner an?¹

Polyneikes.

Sei glücklich! Freunde gibt es nicht für Leidende.

Jokaste.

Dein Adel - hob auch dieser dich nicht hoch empor?

Polyneikes.

Hart ist es, darben; mich erhielt der Adel nicht.

Jokaste.

Der Menschen Liebstes ist ja wohl das Vaterland.
400

Polyneikes.

Und keine Zunge spricht es aus, wie lieb es ist.

Jokaste.

Wie kamest du nach Argos? Was bezwecktest du?

Polyneikes.

Ich weiß es nicht: ein Gott beschied mir dieses Loos.

Jokaste.

Weis ist die Gottheit: aber wie fandst du die Braut?

Polyneikes.

Adrastos holte sich den Spruch von Loxias
405

Jokaste.

Wie meinst du? Was ist dieses? Ich verstehe nicht.

Polyneikes.

Ein Low' und Ever würden frein der Töchter Paar.

Jokaste.

Was hattest du mit diesen Thieren, Kind, gemein?

Polyneikes.

Nacht war es, als ich vor Adrastos' Thore kam.

Jokaste.

Ein Lager suchend, als ein unståt Flüchtiger?
410

Polyneikes.

So war's; und noch ein andrer Flüchtling kam hernach.

Jokaste.

Wer war es? Denn unglucklich war auch dieser wohl.

Polyneikes.

Tydeus; des Deneus' Spröfling, also sagen sie.

Jokaste.

Warum verglich Adrastos euch mit Thieren denn?

Polyneikes.

Weil wir in Streit geriethen um die Lagerstatt.
415

Jokaste.

So legt' Adrastos sich den Spruch des Gottes aus?

Polyneikes.

Und gab zu Frau'n uns beiden beide Tochter auch.

Jokaste.

Und ist dein Ehbund glücklich oder nicht beglückt?

Polyneikes.

Ganz ohne Tadel war er bis auf diesen Tag.

Jokaste.

Doch wie bewogst du Argos Heer, mit dir zu ziehn?
420

Polyneikes.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ἰοκάστη καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ πρῶτον ὧν χρῄζω τυχεῖν, τί τὸ στέρεσθαι πατρίδος; ἦ κακὸν μέγα;

Πολυνείκης μέγιστον· ἔργῳ δʼ ἐστὶ μεῖζον ἢ λόγῳ.

Ἰοκάστη τίς ὁ τρόπος αὐτοῦ; τί φυγάσιν τὸ δυσχερές; 390

Πολυνείκης ἓν μὲν μέγιστον, οὐκ ἔχει παρρησίαν.

Ἰοκάστη δούλου τόδʼ εἶπας, μὴ λέγειν ἅ τις φρονεῖ.

Πολυνείκης τὰς τῶν κρατούντων ἀμαθίας φέρειν χρεών.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τοῦτο λυπρόν, συνασοφεῖν τοῖς μὴ σοφοῖς.

Πολυνείκης ἀλλʼ ἐς τὸ κέρδος παρὰ φύσιν δουλευτέον. 395

Ἰοκάστη αἱ δʼ ἐλπίδες βόσκουσι φυγάδας, ὡς λόγος.

Πολυνείκης καλοῖς βλέπουσαί γʼ ὄμμασιν, μέλλουσι δέ.

Ἰοκάστη οὐδʼ ὁ χρόνος αὐτὰς διεσάφησʼ οὔσας κενάς;

Πολυνείκης ἔχουσιν Ἀφροδίτην τινʼ ἡδεῖαν κακῶν.

Ἰοκάστη πόθεν δʼ ἐβόσκου, πρὶν γάμοις εὑρεῖν βίον; 400

Πολυνείκης ποτὲ μὲν ἐπʼ ἦμαρ εἶχον, εἶτʼ οὐκ εἶχον ἄν.

Ἰοκάστη φίλοι δὲ πατρὸς καὶ ξένοι σʼ οὐκ ὠφέλουν;

Πολυνείκης εὖ πρᾶσσε· τὰ φίλων δʼ οὐδέν, ἤν τι δυστυχῇς.

Ἰοκάστη οὐδʼ ηὑγένειά σʼ ἦρεν εἰς ὕψος μέγαν;

Πολυνείκης κακὸν τὸ μὴ ἔχειν· τὸ γένος οὐκ ἔβοσκέ με. 405

Ἰοκάστη ἡ πατρίς, ὡς ἔοικε, φίλτατον βροτοῖς.

Πολυνείκης οὐδʼ ὀνομάσαι δύναιʼ ἂν ὡς ἐστὶν φίλον.

Ἰοκάστη πῶς δʼ ἦλθες Ἄργος; τίνʼ ἐπίνοιαν ἔσχεθες;

Πολυνείκης ἔχρησʼ Ἀδράστῳ Λοξίας χρησμόν τινα.

Ἰοκάστη ποῖον; τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; οὐκ ἔχω μαθεῖν. 410

Πολυνείκης κάπρῳ λέοντί θʼ ἁρμόσαι παίδων γάμους.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ σοὶ τί θηρῶν ὀνόματος μετῆν, τέκνον;

Πολυνείκης οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὁ δαίμων μʼ ἐκάλεσεν πρὸς τὴν τύχην.

Ἰοκάστη σοφὸς γὰρ ὁ θεός· τίνι τρόπῳ δʼ ἔσχες λέχος;

Πολυνείκης νὺξ ἦν, Ἀδράστου δʼ ἦλθον ἐς παραστάδας. 415

Ἰοκάστη κοίτας ματεύων, ᾗ φυγὰς πλανώμενος;

Πολυνείκης ἦν ταῦτα· κᾆτά γʼ ἦλθεν ἄλλος αὖ φυγάς.

Ἰοκάστη τίς οὗτος; ὡς ἄρʼ ἄθλιος κἀκεῖνος ἦν.

Πολυνείκης Τυδεύς, ὃν Οἰνέως φασὶν ἐκφῦναι πατρός.

Ἰοκάστη τί θηρσὶν ὑμᾶς δῆτʼ Ἄδραστος ᾔκασεν; 420

Πολυνείκης στρωμνῆς ἐς ἀλκὴν οὕνεκʼ ἤλθομεν πέρι.

Ἰοκάστη ἐνταῦθα Ταλαοῦ παῖς συνῆκε θέσφατα;

Πολυνείκης κἄδωκέ γʼ ἡμῖν δύο δυοῖν νεάνιδας.

Ἰοκάστη ἆρʼ εὐτυχεῖς οὖν τοῖς γάμοις ἢ δυστυχεῖς;

Πολυνείκης οὐ μεμπτὸς ἡμῖν ὁ γάμος ἐς τόδʼ ἡμέρας. 425

Ἰοκάστη πῶς δʼ ἐξέπεισας δεῦρό σοι σπέσθαι στρατόν;

Current edition Perseus

Jocasta Well then, first I ask you what I long to have answered. What is it, to be deprived of one’s country? Is it a great evil?

Polyneices The greatest; harder to bear than tell.

Jocasta What is it like? What annoys the exile? 390

Polyneices One thing most of all; he cannot speak his mind.

Jocasta This is a slave’s lot you speak of, not to say what one thinks.

Polyneices The follies of the rulers must be borne.

Jocasta That too is painful, to join in the folly of fools.

Polyneices Yet to gain our ends we must serve against our nature. 395

Jocasta Hope, they say, is the exile’s food.

Polyneices Yes, hope that looks so fair; but always in the future.

Jocasta But doesn’t time expose its emptiness?

Polyneices It has a certain winsome charm in misfortune.

Jocasta Where did you get your living, before your marriage found it for you? 400

Polyneices Sometimes I would have enough for the day, and sometimes not.

Jocasta Didn’t your father’s friends and guests assist you?

Polyneices Seek to be prosperous; friends are nothing in misfortune.

Jocasta Didn’t your noble breeding lead you to the heights?

Polyneices Poverty is a curse; breeding did not find me food. 405

Jocasta Man’s dearest treasure, it seems, is his country.

Polyneices You could not name how dear it is!

Jocasta How did you come to Argos ? What was your scheme?

Polyneices Loxias gave Adrastus an oracle.

Jocasta What was it? What are you saying? I cannot guess. 410

Polyneices That he should marry his daughters to a boar and a lion.

Jocasta What did you, my son, have to do with the name of beasts?

Polyneices I don’t know; the deity summoned me there to my destiny.

Jocasta Yes, for the god is wise; but how did you win your wife?

Polyneices It was night when I reached the porch of Adrastus. 415

Jocasta In search of a resting-place, because you were in exile?

Polyneices Yes; and then another exile came there.

Jocasta Who was he? He too was in trouble, surely.

Polyneices Tydeus; they say that Oineus is his father.

Jocasta But why did Adrastus compare you to wild beasts? 420

Polyneices Because we came to blows about our bed.

Jocasta Was it then that the son of Talaus understood the oracle?

Polyneices Yes, and he gave the two of us his two daughters.

Jocasta Are you blessed or cursed in your marriage?

Polyneices As yet I have no fault to find with it. 425

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ δή σʼ ἐρωτῶ πρῶτον ὧν χρῄζω τυχεῖν,

τί τὸ στέρεσθαι πατρίδος; ἦ κακὸν μέγα;

Πολυνείκης

μέγιστον· ἔργῳ δʼ ἐστὶ μεῖζον ἢ λόγῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

τίς ὁ τρόπος αὐτοῦ; τί φυγάσιν τὸ δυσχερές;
390

Πολυνείκης

ἓν μὲν μέγιστον, οὐκ ἔχει παρρησίαν.

Ἰοκάστη

δούλου τόδʼ εἶπας, μὴ λέγειν ἅ τις φρονεῖ.

Πολυνείκης

τὰς τῶν κρατούντων ἀμαθίας φέρειν χρεών.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τοῦτο λυπρόν, συνασοφεῖν τοῖς μὴ σοφοῖς.

Πολυνείκης

ἀλλʼ ἐς τὸ κέρδος παρὰ φύσιν δουλευτέον.
395

Ἰοκάστη

αἱ δʼ ἐλπίδες βόσκουσι φυγάδας, ὡς λόγος.

Πολυνείκης

καλοῖς βλέπουσαί γʼ ὄμμασιν, μέλλουσι δέ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὐδʼ ὁ χρόνος αὐτὰς διεσάφησʼ οὔσας κενάς;

Πολυνείκης

ἔχουσιν Ἀφροδίτην τινʼ ἡδεῖαν κακῶν.

Ἰοκάστη

πόθεν δʼ ἐβόσκου, πρὶν γάμοις εὑρεῖν βίον;
400

Πολυνείκης

ποτὲ μὲν ἐπʼ ἦμαρ εἶχον, εἶτʼ οὐκ εἶχον ἄν.

Ἰοκάστη

φίλοι δὲ πατρὸς καὶ ξένοι σʼ οὐκ ὠφέλουν;

Πολυνείκης

εὖ πρᾶσσε· τὰ φίλων δʼ οὐδέν, ἤν τι δυστυχῇς.

Ἰοκάστη

οὐδʼ ηὑγένειά σʼ ἦρεν εἰς ὕψος μέγαν;

Πολυνείκης

κακὸν τὸ μὴ ἔχειν· τὸ γένος οὐκ ἔβοσκέ με.
405

Ἰοκάστη

ἡ πατρίς, ὡς ἔοικε, φίλτατον βροτοῖς.

Πολυνείκης

οὐδʼ ὀνομάσαι δύναιʼ ἂν ὡς ἐστὶν φίλον.

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς δʼ ἦλθες Ἄργος; τίνʼ ἐπίνοιαν ἔσχεθες;

Πολυνείκης

ἔχρησʼ Ἀδράστῳ Λοξίας χρησμόν τινα.

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον; τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; οὐκ ἔχω μαθεῖν.
410

Πολυνείκης

κάπρῳ λέοντί θʼ ἁρμόσαι παίδων γάμους.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ σοὶ τί θηρῶν ὀνόματος μετῆν, τέκνον;

Πολυνείκης

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὁ δαίμων μʼ ἐκάλεσεν πρὸς τὴν τύχην.

Ἰοκάστη

σοφὸς γὰρ ὁ θεός· τίνι τρόπῳ δʼ ἔσχες λέχος;

Πολυνείκης

νὺξ ἦν, Ἀδράστου δʼ ἦλθον ἐς παραστάδας.
415

Ἰοκάστη

κοίτας ματεύων, ᾗ φυγὰς πλανώμενος;

Πολυνείκης

ἦν ταῦτα· κᾆτά γʼ ἦλθεν ἄλλος αὖ φυγάς.

Ἰοκάστη

τίς οὗτος; ὡς ἄρʼ ἄθλιος κἀκεῖνος ἦν.

Πολυνείκης

Τυδεύς, ὃν Οἰνέως φασὶν ἐκφῦναι πατρός.

Ἰοκάστη

τί θηρσὶν ὑμᾶς δῆτʼ Ἄδραστος ᾔκασεν;
420

Πολυνείκης

στρωμνῆς ἐς ἀλκὴν οὕνεκʼ ἤλθομεν πέρι.

Ἰοκάστη

ἐνταῦθα Ταλαοῦ παῖς συνῆκε θέσφατα;

Πολυνείκης

κἄδωκέ γʼ ἡμῖν δύο δυοῖν νεάνιδας.

Ἰοκάστη

ἆρʼ εὐτυχεῖς οὖν τοῖς γάμοις ἢ δυστυχεῖς;

Πολυνείκης

οὐ μεμπτὸς ἡμῖν ὁ γάμος ἐς τόδʼ ἡμέρας.
425

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς δʼ ἐξέπεισας δεῦρό σοι σπέσθαι στρατόν;

Jocasta

Well then, first I ask you what I long to have answered. What is it, to be deprived of one’s country? Is it a great evil?

Polyneices

The greatest; harder to bear than tell.

Jocasta

What is it like? What annoys the exile?
390

Polyneices

One thing most of all; he cannot speak his mind.

Jocasta

This is a slave’s lot you speak of, not to say what one thinks.

Polyneices

The follies of the rulers must be borne.

Jocasta

That too is painful, to join in the folly of fools.

Polyneices

Yet to gain our ends we must serve against our nature.
395

Jocasta

Hope, they say, is the exile’s food.

Polyneices

Yes, hope that looks so fair; but always in the future.

Jocasta

But doesn’t time expose its emptiness?

Polyneices

It has a certain winsome charm in misfortune.

Jocasta

Where did you get your living, before your marriage found it for you?
400

Polyneices

Sometimes I would have enough for the day, and sometimes not.

Jocasta

Didn’t your father’s friends and guests assist you?

Polyneices

Seek to be prosperous; friends are nothing in misfortune.

Jocasta

Didn’t your noble breeding lead you to the heights?

Polyneices

Poverty is a curse; breeding did not find me food.
405

Jocasta

Man’s dearest treasure, it seems, is his country.

Polyneices

You could not name how dear it is!

Jocasta

How did you come to Argos ? What was your scheme?

Polyneices

Loxias gave Adrastus an oracle.

Jocasta

What was it? What are you saying? I cannot guess.
410

Polyneices

That he should marry his daughters to a boar and a lion.

Jocasta

What did you, my son, have to do with the name of beasts?

Polyneices

I don’t know; the deity summoned me there to my destiny.

Jocasta

Yes, for the god is wise; but how did you win your wife?

Polyneices

It was night when I reached the porch of Adrastus.
415

Jocasta

In search of a resting-place, because you were in exile?

Polyneices

Yes; and then another exile came there.

Jocasta

Who was he? He too was in trouble, surely.

Polyneices

Tydeus; they say that Oineus is his father.

Jocasta

But why did Adrastus compare you to wild beasts?
420

Polyneices

Because we came to blows about our bed.

Jocasta

Was it then that the son of Talaus understood the oracle?

Polyneices

Yes, and he gave the two of us his two daughters.

Jocasta

Are you blessed or cursed in your marriage?

Polyneices

As yet I have no fault to find with it.
425

Erst also frag' ich, was zu wissen mich verlangt:

Das Vaterland entbehren, ist es ein hartes Loos?

Polyneikes.

Das herbste, herber, als das Wort es schildern kann.

Jokaste.

Wie dieses? Was fällt denn so hart dem Flüchtlinge?