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Chorus
To the sandy beach
of sea-coast
Aulis
I have come after a voyage through the tides of narrow Euripus, leaving
Chalcis
, my city which feeds the waters
165
of far-famed Arethusa near the sea, so that I might behold the army of the Achaeans and the ships rowed by those godlike heroes; for our husbands tell us
170
To the sandy beach
of sea-coast
Aulis
I have come after a voyage through the tides of narrow Euripus, leaving
Chalcis
, my city which feeds the waters
165
of far-famed Arethusa near the sea, so that I might behold the army of the Achaeans and the ships rowed by those godlike heroes; for our husbands tell us
170
Chorus
Through the grove of Artemis, rich with sacrifice, I sped my course, my cheek stained with red from maiden modesty, in my eagerness to see the soldiers’ camp,
185
the tents of the mail-clad Danaids, and their crowd of horses.
2
I saw two met together in council; one was Aias, son of Oileus; the other Aias, son of Telamon, crown of glory to the men of
Salamis
;
190
and I saw Protesilaus and Palamedes, sprung from the son of Poseidon, sitting there amusing themselves with intricate figures at checkers; Diomedes too
195
at his favorite sport of hurling quoits; and Meriones, Ares’ son, a marvel to mankind, stood at his side; likewise I beheld the son of Laertes, who came from his island hills, and with him Nireus,
200
handsomest of the Achaeans.
205
Through the grove of Artemis, rich with sacrifice, I sped my course, my cheek stained with red from maiden modesty, in my eagerness to see the soldiers’ camp,
185
the tents of the mail-clad Danaids, and their crowd of horses.
2
I saw two met together in council; one was Aias, son of Oileus; the other Aias, son of Telamon, crown of glory to the men of
Salamis
;
190
and I saw Protesilaus and Palamedes, sprung from the son of Poseidon, sitting there amusing themselves with intricate figures at checkers; Diomedes too
195
at his favorite sport of hurling quoits; and Meriones, Ares’ son, a marvel to mankind, stood at his side; likewise I beheld the son of Laertes, who came from his island hills, and with him Nireus,
200
handsomest of the Achaeans.
205
Chorus
Achilles next, that nimble runner, swift on his feet as the wind, whom Thetis bore and Chiron trained, I saw
upon the beach, racing in full armor along the shingle, and straining every nerve to beat a team of four horses,
210
as he sped round the track on foot; and Eumelus, the grandson of Pheres, their driver, was shouting when I saw him, goading on his lovely steeds,
215
with their bits of chased gold-work; the center pair, that bore the yoke, had dappled coats picked out with white, while the tracehorses, on the outside, facing the turning-post in the course,
3
220
were bays with spotted fetlocks. Close beside them Peleus’ son leapt on his way, in all his harness, keeping abreast
225
the rail by the axle-box.
230
Achilles next, that nimble runner, swift on his feet as the wind, whom Thetis bore and Chiron trained, I saw
upon the beach, racing in full armor along the shingle, and straining every nerve to beat a team of four horses,
210
as he sped round the track on foot; and Eumelus, the grandson of Pheres, their driver, was shouting when I saw him, goading on his lovely steeds,
215
with their bits of chased gold-work; the center pair, that bore the yoke, had dappled coats picked out with white, while the tracehorses, on the outside, facing the turning-post in the course,
3
220
were bays with spotted fetlocks. Close beside them Peleus’ son leapt on his way, in all his harness, keeping abreast
225
the rail by the axle-box.
230
Chorus
Next I sought the countless fleet, a wonder to behold, that I might fill my girlish eyes with gazing, a sweet
4
delight.
The warlike Myrmidons from
Phthia
held the right wing with fifty swift cruisers, upon whose sterns, right at the ends, stood Nereid goddesses
235
in golden effigy, the ensign of Achilles’ armament.
240
Next I sought the countless fleet, a wonder to behold, that I might fill my girlish eyes with gazing, a sweet
4
delight.
The warlike Myrmidons from
Phthia
held the right wing with fifty swift cruisers, upon whose sterns, right at the ends, stood Nereid goddesses
235
in golden effigy, the ensign of Achilles’ armament.
240
Chorus
Near these were moored the
Argive
ships in equal numbers, over which Mecisteus’
son, whom Talaus his grandfather reared, and Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, were in command; next in order, Theseus’ son was stationed at the head of sixty ships from
Attica
, having the goddess
245
Pallas set in a winged chariot drawn by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight for mariners.
250
Near these were moored the
Argive
ships in equal numbers, over which Mecisteus’
son, whom Talaus his grandfather reared, and Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, were in command; next in order, Theseus’ son was stationed at the head of sixty ships from
Attica
, having the goddess
245
Pallas set in a winged chariot drawn by steeds with solid hoof, a lucky sight for mariners.
250
Chorus
Then I saw
Boeotia
’s fleet of fifty sails
decked with ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born Leitus
255
Then I saw
Boeotia
’s fleet of fifty sails
decked with ensigns; these had Cadmus at the stern holding a golden dragon at the beaks of the vessels, and earth-born Leitus
255
Chorus
And from
Mycenae
, the Cyclopes’ town, Atreus’ son sent a hundred well-manned galleys, and
Adrastos
his brother
5
was with him in command, as friend with friend,
265
that
Hellas
might exact vengeance on the one who had fled her home to wed a foreigner. Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor’s prows from
Pylos
270
the ensign of his neighbour Alpheus, four-footed like a bull.
275
And from
Mycenae
, the Cyclopes’ town, Atreus’ son sent a hundred well-manned galleys, and
Adrastos
his brother
5
was with him in command, as friend with friend,
265
that
Hellas
might exact vengeance on the one who had fled her home to wed a foreigner. Also I saw upon Gerenian Nestor’s prows from
Pylos
270
the ensign of his neighbour Alpheus, four-footed like a bull.
275
Chorus
Moreover there was a squadron of twelve Aenianian sail under King Gouneus; and then near them
the lords of Elis, whom all the people named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; Iikewise he led the Taphian warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects of Meges,
280
son of Phyleus, who had left the isles of the Echinades, where sailors cannot land.
285
Moreover there was a squadron of twelve Aenianian sail under King Gouneus; and then near them
the lords of Elis, whom all the people named Epeians; and Eurytus was lord of these; Iikewise he led the Taphian warriors with the white oar-blades, the subjects of Meges,
280
son of Phyleus, who had left the isles of the Echinades, where sailors cannot land.
285
Chorus
Lastly, Aias, reared in
Salamis
,
was joining his right wing to the left
6
of those near whom he was posed, closing the line with his outermost ships, twelve barques obedient to the helm, as I heard and then
290
saw the crews; the one who brings his barbaric boats to grapple Aias shall obtain no safe return. There I saw
7
295
the naval armament, but some things I heard at home about the gathered army, of which I still have a recollection.
300
Lastly, Aias, reared in
Salamis
,
was joining his right wing to the left
6
of those near whom he was posed, closing the line with his outermost ships, twelve barques obedient to the helm, as I heard and then
290
saw the crews; the one who brings his barbaric boats to grapple Aias shall obtain no safe return. There I saw
7
295
the naval armament, but some things I heard at home about the gathered army, of which I still have a recollection.
300
Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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