Euripides, Rhesus, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 164

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Hector

Yes, that is fair; I cannot dispute it.

Name your wage, except for my sovereignty.
165

Dolon

I do not covet your toilsome sovereignty.

Hector

Well then, marry a daughter of Priam and become my brother-in-law.

Dolon

No, I do not wish to marry among those beyond my station.

Hector

There’s gold, if this you’ll claim as your prize.

Dolon

I have it in my home; I lack no sustenance.
170

Hector

What then is your desire of all that Ilium stores within her?

Dolon

Promise me my gift when you conquer the Achaeans.

Hector

I will give it to you; ask anything except the captains of the fleet.

Dolon

Slay them; I do not ask you to keep your hand off Menelaus.

Hector

Is it the son of Oileus you would ask me for?
175

Dolon

Hands that are well brought up are worthless at farming.

Hector

Whom then of the Achaeans will you have alive to hold to ransom?

Dolon

I told you before, my house is stored with gold.

Hector

Why then, you shall come and with your own hands choose out some spoil.

Dolon

Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temples.
180

Hector

Then what greater prize than these will you ask me for?

Dolon

Achilles’ horses. The prize must be worth the toil when one stakes one’s life on Fortune’s dice.

Hector

Ah! but your desires clash with mine about those horses;

for they are immortal and born from immortals, who bear the son of Peleus on his headlong course. Poseidon, lord of the ocean, broke them and gave them to Peleus, so runs the legend. Yet, for I urged you on, I will not break my word; I will give to you
185

Achilles’ team, a fair possession for your house.
190

Dolon

I thank you; in receiving then, I assert that I am taking a fairer gift than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet you should not be envious; you have other things to gladden your heart, in your kingship over this land.

Rhesus. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ῥῆσος Perseus (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978)) — 164 focus

Ἕκτωρ

ναί, καὶ δίκαια ταῦτα κοὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.

τάξαι δὲ μισθόν, πλὴν ἐμῆς τυραννίδος.
165

Δόλων

οὐ σῆς ἐρῶμεν πολιόχου τυραννίδος.

Ἕκτωρ

σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ γήμας Πριαμιδῶν γαμβρὸς γενοῦ.

Δόλων

οὐδʼ ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ μειζόνων γαμεῖν θέλω.

Ἕκτωρ

χρυσὸς πάρεστιν, εἰ τόδʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας.

Δόλων

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐν οἴκοις· οὐ βίου σπανίζομεν.
170

Ἕκτωρ

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις ὧν κέκευθεν Ἴλιος;

Δόλων

ἑλὼν Ἀχαιοὺς δῶρά μοι ξυναίνεσον.

Ἕκτωρ

δώσω· σὺ δʼ αἴτει πλὴν στρατηλάτας νεῶν.

Δόλων

κτεῖνʼ, οὔ σʼ ἀπαιτῶ Μενέλεω σχέσθαι χέρα.

Ἕκτωρ

οὐ μὴν τὸν Ἰλέως παῖδά μʼ ἐξαιτῇ λαβεῖν;
175

Δόλων

κακαὶ γεωργεῖν χεῖρες εὖ τεθραμμέναι.

Ἕκτωρ

τίνʼ οὖν Ἀχαιῶν ζῶντʼ ἀποινᾶσθαι θέλεις;

Δόλων

καὶ πρόσθεν εἶπον· ἔστι χρυσὸς ἐν δόμοις.

Ἕκτωρ

καὶ μὴν λαφύρων γʼ αὐτὸς αἱρήσῃ παρών.

Δόλων

θεοῖσιν αὐτὰ πασσάλευε πρὸς δόμοις.
180

Ἕκτωρ

τί δῆτα μεῖζον τῶνδέ μʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας;

Δόλων

ἵππους Ἀχιλλέως· χρὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀξίοις πονεῖν

ψυχὴν προβάλλοντʼ ἐν κύβοισι δαίμονος.

Ἕκτωρ

καὶ μὴν ἐρῶντί γʼ ἀντερᾷς ἵππων ἐμοί·

ἐξ ἀφθίτων γὰρ ἄφθιτοι πεφυκότες
185

τὸν Πηλέως φέρουσι θούριον γόνον·

δίδωσι δʼ αὐτοὺς πωλοδαμνήσας ἄναξ

Πηλεῖ Ποσειδῶν, ὡς λέγουσι, πόντιος.

ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐπάρας ψεύσομαι· δώσω δέ σοι,

κάλλιστον οἴκοις κτῆμʼ, Ἀχιλλέως ὄχον.
190

Δόλων

αἰνῶ· λαβὼν δʼ ἄν φημι κάλλιστον Φρυγῶν

δῶρον δέχεσθαι τῆς ἐμῆς εὐσπλαγχνίας.

σὲ δʼ οὐ φθονεῖν χρή· μυρίʼ ἔστιν ἄλλα σοι,

ἐφʼ οἷσι τέρψῃ τῆσδʼ ἀριστεύων χθονός.

Translations (2)

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.) — 164 focus

HECTOR.

So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down

What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown.
165

DOLON.

I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.

HECTOR.

Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?

DOLON.

I seek no mate that might look down on me.

HECTOR.

Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.

DOLON.

We live at ease and have no care for gold.
170

HECTOR.

Well, Troy hath other treasures manifold.

DOLON.

Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.

HECTOR.

The Greeks! . . . Choose any save the Atridae twain.

DOLON.

Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.

HECTOR.

Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son¹?
175

DOLON.

A princely hand is skilless at the plough.

HECTOR.

’Tis ransom, then? . . . What prisoner cravest thou?

DOLON.

I said before, of gold we have our fill.

HECTOR.

For spoils and armour . . . thou shalt choose at will.

DOLON.

Nail them for trophies on some temple wall.
180

HECTOR.

What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?

DOLON.

Achilles’ horses!² Murmurs of surprise.

Yes, I need a great

Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.

HECTOR.

’Fore God, I am thy rival, if thy love

Lies there. Undying was the breed thereof,
185

And these shall never die, who bear to war

Great Peleus’ son, swift gleaming like a star.

Poseidon, rider of the wild sea-drift,

Tamed them, men say, and gave them for his gift

To Peleus.—None the less, since I have stirred

Hopes, I will baulk them not. I pledge my word,

Achilles’ steeds, a rare prize, shall be thine.
190

DOLON.

I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine

Than all in Troy .—

Grudge me not that; there be

Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.

Exit HECTOR.

Rhesus (OCR draft) Experimental (Rhesus. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

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Hector Yes, that is fair; I cannot dispute it. Name your wage, except for my sovereignty. 165

Dolon I do not covet your toilsome sovereignty.

Hector Well then, marry a daughter of Priam and become my brother-in-law.

Dolon No, I do not wish to marry among those beyond my station.

Hector There’s gold, if this you’ll claim as your prize.

Dolon I have it in my home; I lack no sustenance. 170

Hector What then is your desire of all that Ilium stores within her?

Dolon Promise me my gift when you conquer the Achaeans.

Hector I will give it to you; ask anything except the captains of the fleet.

Dolon Slay them; I do not ask you to keep your hand off Menelaus.

Hector Is it the son of Oileus you would ask me for? 175

Dolon Hands that are well brought up are worthless at farming.

Hector Whom then of the Achaeans will you have alive to hold to ransom?

Dolon I told you before, my house is stored with gold.

Hector Why then, you shall come and with your own hands choose out some spoil.

Dolon Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temples. 180

Hector Then what greater prize than these will you ask me for?

Dolon Achilles’ horses. The prize must be worth the toil when one stakes one’s life on Fortune’s dice.

Dolon I thank you; in receiving then, I assert that I am taking a fairer gift than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet you should not be envious; you have other things to gladden your heart, in your kingship over this land.

Current edition Perseus

Ἕκτωρ ναί, καὶ δίκαια ταῦτα κοὐκ ἄλλως λέγω. τάξαι δὲ μισθόν, πλὴν ἐμῆς τυραννίδος. 165

Δόλων οὐ σῆς ἐρῶμεν πολιόχου τυραννίδος.

Ἕκτωρ σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ γήμας Πριαμιδῶν γαμβρὸς γενοῦ.

Δόλων οὐδʼ ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ μειζόνων γαμεῖν θέλω.

Ἕκτωρ χρυσὸς πάρεστιν, εἰ τόδʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας.

Δόλων ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐν οἴκοις· οὐ βίου σπανίζομεν. 170

Ἕκτωρ τί δῆτα χρῄζεις ὧν κέκευθεν Ἴλιος;

Δόλων ἑλὼν Ἀχαιοὺς δῶρά μοι ξυναίνεσον.

Ἕκτωρ δώσω· σὺ δʼ αἴτει πλὴν στρατηλάτας νεῶν.

Δόλων κτεῖνʼ, οὔ σʼ ἀπαιτῶ Μενέλεω σχέσθαι χέρα.

Ἕκτωρ οὐ μὴν τὸν Ἰλέως παῖδά μʼ ἐξαιτῇ λαβεῖν; 175

Δόλων κακαὶ γεωργεῖν χεῖρες εὖ τεθραμμέναι.

Ἕκτωρ τίνʼ οὖν Ἀχαιῶν ζῶντʼ ἀποινᾶσθαι θέλεις;

Δόλων καὶ πρόσθεν εἶπον· ἔστι χρυσὸς ἐν δόμοις.

Ἕκτωρ καὶ μὴν λαφύρων γʼ αὐτὸς αἱρήσῃ παρών.

Δόλων θεοῖσιν αὐτὰ πασσάλευε πρὸς δόμοις. 180

Ἕκτωρ τί δῆτα μεῖζον τῶνδέ μʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας;

Δόλων ἵππους Ἀχιλλέως· χρὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀξίοις πονεῖν ψυχὴν προβάλλοντʼ ἐν κύβοισι δαίμονος.

HECTOR. So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown. 165

DOLON. I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.

HECTOR. Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?

DOLON. I seek no mate that might look down on me.

HECTOR. Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.

DOLON. We live at ease and have no care for gold. 170

HECTOR. Well, Troy hath other treasures manifold.

DOLON. Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.

HECTOR. The Greeks! . . . Choose any save the Atridae twain.

DOLON. Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.

HECTOR. Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son 1 ? 175

DOLON. A princely hand is skilless at the plough.

HECTOR. ’Tis ransom, then? . . . What prisoner cravest thou?

DOLON. I said before, of gold we have our fill.

HECTOR. For spoils and armour . . . thou shalt choose at will.

DOLON. Nail them for trophies on some temple wall. 180

HECTOR. What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?

DOLON. Achilles’ horses! 2 Murmurs of surprise. Yes, I need a great Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.

DOLON. I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine Than all in Troy .— Grudge me not that; there be Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.

Stable identifiers

Hector

Yes, that is fair; I cannot dispute it.

Name your wage, except for my sovereignty.
165

Dolon

I do not covet your toilsome sovereignty.

Hector

Well then, marry a daughter of Priam and become my brother-in-law.

Dolon

No, I do not wish to marry among those beyond my station.

Hector

There’s gold, if this you’ll claim as your prize.

Dolon

I have it in my home; I lack no sustenance.
170

Hector

What then is your desire of all that Ilium stores within her?

Dolon

Promise me my gift when you conquer the Achaeans.

Hector

I will give it to you; ask anything except the captains of the fleet.

Dolon

Slay them; I do not ask you to keep your hand off Menelaus.

Hector

Is it the son of Oileus you would ask me for?
175

Dolon

Hands that are well brought up are worthless at farming.

Hector

Whom then of the Achaeans will you have alive to hold to ransom?

Dolon

I told you before, my house is stored with gold.

Hector

Why then, you shall come and with your own hands choose out some spoil.

Dolon

Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temples.
180

Hector

Then what greater prize than these will you ask me for?

Dolon

Achilles’ horses. The prize must be worth the toil when one stakes one’s life on Fortune’s dice.

Dolon

I thank you; in receiving then, I assert that I am taking a fairer gift than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet you should not be envious; you have other things to gladden your heart, in your kingship over this land.

Ἕκτωρ

ναί, καὶ δίκαια ταῦτα κοὐκ ἄλλως λέγω.

τάξαι δὲ μισθόν, πλὴν ἐμῆς τυραννίδος.
165

Δόλων

οὐ σῆς ἐρῶμεν πολιόχου τυραννίδος.

Ἕκτωρ

σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ γήμας Πριαμιδῶν γαμβρὸς γενοῦ.

Δόλων

οὐδʼ ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ μειζόνων γαμεῖν θέλω.

Ἕκτωρ

χρυσὸς πάρεστιν, εἰ τόδʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας.

Δόλων

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἐν οἴκοις· οὐ βίου σπανίζομεν.
170

Ἕκτωρ

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις ὧν κέκευθεν Ἴλιος;

Δόλων

ἑλὼν Ἀχαιοὺς δῶρά μοι ξυναίνεσον.

Ἕκτωρ

δώσω· σὺ δʼ αἴτει πλὴν στρατηλάτας νεῶν.

Δόλων

κτεῖνʼ, οὔ σʼ ἀπαιτῶ Μενέλεω σχέσθαι χέρα.

Ἕκτωρ

οὐ μὴν τὸν Ἰλέως παῖδά μʼ ἐξαιτῇ λαβεῖν;
175

Δόλων

κακαὶ γεωργεῖν χεῖρες εὖ τεθραμμέναι.

Ἕκτωρ

τίνʼ οὖν Ἀχαιῶν ζῶντʼ ἀποινᾶσθαι θέλεις;

Δόλων

καὶ πρόσθεν εἶπον· ἔστι χρυσὸς ἐν δόμοις.

Ἕκτωρ

καὶ μὴν λαφύρων γʼ αὐτὸς αἱρήσῃ παρών.

Δόλων

θεοῖσιν αὐτὰ πασσάλευε πρὸς δόμοις.
180

Ἕκτωρ

τί δῆτα μεῖζον τῶνδέ μʼ αἰτήσεις γέρας;

Δόλων

ἵππους Ἀχιλλέως· χρὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀξίοις πονεῖν

ψυχὴν προβάλλοντʼ ἐν κύβοισι δαίμονος.

HECTOR.

So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down

What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown.
165

DOLON.

I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.

HECTOR.

Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?

DOLON.

I seek no mate that might look down on me.

HECTOR.

Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.

DOLON.

We live at ease and have no care for gold.
170

HECTOR.

Well, Troy hath other treasures manifold.

DOLON.

Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.

HECTOR.

The Greeks! . . . Choose any save the Atridae twain.

DOLON.

Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.

HECTOR.

Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son¹?
175

DOLON.

A princely hand is skilless at the plough.

HECTOR.

’Tis ransom, then? . . . What prisoner cravest thou?

DOLON.

I said before, of gold we have our fill.

HECTOR.

For spoils and armour . . . thou shalt choose at will.

DOLON.

Nail them for trophies on some temple wall.
180

HECTOR.

What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?

DOLON.

Achilles’ horses!² Murmurs of surprise.

Yes, I need a great

Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.

DOLON.

I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine

Than all in Troy .—

Grudge me not that; there be

Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.