Euripides, Rhesus, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 201

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Dolon

I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.

Chorus Leader

Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?

Dolon

One that fits my task and furtive steps.
205

Chorus Leader

One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?

Dolon

I will fasten a wolf-skin about my back, and over my head put the brute’s gaping jaws;

then fitting its fore-feet to ny hands and its hind-feet to my legs, I will go on all-fours in imitation of a wolf’s gait to puzzle the enemy, when I approach their trenches and barriers round the ships. Rut whenever I come to a deserted spot,
210

I will walk on two feet; such is the ruse I have decided on.
215

Chorus Leader

May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.

Dolon

I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus

when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon.
220

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)) — 201 focus

Δόλων

στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιος

σκευῇ πρεπόντως σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι,

κἀκεῖθεν ἥσω ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων πόδα.

Χορός

ἐπεὶ τίνʼ ἄλλην ἀντὶ τῆσδʼ ἕξεις στολήν;

Δόλων

πρέπουσαν ἔργῳ κλωπικοῖς τε βήμασι.
205

Χορός

σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρὸς χρὴ σοφόν τι μανθάνειν·

λέξον, τίς ἔσται τοῦδε σώματος σαγή;

Δόλων

λύκειον ἀμφὶ νῶτʼ ἐνάψομαι δορὰν

καὶ χάσμα θηρὸς ἀμφʼ ἐμῷ θήσω κάρᾳ,

βάσιν τε χερσὶ προσθίαν καθαρμόσας
210

καὶ κῶλα κώλοις, τετράπουν μιμήσομαι

λύκου κέλευθον πολεμίοις δυσεύρετον,

τάφροις πελάζων καὶ νεῶν προβλήμασιν.

ὅταν δʼ ἔρημον χῶρον ἐμβαίνω ποδί,

δίβαμος εἶμι· τῇδε σύγκειται δόλος.
215

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εὖ σʼ ὁ Μαίας παῖς ἐκεῖσε καὶ πάλιν

πέμψειεν Ἑρμῆς, ὅς γε φηλητῶν ἄναξ.

ἔχεις δὲ τοὔργον· εὐτυχεῖν μόνον σε δεῖ.

Δόλων

σωθήσομαί γε καὶ κτανὼν Ὀδυσσέως

οἴσω κάρα σοι — σύμβολον δʼ ἔχων σαφὲς
220

φήσεις Δόλωνα ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων μολεῖν —

ἢ παῖδα Τυδέως· οὐδʼ ἀναιμάκτῳ χερὶ

ἥξω πρὸς οἴκους πρὶν φάος μολεῖν χθόνα.

Translations (2)

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.) — 201 focus

DOLON.
He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark.

There lies the way.—But first I must go find

At home some body-shelter to my mind;

Then, forward to the ships of Argolis !

LEADER.

What other raiment wilt thou need than this?

DOLON.

A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.
205

LEADER.

’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.

What will thy wrapping be?

DOLON.

A grey wolf’s hide

Shall wrap my body close on either side;

My head shall be the mask of gleaming teeth,

My arms fit in the forepaws, like a sheath,
210

My thighs in the hinder parts. No Greek shall tell

’Tis not a wolf that walks, half visible,

On four feet by the trenches and around

The ship-screen. When it comes to empty ground

It stands on two.—That is the plan, my friend!
215

LEADER.

Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end

And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . .

Good work is there; may good luck go with it!

DOLON
(to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp).

There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed

Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
220

To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land

I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.

¹ Exit DOLON.

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

Euripides Rhesus 201

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Dolon

I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.

Chorus Leader

Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?

Dolon

One that fits my task and furtive steps.
205

Chorus Leader

One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?

Chorus Leader

May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.

Dolon

I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus

when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon.
220

Current edition Perseus

Δόλων

στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιος

σκευῇ πρεπόντως σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι,

κἀκεῖθεν ἥσω ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων πόδα.

Χορός

ἐπεὶ τίνʼ ἄλλην ἀντὶ τῆσδʼ ἕξεις στολήν;

Δόλων

πρέπουσαν ἔργῳ κλωπικοῖς τε βήμασι.
205

Χορός

σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρὸς χρὴ σοφόν τι μανθάνειν·

λέξον, τίς ἔσται τοῦδε σώματος σαγή;

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εὖ σʼ ὁ Μαίας παῖς ἐκεῖσε καὶ πάλιν

πέμψειεν Ἑρμῆς, ὅς γε φηλητῶν ἄναξ.

ἔχεις δὲ τοὔργον· εὐτυχεῖν μόνον σε δεῖ.

DOLON.
He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark.

There lies the way.—But first I must go find

At home some body-shelter to my mind;

Then, forward to the ships of Argolis !

LEADER.

What other raiment wilt thou need than this?

DOLON.

A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.
205

LEADER.

’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.

What will thy wrapping be?

LEADER.

Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end

And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . .

Good work is there; may good luck go with it!

DOLON
(to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp).

There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed

Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
220

To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land

I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Dolon I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.

Chorus Leader Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?

Dolon One that fits my task and furtive steps. 205

Chorus Leader One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?

Chorus Leader May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.

Dolon I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon. 220

Current edition Perseus

Δόλων στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιος σκευῇ πρεπόντως σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι, κἀκεῖθεν ἥσω ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων πόδα.

Χορός ἐπεὶ τίνʼ ἄλλην ἀντὶ τῆσδʼ ἕξεις στολήν;

Δόλων πρέπουσαν ἔργῳ κλωπικοῖς τε βήμασι. 205

Χορός σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρὸς χρὴ σοφόν τι μανθάνειν· λέξον, τίς ἔσται τοῦδε σώματος σαγή;

Χορός ἀλλʼ εὖ σʼ ὁ Μαίας παῖς ἐκεῖσε καὶ πάλιν πέμψειεν Ἑρμῆς, ὅς γε φηλητῶν ἄναξ. ἔχεις δὲ τοὔργον· εὐτυχεῖν μόνον σε δεῖ.

DOLON. He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark. There lies the way.—But first I must go find At home some body-shelter to my mind; Then, forward to the ships of Argolis !

LEADER. What other raiment wilt thou need than this?

DOLON. A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise. 205

LEADER. ’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise. What will thy wrapping be?

LEADER. Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . . Good work is there; may good luck go with it!

DOLON (to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp). There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?— 220 To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.

Stable identifiers

Dolon

I will set forth; but going within my house I will clothe myself in fitting attire, and then I will hasten to the Argive fleet.

Chorus Leader

Why, what dress in place of this will you assume?

Dolon

One that fits my task and furtive steps.
205

Chorus Leader

One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me, what will be your equipment?

Chorus Leader

May Hermes, Maia’s child, escort you safely there and back, prince of tricksters as he is! You know what you have to do; good luck is all you need now.

Dolon

I shall return in safety, and bring to you the head of Odysseus

when I have slain him, or the son of Tydeus, and with this clear proof before you you shall assert that Dolon went to the Argive fleet; for, before the dawn, I will come back home with bloodstained hand. Exit Dolon.
220

Δόλων

στείχοιμʼ ἄν· ἐλθὼν δʼ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιος

σκευῇ πρεπόντως σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι,

κἀκεῖθεν ἥσω ναῦς ἐπʼ Ἀργείων πόδα.

Χορός

ἐπεὶ τίνʼ ἄλλην ἀντὶ τῆσδʼ ἕξεις στολήν;

Δόλων

πρέπουσαν ἔργῳ κλωπικοῖς τε βήμασι.
205

Χορός

σοφοῦ παρʼ ἀνδρὸς χρὴ σοφόν τι μανθάνειν·

λέξον, τίς ἔσται τοῦδε σώματος σαγή;

Χορός

ἀλλʼ εὖ σʼ ὁ Μαίας παῖς ἐκεῖσε καὶ πάλιν

πέμψειεν Ἑρμῆς, ὅς γε φηλητῶν ἄναξ.

ἔχεις δὲ τοὔργον· εὐτυχεῖν μόνον σε δεῖ.

DOLON.
He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark.

There lies the way.—But first I must go find

At home some body-shelter to my mind;

Then, forward to the ships of Argolis !

LEADER.

What other raiment wilt thou need than this?

DOLON.

A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.
205

LEADER.

’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.

What will thy wrapping be?

LEADER.

Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end

And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . .

Good work is there; may good luck go with it!

DOLON
(to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp).

There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed

Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
220

To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land

I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.