Euripides, Rhesus, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 595

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

Athena

Where are you going, away from the Trojan ranks, with sorrow gnawing at your hearts, because the god does not grant you two to slay Hector or Paris? Have you not heard that Rhesus has come to aid Troy in no mean fashion?
595

If he survives this night until the dawn, neither Achilles nor Aias’s spear can stop him from utterly destroying the Argive fleet, razing its palisades and carrying this the onslaught of his lance far and wide within the gates.
600

Slay him, and all is yours; let Hector’s sleep alone, no throat-cutting slaughter; for he shall find death at another hand.
605

Odysseus

Queen Athena, it is the well-known accent of your voice I hear; for you are always

at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where that man lies asleep; in what part of the barbarian army is he stationed?
610

Athena

Here lies he close at hand, not marshalled with the other troops, but outside the ranks Hector has given him quarters,

till night gives place to day. And near him his white horses are tethered to his Thracian chariot, easy to see in the darkness; they shine like the plumage of a river swan. Slay their master and bear them off
615

home, glorious spoils; for nowhere else in all the world is such a team to be found.
620

Odysseus

Diomedes, either you slay the Thracian folk, or leave that to me, while your care must be the horses.

Diomedes

I will do the killing, and you master the horses.

For you are well versed in clever tricks, and have a ready wit. And it is right to station a man where he may best serve.
625

Athena

Look! there I see Paris coming towards us; perhaps he has heard from the guard a vague rumor that foes are near.

Diomedes

Are others with him or does he come alone?
630

Athena

Alone; to Hector’s couch he seems to wend his way, to announce to him that spies are in the camp.

Diomedes

Ought he not head the list of slain?

Athena

You can not overreach destiny.

It is not decreed that he should fall by your hand. But hasten on your mission of fore-ordained slaughter, while I, feigning to be Cypris, his ally, and to aid him in his efforts, will answer the foe with unsound words.
635

I tell you this; but the fated victim does not know, nor has he heard, for all he is so near. Exeunt Odysseus and Diomedes.
640

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)) — 595 focus

Ἀθήνα

ποῖ δὴ λιπόντες Τρωικῶν ἐκ τάξεων
595

χωρεῖτε, λύπῃ καρδίαν δεδηγμένοι,

εἰ μὴ κτανεῖν σφῷν Ἕκτορʼ ἢ Πάριν θεὸς

δίδωσιν; ἄνδρα δʼ οὐ πέπυσθε σύμμαχον

Τροίᾳ μολόντα Ῥῆσον οὐ φαύλῳ τρόπῳ.

ὃς εἰ διοίσει νύκτα τήνδʼ ἐς αὔριον,
600

οὔτε σφʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς οὔτʼ ἂν Αἴαντος δόρυ

μὴ πάντα πέρσαι ναύσταθμʼ Ἀργείων σχέθοι,

τείχη κατασκάψαντα καὶ πυλῶν ἔσω

λόγχῃ πλατεῖαν ἐσδρομὴν ποιούμενον.

τοῦτον κατακτὰς πάντʼ ἔχεις. τὰς δʼ Ἕκτορος
605

εὐνὰς ἔασον καὶ καρατόμους σφαγάς·

ἔσται γὰρ αὐτῷ θάνατος ἐξ ἄλλης χερός.

Ὀδυσσεύς

δέσποινʼ Ἀθάνα, φθέγματος γὰρ ᾐσθόμην

τοῦ σοῦ συνήθη γῆρυν· ἐν πόνοισι γὰρ

παροῦσʼ ἀμύνεις τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἀεί ποτε·
610

τὸν ἄνδρα δʼ ἡμῖν, ποῦ κατηύνασται, φράσον·

πόθεν τέτακται βαρβάρου στρατεύματος;

Ἀθήνα

ὅδʼ ἐγγὺς ἧσται κοὐ συνήθροισται στρατῷ,

ἀλλʼ ἐκτὸς αὐτὸν τάξεων κατηύνασεν

Ἕκτωρ, ἕως ἂν νὺξ ἀμείψηται φάος.
615

πέλας δὲ πῶλοι Θρῃκίων ἐξ ἁρμάτων

λευκαὶ δέδενται, διαπρεπεῖς ἐν εὐφρόνῃ·

στίλβουσι δʼ ὥστε ποταμίου κύκνου πτερόν.

ταύτας, κτανόντες δεσπότην, κομίζετε,

κάλλιστον οἴκοις σκῦλον· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπου
620

τοιόνδʼ ὄχημα χθὼν κέκευθε πωλικόν.

Ὀδυσσεύς

Διόμηδες, ἢ σὺ κτεῖνε Θρῄκιον λεών,

ἢ ʼμοὶ πάρες γε, σοὶ δὲ χρὴ πώλους μέλειν.

Διομήδης

ἐγὼ φονεύσω, πωλοδαμνήσεις δὲ σύ·

τρίβων γὰρ εἶ τὰ κομψὰ καὶ νοεῖν σοφός.
625

χρὴ δʼ ἄνδρα τάσσειν οὗ μάλιστʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖ.

Ἀθήνα

καὶ μὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς τόνδʼ Ἀλέξανδρον βλέπω

στείχοντα, φυλάκων ἔκ τινος πεπυσμένον

δόξας ἀσήμους πολεμίων μεμβλωκότων.

Διομήδης

πότερα σὺν ἄλλοις ἢ μόνος πορεύεται;
630

Ἀθήνα

μόνος· πρὸς εὐνὰς δʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, Ἕκτορος

χωρεῖ, κατόπτας σημανῶν ἥκειν στρατοῦ.

Διομήδης

οὐκ οὖν ὑπάρχειν τόνδε κατθανόντα χρή;

Ἀθήνα

οὐκ ἂν δύναιο τοῦ πεπρωμένου πλέον.

τοῦτον δὲ πρὸς σῆς χειρὸς οὐ θέμις θανεῖν.
635

ἀλλʼ ᾧπερ ἥκεις μορσίμους φέρων σφαγάς,

τάχυνʼ· ἐγὼ δέ, τῷδε σύμμαχος Κύπρις

δοκοῦσʼ ἀρωγὸς ἐν πόνοις παραστατεῖν,

σαθροῖς λόγοισιν ἐχθρὸν ἄνδρʼ ἀμείψομαι.

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐγὼ μὲν εἶπον· ὃν δὲ χρὴ παθεῖν,
640

οὐκ οἶδεν οὐδʼ ἤκουσεν ἐγγὺς ὢν λόγου.

Translations (2)

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.) — 595 focus

As they turn there appears at the back a luminous and gigantic shape, the Goddess ATHENA.

ATHENA.

What make ye, from these sleepers thus to part
595

Desponding and with sorrow-wounded heart

If Hector be not granted you to slay

Nor Paris? Little know ye what great stay

Of help is found for Troy. This very night

Rhesus is come; who, if he see the light
600

Of morning, not Achilles nor the rack

Of Ajax’ spear hath power to hold him back,

Ere wall and gate be shattered and inside

Your camp a spear-swept causeway builded wide

To where beached galleys flame above the dead.

Him slay, and all is won. Let Hector’s head
605

Sleep where it lies and draw unvexèd breath;

Another’s work, not thine, is Hector’s death.

ODYSSEUS.

Most high Athena, well I know the sound

Of that immortal voice. ’Tis ever found

My helper in great perils.—Where doth lie
610

Rhesus, mid all this host of Barbary?

ATHENA.

Full near he lies, not mingled with the host

Of Troy, but here beyond the lines—a post

Of quiet till the dawn, that Hector found.
615

And near him, by his Thracian chariot bound,

Two snow-white coursers gleam against the wan

Moon, like the white wing of a river swan.

Their master slain, take these to thine own hearth,

A wondrous spoil; there hides not upon earth
620

A chariot-team of war so swift and fair.

ODYSSEUS.

Say, Diomede, wilt make the men thy share,

Or catch the steeds and leave the fight to me?

DIOMEDE.

I take the killing, thou the stablery:

It needs keen wit and a neat hand. The post
625

A man should take is where he helpeth most.

ATHENA.

Behold, ’tis Paris, hasting there toward

This tent. Methinks he knoweth from the guard

Some noise of prowling Argives hither blown.

DIOMEDE.

Comes he alone or with his guards?
630

ATHENA.

Alone;

Toward Hector’s quarters, as I deem, he plies

His message. He hath heard some tale of spies.

DIOMEDE.

Then he shall be the first dead Trojan!

ATHENA.

No;

Beyond the ordainèd end thou canst not go.

Fate hath not willed that Paris by thy deed
635

Shall die; it is another who must bleed

To-night. Therefore be swift!

Exeunt ODYSSEUS and DIOMEDE.

For me, my guise

Shall melt and change in Alexander’s eyes,

Yea, till he dream ’tis Cypris, his delight ²

And help in need, that meets him in the night,

And soft shall be my words to him I hate.

So speak I; but on whom my spell is set
640

He hears not, sees not, though so near I stand.

She becomes invisible where she stands.

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 595

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Odysseus

Queen Athena, it is the well-known accent of your voice I hear; for you are always

at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where that man lies asleep; in what part of the barbarian army is he stationed?
610

Odysseus

Diomedes, either you slay the Thracian folk, or leave that to me, while your care must be the horses.

Diomedes

I will do the killing, and you master the horses.

For you are well versed in clever tricks, and have a ready wit. And it is right to station a man where he may best serve.
625

Athena

Look! there I see Paris coming towards us; perhaps he has heard from the guard a vague rumor that foes are near.

Diomedes

Are others with him or does he come alone?
630

Athena

Alone; to Hector’s couch he seems to wend his way, to announce to him that spies are in the camp.

Diomedes

Ought he not head the list of slain?

Current edition Perseus

Ὀδυσσεύς

Διόμηδες, ἢ σὺ κτεῖνε Θρῄκιον λεών,

ἢ ʼμοὶ πάρες γε, σοὶ δὲ χρὴ πώλους μέλειν.

Διομήδης

ἐγὼ φονεύσω, πωλοδαμνήσεις δὲ σύ·

τρίβων γὰρ εἶ τὰ κομψὰ καὶ νοεῖν σοφός.
625

χρὴ δʼ ἄνδρα τάσσειν οὗ μάλιστʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖ.

Ἀθήνα

καὶ μὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς τόνδʼ Ἀλέξανδρον βλέπω

στείχοντα, φυλάκων ἔκ τινος πεπυσμένον

δόξας ἀσήμους πολεμίων μεμβλωκότων.

Διομήδης

πότερα σὺν ἄλλοις ἢ μόνος πορεύεται;
630

Ἀθήνα

μόνος· πρὸς εὐνὰς δʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, Ἕκτορος

χωρεῖ, κατόπτας σημανῶν ἥκειν στρατοῦ.

Διομήδης

οὐκ οὖν ὑπάρχειν τόνδε κατθανόντα χρή;

ODYSSEUS.

Most high Athena, well I know the sound

Of that immortal voice. ’Tis ever found

My helper in great perils.—Where doth lie
610

Rhesus, mid all this host of Barbary?

ODYSSEUS.

Say, Diomede, wilt make the men thy share,

Or catch the steeds and leave the fight to me?

DIOMEDE.

I take the killing, thou the stablery:

It needs keen wit and a neat hand. The post
625

A man should take is where he helpeth most.

ATHENA.

Behold, ’tis Paris, hasting there toward

This tent. Methinks he knoweth from the guard

Some noise of prowling Argives hither blown.

DIOMEDE.

Comes he alone or with his guards?
630

ATHENA.

Alone;

Toward Hector’s quarters, as I deem, he plies

His message. He hath heard some tale of spies.

DIOMEDE.

Then he shall be the first dead Trojan!

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Odysseus Queen Athena, it is the well-known accent of your voice I hear; for you are always at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where that man lies asleep; in what part of the barbarian army is he stationed? 610

Odysseus Diomedes, either you slay the Thracian folk, or leave that to me, while your care must be the horses.

Diomedes I will do the killing, and you master the horses. For you are well versed in clever tricks, and have a ready wit. And it is right to station a man where he may best serve. 625

Athena Look! there I see Paris coming towards us; perhaps he has heard from the guard a vague rumor that foes are near.

Diomedes Are others with him or does he come alone? 630

Athena Alone; to Hector’s couch he seems to wend his way, to announce to him that spies are in the camp.

Diomedes Ought he not head the list of slain?

Current edition Perseus

Ὀδυσσεύς Διόμηδες, ἢ σὺ κτεῖνε Θρῄκιον λεών, ἢ ʼμοὶ πάρες γε, σοὶ δὲ χρὴ πώλους μέλειν.

Διομήδης ἐγὼ φονεύσω, πωλοδαμνήσεις δὲ σύ· τρίβων γὰρ εἶ τὰ κομψὰ καὶ νοεῖν σοφός. 625 χρὴ δʼ ἄνδρα τάσσειν οὗ μάλιστʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖ.

Ἀθήνα καὶ μὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς τόνδʼ Ἀλέξανδρον βλέπω στείχοντα, φυλάκων ἔκ τινος πεπυσμένον δόξας ἀσήμους πολεμίων μεμβλωκότων.

Διομήδης πότερα σὺν ἄλλοις ἢ μόνος πορεύεται; 630

Ἀθήνα μόνος· πρὸς εὐνὰς δʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, Ἕκτορος χωρεῖ, κατόπτας σημανῶν ἥκειν στρατοῦ.

Διομήδης οὐκ οὖν ὑπάρχειν τόνδε κατθανόντα χρή;

ODYSSEUS. Most high Athena, well I know the sound Of that immortal voice. ’Tis ever found My helper in great perils.—Where doth lie 610 Rhesus, mid all this host of Barbary?

ODYSSEUS. Say, Diomede, wilt make the men thy share, Or catch the steeds and leave the fight to me?

DIOMEDE. I take the killing, thou the stablery: It needs keen wit and a neat hand. The post 625 A man should take is where he helpeth most.

ATHENA. Behold, ’tis Paris, hasting there toward This tent. Methinks he knoweth from the guard Some noise of prowling Argives hither blown.

DIOMEDE. Comes he alone or with his guards? 630

ATHENA. Alone; Toward Hector’s quarters, as I deem, he plies His message. He hath heard some tale of spies.

DIOMEDE. Then he shall be the first dead Trojan!

Stable identifiers

Odysseus

Queen Athena, it is the well-known accent of your voice I hear; for you are always

at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where that man lies asleep; in what part of the barbarian army is he stationed?
610

Odysseus

Diomedes, either you slay the Thracian folk, or leave that to me, while your care must be the horses.

Diomedes

I will do the killing, and you master the horses.

For you are well versed in clever tricks, and have a ready wit. And it is right to station a man where he may best serve.
625

Athena

Look! there I see Paris coming towards us; perhaps he has heard from the guard a vague rumor that foes are near.

Diomedes

Are others with him or does he come alone?
630

Athena

Alone; to Hector’s couch he seems to wend his way, to announce to him that spies are in the camp.

Diomedes

Ought he not head the list of slain?

Ὀδυσσεύς

Διόμηδες, ἢ σὺ κτεῖνε Θρῄκιον λεών,

ἢ ʼμοὶ πάρες γε, σοὶ δὲ χρὴ πώλους μέλειν.

Διομήδης

ἐγὼ φονεύσω, πωλοδαμνήσεις δὲ σύ·

τρίβων γὰρ εἶ τὰ κομψὰ καὶ νοεῖν σοφός.
625

χρὴ δʼ ἄνδρα τάσσειν οὗ μάλιστʼ ἂν ὠφελοῖ.

Ἀθήνα

καὶ μὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς τόνδʼ Ἀλέξανδρον βλέπω

στείχοντα, φυλάκων ἔκ τινος πεπυσμένον

δόξας ἀσήμους πολεμίων μεμβλωκότων.

Διομήδης

πότερα σὺν ἄλλοις ἢ μόνος πορεύεται;
630

Ἀθήνα

μόνος· πρὸς εὐνὰς δʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, Ἕκτορος

χωρεῖ, κατόπτας σημανῶν ἥκειν στρατοῦ.

Διομήδης

οὐκ οὖν ὑπάρχειν τόνδε κατθανόντα χρή;

ODYSSEUS.

Most high Athena, well I know the sound

Of that immortal voice. ’Tis ever found

My helper in great perils.—Where doth lie
610

Rhesus, mid all this host of Barbary?

ODYSSEUS.

Say, Diomede, wilt make the men thy share,

Or catch the steeds and leave the fight to me?

DIOMEDE.

I take the killing, thou the stablery:

It needs keen wit and a neat hand. The post
625

A man should take is where he helpeth most.

ATHENA.

Behold, ’tis Paris, hasting there toward

This tent. Methinks he knoweth from the guard

Some noise of prowling Argives hither blown.

DIOMEDE.

Comes he alone or with his guards?
630

ATHENA.

Alone;

Toward Hector’s quarters, as I deem, he plies

His message. He hath heard some tale of spies.

DIOMEDE.

Then he shall be the first dead Trojan!