View:
By Card
Charioteer
Oh, oh! Cruel stroke of fate. Woe, woe!
Oh, oh! Cruel stroke of fate. Woe, woe!
Chorus Leader
Hush! be silent all, crouch low; for perhaps there comes someone into the snare.
Hush! be silent all, crouch low; for perhaps there comes someone into the snare.
Charioteer
Oh, oh! dire mishap to the Thracians.
Oh, oh! dire mishap to the Thracians.
Chorus Leader
It is one of the allies who is groaning.
733
It is one of the allies who is groaning.
Charioteer
what an end to your life!
735
736
what an end to your life!
735
Chorus Leader
Who are you? One of the allies? Night’s gloom has dulled these eyes and I cannot clearly recognize you.
738
Who are you? One of the allies? Night’s gloom has dulled these eyes and I cannot clearly recognize you.
Charioteer
Where can I find some Trojan chief? Where does Hector
take his rest under arms? To which of the captains of the army am I to tell my tale? What sufferings ours! what dark deeds someone has wrought on us and gone his way, when he had wound up a ball of sorrow manifest to every Thracian!
740
745
Where can I find some Trojan chief? Where does Hector
take his rest under arms? To which of the captains of the army am I to tell my tale? What sufferings ours! what dark deeds someone has wrought on us and gone his way, when he had wound up a ball of sorrow manifest to every Thracian!
740
Chorus Leader
From what I gather of this man’s words, some calamity, it seems, is befalling the Thracian army.
745
747
From what I gather of this man’s words, some calamity, it seems, is befalling the Thracian army.
745
Charioteer
Lost is all our army, our prince is dead, slain by a treacherous blow. Oh! Oh!
The cruel anguish of this bloody wound that racks my frame within! Would I were dead! Was it to die this inglorious death that Rhesus and I came bringing aid to
Troy
?
750
754
Lost is all our army, our prince is dead, slain by a treacherous blow. Oh! Oh!
The cruel anguish of this bloody wound that racks my frame within! Would I were dead! Was it to die this inglorious death that Rhesus and I came bringing aid to
Troy
?
750
Chorus Leader
He does not declare the disaster in riddles;
no, he clearly asserts our allies’ destruction.
755
He does not declare the disaster in riddles;
no, he clearly asserts our allies’ destruction.
755
Charioteer
A sorry deed it was, and more than that a deed most shameful; yes, it is an evil doubly bad; to die with glory, if die one must, is bitterness enough I think to him who dies—how not?—
though to the living it may add dignity and honor for their house. But we have died foolishly and without glory. No sooner had great Hector given us our quarters and told us the password than we lay down to sleep upon the ground, overcome by weariness. No guard our army set
760
to watch by night, nor were our arms set in array, nor were the whips hung ready on the horses’ yokes, for our prince was told that you were masters now, and had encamped hard on their ships; so carelessly we threw ourselves down to sleep.
765
Now I with thoughtful mind awoke from my slumber, and with ungrudging hand measured out the horses’ feed, expecting to harness them at dawn for the fray; through the thick gloom two men I see roaming around our army. But when I roused myself
770
they crouched low and were gone once more; and I called out to them to keep away from the army, for I thought they might be thieves from our allies. Nothing from them, so I too said no more, but came back to my couch and slept again.
775
780
And as I slept a strange fancy came over me: those horses that I had reared and used to drive, stationed at Rhesus’ side, I saw, I thought as in a dream, with wolves mounted on their backs; and these with their tails lashed the horses’ flanks
780
and urged them on, while they snorted and breathed fury from their nostrils, striving in terror to unseat their riders. Up I sprang to defend the horses from the brutes, for the horror of the night scared me. Then as I raised my head I heard the groans of dying men,
785
and a warm stream of new-shed blood bespattered me, beside my murdered master as he died. To my feet I start, but all unarmed; and as I peer about and grope to find my sword, a stalwart hand from somewhere near struck me with a sword
790
beneath the ribs. I felt the sword-thrust, the deep gaping wound it gave me. Down on my face I fell, while they fled clean away with horses and chariot. Oh, oh! Tortured with pain, too weak to stand, a piteous object!
795
I know what happened, for I saw it; but how the victims met their death I cannot say, nor at whose hand. But I can well surmise we have our friends to thank for this grief.
800
A sorry deed it was, and more than that a deed most shameful; yes, it is an evil doubly bad; to die with glory, if die one must, is bitterness enough I think to him who dies—how not?—
though to the living it may add dignity and honor for their house. But we have died foolishly and without glory. No sooner had great Hector given us our quarters and told us the password than we lay down to sleep upon the ground, overcome by weariness. No guard our army set
760
to watch by night, nor were our arms set in array, nor were the whips hung ready on the horses’ yokes, for our prince was told that you were masters now, and had encamped hard on their ships; so carelessly we threw ourselves down to sleep.
765
Now I with thoughtful mind awoke from my slumber, and with ungrudging hand measured out the horses’ feed, expecting to harness them at dawn for the fray; through the thick gloom two men I see roaming around our army. But when I roused myself
770
they crouched low and were gone once more; and I called out to them to keep away from the army, for I thought they might be thieves from our allies. Nothing from them, so I too said no more, but came back to my couch and slept again.
775
And as I slept a strange fancy came over me: those horses that I had reared and used to drive, stationed at Rhesus’ side, I saw, I thought as in a dream, with wolves mounted on their backs; and these with their tails lashed the horses’ flanks
780
and urged them on, while they snorted and breathed fury from their nostrils, striving in terror to unseat their riders. Up I sprang to defend the horses from the brutes, for the horror of the night scared me. Then as I raised my head I heard the groans of dying men,
785
and a warm stream of new-shed blood bespattered me, beside my murdered master as he died. To my feet I start, but all unarmed; and as I peer about and grope to find my sword, a stalwart hand from somewhere near struck me with a sword
790
beneath the ribs. I felt the sword-thrust, the deep gaping wound it gave me. Down on my face I fell, while they fled clean away with horses and chariot. Oh, oh! Tortured with pain, too weak to stand, a piteous object!
795
I know what happened, for I saw it; but how the victims met their death I cannot say, nor at whose hand. But I can well surmise we have our friends to thank for this grief.
800
Chorus Leader
Charioteer of
Thrace
’s hapless king,
do not suspect us. Enemies did this. But Hector himself is here, having learned your mischance; he sympathizes as he should with your hard fate.
805
Charioteer of
Thrace
’s hapless king,
do not suspect us. Enemies did this. But Hector himself is here, having learned your mischance; he sympathizes as he should with your hard fate.
805
Hector
You who have caused this great calamity, how did the enemy’s spies come
without your knowledge, to your shame, and spread destruction through the army, and you did not drive them away either as they entered or left the camp? Who but you shall pay the penalty for this? You, I say, were here to guard the army. But they are gone without a wound, with many a scoff
810
at Phrygian cowardice, and at me their leader. Now mark you this—by father Zeus I swear—either the scourge or the headsman’s axe awaits you for such conduct; or else consider Hector to be nothing, a mere coward.
815
820
You who have caused this great calamity, how did the enemy’s spies come
without your knowledge, to your shame, and spread destruction through the army, and you did not drive them away either as they entered or left the camp? Who but you shall pay the penalty for this? You, I say, were here to guard the army. But they are gone without a wound, with many a scoff
810
at Phrygian cowardice, and at me their leader. Now mark you this—by father Zeus I swear—either the scourge or the headsman’s axe awaits you for such conduct; or else consider Hector to be nothing, a mere coward.
815
Chorus
Woe, woe! It was in quest of you, yes, you, great lord of my city, that I went, when I brought news to you that the
Argive
army was kindling fires about the ships;
820
for by the springs of Simois I vow my eye kept sleepless watch by night, nor did I slumber or sleep. Do not be angry with me, my lord; I am guiltless of all.
825
Yet if hereafter you find that I in word or deed have done amiss, bury me alive beneath the earth; I ask no mercy.
830
833
Woe, woe! It was in quest of you, yes, you, great lord of my city, that I went, when I brought news to you that the
Argive
army was kindling fires about the ships;
820
for by the springs of Simois I vow my eye kept sleepless watch by night, nor did I slumber or sleep. Do not be angry with me, my lord; I am guiltless of all.
825
Yet if hereafter you find that I in word or deed have done amiss, bury me alive beneath the earth; I ask no mercy.
830
Charioteer
Why threaten these? Why try to undermine my barbarian mind with your subtle words, you yourself a barbarian?
You did this deed; neither they who have died nor we who are wounded will believe it was any other. A long and clever speech you’ll need to prove to me you did not slay your friends because you coveted the horses, and to gain them murdered
835
your own allies, after strongly imposing on them come. They came, they are dead; Paris found more decent means to shame the rights of hospitality than you, who killed your allies. No, do not tell me some
Argive
came and slaughtered us. Who could have passed the Trojan lines
840
and come against us without detection? You and your Phrygian troops were camped in front of us. Who was wounded, who was slain among your friends, when that foe you speak of came? It was we, far off, were wounded, while some have met a sterner
845
fate and said farewell to the sunlight. Briefly, then, I blame no Achaean. For what enemy could have come and found the lowly bed of Rhesus in the dark, unless some god were guiding the murderers’ steps? They did not know so much
850
as know of his arrival. No, this is your plot!
855
Why threaten these? Why try to undermine my barbarian mind with your subtle words, you yourself a barbarian?
You did this deed; neither they who have died nor we who are wounded will believe it was any other. A long and clever speech you’ll need to prove to me you did not slay your friends because you coveted the horses, and to gain them murdered
835
your own allies, after strongly imposing on them come. They came, they are dead; Paris found more decent means to shame the rights of hospitality than you, who killed your allies. No, do not tell me some
Argive
came and slaughtered us. Who could have passed the Trojan lines
840
and come against us without detection? You and your Phrygian troops were camped in front of us. Who was wounded, who was slain among your friends, when that foe you speak of came? It was we, far off, were wounded, while some have met a sterner
845
fate and said farewell to the sunlight. Briefly, then, I blame no Achaean. For what enemy could have come and found the lowly bed of Rhesus in the dark, unless some god were guiding the murderers’ steps? They did not know so much
850
as know of his arrival. No, this is your plot!
855
Hector
For a long time now I have had to do with allies, yes, ever since
Achaea
’s army settled in this land, and never a harsh word have I known them say of me; but with you I am to make a beginning. Never may such longing
for horses seize me that I should slay my friends! This is the work of Odysseus; for who of all the Argives but he would have devised or carried out such a deed? I fear him; and my mind is a little troubled lest he should have met and slain Dolon as well;
860
for he has been gone a long time and does not appear.
865
For a long time now I have had to do with allies, yes, ever since
Achaea
’s army settled in this land, and never a harsh word have I known them say of me; but with you I am to make a beginning. Never may such longing
for horses seize me that I should slay my friends! This is the work of Odysseus; for who of all the Argives but he would have devised or carried out such a deed? I fear him; and my mind is a little troubled lest he should have met and slain Dolon as well;
860
for he has been gone a long time and does not appear.
865
Charioteer
I do not know this Odysseus of whom you speak. It was no enemy’s hand that struck us.
I do not know this Odysseus of whom you speak. It was no enemy’s hand that struck us.
Hector
If it pleases you to think that, do so.
If it pleases you to think that, do so.
Charioteer
O land of my fathers, would I might die in you!
O land of my fathers, would I might die in you!
Hector
Die! No! Enough are those already dead.
870
Die! No! Enough are those already dead.
870
Charioteer
Where am I to turn, I ask you, bereft of my master?
Where am I to turn, I ask you, bereft of my master?
Hector
My house shall shelter you and cure you of your hurt.
My house shall shelter you and cure you of your hurt.
Charioteer
How shall murderers’ hands care for me?
How shall murderers’ hands care for me?
Hector
This fellow will never have done repeating the same story.
This fellow will never have done repeating the same story.
Charioteer
Curses on the doer of this deed! On you my tongue fixes no charge, as you complain; but Justice is over all.
875
Curses on the doer of this deed! On you my tongue fixes no charge, as you complain; but Justice is over all.
875
Hector
Take him away; carry him to my palace and tend him carefully, that he may have no fault to find. And you must go to those upon the walls,
to Priam and his aged councillors, and tell them to give orders for the burial of the dead at the resting-place along the public road.
The charioteer is carried off.
880
Take him away; carry him to my palace and tend him carefully, that he may have no fault to find. And you must go to those upon the walls,
to Priam and his aged councillors, and tell them to give orders for the burial of the dead at the resting-place along the public road.
The charioteer is carried off.
880
Chorus
Why does fate change and bring
Troy
once again to mourning after her great good fortune, planting what seeds?
Oh, oh! What deity above our heads, O king, bears in her hands as on a bier the newly slain corpse? I shudder at this sight of woe.
885
890
Why does fate change and bring
Troy
once again to mourning after her great good fortune, planting what seeds?
Oh, oh! What deity above our heads, O king, bears in her hands as on a bier the newly slain corpse? I shudder at this sight of woe.
885
Muse
Behold me,Trojans; for I, the Muse, one of the nine sisters, that have honor among the wise, I am here, having seen the piteous death his foes have dealt my darling son. Yet the crafty Odysseus, that slew him, one day hereafter shall pay a fitting penalty.
890
Behold me,Trojans; for I, the Muse, one of the nine sisters, that have honor among the wise, I am here, having seen the piteous death his foes have dealt my darling son. Yet the crafty Odysseus, that slew him, one day hereafter shall pay a fitting penalty.
890
Muse
O my son, your mother’s grief, I mourn for you in my native strains of woe! What a journey you made to
Troy
, a very path of ill-fortune and sorrow!
895
starting, in spite of all my warnings and your father’s earnest prayers, in defiance of us. Woe to me for you, my dear, dear son! Ah, woe!
900
904
O my son, your mother’s grief, I mourn for you in my native strains of woe! What a journey you made to
Troy
, a very path of ill-fortune and sorrow!
895
starting, in spite of all my warnings and your father’s earnest prayers, in defiance of us. Woe to me for you, my dear, dear son! Ah, woe!
900
Chorus Leader
As far as one can who has no common tie of kin,
I bewail and mourn your son.
905
As far as one can who has no common tie of kin,
I bewail and mourn your son.
905
Muse
Curses on the son of Oeneus! Curses on
Laertes
’ child! who has bereft me of my fair son and left me childless! and on that woman, too,
915
Curses on the son of Oeneus! Curses on
Laertes
’ child! who has bereft me of my fair son and left me childless! and on that woman, too,
Muse
Many indeed are the wounds, Thamyris, son of Philammon, that you have inflicted on my heart, in your life and in your death. Yes, for it was your pride, your own undoing, and your rivalry with the Muses that made me mother of this poor son of mine. For as I crossed the river’s streams
915
I came too near to Strymon’s fruitful couch, that day we Muses came to the brow of Mount Pangaeus with its soil of gold, furnished forth with all our music for one great trial of minstrel skill with that clever Thracian bard; and we blinded him,
920
Thamyris, the man who often reviled our craft.
925
And then, when I gave birth to you, because I felt shame of my sisters and my virginity, I sent you to the swirling stream of your father, the river; and Strymon did not entrust your nurture to mortal hands, but to the fountain nymphs.
There you were reared most fairly by the maiden nymphs, and you ruled over
Thrace
, a leader among men, my child. So long as you ranged your native land in quest of bloody deeds of prowess I did not fear for your death; but I forbade you to set out for
Troy
,
930
in my knowledge of your doom; but Hector’s sages and those countless embassies persuaded you to go and help your friends.
935
This was your doing, Athena; you alone are to blame for his death —neither Odysseus nor the son of Tydeus
had anything to do with it—do not think it has escaped my eye. And yet we sister Muses do special honor to your city, your land we chiefly haunt; and those dark mysteries with their torch processions were revealed by Orpheus, cousin of this dead man
940
whom you have slain. Musaeus, too, your holy citizen, of all men most advanced in lore, was trained by Phoebus and us, the nine sisters. And here is your reward for this; in my arms I hold my child and mourn for him. I’ll bring to you no other learned man.
945
Many indeed are the wounds, Thamyris, son of Philammon, that you have inflicted on my heart, in your life and in your death. Yes, for it was your pride, your own undoing, and your rivalry with the Muses that made me mother of this poor son of mine. For as I crossed the river’s streams
915
I came too near to Strymon’s fruitful couch, that day we Muses came to the brow of Mount Pangaeus with its soil of gold, furnished forth with all our music for one great trial of minstrel skill with that clever Thracian bard; and we blinded him,
920
Thamyris, the man who often reviled our craft.
925
And then, when I gave birth to you, because I felt shame of my sisters and my virginity, I sent you to the swirling stream of your father, the river; and Strymon did not entrust your nurture to mortal hands, but to the fountain nymphs.
There you were reared most fairly by the maiden nymphs, and you ruled over
Thrace
, a leader among men, my child. So long as you ranged your native land in quest of bloody deeds of prowess I did not fear for your death; but I forbade you to set out for
Troy
,
930
in my knowledge of your doom; but Hector’s sages and those countless embassies persuaded you to go and help your friends.
935
This was your doing, Athena; you alone are to blame for his death —neither Odysseus nor the son of Tydeus
had anything to do with it—do not think it has escaped my eye. And yet we sister Muses do special honor to your city, your land we chiefly haunt; and those dark mysteries with their torch processions were revealed by Orpheus, cousin of this dead man
940
whom you have slain. Musaeus, too, your holy citizen, of all men most advanced in lore, was trained by Phoebus and us, the nine sisters. And here is your reward for this; in my arms I hold my child and mourn for him. I’ll bring to you no other learned man.
945
Chorus Leader
Vainly it seems the Thracian charioteer reviled us with plotting this man’s murder, Hector.
950
952
Vainly it seems the Thracian charioteer reviled us with plotting this man’s murder, Hector.
950
Hector
I knew it; it needed no seer to say that he had perished by the arts of Odysseus. Now I, when I saw the Hellene army camped
in my land, of course would not hesitate to send heralds to my friends, bidding them come and help my country; and so I sent, and he as in duty bound came to share my toils. I do not at all rejoice to see him dead. And now I am ready to raise a tomb for him
955
and burn at his pyre great store of fine raiment; for he came as a friend and in sorrow he is going away.
960
I knew it; it needed no seer to say that he had perished by the arts of Odysseus. Now I, when I saw the Hellene army camped
in my land, of course would not hesitate to send heralds to my friends, bidding them come and help my country; and so I sent, and he as in duty bound came to share my toils. I do not at all rejoice to see him dead. And now I am ready to raise a tomb for him
955
and burn at his pyre great store of fine raiment; for he came as a friend and in sorrow he is going away.
960
Muse
He shall not go into earth’s dark soil; so earnest a prayer will I address to the bride of the nether world, the daughter of the goddess Demeter, giver of increase,
to release his soul; and, debtor as she is to me, show that she honors the friends of Orpheus. And to me for the rest of time he will be as one who is dead and does not see the light; for never again will he meet me or see his mother;
965
but he will lie hidden in a cavern of the land with veins of silver, restored to life, a deified man, just as the prophet of Bacchus dwelt in a grotto beneath Pangaeus, a god whom his votaries honored.
970
Lightly now shall I feel the grief of the sea-goddess,
for her son too must die. First then for you we sisters must chant our dirge, and then for Achilles when Thetis mourns some day. Pallas, your slayer, shall not save him; so true the shaft Loxias keeps in his quiver for him.
975
Oh, the sorrows that a mother feels! the troubles of mortals! whoever fairly reckons you up will live and die childless and will have no children to bury.
980
He shall not go into earth’s dark soil; so earnest a prayer will I address to the bride of the nether world, the daughter of the goddess Demeter, giver of increase,
to release his soul; and, debtor as she is to me, show that she honors the friends of Orpheus. And to me for the rest of time he will be as one who is dead and does not see the light; for never again will he meet me or see his mother;
965
but he will lie hidden in a cavern of the land with veins of silver, restored to life, a deified man, just as the prophet of Bacchus dwelt in a grotto beneath Pangaeus, a god whom his votaries honored.
970
Lightly now shall I feel the grief of the sea-goddess,
for her son too must die. First then for you we sisters must chant our dirge, and then for Achilles when Thetis mourns some day. Pallas, your slayer, shall not save him; so true the shaft Loxias keeps in his quiver for him.
975
Oh, the sorrows that a mother feels! the troubles of mortals! whoever fairly reckons you up will live and die childless and will have no children to bury.
980
Chorus Leader
His mother now must see to this man’s burial; but for you, Hector, if you will carry out any scheme,
now is the time, for day is dawning.
985
His mother now must see to this man’s burial; but for you, Hector, if you will carry out any scheme,
now is the time, for day is dawning.
985
Hector
Go, bid our allies arm at once and yoke the horses; torch in hand you must await the blast of the Etrurian trumpet; for I hope to pass beyond their army
and walls and fire the ships of the Achaeans, bringing to the Trojans this approaching beam of the sun as the day of freedom.
990
Go, bid our allies arm at once and yoke the horses; torch in hand you must await the blast of the Etrurian trumpet; for I hope to pass beyond their army
and walls and fire the ships of the Achaeans, bringing to the Trojans this approaching beam of the sun as the day of freedom.
990
Chorus
Obedience to our prince! let us go to array ourselves in armor and tell these orders
to our allies; perhaps the god who is on our side may grant us victory.
995
Obedience to our prince! let us go to array ourselves in armor and tell these orders
to our allies; perhaps the god who is on our side may grant us victory.
995
Rhesus. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.