Euripides, Rhesus, ed. Gilbert Murray, 319

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Ἕκτωρ

πολλούς, ἐπειδὴ τοὐμὸν εὐτυχεῖ δόρυ

καὶ Ζεὺς πρὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν, εὑρήσω φίλους.
320

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν δεόμεθʼ, οἵτινες πάλαι

μὴ ξυμπονοῦσιν, ἡνίκʼ ἐξώστης Ἄρης

ἔθραυε λαίφη τῆσδε γῆς μέγας πνέων.

Ῥῆσος δʼ ἔδειξεν οἷος ἦν Τροίᾳ φίλος·

ἥκει γὰρ ἐς δαῖτʼ, οὐ παρὼν κυνηγέταις
325

αἱροῦσι λείαν οὐδὲ συγκαμὼν δορί.

Χορός

ὀρθῶς ἀτίζεις κἀπίμομφος εἶ φίλοις·

δέχου δὲ τοὺς θέλοντας ὠφελεῖν πόλιν.

Ἕκτωρ

ἀρκοῦμεν οἱ σῴζοντες Ἴλιον πάλαι.

Χορός

πέποιθας ἤδη πολεμίους ᾑρηκέναι;
330

Ἕκτωρ

πέποιθα· δείξει τοὐπιὸν σέλας θεοῦ.

Χορός

ὅρα τὸ μέλλον· πόλλʼ ἀναστρέφει θεός.

Ἕκτωρ

μισῶ φίλοισιν ὕστερον βοηδρομεῖν.

ὃ δʼ οὖν, ἐπείπερ ἦλθε, σύμμαχος μὲν οὔ,

ξένος δὲ πρὸς τράπεζαν ἡκέτω ξένων·

χάρις γὰρ αὐτῷ Πριαμιδῶν διώλετο.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἀπωθεῖν συμμάχους ἐπίφθονον.

Ἄγγελος

φόβος γένοιτʼ ἂν πολεμίοις ὀφθεὶς μόνον.
335

Ἕκτωρ

σύ τʼ εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως σκοπεῖς.

ὁ χρυσοτευχὴς δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀγγέλου λόγων
340

Ῥῆσος παρέστω τῇδε σύμμαχος χθονί.

Rhesus. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 319 focus

Hector

I shall find many friends now that fortune smiles

upon my warring and Zeus is on my side. But we have no need of those who did not share our toils long since, when Ares, driving all before him, was rending the sails of our ship of state with his tempestuous blast. Rhesus has shown the friendship he then bore to Troy ;
320

for he comes to the feast, although he was not with the hunters when they took the prey, nor did he join his spear with theirs.
325

Chorus Leader

You are right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome those who wish to help the state.

Hector

We who have long kept Ilium safe are sufficient.

Chorus

Are you so sure you have already caught the foe?
330

Hector

I am sure; tomorrow’s light will make that plain.

Chorus Leader

Beware of what may happen; often fortune veers about.

Hector

I loath the friend who brings his help too late.

¹

But let him, since he has arrived,

come to our table not as an ally but as a guest;

for the gratitude of Priam’s sons is forfeit in his case.

Chorus Leader

O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred.

Messenger

His mere appearance would cause a panic among the foe.
335

Hector

You counsel rightly; you too take the proper view.

Let Rhesus in his gilded armor join the allies of this land, thanks to the messenger’s report. Exit the Messenger.
340

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.) — 319 focus

HECTOR.
(bitterly)

Aye, when my spear hath fortune, when God sends

His favour, I shall find abundant friends.
320

I need them not; who never came of yore

To help us, when we rolled to death before

The war-swell, and the wind had ripped our sail.

Then Rhesus taught us Trojans what avail

His words are.—He comes early to the feast;
325

Where was he when the hunters met the beast?

Where, when we sank beneath the Argive spear?

LEADER.

Well may’st thou mock and blame thy friend. Yet here

He comes with help for Troy. Accept him thou.

HECTOR.

We are enough, who have held the wall till now.

LEADER.

Master, dost think already that our foe
330

Is ta’en?

HECTOR.

I do. To-morrow’s light will show.

LEADER.

Have care. Fate often flings a backward cast.

HECTOR.

I hate the help that comes when need is past . . .

Howbeit, once come, I bid him welcome here

As guest—not war-friend; guest to share our cheer.

The thanks are lost, he might have won from us.

LEADER.

My general, to reject an ally thus

Must needs make hatred.

SHEPHERD.

The mere sight of those
335

I saw would sure cast fear upon our foes.

HECTOR.
(yielding reluctantly, with a laugh)

Ah, well; thy words are prudent; and (To SHEPHERD) thine eyes

See glorious things. With all these panoplies

Of gold that filled our Shepherd’s heart with joy,
340

Bid Rhesus welcome, as war-friend to Troy.

Exit SHEPHERD; HECTOR returns to his tent, amid the joy of the soldiers.

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 319

ed. Gilbert Murray

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Χορός

ὀρθῶς ἀτίζεις κἀπίμομφος εἶ φίλοις·

δέχου δὲ τοὺς θέλοντας ὠφελεῖν πόλιν.

Ἕκτωρ

ἀρκοῦμεν οἱ σῴζοντες Ἴλιον πάλαι.

Χορός

πέποιθας ἤδη πολεμίους ᾑρηκέναι;
330

Ἕκτωρ

πέποιθα· δείξει τοὐπιὸν σέλας θεοῦ.

Χορός

ὅρα τὸ μέλλον· πόλλʼ ἀναστρέφει θεός.

Ἕκτωρ

μισῶ φίλοισιν ὕστερον βοηδρομεῖν.

ὃ δʼ οὖν, ἐπείπερ ἦλθε, σύμμαχος μὲν οὔ,

ξένος δὲ πρὸς τράπεζαν ἡκέτω ξένων·

χάρις γὰρ αὐτῷ Πριαμιδῶν διώλετο.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἀπωθεῖν συμμάχους ἐπίφθονον.

Ἄγγελος

φόβος γένοιτʼ ἂν πολεμίοις ὀφθεὶς μόνον.
335

Ἕκτωρ

σύ τʼ εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως σκοπεῖς.

ὁ χρυσοτευχὴς δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀγγέλου λόγων
340

Ῥῆσος παρέστω τῇδε σύμμαχος χθονί.

Current edition Perseus

Chorus Leader

You are right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome those who wish to help the state.

Hector

We who have long kept Ilium safe are sufficient.

Chorus

Are you so sure you have already caught the foe?
330

Hector

I am sure; tomorrow’s light will make that plain.

Chorus Leader

Beware of what may happen; often fortune veers about.

Hector

I loath the friend who brings his help too late.

¹

But let him, since he has arrived,

come to our table not as an ally but as a guest;

for the gratitude of Priam’s sons is forfeit in his case.

Chorus Leader

O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred.

Messenger

His mere appearance would cause a panic among the foe.
335

Hector

You counsel rightly; you too take the proper view.

Let Rhesus in his gilded armor join the allies of this land, thanks to the messenger’s report. Exit the Messenger.
340

LEADER.

Well may’st thou mock and blame thy friend. Yet here

He comes with help for Troy. Accept him thou.

HECTOR.

We are enough, who have held the wall till now.

LEADER.

Master, dost think already that our foe
330

Is ta’en?

HECTOR.

I do. To-morrow’s light will show.

LEADER.

Have care. Fate often flings a backward cast.

HECTOR.

I hate the help that comes when need is past . . .

Howbeit, once come, I bid him welcome here

As guest—not war-friend; guest to share our cheer.

The thanks are lost, he might have won from us.

LEADER.

My general, to reject an ally thus

Must needs make hatred.

SHEPHERD.

The mere sight of those
335

I saw would sure cast fear upon our foes.

HECTOR.
(yielding reluctantly, with a laugh)

Ah, well; thy words are prudent; and (To SHEPHERD) thine eyes

See glorious things. With all these panoplies

Of gold that filled our Shepherd’s heart with joy,
340

Bid Rhesus welcome, as war-friend to Troy.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Χορός ὀρθῶς ἀτίζεις κἀπίμομφος εἶ φίλοις· δέχου δὲ τοὺς θέλοντας ὠφελεῖν πόλιν.

Ἕκτωρ ἀρκοῦμεν οἱ σῴζοντες Ἴλιον πάλαι.

Χορός πέποιθας ἤδη πολεμίους ᾑρηκέναι; 330

Ἕκτωρ πέποιθα· δείξει τοὐπιὸν σέλας θεοῦ.

Χορός ὅρα τὸ μέλλον· πόλλʼ ἀναστρέφει θεός.

Ἕκτωρ μισῶ φίλοισιν ὕστερον βοηδρομεῖν. ὃ δʼ οὖν, ἐπείπερ ἦλθε, σύμμαχος μὲν οὔ, ξένος δὲ πρὸς τράπεζαν ἡκέτω ξένων· χάρις γὰρ αὐτῷ Πριαμιδῶν διώλετο.

Χορός ἄναξ, ἀπωθεῖν συμμάχους ἐπίφθονον.

Ἄγγελος φόβος γένοιτʼ ἂν πολεμίοις ὀφθεὶς μόνον. 335

Ἕκτωρ σύ τʼ εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως σκοπεῖς. ὁ χρυσοτευχὴς δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀγγέλου λόγων 340 Ῥῆσος παρέστω τῇδε σύμμαχος χθονί.

Current edition Perseus

Chorus Leader You are right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome those who wish to help the state.

Hector We who have long kept Ilium safe are sufficient.

Chorus Are you so sure you have already caught the foe? 330

Hector I am sure; tomorrow’s light will make that plain.

Chorus Leader Beware of what may happen; often fortune veers about.

Hector I loath the friend who brings his help too late. 1 But let him, since he has arrived, come to our table not as an ally but as a guest; for the gratitude of Priam’s sons is forfeit in his case.

Chorus Leader O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred.

Messenger His mere appearance would cause a panic among the foe. 335

Hector You counsel rightly; you too take the proper view. Let Rhesus in his gilded armor join the allies of this land, thanks to the messenger’s report. Exit the Messenger. 340

LEADER. Well may’st thou mock and blame thy friend. Yet here He comes with help for Troy. Accept him thou.

HECTOR. We are enough, who have held the wall till now.

LEADER. Master, dost think already that our foe 330 Is ta’en?

HECTOR. I do. To-morrow’s light will show.

LEADER. Have care. Fate often flings a backward cast.

HECTOR. I hate the help that comes when need is past . . . Howbeit, once come, I bid him welcome here As guest—not war-friend; guest to share our cheer. The thanks are lost, he might have won from us.

LEADER. My general, to reject an ally thus Must needs make hatred.

SHEPHERD. The mere sight of those 335 I saw would sure cast fear upon our foes.

HECTOR. (yielding reluctantly, with a laugh) Ah, well; thy words are prudent; and (To SHEPHERD) thine eyes See glorious things. With all these panoplies Of gold that filled our Shepherd’s heart with joy, 340 Bid Rhesus welcome, as war-friend to Troy.

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ὀρθῶς ἀτίζεις κἀπίμομφος εἶ φίλοις·

δέχου δὲ τοὺς θέλοντας ὠφελεῖν πόλιν.

Ἕκτωρ

ἀρκοῦμεν οἱ σῴζοντες Ἴλιον πάλαι.

Χορός

πέποιθας ἤδη πολεμίους ᾑρηκέναι;
330

Ἕκτωρ

πέποιθα· δείξει τοὐπιὸν σέλας θεοῦ.

Χορός

ὅρα τὸ μέλλον· πόλλʼ ἀναστρέφει θεός.

Ἕκτωρ

μισῶ φίλοισιν ὕστερον βοηδρομεῖν.

ὃ δʼ οὖν, ἐπείπερ ἦλθε, σύμμαχος μὲν οὔ,

ξένος δὲ πρὸς τράπεζαν ἡκέτω ξένων·

χάρις γὰρ αὐτῷ Πριαμιδῶν διώλετο.

Χορός

ἄναξ, ἀπωθεῖν συμμάχους ἐπίφθονον.

Ἄγγελος

φόβος γένοιτʼ ἂν πολεμίοις ὀφθεὶς μόνον.
335

Ἕκτωρ

σύ τʼ εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως σκοπεῖς.

ὁ χρυσοτευχὴς δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀγγέλου λόγων
340

Ῥῆσος παρέστω τῇδε σύμμαχος χθονί.

Chorus Leader

You are right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome those who wish to help the state.

Hector

We who have long kept Ilium safe are sufficient.

Chorus

Are you so sure you have already caught the foe?
330

Hector

I am sure; tomorrow’s light will make that plain.

Chorus Leader

Beware of what may happen; often fortune veers about.

Hector

I loath the friend who brings his help too late.

¹

But let him, since he has arrived,

come to our table not as an ally but as a guest;

for the gratitude of Priam’s sons is forfeit in his case.

Chorus Leader

O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred.

Messenger

His mere appearance would cause a panic among the foe.
335

Hector

You counsel rightly; you too take the proper view.

Let Rhesus in his gilded armor join the allies of this land, thanks to the messenger’s report. Exit the Messenger.
340

LEADER.

Well may’st thou mock and blame thy friend. Yet here

He comes with help for Troy. Accept him thou.

HECTOR.

We are enough, who have held the wall till now.

LEADER.

Master, dost think already that our foe
330

Is ta’en?

HECTOR.

I do. To-morrow’s light will show.

LEADER.

Have care. Fate often flings a backward cast.

HECTOR.

I hate the help that comes when need is past . . .

Howbeit, once come, I bid him welcome here

As guest—not war-friend; guest to share our cheer.

The thanks are lost, he might have won from us.

LEADER.

My general, to reject an ally thus

Must needs make hatred.

SHEPHERD.

The mere sight of those
335

I saw would sure cast fear upon our foes.

HECTOR.
(yielding reluctantly, with a laugh)

Ah, well; thy words are prudent; and (To SHEPHERD) thine eyes

See glorious things. With all these panoplies

Of gold that filled our Shepherd’s heart with joy,
340

Bid Rhesus welcome, as war-friend to Troy.