Euripides, Rhesus, ed. Gilbert Murray, 342-379

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Χορός

Ἀδράστεια μὲν ἁ Διὸς

παῖς εἴργοι στομάτων φθόνον·

φράσω γὰρ δὴ ὅσον μοι ψυχᾷ

προσφιλές ἐστιν εἰπεῖν.
345

ἥκεις, ὦ ποταμοῦ παῖ,

ἥκεις, ἐπλάθης Φιλίου πρὸς αὐλὰν

ἀσπαστός, ἐπεί σε χρόνῳ

Πιερὶς μάτηρ ὅ τε καλλιγέφυ-

ρος ποταμὸς πορεύει
350

351

Χορός

Στρυμών, ὅς ποτε τᾶς μελῳ-

δοῦ Μούσας διʼ ἀκηράτων

δινηθεὶς ὑδροειδὴς κόλπων

σὰν ἐφύτευσεν ἥβαν.

σύ μοι Ζεὺς ὁ φαναῖος
355

ἥκεις διφρεύων βαλιαῖσι πώλοις.

νῦν, ὦ πατρὶς ὦ Φρυγία,

ξὺν θεῷ νῦν σοι τὸν ἐλευθέριον

Ζῆνα πάρεστιν εἰπεῖν.

360

Χορός

ἆρά ποτʼ αὖθις ἁ παλαιὰ Τροΐα
360

τοὺς προπότας παναμερεύ-

σει θιάσους ἐρώτων

ψαλμοῖσι καὶ κυλίκων οἰνοπλανή-

τοις ὑποδεξίαις ἁμίλ-

λαις κατὰ πόντον Ἀτρειδᾶν
365

Σπάρταν οἰχομένων

Ἰλιάδος παρʼ ἀκτᾶς;

ὦ φίλος, εἴθε μοι

σᾷ χερὶ καὶ σῷ δορὶ πρά-

ξας τάδʼ ἐς οἶκον ἔλθοις.

370

Χορός

ἐλθέ, φάνηθι, τὰν ζάχρυσον προβαλοῦ
370

Πηλεΐδα κατʼ ὄμμα πέλ-

ταν δοχμίαν πεδαίρων

σχιστὰν παρʼ ἄντυγα, πώλους ἐρεθί-

ζων δίβολόν τʼ ἄκοντα πάλ-

λων. σὲ γὰρ οὔτις ὑποστὰς
375

Ἀργείας ποτʼ ἐν Ἥ-

ρας δαπέδοις χορεύσει·

ἀλλά νιν ἅδε γᾶ

καπφθίμενον Θρῃκὶ μόρῳ

φίλτατον ἄχθος οἴσει.

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.)) — 342-375 focus

Chorus

May Nemesis, daughter of Zeus, check the word that may offend; for lo! I will utter all that it is dear

to my soul to say. You have come, O son of the river god, you have come, welcome in your advent, to the halls of Friendship, since late in time your Pierian mother and Strymon, river with fair bridges,
345

are sending you to us.
350

351

Chorus

Strymon, who begot you, his strong young son, that day his swirling waters found a refuge in the tuneful Muse’s virgin bosom.

You are my Zeus, my god of light, as you come driving your dappled horses. Now, O Phrygia , O my country, now may you by God’s grace address Zeus the Deliverer!
355

360

Chorus

Shall old Troy once more at last spend the whole day in drinking toasts and singing love’s praise, while the bewildering wine-cup sends a capacious challenge round,
360

as over the sea for Sparta the sons of Atreus quit the Ilian strand? O friend, with your arm and spear may you do me this service, then safe return.
365

370

Chorus

Come, appear, brandish that shield of gold full in Achilles’ face; raise it aslant along the chariot’s branching rail, urging on your horses, and shaking your lance with double point.
370

For none after facing you will ever join the dance on the plains of Argive Hera; no, but he shall die, slain by Thracians, and this land shall bear the burden of his corpse and be glad.
375

Chorus

Hail, all hail! O mighty prince!

fair the cub you have bred, 0 Thrace , a ruler in his every look. See his stalwart frame in golden corslet! Hark to the ringing bells that peal so proudly from his shield-handle.
380

A god, O Troy , a god, a very Ares, Strymon’s colt and the tuneful Muse’s, has come to breathe courage into you.
385

388

Rhesus

Brave son of father as brave, Hector, prince of this land, hail! After many a long day I greet you.

I rejoice at your success, to see you camped hard on the enemy towers; I am here to help you raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships.
390

Hector

Son of that tuneful mother, one of the Muses, and of Thracian Strymon’s river, I love to speak

plain truth always; nature did not give me a double tongue. Long, long ago should you have come and shared the labors of this land, and not allowed Troy for any help of yours to fall overthrown by hostile Argive spears. You can not say it was any want of invitation
395

that kept you from coming with your help to visit us. What herald or embassy from Phrygia did not come to you, urgently requiring your aid for our city? What sumptuous presents did we not send to you? But you, brother barbarian though you were,
400

pledged away to Hellenes us your barbarian brothers, for all the help you gave. Yet it was I with this arm that raised you from your paltry princedom to high lordship over Thrace , when I fell upon the Thracian chieftains face to face around Pangaeum in Paeonia’s land
405

and broke their serried ranks, and gave their people up to you enslaved; but you have trampled on this great favor done you, and come with laggard step to give your aid when friends are in distress. While they, whom no natural tie of kin constrains, have long been here, and some are dead and in their graves
410

beneath the heaped-up cairn, no mean proof of loyalty to the city; and others in arms and mounted on their chariots, with steadfast soul endure the icy blast and parching heat of the sun, not pledging one another on couches, as you do, in long deep draughts.
415

This is the charge I bring against you and utter to your face, that you may know how frank is Hector’s tongue.
420

422

Rhesus

I too am just the same; straight to the point I cut my way; no shuffling nature is mine. My heart was wrung with sorer anguish than yours

at my absence from this land; I fumed and chafed, but Scythian people, whose borders march with mine, made war on me on the very eve of my departure for Ilium ; I had reached the strand of the Euxine sea, there to transport my Thracian army.
425

Then my spear poured out over Scythia ’s land great drops of bloody rain, and Thrace too shared in the mingled slaughter. This then was what chanced to keep me from coming to the land of Troy and joining your standard. But as soon as I had conquered these and taken their children as hostages
430

and appointed the yearly tribute they should pay my house, I have come, sailing across the sea’s mouth, and on foot traversing the other borders of your land—not as you in your jeers at those carousals of my countrymen hint, nor sleeping soft in gilded palaces,
435

but amid the frozen hurricanes that vex the Thracian sea and the Paeonian shores, learning as I lay awake what suffering is, this soldier’s cloak my only wrap. True my coming has tarried, but yet I am in time; ten years already have you been at the fray,
440

and accomplished nothing yet; day in, day out, you fall, throwing the dice of war with Argives. But the light of one day will be enough for me to sack those towers and fall upon their anchored fleet and slay the Achaeans; and on the next day I will go
445

home from Ilium , at one stroke ending all your toil. Let none of you lay hand to spear to lift it, for I, for all my late arrival, will with my lance make utter havoc of those vaunting Achaeans.
450

454

Chorus

Joy, joy!

sweet champion sent by Zeus! Only may Zeus, throned on high, keep jealousy, resistless foe, from you for your words! That fleet of ships from Argos never brought,
455

neither formerly nor now, among all its warriors a braver than you. How I wonder will Achilles, how will Aias stand the onset of your spear? Oh! that I might see that day, my prince,
460

on which you may wreak vengeance on them, gripping your lance in your death-dealing hand!
465

467

Rhesus

Such exploits am I ready to achieve to atone for my long absence; (with due submission to Nemesis I say this); then when we have cleared this city of its foes

and you have chosen out first-fruits for the gods, I wish to march with you against the Argives’ country and at my coming lay Hellas waste with war, that they in turn may know the taste of ill.
470

Hector

If I could rid the city of this present curse

and restore it to its old security, I should indeed feel deep gratitude towards the gods. But, as for sacking Argos and the pasture-lands of Hellas with the spear, it is no such easy task as you say.
475

Rhesus

Do they not say that here came the greatest chiefs of Hellas ?

Hector

Yes, and I do not scorn them; I have enough to do in driving them away.
480

Rhesus

Well, when we slay these, is our task not fully done?

Hector

Do not leave the present need to look to distant schemes.

Rhesus

You are, it seems, content to suffer and make no return.

Hector

Yes, for I rule a great empire, even though I am here.

But on the left wing or the right or in the centre of the allies you may plant your shield and marshal your troops.
485

488

Rhesus

Alone I will face the foe, Hector. But if you are ashamed, after all your previous toil,

to have no share in firing their ships’ prows, place me face to face with Achilles and his army.
490

Hector

Against that man you cannot range your eager spear.

Rhesus

Why, it was surely said he sailed to Ilium .

Hector

He sailed and he is here; but he is angry

and takes no part with the other chieftains in the battle.
495

Rhesus

Who next to him has won a name in their army?

Hector

Aias and the son of Tydeus are, I take it, in no way his inferiors; there is Odysseus, a wheedling rascal, but bold enough indeed,

and of all men he has wrought most outrage on this country. For he came by night to Athena’s shrine and stole her image and took it to the Argive ships; next he came inside our battlements, clad as a vagrant in a beggar’s garb, and loudly did he curse
500

the Argives, sent as a spy to Ilium ; and then went out again, when he had slain the sentinels and warders at the gate. He is always to be found lurking in ambush about the altar of Thymbrean Apollo near the city. In him we have a troubling pest to wrestle with.
505

Rhesus

No brave man thinks it right to kill his foe in secret, but to meet him face to face. If I can catch this fellow alive, who, as you say, sits in stealthy ambush and plots his mischief, I will impale him at the outlet of the gates
510

and set him up for winged vultures to make their meal upon. This is the death he ought to die, pirate and temple-robber that he is.
515

Hector

To your quarters now, for it is night. For you I will myself point out a spot where your army

can watch this night apart from our array. Our password is Phoebus, if perhaps there should be need of it; hear and remember it, and tell it to the Thracian army. You must advance in front of our ranks and keep a watchful guard, and receive Dolon,
520

who went to spy on the ships, for he, if he is safe, is even now approaching the camp of Troy .
525

Rhesus Perseus (Euripides. The Rhesus of Euripides. Murray, Gilbert, translator. London: George Allen and Company, Ltd., 1913.) — 342-377 focus

CHORUS.

Now Adrasteia¹ be near and guard

Our lips from sin, lest the end be hard!

But he cometh, he cometh, the Child of the River!

The pride of my heart it shall roll unbarred.
345

We craved thy coming; yea, need was strong

In the Hall of thy lovers, O child of Song;

Thy mother the Muse and her fair-bridged River

They held thee from us so long, so long!

351

CHORUS.

By Strymon’s torrent alone she sang,

And Strymon shivered and coiled and sprang;

And her arms went wide to the wild sweet water,

And the love of the River around her rang.

We hail thee, Fruit of the River’s seed,
355

Young Zeus of the Dawn, on thy starry steed!

O ancient City, O Ida’s daughter,

Is God the Deliverer found indeed?

360

CHORUS.

And men shall tell of thee, Ilion mine,
360

Once more a-harping at day’s decline,

’Mid laughing of lovers and lays and dances

And challenge on challenge of circling wine?

When the Greek is smitten that day shall be,

And fled to Argolis over the sea:
365

O mighty of hand, O leader of lances,

Smite him, and heaven be good to thee!

⁴

370

CHORUS.

Thou Rider golden and swift and sheer,
370

Achilles falters: appear! appear!

The car like flame where the red shield leapeth,

The fell white steeds and the burning spear!

No Greek shall boast he hath seen thy face

And danced again in the dancing place;
375

And the land shall laugh for the sheaves she reapeth,

Of spoilers dead by a sword from Thrace .

⁵

Enter RHESUS in dazzling white armour, followed by his CHARIOTEER and Attendants. The CHARIOTEER carries his golden shield. The CHORUS break into a shout of All Hail!

LEADER.

All hail, great King! A whelp indeed

Is born in Thracia ’s lion fold,
380

Whose leap shall make strong cities bleed.

Behold his body girt with gold,

And hark the pride of bells along

The frontlet of that targe’s hold.

CHORUS.

A God, O Troy, a God and more!
385

’Tis Ares’ self, this issue strong

Of Strymon and the Muse of song,

Whose breath is fragrant on thy shore!

388 Re-enter HECTOR.

RHESUS.

Lord Hector, Prince of Ilion , noble son

Of noble sires, all hail! Long years have run

Since last we greeted, and ’tis joy this day

To see thy fortunes firm and thine array
390

Camped at the foe’s gate. Here am I to tame

That foe for thee, and wrap his ships in flame.

HECTOR. ⁶

Thou child of Music and the Thracian flood,

Strymonian Rhesus, truth is alway good

In Hector’s eyes. I wear no double heart.
395

Long, long ago thou shouldst have borne thy part

In Ilion ’s labours, not have left us here,

For all thy help, to sink beneath the spear.

Why didst thou—not for lack of need made plain!—

Not come, not send, not think of us again?
400

What grave ambassadors prayed not before

Thy throne, what herald knelt not at thy door?

What pride of gifts did Troy not send to thee?

And thou, a lord of Barbary even as we,

Thou, brother of our blood, like one at sup
405

Who quaffs his fill and flings away the cup,

Hast flung to the Greeks my city! Yet, long since,

’Twas I that found thee but a little prince

And made thee mighty, I and this right hand;

When round Pangaion and the Paiôn’s land,

Front against front, I burst upon the brood

Of Thrace and broke their targes, and subdued
410

Their power to thine. The grace whereof, not small,

Thou hast spurned, and when thy kinsmen, drowning, call,

Comest too late. Thou! Others there have been

These long years, not by nature of our kin . .

Some under yon rough barrows thou canst see

Lie buried; they were true to Troy and me;
415

And others, yet here in the shielded line

Or mid the chariots, parching in the shine

Of noonday, starving in the winds that bite

Through Ilion ’s winter, still endure and fight

On at my side. ’Twas not their way, to lie

On a soft couch and, while the cups go by,

Pledge my good health, like thee, in Thracian wine.

I speak as a free man. With thee and thine
420

Hector is wroth, and tells thee to thy face.

422

RHESUS.

Thy way is mine, friend. Straight I run my race

In word and deed, and bear no double tongue.

I tell thee, more than thine my heart was wrung,

Yea, angered past all durance, thus to stay
425

Back from thy battles. ’Twas a folk that lay

Hard on my borders, Scythians of the north;

Just when my host for Troy had started forth,

They fell upon our homes. I had reached the coast

Of the Friendless Sea and purposed to have crossed

My Thracians there. We turned; and all that plain

Is trampled in a mire of Scythian slain
430

Ploughed by our spears, and blood of Thrace withal

Not stinted. This it was that drowned thy call

For help and held me back from Ilion ’s need.

I broke their power; the princes of their breed

I took to hostage, made their elders swear

To bring my house due tribute, year by year,
435

Then, never lagging, crossed the Pontus mouth,

Marched by long stages through Bithynia south

And here am come . . . not drunken with the feast,

As thou wouldst have me be, not lulled to rest

In golden chambers. In this harness hard
440

I have borne my nights of winter storm that starred

The Euxine into ice and scared the strong

Paionians. Long I have been, but not too long

To save thee yet. Friend, this is the tenth year

Thou labourest on unceasing, with no clear
445

Vantage; day creeps by day, and Ares throws

The same red dice for thee and for thy foes.

Now, hear my vow. Before one day’s eclipse

I swear to break their wall, to burn their ships

And slay their princes. On the second day

I leave this soil and take my homeward way,
450

Thy pains relieved. No Trojan of the land

Need move, nor turn the buckler in his hand.

Alone my late-comers will turn the tide

And smite your Greeks, for all their bitter pride.

454

CHORUS.
The Trojan soldiers, who have been listening with delight, here break out in irrepressible applause.⁷

All hail!

Sweet words and faithful heart!
455

Only may Zeus avert

From those proud lips the Wrath that none may bear!

Never a galleon bore,

⁸

Now, nor in days of yore,
460

Prince like to thee, so valiant and so fair.

How shall Achilles, how

Shall Ajax bear him now,

Or face thy lance? May I but stand that day

Watching to see him reel
465

Broken beneath thy steel,

And once in blood his many murders pay!

467

RHESUS.

Yea, more atonement thou shalt take from me

For this slow help.—May Adrasteia see

My heart and pardon!—When we two have set

Troy free from these who compass her with hate,

Soon as the Gods have had their first-fruits, I
470

With thee will sail—so help me Zeus on high!—

And sack all Hellas with the sword, till these

Doers of deeds shall know what suffering is.

HECTOR.

By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled

Past us, and live in Ilion as of old,
475

Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek

Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-

’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

RHESUS.

These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?⁹

HECTOR.

We seek not better. These do all we need.
480

RHESUS.

When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

HECTOR.

Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

RHESUS.

Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?

HECTOR.

I have a kingdom large by mine own right ..

What station will best please thee in this fight
485

To ground the targe and stablish thine array?

Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

488

RHESUS.

’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.

Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown

One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then
490

Set us to face Achilles and his men.

HECTOR.

Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

RHESUS.

How so? Fame said he sailed here with the fleet.

HECTOR.

He sailed, and he is here. But some despite

’Gainst the great King now keeps him from the fight.
495

RHESUS.

Who next to him hath honour in their host?

HECTOR.

Next, to my seeming, Ajax hath the most,

Or Diomede.—But Odysseus is a tough

And subtle fox, and brave; aye, brave enough.

No man of them hath harmed us more than he.
500

He climbed here to Athena’s sanctuary¹⁰

One night, and stole her image clean away

To the Argive ships. Yes, and another day,

Guised as a wandering priest, in rags, he came

And walked straight through the Gates, made loud acclaim

Of curses on the Greek, spied out alone

All that he sought in Ilion , and was gone—
505

Gone, and the watch and helpers of the Gate

Dead! And in every ambush they have set

By the old Altar, close to Troy, we know

He sits—a murderous reptile of a foe!

RHESUS.

No brave man seeks so dastardly to harm
510

His battle-foes; he meets them arm to arm.

This Greek of thine, this sitter like a thief

In ambush, I will make of him my chief

Care. I will take him living, drive a straight

Stake through him, and so star him at the Gate
515

To feed your wide-winged vultures. ’Tis the death

Most meet for a lewd thief, who pillageth

God’s sanctuary, or so we hold in Thrace .

HECTOR.
(making no answer)

Seek first some sleep. There still remains a space

Of darkness.—I will show the spot that best

May suit you, somewhat sundered from the rest.
520

Should need arise, the password of the night

Is Phoebus: see your Thracians have it right.

Turning to the Guards before he goes.

Advance beyond your stations, men, at some

Distance, and stay on watch till Dolon come

With word of the Argives’ counsel. If his vow
525

Prosper, he should be nearing us by now.¹¹

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 342-379

ed. Gilbert Murray

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Rhesus

Brave son of father as brave, Hector, prince of this land, hail! After many a long day I greet you.

I rejoice at your success, to see you camped hard on the enemy towers; I am here to help you raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships.
390

Hector

If I could rid the city of this present curse

and restore it to its old security, I should indeed feel deep gratitude towards the gods. But, as for sacking Argos and the pasture-lands of Hellas with the spear, it is no such easy task as you say.
475

Rhesus

Do they not say that here came the greatest chiefs of Hellas ?

Hector

Yes, and I do not scorn them; I have enough to do in driving them away.
480

Rhesus

Well, when we slay these, is our task not fully done?

Hector

Do not leave the present need to look to distant schemes.

Rhesus

You are, it seems, content to suffer and make no return.

Hector

Yes, for I rule a great empire, even though I am here.

But on the left wing or the right or in the centre of the allies you may plant your shield and marshal your troops.
485

Rhesus

Alone I will face the foe, Hector. But if you are ashamed, after all your previous toil,

to have no share in firing their ships’ prows, place me face to face with Achilles and his army.
490

Hector

Against that man you cannot range your eager spear.

Rhesus

Why, it was surely said he sailed to Ilium .

Hector

He sailed and he is here; but he is angry

and takes no part with the other chieftains in the battle.
495

Rhesus

Who next to him has won a name in their army?

LEADER.

All hail, great King! A whelp indeed

Is born in Thracia ’s lion fold,
380

Whose leap shall make strong cities bleed.

Behold his body girt with gold,

And hark the pride of bells along

The frontlet of that targe’s hold.

CHORUS.

A God, O Troy, a God and more!
385

’Tis Ares’ self, this issue strong

Of Strymon and the Muse of song,

Whose breath is fragrant on thy shore!

RHESUS.

Lord Hector, Prince of Ilion , noble son

Of noble sires, all hail! Long years have run

Since last we greeted, and ’tis joy this day

To see thy fortunes firm and thine array
390

Camped at the foe’s gate. Here am I to tame

That foe for thee, and wrap his ships in flame.

HECTOR.

By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled

Past us, and live in Ilion as of old,
475

Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek

Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-

’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

RHESUS.

These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?⁹

HECTOR.

We seek not better. These do all we need.
480

RHESUS.

When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

HECTOR.

Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

RHESUS.

Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?

HECTOR.

I have a kingdom large by mine own right ..

What station will best please thee in this fight
485

To ground the targe and stablish thine array?

Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

RHESUS.

’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.

Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown

One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then
490

Set us to face Achilles and his men.

HECTOR.

Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

RHESUS.

How so? Fame said he sailed here with the fleet.

HECTOR.

He sailed, and he is here. But some despite

’Gainst the great King now keeps him from the fight.
495

RHESUS.

Who next to him hath honour in their host?

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Current edition Perseus

Rhesus Brave son of father as brave, Hector, prince of this land, hail! After many a long day I greet you. I rejoice at your success, to see you camped hard on the enemy towers; I am here to help you raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships. 390

Hector If I could rid the city of this present curse and restore it to its old security, I should indeed feel deep gratitude towards the gods. But, as for sacking Argos and the pasture-lands of Hellas with the spear, it is no such easy task as you say. 475

Rhesus Do they not say that here came the greatest chiefs of Hellas ?

Hector Yes, and I do not scorn them; I have enough to do in driving them away. 480

Rhesus Well, when we slay these, is our task not fully done?

Hector Do not leave the present need to look to distant schemes.

Rhesus You are, it seems, content to suffer and make no return.

Hector Yes, for I rule a great empire, even though I am here. But on the left wing or the right or in the centre of the allies you may plant your shield and marshal your troops. 485

Rhesus Alone I will face the foe, Hector. But if you are ashamed, after all your previous toil, to have no share in firing their ships’ prows, place me face to face with Achilles and his army. 490

Hector Against that man you cannot range your eager spear.

Rhesus Why, it was surely said he sailed to Ilium .

Hector He sailed and he is here; but he is angry and takes no part with the other chieftains in the battle. 495

Rhesus Who next to him has won a name in their army?

LEADER. All hail, great King! A whelp indeed Is born in Thracia ’s lion fold, 380 Whose leap shall make strong cities bleed. Behold his body girt with gold, And hark the pride of bells along The frontlet of that targe’s hold.

CHORUS. A God, O Troy, a God and more! 385 ’Tis Ares’ self, this issue strong Of Strymon and the Muse of song, Whose breath is fragrant on thy shore!

RHESUS. Lord Hector, Prince of Ilion , noble son Of noble sires, all hail! Long years have run Since last we greeted, and ’tis joy this day To see thy fortunes firm and thine array 390 Camped at the foe’s gate. Here am I to tame That foe for thee, and wrap his ships in flame.

HECTOR. By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled Past us, and live in Ilion as of old, 475 Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek Argos and sack the cities of the Greek- ’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

RHESUS. These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best? 9

HECTOR. We seek not better. These do all we need. 480

RHESUS. When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

HECTOR. Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

RHESUS. Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?

HECTOR. I have a kingdom large by mine own right .. What station will best please thee in this fight 485 To ground the targe and stablish thine array? Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

RHESUS. ’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone. Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then 490 Set us to face Achilles and his men.

HECTOR. Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

RHESUS. How so? Fame said he sailed here with the fleet.

HECTOR. He sailed, and he is here. But some despite ’Gainst the great King now keeps him from the fight. 495

RHESUS. Who next to him hath honour in their host?

Stable identifiers

Rhesus

Brave son of father as brave, Hector, prince of this land, hail! After many a long day I greet you.

I rejoice at your success, to see you camped hard on the enemy towers; I am here to help you raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships.
390

Hector

If I could rid the city of this present curse

and restore it to its old security, I should indeed feel deep gratitude towards the gods. But, as for sacking Argos and the pasture-lands of Hellas with the spear, it is no such easy task as you say.
475

Rhesus

Do they not say that here came the greatest chiefs of Hellas ?

Hector

Yes, and I do not scorn them; I have enough to do in driving them away.
480

Rhesus

Well, when we slay these, is our task not fully done?

Hector

Do not leave the present need to look to distant schemes.

Rhesus

You are, it seems, content to suffer and make no return.

Hector

Yes, for I rule a great empire, even though I am here.

But on the left wing or the right or in the centre of the allies you may plant your shield and marshal your troops.
485

Rhesus

Alone I will face the foe, Hector. But if you are ashamed, after all your previous toil,

to have no share in firing their ships’ prows, place me face to face with Achilles and his army.
490

Hector

Against that man you cannot range your eager spear.

Rhesus

Why, it was surely said he sailed to Ilium .

Hector

He sailed and he is here; but he is angry

and takes no part with the other chieftains in the battle.
495

Rhesus

Who next to him has won a name in their army?

LEADER.

All hail, great King! A whelp indeed

Is born in Thracia ’s lion fold,
380

Whose leap shall make strong cities bleed.

Behold his body girt with gold,

And hark the pride of bells along

The frontlet of that targe’s hold.

CHORUS.

A God, O Troy, a God and more!
385

’Tis Ares’ self, this issue strong

Of Strymon and the Muse of song,

Whose breath is fragrant on thy shore!

RHESUS.

Lord Hector, Prince of Ilion , noble son

Of noble sires, all hail! Long years have run

Since last we greeted, and ’tis joy this day

To see thy fortunes firm and thine array
390

Camped at the foe’s gate. Here am I to tame

That foe for thee, and wrap his ships in flame.

HECTOR.

By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled

Past us, and live in Ilion as of old,
475

Untrembling, I would thank my gods! To seek

Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-

’Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

RHESUS.

These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?⁹

HECTOR.

We seek not better. These do all we need.
480

RHESUS.

When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

HECTOR.

Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

RHESUS.

Thou seem’st content to suffer, not to do?

HECTOR.

I have a kingdom large by mine own right ..

What station will best please thee in this fight
485

To ground the targe and stablish thine array?

Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

RHESUS.

’Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.

Yet, if ’twould irk thine honour not to have thrown

One firebrand on the ships with me, why, then
490

Set us to face Achilles and his men.

HECTOR.

Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

RHESUS.

How so? Fame said he sailed here with the fleet.

HECTOR.

He sailed, and he is here. But some despite

’Gainst the great King now keeps him from the fight.
495

RHESUS.

Who next to him hath honour in their host?