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301–450

πρίν] In their former life, when they had a home.

δοῦλον) The adjectival use of δοῦλος, which occurs here and supr. l. 53, is not found in earlier Greek.

τροπαῖε] 'Giver of victory." Deianira has been commonly understood to address Zeus thus as the averter of evil (ἀποτρόπαιος). But elsewhere τροπαίος means the god who turns armies in battle. On this occasion Zeus has driven the army of Oechalia before Heracles and his allies. Deianira apprehends the possibility of some descendant of the Heracleidae being similarly defeated and made captive through the same god favouring another race.

ποι after the verb of motion = που.

τῆσδέ γε ζώσης ἔτι, Sc. δράσειας

ὁρωμένη) The middle adds a touch of feeling, like the ethical dative, Le Looking at them with reflection. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1487, νοούμενος τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ πικροῦ βίου.

Iole is naturally silent and downcast in the presence of Deianira, who in her quick sympathy interprets this as an expression of sorrow. The foremost captive, she observes, shows more feeling than the rest (312).

τεκνοῦσσα (see v. rr.) is obtained from the lemma of the Scholiast. φύσιν] 'Appearance.' Cp. O. Т. 740, 1, φύσιν τιν εἶχε, φράζε.

πάντων. . τῶνδε] Sc. τοῦ ἄνδρα τε καὶ τέκνα σχεῖν.

φρονεῖν οἶδεν] 'Has the sense to feel her position." See note on 307. For this pleonastic use of οἶδεν = ἐπίσταται. cp. Hom. Il. 7. 238, οἶδ᾽ ἐπὶ δεξιά, εἶδ' ἐπ᾿ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν: Phil. 1010, ὃς οὐδὲν ἤδη πλὴν τὸ προσ ταχθὲν ποιεῖν: Arist. Vesp. 376, ν᾽ εἰδῇ μὴ πατεῖν τὰ τῶν θεῶν ψηφίσματα.

τί δ' ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; καὶ opposes the question to the reply. I cannot answer, and why should you ask??

τῶν ἐκεῖθεν] Sc. γεννημάτων. Ср. О. Т. 1167, τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων. οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις] 'Not far down.' The phrase is equivalent to an attributive adjective agreeing with γέννημα.

μὴ τῶν τυράννων] Sc. γέννημα. 'Can she have been of the royal stock?' Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν] Either (1) 'Is it possible she is Eurytus' offspring?' τις = πως. See Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin., and cp. Ó. T. 1167, quoted above. Or (2) Had Eurytus any offspring?" So Hermann.

οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν] 'I did not carry my inquiries far.'

τῶν ξυνεμπόρων] Of those travelling with her and you,' viz. the other captives. ἔχεις = πέπυσαι. Cp. Phil. 789, ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα.

τοὐμὸν ἔργον] The herald's task of bringing the captives home.

Deianira, baffled in her compassionate eagerness, now turns to Iole herself in a tone of entreaty. ἀλλά belongs to ἐκ σαυτῆς or to the whole sentence, not to ἡμίν. (Cр. О. С. 238, ὦ ξένοι, . . ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεί, κ.τ.λ.)

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι] These words express Deianira's strong sympathy. 'Verily, I am distressed not to know who thou art.' A narrator might say of her in the language of Herodotus, καὶ συμφορὴν ἐποιέετο, τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι τὴν ξείνην ἥ τις εἴη. It has been observed that the particles ἐπεὶ καί τοι are not found together elsewhere. But each of the three words has a distinct and apposite meaning. 'For' (ἐπεί) ‘I tell you' (τοι) 'I am even' (καί) ' distressed.' γε simply emphasizes σé, i. e. 'You, who have awakened such an interest in me.'

Lichas hurriedly interposes to prevent disclosure with a significant warning to Iole to hold her peace. The first Scholiast's explanation of these words gives a rational meaning: ἐὰν αἰδουμένη σε φθέγξηται, κατ᾿ οὐδὲν ἄρα ἐξίσου τῷ πρόσθεν χρόνῳ προκομίσειεν (ἂν ?) αὐτῆς τὴν γλῶσσαν· τὸν γὰρ πρὸ τοῦ χρόνου ἐσιώπα: i.e. he understands the stress of the sentence to be on the words οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου τῷ γε πρόσθεν χρόνῳ ( Essay on L. § 24. p. 40 ). It will not be in accordance with (her demeanour in) the previous time that she will bring out her tongue (if she does so).' The doubt is whether διαφέρειν can mean, 'To bring between the lips,' and so answer the προκομίζειν of the Scholiast. Wakefield's conjecture διήσει, ' Will let pass through her lips,' is supported by Ο. C. 963 (ὅστις φόνους . .) τοῦ σοῦ διῆκας στόματος. Hermann explained the words to mean, Just as hitherto (τῷ γε πρόσθεν ἐξ ἴσου χρόνῳ) she will maintain an even tenour (οὐδὲν διοίσει) as to her tongue.' Dindorf (agreeing with the second Scholiast), 'She will not employ her tongue' (οὐ.. διοίσει οι διήσει γλῶσσαν) 'inconsistently with what she has done hitherto.'

οὐδαμὰ | προὔφηνεν] ‘Made no sign.

But travailing with the weight of her calamity she has wept over it ever since.' The accusative is to be joined both with ὠδίνουσα and δακρυρροεῖ. Cp. Shak. Pericles, 5. 1, 'I am great with woe and shall deliver weeping.'

διήνεμον] It is difficult to determine whether this is (1) a mere epithet, 'Wind-swept,' like the Homeric ἠνεμόεσσα, descriptive of a city on a hill, or (2) a supplem. pred. = διήνεμον οὖσαν, ‘Desolate,' 'Open to the winds.' The first (1) may be supported by comparing several picturesque touches in this play, but the other (2) is more dramatic. Both are given in the scholia, ἔρημον (2), ὕψηλον (1). ἡ δέ τοι] This is better than ἥδε τοι, which leaves an unmeaning asyndeton. Her case is unfortunate, I mean for herself, but suggests a reason for indulgence' (on our part); i. e. 'Her misfortune may excuse her silence.'

For ἔχει, cp. Thuc. 2. 41. § 3, ἀγανάκτησιν ἔχει ('Gives cause for complaint'): Eur. Phoen. 995, τοὐμὸν δ᾽ οὐχὶ συγγνώμην ἔχει.

ἥδ᾽ οὖν] ἡ δ' οὖν is sometimes read here, as in O. T. 669. But while δέ is unnecessary, the opposition of πάντες in what follows is enough to justify the use of the demonstrative ἥδε. στέγας] For the accus. cp. 58, δύμους.

ἥδιστα] For this sense of ἡδύς, ср. О. C. 639, 40, εἰ δ᾽ ἐμοῦ στείχειν μέτα | τόδ᾽ ἡδύ.

This line in LA (see v. rr.) has manifestly suffered from corruption, some other word being replaced either by the first or the second λύπην. The Triclinian reading which is adopted in the text, although possibly due to conjecture, is more probable than any other of the various changes which have been proposed. It is not necessary to change λάβοι το λάβῃ. The optative slightly varies the expression, I would not have her,' etc.

For τε.. δέ, see Essay on L. §36. p. 65 f , and cp. supr. 143. The antithesis is introduced after the sentence is begun. οἱ θέλεις] Viz. to rejoin Heracles.

ἐξαρκή] ‘As they should be.' Cp. infr. 625.

ἀμμείνασα] Sc. χωροῖς ἄν. Ср. Phil. 645, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών. For the use of the participle with ye = 'Not until,' cp. Plat. Phaedr. 228 D, δείξας γε πρῶτον, ὦ φιλότης, κ.τ.λ. The "Αγγελος is rude, and something of a busy-body, but honest and well-meaning.

ἄνευ τῶνδε] When Lichas and the captives are not present.'

ἐκμάθῃς θ' ἃ δεῖ] The change from τε to γε in AVR is an attempt to simplify the sentence, but still leaves an awkward resumption. The Αγγελος, full of the importance of his message, and yet afraid to speak it too soon, hurries over the latter part of the sentence, 'That you may learn, first who they are whom you are taking within, and then what else is hidden from you, and (in short) that you may learn fully what you ought to know.'

l. 338 is characteristic of the man's self-importance. There is a certain ὄγκος in the postponement of γάρ (Aj. 522, El. 492); and the expression πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμη, 'Knowledge as to all things, Absolute knowledge,' has also a mockheroic (almost 'Pistol'-like) air.

τί δ᾽ ἐστί] 'What is the matter? Why do you stay my footsteps here with your interruption?" τοῦ for τίνος = τίνος ἕνεκα. See Essay on L. § 10. p. 15 d. The punctuation (that of L) is rendered probable by comparing Ο. Τ. 938, τί δ᾽ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδ᾽ ἔχει διπλῆν ; ἐφίστασαι] The present middle of ἵστημι is used transitively in Hdt. 7. 9, πολέμους ἵστανται, 'They set up wars amongst themselves.' παρίστασθαι is so used by Sophocles, O. C. 916, ἄγεις θ' ἃ χρήζεις καὶ παρίστασαι βίᾳ, and by other writers: καθίσταμαι by Eur. Suppl. 522, πόλεμον οὐ καθίσταμαι: προίστασθαι by Plato and Demosthenes : διίστασθαι by Plato, Tim. 63 C. It is therefore possible that ἐφίστασθαι here and in Aj. 869 (ἐπίσταται MSS.) may mean, 'To arrest.' τήνδε . . βάσιν] The second accusative expresses the respect in which Deianira was stopped: 'In this going,' i.e. in going, as I have just begun to do. The above interpretation, which is that of the Scholiast, agrees better with the context than if ἐφίστασαι were taken intransitively: Why do you stand before me in this your coming?' See esp. l. 335, αὐτοῦ. . ἀμμείνασα, and 340, σταθεῖσα.

μάτην] 'Without result,' i.e. without the event proving the truth of my words. δοκῶ] Sc. τὸν μῦθον μάτην ἀκούσεσθαί σε,

ἐκείνους] Those other people, who were here a little while ago. It may be remarked, as exemplifying the dramatic manner of Sophocles, that the words ἄνευ τῶνδε in l. 336 are unobserved by Deianira. Cp. O.Т. 360, and note.

οὐδὲν εἴργεται] Sc. τάδε λεχθῆναι. For the passive, cp. Thuc. 8. 54, ὥστε μηκέτι διαμέλλεσθαι. τούτους] Though further off than the Chorus, Lichas and the captives are still imagined as within sight through the open door, and within call.

χώ λόγος σημαινέτω] ‘Now then let your speech declare your meaning.' Deianira is impatient of the air of mystery which the man has hitherto assumed. For λόγος personified, ср. О. С. 574, χώ λόγος διέρχεται: Fr. inc. 782, διχοστατῶν λόγος. σημαίνειν, without an expressed object, occurs several times in Sophocles and Thucydides; and in Xenophon, Mem. 1. 1. § 4, τὸ δαιμόνιον γὰρ ἔφη σημαίνειν.

ἀνὴρ ὅδ'] 'Lichas here' (pointing indoors). Cp. τούτους, supr. 344.

δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν] Truly and uprightly. For δίκη in this sense, cp. Ant. 538, οὐκ ἐάσει τοῦτό σ᾽ ἡ δίκη. κακός] Sc. ἐστί. 'He is behaving badly.'

δίκαιος] Honest.'

πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς] ‘All that thou knowest.'

ἕλοι] 'Subdued,' viz. killed Eurytus and destroyed Oechalia. For a similar double use of εἶλον, cp Pind. Οl. 1. 142, ἕλεν δ' Οἰνομάου βίαν | παρθένον τε σύνευνον.

Ἔρως.. μόνος θεῶν, κ.τ.λ.] The god of love, and no other, had moved him to this feat of arms.' αἰχμάσαι τάδε] 'Το enter on this warlike enterprise.’ τάδε, cognate accusative.

τἀπὶ . . λατρεύματα] (1) 'Not the toilsome service at the bidding of the Lydians or of Omphale.' Or (2) the preposition may have the merely locative sense in the first instance, and the different meaning, 'In the power of,' with the second word. The labours which he performed among the Lydians and in the service of Omphale.' ἐπί = ' In the power of.' Cp. О. С. 66, ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

ὁ ῥιπτὸς.. μόρος] ‘The death by hurling from the rock. For a use of the passive of ῥίπτω (with cognate subject) corresponding to this use of the verbal adj.. cp. the oracle in Hdt. 1. 62, ἔρριπται δ᾽ ὁ βόλος (‘Now the cast is made'), τὸ δὲ δίκτυον ἐκπεπέτασται. Cp. also Eur. Or. 990, 1, Μυρτίλου φόνον | δικών, and see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

ov] Referring to "Έρως, the most important subject in the preceding lines. Cp. Ο. C. 86, 7, Φοίβῳ τε καμοί, κ.τ.λ., ὅς, κ.τ.λ. The conjectures ἅ and ὅ are quite unnecessary. παρώσας] « Having thrust aside,' cp. Eur. El. 1037, τἄνδον παρώσας λέκτρα: Plat. Rep. 5. p. 471 C, δ.. παρωσάμενος .. πάντα ταῦτα εἴρηκας. ἔμπαλιν λέγει] 'Tells a different (lit. opposite) tale.'

οὐκ ἔπειθε] 'He could not persuade.' The imperfect implies that his suit was continued for some time. φυτοσπόρος is originally ὁ σπείρας τὸ φυτόν,

κρύφιον . . λέχος] ‘In secret marriage,' - accusative in apposition with the action.

These lines have been censured for their tautology, and justly enough; but they are in character with the speaker, who, like the Φύλαξ in the Antigone, has already shown a fondness for false emphasis and superfluous words. The words ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε in l. 364 are in the same manner. ἐν ἡ τὸν Εὔρυτον τόνδ' εἶπε δεσπόζειν θρόνων] 'The same wherein he told us that Eurytus of whom he spake was master of the throne.' The Messenger wants to impress on Deianira that this part of what she has heard need not be unsaid. The reading τῶνδε (see v. rr.) involves a still more superfluous use of the demonstrative.

ὡς] Hermann's note in defence of ὡς shows a wise caution. He thinks that the rule of grammarians that ὡς for πρός can only be used with persons may be extended so as to cover a case of this kind where the house includes the inmates of the house. It is certainly better to retain a reading which, for anything we know, may be specially suited to express an authorized mission, such as that of Iole under charge of Lichas. ἥκει] 'Heracles is come.' After the words of Lichas in supr. 289, the arrival of Heracles is regarded as an accomplished fact.

ἀφροντίστως] 'Without special care,' as he would have done, if she had merely fallen to his lot as part of the spoil. Cp. supr. 283-6.

μηδὲ προσδόκα τόδε] ‘Nay, do not look for that.' μηδέ is rather adversative to Deianira's previous impression than to the preceding words. Others have taken it to mean, 'As it is not the fact, so neither must you think it.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 879, μηδὲ θαυμάσῃς τόδε, where there is a similar doubt.

ἐντεθέρμανται] ἐνθερμαίνειν may surely mean ἐντὸς θερμαίνειν, ας ἐμπιμπλάναι means ἐντὸς πιμπλάναι, and unless we are to get rid of all ἅπαξ λεγόμενα, there is no good reason for exchanging this, at some one's suggestion, for ἐκτεθέρμανται, because the Scholiast explains the word by ἐκκέκανται and ἐκθερμαίνειν means somewhere, 'To chafe the limbs.' The addition of this line is suited to the character of the Messenger, whose garrulity unconsciously rubs the sore.

πρὸς μέσῃ.. ἀγορᾷ] ‘Near the midst of the Trachinians' public place.' Lichas was standing in the midst of the ἀγορά, his audience were standing near. The expression is varied infr. 423. The word μέσῃ marks the publicity of Lichas' statement. See note on O. T. 808.

ἐξελέγχειν] Sc. αὐτόν. · Clearly to convict him.' εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα] From the signs of emotion which she shows, and perhaps instructed by the gestures of the Chorus, the man perceives at last how Deianira is wounded. Ср. О. Т. 746, and note. For φίλα, cp. Phil. 1178, φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας.

οὐχ ἥδομαι] ‘I am sorry.' Cp. Eur. Med. 136, οὐδὲ συνήδομαι, ὦ γύναι, ἄλγεσι δώματος, ἐπεί μοι φίλον κέκρανται.

ποῦ . . πράγματος] ‘Where am 1?' Cp. Αj. 314, κἀνήρετ᾽, ἐν τῷ πράγματος κυροί ποτέ.

What undermining trouble have I welcomed in beneath my roof?' Cp. Ant. 531, σὺ δ᾽, ἢ κατ᾿ οἴκους ὡς ἔχιδν᾽ ὑφειμένη | λήθουσά μ᾽ ἐξέπινες. ὦ δύστηνος] Sc. ἐγώ. Cp. 375, 1143, 1243, О. Т. 1155, О. С. 318. ἆρ᾿ ἀνώνυμος] Deianira thus dwells bitterly on the deceit of Lichas, whereupon the literal Messenger proclaims Iole's name.

καὶ κατ᾿ ὄμμα καὶ φύσιν] ‘In birth, as in appearance.'

πατρός.. Εὐρύτου] 'Taking lineage from Eurytus for her sire.' Ср. Phil. 260, ὦ παῖ πατρὸς ἐξ ᾿Αχιλλέως : Εl. 365, νῦν δ᾽ ἐξὸν πατρὸς .. παῖδα κεκλῆσθαι, καλοῦ τῆς μητρός: Ο. C. 215, τίνος εἶ σπέρματος, ὦ ξένε, φώνει, πατρόθεν. ποτέ] Once.' Cp. supr. 301, and the Homeric εἴ ποτ᾽ ἔην γε (Il. 3. 180).

'Of whose origin he had not a word to say, pretending forsooth to have made no inquiry.' Cp. supr. 317.

οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν] 'Because he did not inquire' at that former time. ὅτι (τότε) οὐδὲν ἱστόρει. Cp. supr. 281, ὑπερχλίοντες, and note.

ὅλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί] The Chorus in a sort of aside, which Deianira is too absorbed to perceive (see infr. 386, ἐκπεπληγμένη), thus covertly direct their indignation at some one. Is this Lichas or Heracles? The prevarication of Lichas is hardly a sufficient cause for such an outburst, and the phrase 'unbecoming to himself' has no significance in relation to him. It is more probable that the Trachinian women, unheard by Deianira, thus breathe a curse on the unfaithfulness of Heracles. It should be remembered that he is not their master, so that the analogy of Medea, 83, 4, ὅλοιτο μὲν μή, δεσπότης γάρ ἐστ᾽ ἐμός, | ἀτὰρ κακός γ᾽ ὧν ἐς φίλους ἁλίσκεται, is rather in favour of this interpretation than against it. Cp. Phil. 451, 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ' αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς ;

(I ask you because) ' I am struck dumb by what is now reported.'

σαφῆ] ‘Clear truth.'

εἰ . . θέλοις] 'If you chose to press him hard with questioning.'

καὶ γὰρ. λέγεις] ‘For your words are not unwise.' οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης = πρὸς γνώμης. 'Thought' in such expressions = ' Wise thought,' or 'Wisdom.'

This line, which in the Laurentian MS. is expressly given to the Chorus, has been transferred by Hermann and recent editors to the Messenger (cp. El. 772, μάτην ἄρ᾽ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν), on the ground that the Chorus were bound in any case to stay where they were, and moreover were helpless in this matter. But (a) τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ; does not mean, 'How shall we help you?' but, What shall we do about staying where we are?' (b) The Ajax and Eumenides show that the Chorus sometimes left the scene, and the objection is irrelevant, for the illusion of the theatre may be carried so far as to ignore stage necessities in imagination. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1058 foll., where Hermes advises the ocean-nymphs to fly, and El. 1399, ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε. (c) The answer of Deianira is perfectly consistent with the coryphaeus having asked, Shall we some of us accompany you, or all wait till you come back?' but is unmeaning as a reply to the question, 'Shall I wait here while you go in, or shall I go away?' which is the only sense the line will bear if given to the Messenger.

οὐκ . . ἀγγέλων] Sc. κλητός, which is suggested by αὐτόκλητος following.

εἰσορᾷς] Wunder conjectures ὡς ὁρᾷς. Dindorf, on the other hand, suggests that Sophocles may have used εἰσορᾷς here for the parenthetical opas to avoid the repetition of ὡs. But the parenthetical opas is interrogative, and that is unsuitable here. The best explanation of the words as they stand is to suppose that they are a confusion of two constructions, (1) ὡς εἰσορᾶς ἐμὲ ἕρποντα, (2) ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ.

ἐκ ταχείας] For this adverbial expression, cp. infr. 727, ἐξ ἑκουσίας : Plat. Soph. p. 231 C, τὰς ἁπάσας μὴ ῥάδιον εἶναι διαφεύγειν. ὁρμῆς, or some such word, can easily be supplied. But the ellipse has become idiomatic.

σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ] 'So tardily.' Cp. Ο. С. 1602, ταχεῖ ξὺν χρόνῳ. For the meaning, cp. supr. 44, 5, χρόνον γὰρ οὐχὶ βαιόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἤδη δέκα | μῆνας πρὸς ἄλλοις πέντ᾽ ἀκήρυκτος μένει

καὶ νεώσασθαι] ‘Before I have conversed again with you.' Hermann conjectures κάννεώσασθαι, - i. e. καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι, cp. Od. 10. 192, ἀννεῖται. But he was hardly justified in condemning νεώσασθαι. See Essay on L. § 55. p. 101, 4. The meaning is, 'Before we can have fresh interchange of talk,' rather than, 'Before we have renewed the talk we had with you just now.'

ἢ καὶ . . νέμεις] ‘And dost thou maintain the faithful spirit of truth?" For νέμεις, 'Dost possess, wield, use,' cp. Aesch. Ag. 685, γλῶσσαν ἐν τύχᾳ νέμων. For τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας, cp. Thuc. 2. 40, ἐλευθερίας τῷ πιστῷ: ib. 6. 72, τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἐπιστήμης.

ὧν γε = (νέμω ἀλήθειαν) τούτων ἅ.

Ср. О. Τ. 1121, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων, The Messenger rudely calls Lichas' attention to himself. Here and elsewhere in this scene (see v. rr.) the traditional reading confuses the persons of Lichas and the Messenger.

The reading ἐρωτήσασ' (cp. 412) has suggested to some editors a transposition of the lines, which is quite unnecessary. Thus Dindorf (Oxford, 1869) reads ΔΗ. 400, ΛΙ. 403, ΔΗ. 404, ΛΙ. 401, ΑΓ. 402. But Lichas is too courteous to Deianira and too self-possessed to have addressed so rude a question to her, instead of answering at once, and if he had done so would not have emphasized the pronoun σύ: whereas it is quite natural that he should turn abruptly on the Messenger without giving him a direct answer. And 404 suits better with the peremptoriness of the "Αγγελος than with the character of Deianira.

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν] ‘Say frankly.' τολμᾶν is one of those words which, like ἐπιχειρεῖν, are not to be pressed too closely when used as auxiliaries. Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα . . ἀποστυγεῖν: Εl. 1051, οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν, κ.τ.λ : Aesch. Prom. 999, 1000, τόλμησον . . ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν. εἰ φρονεῖς] «If you have the sense to know it; i.e. If your lie has not 'made such a sinner of your memory' as to make you forget to whom you spoke. Hermann strangely understands the "Αγγελος to speak ironically, as if the Messenger thought that Lichas would not dare to answer the question if he were in his right mind.

δάμαρτά θ' Ηρακλέους] Several editors propose to read δ' for θ'.

λεύσσων μάταια] ‘If I have not lost the sight of my eyes.' Cp. infr. 863, πότερον ἐγὼ μάταιος. Lichas professes to be shaken by the rudeness of the question, so as for the moment almost to doubt his eyesight. For the adverbial use of the accusative plural, cp. Eur. Alc. 413, ἀνόνατ᾽ ἐνύμφευσας.

For the repetition of τοῦτο, see on supr. 362, and cp. O. T. 1013, τοῦτ᾽ αὐτὸ . . τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ. σου μαθεῖν] ‘To understand from you.' Cp. O. Τ. 575, ἐγὼ δὲ σου | μαθεῖν δικαιῶ ταὔθ᾽ ἅπερ κἀμοῦ σὺ νῦν.

δίκαια γάρ] 'Yes, for it is right,' that I should acknowledge this. δίκαιος only means 'true' in this indirect way, viz. because it is right to speak the truth. Cp. supr. 347.

What punishment would you accept? i.e. do you allow that you deserve?' Cp. Ο.Τ. 944, εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις ;] · What riddle have you devised?' Cp. infr. 1121, οὐδὲν ξυνίημ᾽ ὧν σὺ ποικίλλεις πάλαι,

τοῦτο δρῶν] Sc. ποικίλλων, 'Keeping up a mystery.'

μῶρος .. σέθεν] ‘I have been a fool in listening to you for so long.'

ού] Sc. οὐκ ἄπει. Not until being asked you have answered one little word.' See note on O. Т. 360.

Speak what you will-indeed you have enough to say.'

κάτοισθα δήπου ;] 'You know, I presume?' Cp. infr. 1219, τὴν Εὐρυτείαν οἶσθα δῆτα παρθένον ;

ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς] 'Whom you regard with strangeness. For ὑπό with the genitive, where (as in some uses of the dative, Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 1 ) the notion of cause passes into that of manner, or accompaniment, cp. Εl. 630, ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς : Εur. Hipp. 1299, ὑπ᾿ εὐκλείας θανεῖν. Iole is not present; therefore ὁρᾷς must refer to the behaviour of Lichas in the former scene. Schndw. conjectured ἧς σύ γ᾽ ἀγνοεῖς γονάς.

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν] The dative answers ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι in l. 421, so that ev is easily supplied. Essay on L. §35. p. 60.

ταῦτά γ'] 'This, ay, this!' γε adds emphasis to ταῦτα, but also qualifies the whole sentence as affirming what Lichas denies.

ναί has sometimes been omitted, as a gloss on ye in this line. But the pause, with the interjection extra metrum, expresses very naturally the momentary confusion of Lichas. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχί] The negative is emphasized by being postponed. Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, γ.

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν] ‘Το state an impression and to speak with exactness.'

ποίαν δόκησιν] 'Impression quotha!' The only example of this idiom in tragedy. Cp. O. T. 1145, ὦ τάν in the mouth of the Corinthian messenger in where see note.

τόνδε.. ξένοs] Cp. supr. 98, and note.

πόλις .. πᾶσα] (1) i. e. πᾶσα ἡ πόλις, i.e. Oechalia. πᾶσα marks that the whole city was ruined for one maid. Cp. infr. 466. Or (2) the expression is at first general, 'A whole city,' and passes on to the particular (433, αὐτήν), as often happens in Thucydides. κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία] The sense is here improved by adopting the reading of Paris A. and other MSS., involving a very slight and probable change from κουχί, the reading of L.

φανείς] «Having arisen; i. e 'Having proved to be a fact in the life of Heracles. (Not, 'Having been disclosed.')

νοσοῦντι.. σώφρονος] • Το talk idly to a madman is unworthy of a man in his senses.'

In this speech of Deianira, although she dissembles her jealousy in order to draw the truth from Lichas, yet the real gentleness of her character is also expressed. Cр. l. 445 with infr. 543-4.

πρός σε τοῦ, κ.τ.λ.] This peculiar inversion seems to belong to the later manner of Sophocles. Cр. О. С. 250, 1333, Phil. 468.

ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον] Cheat me of the truth.' ἐκκλέπτειν here is to deprive by falsehood. λόγον, ‘The true account.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 783, μηδ' ἀτιμάσῃς λόγους.

Either (1) To be always glad is not granted by Nature to the same person,' or (2) 'He' (man, ἄνθρωπος, implied in τὰ ἀνθρώπων) ‘is not of a nature to delight always in the same things.' For (1) cp. Thuc. 2. 64, πάντα γὰρ πέφυκε καὶ ἐλασσοῦσθαι: El. 859, πᾶσι θνατοῖς ἔφυ μόρος. And, for (2), Phil. 88, ἔφυν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐκ τέχνης πράσσειν κακῆς. The first meaning is more pathetic, and on the whole preferable, although the second may be thought to suit better with Deianira's present purpose (see especially l. 448). For the indefinite or collective singular alternating with the plural in (2), see Essay on L. § 20. p. 31, 3.

μέν has no distinct antithesis, but prepares for ἀλλὰ . . ἀλλά in ll. 449, 453. Cp. with εἰς χεῖρας ἰέναι the old English expression, To go to buffets.'

καὶ θεῶν. . κἀμοῦ γε] 'Even over the gods, and certainly over me.'

The following quotation from La Fameuse Comédienne is believed to record the personal experience of Molière: My passion has risen to such a height that it goes the length of entering with sympathy into her concerns; and when I consider how impossible it is for me to overcome my love for her, I say to myself that she may have the same difficulty in subduing her inclinations, and I feel accordingly more disposed to pity her than to blame her.' -See Molière, in Blackwood's Foreign Classics, p. 106. οἷας γ᾽ ἐμοῦ] 'I mean one who is a woman as I am.' Cp. infr. 447. For the attraction (= οῖα ἐγώ εἰμι), see Essay on L. § 35. p. 59 , and cp. Plato, Soph. 237 C, χαλεπὸν ἥρου καὶ οἴῳ γε ἐμοὶ παντάπασιν ἄπορον.

τε.. 447. ἤ ἤ is substituted for the second τε as the disjunctive nature of the sentence becomes more prominent. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 65 f , and cp. Plat. Theaet. 143 C, περὶ αὐτοῦ τε .. ἢ αὖ περὶ τοῦ ἀποκρινομένου . .

μεμπτός εἰμι] 'Feel reproachfully. For this use of the verbal adjective, cp. supr. 357, ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ἰφίτου μόρος, and note. The force of the verbal here is, 'Touched with a feeling of blame,' 'Affected with displeasure' = μομφὴν ἔχων (Αj. 180). μαίνομαι] Cp. Aj. 1330, ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν: Aesch. Ag. 1064, ἦ μαίνεταί γε καὶ κακῶν κλύει φρενῶν, κ.τ.λ.

μεταιτίᾳ] ‘Of that which is in no way disgraceful '-because shared by so many. ἐρᾷς· τί τοῦτο θαῦμα; σὺν πολλοῖς βροτῶν, Eur. Hipp. 439.

μηδ᾽ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος] ‘Nor at all involving mischief to me.' The indefinite pronoun has an adverbial force. Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin. From the point of view which she is trying to put before Lichas, Deianira still holds her position as the wife of Heracles. See below, l. 550.

οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα] 'There is no such thing,' as this jealous feeling you are afraid to wound.

ἐκμανθάνεις] ἐκ is repeated from ἐκ κείνου, without adding to the meaning. Essay on L. § 55. p. 101.

Trachiniae. Lewis Campbell. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

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Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (English) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879))

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Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 314 focus

τί δ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ; τί δ᾽ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις κεκρίνοις καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως

γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις υστάτοις.
315

ΔΗ.

μὴ τῶν τυράννων; Εὐρύτου τυράννων Εὐρύτου; σπορά τις ἦν;

ΛΙ.

οὐκ οἶδα· καὶ γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

ΔΗ.

οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

ΛΙ.

ἥκιστα· σιγῇ τοὐμὸν υ ἔργον ἤνυτον om. add.

ΔΗ.

εἴπ᾽, ὦ τάλαιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμὶν ἐκ σαυτῆς· ἐπεὶ
320

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι μἠδέναι μὴ εἰδέναι σε σε γ' ἥτις εἶ.

ΛΙ.

οὐ τἄρα οὔτ᾽ ἆρα τῷ γε πρόσθεν οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου

χρόνῳ χρόνω διοίσει γλῶσσαν, ἥτις οὐδαμὰ οὐδαμαῖ οὐδαμᾶ

προὔφηνεν οὔτε μείζον οὔτ᾽ ἐλάσσονα,

ἀλλ᾽ αἰὲν ὠδίνουσα συμφορᾶς βάρος
325

δακρυρροεῖ δακρυρρόει δύστηνος, ἐξ ὅτου πάτραν

διήνεμον λέλοιπεν, ἡ δέ τοι τύχη

κακὴ μὲν αὐτῇ γ᾽, ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχει.

ΔΗ.

ἥδ᾽ οὖν ἐάσθω, καὶ πορευέσθω στέγας

οὕτως ὅπως ἥδιστα, μηδὲ πρὸς κακοῖς
330

τοῖς οὖσιν ἄλλην λύπην ἄλλην πρός γ᾽ ἐμοῦ λύπην λύπην λύπην λοιπὴν λύπην λάβοι·

ἅλις γὰρ ἡ παροῦσα. πρὸς δὲ προσδε δώματα

χωρῶμεν ἤδη πάντες, ὡς σύ θ᾽ οἱ θέλεις

σπεύδῃς, ἐγὼ δὲ τἄνδον ἐξαρκῆ τιθῶ.

ΑΓ.

αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασ᾽, ὅπως
335

μάθῃς, ἄνευ τῶνδ᾽, οὕστινάς τ' om. γ' ἄγεις ἔσω,

ὧν τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας, ἐκμάθῃς θ᾽ γ' ἃ δεῖ.

τούτων ἔχω γὰρ πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμην ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

τί δ᾽ ἐστί; τοῦ με τήνδ᾽ ἐφίστασαι φ ἐπίστασαι βάσιν ;

ΑΓ.

σταθεῖσ᾽ ἄκουσον· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος
340

μῦθον μάτην ἤκουσας, οὐδὲ νῦν δοκῶ.

ΔΗ.

πότερον ἐκείνους δῆτα δεῦρ᾽ αὖθις πάλιν

καλῶμεν, ἢ ἐμοὶ ἥμοι οἶμοι ταῖσδέ τ᾽ ἐξειπεῖν θέλεις;

ΑΓ.

σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴργεται, τούτους δ᾽ ἔα.

ΔΗ.

καὶ δὴ βεβᾶσι, χώ λόγος σημαινέτω.
345

ΑΓ.

ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽ οὐδὲν ὧν ἔλεξεν ἀρτίως

φωνεῖ φώνεῖ δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ νῦν κακός,

ἢ πρόσθεν οὐ δίκαιος ἄγγελος παρῆν.

ΔΗ.

τί φής; σαφῶς μοι φράζε πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς·

ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ἀγνοίᾳ ἄγνοια μ' ἔχει.
350

ΑΓ.

τούτου λέγοντος τἀνδρὸς εἰσήκουσ᾽ ἐγώ,

πολλῶν παρόντων μαρτύρων, ὡς τῆς κόρης

ταύτης ἕκατι κεῖνος Εὔρυτόν εὔροιτόν εὔρυτόν θ᾽ ἕλοι

τήν θ᾽ ὑψίπυργον Οἰχαλίαν,῎Ερως δέ νιν

μόνος θεῶν θέλξειεν αἰχμάσαι τάδε,
355

—οὐ τ ἀπὶ a Λυδοῖς οὐδ᾽ οὔτ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ Ὀμφάλῃ πόνων

λατρεύματ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ιφίτου μόρος·

—ὃν νῦν παρώσας οὗτος ἔμπαλιν λέγει.

ἀλλ᾽ ἡνίκ οὐκ ἔπειθε τὸν φυτοσπόρον

τὴν παῖδα δοῦναι, κρύφιον ὡς ἔχοι η from ει ἔχοι λέχος,
360

ἔγκλημα μικρὸν αἰτίαν θ᾽ ἑτοιμάσας

ἐπιστρατεύει πατρίδα τὴν ταύτης, ἐν ᾗ

τὸν Εὔρυτον τόνδ' τῶνδ᾽ εἶπε δεσπόζειν θρόνων,

κτείνει τ᾿ ἄνακτα πατέρα πατέρα τῆσδε καὶ πόλιν παλιν πόλιν

ἔπερσε, καὶ νῦν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἥκει δόμους
365

ὡς τούσδε τοῦσδε πέμπων οὐκ ἀφροντίστως, γύναι,

οὐδ᾽ ὥστε δούλην· μηδὲ προσδόκα τόδε τόνδε τόδε·

οὐδ᾽ εἰκός, εἴπερ ἐντεθέρμανται πόθῳ.

ἔδοξεν οὖν μοι πρὸς σὲ δηλῶσαι τὸ πᾶν,

δέσποιν', ὃ τοῦδε τυγχάνω τυγχάνων μαθὼν πάρα.
370

καὶ ταῦτα πολλοὶ πρὸς μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ συνεξήκουον ὡσαύτως ὡσ αὕτωσ ἐμοί,

ὥστ᾽ ἐξελέγχειν· εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα,

οὐχ ἥδομαι, τὸ δ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἐξείρηχ᾽ ὅμως ὅμως.

ΔΗ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375

τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον

λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;

ΑΓ.

ἢ κάρτα κά(ρ)τα καὶ τα καὶ τὰ καίτὰ λαμπρὰ καὶ κατ᾿ ὄμμα καὶ φύσιν,

πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα γένεσιν ένεσιν γένεσιν ένεσιν Εὐρύτου ποτὲ
380

Ιόλη 'καλεῖτο Ἰόλη καλεῖτο, τῆς ἐκεῖνος οὐδαμὰ οὐδαμαῖ οὐδαμᾶ

βλάστας ἐφώνει, δῆθεν οὐδὲν ἰστορῶν.

ΧΟ.

ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντ᾽ αὐτῷ κακά.

ΔΗ.

τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

ΧΟ.

πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχ᾽ ἂν σαφῆ

λέξειεν, εἴ νιν μιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης λέγεις.

ΧΟ.

ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν ;
390

ΔΗ.

μίμν', ὡς ὅδ᾽ ἀνὴρ ἀνὴρ οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπ᾿ ἀγγέλων,

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

ΛΙ.

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μ᾿ Ηρακλεῖ ει from ηι Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν ;

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.

ΔΗ.

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ συνχρόνωι σὺν χρόνω βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς καὶ νεώσασθαι λόγους.

ΛΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι χρήζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

ΛΙ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γ᾽ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

ΔΗ.

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

ΛΙ.

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δ᾽ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΑΓ.

οὗτος, βλέφ᾽ ὧδε. πρὸς τίν' ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς ;

ΛΙ.

σὺ δ᾽ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτήσας ἐρωτήσασ' ἔχεις;

ΑΓ.

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σ᾽ ὃσ ἱστορῶ.

ΛΙ.

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην, δάμαρτά θ' ῾Ηρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων λεύσων λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

ΑΓ.

τοῦτ᾽ αὔτ᾽ αὐτ' ἔχρηζον, τοῦτό σου μαθεῖν. λέγεις

δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

ΛΙ.

δίκαια γάρ.

ΑΓ.

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

ἣν ἤν.. ἦν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

ΛΙ.

πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ποικιλασ' ποικίλλας ποικίλας ἔχεις;

ΑΓ.

οὐδέν. σὺ μέντοι μέντο κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

ΛΙ.

ἄπειμι. μῶρος δ᾽ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

ΑΓ.

οὔ, πρίν γ' ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

ΛΙ.

λέγ' εἴ τι χρήζεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐ σιγηλὸς εἶ.

ΑΓ.

τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους δόμο.. δόμουσ,

κάτοισθα δήπου ;

ΛΙ.

φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

ΑΓ.

οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ἀγνοίασ(α) ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ;
420

ΛΙ.

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύειν παρών ;

ΑΓ.

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γ' ταῦτ᾽ ταῦτά γ' εἰσήκουσ᾽ ὄχλος.

ΛΙ.

ναί. κλύειν γ᾽ ἔφασκον. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχὶ γίγνεται γίνεται
425

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

ΑΓ.

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτ᾽ ἔφασκες Ηρακλεῖ Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν ;

ΛΙ.

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

δέσποινα, τόνδε ω τώνδε τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος.
430

ΑΓ.

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν ἤκοσεν ἤκουσεν ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ κοὐχὶ κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τῆσδ᾽ ἔρως φανείς.

ΛΙ.

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωποσ, ὦ δέσποιν', ἀποστήτω. τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

ΔΗ.

μή, πρός σε πρὸς σὲ πρὸς σὺ τοῦ κατ᾿ ἄκρον Οἰταῖον νάπος

Διὸς καταστράπτοντος, ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον.

οὐ γὰρ γυναικὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐρεῖς κακῇ,

οὐδ᾽ ἥτις οὐ κάτοιδε τἀνθρώπων, ὅτι

χαίρειν πέφυκεν οὐχὶ τοῖς τοι τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀεί.
440

Ἔρωτι μέν νυν μεν.. ῦν μεν νῦν μὲν νῦν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται

πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ.

οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει,

κἀμοῦ γε· πῶς δ᾽ οὐ χἀτέρας, οἵας γ᾿ ἐμοῦ;

ὥστ᾽ εἴ τι τώμῷ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ om. add τἀνδρὶ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ
445

ληφθέντι μεμπτός εἰμι μεμπτὸσ εἰμὶ μεμπτός εἰμι, κάρτα μαίνομαι,

ἢ τῇδε τῇ γυναικί, τῇ μεταιτίᾳ μετ' αἰτιαι μετ' αἰτιαι μεταιτίᾳ

τοῦ μηδὲν αἰσχροῦ μηδ' ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος.

οὐκ ἔστι οὐκεύτι? οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτ᾽. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν ἐκ κείνου μαθὼν

ψεύδει, μάθησιν οὐ καλὴν ἐκμανθάνεις·
450

εἰ δ᾽ αὐτὸς αὑτὸν αὐτὸν αὑτὸν ὧδε παιδεύεις, ὅταν

θέλῃς γενέσθαι χρηστός, ὀφθήσει κακός.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰπὶ πᾶν τἀληθές πάντ᾽ ἀληθὲσ πᾶν τἀληθὲς· ὡς ἐλευθέρῳ

ψευδεῖ καλεῖσθαι κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.

ὅπως δὲ λήσεις λήσης λήσεις, οὐδὲ τοῦτο γίγνεται γίνεται γίγνεται·
455

πολλοὶ γὰρ οἷς εἴρηκας, οἳ φράσουσ᾽ φρασσ᾿ ἐμοί.

κεἰ μὲν δέδοικας, οὐ καλῶς ταρβεῖς, ἐπεὶ

τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι, τοῦτό μ᾿ ἀλγύνειεν ἄν·

τὸ δ᾽ εἰδέναι τί δεινόν; οὐχὶ οὐχι χἀτέρας

πλείστας ἀνὴρ εἷς ῾Ἡρακλῆς ἔγημε δή;
460

κοὔπω τις αὐτῶν ἔκ γ᾽ ἐμοῦ λόγον κακὸν

ἠνέγκατ᾿ οὐδ᾽ ὄνειδος· ἥδε τ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἂν εἰ

κάρτ᾽ ἐντακείη έντακειη (το) ἐντακείη τῷ φιλεῖν, ἐπεί σφ᾽ ἐγὼ

ᾤκτειρα ὥικτειραι ᾤκτειρα δὴ μάλιστα προσβλέψασ᾽, ὅτι

τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς τὸν βίον διώλεσεν,
465

καὶ γῆν πατρῴαν οὐχ ἑκοῦσα δύσμορος

ἔπερσε κἀδούλωσεν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν

ῥείτω κατ' οὗρον, σοὶ δ᾽ ἐγὼ φράζω κακὸν

πρὸς ἄλλον εἶναι, πρὸς δ᾽ ἔμ᾿ ἀψευδεῖν ἀεί.

ΧΟ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 205-496 focus

Χορός

ἀνολολυξάτω δόμοις ἐφεστίοις
205

ἀλαλαγαῖς ἁ μελλόνυμφος, ἐν δὲ

κοινὸς ἀρσένων ἴτω

κλαγγὰ τὸν εὐφαρέτραν

Ἀπόλλω προστάταν· ὁμοῦ δὲ

παιᾶνα παιᾶνʼ ἀνάγετʼ, ὦ παρθένοι,
210

βοᾶτε τὰν ὁμόσπορον

Ἄρτεμιν Ὀρτυγίαν

ἐλαφαβόλον ἀμφίπυρον,

γείτονάς τε Νύμφας.

ἀείρομαι οὐδʼ ἀπώσομαι
215

τὸν αὐλόν, ὦ τύραννε τᾶς ἐμᾶς φρενός.

ἰδού μʼ ἀναταράσσει,

εὐοῖ μʼ,

ὁ κισσὸς ἄρτι βακχίαν

ὑποστρέφων ἅμιλλαν. ἰὼ ἰὼ Παιάν.
220

ἴδʼ, ὦ φίλα γύναι,

τάδʼ ἀντίπρῳρα δή σοι

βλέπειν πάρεστʼ ἐναργῆ.

225

Δηιάνειρα

ὁρῶ, φίλαι γυναῖκες, οὐδέ μʼ ὄμματος
225

φρουρὰν παρῆλθε, τόνδε μὴ λεύσσειν στόλον·

χαίρειν δὲ τὸν κήρυκα προυννέπω, χρόνῳ

πολλῷ φανέντα, χαρτὸν εἴ τι καὶ φέρεις.

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εὖ μὲν ἵγμεθʼ, εὖ δὲ προσφωνούμεθα,

γύναι, κατʼ ἔργου κτῆσιν· ἄνδρα γὰρ καλῶς
230

πράσσοντʼ ἀνάγκη χρηστὰ κερδαίνειν ἔπη.

Δηιάνειρα

ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν, πρῶθʼ ἃ πρῶτα βούλομαι

δίδαξον, εἰ ζῶνθʼ Ἡρακλῆ προσδέξομαι.

Λίχας

ἔγωγέ τοι σφʼ ἔλειπον ἰσχύοντά τε

καὶ ζῶντα καὶ θάλλοντα κοὐ νόσῳ βαρύν.
235

Δηιάνειρα

ποῦ γῆς; πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου; λέγε.

Λίχας

ἀκτή τις ἔστʼ Εὐβοιίς, ἔνθʼ ὁρίζεται

βωμοὺς τέλη τʼ ἔγκαρπα Κηναίῳ Διί.

Δηιάνειρα

εὐκταῖα φαίνων ἢ ἀπὸ μαντείας τινός;

Λίχας

εὐχαῖς ὅθʼ ᾕρει τῶνδʼ ἀνάστατον δορὶ
240

χώραν γυναικῶν ὧν ὁρᾷς ἐν ὄμμασιν.

Δηιάνειρα

αὗται δέ, πρὸς θεῶν, τοῦ ποτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ τίνες;

οἰκτραὶ γάρ, εἰ μὴ ξυμφοραὶ κλέπτουσί με.

Λίχας

ταύτας ἐκεῖνος Εὐρύτου πέρσας πόλιν

ἐξείλεθʼ αὑτῷ κτῆμα καὶ θεοῖς κριτόν.
245

Δηιάνειρα

ἦ κἀπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πόλει τὸν ἄσκοπον

χρόνον βεβὼς ἦν ἡμερῶν ἀνήριθμον;

248

Λίχας

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν πλεῖστον ἐν Λυδοῖς χρόνον

κατείχεθʼ, ὥς φησʼ αὐτός, οὐκ ἐλεύθερος,

ἀλλʼ ἐμποληθείς· τοῦ λόγου δʼ οὐ χρὴ φθόνον,
250

γύναι, προσεῖναι, Ζεὺς ὅτου πράκτωρ φανῇ.

κεῖνος δὲ πραθεὶς Ὀμφάλῃ τῇ βαρβάρῳ

ἐνιαυτὸν ἐξέπλησεν, ὡς αὐτὸς λέγει.

χοὔτως ἐδήχθη τοῦτο τοὔνειδος λαβὼν

ὥσθʼ ὅρκον αὑτῷ προσβαλὼν διώμοσεν,
255

ἦ μὴν τὸν ἀγχιστῆρα τοῦδε τοῦ πάθους

ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ γυναικὶ δουλώσειν ἔτι.

κοὐχ ἡλίωσε τοὔπος, ἀλλʼ ὅθʼ ἁγνὸς ἦν,

στρατὸν λαβὼν ἐπακτὸν ἔρχεται πόλιν

τὴν Εὐρυτείαν. τόνδε γὰρ μεταίτιον
260

μόνον βροτῶν ἔφασκε τοῦδʼ εἶναι πάθους·

ὃς αὐτὸν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς δόμους ἐφέστιον,

ξένον παλαιὸν ὄντα, πολλὰ μὲν λόγοις

ἐπερρόθησε, πολλὰ δʼ ἀτηρᾷ φρενί,

λέγων χεροῖν μὲν ὡς ἄφυκτʼ ἔχων βέλη
265

τῶν ὧν τέκνων λείποιτο πρὸς τόξου κρίσιν,

φωνεῖ δὲ δοῦλος ἀνδρὸς ὡς ἐλευθέρου

ῥαίοιτο· δείπνοις δʼ ἡνίκʼ ἦν ᾠνωμένος,

ἔρριψεν ἐκτὸς αὐτόν. ὧν ἔχων χόλον,

270

Λίχας

ὡς ἵκετʼ αὖθις Ἴφιτος Τιρυνθίαν
270

πρὸς κλιτύν, ἵππους νομάδας ἐξιχνοσκοπῶν,

τότʼ ἄλλοσʼ αὐτὸν ὄμμα, θατέρᾳ δὲ νοῦν

ἔχοντʼ, ἀπʼ ἄκρας ἧκε πυργώδους πλακός.

ἔργου δʼ ἕκατι τοῦδε μηνίσας ἄναξ

ὁ τῶν ἁπάντων Ζεὺς πατὴρ Ὀλύμπιος
275

πρατόν νιν ἐξέπεμψεν οὐδʼ ἠνέσχετο,

ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτὸν μοῦνον ἀνθρώπων δόλῳ

ἔκτεινεν· εἰ γὰρ ἐμφανῶς ἠμύνατο,

Ζεύς τἂν συνέγνω ξὺν δίκῃ χειρουμένῳ·

ὕβριν γὰρ οὐ στέργουσιν οὐδὲ δαίμονες.
280

κεῖνοι δʼ ὑπερχλίοντες ἐκ γλώσσης κακῆς

αὐτοὶ μὲν Ἅιδου πάντες εἴσʼ οἰκήτορες,

πόλις δὲ δούλη· τάσδε δʼ ἅσπερ εἰσορᾷς

ἐξ ὀλβίων ἄζηλον εὑροῦσαι βίον

χωροῦσι πρὸς σέ· ταῦτα γὰρ πόσις τε σὸς
285

ἐφεῖτʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ πιστὸς ὢν κείνῳ τελῶ.

αὐτὸν δʼ ἐκεῖνον, εὖτʼ ἂν ἁγνὰ θύματα

ῥέξῃ πατρῴῳ Ζηνὶ τῆς ἁλώσεως,

φρόνει νιν ὡς ἥξοντα· τοῦτο γὰρ λόγου

πολλοῦ καλῶς λεχθέντος ἥδιστον κλύειν.
290

291

Χορός

ἄνασσα, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ,

τῶν μὲν παρόντων, τὰ δὲ πεπυσμένῃ λόγῳ.

Δηιάνειρα

πῶς δʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ χαίροιμʼ ἄν, ἀνδρὸς εὐτυχῆ

κλύουσα πρᾶξιν τήνδε, πανδίκῳ φρενί;

πολλή ʼστʼ ἀνάγκη τῇδε τοῦτο συντρέχειν.
295

ὅμως δʼ ἔνεστι τοῖσιν εὖ σκοπουμένοις

ταρβεῖν τὸν εὖ πράσσοντα, μὴ σφαλῇ ποτε.

ἐμοὶ γὰρ οἶκτος δεινὸς εἰσέβη, φίλαι,

ταύτας ὁρώσῃ δυσπότμους ἐπὶ ξένης

χώρας ἀοίκους ἀπάτοράς τʼ ἀλωμένας,
300

αἳ πρὶν μὲν ἦσαν ἐξ ἐλευθέρων ἴσως

ἀνδρῶν, τανῦν δὲ δοῦλον ἴσχουσιν βίον.

ὦ Ζεῦ τροπαῖε, μή ποτʼ εἰσίδοιμί σε

πρὸς τοὐμὸν οὕτω σπέρμα χωρήσαντά ποι,

μηδʼ, εἴ τι δράσεις, τῆσδέ γε ζώσης ἔτι.
305

οὕτως ἐγὼ δέδοικα τάσδʼ ὁρωμένη.

ὦ δυστάλαινα, τίς ποτʼ εἶ νεανίδων;

ἄνανδρος ἢ τεκνοῦσσα; πρὸς μὲν γὰρ φύσιν

πάντων ἄπειρος τῶνδε, γενναία δέ τις.

Λίχα, τίνος ποτʼ ἐστὶν ἡ ξένη βροτῶν;
310

τίς ἡ τεκοῦσα, τίς δʼ ὁ φιτύσας πατήρ;

ἔξειπʼ· ἐπεί νιν τῶνδε πλεῖστον ᾤκτισα

βλέπουσʼ, ὅσῳπερ καὶ φρονεῖν οἶδεν μόνη.

314

Λίχας

τί δʼ οἶδʼ ἐγώ, τί δʼ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως

γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις.
315

Δηιάνειρα

μὴ τῶν τυράννων; Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν;

Λίχας

οὐκ οἶδα· καὶ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

Δηιάνειρα

οὐδʼ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

Λίχας

ἥκιστα· σιγῇ τοὐμὸν ἔργον ἤνυτον.

Δηιάνειρα

εἴπʼ, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἀλλʼ ἡμὶν ἐκ σαυτῆς, ἐπεὶ
320

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι σέ γʼ ἥτις εἶ.

Λίχας

οὔ τἄρα τῷ γε πρόσθεν οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου

χρόνῳ διήσει γλῶσσαν, ἥτις οὐδαμὰ

προύφηνεν οὔτε μείζονʼ οὔτʼ ἐλάσσονα,

ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ὠδίνουσα συμφορᾶς βάρος
325

δακρυρροεῖ δύστηνος, ἐξ ὅτου πάτραν

διήνεμον λέλοιπεν· ἡ δέ τοι τύχη

κακὴ μὲν αὐτῇ γʼ, ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχει.

Δηιάνειρα

ἡ δʼ οὖν ἐάσθω, καὶ πορευέσθω στέγας

οὕτως ὅπως ἥδιστα, μηδὲ πρὸς κακοῖς
330

τοῖς οὖσιν ἄλλην πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ λύπην λάβῃ·

ἅλις γὰρ ἡ παροῦσα. πρὸς δὲ δώματα

χωρῶμεν ἤδη πάντες, ὡς σύ θʼ οἷ θέλεις

σπεύδῃς, ἐγώ τε τἄνδον ἐξαρκῆ τιθῶ.

335

Ἄγγελος

αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασʼ, ὅπως
335

μάθῃς ἄνευ τῶνδʼ, οὕστινάς τʼ ἄγεις ἔσω,

ὧν τʼ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας ἐκμάθῃς ἃ δεῖ·

τούτων ἔχω γὰρ πάντʼ ἐπιστήμην ἐγώ.

Δηιάνειρα

τί δʼ ἐστί; τοῦ με τήνδʼ ἐφίστασαι βάσιν;

Ἄγγελος

σταθεῖσʼ ἄκουσον· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος
340

μῦθον μάτην ἤκουσας, οὐδὲ νῦν δοκῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

πότερον ἐκείνους δῆτα δεῦρʼ αὖθις πάλιν

καλῶμεν, ἢ ʼμοὶ ταῖσδέ τʼ ἐξειπεῖν θέλεις;

Ἄγγελος

σοὶ ταῖσδέ τʼ οὐδὲν εἴργεται, τούτους δʼ ἔα.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ δὴ βεβᾶσι, χὠ λόγος σημαινέτω.
345

Ἄγγελος

ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ οὐδὲν ὧν ἔλεξεν ἀρτίως

φωνεῖ δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν, ἀλλʼ ἢ νῦν κακὸς

ἢ πρόσθεν οὐ δίκαιος ἄγγελος παρῆν.

Δηιάνειρα

τί φής; σαφῶς μοι φράζε πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς.

ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ἀγνοία μʼ ἔχει.
350

351

Ἄγγελος

τούτου λέγοντος τἀνδρὸς εἰσήκουσʼ ἐγώ,

πολλῶν παρόντων μαρτύρων, ὡς τῆς κόρης

ταύτης ἕκατι κεῖνος Εὔρυτόν θʼ ἕλοι

τήν θʼ ὑψίπυργον Οἰχαλίαν, Ἔρως δέ νιν

μόνος θεῶν θέλξειεν αἰχμάσαι τάδε,
355

οὐ τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς οὐδʼ ὑπʼ Ὀμφάλῃ πόνων

λατρεύματʼ οὐδʼ ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ἰφίτου μόρος·

ὃν νῦν παρώσας οὗτος ἔμπαλιν λέγει.

ἀλλʼ ἡνίκʼ οὐκ ἔπειθε τὸν φυτοσπόρον

τὴν παῖδα δοῦναι, κρύφιον ὡς ἔχοι λέχος,
360

ἔγκλημα μικρὸν αἰτίαν θʼ ἑτοιμάσας

ἐπιστρατεύει πατρίδα τὴν ταύτης, ἐν ᾗ

τὸν Εὔρυτον τόνδʼ εἶπε δεσπόζειν θρόνων,

κτείνει τʼ ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε καὶ πόλιν

ἔπερσε. καὶ νῦν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἥκει δόμους
365

ὡς τούσδε πέμπων οὐκ ἀφροντίστως, γύναι,

οὐδʼ ὥστε δούλην· μηδὲ προσδόκα τόδε·

οὐδʼ εἰκός, εἴπερ ἐντεθέρμανται πόθῳ.

ἔδοξεν οὖν μοι πρὸς σὲ δηλῶσαι τὸ πᾶν,

δέσποινʼ, ὃ τοῦδε τυγχάνω μαθὼν πάρα.
370

καὶ ταῦτα πολλοὶ πρὸς μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ συνεξήκουον ὡσαύτως ἐμοί,

ὥστʼ ἐξελέγχειν· εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα,

οὐχ ἥδομαι, τὸ δʼ ὀρθὸν ἐξείρηχʼ ὅμως.

375

Δηιάνειρα

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτʼ εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375

τίνʼ εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον

λαθραῖον; ὦ δύστηνος· ἆρʼ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων διώμνυτο;

Ἄγγελος

ἦ κάρτα λαμπρὰ καὶ κατʼ ὄνομα καὶ φύσιν,

πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα γένεσιν Εὐρύτου ποτὲ
380

Ἰόλη ʼκαλεῖτο, τῆς ἐκεῖνος οὐδαμὰ

βλάστας ἐφώνει, δῆθεν οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν.

Χορός

ὄλοιντο—μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖʼ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντʼ αὐτῷ κακά.

Δηιάνειρα

τί χρὴ ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

Χορός

πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχʼ ἂν σαφῆ

λέξειεν, εἴ νιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

Δηιάνειρα

ἀλλʼ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἀπὸ γνώμης λέγεις.

Ἄγγελος

ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποεῖν;
390

Δηιάνειρα

μίμνʼ, ὡς ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπʼ ἀγγέλων,

ἀλλʼ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

393

Λίχας

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μʼ Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν;

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἐμοῦ.

Δηιάνειρα

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους.

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι χρῄζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμʼ ἐγώ.

Δηιάνειρα

ἦ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

Λίχας

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γʼ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτʼ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

Λίχας

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δʼ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

Ἄγγελος

οὗτος, βλέφʼ ὧδε· πρὸς τίνʼ ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς;

Λίχας

σὺ δʼ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτʼ ἐρωτήσας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σʼ ἱστορῶ.

Λίχας

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην δάμαρτά θʼ Ἡρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

Ἄγγελος

τοῦτʼ αὔτʼ ἔχρῃζον, τοῦτό σου μαθεῖν· λέγεις δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

Λίχας

δίκαια γάρ.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

ἢν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

Λίχας

πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

οὐδέν· σὺ μέντοι κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

Λίχας

ἄπειμι· μῶρος δʼ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

Ἄγγελος

οὔ, πρίν γʼ ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

Λίχας

λέγʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐ σιγηλὸς εἶ.

Ἄγγελος

τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους, κάτοισθα δήπου;

Λίχας

φημί· πρὸς τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ἰόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν;
420

Λίχας

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν πάρα;

Ἄγγελος

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ὄχλος.

Λίχας

κλύειν γʼ ἔφασκον· ταὐτὸ δʼ οὐχὶ γίγνεται
425

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

Ἄγγελος

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτʼ ἔφασκες Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν;

Λίχας

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

δέσποινα, τόνδε τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος.
430

Ἄγγελος

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν, ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλʼ ὁ τῆσδʼ ἔρως φανείς.

Λίχας

ἅνθρωπος, ὦ δέσποινʼ, ἀποστήτω· τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

436

Δηιάνειρα

μή, πρός σε τοῦ κατʼ ἄκρον Οἰταῖον νάπος

Διὸς καταστράπτοντος, ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον.

οὐ γὰρ γυναικὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐρεῖς κακῇ

οὐδʼ ἥτις οὐ κάτοιδε τἀνθρώπων, ὅτι

χαίρειν πέφυκεν οὐχὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀεί.
440

Ἔρωτι μέν νυν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται

πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ·

οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει,

κἀμοῦ γε· πῶς δʼ οὐ χἀτέρας οἵας γʼ ἐμοῦ;

ὥστʼ εἴ τι τὠμῷ τʼ ἀνδρὶ τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ
445

ληφθέντι μεμπτός εἰμι, κάρτα μαίνομαι,

ἢ τῇδε τῇ γυναικὶ τῇ μεταιτίᾳ

τοῦ μηδὲν αἰσχροῦ μηδʼ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος.

οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτʼ· ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν ἐκ κείνου μαθὼν

ψεύδει, μάθησιν οὐ καλὴν ἐκμανθάνεις.
450

εἰ δʼ αὐτὸς αὑτὸν ὧδε παιδεύεις, ὅταν

θέλῃς γενέσθαι χρηστός, ὀφθήσει κακός.

ἀλλʼ εἰπὲ πᾶν τἀληθές· ὡς ἐλευθέρῳ

ψευδεῖ καλεῖσθαι κὴρ πρόσεστιν οὐ καλή.

ὅπως δὲ λήσεις, οὐδὲ τοῦτο γίγνεται·
455

πολλοὶ γὰρ οἷς εἴρηκας, οἳ φράσουσʼ ἐμοί.

κεἰ μὲν δέδοικας, οὐ καλῶς ταρβεῖς, ἐπεὶ

τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι, τοῦτό μʼ ἀλγύνειεν ἄν·

τὸ δʼ εἰδέναι τί δεινόν; οὐχὶ χἀτέρας

πλείστας ἀνὴρ εἷς Ἡρακλῆς ἔγημε δή;
460

κοὔπω τις αὐτῶν ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ λόγον κακὸν

ἠνέγκατʼ οὐδʼ ὄνειδος· ἥδε τʼ οὐδʼ ἂν εἰ

κάρτʼ ἐντακείη τῷ φιλεῖν, ἐπεί σφʼ ἐγὼ

ᾤκτιρα δὴ μάλιστα προσβλέψασʼ, ὅτι

τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς τὸν βίον διώλεσεν,
465

καὶ γῆν πατρῴαν οὐχ ἑκοῦσα δύσμορος

ἔπερσε κἀδούλωσεν. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν

ῥείτω κατʼ οὖρον· σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ φράζω κακὸν

πρὸς ἄλλον εἶναι, πρὸς δʼ ἔμʼ ἀψευδεῖν ἀεί.

470

Χορός

πείθου λεγούσῃ χρηστά, κοὐ μέμψει χρόνῳ
470

γυναικὶ τῇδε κἀπʼ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν.

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ, ὦ φίλη δέσποινʼ, ἐπεί σε μανθάνω

θνητὴν φρονοῦσαν θνητὰ κοὐκ ἀγνώμονα,

πᾶν σοι φράσω τἀληθὲς οὐδὲ κρύψομαι.

ἔστιν γὰρ οὕτως ὥσπερ οὗτος ἐννέπει.
475

ταύτης ὁ δεινὸς ἵμερός ποθʼ Ἡρακλῆ

διῆλθε, καὶ τῆσδʼ εἵνεχʼ ἡ πολύφθορος

καθῃρέθη πατρῷος Οἰχαλία δόρει.

καὶ ταῦτα, δεῖ γὰρ καὶ τὸ πρὸς κείνου λέγειν,

οὔτʼ εἶπε κρύπτειν οὔτʼ ἀπηρνήθη ποτέ,
480

ἀλλʼ αὐτός, ὦ δέσποινα, δειμαίνων τὸ σὸν

μὴ στέρνον ἀλγύνοιμι τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις,

ἥμαρτον, εἴ τι τήνδʼ ἁμαρτίαν νέμεις.

ἐπεί γε μὲν δὴ πάντʼ ἐπίστασαι λόγον,

κείνου τε καὶ σὴν ἐξ ἴσου κοινὴν χάριν
485

καὶ στέργε τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ βούλου λόγους,

οὓς εἶπας ἐς τήνδʼ, ἐμπέδως εἰρηκέναι·

ὡς τἄλλʼ ἐκεῖνος πάντʼ ἀριστεύων χεροῖν

τοῦ τῆσδʼ ἔρωτος εἰς ἅπανθʼ ἥσσων ἔφυ.

Δηιάνειρα

ἀλλʼ ὧδε καὶ φρονοῦμεν ὥστε ταῦτα δρᾶν,
490

κοὔτοι νόσον γʼ ἐπακτὸν ἐξαρούμεθα,

θεοῖσι δυσμαχοῦντες. ἀλλʼ εἴσω στέγης

χωρῶμεν, ὡς λόγων τʼ ἐπιστολὰς φέρῃς,

ἅ τʼ ἀντὶ δώρων δῶρα χρὴ προσαρμόσαι,

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἄγῃς· κενὸν γὰρ οὐ δίκαιά σε
495

χωρεῖν προσελθόνθʼ ὧδε σὺν πολλῷ στόλῳ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 314 focus

What know I? Why should’st thou demand? Perchance

Not lowest in the list of souls there born.

DÊ

How if a princess, offspring of their King?

LICH

I cannot tell. I did not question far.

DÊ

Have none of her companions breathed her name?

LICH

I brought them silently. I did not hear.

DÊ

Yet speak it to us of thyself, poor maid!
320

’Tis sorrow not to know thee who thou art.

LICH

She’ll ne’er untie her tongue, if she maintain

An even tenor, since nor more nor less

Would she disclose; but, poor unfortunate!

With agonizing sobs and tears she mourns

This crushing sorrow, from the day she left

Her wind-swept home. Her case is cruel, sure,—

And claims a privilege from all who feel.

DÊ

Well, let her go, and pass beneath the roof

In peace, as she desires; nor let fresh pain
330

From me be added to her previous woe.

She hath enough already. Come, away!

Let’s all within at once, that thou mayest speed

Thy journey, and I may order all things here.

MESS
Re-enter Messenger .

Pause first there on the threshold, till you learn
335

(Apart from those) who ’tis you take within,
335

And more besides that you yet know not of,
335

Which deeply imports your knowing. Of all this

I throughly am informed.

DÊ

What cause hast thou

Thus to arrest my going?

MESS

Stand, and hear.
340

Not idle was my former speech, nor this.

DÊ

Say, must we call them back in presence here,

Or would’st thou tell thy news to these and me?

MESS

To thee and these I may, but let those be.

DÊ

Well, they are gone. Let words declare thy drift.
345

MESS

That man, in all that he hath lately said,

Hath sinned against the truth: or now he’s false,

Or else unfaithful in his first report.

DÊ

What? Tell me thy full meaning clearly forth.

That thou hast uttered is all mystery.
350

MESS

I heard this herald say, while many thronged

To hearken, that this maiden was the cause,

Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord

Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone

Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise,

And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks

Of rigorous Omphalè, nor that wild fate

Of rock-thrown Iphitus. Now he thrusts aside

The Love-god, contradicting his first tale.

When he that was her sire could not be brought

To yield the maid for Heracles to hold

In love unrecognized, he framed erelong

A feud about some trifle, and set forth
355

In arms against this damsel’s fatherland
355

(Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king)
355

And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked

Their city. Now returning, as you see,

He sends her hither to his halls, no slave,

Nor unregarded, lady,—dream not so!

Since all his heart is kindled with desire.

I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all

The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth,

Which many heard as well as I, i’ the midst

Of Trachis’ market-place, and can confirm

My witness. I am pained if my plain speech

Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell.

DÊ

Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen?
375

What hidden woe have I unwarily

Taken beneath my roof? O misery!

Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS

Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;

Called in her day of freedom Iolè,
380

Eurytus’ daughter,—of whose parentage,

Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH

I curse not all the wicked, but the man

Whose secret practices deform his life.

DÊ

Say, maidens, how must I proceed? The words
385

Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH

Go in and question Lichas, who perchance

Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DÊ

I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS

And I,
390

Shall I bide here till thou com’st forth? Or how?
390

DÊ

Remain. For see, without my sending for him,

He issueth from the palace of himself.

LICH
Enter LICHAS .

What message must I carry to my lord?

Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.

DÊ

So slow in coming, and so quickly flown,
395

Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!
395

LICH

What wouldst thou ask me? I am bent to hear.

DÊ

And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH

By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

DÊ

Then tell me, who is she thou brought’st with thee?
400

LICH

An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

MESS

Look hither, man. Who is’t to whom thou speakest?

LICH

Why such a question? What is thine intent?

MESS

Nay, start not, but make answer if thou knowest.

LICH

To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
405

Heracles’ wife,—if these mine eyes be true,—
405

My mistress.

MESS

Ay, that is the very word

I longed to hear thee speak. Thy mistress, sayest?

LICH

To whom I am bound.

MESS

Hold there! What punishment
410

Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be
410

Faithless to her?

LICH

I faithless! What dark speech

Hast thou contrived?

MESS

Not I at all. ’Tis thou

Dost wrap thy thoughts i’ the dark.

LICH

Well, I will go.

’Tis folly to have heard thee for so long.

MESS

You go not till you answer one word more.
415

LICH

One, or a thousand! You’ll not stint, I see.

MESS

Thou knowest the captive maid thou leddest home?

LICH

I do. But wherefore ask?

MESS

Did you not say

That she, on whom you look with ignorant eye,

Was Iolè, the daughter of the King,

Committed to your charge?

LICH

Where? Among whom?

What witness of such words will bear thee out?

MESS

Many and sound. A goodly company

In Trachis’ market-place heard thee speak this.

LICH

Ay.
425

I said ’twas rumoured. But I could not give
425

My vague impression for advised report.

MESS

Impression, quotha! Did you not on oath

Proclaim your captive for your master’s bride?

LICH

My master’s bride! Dear lady, by the Gods,

Who is the stranger? for I know him not.
430

MESS

One who was present where he heard thee tell,

How that whole city was subdued and taken,

Not for the bondage to the Lydian girl,

But through the longing passion for this maid.

LICH

Dear lady, let the fellow be removed.

To prate with madmen is mere foolishness.
435

DÊ

Nay, I entreat thee by His name, whose fire

Lightens down Oeta’s topmost glen, be not

A niggard of the truth. Thou tell’st thy tale

To no weak woman, but to one who knows

Mankind are never constant to one joy.

Whoso would buffet Love, aspires in vain.

For Love leads even Immortals at his will,

And me. Then how not others, like to me?

’Twere madness, sure, in me to blame my lord

When this hath caught him, or the woman there,

His innocent accomplice in a thing,

No shame to either, and no harm to me.

It is not so. But if from him thou learnest
440

The lore of falsehood, it were best unlearnt;
440

Or if the instruction comes of thine own thought,
440

Such would-be kindness doth not prove thee kind.

Then tell me all the truth. To one free-born

The name of liar is a hateful lot.

And thou canst not be hid. Thy news was heard

By many, who will tell me. If thou fearest,

Thou hast no cause—for doubtfulness is pain,

But to know all, what harm? His loves ere now

Were they not manifold? And none hath borne

Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not,

Though his new passion were as strong as death;

Since most mine eye hath pitied her, because

Her beauty was the ruin of her life,
445

And all unweeting, she her own bright land,
445

Poor hapless one! hath ravaged and enslaved.—
445

Let that be as it must. But for thy part,

Though false to others, be still true to me.

CH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 314 focus

Was weiß denn ich? Wie magst du mich auch fragen? Wohl

Nicht aus dem lezten Hause dort entstammte sie.

Deianeira.

Vom Stamm der Herrscher? Vom Geschlecht des Eurytos?
310

Lichas.

Ich weiß es nicht, Frau, forscht' ihm auch nicht lange nach.

Deianeira.

Auch ihren Namen sagte kein Gefährte dir?

Lichas.

Mit nichten. Schweigend hab' ich mein Geschäft vollbracht.

Deianeira.

So sage mir's doch selber, Unglückselige:

Auch dieses ist ein Uebel, daß Niemand dich kennt.
315

Lichas.

Wohl wird die Jungfrau, wie sie schon zuvor gethan,

Auch nun den Mund nicht öffnen, sie, die nicht ein Wort,

Kein lautes oder leises, uns noch hören ließ.

Nein, fort und fort sich härmend um ihr schweres Loos,

Vergießt die Arme Thränen, seit sie ihre Stadt,
320

Die luft'gen Höh'n, verlassen. Wohl ist dies Geschick

Für sie ein hartes; aber Nachsicht heischt es auch.

Deianeira.

Wohlan, so laßt sie: wandle sie in's Haus hinein,

So, wie es ihr am liebsten! Nein, in solchem Leid

Füg' ich zu ihrem Schmerze nicht noch neuen Schmerz;
325

Schon ist's genug an diesem! Doch nun lasset uns

In's Haus hineingeh'n alle, daß du eilst, wohin

Dich's drängt, und ich anordne, was das Haus bedarf.

(Lichas geht mit den Frauen in das Haus. Deianeira, im Begriff ihnen zu folgen, wird von dem Boten zurückgehalten.) Deianeira. Der Bote. Der Chor. (vertritt der Deianeira den Weg.)

Der Bote.

Erst harre noch hier außen eine Weile, daß

Du hörst, von diesen ferne, wen du führst hinein,
330

Und was du nicht vernahmest und doch wissen mußt.

Denn über alles dieses bin ich wohl belehrt.

Deianeira.

Was ist's? Zu welchem Ende hemmst du meinen Schritt?

Der Bote.

Verweil' und höre: war es doch kein leeres Wort,

Was ich zuvor sprach, und ich denk', auch dieses nicht.
335

Deianeira.

Und soll ich jene wiederum hieher zu dir

Berufen? Oder sagst du mir's und diesen nur?

Der Bote.

Vor dir und diesen red' ich gern; doch jene laß.

Deianeira.

Schon sind sie fortgegangen: sprich das Deine nun.

Der Bote.

In Nichts von Allem, was er eben sprach, bekeunt
340

Der Mann die Wahrheit, und entweder lügt er jezt

Mit seiner Botschaft, oder war er früher falsch.

Was sprichst du?

Denn was du jezt

Deianeira.

Deutlich sage, wie du Jedes meinst;

gesprochen, kann ich nicht verstehn.

Der Bote.

Aus jenes Mannes Munde selbst vernahm ich es
345

In vieler Zeugen Gegenwart, daß Herakles

Um dieser Jungfrau willen nur den Eurytos

Und dessen stolze Veste zwang, daß Eros ihn

Allein von allen Göttern lockt' in solchen Kampf,

Nicht Lydien oder Omphale's mühvoller Dienst,
350

Auch nicht der jähe Todessturz des Iphitos;

Und nun verwirst er's und erklärt das Gegentheil.

Nein, als Herakles nicht bewog den Eurytos,

Die Tochter heimlich als Gemahl ihm anzutraun :

Da bringt er eitle Klage vor um kleine Schuld,
355

Und rückte wider ihre Stadt mit Heeresmacht,

Wo, wie du hörtest, Eurytos den Thron besaß,

Erschlug den König, ihren Vater, und zerstört

Die Stadt. Und heute kehrt er, wie du siehst, zurück,

In dieses Haus sie sendend, nicht mit Unbedacht,
360

Noch als die Sklavin; das erwarte nicht, o Frau;

Wie wär' es möglich, wenn ihn Liebesglut entflammt?

Ich glaubte sorgsam Alles dir, o Königin,

Kundthun zu müssen, was ich hört aus seinem Mund.

Und dies vernahmen Viele noch zugleich mit mir
365

Auf offnem Markt in Trachis; diese mögen ihn

Wohl überführen. Sag' ich Unerfreuliches,

Es thut mir wehe; doch die Wahrheit sprach ich aus.

Deianeira.

Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige!

Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach
370

Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos

War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?

Der Bote.

Traun, wie des Mädchens Auge, glänzt auch ihr Geschlecht!

Sie war entsprossen aus dem Blut des Eurytos,

Und Iole hieß sie, deren Stamm mit keinem Laut
375

Der Mann dir nannte; freilich forscht' er nicht danach.

Der Chor.

Fluch treffe - nein, nicht alle Bösen treffe Fluch,

Nur ihn, der heimlich Böses, sein unwürdig, übt!

Deianeira.

Was soll ich thun, ihr Frauen? Wie der Schauder mich

Erfaßte bei den Worten, die der Bote sprach!
380

Der Chor.

Geh' hin, den Mann zu fragen; denn er wird's gewiß

Ganz offen sagen, wenn du streng ihu prüfen willst.

Deianeira.

Ich gehe; denn verständig dünkt mir euer Rath

Ich aber

Der Bote.

bleib' ich? Oder was gebeutst du mir?

Deianeira.

Ja, bleibe noch; denn ohne meiner Boten Ruf,
385

Aus eignem Antrieb kommt er aus dem Hause hier.

Lichas. Die Vorigen.

Lichas.

Was meld' ich, Herrin, komm' ich dort zu Herakles?

Laß hören; fertig siehst du mich zur Wanderung.

Deianeira.

Mit solcher Eile stürmst du fort und kamst so spät,

Stürmst fort, bevor du dein Gespräch erneut mit uns?
390

Lichas.

Nun, wenn du Weitres fragen willst, ich stehe hier.

Deianeira.

Und willst du treulich auch die Wahrheit mir gestehn?

Lichas.

Bei'm hohen Zeus, in Allem, was ich selber weiß.

Deianeira.

Wer ist die Frau denn also, die du hergebracht?

Lichas.

Vom Land Euböa; wessen Kind, ich weiß es nicht.
395

Der Bote.

Du, schaue hierher: weißt du wohl, mit wem du sprichst?

Lichas.

Und du, wofür denn bietest du die Frage mir?

Der Bote.

Gib, wenn du klug bist, kühn Bescheid auf dieses Wort.

Lichas.

Mit Deianeira, die des Deneus Tochter ist,

Herakles' hoher Gattin, wenn mich anders nicht
400

Mein Auge täuscht, mit meiner Herrin red' ich hier.

Der Bote.

Dies wollt' ich hören, dieses nur von dir. Du sagst,

Daß diese deine Herrin sei.

Lichas.

Und das mit Recht.

Der Bote.

Wie also? Welcher Strafe glaubst du werth zu sein,

Wenn deine Falschheit gegen sie zu Tage kommt?
405

Lichas.

Was wäre Falschheit? Welchen Trug ersinnst du da?

Der Bote.

Nicht ich, du selber bist es, traun, der dieses thut.

Lichas.

Ich gehe: längst war's thöricht, dir Gehör zu leihn.

Der Bote.

Nicht, eh du mir auf kurze Fragen Rede standſt!

Lichas.

Sprich, was dich lüstet, weil du doch nicht schweigen willst.
410

Der Bote.

Die Kriegsgefangne, die du hier in's Haus geführt,

Die kennst du doch?

Lichas.

Mit nichten: doch was fragst du dies?

Der Bote.

Nun, gabst du diese, die du jezt nicht kennen willst,

Nicht aus für Jole, für das Kind des Eurytos?

Lichas.

Vor welchen Menschen? Wer der Mann, wo kommt er her,
415

Der dir's bezeugte, daß er das von mir gehört?

Der Bote.

Vor vielen Bürgern. Mitten dort auf offnem Markt

Zu Trachin hört' es vieles Volk aus deinem Mund.

Lichas.

Wohl! Daß ich's vernommen, sagt' ich; doch auf Glauben nur,
420

Und zuversichtlich reden, ist nicht einerlei.

Der Bote.

Auf Glauben? Wie das? Schwurst du nicht mit hohem Eid,

Sie, die du bringest, sei die Braut des Herakles?

Lichas.

Was? Seine Braut? Um alle Götter, sage mir,

Geliebte Fürstin, wer er ist, der Fremdling hier.
425

Der Bote.

Der, der von dir vernommen, daß Sehnsucht um sie

Die ganze Stadt erstürmte, nicht die Lyderin

Die Stadt vertilgte, sondern ihre Lieb' allein.

Lichas.

Der Mensch, o Fürstin, möge nur von hinnen gehn;

Denn, traun, mit Thoren schwazen, ziemt dem Klugen nicht.
430

Deianeira.

Ich flehe dir bei'm Gotte, der auf waldigen

Felshöh'n des Oeta donnert, nicht verhehle mir's.

Denn keinem niedern Weibe sagst du solches Wort,

Noch Einer, die nicht wüßte, daß im Leben nicht

Denselben Menschen immerdar die Freude lacht.
435

Wer nun dem Eros Widerstand zu bieten wagt,

Faustkämpfern gleich, mit Händen, ist ein arger Thor.

Denn er beherrscht auch Götter, wie es ihm gefällt,

Und mich: warum nicht Andre, die mir gleichen, auch?

So wär' ich wohl von Sinnen, wenn ich meinem Mann
440

Groll hegte, daß ihn dieses Weh' ergriffen hat,

Und dieser Jungfrau, welche Nichts verschuldete,

Was sie verunehrt oder was mich kränken kanu.

Nicht also thu' ich! Aber wenn dich jener so

Die Lüge lehrte, lerntest du nichts Nühmliches:
445

Und wenn du hier dein eigner Lehrer bist, so wirst

Du schlecht erscheinen, wo du redlich heißen willst.

Sprich denn die Wahrheit offen aus; dem Freien hängt

Des Lügners Name schmählich als ein Flecken an.

Und mir's zu hehlen, das gelingt dir nimmermehr;
450

Denn Viele, denen du's vertraut, die sagen mir's.

Und wenn dir bangt, so bangt dir ohne Grund, indem,

Es nicht erfahren, mich allein betrüben kann.

Doch Wissen, kann das schaden? Hat nicht Herakles,

Der eine Mann, viel' andre Weiber schon gefreit?
455

Und keine noch aus diesen hat ein böses Wort

Noch Hohn von mir erduldet: ihr auch groll' ich nicht,

Und mag er auch in heißer Liebe glüh'n um sie;

Auf ihr ja ruht vor Allen mitleidvoll mein Blick,

Weil ihr die Schönheit mordet', ach! des Lebens Glück,
460

Und sie das Land der Väter nicht nach eigner Wahl

In Noth und Knechtschaft stürzte. Doch das ziehe hin

Mit guten Winden! Aber dir bedeut' ich: sei

Unwahr für Andre, gegen mich stets ohne Falsch!

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 314 focus

And therefore shall our words deserve thy praise.

Deianira

The royal race

Of Eurytus?

Lie. 1 know not, nor did e'er

Inquire.

Deianira

And didst thou never hear her name

From her companions?

Lie. Kever. I performed

My v.'ork is silence.

De.t. Tell me then thyself,

Thou wretched maid, for I am most unhappy

Till I know who thou art.

Lie. She will not speak ;

I know she will not. Not a word hnth pas.sed

Her lips e'er since she left her native land,

But still in tears the liapless virgin mourns

The burthen of her sad calamity.

Her fate is hard : she merits your forgiveness.

Deianira

Let her go in : I'll not disturb her peace,
320

Nor would I heap fresh sorrows on her head,
320

She hath enough already. We'll retire.

Go where thou wilt ; my cares within await me. \To Idle.

Messenger
\Exmnt LicnAS, Tole, and Slaves. Scene III.

Deianira, Chorus.

Messenger

Stay thee awhile. I have a tale to tell
335

Touching these captives, which imports thee nearly,
335

And I alone am able to inform thee.

Deianira

What dost thou know ? and why wouldst thou

detain me ?

Messenger

Return, and hear me ; when I spake before
340

1 did not speak in vain, nor shall I now.

Deianira

Wouldst thou I call them back, or meanst to

tell

Thy secret purpose here to me alone ?

Messenger

To thee, and these thy friends — no more.

Deianira

They're gone.
345

Now speak in safety.
345

Messenger

Lichas is dishonest,

And either now, or when I saw him last,

Hath uttered falsehood.

Deianira

Ha ! what dost thou say?

I understand thee not— explain it quickly !
350

Messenger

I heard him say, before attendant crowds,

It was 4.his virgin, this fair slave destroyed

That waged the war — no Lydian servitude,

Nor Omphale, nor the pretended fall

Of Iphytus — for so the tale he brings

Would fain persuade thee. Know, thy own Alcides,

For that he could not gain th' assenting voice

Of Eurytus to his unlawful love,

Laid waste the city where her father reigned,
355

And slew him. Now the daughter, as a slave,

Is sent to thee. The reason is too plain :

Nor think he meant her for a slave alone —

The maid he loves, that would be strange indeed !

My royal mistress, most unwillingly

Do I report th' unwelcome news, but thought

It was my duty : I have told the truth.

Deianira
(Echalia's lofty towers : 'twas love alone

Wretch that I am ! To what am I reserved?
375

What hidden pestilence within my roof
375

Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman !

She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ;

Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said

He knew it not.

Messenger

Daughter of Eurytus,

Her name lole ; he had not inquired

Touching her race.

Chorus

Perdition on the man,

Of all most wicked, who hath thus deceived thee !

Deianira

What's to be done, my friend? This dreadful
385

news
385

Afflicts me sorely.

Chorus

Go, and learn the whole

From his own lips ; compel him to declare

The truth.

Deianira

I will ; thou counselst me aright.

Chorus

Shall we attend you ?
390

Deianira

No ; for see he comes,

Uncalled.

Lichas
Scene IY.

Deianira, Attendant, Messenger, Chorus.

Lie. O queen ! what are thy last commands

To thy Alcides? for e'en now I go

To meet him.

o

Deianira

ITast thou ta'cn so long a journey
395

To Trachis, and wouldst now .so soon i*eturn,
395

Vi\% 1 can hold some further converse with thee ]
395

Lie. If thou wouldst question me of aught, behold
395

me
395

J'leady to tell thee.
395

Deianira

Wilt thou tell me truth \

Lie. In all I know ; so bear me witness, Jove !

Deianira

Who is that woman thou has brought ?
400

I.ic. I hear
400

She's of Euboea ; for her race and name
400

I know them not.
400

Deianira

Look on me ; who am I ?

Lie. Why ask me this ?

Deianira

Be bold, and answer mo.

Lie. Daughter of (Eneus, wife of Hercules,

If I am not deceived 'tis Deianira,

My queen, my mistress ?

Deianira

Am I so indeed ?

Am I thy mistress ?

Lie. Doubtless.

Deianira

Why, 'tis well
425

Thou dost confess it : then wdiat punishment
425

Wouldst thou deserve if thou wert faithless to her 1

Lie. How faithless ? meanst thou to betray me ?

Deianira

The fraud is thine.

Lie. 'Twas folly thus to stay

And hear thee. I must hence.

Deianira

Thou shalt not go

Till I have asked thee one short question.

Lie. Ask it,
430

For so it seems thou art resolved.
430

Deianira

Inform me ;

This captive — dost thou know her?

Li<^'- I have told thee ;

What wouldst thou more?

Deianira

Didst thou not say, this slave —

Though now, it seems, thou knov/st her not — was

daughter

Of Eurytus, her name lole !
435

Lie. Where?
435

To whom did I say this ? What witness have you ?
435

Deianira

Assembled multitudes. The citizens

Lie. They might say they heard

Reports like these. But must it therefore seem

A truth undoubted?

Deianira

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 314 focus

What can I know? Why ask of me? Perchance

She may from no ignoble race be sprung.

Deianira

Is she from Eurytus of royal birth?

Lichas

I know not; nor minute inquiry made.

Deianira

From her associates heard'st thou not her name?

Lichas

No: for in silence I my charge perform'd.

Deianira

Speak then unhappy virgin; let thy voice

Deianira

Inform me; for I feel a soft concern,

Messenger

And painful not to know thee who thou art.

Lichas

She will not speak; nor hath she to this hour

Unlock'd her lips, or ever utter'd word;

But obstinate in silence mourns her weight

Of misery, always weeping since she left

Her desolated country: her ill fate

Moves thee to pity and to pardon her.

Deianira

Then let her be indulged, and in the house-

Find courteous treatment: to her present ills

I would not that from me fresh grief, her griefs

Augmenting, she receive; she hath enough

Of woe already. To our houses now

Let us all go; where thy occasions call,

Go thou; domestic duties claim my care.

Attendant
DEIANIRA, ATTENDANT, CHORUS.

Stay yet a little, that from these apart
340

Thou may'st be shown what persons to thy house
340

Thou hast admitted. Truths, of which no part
340

Thou yet hast heard, and which behoves thee hear,

I know, and can with faithful zeal impart.

Deianira

What wou'dst thou say? Why thus detain me?

Attendant

Stay,

And hear me: not before did I abuse

Thy ear with false reports; nor shall I now.

Deianira

Those, late departed hence, should I recal,
345

Attendant
ATI.

Or to these virgins wou'dst thou speak, and me.

To thee and these I speak without restraint;

But let those go.

Well, they are gone; now speak.

Nothing of what this herald lately said

Accorded with the laws of honest truth;

But now he utters falsehoods, or before

Dared to deceive the ear with false reports.

Deianira

What say'st thou? Plainly tell me all thy thought:

Thy words are dark; I understand them not.

I heard this man, and many present heard

His words, declare that for this virgin's sake
350

This war 'gainst Eurytus Alcides made,
350

Messenger

And the high-tower'd Echalia. Love alone

Of all the gods incited him to arms;

And not his Lydian slavery, and base tasks

By Omphale commanded, nor the death

Of Iphitus hurl'd headlong from the rock.

This love conceal'd, the herald other pleas

Devised. But when his lord had urged in vain

The sire to give the daughter to his bed

In secret nuptials, he assign'd some cause

Of slight and trivial charge to march in arms

Against her country, where the royal throne

Was held by Eurytus; he slew the king
355

Her father, and his wasted city razed.
355

Her, as thou seest, returning he now sends
355

Thus, lady, not without peculiar care,

- Not as a slave; admit not such an hope;

It is not to be thought, since love inflames

His soul. By duty prompted I to thee

What was my chance to learn from him disclose :

And this, not I alone, but many heard;

Assembled he declared it; and to these

I make appeal. Unwelcome to thy ear

If what I tell thee, I have no delight

In speaking it, but what I speak is truth.

Deianira

Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round!
375

Ah, what a secret pest have I received
375

Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name,

So he that led her swore, with all these charms,

This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!

Attendant

From Eurytus she drew her royal birth

And Iole her name; yet of her race
380

He could not speak, he no inquiries made.:

Chorus

Ruin to all the base I would not wish ;

But perish he, who forms the vile design

With dark and treacherous baseness to betray.

Deianira

How, virgins, should I act? For at this tale
385

In wild amazement all my sense is lost.

Chorus

Go, make inquiries of the man, add threats

Of torture, soon he will confess the truth.;..."

Deianira

I go: to thy advice my mind accords.

Chorus

Should we wait thee here? or what thy will?
390

Deianira

Stay here: for see, the man, uncall'd by me.

Of his own will advances from the house.

Lichas
DEIANIRA, LICHAS, ATTENDANT, CHORUS.

What wou'dst thou, Lady, that I bear in charge

To Hercules? I hasten my return.

Deianira

After so long an absence why so soon
395

Depart, ere my inquiries I renew?
395

Lichas

More wou'dst thou ask? I to inform thee stay.

Deianira

But wilt thou answer me with honest truth?

Lichas

To what I know; be witness mighty Jove!

Deianira

Who is this woman, hither whom thou led'st?
400

Lichas

A native of Eubea; of what race

Attendant

I know not.

Herald, fix thine eye on me.

Know'st thou to whom thou speak'st?

Lichas

With what intent

That question dost thou ask?

Attendant

If thou dost bear

The spirit of a man, be bold, and speak.

Lichas

To Deianira, to the queen I speak,
405

Daughter of Œneus, wife of Hercules,
405

My royal mistress; or I see in vain.

Attendant

This was my wish to know. Didst thou not say

She is thy royal mistress ?

Lichas

With just right...

Attendant

Tell me what punishment is then thy due.
410

If to thy mistress thou art found not just?

Lichas

And how not just? With what insidious wiles

Wou'dst thou ensnare me?

Attendant

Fear not wiles from me;

Thy thoughts are all employ'd on wiles.

Lichas

I go,

Unwise thus far to hear thee.

Attendant

Hence thy foot
415

Thou shalt not stir till, one short question ask'd,
415

I have thy answer.
415

Lichas

Ask whate'er thou wilt;

Thy tongue, it seems, can speak.

Attendant

This captive then,

Whom thou hast brought, who is she? dost thou know?

Lichas

Who is she? Why is this inquiry made ?

Attendant

Hast thou not said that she, on whom thine eye

Look'd as on one unknown, was nobly born

Of Eurytus, and Iole her name?

Lichas

To whom said this? Whom bring'st thou to attest

That from my lips such words he ever heard?

Attendant

The citizens: for the Trachinians round

In crouds assembled heard thee speak these words.

Lichas

I said indeed I heard this; but to speak
425

On mere imagination, and to affirm

Messenger

As certain, merit not a like regard.

Imagination! Didst thou not on oath

Declare thou brought'st the wife of Hercules

Lichas

I say she was his wife! Now, by the gods,

Who, honour'd lady, is this stranger here?
430

Attendant

One, who in person heard thee say his arms

Subdued the country for this virgin's sake :

That not his Lydian slavery, but the love

Of her spread devastation o'er her realms.

Lichas

The man is frentic: Lady, send him hence:

With such to hold vain converse is not wise.
435

Deianira

By Jove, who rolls his thunders through the grove

That shades the brow of Eta, do not hide

The truth: to no base woman wilt thou speak,

Noi an untaught mind that hath not mark'd

Man's nature, form'd not always to delight

In what once pleases. He, 'gainst Love who stands

In daring opposition, is unwise.

Love at his pleasure lords it o'er the gods,

O'er me too; why not o'er another then

E'en such as I? Should I then blame my lord

As vanquish'd by this pow'r; or should I blame

This woman, who to me causes no ill,

Nor brings dishonour, I were mad indeed.

It is not so. But if by him thy mind

To falsehood hath been train'd, no honest lore

Hast thou been taught : if from thyself thou draw'st
440

This glozing science, when thy heart shall prompt
440

To open faith, distrust with jealous eye
440

Will look on thee as base: let then thy tongue

Always speak truth: on the free man, who bears

The hateful brand of falsehood, shame attends.

Can'st thou escape detection ? Vain that hope:

What thou to many hast divulged, to me

Some will disclose. If thou hast fears, those fears

Are vain and causeless: not to be inform'd,

Aye, that indeed would grieve me; but to know,

Can that be dreadful? Hath not Hercules

Admitted others to his nuptial bed,

And many? Yet not one of those e'er heard

Harsh word from me, or keen reproach; nor now

Shall this Eubœan, though with love she melt

His yielding heart. Her, most of all the train,

Soon as I saw, I pitied: well I know
445

Her beauty hath undone her; cruel fate,
445

And not her will, hath on her country brought
445

Ruin and slavery. Of these things no more;
445

I give them to the winds. But mark thou well

My charge, on others practise thy deceits,

But always let thy tongue speak truth to me.

Chorus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 141-495 focus

Deianeira

You have heard of my trouble, I would guess, and that has brought you here. But the anguish which consumes my heart—may you never come to know it through your own experience!—to that now you are total strangers. Yes, a young life grows in those sheltered regions

of its own, and the Sun-god’s heat disturbs it not, nor rain, nor any wind. Rather it takes up a toilless existence amidst pleasure, until such time as she is called “wife” instead of “maiden”, and takes her portion of anxious thoughts in the night,
145

fearing for husband or for children. At that point a woman could understand the burden of my misfortunes by recalling her own experience.
As a matter of fact, I have had many a trouble to weep for, but I am going to speak of one that none of the previous could equal.
150

When lord Heracles was setting out from home on his last journey, he left in the house an ancient tablet, inscribed with signs which he had never before brought himself to explain to me when going out on one of his many labors.
155

He had always departed as if to conquer, not to die. But now, as if he were a doomed man, he told me what I should take for my marriage portion, and what share of their father’s land he wished divided for his children. And he fixed the time for the division, saying that, when he had been gone
160

from our land for a year and three months, he was fated either to die at that time, or by escaping the end of the period to live thereafter an untroubled life. That, he explained, was the fate ordained by the gods
165

to be the end of the labors of Heracles just as, he said, the ancient oak at Dodona had once told him through the mouths of the two Peleiades. And it is in the present time that the truth of these prophecies is coming to pass, so that they must be fulfilled.
170

As a result I leap up from sweet sleep in fear, dear maidens, terrified at the possibility that I must remain widowed of the noblest man of all.
175

Chorus

Hush—no more ill-omened words! I see a man approaching who is crowned with garlands as if for joyous news.

180 Enter the Messenger.

Messenger

Queen Deianeira, I shall be the first messenger to free you from fear. Know that Alcmena’s son lives and triumphs, and from battle brings the first-fruits to the gods of this land.
180

Deianeira

What news is this, old man, that you give me?

Messenger

That your much-admired husband will soon come to your house, revealed in his victorious might.
185

Deianeira

From what citizen or what stranger did you learn these tidings?

Messenger

In the meadow, the summer haunt of oxen, Lichas the herald is proclaiming it to many. From him I heard it,

and dashed away so that, in all honesty, having been the first to report this news, I might profit in some way by you and win your favor.
190

Deianeira

And why is he not here, if he is so successful?

Messenger

He does not, my lady, enjoy ease of movement. The entire Malian populace

stands about him in a circle and questions him, and he cannot move forward. Each person is bent on learning according to his desire, and will not release the man until he has heard his pleasure. Thus against his wishes, but in keeping with theirs, he is with them. Yet you will soon see him face to face.
195

Deianeira

O Zeus, ruler of the sacred uncut meadow of Oeta, at last, though after much delay, you have given us joy! Uplift your voices, you women within the house and you beyond our gates, since now we enjoy the brightness of this message, which has risen on us beyond my hope!
200

205

Chorus

Let the brides of tomorrow raise a joyous cry for the house with shouts of triumph at the hearth. Among them let the yell of the men go up in unison for Apollo of the bright quiver, our defender! And at the same time,
205

maidens, lift up a paean, cry aloud to his sister, Ortygian Artemis, huntress of deer, goddess with torch in each hand,
210

and to the nymphs her neighbors!
I am uplifted, I will not spurn the flute—O you master of my heart! Behold, his ivy stirs me! Euoe!
215

Quickly it wheels me round in Bacchus’s race! Oh, oh, Paean! Look, dear lady! All is taking shape, plain to see, before your gaze.
220

225

Deianeira

I see it, dear maidens; the sight has not escaped my watchful eyes. I see that procession. I bid the herald joyous welcome after his long absence!—if indeed you bring anything that gives joy.
225

Enter Lichas, followed by captive maidens.

Lichas

We are happy in our return, and happy in your greeting,

lady, in accordance with the deed achieved. For when a man has fair fortune, it is his right to win good welcome.
230

Deianeira

Most welcome man, tell me first what first I would know—shall I receive Heracles alive?

Lichas

I certainly left him alive and well,

in vigorous health, unburdened by disease.
235

Deianeira

Where, tell me—in his ancestral land, or on barbarian soil?

Lichas

There is a headland of Euboea , where to Cenaean Zeus he marks out altars and fruitful ground in tribute.

Deianeira

In payment of a vow, or at the command of an oracle?

Lichas

For a vow, made when he was seeking to conquer and plunder the country of these women whom you see before you.
240

Deianeira

And these—who are they, by the gods, and whose daughters? They deserve pity, unless their misfortune deceives me.

Lichas

These are captives whom he

selected as choice spoils for himself and for the gods when he sacked the city of Eurytus.
245

Deianeira

Was it in fact the war against that city which kept him away so long, beyond all forecast, past all count of days?

248

Lichas

No. The greater part of the time he was detained in Lydia , no free man, as he declares,

but sold into servitude. No offense should be taken at my tale, lady, when the deed is found to be Zeus’ work. He passed a whole year, as he himself says, a bought slave to the barbarian Omphale. And so stung was he by the shame of it,
250

that he bound himself by a solemn oath, swearing one day to enslave with wife and child the man who had brought that suffering upon him. And not in vain did he speak the oath; but, when he had been purified, he gathered a mercenary army and went against the city
255

of Eurytus. For, Heracles asserted, that man alone of mortals had a share in causing his suffering. For when Heracles, a guest-friend of long standing, came to his house and hearth, Eurytus roared against him with insults of ruinous intent,
260

saying that, although Heracles had inevitable shafts in his hands, he fell short of his own sons in the contest of the bow. Next he shouted that Heracles was a freeman’s slave, a broken hulk, and then at a banquet, when his guest was full of wine, he tossed him from his home. 270 Furious at this treatment,
265

when afterward Iphitus came to the hill of Tiryns on the track of horses that had strayed, Heracles seized a moment when the man’s eyes were one place and his thoughts another, and hurled him from a towering summit. But in anger at that deed, the king,
270

the father of all, Olympian Zeus, sent him away to be sold, and did not tolerate that this once, he killed a man by guile. Had he achieved his vengeance openly, Zeus would surely have pardoned him the righteous triumph.
275

For the gods do not love criminal behavior either.
So those men, who gloried in bitter speech, are themselves residents of Hades, all of them, and their city is enslaved. And the women whom you see, fallen from happiness to misery,
280

are sent here to you. For that was your husband’s command, which I, his faithful servant, perform. As for the man himself, know that he will come, once he has made pure sacrifice to Zeus of his fathers for the sacking of the city. After all the good news
285

that has been told, this, indeed, is the sweetest word to hear.
290

291

Chorus

Now, O Queen, your joy is plainly revealed; part is with you, and of the rest you have foreknowledge.

Deianeira

Yes, how would I not rejoice with dutiful spirit, when I hear of my husband’s successful venture?

My rejoicing is bound to keep pace with his success. And yet a prudent mind can see room for fear, lest he who prospers should one day stumble. For a strange pity came over me, friends, at the sight of these ill-fated exiles,
295

homeless and fatherless in a foreign land. Though they were once the daughters perhaps of freeborn men, they now live the life of slaves. O Zeus, god who turns the tide of battle, may I never see you stalking against a child of my line on any occasion;
300

no, if you do some such thing, let it not be while I am still alive! So great is my fear, as I look upon these girls.
305

To Iole.

Unfortunate girl, who are you? Are you without a man, or are you a mother? To judge by your appearance, you are untried in those roles, but someone of noble birth.

Lichas, whose daughter is this stranger? Who is her mother, who the father who begot her? Speak; I pity her more than all the rest, when I look at her, inasmuch as she alone knows self-control.
310

314

Lichas

Why would I know? Why would you ask me? Perhaps

she is the offspring of not the lowest family in that land.
315

Deianeira

Can she be of the ruling family? Was she a child of Eurytus?

Lichas

I do not know; I did not in fact make a long investigation.

Deianeira

And you do not know her name from one of her fellow captives?

Lichas

No, indeed. In silence I completed my task.

Deianeira

Unhappy girl, tell it to me, anyway, from your own mouth. It is indeed distressing to me not to know who you are.
320

Lichas

It will not, I assure you, be at all on a par with time past if she moves her lips. She has not said a word, large or small,

but has been constantly laboring with the heavy pains of her misfortune and weeping, poor girl, since she left her windswept fatherland. Her condition is indeed bad—for her, anyway—but claims our forbearance.
325

Deianeira

Then let her be left in peace, and go beneath our roof

as it pleases her. Let her not in addition to her existing troubles take fresh grief from me; she has enough already. Now let us all go in, so that you may go speedily on your journey, while I make all things ready in the house. Exit Lichas, followed by the Captives, into the house.
330

335

Messenger
Coming nearer to Deianeira.

Do go in, but first remain here a short while, so that you may learn, apart from these others, who they are whom you take into your home, and gain necessary knowledge of the facts which you have not heard. For of these I am in full possession.
335

Deianeira

What do you mean? Why do you stay my departure?

Messenger

Stop and listen. My former report was not a waste of your time, and neither, I believe, will this one be.
340

Deianeira

Shall I call those others back again? Or do you wish to speak before me and these women?

Messenger

To you and the women I can speak freely. Never mind the others.

Deianeira

Well, they are gone. Now let your speech signal your meaning.
345

Messenger

That man Lichas spoke nothing of what he just told you in strict accordance with the truth. He was just now lying, or else he was dishonest in his earlier report.

Deianeira

What do you say? Explain to me clearly all that you mean,

for I cannot understand what you said.
350

351

Messenger

I heard this man declare, before many witnesses, that it was for the sake of this girl that Heracles overthrew Eurytus and the high towers of Oechalia : Eros,

alone of the gods, enchanted him into doing those deeds of arms, not the toilsome servitude to Omphale in Lydia , nor the death to which Iphitus was hurled. But now the herald has thrust Eros aside and tells a different tale. Well, when Heracles could not persuade him whose seed produced the child
355

to give him the girl for his secret concubine, he devised some petty complaint as a pretext, and made war upon her fatherland, in which, as the herald said, that Eurytus ruled. He killed the king, her father, and
360

sacked her city. And now, as you see, he makes his return, sending her to this house not without consideration, lady, and not as if she were to be a slave. No, do not expect that; it is not likely, if his heart has been kindled with desire. On this account, my Queen, I resolved to reveal to you all
365

that I had heard from that man. Many others were listening to it, as I was, in the public place where the Trachinians were assembled, so they can convict him. If my words are unwelcome, I am grieved; but nevertheless I have spoken the truth.
370

375

Deianeira

Ah, misery! What is happening to me? What secret plague have I welcomed beneath my roof? Ah, me! So, she was born without a name, as her escort swore?
375

Messenger

No, illustrious by name, as by birth;

she is the daughter of Eurytus, and was once called Iole. But he could say nothing of her birth, because, of course, he made no investigation.
380

Chorus

May destruction seize not all wrongdoers—no, only the man who practices stealthy wrongdoing that is shameful to his rank!

Deianeira

Ah, friends, what should I do? I am dumbstruck by this latest news!
385

Chorus

Go and question Lichas, since he might tell the truth, if you were willing to compel him by threat of force to answer.

Deianeira

I will go. Your advice does not lack good judgment.

Messenger

And I, shall I wait here? Or what do you require?
390

Deianeira

Stay here—since he is coming out from the house without my summons, but of his own accord.

393 Enter Lichas.

Lichas

My lady, what message shall I bear to Heracles? Instruct me, for, as you see, I am going.

Deianeira

How quickly you rush away, when your arrival had been so tardy—before we have even resumed our talk.
395

Lichas

Well, if there is anything you must ask, I am at your service.

Deianeira

Will you indeed give me the honest truth?

Lichas

Yes, be great Zeus my witness—in anything that I know.

Deianeira

Who is the woman, then, whom you escorted here?
400

Lichas

She is Euboean. But whose offspring, I cannot say.

Messenger

You there, look at me. To whom do you think you speak?

Lichas

And you, to what end have you asked me such a question?

Messenger

Dare to answer my question, if you are sensible.

Lichas

I speak to the royal Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus, wife of Heracles and, unless my eyes deceive me, my mistress.
405

Messenger

The very word that I wished to hear from you—you admit that she is your mistress?

Lichas

Yes, it is only right to do so.

Messenger

Well, then, what penalty would you think it right to pay, if you should be found to be behaving wrongly towards her?
410

Lichas

Wrongly? What fiction have you created?

Messenger

None. Rather it is you, to be sure, who do this.

Lichas

I am leaving—I was foolish to listen to you so long.

Messenger

No, not until you have answered a small question.
415

Lichas

Speak, if you require something. You are not the silent type.

Messenger

That captive, whom you escorted into the house, you know whom I mean?

Lichas

Yes. But why do you ask?

Messenger

Did you not avow that she, on whom you look as if in ignorance,

was Iole, the seed of Eurytus, your captive?
420

Lichas

To whom on earth did I say it? Who and where is the man who heard me say it and will be your witness?

Messenger

To many of our own citizens you said it. In the public gathering of Trachinians a great crowd heard this much, at least, from you.

Lichas

Sure,

they said they heard. But it does not amount to the same thing to tell one’s fancy and to give an accurate report.
425

Messenger

What do you mean, fancy! Did you not speak on your oath when you said that you were bringing her as a bride for Heracles?

Lichas

I? Bringing a bride? In the name of the gods, dear

mistress, tell me who on earth this stranger is?
430

Messenger

I am a man who heard from your own lips that the conquest of the whole city was due to desire for this girl and that the Lydian woman did not destroy it, but the passion which arose for the girl.

Lichas

Lady, send this creature away.

To babble with the insane is not the mark of a sensible man.
435

436

Deianeira

No, I implore you by Zeus whose strikes lightning down along the high glens of Oeta, do not rob me of a true report! Your words will not fall on the ears of a cruel woman, nor has she yet to learn the fate of humanity,

how by our nature we are often inconstant in our pleasures. He does not use good sense, then, who like a boxer opposes the blows of Eros. For Eros rules the gods as he pleases, and he rules me as well—that is certain. Why not another woman, just like me?
440

And so I am crazed indeed, if I blame my husband because that disease has seized him or because he was seized by this woman, his partner in a thing which is no shame to them, and no wrong to me. Impossible! If it was from him that you learned
445

to lie, it was not a noble lesson. But if you are your own teacher in this, you will be seen as cruel when it is your wish to prove kind. No, tell me the whole truth, since to a free-born man the name of liar attaches like an ugly stain.
450

If your hope is to escape detection, that cannot come to pass: many are those whom you told and who will inform me. And if you are afraid, your fear is mistaken, since it is not learning the truth that would pain me. But to know it, what is terrible in that? Has
455

Heracles not all by himself already mated with a multitude of other women? And never yet has one of them come away with a harsh word or reproach from me, nor shall this girl, even if she should melt in her passion. Indeed, I felt a profound pity when I saw her because
460

her beauty has destroyed her life, and she, unfortunate one, has against her will devastated her fatherland and enslaved it.
Well, those things must go with the wind. But as for you, I tell you, be dishonest to others, but always speak the truth to me.
465

470

Chorus

Obey her good and kind advice, and hereafter you will neither have cause to complain of this lady, nor lack my thanks.
470

Lichas

Indeed, then, dear mistress. Since I see that you think as mortals should think and not without good judgment, I will tell you the whole truth, and not hide it.

Yes, it is just as this one says. That terrible longing for the girl long ago shot through Heracles, and for her sake the desolate Oechalia , her father’s land, was leveled by his spear. But he—I must say what is in his favor—
475

he never ordered me to conceal the fact and never denied it. Instead I, lady, fearing to wound your heart by such news, erred—if you regard this in any way an error.
Since, however, you now know the whole story,
480

for his sake and for yours equally bear with the woman, and be willing that the gentle words which you spoke about her have been spoken unalterably. For though by the strength of his hands he is victorious in all else, Heracles has been utterly subdued by his passion for this girl.
485

Deianeira

My own thoughts move me to act as you advise. Rest assured that I will not earn another affliction for myself by waging a fruitless fight against the gods. But let us go into the house, so that you may carry him my messages and since gifts should be given in due recompense for gifts received,
490

so that you may take these also. It would not be right that you should go back with empty hands, after coming with such a rich cargo. Exit Lichas, the Messenger and Deianeira into the house.
495

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-164-1 ὦ Ζεῦ τροπαῖε ¹

mvp-comment-164-2 τοὐμὸν σπέρμα ²

mvp-comment-164-3 χωρήσαντα ³ εἰς ⁴ πρὸς ⁵ σε ⁶ που ⁷

mvp-comment-165-1 μηδ’, εἴ τι δράσεις ⁸ εἰ ⁹ ζώσης ¹⁰

mvp-comment-165-2 This verse is a development of μή ποτ’ εἰσίδοιμι ¹¹

mvp-comment-165-3 The objection to the verse as illogical assumes that the

δέ

in μηδέ ¹²

mvp-comment-166-1 τεκνοῦσσα ¹³ τεκοῦσα ¹⁴

mvp-comment-166-2 πρὸς … φύσιν ¹⁵ πάντων … τῶνδε ¹⁶

mvp-comment-166-3 γενναία ¹⁷

mvp-comment-167-1 ὁ φιτύσας πατήρ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-167-2 ᾤκτισα ¹⁹

mvp-comment-167-3 ὅσῳπερ ²⁰ μόνη ²¹

mvp-comment-167-4 φρονεῖν οἶδεν ²² φρονεῖν ²³

mvp-comment-167-5 314 f. For καὶ ²⁴ κρίνοις ²⁵

mvp-comment-167-6 γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ²⁶ οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις ²⁷

mvp-comment-168-1 μὴ τῶν τυράννων ²⁸

mvp-comment-168-2 Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν ²⁹ τις ³⁰

mvp-comment-169-1 ἀνιστόρουν ³¹

mvp-comment-169-2 μακράν ³²

mvp-comment-170-1 ξυνεμπόρων ³³

mvp-comment-170-2 ἔχεις ³⁴

mvp-comment-170-3 ἤνυτον ³⁵

mvp-comment-171-1 ἀλλ’ ἡμὶν ³⁶

mvp-comment-172-1 καὶ ³⁷ ξυμφορά ³⁸

mvp-comment-173-1 οὔ τἄρα ³⁹ οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου ⁴⁰ τῷ γε πρόσθεν χρόνῳ ⁴¹ ἐξ ἴσου ⁴² διοίσει ⁴³ γλῶσσαν ⁴⁴ διοίσει ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-173-2 ἤτις ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-173-3 οὐδαμὰ ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-174-1 οὔτε μείζον’ οὔτ’ ἐλάσσονα ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-175-1 ὠδίνουσα … βάρος ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-176-1 διήνεμον ⁵⁰ πάτραν ⁵¹

mvp-comment-176-2 ἡ … τὐχη ⁵²

mvp-comment-176-3 αὐτῇ γ’ ⁵³ γ’ ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-176-4 συγγνώμην ἔχει ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-177-1 ἡ δ’ οὖν ⁵⁶ ἡ δ’ ⁵⁷ ἥδ’ ⁵⁸

mvp-comment-177-2 οὕτως ὅπως ἥδιστα ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-177-3 331 Among the attempts to amend

λύπην...λύπην

(cr. n.), the two best, I think, are, (1) ἄλλην … λύπην ⁶⁰ λύπην … διπλῆν ⁶¹ διπλῆν ⁶²

mvp-comment-177-4 Almost all edd. retain the optat. λάβοι ⁶³ λάβῃ ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-178-1 οἷ θέλεις σπεύδῃς ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-178-2 ἐγὼ δὲ ⁶⁶ σύ θ’ ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-178-3 ἐξαρκῆ τιθῶ ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-179-1 The

ἄγγελος

(180), who has listened in silence, now places himself between Deianeira and the door through which she is about to follow Lichas and the captives.

mvp-comment-179-2 αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνας’ ⁶⁹ γε ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-179-3 ἀμμείνας’ ⁷¹

mvp-comment-180-1 ἄνευ ⁷² τ’ ⁷³ μάθῃς ⁷⁴ μάθῃς ⁷⁵ ἐκμάθῃς ⁷⁶ οὕστινας ⁷⁷

mvp-comment-180-2 ὧν τ’ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-181-1 πάντ’ ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-182-1 τί δ’ ἔστι ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-182-2 τοῦ ⁸¹

mvp-comment-182-3 ἐφίστασαί με ⁸² τήνδε βάσιν ⁸³

mvp-comment-182-4 The midd.

ἐφίσταμαι

does not elsewhere occur in a causal sense (except in the aor., as Xen. Cyr.8. 2. 19

φρουροὺς ἐπεστησά μην

). But the causal use of

καθίσταμαι

( Aesch. Eum.706

φρούρημα γῆς καθίσταμαι

, Thuc.2. 6

τά τ’ ἐν τῇ πόλει καθίσταντο

) appears to warrant a like use of

ἐφίσταμαι

, where, as here, the context helps to explain it. Cp. also Plat. Tim. 63 C

γεώδη γένη διϊστάμενοι

, ‘separating.’ [But we cannot properly compare O. C.916

παρίστασαι

, ‘you bring to your own side,’ ‘subjugate’: nor Plat. Rep. 565C

ἕνα τινὰ...δῆμος εἴωθε...προΐστασθαι ἑαυτοῦ

: where there is a special reason for using the midd.] The midd.

προσορωμένα

in Soph. O. C.244 is similarly unique, and has a like justification.

mvp-comment-182-5 A fact which confirms this view is that

ἐφιστάναι, ἐφίστασθαι

were regularly used with ref. to a halt. Xen. An.2. 4. 26

ἐπορεύετο δὲ ἄλλοτε καὶ ἄλλοτε ἐφιστάμενος. ὅσον δὲ χρόνον τὸ ἡγούμενον τοῦ στρατεύματος ἐπιστήσειε, τοσοῦτον ἦν ἀνάγκη χρόνον δἰ ὅλου τοῦ στρατεύματος γίγνεσθαι τὴν ἐπίστασιν

. (For

ἐπίστασις

, ‘a halt,’ cp. Soph. Ant.225 n.) Polyb. 16. 34. 2

ἐπιστήσαντες...τὴν ὁρμήν

. Diod.17. 112

τὴν ὁδὸν...ἐπιστήσας

. Plut. Cim. 1

ἐπιστήσας...τὴν πορείαν

. Arrian 5. 16. 1

ἐπέστησε τοὺς ἱππέας τοῦ πρόσω

mvp-comment-182-6 Another explanation is: τοῦ με ἐφίστασαι ⁸⁴ τήνδε βάσιν ⁸⁵ με ⁸⁶ μοι ⁸⁷ τοῦ ⁸⁸ ἐφ’ οὗ ⁸⁹ με ⁹⁰

mvp-comment-183-1 οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος … οὐδὲ νῦν ⁹¹ οὐδὲ ⁹² οὔτε ⁹³

mvp-comment-183-2 μάτην ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-183-3 δοκῶ ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-184-1 ἐκείνους ⁹⁶ τούτους δ’ ἔα ⁹⁷ ἄνευ τῶνδ’ ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-184-2 ἢ )μοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ ⁹⁹

mvp-comment-185-1 σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ οὐδὲν εἴργεται ¹⁰⁰ οὐδὲν ¹⁰¹ σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ’ ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-186-1 καὶ δὴ ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-186-2 χὡ λόγος σημαινέτω ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-187-1 δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν ¹⁰⁵

mvp-comment-187-2 ἢ νῦν … ἢ πρόσθεν … παρῆν ¹⁰⁶ κακός ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-188-1 ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-188-2 ἀγνοία ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-189-1 μαρτύρων ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-189-2 Εὔρυτόν θ’ ἕλοι τήν θ’ ὑψίπ. Οἰχαλίαν ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-189-3 τὴν ὑψίπυργον ¹¹²

mvp-comment-189-4 Οἰχαλίαν ¹¹³

mvp-comment-190-1 μόνος θεῶν ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-190-2 θέλξειεν ¹¹⁵

mvp-comment-191-1 οὐ τἀπὶ Λυδοῖς ¹¹⁶ ὑπ’ ¹¹⁷ ἐπ’ ¹¹⁸ τἀπὶ ¹¹⁹ ἐπ’ ¹²⁰

mvp-comment-191-2 πόνων λατρεύματ’ ¹²¹

mvp-comment-191-3 ὁ ῥιπτὸς … μόρος ¹²²

mvp-comment-191-4 Heracles had really killed Iphitus. The denial here refers only to the place which the murder held in the story told by Lichas. Heracles was instigated, not by the Lydian servitude which punished his crime, or by those affronts (262 ff.) which Lichas represented as having moved him to the crime, but, in reality, by the refusal of Eurytus to give him Iolè.

mvp-comment-192-1 ὃν ¹²³ ὃ ¹²⁴ ὃν … παρώσας ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-193-1 ἀλλ’ ἡνίκ’ ¹²⁶ οὐκ ἔπειθε ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-193-2 τὸν φυτοσπόρον ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-194-1 κρύφιον ὡς ἔχοι λέχος ¹²⁹ αἰτίαν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-194-2 ἑτοιμάσας ¹³¹

mvp-comment-194-3 362—

mvp-comment-195-1 ἐπιστρατεύει … ἄνακτα πατέρα ¹³² τόνδ’ ¹³³ τῶνδ’ ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-195-2 (1) It was needless to say that the girl's

πατρίς

was also the realm of Eurytus: cp. 244 f.: 283 ff.: 315. The excuse must be that the Messenger himself had not yet said so; he is wordy, and anxious, in his own fashion, to be lucid. The reading τόνδ’ ¹³⁵ τῶνδ’ ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-195-3 (2) Heracles is subject to ἐπιστρατεύει ¹³⁷ κτείνει ¹³⁸ εἶπε ¹³⁹ δεσπόζειν ¹⁴⁰ εἶπε ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-195-4 (3) At v. 377 Deianeira asks,

ἆρ’ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν

; i.e., ‘is she of obscure birth?’—and then, for the first time, learns that the girl's father is Eurytus. So she must have understood ἄνακτα ¹⁴²

mvp-comment-195-5 The only course which removes all these three difficulties is Hartung's,—who brackets the words τὴν ταύτης … πατέρα ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-195-6 Others read τῶν Εὐρύτου τόνδ’, rendering: ‘in which (Lichas) said that Heracles (

τόνδ’

) holds’ [or ‘wishes to hold’] the throne of Eurytus.’ But Heracles simply laid Oechalia waste; there was no question of his reigning there.—Wecklein ingeniously reads τὸν ἐργάτην ¹⁴⁴ τῶνδ’ ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-195-7 For the change of tenses, cp. Ant.406 n.

mvp-comment-196-1 ἥκει ¹⁴⁶ ἔπερσε ¹⁴⁷ ἐντεθέρμανται ¹⁴⁸ ἥκει ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-196-2 δόμους ὡς τούσδε ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-197-1 οὐδ’ εἰκός ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-197-2 ἐντεθέρμανται ¹⁵² ἐν‐ ¹⁵³ ἐκ‐ ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-198-1 πρὸς μέσῃ Τραχινίων ἀγορᾷ ¹⁵⁵ ἐν ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-198-2 ἀγορᾷ ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-198-3 Join ὡσαύτως ἐμοί ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-199-1 τὸ δ’ ὀρθὸν ¹⁵⁹

mvp-comment-200-1 ποῦ … πράγματος ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-200-2 ὑπόστεγον ¹⁶¹

mvp-comment-201-1 ὦ δὐστηνος ¹⁶² πέφυκεν ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-201-2 This question seems strange after the words κτείνει τ’ ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε ¹⁶⁴

mvp-comment-201-3 διώμνυτο ¹⁶⁵

mvp-comment-202-1 ἦ κάρτα ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-202-2 The conject. ὄνομα ¹⁶⁷ ὄμμα ¹⁶⁸ ἆρ’ ἀνώνυμος πέφυκεν ¹⁶⁹ ὄνομα ¹⁷⁰ φύσιν ¹⁷¹ κατ’ ὄμμα ¹⁷²

mvp-comment-202-3 φύσιν ¹⁷³

mvp-comment-202-4 In some ancient texts this verse was given to Deianeira. Among recent editors, Paley shares that view. But: (1) If Deianeira has already answered her own question, the Messenger's speech opens weakly with v. 380. (2) It agrees best with the practice of Sophocles to suppose that ἦ κάρτα ¹⁷⁴ ἢ ¹⁷⁵ ἦ ¹⁷⁶ φύσιν ¹⁷⁷ διώμνυτο ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-203-1 πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα ¹⁷⁹ Ἰόλη )καλεῖτο ¹⁸⁰ ποτέ ¹⁸¹ )καλεῖτο ¹⁸² οὖσα ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-203-2 Ἰόλη ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-203-3 τῆς ¹⁸⁵

mvp-comment-204-1 βλάστας ¹⁸⁶

mvp-comment-204-2 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν ¹⁸⁷

mvp-comment-204-3 Many editors place a comma after ἐφώνει ¹⁸⁸ δῆθεν ¹⁸⁹ δῆθεν ¹⁹⁰ οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-205-1 ὄλοιντο ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-205-2 The comment is aimed at Lichas in the first instance; but its vague form seems purposed, so that the hearers may extend it, if they please, to Heracles. Deianeira herself is in doubt whether the dissimulation practised by Lichas was prompted by her lord (449): Lichas explains that it was not so (479 f.). The schol.'s paraphrase shows that he wished to punctuate thus:

ὄλοιντο, μή τι πάντες, οἱ κακοί

, etc.: ‘perish, not all men, but the evil; and (especially) he,’ etc.

mvp-comment-205-3 τὰ δὲ ¹⁹³ δὲ ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-205-4 μὴ ¹⁹⁵ πρέπονθ’ αὑτῷ ¹⁹⁶

mvp-comment-206-1 ποεῖν ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-207-1 πεύθου ¹⁹⁸ πυθοῦ ¹⁹⁹

mvp-comment-207-2 σαφῆ ²⁰⁰

mvp-comment-208-1 οὐκ ἀπὸ γνώμης ²⁰¹

mvp-comment-208-2 The accent in L here,

ἄπο γνώμης

, represents the theory that this prep. should be paroxytone when it means ‘at a distance from,’ as in the phrases cited above, and in

ἀπὸ τείχεος

( Il.9. 353 ),

ἀπὸ σεῖο

( ib. 437), etc. But this was merely a refinement due to comparatively late grammarians: see Ellendt, Lex. Soph. p. 79 a: Matthiae Gr. § 572 n. b.

mvp-comment-209-1 οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπ’ ἀγγέλων ²⁰² αὐτόκλητος ²⁰³

mvp-comment-210-1 ὡς ὁρᾷς ²⁰⁴ εἰσορᾷς ²⁰⁵ εἰσορᾷς ²⁰⁶ ὡς ²⁰⁷ ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ, εἰσορᾷς ²⁰⁸ ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ ²⁰⁹ εἰσορᾷς ²¹⁰ εἰσορᾷς ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ ²¹¹ εἰσορᾷς ²¹²

mvp-comment-210-2 As regards ὡς ὁρᾷς ²¹³ ὡς ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-211-1 ἐκ ταχείας ²¹⁵

mvp-comment-211-2 σὺν χρόνῳ … βραδεῖ ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-211-3 πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-212-1 ἦ καὶ ²¹⁸

mvp-comment-212-2 τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀλη‐ ²¹⁹ θείας ²²⁰

mvp-comment-212-3 νεμεῖς ²²¹

mvp-comment-212-4 Even without the hint in the schol. (cr. n.), it would have been clear that νεμεῖς ²²² νέμεις ²²³

mvp-comment-213-1 As to Nauck's change in the order of these verses (cr. n.), it is enough to observe that (1) Lichas could not reply to the question of his

δέσποινα

with such a rebuff as σὺ δ’ εἰς τί δή με ²²⁴ τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς ²²⁵

mvp-comment-214-1 οὗτος, βλέφ’ ὧδε ²²⁶

mvp-comment-215-1 σὺ δ’ ²²⁷

mvp-comment-216-1 τόλμησον ²²⁸

mvp-comment-216-2 εἰ φρονεῖς ²²⁹

mvp-comment-216-3 ἱστορῶ ²³⁰

mvp-comment-216-4 406 f. If δάμαρτα ²³¹ δεσπότιν ²³² θ’ ²³³ δ’ ²³⁴ δέ … δέ ²³⁵ τε … τε. — λεύσσων μάταια ²³⁶

mvp-comment-217-1 δίκαια ²³⁷

mvp-comment-218-1 δίκαιος ²³⁸

mvp-comment-219-1 ποικίλας ²³⁹

mvp-comment-220-1 ἱστορούμενος ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-221-1 κάτοισθα ²⁴¹

mvp-comment-222-1 ἣν ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς ²⁴² ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ²⁴³ ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-222-2 On the whole, I do not feel sure that there is a corruption. If there is, it probably lies deep. Some conjectures are noticed in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-223-1 τίς πόθεν μολὼν ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-224-1 πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν ²⁴⁶ ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι ²⁴⁷

mvp-comment-224-2 ἀγορᾷ ²⁴⁸

mvp-comment-224-3 ταῦτά ²⁴⁹ γ’ ²⁵⁰ γε ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-224-4 425 If the MS. ναί ²⁵² γε ²⁵³ κλύειν ²⁵⁴ ναί ²⁵⁵

mvp-comment-224-5 ταὐτὸ ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-224-6 426 The antithesis is between the whole phrases, δόκησιν ²⁵⁷ ἐξακριβῶσαι ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-225-1 ποίαν δόκησιν ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-226-1 ἐγὼ δάμαρτα ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-226-2 431 The emphatic σοῦ ²⁶¹ σου ²⁶² ἤκουσεν ²⁶³ ἤκουσα ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-227-1 ἡ Λυδία ²⁶⁵ ἡ Λυδία ²⁶⁶ ὁ τῆσδ’ ἔρως φανείς ²⁶⁷ ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ ²⁶⁸

mvp-comment-228-1 ἀποστήτω ²⁶⁹

mvp-comment-229-1 πρός σε τοῦ … Διός ²⁷⁰

mvp-comment-229-2 νάπος ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-229-3 ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον ²⁷²

mvp-comment-230-1 Deianeira argues:—(1) 438 —448: he need not fear that she will feel rancour against Heracles or Iolè: (2) 449—454: falsehood would be disgraceful for him,—and, if his motive were kind, useless: (3) 455 f.: detection would be certain: (4) 457 ff.: he need not be afraid of paining her. (5) In vv. 461— 467 she returns to the first topic.

mvp-comment-230-2 κακῇ ²⁷³

mvp-comment-230-3 τἀνθρώπων ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-230-4 πέφυκεν ²⁷⁵ πεφύκας’ ²⁷⁶

mvp-comment-231-1 Ἔρωτι μέν νυν ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-231-2 πύκτης ὅπως ²⁷⁸

mvp-comment-231-3 οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ ²⁷⁹

mvp-comment-232-1 ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-233-1 κἀμοῦ γε ²⁸¹ γε ²⁸²

mvp-comment-233-2 πῶς δ’ οὐ ²⁸³

mvp-comment-233-3 οἵας γ’ ἐμοῦ ²⁸⁴ γε ²⁸⁵

mvp-comment-233-4 Wunder and Nauck reject this beautiful verse, because: (1) by

κἀμοῦ γε

Deianeira implies that she is stronger than the gods; and also that she has been untrue to her husband: (2) she cannot assume that Iolè returns the passion of Heracles; nor does Iolè's feeling come into account here.

mvp-comment-234-1 τὠμῷ τ’ ἀνδρὶ ²⁸⁶ τε ²⁸⁷ ἢ ²⁸⁸

mvp-comment-234-2 τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ ²⁸⁹

mvp-comment-234-3 μεμπτός ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-235-1 τοῦ μηδὲν αἰσχροῦ ²⁹¹ μηδ’ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος ²⁹² τοῦ ²⁹³

mvp-comment-235-2 This is a remarkable passage, and it is of some moment to understand it rightly. The meaning is not merely that Iolè's relation to Heracles was excused by the omnipotence of Erôs. Concubinage (

παλλακία

) was not merely tolerated by Athenian opinion, but, in some measure, protected by law (see e.g. , Lys. or. 1 § 31 : Isae. or. 8 § 39 ). Its relation to the life of the family is illustrated by the Andromachè of Euripides; for though Andromachè is Trojan, and Hermionè Spartan, the sentiments are Athenian. A wife (

γαμετὴ γυνή

) who tolerates a

παλλακή

is there represented as proving her goodness of heart (

ἀρετή

, 226), and her wise moderation (938—942); she ought to be consoled by her higher place, and by the advantage which her children will have over the

νόθοι

mvp-comment-235-3 But is Deianeira in earnest here; or is she feigning acquiescence, to reassure Lichas? Presently she tells the Chorus that she cannot endure to share her home with Iolè (539—546). Probably Sophocles meant her to be sincere in both places. The faith in her own power to bear the trial is natural at this moment of excitement and suspense. Not less so is the reaction, when she knows the worst, and has had time to think.

mvp-comment-236-1 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτ)· ἀλλ’ ²⁹⁴ οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα ²⁹⁵

mvp-comment-236-2 μαθὼν … ἐκμανθάνεις ²⁹⁶

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

301. mvp-comment-232-1 πρίν] In their former life, when they had a home.

302. mvp-comment-233-1 δοῦλον) The adjectival use of δοῦλος, which occurs here and supr. l. 53, is not found in earlier Greek.

303. mvp-comment-234-1 τροπαῖε] 'Giver of victory." Deianira has been commonly understood to address Zeus thus as the averter of evil (ἀποτρόπαιος). But elsewhere τροπαίος means the god who turns armies in battle. On this occasion Zeus has driven the army of Oechalia before Heracles and his allies. Deianira apprehends the possibility of some descendant of the Heracleidae being similarly defeated and made captive through the same god favouring another race.

304. mvp-comment-235-1 ποι after the verb of motion = που.

305. mvp-comment-236-1 τῆσδέ γε ζώσης ἔτι, Sc. δράσειας

306. mvp-comment-237-1 ὁρωμένη) The middle adds a touch of feeling, like the ethical dative, Le Looking at them with reflection. Cp. Ο. Τ. 1487, νοούμενος τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ πικροῦ βίου.

307. mvp-comment-238-1 Iole is naturally silent and downcast in the presence of Deianira, who in her quick sympathy interprets this as an expression of sorrow. The foremost captive, she observes, shows more feeling than the rest (312).

308. mvp-comment-239-1 τεκνοῦσσα (see v. rr.) is obtained from the lemma of the Scholiast. φύσιν] 'Appearance.' Cp. O. Т. 740, 1, φύσιν τιν εἶχε, φράζε.

309. mvp-comment-240-1 πάντων. . τῶνδε] Sc. τοῦ ἄνδρα τε καὶ τέκνα σχεῖν.

313. mvp-comment-241-1 φρονεῖν οἶδεν] 'Has the sense to feel her position." See note on 307. For this pleonastic use of οἶδεν = ἐπίσταται. cp. Hom. Il. 7. 238, οἶδ᾽ ἐπὶ δεξιά, εἶδ' ἐπ᾿ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν: Phil. 1010, ὃς οὐδὲν ἤδη πλὴν τὸ προσ ταχθὲν ποιεῖν: Arist. Vesp. 376, ν᾽ εἰδῇ μὴ πατεῖν τὰ τῶν θεῶν ψηφίσματα.

314. mvp-comment-242-1 τί δ' ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; καὶ opposes the question to the reply. I cannot answer, and why should you ask??

315. mvp-comment-243-1 τῶν ἐκεῖθεν] Sc. γεννημάτων. Ср. О. Т. 1167, τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων. οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις] 'Not far down.' The phrase is equivalent to an attributive adjective agreeing with γέννημα.

316. mvp-comment-244-1 μὴ τῶν τυράννων] Sc. γέννημα. 'Can she have been of the royal stock?' Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν] Either (1) 'Is it possible she is Eurytus' offspring?' τις = πως. See Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin., and cp. Ó. T. 1167, quoted above. Or (2) Had Eurytus any offspring?" So Hermann.

317. mvp-comment-245-1 οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν] 'I did not carry my inquiries far.'

318. mvp-comment-246-1 τῶν ξυνεμπόρων] Of those travelling with her and you,' viz. the other captives. ἔχεις = πέπυσαι. Cp. Phil. 789, ἔχετε τὸ πρᾶγμα.

319. mvp-comment-247-1 τοὐμὸν ἔργον] The herald's task of bringing the captives home.

320. mvp-comment-248-1 Deianira, baffled in her compassionate eagerness, now turns to Iole herself in a tone of entreaty. ἀλλά belongs to ἐκ σαυτῆς or to the whole sentence, not to ἡμίν. (Cр. О. С. 238, ὦ ξένοι, . . ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεί, κ.τ.λ.)

321. mvp-comment-249-1 καὶ ξυμφορά τοι] These words express Deianira's strong sympathy. 'Verily, I am distressed not to know who thou art.' A narrator might say of her in the language of Herodotus, καὶ συμφορὴν ἐποιέετο, τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι τὴν ξείνην ἥ τις εἴη. It has been observed that the particles ἐπεὶ καί τοι are not found together elsewhere. But each of the three words has a distinct and apposite meaning. 'For' (ἐπεί) ‘I tell you' (τοι) 'I am even' (καί) ' distressed.' γε simply emphasizes σé, i. e. 'You, who have awakened such an interest in me.'

322ff. mvp-comment-250-1 Lichas hurriedly interposes to prevent disclosure with a significant warning to Iole to hold her peace. The first Scholiast's explanation of these words gives a rational meaning: ἐὰν αἰδουμένη σε φθέγξηται, κατ᾿ οὐδὲν ἄρα ἐξίσου τῷ πρόσθεν χρόνῳ προκομίσειεν (ἂν ?) αὐτῆς τὴν γλῶσσαν· τὸν γὰρ πρὸ τοῦ χρόνου ἐσιώπα: i.e. he understands the stress of the sentence to be on the words οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου τῷ γε πρόσθεν χρόνῳ ( Essay on L. § 24. p. 40 ). It will not be in accordance with (her demeanour in) the previous time that she will bring out her tongue (if she does so).' The doubt is whether διαφέρειν can mean, 'To bring between the lips,' and so answer the προκομίζειν of the Scholiast. Wakefield's conjecture διήσει, ' Will let pass through her lips,' is supported by Ο. C. 963 (ὅστις φόνους . .) τοῦ σοῦ διῆκας στόματος. Hermann explained the words to mean, Just as hitherto (τῷ γε πρόσθεν ἐξ ἴσου χρόνῳ) she will maintain an even tenour (οὐδὲν διοίσει) as to her tongue.' Dindorf (agreeing with the second Scholiast), 'She will not employ her tongue' (οὐ.. διοίσει οι διήσει γλῶσσαν) 'inconsistently with what she has done hitherto.'

323-324. mvp-comment-251-1 οὐδαμὰ | προὔφηνεν] ‘Made no sign.

325. mvp-comment-252-1 But travailing with the weight of her calamity she has wept over it ever since.' The accusative is to be joined both with ὠδίνουσα and δακρυρροεῖ. Cp. Shak. Pericles, 5. 1, 'I am great with woe and shall deliver weeping.'

327. mvp-comment-253-1 διήνεμον] It is difficult to determine whether this is (1) a mere epithet, 'Wind-swept,' like the Homeric ἠνεμόεσσα, descriptive of a city on a hill, or (2) a supplem. pred. = διήνεμον οὖσαν, ‘Desolate,' 'Open to the winds.' The first (1) may be supported by comparing several picturesque touches in this play, but the other (2) is more dramatic. Both are given in the scholia, ἔρημον (2), ὕψηλον (1). ἡ δέ τοι] This is better than ἥδε τοι, which leaves an unmeaning asyndeton. Her case is unfortunate, I mean for herself, but suggests a reason for indulgence' (on our part); i. e. 'Her misfortune may excuse her silence.'

328. mvp-comment-254-1 For ἔχει, cp. Thuc. 2. 41. § 3, ἀγανάκτησιν ἔχει ('Gives cause for complaint'): Eur. Phoen. 995, τοὐμὸν δ᾽ οὐχὶ συγγνώμην ἔχει.

329. mvp-comment-255-1 ἥδ᾽ οὖν] ἡ δ' οὖν is sometimes read here, as in O. T. 669. But while δέ is unnecessary, the opposition of πάντες in what follows is enough to justify the use of the demonstrative ἥδε. στέγας] For the accus. cp. 58, δύμους.

330. mvp-comment-256-1 ἥδιστα] For this sense of ἡδύς, ср. О. C. 639, 40, εἰ δ᾽ ἐμοῦ στείχειν μέτα | τόδ᾽ ἡδύ.

331. mvp-comment-257-1 This line in LA (see v. rr.) has manifestly suffered from corruption, some other word being replaced either by the first or the second λύπην. The Triclinian reading which is adopted in the text, although possibly due to conjecture, is more probable than any other of the various changes which have been proposed. It is not necessary to change λάβοι το λάβῃ. The optative slightly varies the expression, I would not have her,' etc.

333. mvp-comment-258-1 For τε.. δέ, see Essay on L. §36. p. 65 f , and cp. supr. 143. The antithesis is introduced after the sentence is begun. οἱ θέλεις] Viz. to rejoin Heracles.

334. mvp-comment-259-1 ἐξαρκή] ‘As they should be.' Cp. infr. 625.

335. mvp-comment-260-1 ἀμμείνασα] Sc. χωροῖς ἄν. Ср. Phil. 645, χωρῶμεν, ἔνδοθεν λαβών. For the use of the participle with ye = 'Not until,' cp. Plat. Phaedr. 228 D, δείξας γε πρῶτον, ὦ φιλότης, κ.τ.λ. The "Αγγελος is rude, and something of a busy-body, but honest and well-meaning.

336. mvp-comment-261-1 ἄνευ τῶνδε] When Lichas and the captives are not present.'

337. mvp-comment-262-1 ἐκμάθῃς θ' ἃ δεῖ] The change from τε to γε in AVR is an attempt to simplify the sentence, but still leaves an awkward resumption. The Αγγελος, full of the importance of his message, and yet afraid to speak it too soon, hurries over the latter part of the sentence, 'That you may learn, first who they are whom you are taking within, and then what else is hidden from you, and (in short) that you may learn fully what you ought to know.'

338. mvp-comment-263-1 l. 338 is characteristic of the man's self-importance. There is a certain ὄγκος in the postponement of γάρ (Aj. 522, El. 492); and the expression πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμη, 'Knowledge as to all things, Absolute knowledge,' has also a mockheroic (almost 'Pistol'-like) air.

339. mvp-comment-264-1 τί δ᾽ ἐστί] 'What is the matter? Why do you stay my footsteps here with your interruption?" τοῦ for τίνος = τίνος ἕνεκα. See Essay on L. § 10. p. 15 d. The punctuation (that of L) is rendered probable by comparing Ο. Τ. 938, τί δ᾽ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδ᾽ ἔχει διπλῆν ; ἐφίστασαι] The present middle of ἵστημι is used transitively in Hdt. 7. 9, πολέμους ἵστανται, 'They set up wars amongst themselves.' παρίστασθαι is so used by Sophocles, O. C. 916, ἄγεις θ' ἃ χρήζεις καὶ παρίστασαι βίᾳ, and by other writers: καθίσταμαι by Eur. Suppl. 522, πόλεμον οὐ καθίσταμαι: προίστασθαι by Plato and Demosthenes : διίστασθαι by Plato, Tim. 63 C. It is therefore possible that ἐφίστασθαι here and in Aj. 869 (ἐπίσταται MSS.) may mean, 'To arrest.' τήνδε . . βάσιν] The second accusative expresses the respect in which Deianira was stopped: 'In this going,' i.e. in going, as I have just begun to do. The above interpretation, which is that of the Scholiast, agrees better with the context than if ἐφίστασαι were taken intransitively: Why do you stand before me in this your coming?' See esp. l. 335, αὐτοῦ. . ἀμμείνασα, and 340, σταθεῖσα.

341. mvp-comment-265-1 μάτην] 'Without result,' i.e. without the event proving the truth of my words. δοκῶ] Sc. τὸν μῦθον μάτην ἀκούσεσθαί σε,

342. mvp-comment-266-1 ἐκείνους] Those other people, who were here a little while ago. It may be remarked, as exemplifying the dramatic manner of Sophocles, that the words ἄνευ τῶνδε in l. 336 are unobserved by Deianira. Cp. O.Т. 360, and note.

344. mvp-comment-267-1 οὐδὲν εἴργεται] Sc. τάδε λεχθῆναι. For the passive, cp. Thuc. 8. 54, ὥστε μηκέτι διαμέλλεσθαι. τούτους] Though further off than the Chorus, Lichas and the captives are still imagined as within sight through the open door, and within call.

345. mvp-comment-268-1 χώ λόγος σημαινέτω] ‘Now then let your speech declare your meaning.' Deianira is impatient of the air of mystery which the man has hitherto assumed. For λόγος personified, ср. О. С. 574, χώ λόγος διέρχεται: Fr. inc. 782, διχοστατῶν λόγος. σημαίνειν, without an expressed object, occurs several times in Sophocles and Thucydides; and in Xenophon, Mem. 1. 1. § 4, τὸ δαιμόνιον γὰρ ἔφη σημαίνειν.

346. mvp-comment-269-1 ἀνὴρ ὅδ'] 'Lichas here' (pointing indoors). Cp. τούτους, supr. 344.

347. mvp-comment-270-1 δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν] Truly and uprightly. For δίκη in this sense, cp. Ant. 538, οὐκ ἐάσει τοῦτό σ᾽ ἡ δίκη. κακός] Sc. ἐστί. 'He is behaving badly.'

348. mvp-comment-271-1 δίκαιος] Honest.'

349. mvp-comment-272-1 πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς] ‘All that thou knowest.'

353. mvp-comment-273-1 ἕλοι] 'Subdued,' viz. killed Eurytus and destroyed Oechalia. For a similar double use of εἶλον, cp Pind. Οl. 1. 142, ἕλεν δ' Οἰνομάου βίαν | παρθένον τε σύνευνον.

354-355. mvp-comment-274-1 Ἔρως.. μόνος θεῶν, κ.τ.λ.] The god of love, and no other, had moved him to this feat of arms.' αἰχμάσαι τάδε] 'Το enter on this warlike enterprise.’ τάδε, cognate accusative.

356-357. mvp-comment-275-1 τἀπὶ . . λατρεύματα] (1) 'Not the toilsome service at the bidding of the Lydians or of Omphale.' Or (2) the preposition may have the merely locative sense in the first instance, and the different meaning, 'In the power of,' with the second word. The labours which he performed among the Lydians and in the service of Omphale.' ἐπί = ' In the power of.' Cp. О. С. 66, ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

357. mvp-comment-276-1 ὁ ῥιπτὸς.. μόρος] ‘The death by hurling from the rock. For a use of the passive of ῥίπτω (with cognate subject) corresponding to this use of the verbal adj.. cp. the oracle in Hdt. 1. 62, ἔρριπται δ᾽ ὁ βόλος (‘Now the cast is made'), τὸ δὲ δίκτυον ἐκπεπέτασται. Cp. also Eur. Or. 990, 1, Μυρτίλου φόνον | δικών, and see Essay on L. § 53. p. 98.

358. mvp-comment-277-1 ov] Referring to "Έρως, the most important subject in the preceding lines. Cp. Ο. C. 86, 7, Φοίβῳ τε καμοί, κ.τ.λ., ὅς, κ.τ.λ. The conjectures ἅ and ὅ are quite unnecessary. παρώσας] « Having thrust aside,' cp. Eur. El. 1037, τἄνδον παρώσας λέκτρα: Plat. Rep. 5. p. 471 C, δ.. παρωσάμενος .. πάντα ταῦτα εἴρηκας. ἔμπαλιν λέγει] 'Tells a different (lit. opposite) tale.'

359. mvp-comment-278-1 οὐκ ἔπειθε] 'He could not persuade.' The imperfect implies that his suit was continued for some time. φυτοσπόρος is originally ὁ σπείρας τὸ φυτόν,

360. mvp-comment-279-1 κρύφιον . . λέχος] ‘In secret marriage,' - accusative in apposition with the action.

362-363. mvp-comment-280-1 These lines have been censured for their tautology, and justly enough; but they are in character with the speaker, who, like the Φύλαξ in the Antigone, has already shown a fondness for false emphasis and superfluous words. The words ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε in l. 364 are in the same manner. ἐν ἡ τὸν Εὔρυτον τόνδ' εἶπε δεσπόζειν θρόνων] 'The same wherein he told us that Eurytus of whom he spake was master of the throne.' The Messenger wants to impress on Deianira that this part of what she has heard need not be unsaid. The reading τῶνδε (see v. rr.) involves a still more superfluous use of the demonstrative.

365. mvp-comment-281-1 ὡς] Hermann's note in defence of ὡς shows a wise caution. He thinks that the rule of grammarians that ὡς for πρός can only be used with persons may be extended so as to cover a case of this kind where the house includes the inmates of the house. It is certainly better to retain a reading which, for anything we know, may be specially suited to express an authorized mission, such as that of Iole under charge of Lichas. ἥκει] 'Heracles is come.' After the words of Lichas in supr. 289, the arrival of Heracles is regarded as an accomplished fact.

366. mvp-comment-282-1 ἀφροντίστως] 'Without special care,' as he would have done, if she had merely fallen to his lot as part of the spoil. Cp. supr. 283-6.

367. mvp-comment-283-1 μηδὲ προσδόκα τόδε] ‘Nay, do not look for that.' μηδέ is rather adversative to Deianira's previous impression than to the preceding words. Others have taken it to mean, 'As it is not the fact, so neither must you think it.' Cp. Aesch. Ag. 879, μηδὲ θαυμάσῃς τόδε, where there is a similar doubt.

368. mvp-comment-284-1 ἐντεθέρμανται] ἐνθερμαίνειν may surely mean ἐντὸς θερμαίνειν, ας ἐμπιμπλάναι means ἐντὸς πιμπλάναι, and unless we are to get rid of all ἅπαξ λεγόμενα, there is no good reason for exchanging this, at some one's suggestion, for ἐκτεθέρμανται, because the Scholiast explains the word by ἐκκέκανται and ἐκθερμαίνειν means somewhere, 'To chafe the limbs.' The addition of this line is suited to the character of the Messenger, whose garrulity unconsciously rubs the sore.

371. mvp-comment-285-1 πρὸς μέσῃ.. ἀγορᾷ] ‘Near the midst of the Trachinians' public place.' Lichas was standing in the midst of the ἀγορά, his audience were standing near. The expression is varied infr. 423. The word μέσῃ marks the publicity of Lichas' statement. See note on O. T. 808.

373. mvp-comment-286-1 ἐξελέγχειν] Sc. αὐτόν. · Clearly to convict him.' εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα] From the signs of emotion which she shows, and perhaps instructed by the gestures of the Chorus, the man perceives at last how Deianira is wounded. Ср. О. Т. 746, and note. For φίλα, cp. Phil. 1178, φίλα μοι, φίλα ταῦτα παρήγγειλας.

374. mvp-comment-287-1 οὐχ ἥδομαι] ‘I am sorry.' Cp. Eur. Med. 136, οὐδὲ συνήδομαι, ὦ γύναι, ἄλγεσι δώματος, ἐπεί μοι φίλον κέκρανται.

375. mvp-comment-288-1 ποῦ . . πράγματος] ‘Where am 1?' Cp. Αj. 314, κἀνήρετ᾽, ἐν τῷ πράγματος κυροί ποτέ.

376-377. mvp-comment-289-1 What undermining trouble have I welcomed in beneath my roof?' Cp. Ant. 531, σὺ δ᾽, ἢ κατ᾿ οἴκους ὡς ἔχιδν᾽ ὑφειμένη | λήθουσά μ᾽ ἐξέπινες. ὦ δύστηνος] Sc. ἐγώ. Cp. 375, 1143, 1243, О. Т. 1155, О. С. 318. ἆρ᾿ ἀνώνυμος] Deianira thus dwells bitterly on the deceit of Lichas, whereupon the literal Messenger proclaims Iole's name.

379. mvp-comment-290-1 καὶ κατ᾿ ὄμμα καὶ φύσιν] ‘In birth, as in appearance.'

380. mvp-comment-291-1 πατρός.. Εὐρύτου] 'Taking lineage from Eurytus for her sire.' Ср. Phil. 260, ὦ παῖ πατρὸς ἐξ ᾿Αχιλλέως : Εl. 365, νῦν δ᾽ ἐξὸν πατρὸς .. παῖδα κεκλῆσθαι, καλοῦ τῆς μητρός: Ο. C. 215, τίνος εἶ σπέρματος, ὦ ξένε, φώνει, πατρόθεν. ποτέ] Once.' Cp. supr. 301, and the Homeric εἴ ποτ᾽ ἔην γε (Il. 3. 180).

381. mvp-comment-292-1 'Of whose origin he had not a word to say, pretending forsooth to have made no inquiry.' Cp. supr. 317.

382. mvp-comment-293-1 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν] 'Because he did not inquire' at that former time. ὅτι (τότε) οὐδὲν ἱστόρει. Cp. supr. 281, ὑπερχλίοντες, and note.

383. mvp-comment-294-1 ὅλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί] The Chorus in a sort of aside, which Deianira is too absorbed to perceive (see infr. 386, ἐκπεπληγμένη), thus covertly direct their indignation at some one. Is this Lichas or Heracles? The prevarication of Lichas is hardly a sufficient cause for such an outburst, and the phrase 'unbecoming to himself' has no significance in relation to him. It is more probable that the Trachinian women, unheard by Deianira, thus breathe a curse on the unfaithfulness of Heracles. It should be remembered that he is not their master, so that the analogy of Medea, 83, 4, ὅλοιτο μὲν μή, δεσπότης γάρ ἐστ᾽ ἐμός, | ἀτὰρ κακός γ᾽ ὧν ἐς φίλους ἁλίσκεται, is rather in favour of this interpretation than against it. Cp. Phil. 451, 2, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα, ποῦ δ' αἰνεῖν, ὅταν | τὰ θεῖ᾽ ἐπαινῶν τοὺς θεοὺς εὕρω κακούς ;

386. mvp-comment-295-1 (I ask you because) ' I am struck dumb by what is now reported.'

387. mvp-comment-296-1 σαφῆ] ‘Clear truth.'

388. mvp-comment-297-1 εἰ . . θέλοις] 'If you chose to press him hard with questioning.'

389. mvp-comment-298-1 καὶ γὰρ. λέγεις] ‘For your words are not unwise.' οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης = πρὸς γνώμης. 'Thought' in such expressions = ' Wise thought,' or 'Wisdom.'

390. mvp-comment-299-1 This line, which in the Laurentian MS. is expressly given to the Chorus, has been transferred by Hermann and recent editors to the Messenger (cp. El. 772, μάτην ἄρ᾽ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν), on the ground that the Chorus were bound in any case to stay where they were, and moreover were helpless in this matter. But (a) τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ; does not mean, 'How shall we help you?' but, What shall we do about staying where we are?' (b) The Ajax and Eumenides show that the Chorus sometimes left the scene, and the objection is irrelevant, for the illusion of the theatre may be carried so far as to ignore stage necessities in imagination. Cp. Aesch. Prom. 1058 foll., where Hermes advises the ocean-nymphs to fly, and El. 1399, ἀλλὰ σῖγα πρόσμενε. (c) The answer of Deianira is perfectly consistent with the coryphaeus having asked, Shall we some of us accompany you, or all wait till you come back?' but is unmeaning as a reply to the question, 'Shall I wait here while you go in, or shall I go away?' which is the only sense the line will bear if given to the Messenger.

391. mvp-comment-300-1 οὐκ . . ἀγγέλων] Sc. κλητός, which is suggested by αὐτόκλητος following.

394. mvp-comment-301-1 εἰσορᾷς] Wunder conjectures ὡς ὁρᾷς. Dindorf, on the other hand, suggests that Sophocles may have used εἰσορᾷς here for the parenthetical opas to avoid the repetition of ὡs. But the parenthetical opas is interrogative, and that is unsuitable here. The best explanation of the words as they stand is to suppose that they are a confusion of two constructions, (1) ὡς εἰσορᾶς ἐμὲ ἕρποντα, (2) ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ.

395. mvp-comment-302-1 ἐκ ταχείας] For this adverbial expression, cp. infr. 727, ἐξ ἑκουσίας : Plat. Soph. p. 231 C, τὰς ἁπάσας μὴ ῥάδιον εἶναι διαφεύγειν. ὁρμῆς, or some such word, can easily be supplied. But the ellipse has become idiomatic.

395. mvp-comment-302-2 σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ] 'So tardily.' Cp. Ο. С. 1602, ταχεῖ ξὺν χρόνῳ. For the meaning, cp. supr. 44, 5, χρόνον γὰρ οὐχὶ βαιόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἤδη δέκα | μῆνας πρὸς ἄλλοις πέντ᾽ ἀκήρυκτος μένει

396. mvp-comment-303-1 καὶ νεώσασθαι] ‘Before I have conversed again with you.' Hermann conjectures κάννεώσασθαι, - i. e. καὶ ἀνανεώσασθαι, cp. Od. 10. 192, ἀννεῖται. But he was hardly justified in condemning νεώσασθαι. See Essay on L. § 55. p. 101, 4. The meaning is, 'Before we can have fresh interchange of talk,' rather than, 'Before we have renewed the talk we had with you just now.'

398. mvp-comment-304-1 ἢ καὶ . . νέμεις] ‘And dost thou maintain the faithful spirit of truth?" For νέμεις, 'Dost possess, wield, use,' cp. Aesch. Ag. 685, γλῶσσαν ἐν τύχᾳ νέμων. For τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας, cp. Thuc. 2. 40, ἐλευθερίας τῷ πιστῷ: ib. 6. 72, τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἐπιστήμης.

399. mvp-comment-305-1 ὧν γε = (νέμω ἀλήθειαν) τούτων ἅ.

402. mvp-comment-306-1 Ср. О. Τ. 1121, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων, The Messenger rudely calls Lichas' attention to himself. Here and elsewhere in this scene (see v. rr.) the traditional reading confuses the persons of Lichas and the Messenger.

403. mvp-comment-307-1 The reading ἐρωτήσασ' (cp. 412) has suggested to some editors a transposition of the lines, which is quite unnecessary. Thus Dindorf (Oxford, 1869) reads ΔΗ. 400, ΛΙ. 403, ΔΗ. 404, ΛΙ. 401, ΑΓ. 402. But Lichas is too courteous to Deianira and too self-possessed to have addressed so rude a question to her, instead of answering at once, and if he had done so would not have emphasized the pronoun σύ: whereas it is quite natural that he should turn abruptly on the Messenger without giving him a direct answer. And 404 suits better with the peremptoriness of the "Αγγελος than with the character of Deianira.

404. mvp-comment-308-1 τόλμησον εἰπεῖν] ‘Say frankly.' τολμᾶν is one of those words which, like ἐπιχειρεῖν, are not to be pressed too closely when used as auxiliaries. Cp. Ο. C. 184, τόλμα . . ἀποστυγεῖν: Εl. 1051, οὔτε γὰρ σὺ τἄμ᾽ ἔπη τολμᾶς ἐπαινεῖν, κ.τ.λ : Aesch. Prom. 999, 1000, τόλμησον . . ὀρθῶς φρονεῖν. εἰ φρονεῖς] «If you have the sense to know it; i.e. If your lie has not 'made such a sinner of your memory' as to make you forget to whom you spoke. Hermann strangely understands the "Αγγελος to speak ironically, as if the Messenger thought that Lichas would not dare to answer the question if he were in his right mind.

406. mvp-comment-309-1 δάμαρτά θ' Ηρακλέους] Several editors propose to read δ' for θ'.

407. mvp-comment-310-1 λεύσσων μάταια] ‘If I have not lost the sight of my eyes.' Cp. infr. 863, πότερον ἐγὼ μάταιος. Lichas professes to be shaken by the rudeness of the question, so as for the moment almost to doubt his eyesight. For the adverbial use of the accusative plural, cp. Eur. Alc. 413, ἀνόνατ᾽ ἐνύμφευσας.

408. mvp-comment-311-1 For the repetition of τοῦτο, see on supr. 362, and cp. O. T. 1013, τοῦτ᾽ αὐτὸ . . τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ. σου μαθεῖν] ‘To understand from you.' Cp. O. Τ. 575, ἐγὼ δὲ σου | μαθεῖν δικαιῶ ταὔθ᾽ ἅπερ κἀμοῦ σὺ νῦν.

409. mvp-comment-312-1 δίκαια γάρ] 'Yes, for it is right,' that I should acknowledge this. δίκαιος only means 'true' in this indirect way, viz. because it is right to speak the truth. Cp. supr. 347.

410. mvp-comment-313-1 What punishment would you accept? i.e. do you allow that you deserve?' Cp. Ο.Τ. 944, εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

412. mvp-comment-314-1 τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις ;] · What riddle have you devised?' Cp. infr. 1121, οὐδὲν ξυνίημ᾽ ὧν σὺ ποικίλλεις πάλαι,

413. mvp-comment-315-1 τοῦτο δρῶν] Sc. ποικίλλων, 'Keeping up a mystery.'

414. mvp-comment-316-1 μῶρος .. σέθεν] ‘I have been a fool in listening to you for so long.'

415. mvp-comment-317-1 ού] Sc. οὐκ ἄπει. Not until being asked you have answered one little word.' See note on O. Т. 360.

416. mvp-comment-318-1 Speak what you will-indeed you have enough to say.'

418. mvp-comment-319-1 κάτοισθα δήπου ;] 'You know, I presume?' Cp. infr. 1219, τὴν Εὐρυτείαν οἶσθα δῆτα παρθένον ;

419. mvp-comment-320-1 ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς] 'Whom you regard with strangeness. For ὑπό with the genitive, where (as in some uses of the dative, Essay on L. § 14. p. 20, 1 ) the notion of cause passes into that of manner, or accompaniment, cp. Εl. 630, ὑπ᾿ εὐφήμου βοῆς : Εur. Hipp. 1299, ὑπ᾿ εὐκλείας θανεῖν. Iole is not present; therefore ὁρᾷς must refer to the behaviour of Lichas in the former scene. Schndw. conjectured ἧς σύ γ᾽ ἀγνοεῖς γονάς.

423. mvp-comment-321-1 πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν] The dative answers ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι in l. 421, so that ev is easily supplied. Essay on L. §35. p. 60.

424. mvp-comment-322-1 ταῦτά γ'] 'This, ay, this!' γε adds emphasis to ταῦτα, but also qualifies the whole sentence as affirming what Lichas denies.

425. mvp-comment-323-1 ναί has sometimes been omitted, as a gloss on ye in this line. But the pause, with the interjection extra metrum, expresses very naturally the momentary confusion of Lichas. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχί] The negative is emphasized by being postponed. Essay on L. § 41. p. 78, γ.

426. mvp-comment-324-1 δόκησιν εἰπεῖν] ‘Το state an impression and to speak with exactness.'

427. mvp-comment-325-1 ποίαν δόκησιν] 'Impression quotha!' The only example of this idiom in tragedy. Cp. O. T. 1145, ὦ τάν in the mouth of the Corinthian messenger in where see note.

430. mvp-comment-326-1 τόνδε.. ξένοs] Cp. supr. 98, and note.

432. mvp-comment-327-1 πόλις .. πᾶσα] (1) i. e. πᾶσα ἡ πόλις, i.e. Oechalia. πᾶσα marks that the whole city was ruined for one maid. Cp. infr. 466. Or (2) the expression is at first general, 'A whole city,' and passes on to the particular (433, αὐτήν), as often happens in Thucydides. κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία] The sense is here improved by adopting the reading of Paris A. and other MSS., involving a very slight and probable change from κουχί, the reading of L.

433. mvp-comment-328-1 φανείς] «Having arisen; i. e 'Having proved to be a fact in the life of Heracles. (Not, 'Having been disclosed.')

435. mvp-comment-329-1 νοσοῦντι.. σώφρονος] • Το talk idly to a madman is unworthy of a man in his senses.'

436ff. mvp-comment-330-1 In this speech of Deianira, although she dissembles her jealousy in order to draw the truth from Lichas, yet the real gentleness of her character is also expressed. Cр. l. 445 with infr. 543-4.

436. mvp-comment-331-1 πρός σε τοῦ, κ.τ.λ.] This peculiar inversion seems to belong to the later manner of Sophocles. Cр. О. С. 250, 1333, Phil. 468.

437. mvp-comment-332-1 ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον] Cheat me of the truth.' ἐκκλέπτειν here is to deprive by falsehood. λόγον, ‘The true account.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 783, μηδ' ἀτιμάσῃς λόγους.

439. mvp-comment-333-1 Either (1) To be always glad is not granted by Nature to the same person,' or (2) 'He' (man, ἄνθρωπος, implied in τὰ ἀνθρώπων) ‘is not of a nature to delight always in the same things.' For (1) cp. Thuc. 2. 64, πάντα γὰρ πέφυκε καὶ ἐλασσοῦσθαι: El. 859, πᾶσι θνατοῖς ἔφυ μόρος. And, for (2), Phil. 88, ἔφυν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐκ τέχνης πράσσειν κακῆς. The first meaning is more pathetic, and on the whole preferable, although the second may be thought to suit better with Deianira's present purpose (see especially l. 448). For the indefinite or collective singular alternating with the plural in (2), see Essay on L. § 20. p. 31, 3.

441. mvp-comment-334-1 μέν has no distinct antithesis, but prepares for ἀλλὰ . . ἀλλά in ll. 449, 453. Cp. with εἰς χεῖρας ἰέναι the old English expression, To go to buffets.'

443-444. mvp-comment-335-1 καὶ θεῶν. . κἀμοῦ γε] 'Even over the gods, and certainly over me.'

444ff. mvp-comment-336-1 The following quotation from La Fameuse Comédienne is believed to record the personal experience of Molière: My passion has risen to such a height that it goes the length of entering with sympathy into her concerns; and when I consider how impossible it is for me to overcome my love for her, I say to myself that she may have the same difficulty in subduing her inclinations, and I feel accordingly more disposed to pity her than to blame her.' -See Molière, in Blackwood's Foreign Classics, p. 106. οἷας γ᾽ ἐμοῦ] 'I mean one who is a woman as I am.' Cp. infr. 447. For the attraction (= οῖα ἐγώ εἰμι), see Essay on L. § 35. p. 59 , and cp. Plato, Soph. 237 C, χαλεπὸν ἥρου καὶ οἴῳ γε ἐμοὶ παντάπασιν ἄπορον.

445. mvp-comment-337-1 τε.. 447. ἤ ἤ is substituted for the second τε as the disjunctive nature of the sentence becomes more prominent. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 65 f , and cp. Plat. Theaet. 143 C, περὶ αὐτοῦ τε .. ἢ αὖ περὶ τοῦ ἀποκρινομένου . .

446. mvp-comment-338-1 μεμπτός εἰμι] 'Feel reproachfully. For this use of the verbal adjective, cp. supr. 357, ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ἰφίτου μόρος, and note. The force of the verbal here is, 'Touched with a feeling of blame,' 'Affected with displeasure' = μομφὴν ἔχων (Αj. 180). μαίνομαι] Cp. Aj. 1330, ἡ γὰρ εἴην οὐκ ἂν εὐ φρονῶν: Aesch. Ag. 1064, ἦ μαίνεταί γε καὶ κακῶν κλύει φρενῶν, κ.τ.λ.

447. mvp-comment-339-1 μεταιτίᾳ] ‘Of that which is in no way disgraceful '-because shared by so many. ἐρᾷς· τί τοῦτο θαῦμα; σὺν πολλοῖς βροτῶν, Eur. Hipp. 439.

448. mvp-comment-340-1 μηδ᾽ ἐμοὶ κακοῦ τινος] ‘Nor at all involving mischief to me.' The indefinite pronoun has an adverbial force. Essay on L. § 22. p. 36, sub fin. From the point of view which she is trying to put before Lichas, Deianira still holds her position as the wife of Heracles. See below, l. 550.

449. mvp-comment-341-1 οὐκ ἔστι ταῦτα] 'There is no such thing,' as this jealous feeling you are afraid to wound.

450. mvp-comment-342-1 ἐκμανθάνεις] ἐκ is repeated from ἐκ κείνου, without adding to the meaning. Essay on L. § 55. p. 101.

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301–450

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τί δ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ; τί δ᾽ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις κεκρίνοις καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως

γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις υστάτοις. 315

ΔΗ. μὴ τῶν τυράννων; Εὐρύτου τυράννων Εὐρύτου; σπορά τις ἦν;

ΛΙ. οὐκ οἶδα· καὶ γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

ΔΗ. οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

ΛΙ. ἥκιστα· σιγῇ τοὐμὸν υ ἔργον ἤνυτον om. add.

ΔΗ. εἴπ᾽, ὦ τάλαιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμὶν ἐκ σαυτῆς· ἐπεὶ 320 καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι μἠδέναι μὴ εἰδέναι σε σε γ' ἥτις εἶ.

ΛΙ. οὐ τἄρα οὔτ᾽ ἆρα τῷ γε πρόσθεν οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου χρόνῳ χρόνω διοίσει γλῶσσαν, ἥτις οὐδαμὰ οὐδαμαῖ οὐδαμᾶ

ΑΓ.

αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασ᾽, ὅπως 335 μάθῃς, ἄνευ τῶνδ᾽, οὕστινάς τ' om. γ' ἄγεις ἔσω,

ὧν τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας, ἐκμάθῃς θ᾽ γ' ἃ δεῖ. τούτων ἔχω γὰρ πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμην ἐγώ.

ΔΗ. τί δ᾽ ἐστί; τοῦ με τήνδ᾽ ἐφίστασαι φ ἐπίστασαι βάσιν ;

ΑΓ. σταθεῖσ᾽ ἄκουσον· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος 340 μῦθον μάτην ἤκουσας, οὐδὲ νῦν δοκῶ.

ΔΗ. πότερον ἐκείνους δῆτα δεῦρ᾽ αὖθις πάλιν καλῶμεν, ἢ ἐμοὶ ἥμοι οἶμοι ταῖσδέ τ᾽ ἐξειπεῖν θέλεις;

ΑΓ. σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴργεται, τούτους δ᾽ ἔα.

ΔΗ. καὶ δὴ βεβᾶσι, χώ λόγος σημαινέτω. 345

ΑΓ. ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽ οὐδὲν ὧν ἔλεξεν ἀρτίως φωνεῖ φώνεῖ δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ νῦν κακός, ἢ πρόσθεν οὐ δίκαιος ἄγγελος παρῆν.

ΔΗ. τί φής; σαφῶς μοι φράζε πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς· ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ἀγνοίᾳ ἄγνοια μ' ἔχει. 350

ΑΓ.

ἀγορᾷ συνεξήκουον ὡσαύτως ὡσ αὕτωσ ἐμοί, ὥστ᾽ ἐξελέγχειν· εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα, οὐχ ἥδομαι, τὸ δ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἐξείρηχ᾽ ὅμως ὅμως.

ΔΗ.

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος; 375 τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;

ΧΟ. ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντ᾽ αὐτῷ κακά.

ΔΗ. τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις 385 τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

ΧΟ. πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχ᾽ ἂν σαφῆ λέξειεν, εἴ νιν μιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

ΔΗ. ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης λέγεις.

ΧΟ. ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν ; 390

ΔΗ. μίμν', ὡς ὅδ᾽ ἀνὴρ ἀνὴρ οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπ᾿ ἀγγέλων, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

ΛΙ.

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μ᾿ Ηρακλεῖ ει from ηι Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν ; δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.

ΔΗ. ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ συνχρόνωι σὺν χρόνω βραδεῖ μολὼν 395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς καὶ νεώσασθαι λόγους.

ΛΙ. ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι χρήζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΔΗ. ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

ΛΙ. ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γ᾽ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

ΔΗ. τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων; 400

ΛΙ. Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δ᾽ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΑΓ. οὗτος, βλέφ᾽ ὧδε. πρὸς τίν' ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς ;

ΛΙ. σὺ δ᾽ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτήσας ἐρωτήσασ' ἔχεις;

ΑΓ. τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σ᾽ ὃσ ἱστορῶ.

ΛΙ. πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως 405 κόρην, δάμαρτά θ' ῾Ηρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων λεύσων λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

ΑΓ. τοῦτ᾽ αὔτ᾽ αὐτ' ἔχρηζον, τοῦτό σου μαθεῖν. λέγεις δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

ΛΙ. δίκαια γάρ.

ΑΓ. τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην, 410 ἣν ἤν.. ἦν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

ΛΙ. πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ποικιλασ' ποικίλλας ποικίλας ἔχεις;

ΑΓ. οὐδέν. σὺ μέντοι μέντο κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

ΛΙ. ἄπειμι. μῶρος δ᾽ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

ΑΓ. οὔ, πρίν γ' ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ. 415

ΛΙ. λέγ' εἴ τι χρήζεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐ σιγηλὸς εἶ.

ΑΓ. τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους δόμο.. δόμουσ, κάτοισθα δήπου ;

ΛΙ. φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

ΑΓ. οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ἀγνοίασ(α) ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ; 420

ΛΙ. ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύειν παρών ;

ΑΓ. πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γ' ταῦτ᾽ ταῦτά γ' εἰσήκουσ᾽ ὄχλος.

ΛΙ. ναί. κλύειν γ᾽ ἔφασκον. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχὶ γίγνεται γίνεται 425 δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

ΑΓ. ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων δάμαρτ᾽ ἔφασκες Ηρακλεῖ Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν ;

ΛΙ. ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη δέσποινα, τόνδε ω τώνδε τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος. 430

ΑΓ. ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν ἤκοσεν ἤκουσεν ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ κοὐχὶ κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τῆσδ᾽ ἔρως φανείς.

ΛΙ. ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωποσ, ὦ δέσποιν', ἀποστήτω. τὸ γὰρ νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος. 435

ΔΗ.

ΧΟ.

Λίχας ἀλλʼ εὖ μὲν ἵγμεθʼ, εὖ δὲ προσφωνούμεθα, γύναι, κατʼ ἔργου κτῆσιν· ἄνδρα γὰρ καλῶς 230 πράσσοντʼ ἀνάγκη χρηστὰ κερδαίνειν ἔπη.

Δηιάνειρα ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν, πρῶθʼ ἃ πρῶτα βούλομαι δίδαξον, εἰ ζῶνθʼ Ἡρακλῆ προσδέξομαι.

Λίχας ἔγωγέ τοι σφʼ ἔλειπον ἰσχύοντά τε καὶ ζῶντα καὶ θάλλοντα κοὐ νόσῳ βαρύν. 235

Δηιάνειρα ποῦ γῆς; πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου; λέγε.

Λίχας ἀκτή τις ἔστʼ Εὐβοιίς, ἔνθʼ ὁρίζεται βωμοὺς τέλη τʼ ἔγκαρπα Κηναίῳ Διί.

Δηιάνειρα εὐκταῖα φαίνων ἢ ἀπὸ μαντείας τινός;

Λίχας εὐχαῖς ὅθʼ ᾕρει τῶνδʼ ἀνάστατον δορὶ 240 χώραν γυναικῶν ὧν ὁρᾷς ἐν ὄμμασιν.

Δηιάνειρα αὗται δέ, πρὸς θεῶν, τοῦ ποτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ τίνες; οἰκτραὶ γάρ, εἰ μὴ ξυμφοραὶ κλέπτουσί με.

Λίχας ταύτας ἐκεῖνος Εὐρύτου πέρσας πόλιν ἐξείλεθʼ αὑτῷ κτῆμα καὶ θεοῖς κριτόν. 245

Δηιάνειρα ἦ κἀπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πόλει τὸν ἄσκοπον χρόνον βεβὼς ἦν ἡμερῶν ἀνήριθμον;

Χορός ἄνασσα, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ, τῶν μὲν παρόντων, τὰ δὲ πεπυσμένῃ λόγῳ.

Λίχας τί δʼ οἶδʼ ἐγώ, τί δʼ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις. 315

γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις υστάτοις.
315

ΔΗ.

μὴ τῶν τυράννων; Εὐρύτου τυράννων Εὐρύτου; σπορά τις ἦν;

ΛΙ.

οὐκ οἶδα· καὶ γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

ΔΗ.

οὐδ᾽ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

ΛΙ.

ἥκιστα· σιγῇ τοὐμὸν υ ἔργον ἤνυτον om. add.

ΔΗ.

εἴπ᾽, ὦ τάλαιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἡμὶν ἡμιν ἡμὶν ἐκ σαυτῆς· ἐπεὶ
320

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι μἠδέναι μὴ εἰδέναι σε σε γ' ἥτις εἶ.

ΛΙ.

οὐ τἄρα οὔτ᾽ ἆρα τῷ γε πρόσθεν οὐδὲν ἐξ ἴσου

χρόνῳ χρόνω διοίσει γλῶσσαν, ἥτις οὐδαμὰ οὐδαμαῖ οὐδαμᾶ

αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασ᾽, ὅπως
335

μάθῃς, ἄνευ τῶνδ᾽, οὕστινάς τ' om. γ' ἄγεις ἔσω,

ὧν τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἰσήκουσας, ἐκμάθῃς θ᾽ γ' ἃ δεῖ.

τούτων ἔχω γὰρ πάντ᾽ ἐπιστήμην ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

τί δ᾽ ἐστί; τοῦ με τήνδ᾽ ἐφίστασαι φ ἐπίστασαι βάσιν ;

ΑΓ.

σταθεῖσ᾽ ἄκουσον· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος
340

μῦθον μάτην ἤκουσας, οὐδὲ νῦν δοκῶ.

ΔΗ.

πότερον ἐκείνους δῆτα δεῦρ᾽ αὖθις πάλιν

καλῶμεν, ἢ ἐμοὶ ἥμοι οἶμοι ταῖσδέ τ᾽ ἐξειπεῖν θέλεις;

ΑΓ.

σοὶ ταῖσδέ τ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴργεται, τούτους δ᾽ ἔα.

ΔΗ.

καὶ δὴ βεβᾶσι, χώ λόγος σημαινέτω.
345

ΑΓ.

ἁνὴρ ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽ οὐδὲν ὧν ἔλεξεν ἀρτίως

φωνεῖ φώνεῖ δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ νῦν κακός,

ἢ πρόσθεν οὐ δίκαιος ἄγγελος παρῆν.

ΔΗ.

τί φής; σαφῶς μοι φράζε πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς·

ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ἀγνοίᾳ ἄγνοια μ' ἔχει.
350

ἀγορᾷ συνεξήκουον ὡσαύτως ὡσ αὕτωσ ἐμοί,

ὥστ᾽ ἐξελέγχειν· εἰ δὲ μὴ λέγω φίλα,

οὐχ ἥδομαι, τὸ δ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἐξείρηχ᾽ ὅμως ὅμως.

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375

τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον

λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;

ΧΟ.

ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

ΔΗ.

τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

ΧΟ.

πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχ᾽ ἂν σαφῆ

λέξειεν, εἴ νιν μιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης λέγεις.

ΧΟ.

ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν ;
390

ΔΗ.

μίμν', ὡς ὅδ᾽ ἀνὴρ ἀνὴρ οὐκ ἐμῶν ὑπ᾿ ἀγγέλων,

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μ᾿ Ηρακλεῖ ει from ηι Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν ;

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.

ΔΗ.

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ συνχρόνωι σὺν χρόνω βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ΛΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι χρήζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

ΛΙ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γ᾽ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

ΔΗ.

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

ΛΙ.

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δ᾽ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΑΓ.

οὗτος, βλέφ᾽ ὧδε. πρὸς τίν' ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς ;

ΛΙ.

σὺ δ᾽ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτήσας ἐρωτήσασ' ἔχεις;

ΑΓ.

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σ᾽ ὃσ ἱστορῶ.

ΛΙ.

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην, δάμαρτά θ' ῾Ηρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

ΑΓ.

τοῦτ᾽ αὔτ᾽ αὐτ' ἔχρηζον, τοῦτό σου μαθεῖν. λέγεις

δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

ΛΙ.

δίκαια γάρ.

ΑΓ.

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

ἣν ἤν.. ἦν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

ΛΙ.

πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ποικιλασ' ποικίλλας ποικίλας ἔχεις;

ΑΓ.

οὐδέν. σὺ μέντοι μέντο κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

ΛΙ.

ἄπειμι. μῶρος δ᾽ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

ΑΓ.

οὔ, πρίν γ' ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

ΛΙ.

λέγ' εἴ τι χρήζεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐ σιγηλὸς εἶ.

ΑΓ.

τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους δόμο.. δόμουσ,

κάτοισθα δήπου ;

ΛΙ.

φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

ΑΓ.

οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπ᾿ ἀγνοίας ἀγνοίασ(α) ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ;
420

ΛΙ.

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύειν παρών ;

ΑΓ.

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γ' ταῦτ᾽ ταῦτά γ' εἰσήκουσ᾽ ὄχλος.

ΛΙ.

ναί. κλύειν γ᾽ ἔφασκον. ταὐτὸ δ᾽ οὐχὶ γίγνεται γίνεται
425

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

ΑΓ.

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτ᾽ ἔφασκες Ηρακλεῖ Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν ;

ΛΙ.

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

δέσποινα, τόνδε ω τώνδε τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος.
430

ΑΓ.

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν ἤκοσεν ἤκουσεν ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ κοὐχὶ κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τῆσδ᾽ ἔρως φανείς.

ΛΙ.

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωποσ, ὦ δέσποιν', ἀποστήτω. τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εὖ μὲν ἵγμεθʼ, εὖ δὲ προσφωνούμεθα,

γύναι, κατʼ ἔργου κτῆσιν· ἄνδρα γὰρ καλῶς
230

πράσσοντʼ ἀνάγκη χρηστὰ κερδαίνειν ἔπη.

Δηιάνειρα

ὦ φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν, πρῶθʼ ἃ πρῶτα βούλομαι

δίδαξον, εἰ ζῶνθʼ Ἡρακλῆ προσδέξομαι.

Λίχας

ἔγωγέ τοι σφʼ ἔλειπον ἰσχύοντά τε

καὶ ζῶντα καὶ θάλλοντα κοὐ νόσῳ βαρύν.
235

Δηιάνειρα

ποῦ γῆς; πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου; λέγε.

Λίχας

ἀκτή τις ἔστʼ Εὐβοιίς, ἔνθʼ ὁρίζεται

βωμοὺς τέλη τʼ ἔγκαρπα Κηναίῳ Διί.

Δηιάνειρα

εὐκταῖα φαίνων ἢ ἀπὸ μαντείας τινός;

Λίχας

εὐχαῖς ὅθʼ ᾕρει τῶνδʼ ἀνάστατον δορὶ
240

χώραν γυναικῶν ὧν ὁρᾷς ἐν ὄμμασιν.

Δηιάνειρα

αὗται δέ, πρὸς θεῶν, τοῦ ποτʼ εἰσὶ καὶ τίνες;

οἰκτραὶ γάρ, εἰ μὴ ξυμφοραὶ κλέπτουσί με.

Λίχας

ταύτας ἐκεῖνος Εὐρύτου πέρσας πόλιν

ἐξείλεθʼ αὑτῷ κτῆμα καὶ θεοῖς κριτόν.
245

Δηιάνειρα

ἦ κἀπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πόλει τὸν ἄσκοπον

χρόνον βεβὼς ἦν ἡμερῶν ἀνήριθμον;

Χορός

ἄνασσα, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ,

τῶν μὲν παρόντων, τὰ δὲ πεπυσμένῃ λόγῳ.

Λίχας

τί δʼ οἶδʼ ἐγώ, τί δʼ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως

γέννημα τῶν ἐκεῖθεν οὐκ ἐν ὑστάτοις.
315

Δηιάνειρα

μὴ τῶν τυράννων; Εὐρύτου σπορά τις ἦν;

Λίχας

οὐκ οἶδα· καὶ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

Δηιάνειρα

οὐδʼ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

Λίχας

ἥκιστα· σιγῇ τοὐμὸν ἔργον ἤνυτον.

Δηιάνειρα

εἴπʼ, ὦ τάλαινʼ, ἀλλʼ ἡμὶν ἐκ σαυτῆς, ἐπεὶ
320

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι σέ γʼ ἥτις εἶ.

Δηιάνειρα

τί δʼ ἐστί; τοῦ με τήνδʼ ἐφίστασαι βάσιν;

Ἄγγελος

σταθεῖσʼ ἄκουσον· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸν πάρος
340

μῦθον μάτην ἤκουσας, οὐδὲ νῦν δοκῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

πότερον ἐκείνους δῆτα δεῦρʼ αὖθις πάλιν

καλῶμεν, ἢ ʼμοὶ ταῖσδέ τʼ ἐξειπεῖν θέλεις;

Ἄγγελος

σοὶ ταῖσδέ τʼ οὐδὲν εἴργεται, τούτους δʼ ἔα.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ δὴ βεβᾶσι, χὠ λόγος σημαινέτω.
345

Ἄγγελος

ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ οὐδὲν ὧν ἔλεξεν ἀρτίως

φωνεῖ δίκης ἐς ὀρθόν, ἀλλʼ ἢ νῦν κακὸς

ἢ πρόσθεν οὐ δίκαιος ἄγγελος παρῆν.

Δηιάνειρα

τί φής; σαφῶς μοι φράζε πᾶν ὅσον νοεῖς.

ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐξείρηκας ἀγνοία μʼ ἔχει.
350

Χορός

ὄλοιντο—μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖʼ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντʼ αὐτῷ κακά.

Δηιάνειρα

τί χρὴ ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.