Sophocles, Trachiniae, Lewis Campbell (Translator), 141cont2

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Turn

← Previous Next →

Garlanded, as if laden with good news.

MESSENGER
Enter Messenger .

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Lewis Campbell (Translator). London, New York and Toronto. 1906.

Current edition Experimental

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 141 focus

πεπυσμένη μέν, ὡς ἀπεικάσai, πάρει

πάθημα τοὐμόν· ὡς δ᾽ ἐγὼ θυμοφθορῶ
140

μήτ᾽ ἐκμάθοις παθοῦσα, νῦν δ᾽ ἄπειρος εἶ.

τὸ γὰρ νεάζον ἐν τοιοῖσδε βόσκεται

χώροισιν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ, καί νιν οὐ θάλπος θεοῦ,

οὐδ᾽ ὄμβρος, οὐδὲ πνευμάτων οὐδὲν οὐδέν κλονεῖ κλονεῖ(ν) κλονεῖ,

ἀλλ᾽ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον

ἐς τοῦθ᾽, ἕως τις ἀντὶ παρθένου γυνὴ

κληθῇ, λάβῃ τ᾽ ἐν νυκτὶ φροντίδων μέρος

ἤτοι πρὸς ἀνδρὸς ἢ τέκνων φοβουμένη.
150

τότ᾽ τόδ' ἄν τις εἰσίδοιτο, τὴν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ σκοπῶν

πρᾶξιν, κακοῖσιν οἷς ἐγὼ βαρύνομαι.

πάθη μὲν οὖν δὴ πόλλ᾽ ἔγωγ᾽ ἐκλαυσάμην·

ἓν δ᾽, οἷον οὔπω πρόσθεν, αὐτίκ᾽ ἐξερῶ ἐξερῶ.

ὁδὸν γὰρ ἦμος τὴν τελευταίαν ἄναξ
155

ὡρμᾶτ᾽ ὁ ἀπ᾿ οἴκων ῾Ἡρακλῆς, τότ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

λείπει παλαιὰν δέλτον ἐγγεγραμμένην

ξυνθήμαθ', ἁμοί ἅμοι πρόσθεν οὐκ ἔτλη ποτέ,

πολλοὺς ἀγῶνας ἐξιών, οὔπω οὕπω φράσαι,

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς τι δράσων εἶρπε κοὐ θανούμενος.
160

νῦν δ᾽ ὡς ἔτ᾽ οὐκ ἔτ᾽ οὐκ ὤν, εἶπε μὲν λέχους ὅ τι ὅτι ὅτι

χρείη χρῆ᾽ ἡ χρεῖ η χρείη μ᾿ ἑλέσθαι κτῆσιν, εἶπε δ᾽ ἣν ἣν τέκνοις

μοῖραν πατρώας γῆς διαιρετὸν νέμοι διαιρετὸν μένειν,

χρόνον προτάξας ὡς τρίμηνον ἡνίκα ἡνίκ᾽ ἂν

χώρας ἀπείη ἀπήει ἀπείη ἀπίη κἀνιαύσιος βεβώς,
165

τότ᾽ ἢ θανεῖν χρείη σφε χρεῖ᾽ ἤσφε χρεῖ᾽ ἦσφε τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ,

ἢ τοῦθ᾽ ὑπεκδραμόντα τοῦ χρόνου τέλος

τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη ζῆν ἀλυπήτῳ βίῳ.

τοιαῦτ᾽ ἔφραζε πρὸς θεῶν εἰμαρμένα

τῶν ῾Ηρακλείων ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι πόνων,
170

ὡς τὴν παλαιὰν φηγὸν αὐδῆσαί ποτε αὐδῆσαι ποτὲ

Δωδῶνι δισσῶν ἐκ πελειάδων ἔφη.

καὶ τῶνδε ναμέρτεια ναμερτεῖα ναμέρτεια συμβαίνει χρόνου

τοῦ νῦν παρόντος, ὡς τελεσθῆναι χρεών.

ὥσθ᾽ ἡδέως εὕδουσαν ἐκπηδᾶν ἐμὲ
175

φόβῳ, φίλαι, ταρβοῦσαν, εἴ με χρὴ μένειν

πάντων om. add ἀρίστου φωτὸς ἐστερημένην.

ΧΟ.

εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχ᾽· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ

στείχονθ᾽ ὁρῶ τιν ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 141-204 focus

Δηιάνειρα

πεπυσμένη μέν, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι, πάρει

πάθημα τοὐμόν· ὡς δʼ ἐγὼ θυμοφθορῶ,

μήτʼ ἐκμάθοις παθοῦσα νῦν τʼ ἄπειρος εἶ.

τὸ γὰρ νεάζον ἐν τοιοῖσδε βόσκεται

χώροισιν αὑτοῦ, καί νιν οὐ θάλπος θεοῦ
145

οὐδʼ ὄμβρος οὐδὲ πνευμάτων οὐδὲν κλονεῖ,

ἀλλʼ ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον

ἐς τοῦθʼ ἕως τις ἀντὶ παρθένου γυνὴ

κληθῇ λάβῃ τʼ ἐν νυκτὶ φροντίδων μέρος,

ἤτοι πρὸς ἀνδρὸς ἢ τέκνων φοβουμένη.
150

τότʼ ἄν τις εἰσίδοιτο, τὴν αὑτοῦ σκοπῶν

πρᾶξιν, κακοῖσιν οἷς ἐγὼ βαρύνομαι.

πάθη μὲν οὖν δὴ πόλλʼ ἔγωγʼ ἐκλαυσάμην·

ἓν δʼ, οἷον οὔπω πρόσθεν, αὐτίκʼ ἐξερῶ.

ὁδὸν γὰρ ἦμος τὴν τελευταίαν ἄναξ
155

ὡρμᾶτʼ ἀπʼ οἴκων Ἡρακλῆς, τότʼ ἐν δόμοις

λείπει παλαιὰν δέλτον ἐγγεγραμμένην

ξυνθήμαθʼ, ἁμοὶ πρόσθεν οὐκ ἔτλη ποτέ,

πολλοὺς ἀγῶνας ἐξιών, οὔπω φράσαι,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τι δράσων εἷρπε κοὐ θανούμενος.
160

νῦν δʼ ὡς ἔτʼ οὐκ ὢν εἶπε μὲν λέχους ὅ τι

χρείη μʼ ἑλέσθαι κτῆσιν εἶπε δʼ ἣν τέκνοις

μοῖραν πατρῴας γῆς διαιρετὸν νέμοι,

χρόνον προτάξας ὡς τρίμηνον ἡνίκα

χώρας ἀπείη κἀνιαύσιον βεβώς,
165

τότʼ ἢ θανεῖν χρείη σφε τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ

ἢ τοῦθʼ ὑπεκδραμόντα τοῦ χρόνου τέλος

τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη ζῆν ἀλυπήτῳ βίῳ.

τοιαῦτʼ ἔφραζε πρὸς θεῶν εἱμαρμένα

τῶν Ἡρακλείων ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι πόνων,
170

ὡς τὴν παλαιὰν φηγὸν αὐδῆσαί ποτε

Δωδῶνι δισσῶν ἐκ Πελειάδων ἔφη.

καὶ τῶνδε ναμέρτεια συμβαίνει χρόνου

τοῦ νῦν παρόντος, ὡς τελεσθῆναι χρεών·

ὥσθʼ ἡδέως εὕδουσαν ἐκπηδᾶν ἐμὲ
175

φόβῳ, φίλαι, ταρβοῦσαν, εἴ με χρὴ μένειν

πάντων ἀρίστου φωτὸς ἐστερημένην.

Χορός

εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχʼ· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ

στείχονθʼ ὁρῶ τινʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

180

Ἄγγελος

δέσποινα Δῃάνειρα, πρῶτος ἀγγέλων
180

ὄκνου σε λύσω· τὸν γὰρ Ἀλκμήνης τόκον

καὶ ζῶντʼ ἐπίστω καὶ κρατοῦντα κἀκ μάχης

ἄγοντʼ ἀπαρχὰς θεοῖσι τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις.

Δηιάνειρα

τίνʼ εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον;

Ἄγγελος

τάχʼ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν
185

ἥξειν φανέντα σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ τοῦ τόδʼ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

Ἄγγελος

ἐν βουθερεῖ λειμῶνι πρὸς πολλοὺς θροεῖ

Λίχας ὁ κῆρυξ ταῦτα· τοῦδʼ ἐγὼ κλύων

ἀπῇξʼ, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε
190

πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι καὶ κτῴμην χάριν.

Δηιάνειρα

αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

Ἄγγελος

οὐκ εὐμαρείᾳ χρώμενος πολλῇ, γύναι.

κύκλῳ γὰρ αὐτὸν Μηλιεὺς ἅπας λεὼς

κρίνει παραστάς, οὐδʼ ἔχει βῆναι πρόσω·
195

τὸ γὰρ ποθοῦν ἕκαστος ἐκμαθεῖν θέλων

οὐκ ἂν μεθεῖτο, πρὶν καθʼ ἡδονὴν κλύειν.

οὕτως ἐκεῖνος οὐχ ἑκών, ἑκοῦσι δὲ

ξύνεστιν· ὄψει δʼ αὐτὸν αὐτίκʼ ἐμφανῆ.

Δηιάνειρα

ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸν Οἴτης ἄτομον ὃς λειμῶνʼ ἔχεις,
200

ἔδωκας ἡμῖν ἀλλὰ σὺν χρόνῳ χαράν.

φωνήσατʼ, ὦ γυναῖκες, αἵ τʼ εἴσω στέγης

αἵ τʼ ἐκτὸς αὐλῆς, ὡς ἄελπτον ὄμμʼ ἐμοὶ

φήμης ἀνασχὸν τῆσδε νῦν καρπούμεθα.

Translations (4)

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 141 focus

Du kamst hieher, vermuth' ich, weil dir Kunde ward
135

Von meiner Drangsal: aber wie's mein Herz verzehrt,

Das mögst du niemals fühlen; noch erfuhrst du's nicht.

Denn also weidet frisch und froh die Jugend sich

Aus eignen Fluren; nicht des Sonnengottes Glut,

Kein Regen, keines Sturmes Hauch erschüttert sie;
140

Nein, mühelos in Wonnen lebt sie stolz dahin,

Bis endlich Eine, statt der Jungfrau Weib genannt,

Von nächtlich banger Sorgenlast ihr Theil empfängt,

Und um die Kinder und den Mann sich ängsten muß.

Und diese mag dann, blickend auf das eigne Loos,
145

Erkennen, welches Ungemach mich niederdrückt.

Ich weinte wohl schon über manches Mißgeschick;

Doch eines, dem kein früh'res gleicht, verkünd' ich jezt.

Denn als zu dieser lezten Fahrt der Herrscher sich

Erhob vom Hause, Herakles, da ließ er mir
150

Ein altes Täflein hier zurück mit schriftlichen

Geboten, die er früherhin, so oft er auch

Auszog zum Kampfe, nimmerdar mir offenbart;

Denn wie zu Thaten zog er, nicht zum Sterben, aus.

Doch jezt, als wär' er schon dahin, bestimmt' er, was
155

Mein Wittwengut sein solle, sagte, welches Theil

Des Vaterreiches jedem Kind er ausgesezt:

Zugleich erklärt er, wann er nach drei Monden Zeit

Und eines Jahrs Umlaufe nicht zurückgekehrt,

So sei zu sterben ihm verhängt in dieser Frist;
160

Doch, überschreit' er dieser Zeit bestimmtes Ziel,

Dann fließe fortan ohne Harm sein Leben hin.

So würden, sprach er, alle Müh'n des Herakles

Dereinst ihr Ende finden nach der Götter Schluß,

Wie's aus der Eiche greisem Stamm ihm ehedem¹
165

Im Hain Dodona's kundgethan der Tauben Paar.

Des Spruches Wahrheit, wie er sich erfüllen muß,

Wird jezt, in diesen Tagen, sich bestätigen.

Darum, Geliebte, fahr' ich oft aus süßem Schlaf

Empor, in Furcht erbebend, daß ich leben soll,
170

Nachdem der Helden bester mir entrissen ward.

Der Chor.

Nicht also sprich jezt; schreitet doch, das Haupt bekränzt,²

Zu froher Kunde, seh' ich, dort ein Mann heran.

Ein Bote. Die Vorigen.

Der Bote.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 141 focus

The fame, it seems, of Deianira's woes

Hatli reached thine ears, but oh ! thou little knowst

What 1 have suffered ! Thou hast never felt

Sorrows like mine. And long may be the time

Ere sad experience shall aftiict thy soul

With equal woes ! Alas ! the youthful maid

In flowery pastures still exulting feeds,

Nor feels the scorching sun, the wintry storm,
140

Or blast of angry
140

Secure she leads
140

A life of pleasure, void of every care,
140

Till to the virgin's happy state succeeds
140

The name of wife. Tlien shall her portion come
140

Of pain and anguish, then her terrors rise

For husband and for children. Then perchance

You too may know what 'tis to be unhappy,

And judge of my misfortunes by your own.

Long since oppressed by many a bitter woe

Oft have 1 wept, but this transcends them all ;

For I will tell thee, when Abides last

Forth on his journey went, he left behind

An ancient scroll. Alas ! before that time

In all his labours he did never use

To speak as one who thought of death — secure

Always he seemed of victory ; but now

This writing marks, as if he were to die,

The portion out reserved for me, and wills

Ilis children to divide th' inheritance ;

Fixes the time, in fifteen moons, it saj^s.

He should return. That past or he must perish,

Or, if he 'scape the fatal houi", thenceforth

Should lead a life of happiness and joy :

Thus had the gods, it said, decreed his life

And toils should end : so from their ancient beach

Dodona's doves foretold. Th' appointed hour

Approaehes that must bring th' event, e'en now,

My friends, and therefore nightly do I start

From my sweet slumbers, struck with deadly fear.

Lest I should lose the dearest, best of men.

Chorus

Of better omen be thy words Behold

Deianika, Attendant, Chorus.

Messenger

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 141 focus

Inform'd, I ween, of my afflictions thou

Art present here: what anguish rends my heart

May'st thou ne'er know by suffering; thou as yet

Art inexperienc'd. Youth at random roves

O'er its own flow'ry fields; nor scorching heat

Nor show'r annoys it, nor the noxious force

Of boisterous winds; in pleasures it supports

A life that knows not trouble, till the name
140

Of virgin now is lost in that of wife:
140

Then first she shares anxiety; the night
140

Then for her husband bids her wake to fears,
140

Or for her children; then she may be taught
140

By her own feelings what th' oppressive woe
140

That weighs me down. My tears have often flow'd
140

For many sufferings; but my present griefe

Springs from such cause as never rose before;

This I will tell thee. When my royal lord

On his last emprize issued from his house,

He left with me a writing of old date,

His mandates, which before when marching forth

To many contests he forbore to show,.!

But went as to o'ercome, and not to die.

But now, as to return no more, he gave

In charge what portion for my nuptial dow'r

I should receive, and to his sons assign'd do

To each his share of his paternal land and N

Nay, he the time determined; from these realms

Beyond the complete year three waining moons/

Should he be absent, then the fates required

That he must die; the dangers of that timeo

Should he surmount, then all his future life!

Will pass unshaded with affliction's cloud,

To all the toils of Hercules, he said,

Such is the period by the gods assign'd;

Thus at Dodona the prophetic Doves

Gave from their ancient beech the voice of fate.

These truths are certain, and the present time

Gives dreadful expectation of th' event;

So that, loved virgins, from sweet sleep I start,

Distracted with my fears lest I remain

Now of the noblest of mankind bereaved.

Chorus

Be thy words now of happier import; see

A messenger arrives; his laurel wreath

Gives token that his tidings are of joy.

Attendant
ATTENDANT, DEIANIRA, 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-14-1 ἐκλύεται ¹

mvp-comment-14-2 διείποιμ’ ² ἂν ³ τρόπον ⁴

mvp-comment-14-3 πόνων ⁵

mvp-comment-15-1 τῆς θέας ⁶ ὅστις ⁷ ὁ δ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-15-2 24 f. These two verses are plainly genuine. It is idle to condemn them merely because they are not indispensable. Nauck, who spares v. 24, rejects v. 25 because Deianeira ought to speak of her fate as depending ‘on the issue of the combat, not on her beauty.’ As if her beauty was not the cause of the combat. It might as well be objected to v. 465,

τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς τὸν βίον διώλεσεν

, that Iolè was the victim of war.

mvp-comment-15-3 ἐξεύροι ⁹

mvp-comment-16-1 Ζεὺς ἀγώνιος ¹⁰

mvp-comment-16-2 27 f. The tone of εἰ δὴ ¹¹ λέχος ¹²

mvp-comment-16-3 κριτὸν ¹³

mvp-comment-17-1 προκηραίνουσα ¹⁴

mvp-comment-17-2 νὺξ γὰρ εἰσάγει ¹⁵ πόνον ¹⁶

mvp-comment-17-3 διαδεδεγμένη ¹⁷

mvp-comment-18-1 οὓς κεῖνός ποτε ¹⁸ ποτέ ¹⁹ σπείρων μόνον κἀξαμῶν ἅπαξ ²⁰ ἐξαμῶν ²¹

mvp-comment-18-2 ἅπαξ ²² ἐξαμῶν ²³

mvp-comment-19-1 αἰὼν ²⁴ εἰς δόμους τε κἀκ δόμων ²⁵

mvp-comment-19-2 τῳ ²⁶

mvp-comment-20-1 ἄθλων τῶνδ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-20-2 ὑπερτελὴς ²⁸ ταρβήσασ’ ἔχω ²⁹

mvp-comment-21-1 ἔκτα ³⁰

mvp-comment-22-1 ἐν Τραχῖνι ³¹ ἀνάστατοι ³²

mvp-comment-23-1 ξένῳ παρ’ ἀνδρὶ ³³

mvp-comment-23-2 ὅπου ³⁴

mvp-comment-24-1 πλὴν· ³⁵

mvp-comment-24-2 αὑτοῦ ³⁶ αὐτ<*> ³⁷

mvp-comment-25-1 δέκα … πρὸς ἄλλοις <*>έντε ³⁸

mvp-comment-25-2 ἀκήρυκτος ³⁹

mvp-comment-25-3 46 The emphasis is on κἄστιν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-25-4 τοιαύτην ⁴¹

mvp-comment-26-1 τὴν ⁴²

mvp-comment-26-2 πημονῆς ἄτερ ⁴³

mvp-comment-27-1 πολλὰ μὲν … νῦν δ’ ⁴⁴ γοωμένην ⁴⁵ πολλὰ … πανδάκρυτ’ ὀδύρματα ⁴⁶ τὴν Ἡρ. ἔξοδον ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-28-1 φρενοῦν ⁴⁸ φράσαι ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-28-2 κἀμὲ ⁵⁰ καί ⁵¹ εἰ ⁵² καί ⁵³

mvp-comment-28-3 φράσαι τὸ σόν ⁵⁴ τόσον ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-29-1 τοσοῖσδε ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-29-2 κατὰ ζήτησιν ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-30-1 εἰ πατρὸς νέμοι τιν’ ὤραν τοῦ … δοκεῖν ⁵⁸ πατρὸς ⁵⁹ τοῦ … δοκεῖν ⁶⁰ τοῦ … δοκεῖν ⁶¹

mvp-comment-30-2 δοκεῖν ⁶²

mvp-comment-30-3 νέμοι ⁶³ νέμει ⁶⁴

mvp-comment-31-1 ἀρτίπους ⁶⁵ ἀρτίπους ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-32-1 πρὸς καιρὸν ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-32-2 τοῖς τ’ ⁶⁸ τοῖς ⁶⁹ τοῖς γ’ ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-33-1 ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ ⁷¹

mvp-comment-33-2 ἀγεννή<*>ων ⁷²

mvp-comment-34-1 διδακτά ⁷³

mvp-comment-35-1 σὲ … τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι ⁷⁴ ἐξενωμένου ⁷⁵

mvp-comment-35-2 ποῦ )στιν ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-35-3 φέρειν ⁷⁷ φέρει ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-36-1 μύθοις ⁷⁹ μύθοις γ’ ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-37-1 ἱδρῦσθαι ⁸¹

mvp-comment-38-1 μὲν ⁸² ἀλλ’ ⁸³

mvp-comment-38-2 ἄροτον ⁸⁴

mvp-comment-38-3 Λυδῇ ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-39-1 εἰ καὶ τοῦτ’ ἔτλη ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-40-1 ἀλλά ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-41-1 ἢ θανὼν ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-42-1 Εὐβοῖδα ⁸⁹

mvp-comment-42-2 πόλιν ⁹⁰ Εὐβοῖδα χώραν ⁹¹ ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι ⁹²

mvp-comment-43-1 ἔλειπε ⁹³

mvp-comment-43-2 τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι ⁹⁴

mvp-comment-44-1 ἀγνοῶ ⁹⁵

mvp-comment-45-1 τελευτὴν … τελεῖν ⁹⁶

mvp-comment-46-1 ἄρας ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-46-2 εἰς τό γ’ ὕστερον ⁹⁸ εἰς τὸν ὕστερον ⁹⁹ βίοτον εὐαίων’ ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-47-1 ἐν οὖν ῥοπῇ … κειμένῳ ¹⁰¹

mvp-comment-47-2 83—

mvp-comment-48-1 ἡνίκ’ ἢ σεσώσμεθα … οἰχόμεσθ’ ἅμα ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-48-2 This view of the original text may be supported by a consideration which does not seem to have been noticed. The very circumstance which prompted the interpolation—viz., the absence of the condition for

οἰχόμεσθ’ ἅμα

—is an admirable dramatic touch. For, while Deianeira and her hearers would understand

ἅμα

as meaning,

ἅμα οἰχομένῳ

, her death is really to be linked with his victory.

mvp-comment-48-3 For a similar piece of textual history, cp. Eur. Andr.6 , where the true text is

νῦν δ’, εἴτις ἄλλη, δυστυχεστάτη γυνή

: but there was another reading, which made two verses of it:—

νῦν δ’ οὔτις

(or

νῦν δὴ τίς

)

ἄλλη δυστυχεστέρα γυνὴ

ἐμοῦ πέφυκεν ἢ γενήσεταί ποτε

. Of the second v., the schol. there says,

οἱ ὑποκριταὶ τὸν ἴαμβον προσέθηκαν

. See Appendix.

mvp-comment-48-4 The synizesis in ἢ οἰχόμεσθ’ ¹⁰³ ἢ κείμεσθ’ ¹⁰⁴

mvp-comment-49-1 νῦν δ’ ὁ ξυνήθης ¹⁰⁵ εἴα ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-49-2 For other instances of

νῦν

with a past tense, cp. O. C.273 , Ai.445 Ai., 1060.

mvp-comment-50-1 τὸ μὴ ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-51-1 καὶ γὰρ ὑστέρῳ ¹⁰⁸

mvp-comment-51-2 τό γ’ εὖ ¹⁰⁹ πράσσειν ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-51-3 ἐμπολᾷ ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-52-1 αἰόλα ¹¹² φλογιζόμενον ¹¹³ ἐναριζομένα ¹¹⁴ κατευνάζει ¹¹⁵ τίκτει ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-52-2 The text has been much suspected (see cr. n.), but without reason. The imagery, indeed, does not form a consistent whole: Night is slain, and then overcomes. But this is merely one of many instances in which the poet's language wavers between the figurative and the literal.

mvp-comment-52-3 κατευνάζει τε φλογιζόμενον ¹¹⁷

mvp-comment-53-1 τοῦτο ¹¹⁸ τον Ἀλκμήνας πόθι … ναίει ¹¹⁹ καρῦξαι ¹²⁰ τοῦτο ¹²¹

mvp-comment-54-1 πόθι μοι πόθι παῖς ¹²² πα<*>ς ¹²³ μοι ¹²⁴ τὸν Ἀλκμ. ¹²⁵ παῖς ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-54-2 Porson is cited by Wunder and other editors as the authority for omitting

παῖς

. But Porson (on Hec.1030 ) said only that it is possible to omit

παῖς

,—adding that it is better to retain it (omitting the second

μοι

):—‘potes ejicere

παῖς

et legere

πόθι μοι πόθι μοι

. Sed alterum melius.’

mvp-comment-55-1 ὦ … φλεγέθων ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-55-2 στεροπᾷ ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-56-1 ἢ ποντίας … κλιθείς ¹²⁹ ποντίας ¹³⁰ ποντίους ¹³¹

mvp-comment-56-2 The constr. is, πόθι ¹³² που ¹³³ ναίει ἢ ποντίας αὐλῶνας ἢ δισς. ἀπείροις κλιθείς ¹³⁴ ναίει ¹³⁵ ἢ ¹³⁶

mvp-comment-56-3 ἤ ¹³⁷

mvp-comment-56-4 δισς. ἀπείροις κλιθείς ¹³⁸

mvp-comment-56-5 This use of δισσαῖσιν ¹³⁹ πόθι ¹⁴⁰

mvp-comment-56-6 ‘The two continents’ (Europe and Asia, Africa being included in the latter) mean, ‘the habitable world.’ Isocr. or. 4 § 179

τῆς γὰρ γῆς ἁπάσης τῆς ὑπὸ τῷ κόσμῳ κειμένης δίχα τετμημένης, καὶ τῆς μὲν Ἀσίας τῆς δ’ Εὐρώπης καλουμένης

. Varro De Ling. Lat. 4

Ut omnis natura in caelum et terram divisa est, sic caelum in regiones, terra in Asiam et Europam.

(Sallust, however, remarks that the division into three continents had been more usual: Jug. 17. )

mvp-comment-56-7 ποντίας αὐλῶνας ¹⁴¹

mvp-comment-57-1 κρατιστεύων κατ’ ὄμμα ¹⁴² κατά ¹⁴³

mvp-comment-58-1 ποθουμένᾳ ¹⁴⁴ πυνθάνομαι ¹⁴⁵

mvp-comment-59-1 τὰν ἀμφινεικῆ ¹⁴⁶ ἀεί ¹⁴⁷ τρύχεσθαι ¹⁴⁸

mvp-comment-60-1 ὄρνιν ¹⁴⁹

mvp-comment-61-1 ἀδακρύτων ¹⁵⁰

mvp-comment-61-2 βλεφάρων πόθον ¹⁵¹

mvp-comment-61-3 108 It is simplest to construe εὔμναστον δεῖμα ὁδοῦ ἀνδρὸς ¹⁵² τρέφουσαν ¹⁵³ φέρουσαν ¹⁵⁴ τρέφουσαν ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-62-1 ἐνθυμίοις εὐναῖς ἀνανδρώτοισι τρύχεσθαι ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-62-2 δύστανον ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-63-1 πολλὰ γὰρ … ἴδοι ¹⁵⁸ κύματ’ ἂν … ἴδοι ¹⁵⁹ εὐρέϊ πόντῳ ¹⁶⁰

mvp-comment-63-2 Three other views claim notice. (1) <*>ν ¹⁶¹ ἂν ¹⁶² ἴδοι ¹⁶³ ἐν ¹⁶⁴ ἴδοι ¹⁶⁵ ἴδῃ ¹⁶⁶

mvp-comment-63-3 βάντ’ ἐπιόντα τ’ ¹⁶⁷ βάντ’ ¹⁶⁸

mvp-comment-64-1 οὕτω δὲ ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-64-2 Construe:

mvp-comment-64-3 βιότου πολύπονον ¹⁷⁰ ὥσπερ πέλαγος Κρήσιον ¹⁷¹ στρέφει τὸ δ’ αὔξει τὸν Καδμογενῆ ¹⁷² Κρήσιον ¹⁷³ στρέφει ¹⁷⁴ αὔξει ¹⁷⁵ τὸ δ’ ¹⁷⁶ βιότου πολύπονον ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-64-4 Among those who receive στρέφει ¹⁷⁸

mvp-comment-64-5 As to the MS. τρέφει ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-65-1 ἀλλά ¹⁸⁰ τὸ δ’ αὔξει ¹⁸¹

mvp-comment-65-2 ἀναμπλάκητον ¹⁸² ἐρύκει ¹⁸³

mvp-comment-66-1 ὧν ¹⁸⁴

mvp-comment-66-2 Hense (whom Nauck follows) thinks that this second antistrophe (122—131) requires to be transposed, so as to become the second strophe, immediately following v. 111. But this change is worse than unnecessary. It is liable to the fatal objection that vv. 132 ff. (

μένει γὰρ

etc.) are then severed from the thought which they develope (vv. 129—131

ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ πῆμα καὶ χαρὰ

etc.). They are brought into a context which does not suit them (vv. 119— 121

ἀλλά τις θεῶν

etc.).

mvp-comment-67-1 αἰδοῖα ¹⁸⁵ ἁδεῖα ¹⁸⁶ ἁδεῖα ¹⁸⁷ ἀντία ¹⁸⁸ ἁδεῖα ¹⁸⁹ αἰδοῖα ¹⁹⁰

mvp-comment-67-2 οἴσω ¹⁹¹

mvp-comment-68-1 γὰρ ¹⁹²

mvp-comment-68-2 ἀποτρύειν ¹⁹³

mvp-comment-68-3 ἐλπίδα τὰν ἀγαθὰν ¹⁹⁴

mvp-comment-69-1 ἀνάλγητα ¹⁹⁵

mvp-comment-69-2 οὐδ’ ὁ πάντα κρ. ¹⁹⁶ οὐδ’ ¹⁹⁷

mvp-comment-69-3 ἐπέβαλε ¹⁹⁸

mvp-comment-70-1 ἐπὶ … κυκλοῦσιν ¹⁹⁹ ἐπὶ πᾶσι ²⁰⁰ κυκλοῦσιν ²⁰¹ χαρὰν ²⁰² χαρὰ ²⁰³ οἷον ²⁰⁴ αἰὲν ²⁰⁵

mvp-comment-70-2 ἄρκτου στροφάδες κέλευθοι ²⁰⁶

mvp-comment-71-1 οὔτ’ αἰόλα ²⁰⁷ νὺξ ²⁰⁸

mvp-comment-71-2 κῆρες ²⁰⁹

mvp-comment-71-3 ἀλλ’ ἄφαρ βέβακε ²¹⁰

mvp-comment-71-4 τῷδ’ ²¹¹ χαίρειν τε καὶ στέρεσθαι ²¹² ἐπέρχεται ²¹³

mvp-comment-71-5 Other views are as follows. (1) The constr. is,

ἀλλὰ χαίρειν τε καὶ στέρεσθαι ἄφαρ βέβακε

(

τῷ μέν

τῷ δ’ ἐπέρχεται

. This is less simple. (2)

τῷ δ’

=simply ‘ and to him,’— i.e., to the person from whom woe or joy ‘has gone.’ But: ( a)

τῷ δ’

surely implies an antithesis. ( b) The clause

τῷ δ’ ἐπέρχεται κ.τ.λ.

would thus mean merely,—‘and then his experiences begin over again.’

mvp-comment-72-1 ἃ ²¹⁴

mvp-comment-72-2 Others suppose that

ἃ

is governed by ἴσχειν ²¹⁵ τάδ’ ²¹⁶

mvp-comment-72-3 For λέγω ²¹⁷

mvp-comment-72-4 ἐλπίσιν ἴσχειν ²¹⁸ ἄβουλον ²¹⁹

mvp-comment-73-1 ἀπεικάσαι ²²⁰

mvp-comment-74-1 θυμοφ<*> ²²¹

mvp-comment-75-1 μήτ’ <*>θοις … νῦν δ’ ἄπειρος εἶ ²²² νῦν δ’ ²²³ νῦν τ’ ²²⁴ νῦν δ’ ²²⁵ τε … δέ ²²⁶

mvp-comment-76-1 τ<*> νεάζον ²²⁷ τοιοῖσδε ²²⁸ βόσκεται ²²⁹ αὐτοῦ ²³⁰

mvp-comment-76-2 θάλπος … ὄμβρος … πνευμάτων ²³¹

mvp-comment-76-3 The text is as clearly sound as the passage itself is beautiful. But numerous changes have been proposed: for these, see Appendix. Here I will only remark that the genuineness of the words καί ²³² νιν ²³³

mvp-comment-77-1 ἡδοναῖς ²³⁴

mvp-comment-77-2 ἐξαίρει βίον ²³⁵

mvp-comment-78-1 ἐν νυκτὶ ²³⁶ λάβῃ ²³⁷

mvp-comment-78-2 ἤτοι … ἢ ²³⁸

mvp-comment-78-3 πρὸς ἀνδρὸς … φοβουμένη ²³⁹

mvp-comment-79-1 αὑτοῦ ²⁴⁰

mvp-comment-79-2 κακοῖσιν οἷς ²⁴¹ κακοῖσιν οἷς ²⁴²

mvp-comment-80-1 μὲν οὖν δὴ ²⁴³

mvp-comment-81-1 ἦμος ²⁴⁴

mvp-comment-81-2 τὴν τελευταίαν ²⁴⁵

mvp-comment-82-1 δέλτον ²⁴⁶

mvp-comment-82-2 ἐγγεγραμμένην ²⁴⁷ ξυνθήμαθ’ ²⁴⁸ ξυνθήματα ²⁴⁹

mvp-comment-83-1 ἀγῶνας ἐξιών ²⁵⁰ οὐ ²⁵¹

mvp-comment-83-2 ἔτλη ²⁵²

mvp-comment-84-1 ὥς τι δράσων ²⁵³

mvp-comment-85-1 ἔτ’ οὐκ ὤν ²⁵⁴

mvp-comment-85-2 εἶπε μὲν … εἶπε δ’ ²⁵⁵ προτάξας ²⁵⁶

mvp-comment-85-3 εἶπε … ὅ τι χρείη μ’ ἑλέσθαι λέχους κτῆσιν ²⁵⁷

mvp-comment-85-4 ἣν τέκνοις … νέμοι ²⁵⁸

mvp-comment-85-5 διαιρετὸν ²⁵⁹

mvp-comment-86-1 The constr. is:

mvp-comment-86-2 χρόνον προτάξας ²⁶⁰

mvp-comment-86-3 ὡς ²⁶¹

mvp-comment-86-4 ἡνίκα χώρας ἀπείη βεβώς τρίμ. χρόνον κἀνιαύς ²⁶²

mvp-comment-86-5 τότε χρείη σφε ἢ θανεῖν τῷδε τῷ χρ., ἢ … ζῆν ²⁶³ ὡς ²⁶⁴

mvp-comment-86-6 I leave the MS. τρίμηνον … κἀνιαύσιος ²⁶⁵ κἀνιαύσιον ²⁶⁶ χρόνον … χρόνῳ … χρόνου ²⁶⁷

mvp-comment-86-7 ὑπεκδραμόντα ²⁶⁸ χρόνου τέλος ²⁶⁹ ὑπεκδρ ²⁷⁰ ὑπερδραμόντα ²⁷¹

mvp-comment-86-8 The arguments which have been brought against vv. 166—168 are examined in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-87-1 τοιαῦτ’ ἔφραζε … πόνων ²⁷² τῶν Ἡρακλείων πόνων ²⁷³

mvp-comment-87-2 (1) It is a gen. of connection, equiv. to the gen. with

περί

, and going with the whole phrase εἱμαρμένα ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι ²⁷⁴

mvp-comment-87-3 (2) It is also possible, though less probable, that the gen. should be taken as partitive with ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι ²⁷⁵

mvp-comment-87-4 (3) πόνων ²⁷⁶ πρὸς θεῶν εἱμαρμένα ²⁷⁷

mvp-comment-87-5 (4) πόνων ²⁷⁸ ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι ²⁷⁹

mvp-comment-88-1 ὡς τὴν παλαιὰν φηγὸν ²⁸⁰

mvp-comment-88-2 Others understand:—(1) ‘by the agency of two doves’: i.e., the signs from the oak were somehow combined with, or explained by, signs derived from birds. (2) ‘The oak spake from between two doves’; i.e. a symbolical dove, of stone or metal, stood on either side of the tree. The Appendix will show what can be said for or against each of these theories. Here it may be noted that neither seems to accord so well with the phrase αὐδῆσαι ἐκ ²⁸¹

mvp-comment-88-3 Δωδῶνι ²⁸²

mvp-comment-89-1 ναμέρτεια ²⁸³

mvp-comment-89-2 τῶνδε ²⁸⁴ ναμέρτεια ²⁸⁵ συμβαίνει ²⁸⁶ ὡς ²⁸⁷ τελεσθῆναι χρεών ²⁸⁸ ὡς ²⁸⁹ ᾧ ²⁹⁰

mvp-comment-89-3 Others understand:—(1) ‘The true fulfilment of these words as (

ὡς

) they are to be accomplished’; or (2) ‘the truth of the prediction that (

ὡς

) these things are to be accomplished.’

mvp-comment-89-4 This is one of those passages in which the manner of Sophocles recalls that of Vergil. The general meaning is simple and clear<*> but a verbal analysis demands the nicest care.

mvp-comment-90-1 ἡδέως ²⁹¹

mvp-comment-90-2 φόβῳ ²⁹² ταρβοῦσαν ²⁹³

mvp-comment-91-1 εὐφημίαν ²⁹⁴

mvp-comment-91-2 πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων ²⁹⁵

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

20. mvp-comment-20-1 ἀγῶνα] ‘Trial,' being a very general word, is further defined by μάχης, 'Combat.' Cp. Αj. 1163, ἔριδός τις ἀγών.

21. mvp-comment-21-1 ἐκλύεται] Delivers.' For the historical present in tragic narrative, cp. Ο. Τ. 807, παίω δι᾽ ὀργῆς. The word ἐκλύεται is much more expressive of release from an odious bond than ἐκρύεται, which Blaydes suggests. The middle voice signifies, With his own hand.' Cp. Aesch. Prom. 253, ἐξελυσάμην βροτούς: Ant. 1112, καὶ παρὼν ἐκλύσομαι. Essay on L. § 31. p. 53 d. πόνων] ‘The fray.' A general word including the particulars described by the Chorus, infr. 507-522. Cp. Aj. 61, ἐπειδὴ τοῦδ᾽ ἐλώφησεν πόνου (the slaughter of the cattle).

22. mvp-comment-22-1 οὐκ ἂν διείποιμ] 'I could not distinctly tell.' Cp. O. T. 894, διεῖπε χρῆναι, κ.τ.λ., and note, ib. 354.

23. mvp-comment-23-1 ἀταρβὴς τῆς θέας] 'Without terror in beholding that sight.' The genitive after the privative adjective is here a genitive of relation. Ср. О. Т. 884, δίκας ἀφόβητος. ὅδε] In support of this reading, in preference to ὁ δέ, Mr. Blaydes and others have rightly compared Ant. 464, ὅστις γὰρ . . ζῇ, πῶς ὅδ᾽ οὐχί, κ.τ.λ

25. mvp-comment-24-1 This line is condemned as spurious, entirely without reason, by Dobree and others. It is pathetic and well-placed. Deianira soliloquises about the fear she had lest the beauty of her girlhood might become a source of pain to her, as it would, if, after it had called forth two such suitors, the monster had prevailed over the god-like man. Her sympathy with Iole, whose beauty was her ruin (1. 465), is the more touching when this reminiscence precedes.

27. mvp-comment-25-1 εἰ δὴ καλῶς] Cp. Eur. Or. 17, ὁ κλεινός, εἰ δὴ κλεινός, ᾿Αγαμέμνων.

28. mvp-comment-26-1 λέχος ξυστᾶσα] • Since being matched with Heracles in the marriage which was adjudged to him.' λέχος] ' In a marriage,' accusative in apposition with the action of the sentence, or cognate acc. Cp. Αj. 491, τὸ σὸν λέχος ξυνῆλθον. Ἡρακλεῖ is primarily (a) dative after κριτόν, and secondarily (b) dative after ξυστᾶσα, 'Having met Heracles in a marriage which was adjudged to Heracles.' For this' ambiguous construction,' see Essay on L. pp. 66, 7. γὰρ at once introduces the announcement of the result, indicated in the words τέλος ἔθηκε Ζεύς, and the explanation of the doubt expressed in εἰ δὴ καλῶς. 'For I was married to Heracles, but have lived ever since in fear.' κριτόν] 'Adjudged,' viz. by the issue of the contest, determined by Zeὺς ἀγώνιος, Cp. Αj. 443, κρίνειν ἔμελλε κράτος ἀριστείας τινί: Hdt. 6. 129, τὸν κρίνοι ἐκ πάντων Others render 'Chosen,' because Heracles had fixed his choice on this marriage. Cp. Pind. Pyth. 4. 89, κριτὸν .. γυναικῶν . . γένος. ξυστᾶσα) This word suggests permanence more than ξυνελθοῦσα, and may also imply that a marriage with Heracles was one involving grave issues. Cp. the uses of ξυνίστασθαι in Herodotus, and Aesch. Prom. 806, μηδὲ πλαθείην γαμέτᾳ τινὶ τῶν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ. Hermann, who takes the word as simply • συνελθοῦσα, quotes the Homeric phrase ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιύωσαν. For τρέφω, cp. Aesch. Ag. 669, ἐβουκολοῦμεν φροντίσιν νέον πάθος. Α preceding scholion properly belongs to this line, viz. διὰ τὸ ἀεὶ περὶ Ἡρακλέους ἀγωνιᾶν,

29. mvp-comment-27-1 προκηραίνουσα] 'Harassed with cares on his behalf.' The compound occurs nowhere else, but is perfectly natural here. Cp. Ant. 83, μή μου προτάρβει.

30. mvp-comment-28-1 νὺξ γὰρ . . πόνον] 'For if night bring him home, the same night sends him away, renewing the succession of his toil' εἰσάγει, sc. αὐτόν, not πόνον, cp. infr. 34, 5. For the repetition of νύξ meaning one and the same night (which alone suits the context), cp. Aesch. Pers. 560, νᾶες μὲν ἄγαγον . . νᾶες δ' ἀπώλεσαν: Philoct. 1370, 1, διπλῆν μὲν διπλῆν δέ: and see Essay on L. § 40. p. 76. The same night that brings him home takes up the thread of his labours which had been dropped. διαδεδεγμένη πόνον = διαδοχὴν ἔχουσα πόνου. Εp. 825, ἀναδοχὰν . . πόνων. Two other explanations of these words are deserving of mention; (1) 'For one night brings sorrow and another pushes out the sorrow, receiving a new sorrow in its room.' ὥστε διαδοχήν μοι πόνου γενέσθαι, Schol. Rom. But εἰσάγει naturally refers to κείνου, and there is frigidity in such an expansion of ex φόβου φόβον τρέφω. (2) 'For one night brings him home, and another night dismisses him, receiving sorrow in his room. But Deianira is dwelling on the life of Heracles, not on her own feelings. And this is implied in the words κείνου προκηραίνουσα, with which γάρ connects what follows. Besides, the personification of night is in this case very confused. For ἀπωθεῖ, in which the feeling of separation is vividly expressed, cp. Tennyson's Love and Duty :- 'Crying, "Who is this? behold thy bride," She pushed me from thee.'

31. mvp-comment-29-1 κἀφύσαμεν δὴ παῖδας] ‘And so we became the parents of children.' ποτε, 'At some uncertain time.' The vagueness of this has a pathetic force, like Helen's εἴποτ᾽ ἔην γε.

32. mvp-comment-30-1 The family of Heracles is like a distant field, which the farmer never sees from sowing-time to harvest.

33. mvp-comment-31-1 προσεῖδε] The thing compared is expressed in terms of the comparison ( Essay on L. § 35. p 60; ср. §42. p. 79 ). Cp Shak. As You Like It : -'Adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, | Still wears a precious jewel in his head.' Hence the meaning of ἐξαμῶν is not to be pressed. Heracles after begetting his children only saw them for a moment when they were grown.

35. mvp-comment-32-1 ἔπεμπε] She has hitherto been speaking generally; she is now going to particularize. The one long service is past (hence the imperfect tense), but her troubles are not yet over.

36. mvp-comment-33-1 ὑπερτελὴς ἔφυ] He had surmounted these labours,' i. e. His life had passed beyond them. For ἔφυ, cp. Ant. 575, ῞Αιδης . . ἔφυ.

37. mvp-comment-34-1 'It is just now that he has got beyond these tasks that my chief fear is come.'

38. mvp-comment-35-1 ἐξ οὗ, κ.τ.λ.] The name of Iphitus is more closely connected with the fable than those of Ceyx (1. 40) and Eurystheus, which are omitted. The removal of Deianira and Hyllus to Trachis took place immediately after the death of Iphitus, more than fifteen months before the opening of the play. Ιφίτου βίαν] An adaptation of such Homeric phrases as βίην Ἡρακληείην.

39. mvp-comment-36-1 ἡμεῖς] Deianira and her sons.

40. mvp-comment-37-1 ξένῳ . . ἀνδρί] According to the legend this was Ceyx, the nephew of Amphitryon, whose name, like that of Eurystheus (supr. 35), is of no moment in relation to the plot.

40-41. mvp-comment-38-1 ὅπου | βέβηκεν] 'Where he is gone.' The perfect of βαίνω has often in Sophocles the meaning of the substantive verb or of rest, but here is rather equivalent to οἴχεται than to ναίει, infr. 99. Cp. infr. 134. ὅποι is not required, because the meaning is equivalent to ποῦ κυρεῖ οἰχόμενος. Cp. Ο. C. 118, ποῦ κυρεῖ ἐκτόπιος συθείς; – In confirmation of this interpretation, which suits best with the emphatic position of βέβηκεν, see esp. infr. 246, 7, ἢ κἀπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πόλει τὸν ἄσκοπον | χρόνον βεβὼς ἦν ἡμερῶν ἀνήριθμον, where βεβώς is clearly equivalent to οἰχόμενος. See also ἀποίχεται, infr. 42, in which the notion of βέβηκεν is resumed.

42. mvp-comment-39-1 αὐτοῦ has been changed to αὑτοῦ, which, though certainly more grammatical because referring to the main subject, does not improve the sense. For the pronoun is to be connected with the immediately preceding words, implying ἐγὼ πικρὰς ὠδῖνας αὐτοῦ ἔχω. For the genitive of the object, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 12, 2. προσβαλὼν ἀποίχεται] ‘He has given me by going away.' The participle has the chief emphasis. Cp. О. С. 894, 5, οἴχεται .. ἀποσπάσας: Essay on L. § 36. p. 63.

43. mvp-comment-40-1 σχεδὸν . . ἐπίσταμαι] 'I am all but certain.'

44. mvp-comment-41-1 βαιόν] Cр. О. С. 397, βαιοῦ, κοὐχὶ μυρίου χρόνου, She had been prepared for fifteen months' absence: infr. 164. But she knew that this must be followed by a crisis in the life of Heracles, And she has heard nothing.

45. mvp-comment-42-1 ἀκήρυκτος δε οὐδεὶς ἐλθὼν κηρύττει καὶ ἀπαγγελλει, ποῦ ποτ' ἐστί, Schol.

46. mvp-comment-43-1 κάστιν,, δεινόν] (1) Is really to be feared Cp Hdt. 7. 157, τοῦτο... ήδη δεινὸν γίγνεται, μὴ πέσῃ πᾶσα ἡ Ἑλλάς, Or (2), There is (ie, must have been) some terrible misfortune.' τοιαύτην. . ἔστειχε Because of the nature of the tablet which he left with me at parting. For this causal use of τοιοῦτος, see Essay on L. § 22. pp. 35, 3 a , and cp. Αj. 218, τοιαῦτ᾽ ἂν ἴδας, κ.τ.λ.

47. mvp-comment-44-1 δέλτον See below, 157 foll. λιπών ἔστειχε He had given it to her in the house before setting forth. The participle has the chiet stress. The imperfect ἔστειχε recalls the time of leave-taking, Op. Phil. 1432, φέρε νυν στείχων χώραν καλέσω. Some editors have changed ἔστειχε τὴν to έστειχεν ἦν. But see Essay on L. § 45. p. 85, and cp. supr. 1. 7, ἦν, and note.

48. mvp-comment-45-1 ἀρῶμαι, λαβεῖν] ie. I pray that no ill may follow my having received it. For a similar use of language, expressing a wish in connection with something in the past, cp. infr. 486, 7, καὶ βούλου λόγους, | οὓς εἶπας ἐς τήνδ', ἐμπέδως εἰρηκέναι.

49ff. mvp-comment-46-1 Whether the Θεράπαινα here is the same with the Τροφός in 871 ff., or different, is a question which is best left unanswered.

49-50. mvp-comment-47-1 πολλὰ . . πανδάκρυτ᾽ ὀδύρματα] * Often with tearful wailings.' The adverbial πολλά is expanded by the addition of πανδάκρυτ᾽ ὀδύρματα.

53. mvp-comment-48-1 γνώμαισι δούλαις may be in one of two constructions: either (1) dative of reference after δίκαιον, or (2) dative of the instrument with φρενοῦν. In the former case (1) the abstract is put for the concrete, If the thoughts of a slave may be allowed to instruct one who is free. Cp Phil. 431, καὶ σοφαὶ γνῶμαι: intr. 844, 5. ἀπ᾿ ἀλλόθρου γνώμας. In the latter case (2) the subject of φρενοῦν is implied in δούλαις, 'If it be permissible that one should instruct the free with thoughts coming from a slave.' And this is probably right, as the words nearest together are genearlly to be taken together. καμὲ χρὴ φράσαι τὸ σόν] "Then is it right for me to suggest what you should do. τὸ σόν is preferable to τόσον...

53. mvp-comment-48-2 (1) because the expression and the correspondence of the clauses is more complete and harmonious; (2) because, except in the phrase δὶς τόσα (Αj. 277), the form τόσος does not occur elsewhere in the senarii of Sophocles. See on Ο. Τ. 570, τοσόνδε γ' οἶσθα, κ.τ.λ. Some who read τόσον would connect the words through καί with the protasis, 'If a slave may be permitted, etc., and I may hint so much, -how is it?'

54. mvp-comment-49-1 πῶς] For the asyndeton, see Essay on L. § 34. p. 58. μὲν.. ἀτάρ] We have here an instance of the form of sentence which often meets us in a more complex form in Thucydides and Plato, e.g. Rep. B. 2. p. 367 E, where two coordinate or opposed clauses are included under the vinculum of a single interrogative or negative. Cp. infr. 229 foll.: Philoct. 519 foll., ὅρα σὺ μὴ νῦν μὲν τις, κ.τ.λ. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 68.

55. mvp-comment-50-1 ἀνδρὸς κατὰ ζήτησιν] Cp. Hdt. 1. 94, ἀποπλώειν κατὰ βίου ζήτησιν.

56. mvp-comment-51-1 εἰκός] ἰέναι rather than πέμπειν is the 'word understood,' as required by the subsequent context. Ср. О. Т. 190, ᾿Αρεά τε τὸν μαλερόν, κ.τ.λ.

57. mvp-comment-52-1 νέμοι] The Scholiast seems to have read νέμει. But νέμοι agrees better with the indirect turn given by ὅνπερ εἰκός : “The very one who might be expected to go, if he was at all careful to ascertain his father's welfare.' For the double genitive (on which see Essay on L. § 23. p. 37 a ), Dindorf well quotes Alexis apud Athenaeum, 10. Ρ. 431 Ε, τῶν δ᾽ ὠνουμένων προνοούμενοι τοῦ τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑγιεῖς ἔχειν. For the periphrasis with δοκεῖν, pointing to the desire of good tidings, cp. Ο. Τ. 402, εἰ δὲ μὴ ἐδόκεις γέρων εἶναι, and note: Thuc. 3. 10, ἀρετῆς δοκούσης. Here, as in similar expressions in Greek, seeming is not necessarily opposed to reality.

58. mvp-comment-53-1 ἀρτίπους] (1) ὅ ἐστιν, ἀρτίως καὶ ἡρμοσμένως τῷ καιρῷ πορεύεται. Schol. And such an 'etymological' use = ' With timely approach,' is quite possible. ( Essay on L. § 54 6, p. 99 ). The latter part of the compound is in this case less significant. Essay on L. § 55. p. 101. But (2) the simple Homeric meaning, Sound of foot,' is really more suited to the context, Hyllus, having out of doors heard news of his father, comes bounding home. The handmaid, seeing his agile movement, infers there can be no doubt of his ability to run this errand.' δόμους = εἰς δόμους, accusative of motion towards. Essay on L. § 16. p. 22.

59. mvp-comment-54-1 τί] Cp. Ο. C. 1034, νοεῖς τι τούτων.

61. mvp-comment-55-1 ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ] The affectionate repetition betrays excitement. Cp. Philoct. 260, ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ πατρὸς ἐξ ᾿Αχιλλέως. ἀγεννήτων] · Of no birth, i.e. low-born. à priv., as in ἀγεννής, has the meaning of δυσ-. Cp. ἄγλωσσος for βάρβαρος, infr. 1060.

62. mvp-comment-56-1 πίπτουσιν] 'Drop,' or 'Fall from the lips.' The notion is that of coming forth unexpectedly. Cp. χρησμὸς ἐκπίπτει, and the other expressions mentioned by L. and S. s. v. ἐκπίπτω, 5.

63. mvp-comment-57-1 δούλη μέν] Sc. ἐστίν. For this form of the senarius, see on O. T. 1513. ἐλεύθερον· ἐλευθέρῳ πρέποντα, Schol.

64. mvp-comment-58-1 εἰ διδακτά μοι] Sc. ἐστίν. ‘If I may be told.' The plural neuter of the verbal adjective has the force of an impersonal verb.

65. mvp-comment-59-1 ἐξενωμένου] 'Estranged,' i.e. Remaining away from home. Compare the use of févos in Εl. 865-7, εἰ ξένος .. κέκευθεν.

66. mvp-comment-60-1 αἰσχύνην φέρειν] The infinitive (depending on εἴρηκεν, 1. 63) is necessary, although most MSS. have φέρει.

67-78. mvp-comment-61-1 Hyllus has only just heard the rumour which he repeats; and Deianira is prompted by his mention of the new enterprise to communicate to him the special anxiety, over which she has hitherto brooded in solitude. The objection of Dobree, that she ought to have done so before, is like that made against the ignorance of Jocasta in the Oedipus Tyrannus. If such improbabilities in things external to the immediate action are not to be allowed, the composition of any drama becomes impossible.

67. mvp-comment-62-1 μύθοις] Three MSS. read μύθοις γ', a plausible reading, but made less likely by the recurrence of the same variant after θανών in line 73.

69. mvp-comment-63-1 ἐν μήκει χρόνου] ‘All this while,' is to be taken with πονεῖν. 'He has been labouring all this while for the past year.' Cp. infr. 824, 5, ὁπότε τελεόμηνος ἐκφέροι . . ἄροτος.

70. mvp-comment-64-1 λάτριν πονεῖν] 'That he has been serving as a menial.' The tense is the imperfect.

73. mvp-comment-65-1 ἢ θανών] ‘If he be indeed alive.' Deianira is stung by the report of Heracles' servitude to a barbarian woman, and. as she herself says, is prepared for anything. She even imagines that the prophecy of liberation may have been fulfilled by his death. Hence ἢ θανών is added with despairing bitterness. On the passive ἀγγέλλεται, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 54 b. The reading ἢ θανών γ᾽ (Par. B) is plausible, but see on 1. 67.

74. mvp-comment-66-1 Εὐρύτου πόλιν] Apposition of a part to the whole. Essay on L. § 33. p. 56.

75. mvp-comment-67-1 ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι] 'Or is on the eve of doing so. The second clause is a qualification of the first, and is added to avoid an absolute statement. Cp. infr. 460, ἀνὴρ εἶς, and note.

76. mvp-comment-68-1 ἔλειπε] The imperfect (being more descriptive) refers more pointedly to the time of Heracles' departure (sc. ὅτε ἔστειχε, cp. supr. 47), than the aorist would have done.

77. mvp-comment-69-1 τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι] As Wunder observes, Oechalia was not mentioned in the oracle, but Deianira infers, from the coincidence of time, that the prophecy referred to what Heracles was doing now. Dobr. conj. πείρας, Dronke, ὥρας, Hense, χρείας.

78. mvp-comment-70-1 τὰ ποῖα] More precise than ποῖα. What were they exactly?' τὸν λόγον] The matter' to which you refer. Cp. Aj. 734, τοῖς κυρίοις γὰρ πάντα χρὴ δηλοῦν λόγον.

79. mvp-comment-71-1 ὡς ἢ τελευτὴν . . τελεῖν] • That he is either to accomplish the ending of his life.' Cp. 1255, 6, παῦλά τοι κακῶν αὕτη, τελευτὴ τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ὑστάτη. Το which Hyllus replies, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν εἴργει σοὶ τελειοῦσθαι τάδε. The expression, though unusual, is not more so than O. C. 1551, 2, τὸν τελευταῖον βίον | κρύψων: ib. 1720, ὀλβίως γ᾽ ἔλυσεν | τὸ τέλος βίου. For the pleonasm, cp. esp. infr. 1171, λύσιν τελεῖσθαι.

80-81. mvp-comment-72-1 These lines have been much suspected, but if τὸν ἀεὶ= τὸν ἀεὶ χρόνον, in El. 1076, O. C. 1701, which there is no good reason for doubting, εἰς τὸν ὕστερον = εἰς τὸν ὕστερον χρόνον, may be allowed. ἄρας] 'When he has carried away,' i.e. Performed successfully. The notion is partly that of lifting a weight, partly of removing an obstacle (between emolitus and amolitus).

82. mvp-comment-73-1 ἐν . . κειμένῳ] 'When he is at such a critical point;' lit. such a turning of the scale. ῥοπή is commonly the preponderance or determination of the balance one way; here it is the moment or crisis of a determination which is still uncertain. For κειμένῳ, cp. Aj. 323, ἐν τοιᾷδε κείμενος . . τύχῃ, where, however, there is the additional notion of being 'laid prostrate.'

83. mvp-comment-74-1 ἡνίκα] ‘At a moment when.'

84-85. mvp-comment-75-1 Canter ingeniously defended l. 84 by placing it after 85 and reading καί for ἤ. But the line is still unnecessary and falls flat. Some editors, with strange judgment, have rejected 85. 84 is most probably spurious. It looks like an attempt to fill up the lacuna, when 85 had been lost. The only other considerable interpolation to which we can point with any confidence is in lines 898, 899, which look like a players' addition. These three lines make but a slight foundation for the theory of two editions of the Trachiniae, even if we add ll. 88, 9, and the v. rr. in lines 12, 13, supr. See Introduction.

85. mvp-comment-76-1 βίον is the safety of Heracles with all that depends on it, including the happiness of Deianira and her children. Cp. El. 768, εἰ τοῖς ἐμαυτῆς τὸν βίον σώζω κακοῖς, where, as Ellendt remarks, Clytemnestra is not thinking only of her life, but of the prosperity attending it.

87. mvp-comment-77-1 βάξις in Greek tragedy is generally a striking utterance, either of an oracle or of common rumour, and often conveys some unpleasant association.

88. mvp-comment-78-1 The corrections of Vauvillers (ela for ą) and Wakefield (πρὶν for νῦν) remove all suspicion from this line. The sons of Heracles could not be apprehensive or greatly fearful for him who was perpetually contending with dangers and hitherto always with success. The sense of fear in them was partly lost through familiarity, partly disarmed by habitual good fortune. For πότμος in this indifferent sense (fortune ane whether good or bad), cp. Fr. 786. 1, 2, ἀλλ᾿ οὑμὸς ἀεὶ πότμος ἐν πυκνῷ θεοῦ τροχῷ κυκλεῖται καὶ μεταλλάσσει φύσιν.

90. mvp-comment-79-1 τὸ μή] For the absence of oὐ here in reference to prospective action, cp. Ο. Τ. 77, μὴ δρῶν, and see Essay on L. § 29. p. 50. The whole question of the Greek negatives is still too indeterminate to justify the admission of such conjectural emendations as the insertion of οὐ after μή in this place, proposed by Brunck and others.

92-93. mvp-comment-80-1 τό γ᾽ εὐ | πράσσειν] γε emphasizes ev: Wise action, even though late.' The emphatic position of πράσσειν at the beginning of another line, and the addition of ἐπεὶ πύθοιτο, may justify the singular use of τὸ εὐ πράσσειν in an active sense (= 'Doing right,' not, 'Faring well'), which is required by the context. For the omission of τίς, τινί (the subject of πύθοιτο and the dative after ἐμπολᾷ), see Essay on L. § 39. P. 72, 3, and cp. O. Τ. 314, 5, ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο.

94-140. mvp-comment-81-1 Parodos. Where in the wide world is Heracles, reposing in what continent, or by what narrow sea? Tell us, bright, all-beholding Sun! For our Deianira, for whose hand he fought, wears out her soul in thinking of him on her lonely couch; so ceaseless are the toils that crowd upon him like stormy billows. But God hath hitherto protected him; wherefore let not hope weary, O my queen. No life is without pain, but, by Divine ordinance, grief succeeds to joy and joy to grief. Remember this and hope the best. Zeus cannot leave his offspring to destruction.' The metre beginning with an iambic rhythm passes quickly into dactylo-trochaic, changing again in the epode to iambo-trochaic (with occasional syncope), then to pure iambics, ending with a bacchius followed by three trochees.

94-95. mvp-comment-82-1 ἐναριζομένα τίκτει] Gives birth to, being despoiled.' The word αἰόλα (like ποικιλείμων in Aesch. Prom. 24) suggests the glories of the starry night. (See Buttmann, Lexil. § 12.) These perish with her as she vanishes, 'Shot through with orient beams.' Cp. ΕΙ. 19, μέλαινά τ᾽ ἄστρων ἐκλέλοιπεν εὐφρόνη: Aesch. Ag. 279, τῆς νῦν τεκούσης φῶς τόδ᾽ εὐφρόνης λέγω. The mention of day succeeding night prepares for the suggestion of hope, infr. 131. κατευνάζει τε φλογιζόμενον] And lays glowing to his rest.' φλογιζόμενον calls up the image of a red sunset.

96. mvp-comment-83-1 ῞Αλιον αἰτῶ] The accusative or third person instead of the vocative, as in Aesch. Prom. 91, καὶ τὸν πανόπτην κύκλον ἡλίου καλῶ· | ἴδεσθέ μ'.

97. mvp-comment-84-1 πόθι μοι πόθι] The repetition belongs to the later manner of Greek tragedy. The change of construction after πόθι (παῖς not παῖδα) is right. To avoid the hiatus after l. 4 of the antistrophe the second μοι rather than παῖς (see v. rr.) should be omitted. μοι is dative of indirect reference after πόθι ναίει (cp. Ο. C. 137, ποῦ μοί ποτε ναίει), and also supplies the remoter object of καρύξαι.

99. mvp-comment-85-1 ὦ . . φλεγέθων] Cp. Ο. Τ. 163, 4, καὶ Φοῖβον ἑκαβόλον, ἰὼ |.. προφάνητε. στεροπᾷ is used etymologically, like στέροψ in Ant. 1126 = 'Dazzling light.'

100. mvp-comment-86-1 ἢ . . αὐλῶνας] Sc. ναίων. ‘Either dwelling amongst winding seas:' i. e. in some island of the Aegean. αὐλών is said to be feminine in poetry, and the reading of Ist hand of L, ποντίας, may therefore be right. Cp. Fr. 503 (Ath. 5. p. 189 D). The change to the dative is occasioned by the addition of κλιθείς on which ἀπείροις is made to depend. The sea most familiar to the Trachinian maidens would be the strait between Euboea and the mainland, but their description might apply equally to any of the narrow seas intersecting the islands of the Aegean: interfusa nitentes .. Cycladas (Hor. Od. 1. 14, sub fin.). κλιθείς with the dative is an expression borrowed from the Homeric κεκλιμένος (e. g. Il. 5. 709, λίμνῃ κεκλιμένος Κηφισίδι). δισσαῖσιν ἀπείροις] 'On one of the two continents,' i. e. somewhere on the seaboard of Europe or of Asia, which are divided by the πόντιοι αὐλῶνες. Others have suggested Thessaly and Epirus, or even Euboea and Thessaly. But cp. Hdt. 4. 118, ἐπειδή οἱ τὰ ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ τῇ ἑτέρῃ πάντα κατέστραπται, · διαβέβηκε ἐς τήνδε τὴν ἤπειρον, and Schol. in Aesch. Pers. 181, τὼ δύ᾽ ἠπείρω. Mr. Paley strangely interprets. 'Resting between two mainlands,' as if Heracles were imagined to be on the Hellespont. But for the condensation, cp. El. 1320, οὐκ ἂν δυοῖν ἥμαρτον, ἱ.ε. δυοῖν θατέρου.

101. mvp-comment-87-1 εἰπέ resumes the imperative implied in αἰτῶ . . καρύξαι. ὦ κρατιστεύων κατ᾿ ὄμμα] Ο thou that bearest the palm for strength of sight!' For κατά, cp. Ο. Τ. 1087, καὶ κατὰ γνώμαν ἴδρις. And for ὄμμα, see Essay on L. § 54. P. 99 , and cp. infr. 1018, σοί τε γὰρ ὅμμα | ἔμπλεον ἡ δι᾽ ἐμοῦ σώζειν.

103. mvp-comment-88-1 ποθουμένᾳ . . φρενί] ποθουμένᾳ is either (1) middle, 'With longing soul: '-of such a use of ποθεῖσθαι in the middle voice we have no example, but see Essay on L. § 31. p. 52 , and cp. Ο. Τ. 1487, νοούμενος, -or (2) passive, With heart oppressed by longings.' This gives a better meaning, but implies a causative sense of ποθεῖν not found elsewhere. Similarly in the Electra, 1065, ἀπόνητοι may be said to imply a causative sense of πονεῖν, 'Το afflict with toil.' (Musgr. conjectures πόνουμένᾳ here.) See Essay on L. § 53. p. 98 , and cp. Pind. Ol. 10 (11). 93, ἀείδετο δὲ πᾶν τέμενος τερπναῖσι θαλίαις | τὸν ἐγκώμιον ἀμφὶ τρόπον, where ἀείδετο means, Was occupied with song.' In either sense the phrase is applied to Deianira.

104. mvp-comment-89-1 ἀμφινεική] 'The bride of strife.' She whose hand was once the object of fierce contention is now forlorn. Cp. Aesch. Agam. 669, τὰν δορίγαμβρον ἀμφινεικὴ θ' Ἑλέναν: infr. 527, ἀμφινείκητον ὄμμα νύμφας. The word may also allude to the etymological meaning of Δηιάνειρα ('Object of contention among men'). ἀεί looks forward to τρύχεσθαι.

105. mvp-comment-90-1 ὄρνιν] The nightingale, poetically imagined as being wakeful for sorrow. Cp. Od. 19. 518 foll., ὡς δ' ὅτε Πανδαρέου κούρη, χλωρηὶς ᾿Αηδών, κ.τ.λ. ἀδακρύτων] Α familiar instance of prolepsis. Never allows to rest the longing in her eyes, nor dries her tears.'

106-107. mvp-comment-91-1 ἀλλ᾽.. ὁδοῦ] 'Bearing a trembling recollection of her husband and of his far journey.' ἀνδρός is to be taken as genitive of the object with εὔμναστον, 'Keenly mindful of,' as well as with δεῖμα. ὁδοῦ is added epexegetically, as a genitive of respect. ὁδός = ' A journey or expedition,' often includes the enterprise which is the object of the expedition, with its attendant circumstances. φέρουσαν] Cp. Ο. Τ. 93, τῶνδε γὰρ πλέον φέρω | τὸ πένθος, κτ.λ.: 863, εἴ μοι ξυνείη φέροντι, κ.τ.λ.; Casaubon (Anim. in Athen. 549) ingeniously but unnecessarily conjectured τρέφουσαν.

110. mvp-comment-92-1 ἐνθυμίοις . . ἀνανδρώτοισι] 'On a bed of care, to which no husband comes.' ἐνθυμίοις, Haunted by care or thought' (see Scholia), rather than 'Weighing on the mind' (although some good critics are satisfied with this). The dative is one of place or circumstance (= ἐν), not of cause or reason. Deianira is not worn out with thinking that she wants her husband, but pines with anxiety on her widowed bed. The Scholiast explains ἐνθυμίοις, ταῖς μεριμνητικαῖς, ταῖς πολυφροντίστοις. This meaning of ἐνθύμιος = ἐνθυμίας πλήρης, although singular, is not impossible. Cp. O. C. 240, and see Essay on L. § 50. p. 94, § 42. p. 80. ἀνανδρώτοισι, 'Not visited by a husband.' The verbal notion is hard to render, but adds vividness to the idea of bereavement.

111. mvp-comment-93-1 κακὰν . . αἶσαν] 'Unhappy one (δύστανον), forecasting an evil fortune.' For ἐλπίζουσαν, cp. Αj. 606, κακὰν ἐλπίδ᾽ ἔχων, and note.

112. mvp-comment-94-1 πολλά, expressing the primary notion of the sentences, belongs in the first instance to the apodosis, in which βιότου πολύπονον is substituted for πάθη or whatever word was at first intended, whereupon πολλά falls into a secondary agreement with κύματα. 'As many as are the waves,' not, 'Like the many waves.'

114. mvp-comment-95-1 ἀκάμαντος νότου, βορέα, are not simply genitives in regimen, like κύματα παντοίων ἀνέμων, Il. 2. 396, but either (1) genitives of the cause, or (2) genitives absolute = νότου συνεχῶς πνέοντος. For the former (1), cp. Eur. Or. 497, πληγεὶς θυγατρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ὑπὲρ κάρα. And, for the latter (2), O. С. 1588, ὑφηγητῆρος οὐδενὸς φίλων. ἐν is required by the metre. 'For many as are the waves one sees passing and coming on anew over the wide sea, from the south or else the north wind blowing unweariedly, even so manifold in troubles is the life which, like a Cretan sea, sustains,-ay, and glorifies, our hero of Cadmus' race.'

115. mvp-comment-96-1 βάντ᾽ ἐπιόντα τε] Not, 'Coming and going,' or, 'Falling and rising, but, '(One) having gone and (another) coming on.' Cp. II. 4. 422, 3, ὡς δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ ἐν αἰγιαλῷ πολυηχέϊ κῦμα θαλάσσης | ὄρνυτ' ἐπασσύτερον Ζεφύρου ὕπο κινήσαντος : 13. 798, (κύματα) πρὸ μέν τ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ αὐτὰρ ἔπ᾿ ἄλλα. For the meaning given to βάντα, cp. Ant. 120, ἔβα, and note. ἴδοι] The change to the subjunctive, in accordance with Homeric idiom, is unnecessary. Ср. О. С. 1172, ὅν γ' ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι: Hdt. 2. 93, ἵνα δὴ μὴ ἁμάρτοιεν τῆς ὁδοῦ. And see Essay on L. § 36. p. 61. Several editions read ἴδοις, with του in 114. But for the ellipse of tis, see Essay on L. § 39. p. 72, 3. οὕτω δέ] δέ ' in apodosi,' as in El. 27, ὡσαύτως δὲ σύ, κ.τ.λ.

116. mvp-comment-97-1 Καδμογενῆ] Heracles, having been born at Thebes, was claimed as a Theban hero, and therefore of the stock of Cadmus by adoption. τρέφει τὸ δ᾽ αὔξει] (1) ‘Surrounds and also magnifies.' For a similar idiomatic use of τὸ δέ, cp. Thuc. 1. 107, τὸ δέ τι καὶ ἄνδρες τῶν ᾿Αθηναίων ἐπῆγον αὐτούς, ib. 7. 48, τὸ δέ τι καὶ τὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἐλπίδος τι ἔτι παρείχε. The words τὸ δ᾽ αὔξει are διὰ μέσου. It has been thought that τρέφειν and αὔξεις are too near one another in meaning to point an antithesis, and στρέφει for τρέφει has been proposed. For this, more recently, Hense has substituted στερεῖ. But the words are not an application of the simile, as though Heracles was now engulphed and now uplifted by the billow, but express a new thought: and both words have a different meaning in tragic poetry from that which belongs to them in prose. For τρέφειν of the circumstances or surroundings of a life, ср. О. Т. 374, μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός. And, for αὔξειν, Το magnify,' ib. 1090, 1, μὴ οὐ σέ γε καὶ πατριώταν Οἰδίπου καὶ τροφὸν καὶ ματέρ᾽ αὔξειν. The words τὸ δ' αὔξει are added by the Chorus (though logically inconsistent with ἀλλά in what follows), because of their strong wish to suggest cheerful thoughts to Deianira. In this case, the remaining words may be taken in one of two ways, either (α) supposing a slight inversion and alternation of clauses, the order may be πολύπονον πέλαγος βιότου, ὥσπερ Κοήσιον (πέλαγος), 'A troubled sea of life, as it were a Cretan sea.' Or (b) As it were a Cretan sea of troubles that constitutes his life.' (2) Hermann joins τὸ δ' αὔξει βιότου πολύπονον, 'As it were a Cretan sea surrounds Heracles and increases this toilsomeness of his life.' The Cretan sea was wider than the Aegean and no less subject to storms. Cp. Hor. Od. 1. 26. 1, ‘tristitiam et metus | tradam protervis in mare Creticum portare ventis.' For the concrete imagery, cp. Ο. Τ. 194, εἴτ᾿ ἐς μέγαν θάλαμον ᾿Αμφιτρίτας | εἴτ᾿ ἐς τὸν ἀπόξενον ὅρμον | Θρήκιον κλύδωνα.

120. mvp-comment-98-1 ἀναμπλάκητον "Αιδα δόμων] 'Some deity, never suffering him to fall, keeps him away from the halls of Hades.' For gen. see E. on L. § 8. p. 11.

121. mvp-comment-99-1 ὧν] In respect whereof,' to be joined with ἐπιμεμφομένα and repeated with οἴσω. The genitive of respect is here assisted by ἐπί in composition. See Essay on L. § 54. pp. 99, 100. ἁδεῖα μέν, ἀντία δ΄ οἴσω] 'I will offer counsel in a pleasant vein, albeit contrary counsel.' The transition from the subject to the object is hardly more violent than in l. 63. δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δ᾽ ἐλείθερον λόγον. The only difference is that δούλη is full predicate (= δούλη ἐστί) and ἁδεῖα supplementary predicate (=ἁδεῖα οὖσα). And for ἡδὺς = φέρων ἡδέα, cp. Ο. Τ. 82, ἀλλ᾽ εἰκάσαι μέν, ἡδύς. Musgrave's correction, αἰδοῖα, has since been modified by Blaydes and Hense to δέδοικα, ἔδεισα.

124. mvp-comment-100-1 ἀποτρύειν] Suffer to wear out,' = ἐἂν ἀποτρύεσθαι. Cp. such expressions as αἴρειν θυμόν = To allow passion to rise.' E. on L. § 30. p. 52 d.

125. mvp-comment-101-1 ἐλπίδα τὰν ἀγαθάν] Good hope opposed to the expectation of evil, which might be called κακὴ ἐλπίς, as in Aj. 606.

126. mvp-comment-102-1 ἀνάλγητα] Lit. 'Things without pain,' i. e. 'A tranquil existence.' For this use of the neuter adj. cp. Aj. 885, σχέτλια γάρ, κ.τ.λ., Ο. C. 537.

127. mvp-comment-103-1 ἐπέβαλε] Gnomic aorist = 'Doth not send. ἐπιβάλλειν is used as in ἐπιβάλλειν ζημίαν. “The lot which Zeus imposes on mortals is never exempt from grief.' ἐπὶ . . κυκλοῦσιν] Grief and joy come circling round to all, i.e. Grief succeeds to joy and joy to grief. For the tmesis, see Essay on L. § 18. p. 27. ἐπί marks succession in time, as in ἐπήλυθον ὧραι. οἷον . . κέλευθοι] 'Like the circling course of the Bear, i. e. As the constellation now is high in heaven, and now all but touches the horizon, so man's life is elevated and depressed. Others, without the comma, read χαράν, 'A circling course like that of the Bear brings round joy and grief to all.'

133. mvp-comment-104-1 αἰόλα] Glimmering,' or 'Palpitating,' rather than Spangled.' Cp. Εl. 106, ἄστρων ῥιπάς. For the repetition of the same word with some difference of meaning, see Essay on L. § 44. pp. 83. 4.

135. mvp-comment-105-1 βέβακε] Sc. ὁ πλοῦτος ἢ αἱ κῆρες. τῷ δ'] (1) ‘And to him,' viz. from whom the sorrow or the wealth has departed, 'comes in turn either rejoicing or loss.' Or (2) To another man.' In this case χαίρειν τε καὶ στέρεσθαι means, 'To be glad and again (afterwards) 'to lose.' The point, however, is not that sorrow passes from one to another, but rather that sorrows and joys alternate in the same life.

136. mvp-comment-106-1 ἃ (1) is resumed by apposition in τάδε, cp. Eur. Andr. 1115, ὧν Κλυταιμνήστρας τόκος εἷς ἦν ἁπάντων τῶνδε μηχανορράφος. 'Which truths I bid thee also, who art a Queen, to hold fast in looking forward.' Or (2), with Hermann, 'In respect of which truths (ἃ) I bid thee ever be hopeful regarding this' (τάδε), viz. the fortune and return of Heracles. Cp. Ant. 897, κάρτ᾽ ἐν ἐλπίσιν τρέφω, κ.τ.λ.

140. mvp-comment-107-1 τέκνοισι .. ἄβουλον] ‘Without providence for his children.' 'Filiis male consulentem.' For the vague plural, cp. 1268, οἱ φύσαντες καὶ κλῃζόμενοι πατέρες, κ.τ.λ. Hermann has remarked that the images chosen in the beginning of this ode all harmonize with the mood of Deianira (the vanishing of beauteous night, the fiery death of day, etc.), just as all cheering topics are suggested towards the end.

141. mvp-comment-108-1 ὡς ἀπεικάσαι] ‘Το hazard a conjecture.' Hermann lays down the rule that ἀπεικάζω always implies comparison, and he therefore reads ἐπεικάσαι here. But ἀπο- in ἀπεικάζω may have the same force as in ἀπομαντεύομαι, ἀποκινδυνεύω, ἀποδείκνυμαι, of something done (as we say 'right off') on the spur of the moment.

142. mvp-comment-109-1 πάθημα.. θυμοφθορῶ] There is an opposition between the outward accident and the inward feeling. The one the maidens know, but not the other.

143. mvp-comment-110-1 μήτ᾽ . . νῦν δ'] The antithesis is strengthened as the sentence grows. 'I would not have you learn by experience, but, as yet, you know nothing of it.' Hence δέ answering τε. Essay on L. § 36. p. 65 f.

144-145. mvp-comment-111-1 τὸ γὰρ . . αὑτοῦ, κ.τ.λ.] ‘For youth is nurtured in places of its own where no experience of sorrow reaches.' τοιοίσδε] Hermann missed the correlative of τοιοίσδε, and thought he had found it in the conjectural emendation χώροις, ἵν᾽ αὑτοῦ. Of this and many other attempted changes of this passage, it may be said that they are either too abrupt or destroy simplicity. τοιύσδε, like ὅδε, often in Sophocles refers to what has preceded, and may here be easily referred to ἄπειρος εἶ, 'Such,' i. e. as I see in you. You are ignorant of my sorrow, for youth is so placed' (as to be ignorant of sorrow). Essay on L. § 22. pp. 35, 6 , and for the emphasis on αὑτοῦ, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 12 b , and ср. О. С. 659, 60, ὁ νοῦς ὅταν αὑτοῦ γένηται. For the possessive following a descriptive adjective, cp. O. T. 1462, ταῖν δ᾽ ἀθλίαιν οἰκτραῖν τε παρθένοιν ἐμαῖν. βόσκεται] The image is that of a young plant, as in Aj. 558, τέως δὲ κούφοις πνεύμασιν βόσκου.

145. mvp-comment-112-1 θεοῦ] Of the sun. Cp. Eur. Alc. 722, φίλον τὸ φέγγος τοῦτο τοῦ θεοῦ, φίλον : Med. 352, εἴ σ' ἡ ᾿πιοῦσα λαμπὰς ὄψεται θεοῦ. The whole passage recalls Od. 4. 566, 5. 478 foll., 6. 43.

146. mvp-comment-113-1 πνευμάτων οὐδέν] The emphatic repetition of the negative immediately before the verb is idiomatic. Cp. infr. 1013, οὐ πῦρ, οὐκ ἔγχος τις ὀνήσιμον οὐκ ἀποτρέψει. κλονεῖ] The verb is adapted to the nearest subject. No heat offends, no rain disturbs, no wind ruffles it.' οὐδέν is substantive, i. e. πνεῦμα is not to be supplied. No breath of winds, not, No wind of all the winds.' Cp. Ant. 499, 500, τῶν σῶν λόγων . . οὐδέν.

147-148. mvp-comment-114-1 ἡδοναῖς ἄμοχθον ἐξαίρει βίον ἐς τοῦθ'] 'But it grows up' (lit. rears its life) 'amid delights, knowing not pain, even (f) to that point.' For ἐξαίρει = ἔχει ἐξαιρόμενον, αρ. ἀποτρύειν supr. 125 and note. The word suits with the simile from a young plant, for which, cp. Il. 18. 56, ὁ δ᾽ ἀνέδραμεν ἔρνεϊ ἴσος.

148. mvp-comment-115-1 γυνή] ‘A woman.' The word refers less here to the marriage-relationship than to the position of a matron.

149. mvp-comment-116-1 ἐν νυκτί] 'In a night,' i. e. the night of marriage. Cp. Fr. 521. 11, ἐπειδὰν εὐφρόνη ζεύξῃ μία : Eur. Fr. 660, λέγουσιν ὡς μί' εὐφρόνη χαλᾷ | τὸ δυσμενὲς γυναικὸς εἰς ἀνδρὸς λέχος. Musgrave and Hermann join ἐν νυκτὶ φροντίδων, 'Anxiety by night.'

150. mvp-comment-117-1 ἤτοι . . φοβουμένη] 'Being in fear either on her husband's account or for her children.' This verse has been unnecessarily suspected. The language is not quite accurate, but the meaning is clear, the sentence being continued as if λάβῃ were ἄρξηται ἔχειν.

151. mvp-comment-118-1 τις] The indefinite pronoun here in the apodosis refers more pointedly to the persons addressed than supr. 148. See Essay on L. § 22. p. 36. 4. εἰσίδοιτο] The middle has some such force as 'might see of himself.' αὑτοῦ] The masculine is often used where women are spoken of in a general way Essay on L § 20. p. 30.

152. mvp-comment-119-1 κακοῖσιν οἷς] i. e, τὰ κακὰ οἷς. For the attraction, see Essay on L. § 35. p. 59 , and cp. O. C. 1150, 1, λόγος δ᾽ ὃς ἐμπέπτωκεν ἀρτίως ἐμοὶ .. συμβαλοῦ γνώμην.

153. mvp-comment-120-1 δή] 'As you well know.'

154. mvp-comment-121-1 οἷον οὔπω πρόσθεν] Sc. εἶπον, implied in ἐκλαυσάμην.

157. mvp-comment-122-1 The δέλτος mentioned above (l. 47) contained Heracles' memorandum of the oracle received at Dodona, infr. 1165. In giving this to Deianira before leaving home, he also told her by word of mouth what disposition of his property he desired in case of his death. ἐγγεγραμμένην ξυνθήμαθ'] Having notes inscribed on it. The word ξύνθημα occurs in two places of the O. C., (1) in the singular, of a sign, l. 46, (2) of the record of an agreement, l. 1594. Neither of these meanings exactly suits the context here. A closer parallel is the expression ξυνθήματα κρυπτὰ χαράξας, which appears on an altar in the Museum at Athens, on which certain hierophantic symbols are inscribed. Here it clearly refers to the oracular indication of the doom of Heracles as inscribed on the tablet. The testamentary instructions which are further mentioned were given orally. For the construction of the accusative with the passive verb, see Essay on L. § 16. p. 236. Heracles might be said ἐγγράψαι τὴν δέλτον (οι τῇ δέλτῳ) ξυνθήματα.

159. mvp-comment-123-1 πολλοὺς ἀγῶνας ἐξιών] ‘Though he had gone forth on many labours,' ἀγῶνας is in a similar construction with ὁδύν in l. 155: the labour and the journey to meet the labour being included in one conception. The resumption of πρόσθεν οὐ . . ποτέ in οὔπω, after the intermediate clause, helps to point the antithesis in the following line. Cp. the emphatic repetition in Shaks. Jul. Caesar, 1. 3, 'But never till to-night, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire." φράσαι in what follows is (1) To show,' (2) 'To explain.'

160. mvp-comment-124-1 ὡς . . . εἶρπε] 'He went with the mien of one.' ἕρπω is a picturesque word, calling up the act of motion to the eye.

161. mvp-comment-125-1 ἔτ᾿ οὐκ ὤν] Already doomed.' Cp. Phil. 1217, ἔτ᾿ οὐδέν εἰμι (where there is the same inversion of οὐκέτι).

161-162. mvp-comment-126-1 ὅ τι κτῆσιν] 'What I must appropriate as my marriage portion; lit. Possession having to do with my marriage.' The MSS. read ὅτι, which may be right, implying that Deianira (knowing the amount of her marriage portion) was to select from the property of Heracles to that amount before dividing the remainder. But ὅ τι agrees better with ἣν in the next clause, and with the situation.

162. mvp-comment-127-1 ἣν τέκνοις] This may refer, as Schndw. supposes, to the partition of the Peloponnese among the Heracleidae. Cp. the anonymous mention of Eurystheus and Ceyx above, ll. 35, 40, and see Eur. H. F. 462 foll., σοὶ μὲν γὰρ ῎Αργος ἔνεμ᾽ ὁ κατθανὼν πατήρ, κ.τ.λ.

163. mvp-comment-128-1 ἣν .. νέμοι] What share of their father's land he assigned for distribution to his children (severally). τέκνοις is short for ἑκάστῳ τέκνων. The scribe who wrote μένειν seems to have understood, The part that remained after the marriage portion was taken out.'

164. mvp-comment-129-1 χρόνον] Víz. a time when it would be known whether the will was to be at once executed or not. τρίμηνον] Sc. χρόνον, to be repeated as accus. of duration with ἀπείη.

165. mvp-comment-130-1 The nom. ἐνιαύσιος, if right, is occasioned by the addition of βεβώς, and is to be explained, after the analogy of χρόνιος, τριταῖος, etc., like Aj. 217, νύκτερος ἀπελωβήθη: ib. 602, μηνῶν ἀνήριθμος .. τρυχόμενος. E. on L. § 23. p. 39 €. Deianira quotes Heracles as telling her what conclusion to draw, if he were absent more than fifteen months. These lines have been suspected, chiefly on account of their tautology, which may be excused by the all-importance of the time to Deianira, and the difficulty which the Greeks felt in defining notions of time. Essay on L. § 48. p. 91. τότε belongs to the whole sentence, τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ to θανεῖν only. Then the decree of fate should take effect either for him to die within that time,' etc.

167. mvp-comment-131-1 τοῦτο · τοῦ χρόνου τέλος] 'This appointed period of time;' lit. 'This completion in respect of the time.' The conjecture τοῦδε for τοῦτο rather weakens the expression. ὑπεκδραμόντα] 'Having escaped from,' i.e. 'Having passed the danger of.' Burges conj. ὑπερδραμόντα. But the text is more expressive, dimly suggesting the image of a danger to be escaped.

169. mvp-comment-132-1 τοιαῦτα.. πόνων] 'Such he said was the Heaven-appointed issue of the labours of Heracles.' τοιαῦτα, to which εἱμαρμένα adheres, is the 'cognate subject' of ἐкτελευτᾶσθαι ( Essay on L. § 17. p. 25 c ); i. e. if the expression were turned actively, it would stand thus, τὸν Ἡρακλῆ τελευτᾷν τοιαῦτα (= τοιαύτην τελευτὴν) τῶν πόνων, ' That Heracles should find such an end of his labours.' Cp. Thuc. 2. 13, τὰ δὲ πολλὰ τοῦ πολέμου γνώμῃ καὶ χρημάτων περιουσίᾳ κρατεῖσθαι. The genitive may be taken as one of respect, but is assisted by ἐκ in ἐκτελευτᾶσθαι ('Such issue from his labours'). The present tense is often used in prophecies. Aesch. Prom. 848, ἐνταῦθα δή σε Ζεὺς τίθησιν ἔμφρονα. The wording of the oracle may have been τοιαύτην τελευτὴν ἐκτελευτᾷ Ἡρακλῆς τῶν ἑαυτοῦ πόνων. This is another example of Sophocles' fondness for the passive voice. See Essay on L. § 31. p. 54. There is no reason for doubting the genuineness of these two lines, which is confirmed by the Sophoclean character of the construction. ἔφραζε . . ἔφασκε] Sc. ὁ Ἡρακλῆς.

172. mvp-comment-133-1 δισσῶν ἐκ πελειάδων] Sophocles does not explain the manner in which the oracle at Dodona had been given: but vaguely combines the talking oak (Aesch. Prom. 832) with the prophetic pigeons (Hdt. 2. 55, where, however, of the two birds only one comes to Dodona).

173. mvp-comment-134-1 ναμέρτεια] 'The true fulfilment of these words as predestined (ὡς χρεών) comes to pass about this time.' τῶνδε ναμέρτεια almost = τάδε ναμερτῆ ὄντα, with some thought of the etymological meaning (νη, ἁμαρτάνω). For τάδε of the prophecy and event in one, cp. Ο. Τ. 901, εἰ μὴ τάδε χειρόδεικτα πᾶσιν ἁρμόσει βροτοῖς. συμβαίνει] For συμβαίνειν of the issue or fulfilment of an oracle, cp. Thuc. 2. 17, καί μοι δοκεῖ τὸ μαντεῖον τοὐναντίον ξυμβῆναι ἡ προσεδέχοντο.

173-174. mvp-comment-135-1 χρόνου | τοῦ νῦν παρόντος] The dative of time would be too precise and matter-of-fact to express Deianira's meaning, with reference to an emergency, which had not actually arisen. But in using the genitive she does not mean to be indefinite. The fulfilment belongs to the hour that now is here.'

175. mvp-comment-136-1 So that in the midst of a sweet slumber, I start up in fear and dread.' Cp. Plat. Rep. 1. 330 Ε. καὶ ἐκ τῶν ὕπνων, ὥσπερ οἱ παῖδες, θαμὰ ἐγειρόμενος, δειμαίνει. φόβῳ is a causal dative (with ἐκπηδᾶν). ταρβοῦσαν is added in explanation of φόβῳ. εἰ] To think that it is possible,' cp. infr. 666, ἀθυμῶ δ᾽ εἰ φανήσομαι. For this ethical use of ci, which is frequent in Greek (Od. 21. 253) see Essay on L. § 28. p. 46 5.

176. mvp-comment-137-1 εἴ με χρὴ μένειν] 'That I may have to live on.' μένειν has a pathetic force, i.e. to endure, when he is gone. Cp. Phil. 1368, καὐτὸς ἐν Σκύρῳ μένων | ἔα κακῶς αὐτοὺς ἀπόλλυσθαι κακούς.

177. mvp-comment-138-1 φωτός] φώς appears for the most part to have two senses in Sophocles, (1) rather depreciatory, An inconsiderable person,' eg. O. C. 1018, ἀμαυρῷ φωτί : (2) here and in Aj. 807, ἔγνωκα γὰρ δὴ φωτὸς ἠπατημένη, ‘Α husband.

178. mvp-comment-139-1 εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχε] 'Say now no more.' Deianira's last words were not auspicious, and the Chorus warn her not to continue them for fear of crossing with an evil omen one who seemed to be a messenger of good tidings. εὐφήμει is an injunction to silence, but generally with reference to some unlucky word that has been or is likely to be said. For the form of expression, cp. Phil. 807, ἀλλ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ θάρσος ἴσχ᾽, κ.τ.λ. Others would explain, 'Speak no more sadly,' for you will now have cause for joy.

179. mvp-comment-140-1 καταστεφή] O. T. 83, Aesch. Ag. 493. πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων] To be joined with καταστεφή στείχοντα in one phrase. Coming garlanded, like a messenger of joy.' πρὸς χάριν λόγων would merely mean, 'To do the office of a messenger.'

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Garlanded, as if laden with good news.

MESSENGER Enter Messenger .

Current edition Experimental

πάντων om. add ἀρίστου φωτὸς ἐστερημένην.

ΧΟ. εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχ᾽· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ στείχονθ᾽ ὁρῶ τιν ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ.

Χορός εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχʼ· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ στείχονθʼ ὁρῶ τινʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

Δηιάνειρα τίνʼ εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον;

Ἄγγελος τάχʼ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν 185 ἥξειν φανέντα σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

Δηιάνειρα καὶ τοῦ τόδʼ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

Δηιάνειρα αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

Der Chor. Nicht also sprich jezt; schreitet doch, das Haupt bekränzt, 2 Zu froher Kunde, seh' ich, dort ein Mann heran. Ein Bote. Die Vorigen.

Der Bote.

Chorus Of better omen be thy words Behold

Deianika, Attendant, Chorus.

Messenger

Chorus Be thy words now of happier import; see A messenger arrives; his laurel wreath Gives token that his tidings are of joy.

Attendant ATTENDANT, DEIANIRA, CHORUS.

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

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?

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

MESSENGER
Enter Messenger .

ΧΟ.

εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχ᾽· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ

στείχονθ᾽ ὁρῶ τιν ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

Χορός

εὐφημίαν νῦν ἴσχʼ· ἐπεὶ καταστεφῆ

στείχονθʼ ὁρῶ τινʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων.

Δηιάνειρα

τίνʼ εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον;

Ἄγγελος

τάχʼ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν
185

ἥξειν φανέντα σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ τοῦ τόδʼ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

Δηιάνειρα

αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

Der Chor.

Nicht also sprich jezt; schreitet doch, das Haupt bekränzt,²

Zu froher Kunde, seh' ich, dort ein Mann heran.

Ein Bote. Die Vorigen.

Chorus

Of better omen be thy words Behold

Chorus

Be thy words now of happier import; see

A messenger arrives; his laurel wreath

Gives token that his tidings are of joy.

Attendant
ATTENDANT, DEIANIRA, CHORUS.

Chorus

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

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?

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

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

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?

Chorus

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

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

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

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.

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