Sophocles, Trachiniae, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 375

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

What hidden pestilence within my roof
375

Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman !

She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ;

Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said

He knew it not.

Messenger

Daughter of Eurytus,

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 375 focus

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375

τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον

λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;

ΑΓ.

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

πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα γένεσιν ένεσιν γένεσιν ένεσιν Εὐρύτου ποτὲ
380

Ιόλη 'καλεῖτο Ἰόλη καλεῖτο, τῆς ἐκεῖνος οὐδαμὰ οὐδαμαῖ οὐδαμᾶ

βλάστας ἐφώνει, δῆθεν οὐδὲν ἰστορῶν.

ΧΟ.

ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντ᾽ αὐτῷ κακά.

ΔΗ.

τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

ΧΟ.

πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχ᾽ ἂν σαφῆ

λέξειεν, εἴ νιν μιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης λέγεις.

ΧΟ.

ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν ;
390

ΔΗ.

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

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

ΛΙ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 497-530 focus

Χορός

μέγα τι σθένος ἁ Κύπρις ἐκφέρεται νίκας ἀεί.

καὶ τὰ μὲν θεῶν

παρέβαν, καὶ ὅπως Κρονίδαν ἀπάτασεν οὐ λέγω,
500

οὐδὲ τὸν ἔννυχον Ἅιδαν

ἢ Ποσειδάωνα τινάκτορα γαίας·

ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τάνδʼ ἄρʼ ἄκοιτιν

τίνες ἀμφίγυοι κατέβαν πρὸ γάμων,

τίνες πάμπληκτα παγκόνιτά τʼ ἐξῆλθον ἄεθλʼ ἀγώνων;
505

507

Χορός

ὁ μὲν ἦν ποταμοῦ σθένος, ὑψίκερω τετραόρου

φάσμα ταύρου,

Ἀχελῷος ἀπʼ Οἰνιαδᾶν, ὁ δὲ Βακχίας ἀπὸ
510

ἦλθε παλίντονα Θήβας

τόξα καὶ λόγχας ῥόπαλόν τε τινάσσων,

παῖς Διός· οἳ τότʼ ἀολλεῖς

ἴσαν ἐς μέσον ἱέμενοι λεχέων·

μόνα δʼ εὔλεκτρος ἐν μέσῳ Κύπρις ῥαβδονόμει ξυνοῦσα.
515

517

Χορός

τότʼ ἦν χερός, ἦν δὲ τόξων πάταγος,

ταυρείων τʼ ἀνάμιγδα κεράτων·

ἦν δʼ ἀμφίπλεκτοι κλίμακες,
520

ἦν δὲ μετώπων ὀλόεντα

πλήγματα, καὶ στόνος ἀμφοῖν.

ἁ δʼ εὐῶπις ἁβρὰ

τηλαυγεῖ παρʼ ὄχθῳ

ἧστο, τὸν ὃν προσμένουσʼ ἀκοίταν.
525

ἀγὼν δὲ μαργᾷ μὲν οἷα φράζω·

τὸ δʼ ἀμφινείκητον ὄμμα νύμφας

ἐλεινὸν ἀμμένει·

κἀπὸ ματρὸς ἄφαρ βέβακεν,

ὥστε πόρτις ἐρήμα.
530

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 375 focus

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

What hidden woe have I unwarily

Taken beneath my roof? O misery!

Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS

Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;

Called in her day of freedom Iolè,
380

Eurytus’ daughter,—of whose parentage,

Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH

I curse not all the wicked, but the man

Whose secret practices deform his life.

DÊ

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

Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH

Go in and question Lichas, who perchance

Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DÊ

I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS

And I,
390

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

DÊ

Remain. For see, without my sending for him,

He issueth from the palace of himself.

LICH
Enter LICHAS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 375 focus

Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige!

Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach
370

Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos

War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?

Der Bote.

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

Sie war entsprossen aus dem Blut des Eurytos,

Und Iole hieß sie, deren Stamm mit keinem Laut
375

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

Der Chor.

Fluch treffe - nein, nicht alle Bösen treffe Fluch,

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

Deianeira.

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

Erfaßte bei den Worten, die der Bote sprach!
380

Der Chor.

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

Ganz offen sagen, wenn du streng ihu prüfen willst.

Deianeira.

Ich gehe; denn verständig dünkt mir euer Rath

Ich aber

Der Bote.

bleib' ich? Oder was gebeutst du mir?

Deianeira.

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

Aus eignem Antrieb kommt er aus dem Hause hier.

Lichas. Die Vorigen.

Lichas.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 375 focus

Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round!
375

Ah, what a secret pest have I received
375

Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name,

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

This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!

Attendant

From Eurytus she drew her royal birth

And Iole her name; yet of her race
380

He could not speak, he no inquiries made.:

Chorus

Ruin to all the base I would not wish ;

But perish he, who forms the vile design

With dark and treacherous baseness to betray.

Deianira

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

In wild amazement all my sense is lost.

Chorus

Go, make inquiries of the man, add threats

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

Deianira

I go: to thy advice my mind accords.

Chorus

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

Deianira

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

Of his own will advances from the house.

Lichas
DEIANIRA, LICHAS, ATTENDANT, CHORUS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 497-530 focus

Chorus

Great and mighty is the victory which the Cyprian queen always bears away. I bypass the tales of the gods,

and do not narrate how she beguiled the son of Cronus, and Hades, the lord of darkness, or Poseidon, shaker of the earth. But, when this bride was to be won,
500

who were the massive rivals that entered the contest for her nuptials? Who stepped forward to the ordeal of battle full of blows and raising dust?
505

507

Chorus

One was a mighty river-god, the form of a bull, high-horned and four-legged,

Achelous, from Oeniadae. The other came from Thebes , home of Bacchus, brandishing his resilient bow, his spears and club; he was the son of Zeus. These two then met in a mass, lusting to win a bride,
510

and the Cyprian goddess of nuptial joy was there with them, acting as sole umpire.
515

517

Chorus

There was clatter of fists and clang of bow and crash of a bull’s horns mixed together;

then there were close-locked grapplings and deadly blows from foreheads and loud deep cries from both. Meanwhile the delicate beauty sat on the side of a hill that could be seen from afar,
520

awaiting the husband that would be hers.
So the battle rages, as I narrate. But the face of the bride which is the prize of the strife awaits the end in piteous anguish. And suddenly she has left her mother,
525

like an orphaned calf.
530

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-200-1 ποῦ … πράγματος ¹

mvp-comment-200-2 ὑπόστεγον ²

mvp-comment-201-1 ὦ δὐστηνος ³ πέφυκεν ⁴

mvp-comment-201-2 This question seems strange after the words κτείνει τ’ ἄνακτα πατέρα τῆσδε ⁵

mvp-comment-201-3 διώμνυτο ⁶

mvp-comment-202-1 ἦ κάρτα ⁷

mvp-comment-202-2 The conject. ὄνομα ⁸ ὄμμα ⁹ ἆρ’ ἀνώνυμος πέφυκεν ¹⁰ ὄνομα ¹¹ φύσιν ¹² κατ’ ὄμμα ¹³

mvp-comment-202-3 φύσιν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-202-4 In some ancient texts this verse was given to Deianeira. Among recent editors, Paley shares that view. But: (1) If Deianeira has already answered her own question, the Messenger's speech opens weakly with v. 380. (2) It agrees best with the practice of Sophocles to suppose that ἦ κάρτα ¹⁵ ἢ ¹⁶ ἦ ¹⁷ φύσιν ¹⁸ διώμνυτο ¹⁹

mvp-comment-203-1 πατρὸς μὲν οὖσα ²⁰ Ἰόλη )καλεῖτο ²¹ ποτέ ²² )καλεῖτο ²³ οὖσα ²⁴

mvp-comment-203-2 Ἰόλη ²⁵

mvp-comment-203-3 τῆς ²⁶

mvp-comment-204-1 βλάστας ²⁷

mvp-comment-204-2 οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν ²⁸

mvp-comment-204-3 Many editors place a comma after ἐφώνει ²⁹ δῆθεν ³⁰ δῆθεν ³¹ οὐδὲν ἱστορῶν ³²

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Wretch that I am ! To what am I reserved? 375 What hidden pestilence within my roof 375 Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman ! She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ; Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said He knew it not.

Messenger Daughter of Eurytus,

Current edition Experimental

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

ΧΟ. ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

λαθραῖ ὃς ἀσκεῖ μὴ πρέποντ᾽ αὐτῷ κακά.

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

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

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

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

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

ΛΙ.

Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen? 375 What hidden woe have I unwarily Taken beneath my roof? O misery! Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien; Called in her day of freedom Iolè, 380 Eurytus’ daughter,—of whose parentage, Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH I curse not all the wicked, but the man Whose secret practices deform his life.

DÊ Say, maidens, how must I proceed? The words 385 Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH Go in and question Lichas, who perchance Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DÊ I will; you counsel reasonably.

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

DÊ Remain. For see, without my sending for him, He issueth from the palace of himself.

LICH Enter LICHAS .

Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige! Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach 370 Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?

Der Bote. Traun, wie des Mädchens Auge, glänzt auch ihr Geschlecht! Sie war entsprossen aus dem Blut des Eurytos, Und Iole hieß sie, deren Stamm mit keinem Laut 375 Der Mann dir nannte; freilich forscht' er nicht danach.

Der Chor. Fluch treffe - nein, nicht alle Bösen treffe Fluch, Nur ihn, der heimlich Böses, sein unwürdig, übt!

Deianeira. Was soll ich thun, ihr Frauen? Wie der Schauder mich Erfaßte bei den Worten, die der Bote sprach! 380

Der Chor. Geh' hin, den Mann zu fragen; denn er wird's gewiß Ganz offen sagen, wenn du streng ihu prüfen willst.

Deianeira. Ich gehe; denn verständig dünkt mir euer Rath Ich aber

Der Bote. bleib' ich? Oder was gebeutst du mir?

Deianeira. Ja, bleibe noch; denn ohne meiner Boten Ruf, 385 Aus eignem Antrieb kommt er aus dem Hause hier. Lichas. Die Vorigen.

Lichas.

Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round! 375 Ah, what a secret pest have I received 375 Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name, So he that led her swore, with all these charms, This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!

Attendant From Eurytus she drew her royal birth And Iole her name; yet of her race 380 He could not speak, he no inquiries made.:

Chorus Ruin to all the base I would not wish ; But perish he, who forms the vile design With dark and treacherous baseness to betray.

Deianira How, virgins, should I act? For at this tale 385 In wild amazement all my sense is lost.

Chorus Go, make inquiries of the man, add threats Of torture, soon he will confess the truth.;..."

Deianira I go: to thy advice my mind accords.

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

Deianira Stay here: for see, the man, uncall'd by me. Of his own will advances from the house.

Lichas DEIANIRA, LICHAS, ATTENDANT, CHORUS.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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

What hidden pestilence within my roof
375

Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman !

She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ;

Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said

He knew it not.

Messenger

Daughter of Eurytus,

οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375

τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον

λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος

πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;

ΧΟ.

ὄλοιντο μή τι πάντες οἱ κακοί, τὰ δὲ

ΔΗ.

τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν, γυναῖκες; ὡς ἐγὼ λόγοις
385

τοῖς νῦν παροῦσιν ἐκπεπληγμένη κυρῶ.

ΧΟ.

πεύθου μολοῦσα τἀνδρός, ὡς τάχ᾽ ἂν σαφῆ

λέξειεν, εἴ νιν μιν πρὸς βίαν κρίνειν θέλοις.

ΔΗ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄπο γνώμης λέγεις.

ΧΟ.

ἡμεῖς δὲ προσμένωμεν; ἢ τί χρὴ ποιεῖν ποεῖν ;
390

ΔΗ.

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

ἀλλ᾽ αὐτόκλητος ἐκ δόμων πορεύεται.

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

What hidden woe have I unwarily

Taken beneath my roof? O misery!

Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

MESS

Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;

Called in her day of freedom Iolè,
380

Eurytus’ daughter,—of whose parentage,

Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

CH

I curse not all the wicked, but the man

Whose secret practices deform his life.

DÊ

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

Now spoken have bewildered all my mind.

CH

Go in and question Lichas, who perchance

Will tell the truth if you but tax him home.

DÊ

I will; you counsel reasonably.

MESS

And I,
390

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

DÊ

Remain. For see, without my sending for him,

He issueth from the palace of himself.

LICH
Enter LICHAS .

Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige!

Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach
370

Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos

War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?

Der Bote.

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

Sie war entsprossen aus dem Blut des Eurytos,

Und Iole hieß sie, deren Stamm mit keinem Laut
375

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

Der Chor.

Fluch treffe - nein, nicht alle Bösen treffe Fluch,

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

Deianeira.

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

Erfaßte bei den Worten, die der Bote sprach!
380

Der Chor.

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

Ganz offen sagen, wenn du streng ihu prüfen willst.

Deianeira.

Ich gehe; denn verständig dünkt mir euer Rath

Ich aber

Der Bote.

bleib' ich? Oder was gebeutst du mir?

Deianeira.

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

Aus eignem Antrieb kommt er aus dem Hause hier.

Lichas. Die Vorigen.

Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round!
375

Ah, what a secret pest have I received
375

Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name,

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

This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!

Attendant

From Eurytus she drew her royal birth

And Iole her name; yet of her race
380

He could not speak, he no inquiries made.:

Chorus

Ruin to all the base I would not wish ;

But perish he, who forms the vile design

With dark and treacherous baseness to betray.

Deianira

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

In wild amazement all my sense is lost.

Chorus

Go, make inquiries of the man, add threats

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

Deianira

I go: to thy advice my mind accords.

Chorus

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

Deianira

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

Of his own will advances from the house.

Lichas
DEIANIRA, LICHAS, ATTENDANT, CHORUS.