Sophocles, Trachiniae, Richard Jebb (Translator), 180

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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

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1892.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Trachiniae (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 5: The Trachiniae. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1892. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 180 focus

δέσποινα Δῃάνειρα, πρῶτος ἀγγέλων
180

ὄκνου σε λύσω· τὸν γὰρ ᾿Αλκμήνης τόκον

καὶ ζῶντ᾽ ἐπίστω καὶ κρατοῦντα κἀκ κρατοῦντακ ακ κρατοῦντα . κάκ μάχης

ἄγοντ᾽ ἀπαρχὰς θεοῖσι τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις.

ΔΗ.

τίν εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον ;

ΑΓ.

τάχ᾽ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν
185

ἥξειν, φανέντα ἥξειν φανέντα, σὺν κράτει συγκράτει σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

ΔΗ.

καὶ τοῦ τόδ᾽ τοῦτο δ᾽ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

ΑΓ.

ἐν βουθερεῖ λειμῶνι πρὸς πολλοὺς πρόσπολος θροεῖ

Λίχας ὁ κῆρυξ κήρυξ ταῦτα· τοῦ δ᾽ τὸν δ᾽ τοῦ δ' ἐγὼ κλύων

ἀπῇξ᾽, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε
190

πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι καὶ κτῴμην χάριν.

ΔΗ.

αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

ΑΓ.

οὐκ εὐμαρείᾳ χρώμενος πολλῇ, γύναι.

κύκλῳ γὰρ αὐτὸν Μηλιεὺς ἅπας λεὼς

κρίνει παραστάς, οὐδ᾽ ἔχει βῆναι πρόσω.
195

τὸ γὰρ ποθοῦν ἕκαστος ἐκμαθεῖν θέλων

οὐκ ἂν μεθεῖτο, πρὶν καθ' ἡδονὴν κλύειν.

οὕτως ἐκεῖνος οὐχ ἑκών, ἑκοῦσι δὲ

ξύνεστιν· ὄψει δ᾽ αὐτὸν αὐτίκ᾿ ἐμφανῆ.

ΔΗ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸν Οἴτης ἄτομον ὃς ὡς ὃς λειμῶν᾽ ἔχεις,
200

ἔδωκας ἡμῖν ἀλλὰ σὺν χρόνῳ χαράν.

φωνήσατ᾽, ὦ γυναῖκες, αἵ τ᾿ εἴσω στέγης

αἵ τ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλῆς, ὡς ἄελπτον ὄμμ᾽ ἐμοὶ

φήμης ἀνασχὸν ἀνασχών ἀνασχὸν τῆσδε νῦν καρπούμεθα.

ΧΟ.

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 180 focus

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)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 180 focus

Queen Dêanira, mine shall be the tongue
180

To free thee first from fear. Alcmena’s child

Is living, be assured, and triumphing,

And bringing to our Gods the fruits of war.

DÊ

What mean’st thou, aged sir, by what thou sayest?

MESS

That soon thy husband, envied all around,
185

Will come, distinguished with victorious might.

DÊ

What citizen or stranger told thee this?

MESS

Your herald Lichas, where the oxen graze

The summer meadow, cries this to a crowd.

I, hearing, flew off hither, that being first

To bring thee word thereof, I might be sure

To win reward and gratitude from thee.

DÊ

And how is he not here, if all be well?

MESS

Crossed by no light impediment, my Queen.

For all the Maliac people, gathering round,

Throng him with question, that he cannot move.
195

But he must still the travail of each soul,

And none will be dismissed unsatisfied.

Such willing audience he unwillingly

Harangues, but soon himself will come in sight.

DÊ

O Zeus! who rulest Oeta’s virgin wold,
200

At last, though late, thou hast vouchsafed us joy.
200

Lift up your voices, O my women! ye
200

Within the halls, and ye beyond the gate!
200

For now we reap the gladness of a ray,
200

That dawns unhoped for in this rumour’s sound.
200

CHORUS
CHORUS

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 180 focus

Ich bin der erste Bote, der von deiner Angst

Dich löst, o Deianeira; denn Alkmene's Sohn
175

Er lebt, und kommt als Sieger, und vom Kampfe bringt

Er unsers Landes Göttern hier die Erstlinge.

Deianeira.

Was sagst du, Greis, welch eine Kunde bringst du mir?

Der Bote.

Bald werd' in deinem Hause dein gefeierter

Gemahl erscheinen im Geleit siegreicher Macht.
180

Deianeira.

Wer sagte dir's von Bürgern oder Fremdlingen?

Der Bote.

Sein Diener hat es auf der nahen Rinderau

Erzählt, der Herold Lichas. Ich enteilte flugs,

Sobald ich's hörte, daß ich als der Erste dir's

Verkünd' und du mir spendest Lohn und zollest Dank.
185

Deianeira.

Was säumt er selbst denn außen, wenn er Gutes bringt?

Der Bote.

Viel Unbequemes legt sich dort in seinen Weg.

Denn rings umsteht ihn alles Volk aus Melia,¹

Und forscht und drängt ihn, und er kann nicht weiter geh'n.

Denn Jeder will vernehmen, was sein Herz begehrt,
190

Und Keiner läßt ihn, bis er hört nach Herzenslust.

So säumt er gegen seinen Wunsch, von Wünschenden

Umgeben; doch du siehst ihn bald von Angesicht.

Deianeira.

Zeus, der in Oeta's ungemähten Gauen thront,²

So hast du doch uns Freude, wenn auch spät, gewährt!
195

Nun, liebe Frauen, jauchzet, ihr im Hause dort,

Und ihr im Vorhof: denn ein Licht, mir unverhofft,

Geht uns aus dieser Kunde jezt heilbringend auf.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 180 focus

I come, my royal mistress, to remove
180

Thy fears, and bring the first glad tidings to thee,
180

To tell thee that Alcmena's son returns

With life and victory ; e'en now he comes

To lay before his country's gods the spoils

Of glorious war.

Deianira

What dost thou say, old man ?

What dost thou tell me 1

Messenger

That thy dear Alcides,
185

Thy valiant lord, with his victorious bands,
185

Will soon attend thee.

Deianira

From our citizens

Didst thou learn this, or from a stranger's tongue ?

Messenger

The herald Lichas, in yon flowery vale,

But now reported, and I fled impatient

Soon as I heard it, that 1 first might tell thee

And be rewarded for the welcome tale.

Deianira

But wherefore tarries Lichas if he bring

Glad tidings to me ?

Messenger

'Tis impossible

To reach thee, for the Melian people throng

Around him — not a man but longs to know
195

Some news of thy Alcides, stops his journey,

Nor will release him till he hear it all.

Spite of himself he waits to satisfy

Their eager doubts ; but thou wilt see him soon.

Deianira

O thou who dwellst on (Eta's sacred top.
200

Immortal Jove ! At length, though late, thou giv'.st
200

The wished-for boon. Let every female now —
200

You that within the palace do reside,
200

And you, my followers here — with shouts proclaim
200

The blest event ! For, lo ! a beam of joy,
200

I little hoped, breaks forth, and we are happy.
200

Quick let sounds of mirth and joy
200

Every cheerful hour employ ;
200

Haste, and join the festive song,
200

You, who lead the youthful throng,
200

On whom the smiles of prosperous fate,
200

And Hymen's promised pleasures wait,
200

Now all your lo Paeans sing
200

To Phoebus, 3'our protector and your lung.
200

And you, ye virgin train, attend,
200

Not unmindful of your friend,
200

His sister huntress of the gi'oves.
200

Who still her native Delos loves —
200

Prepare the dance, and choral lays,
200

To hymn the chaste Diana's praise ;
200

To her, and her attendant choir
200

Of mountain-nymphs, attune the votive lyre.
200

Ejyode,
200

Already hath the god possessed
200

My soul, and rules the sovereign of my breast ;
200

Evoe, Bacchus I lo ! I come to join
200

Thy throng. Around me doth the thyrsus twine
200

And I am filled with rage divine ;
200

See ! the glad messenger appean?
200

To calm thy doubts, and to remove thy fears
200

Let us our lo Pseans sing
200

To Phoebus, our protector and our king.
200

Deianira
Strophe. Antistrophe. ACT II. Scene I.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 180 focus

My royal Mistress, I am come the first
180

To bear thee tidings, which from all thy fears
180

Will set thee free: know then Alcides lives,

And is victorious; to his country's gods

He brings the consecrated spoils of war.

Deianira

What dost thou tell me? What import thy words?

Attendant

To thy warm wish thy husband in his house
185

Will soon appear with his victorious force.

Deianira

This information from the citizens

Attendant

Received, or from some stranger, dost thou bring?

The herald Lichas in the verdant mead

These things announces loud. I heard, and ran

The first to greet thee with these words of joy,

To win thy favour, and obtain some boon.

Deianira

Why comes he not, of triumphs if he speaks ?

Messenger

That is not easy, Lady; all her sons

Melia pours forth, who eager to inquire

Throng close around him, and retard his steps;

Impatient each the welcome news to learn,
195

Till all his ardent wish be gratified,

Suffers him not to pass; hence his delay,

To him unpleasing, grateful to the croud :

But soon thou may'st expect to see him here.

Deianira

O Jove, adored on the uncultured mead
200

Of Œta, thou, though tedious the delay,
200

Hast giv'n us joy. Ye virgins, who abide
200

Beneath this royal roof, and you who tread
200

With me this court, raise high th' enraptured voice.
200

Of gratulation; for beyond my hopes
200

On me a ray of orient brightness beams.
200

In the chaste and secret shrine
200

Raise the loud and festive strain,
200

Thou, for whom the virgin train
200

Bids the nuptial torches shine.
200

Let the spritely youths around
200

Catch the sweet entrancing sound,
200

And to the golden-quiver'd king,
200

To Phœbus, Pæans, joyful Pæans sing.
200

Virgins rise, the raptures share ;
200

To Ortygian Dian high
200

Swell the voice of harmony:
200

Hers the double torch to bear;
200

Hers the flying hind to chase
200

'Midst the Nymphs of mountain-race:
200

I rise sublime; without controul
200

Thou reign'st, sweet Pipe, the monarch of my soul.
200

The Thyrsus round with ivy twin'd
200

To raptured frenzy swells my mind;
200

I long to join the Bacchic train :
200

Evoe! Raise th' extatic strain.
200

Now bid farewell, loved queen, to woe:
200

See, in pure streams thy joys begin to flow.
200

Deianira
STRO. ANTIS. EPOD.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-92-1 πρῶτος ἀγγέλων ¹

mvp-comment-93-1 γὰρ ²

mvp-comment-93-2 κρατοῦντα ³

mvp-comment-93-3 ἀπαρχὰς ⁴ τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις ⁵

mvp-comment-94-1 τίνα … τόνδε ⁶

mvp-comment-95-1 πολύζηλον ⁷

mvp-comment-95-2 φανέντα ⁸

mvp-comment-95-3 κράτει νικηφόρῳ ⁹

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων ¹⁰

mvp-comment-97-1 βουθερεῖ ¹¹

mvp-comment-98-1 τοι ¹²

mvp-comment-99-1 εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ ¹³

mvp-comment-99-2 193 (

ἄπεστιν

), οὐκ εὐμ. χρώμενος ¹⁴

mvp-comment-100-1 Μηλιεὺς ¹⁵

mvp-comment-100-2 ἅπας ¹⁶

mvp-comment-101-1 κρίνει ¹⁷

mvp-comment-101-2 παραστάς ¹⁸ κύκλῳ ¹⁹ περιστάς ²⁰

mvp-comment-101-3 βῆναι ²¹

mvp-comment-102-1 τὸ γὰρ ποθοῦν ²² τὸ … ποθοῦν ²³ τὰ γὰρ ποθείν’ ²⁴

mvp-comment-102-2 (1) If τὸ … ποθοῦν ²⁵

mvp-comment-102-3 (2) τὸ ποθοῦν ἐκμαθεῖν ²⁶ ἐκμαθεῖν ²⁷ τὸ ποθοῦν ²⁸

mvp-comment-102-4 (3) It remains, then, to take τὸ ποθοῦν ²⁹

mvp-comment-103-1 οὐχ ἑκών, ἑκοῦσι δὲ ³⁰

mvp-comment-104-1 τὸν Οἴτης ἄτομον … λειμῶν’ ³¹ ἄτομον ³²

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

180. mvp-comment-141-1 πρῶτος ἀγγέλων] This busy-body, who is somewhat like the Φύλαξ in the Antigone, though not quite so mean, has rushed in before Lichas in the hope of getting some reward (infr. 191).

183. mvp-comment-142-1 ἀπαρχάς] Including the captives, see below, l. 245.

184. mvp-comment-143-1 Deianira is too much overcome by the announcement to realise it at once. Cp. Phil. 917-19, ib. 1380, where an unwelcome statement is received in the same vacant way: O. Τ. 359, λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω : Aesch. Ag. 268, πῶς φής; πέφευγε τοὔπος ἐξ ἀπιστίας.

186. mvp-comment-144-1 σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ] · Bringing with him triumphant conquest.'

188. mvp-comment-145-1 βουθερεῖ] 'Where the oxen in summer feed.' The summer grass is the harvest (θέρος) of the cattle. This is more picturesque (esp. with ἄτομον λειμώνα following, infr. 200) than Bovθόρῳ, 'Where the oxen leap.'

189. mvp-comment-146-1 τοῦ] (a) With κλύων, (b) with ἀπῇξα.

190. mvp-comment-147-1 τοι] 'Το say sooth.' The particle introduces the avowal of his motive. Cp. esp. El. 1468, 9. ὅπως | τὸ συγγενές τοι κἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ θρήνων τύχῃ. The candour of the messenger here resembles that of the Corinthian in O. T. 1005, καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως | σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι. Cp. also the Old Man in the Electra, when assuming a similar character, 772, μάτην ἄρ᾽ ἡμεῖς, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἥκομεν.

192. mvp-comment-148-1 αὐτός] 'Lichas himself.' εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ] Sc. ὁ Λίχας. If all is well with him.'

193. mvp-comment-149-1 οὐκ εὐμαρείᾳ χρώμενος πολλῇ] 'Being not altogether his own master; i. e. he is detained, not quite of his own free will.

194. mvp-comment-150-1 Μηλιεύς .. λεώς] The Melian people and the Trachinians are the same in the mind of Sophocles. Cp. his indifference about Calydon and Pleuron in l. 7. The gentile substantive is used for the adjective, as often elsewhere. 'All the Melian folk press round and question him (cp. infr. 314), nor can he advance a step.'

195. mvp-comment-151-1 κρίνει . . ἔχει] There is no difficulty in the change of subject. See Essay on L. § 36. p. 65.

196. mvp-comment-152-1 τὸ . . ποθοῦν.. ἐκμαθεῖν] Το satisfy his longing with full information.' For this use of the active neuter participle, see Essay on L. § 30. p. 51. The abstract notion is here put for the object, the desire of knowledge, for the knowledge desired. Cp. Shak. Temp. 1. 2. 176, For still 'tis beating in my mind.'

197. mvp-comment-153-1 οὐκ ἂν μεθεῖτο] (1) 'Refuse to let him go. The third person is used as the first might have been, οὐκ ἂν μεθείμην σε, 'I will not let thee go.' See Aristophanes, Ran. 830, οὐκ ἂν μεθείμην τοῦ θρόνου: Αj. 313, εἰ μὴ φανοίην, and note. Or (2), 'He is not likely to be let go.' καθ' ἡδονήν] ‘To their heart's content.' κατά, as in κατὰ νοῦν.

198. mvp-comment-154-1 οὐχ ἑκών, ἑκοῦσι δέ] 'Not of his will, but by theirs.' Cp. Odyss. 5. 155, παρ᾿ οὐκ ἐθέλων ἐθελούσῃ.

200. mvp-comment-155-1 foll. The mention of the precinct on Mount Oeta, which was sacred to Zeus (infr. 436, 1191), is preparatory to the death of Heracles on that spot. ἄτομον, * Inviolate.' Cp. Hymn Merc. 72, where the oxen of the gods are λειμῶνες ἀκηράσιοι, a Cretan inscription (Corp. Inscr. 2. 1103), ἵνα μηθεὶς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Δικταίου μήτε ἐννέμῃ μήτε ἐναυλοστατῇ μήτε σπείρῃ μήτε ξυλεύῃ : Eur. Hipp. 73, σοὶ τόνδε πλεκτὸν στέφανον ἐξ ἀκηράτου, κ.τ.λ.: Hom H. Ven. 269, 70, ἑστᾶσ᾽ ἠλίβατοι· τεμένη δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσιν | ἀθανάτων· τὰς δ᾽ οὔτι βροτοὶ κείρουσι σιδήρῳ.

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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

Current edition Experimental

ΔΗ. τίν εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον ;

ΑΓ. τάχ᾽ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν 185 ἥξειν, φανέντα ἥξειν φανέντα, σὺν κράτει συγκράτει σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

ΔΗ. καὶ τοῦ τόδ᾽ τοῦτο δ᾽ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

ΑΓ. ἐν βουθερεῖ λειμῶνι πρὸς πολλοὺς πρόσπολος θροεῖ

Λίχας ὁ κῆρυξ κήρυξ ταῦτα· τοῦ δ᾽ τὸν δ᾽ τοῦ δ' ἐγὼ κλύων ἀπῇξ᾽, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε 190 πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι καὶ κτῴμην χάριν.

ΔΗ. αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

ΔΗ. ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸν Οἴτης ἄτομον ὃς ὡς ὃς λειμῶν᾽ ἔχεις, 200

ΧΟ.

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;

Queen Dêanira, mine shall be the tongue 180 To free thee first from fear. Alcmena’s child Is living, be assured, and triumphing, And bringing to our Gods the fruits of war.

DÊ What mean’st thou, aged sir, by what thou sayest?

MESS That soon thy husband, envied all around, 185 Will come, distinguished with victorious might.

DÊ What citizen or stranger told thee this?

MESS Your herald Lichas, where the oxen graze The summer meadow, cries this to a crowd. I, hearing, flew off hither, that being first To bring thee word thereof, I might be sure To win reward and gratitude from thee.

DÊ And how is he not here, if all be well?

DÊ O Zeus! who rulest Oeta’s virgin wold, 200 At last, though late, thou hast vouchsafed us joy. 200 Lift up your voices, O my women! ye 200 Within the halls, and ye beyond the gate! 200 For now we reap the gladness of a ray, 200 That dawns unhoped for in this rumour’s sound. 200

CHORUS CHORUS

Ich bin der erste Bote, der von deiner Angst Dich löst, o Deianeira; denn Alkmene's Sohn 175 Er lebt, und kommt als Sieger, und vom Kampfe bringt Er unsers Landes Göttern hier die Erstlinge.

Deianeira. Was sagst du, Greis, welch eine Kunde bringst du mir?

Der Bote. Bald werd' in deinem Hause dein gefeierter Gemahl erscheinen im Geleit siegreicher Macht. 180

Deianeira. Wer sagte dir's von Bürgern oder Fremdlingen?

Der Bote. Sein Diener hat es auf der nahen Rinderau Erzählt, der Herold Lichas. Ich enteilte flugs, Sobald ich's hörte, daß ich als der Erste dir's Verkünd' und du mir spendest Lohn und zollest Dank. 185

Deianeira. Was säumt er selbst denn außen, wenn er Gutes bringt?

Deianeira. Zeus, der in Oeta's ungemähten Gauen thront, 2 So hast du doch uns Freude, wenn auch spät, gewährt! 195 Nun, liebe Frauen, jauchzet, ihr im Hause dort, Und ihr im Vorhof: denn ein Licht, mir unverhofft, Geht uns aus dieser Kunde jezt heilbringend auf.

I come, my royal mistress, to remove 180 Thy fears, and bring the first glad tidings to thee, 180 To tell thee that Alcmena's son returns With life and victory ; e'en now he comes To lay before his country's gods the spoils Of glorious war.

Deianira What dost thou say, old man ? What dost thou tell me 1

Messenger That thy dear Alcides, 185 Thy valiant lord, with his victorious bands, 185 Will soon attend thee.

Deianira From our citizens Didst thou learn this, or from a stranger's tongue ?

Messenger The herald Lichas, in yon flowery vale, But now reported, and I fled impatient Soon as I heard it, that 1 first might tell thee And be rewarded for the welcome tale.

Deianira But wherefore tarries Lichas if he bring Glad tidings to me ?

Messenger 'Tis impossible To reach thee, for the Melian people throng Around him — not a man but longs to know 195 Some news of thy Alcides, stops his journey, Nor will release him till he hear it all. Spite of himself he waits to satisfy Their eager doubts ; but thou wilt see him soon.

Deianira Strophe. Antistrophe. ACT II. Scene I.

My royal Mistress, I am come the first 180 To bear thee tidings, which from all thy fears 180 Will set thee free: know then Alcides lives, And is victorious; to his country's gods He brings the consecrated spoils of war.

Deianira What dost thou tell me? What import thy words?

Attendant To thy warm wish thy husband in his house 185 Will soon appear with his victorious force.

Deianira This information from the citizens

Attendant Received, or from some stranger, dost thou bring? The herald Lichas in the verdant mead These things announces loud. I heard, and ran The first to greet thee with these words of joy, To win thy favour, and obtain some boon.

Deianira Why comes he not, of triumphs if he speaks ?

Deianira STRO. ANTIS. EPOD.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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

ΔΗ.

τίν εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον ;

ΑΓ.

τάχ᾽ ἐς δόμους σοὺς τὸν πολύζηλον πόσιν
185

ἥξειν, φανέντα ἥξειν φανέντα, σὺν κράτει συγκράτει σὺν κράτει νικηφόρῳ.

ΔΗ.

καὶ τοῦ τόδ᾽ τοῦτο δ᾽ ἀστῶν ἢ ξένων μαθὼν λέγεις;

ΑΓ.

ἐν βουθερεῖ λειμῶνι πρὸς πολλοὺς πρόσπολος θροεῖ

Λίχας ὁ κῆρυξ κήρυξ ταῦτα· τοῦ δ᾽ τὸν δ᾽ τοῦ δ' ἐγὼ κλύων

ἀπῇξ᾽, ὅπως τοι πρῶτος ἀγγείλας τάδε
190

πρὸς σοῦ τι κερδάναιμι καὶ κτῴμην χάριν.

ΔΗ.

αὐτὸς δὲ πῶς ἄπεστιν, εἴπερ εὐτυχεῖ;

ΔΗ.

ὦ Ζεῦ, τὸν Οἴτης ἄτομον ὃς ὡς ὃς λειμῶν᾽ ἔχεις,
200

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;

Queen Dêanira, mine shall be the tongue
180

To free thee first from fear. Alcmena’s child

Is living, be assured, and triumphing,

And bringing to our Gods the fruits of war.

DÊ

What mean’st thou, aged sir, by what thou sayest?

MESS

That soon thy husband, envied all around,
185

Will come, distinguished with victorious might.

DÊ

What citizen or stranger told thee this?

MESS

Your herald Lichas, where the oxen graze

The summer meadow, cries this to a crowd.

I, hearing, flew off hither, that being first

To bring thee word thereof, I might be sure

To win reward and gratitude from thee.

DÊ

And how is he not here, if all be well?

DÊ

O Zeus! who rulest Oeta’s virgin wold,
200

At last, though late, thou hast vouchsafed us joy.
200

Lift up your voices, O my women! ye
200

Within the halls, and ye beyond the gate!
200

For now we reap the gladness of a ray,
200

That dawns unhoped for in this rumour’s sound.
200

CHORUS
CHORUS

Ich bin der erste Bote, der von deiner Angst

Dich löst, o Deianeira; denn Alkmene's Sohn
175

Er lebt, und kommt als Sieger, und vom Kampfe bringt

Er unsers Landes Göttern hier die Erstlinge.

Deianeira.

Was sagst du, Greis, welch eine Kunde bringst du mir?

Der Bote.

Bald werd' in deinem Hause dein gefeierter

Gemahl erscheinen im Geleit siegreicher Macht.
180

Deianeira.

Wer sagte dir's von Bürgern oder Fremdlingen?

Der Bote.

Sein Diener hat es auf der nahen Rinderau

Erzählt, der Herold Lichas. Ich enteilte flugs,

Sobald ich's hörte, daß ich als der Erste dir's

Verkünd' und du mir spendest Lohn und zollest Dank.
185

Deianeira.

Was säumt er selbst denn außen, wenn er Gutes bringt?

Deianeira.

Zeus, der in Oeta's ungemähten Gauen thront,²

So hast du doch uns Freude, wenn auch spät, gewährt!
195

Nun, liebe Frauen, jauchzet, ihr im Hause dort,

Und ihr im Vorhof: denn ein Licht, mir unverhofft,

Geht uns aus dieser Kunde jezt heilbringend auf.

I come, my royal mistress, to remove
180

Thy fears, and bring the first glad tidings to thee,
180

To tell thee that Alcmena's son returns

With life and victory ; e'en now he comes

To lay before his country's gods the spoils

Of glorious war.

Deianira

What dost thou say, old man ?

What dost thou tell me 1

Messenger

That thy dear Alcides,
185

Thy valiant lord, with his victorious bands,
185

Will soon attend thee.

Deianira

From our citizens

Didst thou learn this, or from a stranger's tongue ?

Messenger

The herald Lichas, in yon flowery vale,

But now reported, and I fled impatient

Soon as I heard it, that 1 first might tell thee

And be rewarded for the welcome tale.

Deianira

But wherefore tarries Lichas if he bring

Glad tidings to me ?

Messenger

'Tis impossible

To reach thee, for the Melian people throng

Around him — not a man but longs to know
195

Some news of thy Alcides, stops his journey,

Nor will release him till he hear it all.

Spite of himself he waits to satisfy

Their eager doubts ; but thou wilt see him soon.

Deianira
Strophe. Antistrophe. ACT II. Scene I.

My royal Mistress, I am come the first
180

To bear thee tidings, which from all thy fears
180

Will set thee free: know then Alcides lives,

And is victorious; to his country's gods

He brings the consecrated spoils of war.

Deianira

What dost thou tell me? What import thy words?

Attendant

To thy warm wish thy husband in his house
185

Will soon appear with his victorious force.

Deianira

This information from the citizens

Attendant

Received, or from some stranger, dost thou bring?

The herald Lichas in the verdant mead

These things announces loud. I heard, and ran

The first to greet thee with these words of joy,

To win thy favour, and obtain some boon.

Deianira

Why comes he not, of triumphs if he speaks ?

Deianira
STRO. ANTIS. EPOD.