Sophocles, Trachiniae, ed. Francis Storr, 393

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Λίχας

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μʼ Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν;

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἐμοῦ.

Δηιάνειρα

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους.

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι χρῄζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμʼ ἐγώ.

Δηιάνειρα

ἦ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

Λίχας

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γʼ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτʼ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

Λίχας

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δʼ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

Ἄγγελος

οὗτος, βλέφʼ ὧδε· πρὸς τίνʼ ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς;

Λίχας

σὺ δʼ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτʼ ἐρωτήσας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σʼ ἱστορῶ.

Λίχας

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην δάμαρτά θʼ Ἡρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

Ἄγγελος

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

Λίχας

δίκαια γάρ.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

ἢν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

Λίχας

πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

οὐδέν· σὺ μέντοι κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

Λίχας

ἄπειμι· μῶρος δʼ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

Ἄγγελος

οὔ, πρίν γʼ ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

Λίχας

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

Ἄγγελος

τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους, κάτοισθα δήπου;

Λίχας

φημί· πρὸς τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ἰόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν;
420

Λίχας

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν πάρα;

Ἄγγελος

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ὄχλος.

Λίχας

κλύειν γʼ ἔφασκον· ταὐτὸ δʼ οὐχὶ γίγνεται
425

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

Ἄγγελος

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτʼ ἔφασκες Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν;

Λίχας

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

δέσποινα, τόνδε τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος.
430

Ἄγγελος

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν, ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλʼ ὁ τῆσδʼ ἔρως φανείς.

Λίχας

ἅνθρωπος, ὦ δέσποινʼ, ἀποστήτω· τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

Trachiniae. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Τραχίνιαι (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 2. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1913.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 393 focus

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

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.

ΔΗ.

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ συνχρόνωι σὺν χρόνω βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς καὶ νεώσασθαι λόγους.

ΛΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι χρήζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

ΛΙ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γ᾽ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

ΔΗ.

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

ΛΙ.

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δ᾽ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΑΓ.

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

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

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

ΛΙ.

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην, δάμαρτά θ' ῾Ηρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων λεύσων λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

ΑΓ.

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

δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

ΛΙ.

δίκαια γάρ.

ΑΓ.

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

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

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

οὐδέν. σὺ μέντοι μέντο κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

ΛΙ.

ἄπειμι. μῶρος δ᾽ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

ΑΓ.

οὔ, πρίν γ' ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

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

κάτοισθα δήπου ;

ΛΙ.

φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

ΑΓ.

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

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ;
420

ΛΙ.

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύειν παρών ;

ΑΓ.

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

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

ΛΙ.

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

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

ΑΓ.

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτ᾽ ἔφασκες Ηρακλεῖ Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν ;

ΛΙ.

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

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

ΑΓ.

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν ἤκοσεν ἤκουσεν ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ κοὐχὶ κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τῆσδ᾽ ἔρως φανείς.

ΛΙ.

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωποσ, ὦ δέσποιν', ἀποστήτω. τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

ΔΗ.

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 393 focus

What message must I carry to my lord?

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

DÊ

So slow in coming, and so quickly flown,
395

Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!
395

LICH

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

DÊ

And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH

By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

DÊ

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

LICH

An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

MESS

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

LICH

Why such a question? What is thine intent?

MESS

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

LICH

To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
405

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

My mistress.

MESS

Ay, that is the very word

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

LICH

To whom I am bound.

MESS

Hold there! What punishment
410

Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be
410

Faithless to her?

LICH

I faithless! What dark speech

Hast thou contrived?

MESS

Not I at all. ’Tis thou

Dost wrap thy thoughts i’ the dark.

LICH

Well, I will go.

’Tis folly to have heard thee for so long.

MESS

You go not till you answer one word more.
415

LICH

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

MESS

Thou knowest the captive maid thou leddest home?

LICH

I do. But wherefore ask?

MESS

Did you not say

That she, on whom you look with ignorant eye,

Was Iolè, the daughter of the King,

Committed to your charge?

LICH

Where? Among whom?

What witness of such words will bear thee out?

MESS

Many and sound. A goodly company

In Trachis’ market-place heard thee speak this.

LICH

Ay.
425

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

My vague impression for advised report.

MESS

Impression, quotha! Did you not on oath

Proclaim your captive for your master’s bride?

LICH

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

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

MESS

One who was present where he heard thee tell,

How that whole city was subdued and taken,

Not for the bondage to the Lydian girl,

But through the longing passion for this maid.

LICH

Dear lady, let the fellow be removed.

To prate with madmen is mere foolishness.
435

DÊ

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 393 focus

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

Laß hören; fertig siehst du mich zur Wanderung.

Deianeira.

Mit solcher Eile stürmst du fort und kamst so spät,

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

Lichas.

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

Deianeira.

Und willst du treulich auch die Wahrheit mir gestehn?

Lichas.

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

Deianeira.

Wer ist die Frau denn also, die du hergebracht?

Lichas.

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

Der Bote.

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

Lichas.

Und du, wofür denn bietest du die Frage mir?

Der Bote.

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

Lichas.

Mit Deianeira, die des Deneus Tochter ist,

Herakles' hoher Gattin, wenn mich anders nicht
400

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

Der Bote.

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

Daß diese deine Herrin sei.

Lichas.

Und das mit Recht.

Der Bote.

Wie also? Welcher Strafe glaubst du werth zu sein,

Wenn deine Falschheit gegen sie zu Tage kommt?
405

Lichas.

Was wäre Falschheit? Welchen Trug ersinnst du da?

Der Bote.

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

Lichas.

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

Der Bote.

Nicht, eh du mir auf kurze Fragen Rede standſt!

Lichas.

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

Der Bote.

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

Die kennst du doch?

Lichas.

Mit nichten: doch was fragst du dies?

Der Bote.

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

Nicht aus für Jole, für das Kind des Eurytos?

Lichas.

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

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

Der Bote.

Vor vielen Bürgern. Mitten dort auf offnem Markt

Zu Trachin hört' es vieles Volk aus deinem Mund.

Lichas.

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

Und zuversichtlich reden, ist nicht einerlei.

Der Bote.

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

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

Lichas.

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

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

Der Bote.

Der, der von dir vernommen, daß Sehnsucht um sie

Die ganze Stadt erstürmte, nicht die Lyderin

Die Stadt vertilgte, sondern ihre Lieb' allein.

Lichas.

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

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

Deianeira.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 393 focus

Her name lole ; he had not inquired

Touching her race.

Chorus

Deianira, Attendant, Messenger, Chorus.

Lie. O queen ! what are thy last commands

To thy Alcides? for e'en now I go

To meet him.

o

Deianira

ITast thou ta'cn so long a journey
395

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

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

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

me
395

J'leady to tell thee.
395

Deianira

Wilt thou tell me truth \

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

Deianira

Who is that woman thou has brought ?
400

I.ic. I hear
400

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

I know them not.
400

Deianira

Look on me ; who am I ?

Lie. Why ask me this ?

Deianira

Be bold, and answer mo.

Lie. Daughter of (Eneus, wife of Hercules,

If I am not deceived 'tis Deianira,

My queen, my mistress ?

Deianira

Am I so indeed ?

Am I thy mistress ?

Lie. Doubtless.

Deianira

Why, 'tis well
425

Thou dost confess it : then wdiat punishment
425

Wouldst thou deserve if thou wert faithless to her 1

Lie. How faithless ? meanst thou to betray me ?

Deianira

The fraud is thine.

Lie. 'Twas folly thus to stay

And hear thee. I must hence.

Deianira

Thou shalt not go

Till I have asked thee one short question.

Lie. Ask it,
430

For so it seems thou art resolved.
430

Deianira

Inform me ;

This captive — dost thou know her?

Li<^'- I have told thee ;

What wouldst thou more?

Deianira

Didst thou not say, this slave —

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

daughter

Of Eurytus, her name lole !
435

Lie. Where?
435

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

Deianira

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 393 focus

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

To Hercules? I hasten my return.

Deianira

After so long an absence why so soon
395

Depart, ere my inquiries I renew?
395

Lichas

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

Deianira

But wilt thou answer me with honest truth?

Lichas

To what I know; be witness mighty Jove!

Deianira

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

Lichas

A native of Eubea; of what race

Attendant

I know not.

Herald, fix thine eye on me.

Know'st thou to whom thou speak'st?

Lichas

With what intent

That question dost thou ask?

Attendant

If thou dost bear

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

Lichas

To Deianira, to the queen I speak,
405

Daughter of Œneus, wife of Hercules,
405

My royal mistress; or I see in vain.

Attendant

This was my wish to know. Didst thou not say

She is thy royal mistress ?

Lichas

With just right...

Attendant

Tell me what punishment is then thy due.
410

If to thy mistress thou art found not just?

Lichas

And how not just? With what insidious wiles

Wou'dst thou ensnare me?

Attendant

Fear not wiles from me;

Thy thoughts are all employ'd on wiles.

Lichas

I go,

Unwise thus far to hear thee.

Attendant

Hence thy foot
415

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

I have thy answer.
415

Lichas

Ask whate'er thou wilt;

Thy tongue, it seems, can speak.

Attendant

This captive then,

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

Lichas

Who is she? Why is this inquiry made ?

Attendant

Hast thou not said that she, on whom thine eye

Look'd as on one unknown, was nobly born

Of Eurytus, and Iole her name?

Lichas

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

That from my lips such words he ever heard?

Attendant

The citizens: for the Trachinians round

In crouds assembled heard thee speak these words.

Lichas

I said indeed I heard this; but to speak
425

On mere imagination, and to affirm

Messenger

As certain, merit not a like regard.

Imagination! Didst thou not on oath

Declare thou brought'st the wife of Hercules

Lichas

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

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

Attendant

One, who in person heard thee say his arms

Subdued the country for this virgin's sake :

That not his Lydian slavery, but the love

Of her spread devastation o'er her realms.

Lichas

The man is frentic: Lady, send him hence:

With such to hold vain converse is not wise.
435

Deianira

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 393 focus

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

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-210-1 ὡς ὁρᾷς ¹ εἰσορᾷς ² εἰσορᾷς ³ ὡς ⁴ ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ, εἰσορᾷς ⁵ ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ ⁶ εἰσορᾷς ⁷ εἰσορᾷς ὡς ἕρποντος ἐμοῦ ⁸ εἰσορᾷς ⁹

mvp-comment-210-2 As regards ὡς ὁρᾷς ¹⁰ ὡς ¹¹

mvp-comment-211-1 ἐκ ταχείας ¹²

mvp-comment-211-2 σὺν χρόνῳ … βραδεῖ ¹³

mvp-comment-211-3 πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους ¹⁴

mvp-comment-212-1 ἦ καὶ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-212-2 τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀλη‐ ¹⁶ θείας ¹⁷

mvp-comment-212-3 νεμεῖς ¹⁸

mvp-comment-212-4 Even without the hint in the schol. (cr. n.), it would have been clear that νεμεῖς ¹⁹ νέμεις ²⁰

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

δέσποινα

with such a rebuff as σὺ δ’ εἰς τί δή με ²¹ τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς ²²

mvp-comment-214-1 οὗτος, βλέφ’ ὧδε ²³

mvp-comment-215-1 σὺ δ’ ²⁴

mvp-comment-216-1 τόλμησον ²⁵

mvp-comment-216-2 εἰ φρονεῖς ²⁶

mvp-comment-216-3 ἱστορῶ ²⁷

mvp-comment-216-4 406 f. If δάμαρτα ²⁸ δεσπότιν ²⁹ θ’ ³⁰ δ’ ³¹ δέ … δέ ³² τε … τε. — λεύσσων μάταια ³³

mvp-comment-217-1 δίκαια ³⁴

mvp-comment-218-1 δίκαιος ³⁵

mvp-comment-219-1 ποικίλας ³⁶

mvp-comment-220-1 ἱστορούμενος ³⁷

mvp-comment-221-1 κάτοισθα ³⁸

mvp-comment-222-1 ἣν ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς ³⁹ ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ⁴⁰ ὑπ’ ἀγνοίας ⁴¹

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

mvp-comment-223-1 τίς πόθεν μολὼν ⁴²

mvp-comment-224-1 πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν ⁴³ ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-224-2 ἀγορᾷ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-224-3 ταῦτά ⁴⁶ γ’ ⁴⁷ γε ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-224-4 425 If the MS. ναί ⁴⁹ γε ⁵⁰ κλύειν ⁵¹ ναί ⁵²

mvp-comment-224-5 ταὐτὸ ⁵³

mvp-comment-224-6 426 The antithesis is between the whole phrases, δόκησιν ⁵⁴ ἐξακριβῶσαι ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-225-1 ποίαν δόκησιν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-226-1 ἐγὼ δάμαρτα ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-226-2 431 The emphatic σοῦ ⁵⁸ σου ⁵⁹ ἤκουσεν ⁶⁰ ἤκουσα ⁶¹

mvp-comment-227-1 ἡ Λυδία ⁶² ἡ Λυδία ⁶³ ὁ τῆσδ’ ἔρως φανείς ⁶⁴ ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-228-1 ἀποστήτω ⁶⁶

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Λίχας τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μʼ Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν; δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἐμοῦ.

Δηιάνειρα ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ μολὼν 395 ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους.

Λίχας ἀλλʼ εἴ τι χρῄζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμʼ ἐγώ.

Δηιάνειρα ἦ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

Λίχας ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γʼ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

Δηιάνειρα τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτʼ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων; 400

Λίχας Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δʼ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

Ἄγγελος οὗτος, βλέφʼ ὧδε· πρὸς τίνʼ ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς;

Λίχας σὺ δʼ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτʼ ἐρωτήσας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σʼ ἱστορῶ.

Λίχας πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως 405 κόρην δάμαρτά θʼ Ἡρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

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

Λίχας δίκαια γάρ.

Ἄγγελος τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην, 410 ἢν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

Λίχας πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος οὐδέν· σὺ μέντοι κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

Λίχας ἄπειμι· μῶρος δʼ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

Ἄγγελος οὔ, πρίν γʼ ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ. 415

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

Ἄγγελος τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους, κάτοισθα δήπου;

Λίχας φημί· πρὸς τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς, Ἰόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν; 420

Λίχας ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν πάρα;

Ἄγγελος πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ὄχλος.

Λίχας κλύειν γʼ ἔφασκον· ταὐτὸ δʼ οὐχὶ γίγνεται 425 δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

Ἄγγελος ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων δάμαρτʼ ἔφασκες Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν;

Λίχας ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη δέσποινα, τόνδε τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος. 430

Ἄγγελος ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν, ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλʼ ὁ τῆσδʼ ἔρως φανείς.

Λίχας ἅνθρωπος, ὦ δέσποινʼ, ἀποστήτω· τὸ γὰρ νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος. 435

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

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

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς καὶ νεώσασθαι λόγους.

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

ΔΗ. ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

λεύσσων λεύσων λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

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

ΛΙ. δίκαια γάρ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ΛΙ. φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

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

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ; 420

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ΔΗ.

What message must I carry to my lord? Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.

DÊ So slow in coming, and so quickly flown, 395 Ere one have time to talk with thee anew! 395

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

DÊ And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

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

LICH An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

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

LICH Why such a question? What is thine intent?

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

LICH To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child, 405 Heracles’ wife,—if these mine eyes be true,— 405 My mistress.

MESS Ay, that is the very word I longed to hear thee speak. Thy mistress, sayest?

LICH To whom I am bound.

MESS Hold there! What punishment 410 Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be 410 Faithless to her?

LICH I faithless! What dark speech Hast thou contrived?

Λίχας

τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μʼ Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν;

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἐμοῦ.

Δηιάνειρα

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ᾄσσεις, πρὶν ἡμᾶς κἀννεώσασθαι λόγους.

Λίχας

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι χρῄζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμʼ ἐγώ.

Δηιάνειρα

ἦ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

Λίχας

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γʼ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτʼ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

Λίχας

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δʼ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

Ἄγγελος

οὗτος, βλέφʼ ὧδε· πρὸς τίνʼ ἐννέπειν δοκεῖς;

Λίχας

σὺ δʼ εἰς τί δή με τοῦτʼ ἐρωτήσας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

τόλμησον εἰπεῖν, εἰ φρονεῖς, ὅ σʼ ἱστορῶ.

Λίχας

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην δάμαρτά θʼ Ἡρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

λεύσσων μάταια, δεσπότιν τε τὴν ἐμήν.

Ἄγγελος

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

Λίχας

δίκαια γάρ.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

ἢν εὑρεθῇς ἐς τήνδε μὴ δίκαιος ὤν;

Λίχας

πῶς μὴ δίκαιος; τί ποτε ποικίλας ἔχεις;

Ἄγγελος

οὐδέν· σὺ μέντοι κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

Λίχας

ἄπειμι· μῶρος δʼ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

Ἄγγελος

οὔ, πρίν γʼ ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

Λίχας

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

Ἄγγελος

τὴν αἰχμάλωτον, ἣν ἔπεμψας ἐς δόμους, κάτοισθα δήπου;

Λίχας

φημί· πρὸς τί δʼ ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

οὔκουν σὺ ταύτην, ἣν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας ὁρᾷς,

Ἰόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν;
420

Λίχας

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν πάρα;

Ἄγγελος

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

ἀγορᾷ πολύς σου ταῦτά γʼ εἰσήκουσʼ ὄχλος.

Λίχας

κλύειν γʼ ἔφασκον· ταὐτὸ δʼ οὐχὶ γίγνεται
425

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

Ἄγγελος

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτʼ ἔφασκες Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν;

Λίχας

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

δέσποινα, τόνδε τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὁ ξένος.
430

Ἄγγελος

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν, ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλʼ ὁ τῆσδʼ ἔρως φανείς.

Λίχας

ἅνθρωπος, ὦ δέσποινʼ, ἀποστήτω· τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

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

δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.

ΔΗ.

ὡς ἐκ ταχείας σὺν χρόνῳ συνχρόνωι σὺν χρόνω βραδεῖ μολὼν
395

ΛΙ.

ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι χρήζεις ἱστορεῖν, πάρειμ᾽ ἐγώ.

ΔΗ.

ἢ καὶ τὸ πιστὸν τῆς ἀληθείας νέμεις;

ΛΙ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς, ὧν γ᾽ ἂν ἐξειδὼς κυρῶ.

ΔΗ.

τίς ἡ γυνὴ δῆτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἣν ἥκεις ἄγων;
400

ΛΙ.

Εὐβοιίς· ὧν δ᾽ ἔβλαστεν οὐκ ἔχω λέγειν.

ΑΓ.

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

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

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

ΛΙ.

πρὸς τὴν κρατοῦσαν Δῃάνειραν, Οἰνέως
405

κόρην, δάμαρτά θ' ῾Ηρακλέους, εἰ μὴ κυρῶ

ΑΓ.

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

δέσποιναν εἶναι τήνδε σήν;

ΛΙ.

δίκαια γάρ.

ΑΓ.

τί δῆτα; ποίαν ἀξιοῖς δοῦναι δίκην,
410

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

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

οὐδέν. σὺ μέντοι μέντο κάρτα τοῦτο δρῶν κυρεῖς.

ΛΙ.

ἄπειμι. μῶρος δ᾽ ἦ πάλαι κλύων σέθεν.

ΑΓ.

οὔ, πρίν γ' ἂν εἴπῃς ἱστορούμενος βραχύ.
415

ΛΙ.

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

ΑΓ.

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

κάτοισθα δήπου ;

ΛΙ.

φημί· πρὸς τί δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς ;

ΑΓ.

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

Ιόλην ἔφασκες Εὐρύτου σπορὰν ἄγειν ;
420

ΛΙ.

ποίοις ἐν ἀνθρώποισι; τίς πόθεν μολὼν

σοὶ μαρτυρήσει ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοῦ κλύειν παρών ;

ΑΓ.

πολλοῖσιν ἀστῶν· ἐν μέσῃ Τραχινίων

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

ΛΙ.

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

δόκησιν εἰπεῖν κἀξακριβῶσαι λόγον.

ΑΓ.

ποίαν δόκησιν; οὐκ ἐπώμοτος λέγων

δάμαρτ᾽ ἔφασκες Ηρακλεῖ Ἡρακλεῖ ταύτην ἄγειν ;

ΛΙ.

ἐγὼ δάμαρτα; πρὸς θεῶν, φράσον, φίλη

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

ΑΓ.

ὃς σοῦ παρὼν ἤκουσεν ἤκοσεν ἤκουσεν ὡς ταύτης πόθῳ

πόλις δαμείη πᾶσα, κοὐχ ἡ κοὐχὶ κοὐχ ἡ Λυδία

πέρσειεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ τῆσδ᾽ ἔρως φανείς.

ΛΙ.

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωποσ, ὦ δέσποιν', ἀποστήτω. τὸ γὰρ

νοσοῦντι ληρεῖν ἀνδρὸς οὐχὶ σώφρονος.
435

What message must I carry to my lord?

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

DÊ

So slow in coming, and so quickly flown,
395

Ere one have time to talk with thee anew!
395

LICH

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

DÊ

And art thou bent on truth in the reply?

LICH

By Heaven! in all that I have knowledge of.

DÊ

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

LICH

An islander. I cannot trace her stock.

MESS

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

LICH

Why such a question? What is thine intent?

MESS

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

LICH

To Dêanira, Oeneus’ queenly child,
405

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

My mistress.

MESS

Ay, that is the very word

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

LICH

To whom I am bound.

MESS

Hold there! What punishment
410

Wilt thou accept, if thou art found to be
410

Faithless to her?

LICH

I faithless! What dark speech

Hast thou contrived?

MESS

Not I at all. ’Tis thou

Dost wrap thy thoughts i’ the dark.

LICH

Well, I will go.

’Tis folly to have heard thee for so long.

MESS

You go not till you answer one word more.
415

LICH

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

MESS

Thou knowest the captive maid thou leddest home?

LICH

I do. But wherefore ask?