Sophocles, Trachiniae, Robert Potter (Translator), 26

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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.

Trachiniae. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 26 focus

τέλος δ᾽ ἔθηκε ἔθηκεν Ζεὺς ἀγώνιος καλῶς,

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-93 focus

Δηιάνειρα

λόγος μέν ἐστʼ ἀρχαῖος ἀνθρώπων φανείς,
1

ὡς οὐκ ἂν αἰῶνʼ ἐκμάθοις βροτῶν, πρὶν ἂν

θάνῃ τις, οὔτʼ εἰ χρηστὸς οὔτʼ εἴ τῳ κακός·

ἐγὼ δὲ τὸν ἐμόν, καὶ πρὶν εἰς Ἅιδου μολεῖν,

ἔξοιδʼ ἔχουσα δυστυχῆ τε καὶ βαρύν,
5

ἥτις πατρὸς μὲν ἐν δόμοισιν Οἰνέως

ναίουσʼ ἔτʼ ἐν Πλευρῶνι νυμφείων ὄκνον

ἄλγιστον ἔσχον, εἴ τις Αἰτωλὶς γυνή.

μνηστὴρ γὰρ ἦν μοι ποταμός, Ἀχελῷον λέγω,

ὅς μʼ ἐν τρισὶν μορφαῖσιν ἐξῄτει πατρός,
10

φοιτῶν ἐναργὴς ταῦρος, ἄλλοτʼ αἰόλος

δράκων ἑλικτός, ἄλλοτʼ ἀνδρείῳ κύτει

βούπρῳρος· ἐκ δὲ δασκίου γενειάδος

κρουνοὶ διερραίνοντο κρηναίου ποτοῦ.

τοιόνδʼ ἐγὼ μνηστῆρα προσδεδεγμένη
15

δύστηνος αἰεὶ κατθανεῖν ἐπηυχόμην,

πρὶν τῆσδε κοίτης ἐμπελασθῆναί ποτε.

χρόνῳ δʼ ἐν ὑστέρῳ μέν, ἀσμένῃ δέ μοι,

ὁ κλεινὸς ἦλθε Ζηνὸς Ἀλκμήνης τε παῖς·

ὃς εἰς ἀγῶνα τῷδε συμπεσὼν μάχης
20

ἐκλύεταί με· καὶ τρόπον μὲν ἂν πόνων

οὐκ ἂν διείποιμʼ· οὐ γὰρ οἶδʼ· ἀλλʼ ὅστις ἦν

θακῶν ἀταρβὴς τῆς θέας, ὅδʼ ἂν λέγοι·

ἐγὼ γὰρ ἥμην ἐκπεπληγμένη φόβῳ

μή μοι τὸ κάλλος ἄλγος ἐξεύροι ποτέ.
25

τέλος δʼ ἔθηκε Ζεὺς ἀγώνιος καλῶς,

εἰ δὴ καλῶς. λέχος γὰρ Ἡρακλεῖ κριτὸν

ξυστᾶσʼ ἀεί τινʼ ἐκ φόβου φόβον τρέφω,

κείνου προκηραίνουσα· νὺξ γὰρ εἰσάγει

καὶ νὺξ ἀπωθεῖ διαδεδεγμένη πόνον.
30

κἀφύσαμεν δὴ παῖδας, οὓς κεῖνός ποτε,

γῄτης ὅπως ἄρουραν ἔκτοπον λαβών,

σπείρων μόνον προσεῖδε κἀξαμῶν ἅπαξ.

τοιοῦτος αἰὼν εἰς δόμους τε κἀκ δόμων

αἰεὶ τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔπεμπε λατρεύοντά τῳ.
35

νῦν δʼ ἡνίκʼ ἄθλων τῶνδʼ ὑπερτελὴς ἔφυ,

ἐνταῦθα δὴ μάλιστα ταρβήσασʼ ἔχω.

ἐξ οὗ γὰρ ἔκτα κεῖνος Ἰφίτου βίαν,

ἡμεῖς μὲν ἐν Τραχῖνι τῇδʼ ἀνάστατοι

ξένῳ παρʼ ἀνδρὶ ναίομεν, κεῖνος δʼ ὅπου
40

βέβηκεν οὐδεὶς οἶδε· πλὴν ἐμοὶ πικρὰς

ὠδῖνας αὐτοῦ προσβαλὼν ἀποίχεται.

σχεδὸν δʼ ἐπίσταμαί τι πῆμʼ ἔχοντά νιν·

χρόνον γὰρ οὐχὶ βαιόν, ἀλλʼ ἤδη δέκα

μῆνας πρὸς ἄλλοις πέντʼ ἀκήρυκτος μένει.
45

κἀστίν τι δεινὸν πῆμα· τοιαύτην ἐμοὶ

δέλτον λιπὼν ἔστειχε, τὴν ἐγὼ θαμὰ

θεοῖς ἀρῶμαι πημονῆς ἄτερ λαβεῖν.

Θεράπαινα

δέσποινα Δῃάνειρα, πολλὰ μέν σʼ ἐγὼ

κατεῖδον ἤδη πανδάκρυτʼ ὀδύρματα
50

τὴν Ἡράκλειον ἔξοδον γοωμένην·

νῦν δʼ, εἰ δίκαιον τοὺς ἐλευθέρους φρενοῦν

γνώμαισι δούλαις, κἀμὲ χρὴ φράσαι τὸ σόν·

πῶς παισὶ μὲν τοσοῖσδε πληθύεις, ἀτὰρ

ἀνδρὸς κατὰ ζήτησιν οὐ πέμπεις τινά,
55

μάλιστα δʼ ὅνπερ εἰκὸς Ὕλλον, εἰ πατρὸς

νέμοι τινʼ ὤραν τοῦ καλῶς πράσσειν δοκεῖν;

ἐγγὺς δʼ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς ἀρτίπους θρῴσκει δόμους,

ὥστʼ εἴ τί σοι πρὸς καιρὸν ἐννέπειν δοκῶ,

πάρεστι χρῆσθαι τἀνδρὶ τοῖς τʼ ἐμοῖς λόγοις.
60

Δηιάνειρα

ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα

μῦθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν· ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ

δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δʼ ἐλεύθερον λόγον.

Ὕλλος

ποῖον; δίδαξον, μῆτερ, εἰ διδακτά μοι.

Δηιάνειρα

σὲ πατρὸς οὕτω δαρὸν ἐξενωμένου
65

τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι ποῦ ʼστιν, αἰσχύνην φέρειν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ οἶδα, μύθοις εἴ τι πιστεύειν χρεών.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ ποῦ κλύεις νιν, τέκνον, ἱδρῦσθαι χθονός;

Ὕλλος

τὸν μὲν παρελθόντʼ ἄροτον ἐν μήκει χρόνου

Λυδῇ γυναικί φασί νιν λάτριν πονεῖν.
70

Δηιάνειρα

πᾶν τοίνυν, εἰ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔτλη, κλύοι τις ἄν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ ἐξαφεῖται τοῦδέ γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω.

Δηιάνειρα

ποῦ δῆτα νῦν ζῶν ἢ θανὼν ἀγγέλλεται;

Ὕλλος

Εὐβοΐδα χώραν φασίν, Εὐρύτου πόλιν,

ἐπιστρατεύειν αὐτὸν ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι.
75

Δηιάνειρα

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτʼ, ὦ τέκνον, ὡς ἔλειπέ μοι

μαντεῖα πιστὰ τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι;

Ὕλλος

τὰ ποῖα, μῆτερ; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

ὡς ἢ τελευτὴν τοῦ βίου μέλλει τελεῖν

ἢ τοῦτον ἄρας ἆθλον εἰς τό γʼ ὕστερον
80

τὸν λοιπὸν ἤδη βίοτον εὐαίωνʼ ἔχειν.

ἐν οὖν ῥοπῇ, τοιᾷδε κειμένῳ, τέκνον,

οὐκ εἶ ξυνέρξων, ἡνίκʼ ἢ σεσώσμεθα

ἢ πίπτομεν σοῦ πατρὸς ἐξολωλότος

κείνου βίον σώσαντος, ἢ οἰχόμεσθʼ ἅμα;
85

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ εἶμι, μῆτερ· εἰ δὲ θεσφάτων ἐγὼ

βάξιν κατῄδη τῶνδε, κἂν πάλαι παρῆ·

νῦν δʼ ὁ ξυνήθης πότμος οὐκ εἴα πατρὸς

ἡμᾶς προταρβεῖν οὐδὲ δειμαίνειν ἄγαν.

νῦν δʼ ὡς ξυνίημʼ, οὐδὲν ἐλλείψω τὸ μὴ οὐ
90

πᾶσαν πυθέσθαι τῶνδʼ ἀλήθειαν πέρι.

Δηιάνειρα

χώρει νυν, ὦ παῖ· καὶ γὰρ ὑστέρῳ τό γʼ εὖ

πράσσειν, ἐπεὶ πύθοιτο, κέρδος ἐμπολᾷ.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 26 focus

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.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 49 focus

O Deianeira, Fürstin, oft gewahrt' ich schon,

Wie du betrübt in thränenreiche Klagen dich
50

Ergossest, daß Herakles ausgezogen sei.

Doch heute, wenn's der Sklavin schlichtem Sinn geziemt,

Dem freien Weib zu rathen, gönn' auch mir ein Wort.

Du bist an soviel Söhnen reich: was sendest du¹

Nicht ihrer Einen, auszuspäh'n des Mannes Spur?
55

Zumal dem Hyllos ziemte das, vertrau'n wir ihm,

Daß ihn um seines Vaters Wohl die Sorge treibt.

Da kommt er eben leichten Schritt's zum Haus heran,

Daß, wenn dir meine Rede nicht unzeitig dünkt,

Du seinen Beistand nüzen kannst und meinen Rath.
60
Hyllos. Die Vorigen.

Deianeira.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 26 focus

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.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-92 focus

Deianeira

There is a saying among men, put forth long ago, that you cannot judge a mortal’s life and know whether it is good or bad until he dies. But well I know, even before I have passed away to Hades’ domain, that my life is ill-fortuned and heavy.
1

For I, while still dwelling in the house of my father Oeneus at Pleuron , had such fear of marriage as never any woman of Aetolia had. For my suitor was a river-god, Achelous,
5

who in three shapes was always asking me from my father—coming now as a bull in visible form, now as a serpent, sheeny and coiled, now ox-faced with human trunk, while from his thick-shaded beard wellheads of fountain-water sprayed.
10

In the expectation that such a suitor would get me, I was always praying in my misery that I might die, before I should ever approach that marriage-bed.
But at last, to my joy, the glorious son of Zeus and Alcmena came and
15

closed with him in combat and delivered me. The manner of their fighting I cannot clearly recount. I know it not, but if there be anyone who watched that sight without trembling, he might give an account of it. But I, as I sat there, was struck with terror,
20

lest my beauty should win me sorrow in the end. But Zeus, Arbiter of Contests, accomplished a good ending—if indeed it was good. For since being joined with Heracles as his chosen bride, I nourish one fear after another in my anxiety for him. One night brings distress,
25

and the next night, in turn, drives it out. Children, furthermore, were born to us, whom at the time he looked at only as the farmer looks at a distant field, visiting it only once to sow seed and once to reap. Such was the manner of his life, ever sending him
30

to and from our home in servitude to some master.
But now, when he has risen above those trials—now it is that my fear is keenest. For ever since he slew the mighty Iphitus, we have been dwelling here in Trachis , refugees
35

in the home of a foreign host. But where Heracles is, no one knows. I only know that he is gone, and has caused me sharp pain for him. I am almost sure that he has come to some suffering. The interval has not been brief; rather, he is unheard from ten months already,
40

plus another five. Yes, there has been some terrible misfortune. That tablet which he left with me before departing suggests it to me. I often pray to the gods that I did not receive it to my misfortune.
45

Nurse

Deianeira, my mistress, many are the times already that I have

observed you mourning the departure of Heracles with great weeping and lamentation. But now—if it is proper to school the free-born with the doctrines of a slave, and if I am obliged to point out what you should do—how is it that you so abound in sons, yet
50

you do not send one of them to seek your husband, especially Hyllus? It would be appropriate to send him, if he cared for his father’s sake that he be deemed to fare well. Here he is now, dashing to the house in timely stride. So if in your eyes I speak in season,
55

you can use both my counsel and the man.
60

61 Enter Hyllus.

Deianeira

My child, my son, wise words fall, it seems, from humble lips. For this woman is a slave, but her advice is worthy of the free.

Hyllus

What sort of advice, Mother? Tell me, if I may be told.

Deianeira

It brings shame, she says, that you have not sought to learn of your father and where he is, when he has been abroad for so long.
65

Hyllus

But I know where, if one can put any trust in rumors.

Deianeira

And in what region, my child, do you hear that he has settled?

Hyllus

Last year, they say, through all its length,

he toiled as a slave to a Lydian woman.
70

Deianeira

If he endured even that, then one might believe any and all rumors.

Hyllus

Well, he has been released from that service, as I hear.

Deianeira

Where, then, is he reported to be now—alive, or dead?

Hyllus

He is waging or yet planning a war,

they say, upon Euboea , the realm of Eurytus.
75

Deianeira

Are you aware, my son, that he has left with me sure oracles concerning that land?

Hyllus

What are they, mother? I do not know the oracles you mean.

Deianeira

They read that either he shall meet the end of his life,

or, after taking on this contest, he shall thereafter, at least, enjoy a happy life for its duration. And so, my child, when his fate is thus trembling in the balance, will you not go to assist him? For we are saved,
80

if he finds safety, or we perish along with him.
85

Hyllus

I will go, Mother. Had I known the substance of these prophecies, I would have long been at his side. As it was, my father’s usual good fortune did not allow me to fear for him, nor to be overly anxious.

Now that I have the knowledge, I will spare no pains to learn the whole truth in this matter.
90

Deianeira

Go, then, my son. For prosperity yields advantage even for him who learns of it late. Exeunt Hyllus, on one side, and the Nurse into the house.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-100-1 Μηλιεὺς ¹

mvp-comment-100-2 ἅπας ²

mvp-comment-101-1 κρίνει ³

mvp-comment-101-2 παραστάς ⁴ κύκλῳ ⁵ περιστάς ⁶

mvp-comment-101-3 βῆναι ⁷

mvp-comment-102-1 τὸ γὰρ ποθοῦν ⁸ τὸ … ποθοῦν ⁹ τὰ γὰρ ποθείν’ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-102-2 (1) If τὸ … ποθοῦν ¹¹

mvp-comment-102-3 (2) τὸ ποθοῦν ἐκμαθεῖν ¹² ἐκμαθεῖν ¹³ τὸ ποθοῦν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-102-4 (3) It remains, then, to take τὸ ποθοῦν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-103-1 οὐχ ἑκών, ἑκοῦσι δὲ ¹⁶

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

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.

Sophocles Trachiniae 26

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Δηιάνειρα

ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα

μῦθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν· ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ

δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δʼ ἐλεύθερον λόγον.

Ὕλλος

ποῖον; δίδαξον, μῆτερ, εἰ διδακτά μοι.

Δηιάνειρα

σὲ πατρὸς οὕτω δαρὸν ἐξενωμένου
65

τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι ποῦ ʼστιν, αἰσχύνην φέρειν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ οἶδα, μύθοις εἴ τι πιστεύειν χρεών.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ ποῦ κλύεις νιν, τέκνον, ἱδρῦσθαι χθονός;

Ὕλλος

τὸν μὲν παρελθόντʼ ἄροτον ἐν μήκει χρόνου

Λυδῇ γυναικί φασί νιν λάτριν πονεῖν.
70

Δηιάνειρα

πᾶν τοίνυν, εἰ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔτλη, κλύοι τις ἄν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ ἐξαφεῖται τοῦδέ γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω.

Δηιάνειρα

ποῦ δῆτα νῦν ζῶν ἢ θανὼν ἀγγέλλεται;

Ὕλλος

Εὐβοΐδα χώραν φασίν, Εὐρύτου πόλιν,

ἐπιστρατεύειν αὐτὸν ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι.
75

Δηιάνειρα

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτʼ, ὦ τέκνον, ὡς ἔλειπέ μοι

μαντεῖα πιστὰ τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι;

Ὕλλος

τὰ ποῖα, μῆτερ; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

χώρει νυν, ὦ παῖ· καὶ γὰρ ὑστέρῳ τό γʼ εὖ

πράσσειν, ἐπεὶ πύθοιτο, κέρδος ἐμπολᾷ.

Deianeira.

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.

Deianeira

My child, my son, wise words fall, it seems, from humble lips. For this woman is a slave, but her advice is worthy of the free.

Hyllus

What sort of advice, Mother? Tell me, if I may be told.

Deianeira

It brings shame, she says, that you have not sought to learn of your father and where he is, when he has been abroad for so long.
65

Hyllus

But I know where, if one can put any trust in rumors.

Deianeira

And in what region, my child, do you hear that he has settled?

Hyllus

Last year, they say, through all its length,

he toiled as a slave to a Lydian woman.
70

Deianeira

If he endured even that, then one might believe any and all rumors.

Hyllus

Well, he has been released from that service, as I hear.

Deianeira

Where, then, is he reported to be now—alive, or dead?

Hyllus

He is waging or yet planning a war,

they say, upon Euboea , the realm of Eurytus.
75

Deianeira

Are you aware, my son, that he has left with me sure oracles concerning that land?

Hyllus

What are they, mother? I do not know the oracles you mean.

Deianeira

Go, then, my son. For prosperity yields advantage even for him who learns of it late. Exeunt Hyllus, on one side, and the Nurse into the house.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Δηιάνειρα ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα μῦθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν· ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δʼ ἐλεύθερον λόγον.

Ὕλλος ποῖον; δίδαξον, μῆτερ, εἰ διδακτά μοι.

Δηιάνειρα σὲ πατρὸς οὕτω δαρὸν ἐξενωμένου 65 τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι ποῦ ʼστιν, αἰσχύνην φέρειν.

Ὕλλος ἀλλʼ οἶδα, μύθοις εἴ τι πιστεύειν χρεών.

Δηιάνειρα καὶ ποῦ κλύεις νιν, τέκνον, ἱδρῦσθαι χθονός;

Ὕλλος τὸν μὲν παρελθόντʼ ἄροτον ἐν μήκει χρόνου Λυδῇ γυναικί φασί νιν λάτριν πονεῖν. 70

Δηιάνειρα πᾶν τοίνυν, εἰ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔτλη, κλύοι τις ἄν.

Ὕλλος ἀλλʼ ἐξαφεῖται τοῦδέ γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω.

Δηιάνειρα ποῦ δῆτα νῦν ζῶν ἢ θανὼν ἀγγέλλεται;

Ὕλλος Εὐβοΐδα χώραν φασίν, Εὐρύτου πόλιν, ἐπιστρατεύειν αὐτὸν ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι. 75

Δηιάνειρα ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτʼ, ὦ τέκνον, ὡς ἔλειπέ μοι μαντεῖα πιστὰ τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι;

Ὕλλος τὰ ποῖα, μῆτερ; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Δηιάνειρα χώρει νυν, ὦ παῖ· καὶ γὰρ ὑστέρῳ τό γʼ εὖ πράσσειν, ἐπεὶ πύθοιτο, κέρδος ἐμπολᾷ.

Deianeira.

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.

Deianeira My child, my son, wise words fall, it seems, from humble lips. For this woman is a slave, but her advice is worthy of the free.

Hyllus What sort of advice, Mother? Tell me, if I may be told.

Deianeira It brings shame, she says, that you have not sought to learn of your father and where he is, when he has been abroad for so long. 65

Hyllus But I know where, if one can put any trust in rumors.

Deianeira And in what region, my child, do you hear that he has settled?

Hyllus Last year, they say, through all its length, he toiled as a slave to a Lydian woman. 70

Deianeira If he endured even that, then one might believe any and all rumors.

Hyllus Well, he has been released from that service, as I hear.

Deianeira Where, then, is he reported to be now—alive, or dead?

Hyllus He is waging or yet planning a war, they say, upon Euboea , the realm of Eurytus. 75

Deianeira Are you aware, my son, that he has left with me sure oracles concerning that land?

Hyllus What are they, mother? I do not know the oracles you mean.

Deianeira Go, then, my son. For prosperity yields advantage even for him who learns of it late. Exeunt Hyllus, on one side, and the Nurse into the house.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Δηιάνειρα

ὦ τέκνον, ὦ παῖ, κἀξ ἀγεννήτων ἄρα

μῦθοι καλῶς πίπτουσιν· ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ

δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δʼ ἐλεύθερον λόγον.

Ὕλλος

ποῖον; δίδαξον, μῆτερ, εἰ διδακτά μοι.

Δηιάνειρα

σὲ πατρὸς οὕτω δαρὸν ἐξενωμένου
65

τὸ μὴ πυθέσθαι ποῦ ʼστιν, αἰσχύνην φέρειν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ οἶδα, μύθοις εἴ τι πιστεύειν χρεών.

Δηιάνειρα

καὶ ποῦ κλύεις νιν, τέκνον, ἱδρῦσθαι χθονός;

Ὕλλος

τὸν μὲν παρελθόντʼ ἄροτον ἐν μήκει χρόνου

Λυδῇ γυναικί φασί νιν λάτριν πονεῖν.
70

Δηιάνειρα

πᾶν τοίνυν, εἰ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔτλη, κλύοι τις ἄν.

Ὕλλος

ἀλλʼ ἐξαφεῖται τοῦδέ γʼ, ὡς ἐγὼ κλύω.

Δηιάνειρα

ποῦ δῆτα νῦν ζῶν ἢ θανὼν ἀγγέλλεται;

Ὕλλος

Εὐβοΐδα χώραν φασίν, Εὐρύτου πόλιν,

ἐπιστρατεύειν αὐτὸν ἢ μέλλειν ἔτι.
75

Δηιάνειρα

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτʼ, ὦ τέκνον, ὡς ἔλειπέ μοι

μαντεῖα πιστὰ τῆσδε τῆς χώρας πέρι;

Ὕλλος

τὰ ποῖα, μῆτερ; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Δηιάνειρα

χώρει νυν, ὦ παῖ· καὶ γὰρ ὑστέρῳ τό γʼ εὖ

πράσσειν, ἐπεὶ πύθοιτο, κέρδος ἐμπολᾷ.

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.

Deianeira

My child, my son, wise words fall, it seems, from humble lips. For this woman is a slave, but her advice is worthy of the free.

Hyllus

What sort of advice, Mother? Tell me, if I may be told.

Deianeira

It brings shame, she says, that you have not sought to learn of your father and where he is, when he has been abroad for so long.
65

Hyllus

But I know where, if one can put any trust in rumors.

Deianeira

And in what region, my child, do you hear that he has settled?

Hyllus

Last year, they say, through all its length,

he toiled as a slave to a Lydian woman.
70

Deianeira

If he endured even that, then one might believe any and all rumors.

Hyllus

Well, he has been released from that service, as I hear.

Deianeira

Where, then, is he reported to be now—alive, or dead?

Hyllus

He is waging or yet planning a war,

they say, upon Euboea , the realm of Eurytus.
75

Deianeira

Are you aware, my son, that he has left with me sure oracles concerning that land?

Hyllus

What are they, mother? I do not know the oracles you mean.

Deianeira

Go, then, my son. For prosperity yields advantage even for him who learns of it late. Exeunt Hyllus, on one side, and the Nurse into the house.