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XXIII

Protesilaus

Pluto

Persephone

Protesilaus

Lord, King, our Zeus! and thou, daughter of Demeter! grant a lover’s boon!

Pluto

What do you want? who are you?

Protesilaus

Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, of Phylace, one of the Achaean host, the first that died at Troy. And the boon I ask is release and one day’s life.

Pluto

Ah, friend, that is the love that all these dead men love, and none shall ever win.

Protesilaus

Nay, dread lord, ’tis not life I love, but the bride that I left new wedded in my chamber that day I sailed away—ah me, to be slain by Hector as my foot touched land! My lord, that yearning gives me no peace. I return content, if she might look on me but for an hour.

Pluto

Did you miss your dose of Lethe, man?

Protesilaus

Nay, lord; but this prevailed against it.

Pluto

Oh, well, wait a little; she will come to you dne day; it is so simple; no need for you to be going up.

Protesilaus

My heart is sick with hope deferred; thou too, O Pluto, hast loved; thou knowest what love is.

Pluto

What good will it do you to come to life for a day, and then renew your pains?

Protesilaus

I think to win her to come with me, and bring two dead for one.

Pluto

It may not be; it never has been.

Protesilaus

Bethink thee, Pluto. 'Twas for this same cause that ye gave Orpheus his Eurydice; and Heracles had interest enough to be granted Alcestis; she was of my kin.

Pluto

Would you like to present that bare ugly skull to your fair bride? will she admit you, when she cannot tell you from another man? I know well enough; she will be frightened and run from you, and you will have gone all that way for nothing.

Persephone

Husband, doctor that disease yourself: tell Hermes, as soon as Protesilaus reaches the light, to touch him with his wand, and make him young and fair as when he left the bridal chamber.

Pluto

Well, I cannot refuse a lady. Hermes, take him up and turn him into a bridegroom. But mind, you sir, a strictly temporary one,

Henry Watson Fowler

Dialogi mortuorum. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

Dialogues of the Dead (English) (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.)

Editions (2)

Νεκρικοὶ Διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.) — 23 focus

Πρωτεσίλεως, Πλούτων, καὶ Περσεφόνη.

Πρωτεσίλεως

ὦ δέσποτα καὶ βασιλεῦ καὶ ἡμέτερε Ζεῦ καὶ σὺ Δήμητρος θύγατερ, μὴ ὑπερίδητε δέησιν ἐρωτικήν.

Πλούτων

σὺ δὲ τίνων δέῃ παρʼ ἡμῶν; ἢ τίς ὢν τυγχάνεις;

Πρωτεσίλεως

εἰμὶ μὲν Πρωτεσίλεως ὁ Ἰφίκλου Φυλάκιος συστρατιώτης τῶν Ἀχαιῶν καὶ πρῶτος ἀποθανὼν τῶν ἐπʼ Ἰλίῳ. δέομαι δὲ ἀφεθεὶς πρὸς ὀλίγον ἀναβιῶναι πάλιν.

Πλούτων

τοῦτον μὲν τὸν ἔρωτα, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, πάντες νεκροὶ ἐρῶσι, πλὴν οὐδεὶς ἂν αὐτῶν τύχοι.

Πρωτεσίλεως

ἀλλʼ οὐ τοῦ ζῆν, Ἀϊδωνεῦ, ἐρῶ ἔγωγε, τῆς 427 γυναικὸς δέ, ἣν νεόγαμον ἔτι ἐν τῷ θαλάμῳ καταλιπὼν ᾠχόμην ἀποπλέων, εἶτα ὁ κακοδαίμων ἐν τῇ ἀποβάσει ἀπέθανον ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἕκτορος. ὁ οὖν ἔρως τῆς γυναικὸς οὐ μετρίως ἀποκναίει με, ὦ δέσποτα, καὶ βούλομαι κἂν πρὸς ὀλίγον ὀφθεὶς αὐτῇ καταβῆναι πάλιν.

Πλούτων

οὐκ ἔπιες, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, τὸ Λήθης ὕδωρ;

Πρωτεσίλεως

καὶ μάλα, ὦ δέσποτα· τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμα ὑπέρογκον ἦν.

Πλούτων

οὐκοῦν περίμεινον· ἀφίξεται γὰρ κἀκείνη ποτὲ καὶ οὐδὲ σὲ ἀνελθεῖν δεήσει.

Πρωτεσίλεως

ἀλλʼ οὐ φέρω τὴν διατριβήν, ὦ Πλούτων· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἤδη καὶ οἶσθα οἷον τὸ ἐρᾶν ἐστιν.

Πλούτων

εἶτα τί σε ὀνήσει μίαν ἡμέραν ἀναβιῶναι μετʼ ὀλίγον τὰ αὐτὰ ὀδυρόμενον; 128

Πρωτεσίλεως

οἶμαι πείσειν κἀκείνην ἀκολουθεῖν παρʼ ὑμᾶς, ὥστε ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς δύο νεκροὺς λήψει μετʼ ὀλίγον.

Πλούτων

οὐ θέμις γενέσθαι ταῦτα οὐδὲ γέγονε πώποτε.

Πρωτεσίλεως

ἀναμνήσω σε, ὦ Πλούτων· Ὀρφεῖ γὰρ δι’ αὐτὴν ταύτην τὴν αἰτίαν τὴν Εὐρυδίκην παρέδοτε καὶ τὴν ὁμογενῆ μου Ἄλκηστιν παρεπέμψατε Ἡρακλεῖ χαριζόμενοι.

Πλούτων

θελήσεις δὲ οὕτως κρανίον γυμνὸν ὢν καὶ ἄμορφον τῇ καλῇ σου ἐκείνῃ νύμφῃ φανῆναι; πῶς δὲ κἀκείνη προσήσεταί σε οὐδὲ δυναμένη διαγνῶναι; φοβή σεται γὰρ εὖ οἶδα καὶ φεύξεταί σε καὶ μάτην ἔσῃ τοσαύτην ὁδὸν ἀνεληλυθώς.

Περσεφόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὦ ἄνερ, σὺ καὶ τοῦτο ἴασαι καὶ τὸν Ἑρμῆν κέλευσον, ἐπειδὰν ἐν τῷ φωτὶ ἤδη ὁ Πρωτεσίλαος ᾖ, καθικόμενον ἐν τῇ ῥάβδῳ νεανίαν εὐθὺς καλὸν 429 ἀπεργάσασθαι αὐτόν, οἷος ἦν ἐκ τοῦ παστοῦ.

Πλούτων

ἐπεὶ Φερσεφόνῃ συνδοκεῖ, ἀναγαγὼν τοῦτον αὖθις ποίησον νυμφίον· σὺ δὲ μέμνησο μίαν λαβὼν ἡμέραν.

Νεκρικοὶ διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 23 focus

448 ΑΙΑΝΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΟΝΟΣ

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Εἰ σὺ μανείς, ὠ Αἶαν, σεαυτὸν ἐφόνευσας, ἐμέλλησας δὲ καὶ ἡμᾶς ἅπαντας, τί ¹ αἰτιᾷ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα καὶ πρῴην οὔτε προσέβλεψας αὐτόν, ὁπότε ἧκεν μαντευσόμενος, οὔτε προσειπεῖν ἠξίωσας ἄνδρα συστρατιώτην καὶ ἑταῖρον, ἀλλ’ ὑπεροπτικῶς μεγάλα βαίνων παρῆλθες;

ΑΙΑΣ

Εἰκότως, ὦ Ἀγαμέμνον· αὐτὸς γοῦν μοι τῆς μανίας αἴτιος κατέστη μόνος ἀντεξετασθεὶς ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Ἠξίους δὲ ἀνανταγώνιστος εἶναι καὶ ἀκονιτὶ κρατεῖν ἁπάντων;

449

ΑΙΑΣ

Ναί, τά γε τοιαῦτα· οἰκεία γάρ μοι ἦν ἡ πανοπλία τοῦ ἀνεψιοῦ γε οὖσα. καὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ ἄλλοι πολὺ ἀμείνους ὄντες ἀπείπασθε τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ παρεχωρήσατέ μοι τῶν ἄθλων, ² ὁ δὲ Λαέρτου, ὃν ἐγὼ πολλάκις ἔσωσα κινδυνεύοντα κατακεκόφθαι ὑπὸ τῶν Φρυγῶν, ἀμείνων ἠξίου εἶναι καὶ ἐπιτηδειότερος ἔχειν τὰ ὅπλα.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Αἰτιῶ τοιγαροῦν, ὦ γενναῖε, τὴν Θέτιν, ἣ δέον σοὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν τῶν ὅπλων παραδοῦναι συγγενεῖ γε ὄντι, φέρουσα ἐς τὸ κοινὸν κατέθετο αὐτά.

ΑΙΑΣ

Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα, ὃς ἀντεποιήθη μόνος.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Συγγνώμη, ὦ Αἶαν, εἰ ἄνθρωπος ὢν ὠρέχθη δόξης ἡδίστου πράγματος, ὑπὲρ οὗ καὶ ἡμῶν ἕκαστος κινδυνεύειν ὑπέμενεν, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐκράτησέ σου καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ ³ Τρωσὶ δικασταῖς.

450

ΑΙΑΣ

Οἶδα ἐγώ, ἥτις μου κατεδίκασεν· ἀλλ’ οὐ θέμις λέγειν τι περὶ τῶν θεῶν. τὸν δ’ οὖν Ὀδυσσέα μὴ οὐχὶ μισεῖν οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην, ὦ Ἀγάμεμνον, οὐδ’ εἰ αὐτή μοι ἡ Ἀθηνᾶ τοῦτο ἐπιτάττοι.

Translations (1)

Dialogues of the Dead Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 23 focus

Ajax And Agamemnon

AGAMEMNON

If you went mad, Ajax, and killed only yourself, instead of all of us as you had intended, why do you blame Odysseus? Why wouldn’t you look at him the other day, when he came to consult the prophet, ¹ or even deign to speak to your fellow-soldier and comrade, but went striding past him with your head in the air?

AJAX

And quite right, too, Agamemnon. He was personally to blame for my madness, by being my only rival for the arms. ²

AGAMEMNON

Did you expect to be unopposed and to overcome us all without a struggle?

AJAX

Yes, under the circumstances. The armour belonged to me by natural right, as it was my cousin’s, and the rest of you, though far superior to him, wouldn’t compete, but left the prize for me; the son of Laertes, however, whom I’d often saved when in danger of being cut to pieces by the Phrygians, claimed he was my superior and more deserving of the arms.

AGAMEMNON

Blame Thetis, then, my good man. She ought to have left you the arms as a legacy to a kinsman, but she brought them and delivered them up to the community.

AJAX

No, Odysseus is to blame, as the only one to make a rival claim.

AGAMEMNON

There’s some excuse for him, Ajax, as he’s only a man, and was eager for glory, the sweetest thing of all, the thing for which each of us faced danger, especially as he was judged your better—and, what’s more, by Trojans. ³

AJAX

I know who voted against me, but it’s not right to discuss the gods. However, as far as Odysseus is concerned, I couldn’t stop myself from hating him, even if Athena herself ordered me to do so.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

XXIII

Protesilaus

Pluto

Persephone

Protesilaus Lord, King, our Zeus! and thou, daughter of Demeter! grant a lover’s boon!

Pluto What do you want? who are you?

Protesilaus Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, of Phylace, one of the Achaean host, the first that died at Troy. And the boon I ask is release and one day’s life.

Pluto Ah, friend, that is the love that all these dead men love, and none shall ever win.

Protesilaus Nay, dread lord, ’tis not life I love, but the bride that I left new wedded in my chamber that day I sailed away—ah me, to be slain by Hector as my foot touched land! My lord, that yearning gives me no peace. I return content, if she might look on me but for an hour.

Pluto Did you miss your dose of Lethe, man?

Protesilaus Nay, lord; but this prevailed against it.

Pluto Oh, well, wait a little; she will come to you dne day; it is so simple; no need for you to be going up.

Protesilaus My heart is sick with hope deferred; thou too, O Pluto, hast loved; thou knowest what love is.

Pluto What good will it do you to come to life for a day, and then renew your pains?

Protesilaus I think to win her to come with me, and bring two dead for one.

Pluto It may not be; it never has been.

Protesilaus Bethink thee, Pluto. 'Twas for this same cause that ye gave Orpheus his Eurydice; and Heracles had interest enough to be granted Alcestis; she was of my kin.

Pluto Would you like to present that bare ugly skull to your fair bride? will she admit you, when she cannot tell you from another man? I know well enough; she will be frightened and run from you, and you will have gone all that way for nothing.

Persephone Husband, doctor that disease yourself: tell Hermes, as soon as Protesilaus reaches the light, to touch him with his wand, and make him young and fair as when he left the bridal chamber.

Pluto Well, I cannot refuse a lady. Hermes, take him up and turn him into a bridegroom. But mind, you sir, a strictly temporary one,

Current edition Perseus

Πρωτεσίλεως, Πλούτων, καὶ Περσεφόνη.

Πρωτεσίλεως ὦ δέσποτα καὶ βασιλεῦ καὶ ἡμέτερε Ζεῦ καὶ σὺ Δήμητρος θύγατερ, μὴ ὑπερίδητε δέησιν ἐρωτικήν.

Πλούτων σὺ δὲ τίνων δέῃ παρʼ ἡμῶν; ἢ τίς ὢν τυγχάνεις;

Πλούτων τοῦτον μὲν τὸν ἔρωτα, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, πάντες νεκροὶ ἐρῶσι, πλὴν οὐδεὶς ἂν αὐτῶν τύχοι.

Πλούτων οὐκ ἔπιες, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, τὸ Λήθης ὕδωρ;

Πρωτεσίλεως καὶ μάλα, ὦ δέσποτα· τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμα ὑπέρογκον ἦν.

Πλούτων οὐκοῦν περίμεινον· ἀφίξεται γὰρ κἀκείνη ποτὲ καὶ οὐδὲ σὲ ἀνελθεῖν δεήσει.

Πρωτεσίλεως ἀλλʼ οὐ φέρω τὴν διατριβήν, ὦ Πλούτων· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἤδη καὶ οἶσθα οἷον τὸ ἐρᾶν ἐστιν.

Πλούτων εἶτα τί σε ὀνήσει μίαν ἡμέραν ἀναβιῶναι μετʼ ὀλίγον τὰ αὐτὰ ὀδυρόμενον; 128

Πρωτεσίλεως οἶμαι πείσειν κἀκείνην ἀκολουθεῖν παρʼ ὑμᾶς, ὥστε ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς δύο νεκροὺς λήψει μετʼ ὀλίγον.

Πλούτων οὐ θέμις γενέσθαι ταῦτα οὐδὲ γέγονε πώποτε.

Πλούτων ἐπεὶ Φερσεφόνῃ συνδοκεῖ, ἀναγαγὼν τοῦτον αὖθις ποίησον νυμφίον· σὺ δὲ μέμνησο μίαν λαβὼν ἡμέραν.

448 ΑΙΑΝΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΟΝΟΣ

ΑΙΑΣ Εἰκότως, ὦ Ἀγαμέμνον· αὐτὸς γοῦν μοι τῆς μανίας αἴτιος κατέστη μόνος ἀντεξετασθεὶς ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ Ἠξίους δὲ ἀνανταγώνιστος εἶναι καὶ ἀκονιτὶ κρατεῖν ἁπάντων;

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ Αἰτιῶ τοιγαροῦν, ὦ γενναῖε, τὴν Θέτιν, ἣ δέον σοὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν τῶν ὅπλων παραδοῦναι συγγενεῖ γε ὄντι, φέρουσα ἐς τὸ κοινὸν κατέθετο αὐτά.

ΑΙΑΣ Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα, ὃς ἀντεποιήθη μόνος.

Ajax And Agamemnon

AJAX And quite right, too, Agamemnon. He was personally to blame for my madness, by being my only rival for the arms. 2

AGAMEMNON Did you expect to be unopposed and to overcome us all without a struggle?

AGAMEMNON Blame Thetis, then, my good man. She ought to have left you the arms as a legacy to a kinsman, but she brought them and delivered them up to the community.

AJAX No, Odysseus is to blame, as the only one to make a rival claim.

AGAMEMNON There’s some excuse for him, Ajax, as he’s only a man, and was eager for glory, the sweetest thing of all, the thing for which each of us faced danger, especially as he was judged your better—and, what’s more, by Trojans. 3

AJAX I know who voted against me, but it’s not right to discuss the gods. However, as far as Odysseus is concerned, I couldn’t stop myself from hating him, even if Athena herself ordered me to do so.

Stable identifiers

Protesilaus

Lord, King, our Zeus! and thou, daughter of Demeter! grant a lover’s boon!

Pluto

What do you want? who are you?

Protesilaus

Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, of Phylace, one of the Achaean host, the first that died at Troy. And the boon I ask is release and one day’s life.

Pluto

Ah, friend, that is the love that all these dead men love, and none shall ever win.

Protesilaus

Nay, dread lord, ’tis not life I love, but the bride that I left new wedded in my chamber that day I sailed away—ah me, to be slain by Hector as my foot touched land! My lord, that yearning gives me no peace. I return content, if she might look on me but for an hour.

Pluto

Did you miss your dose of Lethe, man?

Protesilaus

Nay, lord; but this prevailed against it.

Pluto

Oh, well, wait a little; she will come to you dne day; it is so simple; no need for you to be going up.

Protesilaus

My heart is sick with hope deferred; thou too, O Pluto, hast loved; thou knowest what love is.

Pluto

What good will it do you to come to life for a day, and then renew your pains?

Protesilaus

I think to win her to come with me, and bring two dead for one.

Pluto

It may not be; it never has been.

Protesilaus

Bethink thee, Pluto. 'Twas for this same cause that ye gave Orpheus his Eurydice; and Heracles had interest enough to be granted Alcestis; she was of my kin.

Pluto

Would you like to present that bare ugly skull to your fair bride? will she admit you, when she cannot tell you from another man? I know well enough; she will be frightened and run from you, and you will have gone all that way for nothing.

Persephone

Husband, doctor that disease yourself: tell Hermes, as soon as Protesilaus reaches the light, to touch him with his wand, and make him young and fair as when he left the bridal chamber.

Pluto

Well, I cannot refuse a lady. Hermes, take him up and turn him into a bridegroom. But mind, you sir, a strictly temporary one,

Πρωτεσίλεως

ὦ δέσποτα καὶ βασιλεῦ καὶ ἡμέτερε Ζεῦ καὶ σὺ Δήμητρος θύγατερ, μὴ ὑπερίδητε δέησιν ἐρωτικήν.

Πλούτων

σὺ δὲ τίνων δέῃ παρʼ ἡμῶν; ἢ τίς ὢν τυγχάνεις;

Πλούτων

τοῦτον μὲν τὸν ἔρωτα, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, πάντες νεκροὶ ἐρῶσι, πλὴν οὐδεὶς ἂν αὐτῶν τύχοι.

Πλούτων

οὐκ ἔπιες, ὦ Πρωτεσίλαε, τὸ Λήθης ὕδωρ;

Πρωτεσίλεως

καὶ μάλα, ὦ δέσποτα· τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμα ὑπέρογκον ἦν.

Πλούτων

οὐκοῦν περίμεινον· ἀφίξεται γὰρ κἀκείνη ποτὲ καὶ οὐδὲ σὲ ἀνελθεῖν δεήσει.

Πρωτεσίλεως

ἀλλʼ οὐ φέρω τὴν διατριβήν, ὦ Πλούτων· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἤδη καὶ οἶσθα οἷον τὸ ἐρᾶν ἐστιν.

Πλούτων

εἶτα τί σε ὀνήσει μίαν ἡμέραν ἀναβιῶναι μετʼ ὀλίγον τὰ αὐτὰ ὀδυρόμενον; 128

Πρωτεσίλεως

οἶμαι πείσειν κἀκείνην ἀκολουθεῖν παρʼ ὑμᾶς, ὥστε ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς δύο νεκροὺς λήψει μετʼ ὀλίγον.

Πλούτων

οὐ θέμις γενέσθαι ταῦτα οὐδὲ γέγονε πώποτε.

Πλούτων

ἐπεὶ Φερσεφόνῃ συνδοκεῖ, ἀναγαγὼν τοῦτον αὖθις ποίησον νυμφίον· σὺ δὲ μέμνησο μίαν λαβὼν ἡμέραν.

ΑΙΑΣ

Εἰκότως, ὦ Ἀγαμέμνον· αὐτὸς γοῦν μοι τῆς μανίας αἴτιος κατέστη μόνος ἀντεξετασθεὶς ἐπὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις.

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Ἠξίους δὲ ἀνανταγώνιστος εἶναι καὶ ἀκονιτὶ κρατεῖν ἁπάντων;

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ

Αἰτιῶ τοιγαροῦν, ὦ γενναῖε, τὴν Θέτιν, ἣ δέον σοὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν τῶν ὅπλων παραδοῦναι συγγενεῖ γε ὄντι, φέρουσα ἐς τὸ κοινὸν κατέθετο αὐτά.

ΑΙΑΣ

Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα, ὃς ἀντεποιήθη μόνος.

AJAX

And quite right, too, Agamemnon. He was personally to blame for my madness, by being my only rival for the arms. ²

AGAMEMNON

Did you expect to be unopposed and to overcome us all without a struggle?

AGAMEMNON

Blame Thetis, then, my good man. She ought to have left you the arms as a legacy to a kinsman, but she brought them and delivered them up to the community.

AJAX

No, Odysseus is to blame, as the only one to make a rival claim.

AGAMEMNON

There’s some excuse for him, Ajax, as he’s only a man, and was eager for glory, the sweetest thing of all, the thing for which each of us faced danger, especially as he was judged your better—and, what’s more, by Trojans. ³

AJAX

I know who voted against me, but it’s not right to discuss the gods. However, as far as Odysseus is concerned, I couldn’t stop myself from hating him, even if Athena herself ordered me to do so.