Sir Richard C. Jebb Commentary on Sophocles: Trachiniae 3

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Commentary on Sophocles: Trachiniae. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. 1932.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 141 focus
πεπυσμένη μέν, ὡς ἀπεικάσai, πάρει
πάθημα τοὐμόν· ὡς δ᾽ ἐγὼ θυμοφθορῶ
140
μήτ᾽ ἐκμάθοις παθοῦσα, νῦν δ᾽ ἄπειρος εἶ.
τὸ γὰρ νεάζον ἐν τοιοῖσδε βόσκεται
χώροισιν αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁὐτοῦ αὑτοῦ, καί νιν οὐ θάλπος θεοῦ,
οὐδ᾽ ὄμβρος, οὐδὲ πνευμάτων οὐδὲν οὐδέν κλονεῖ κλονεῖ(ν) κλονεῖ,
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.
ἀνολολύξατε δόμοις ἀνολολύξετε δόμοις ἀνολολύξατε, δόμοις ἀνολολύζετε δόμοις
205
ἐφεστίοις ἀλαλαγαῖς ἀλαλαῖσ ἀλαλαγαῖς
ὁρῶ, φίλαι γυναῖκες, οὐδέ μ᾿ ὄμματος
φρουρὰν φρουρά φρουρὰν παρῆλθε τόνδε μὴ λεύσσειν λεύσειν λεύσσειν στόλον στόλον·
χαίρειν δὲ τὸν κήρυκα προὐννέπω, χρόνῳ
225
πολλῷ φανέντα, χαρτὸν εἴ τι καὶ φέρεις φέρει.
οὐκ οὐκὶ, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν πλεῖστον ἐν Λυδοῖς χρόνον
κατείχεθ᾽, ὥς φησ᾿ ὡσ φηὶσ᾽ ὥς φησ᾿ αὐτός, οὐκ ἐλεύθερος,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐμποληθείς, τοῦ λόγου δ' οὐ χρὴ φθόνον,
250
ὡς ἵκετ᾽ ἵκετ' αὖθις Ιφιτος Τιρυνθίαν
270
πρὸς κλιτύν, ἵππους νομάδας ἐξιχνοσκοπῶν,
τότ᾽ ἄλλοσ᾽ αὐτὸν ὄμμα, θἀτέρᾳ θἠτέραι δὲ νοῦν
ἔχοντ᾽, ἀπ᾿ ἄκρας ἦκε πυργώδους πλακός.
ἄνασσα, νῦν σοι τέρψις ἐμφανὴς κυρεῖ,
τῶν μὲν παρόντων, τὰ δὲ τῶν δὲ πεπυσμένῃ λόγῳ.
τί δ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἐγώ; τί δ᾽ ἄν με καὶ κρίνοις κεκρίνοις καὶ κρίνοις; ἴσως
αὐτοῦ γε πρῶτον βαιὸν ἀμμείνασ᾽, ὅπως
335
μάθῃς, ἄνευ τῶνδ᾽, οὕστινάς τ' om. γ' ἄγεις ἔσω,
τούτου λέγοντος τἀνδρὸς εἰσήκουσ᾽ ἐγώ,
πολλῶν παρόντων μαρτύρων, ὡς τῆς κόρης
ταύτης ἕκατι κεῖνος Εὔρυτόν εὔροιτόν εὔρυτόν θ᾽ ἕλοι
τήν θ᾽ ὑψίπυργον Οἰχαλίαν,῎Ερως δέ νιν
μόνος θεῶν θέλξειεν αἰχμάσαι τάδε,
355
—οὐ τ ἀπὶ a Λυδοῖς οὐδ᾽ οὔτ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ Ὀμφάλῃ πόνων
λατρεύματ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ιφίτου μόρος·
—ὃν νῦν παρώσας οὗτος ἔμπαλιν λέγει.
ἀλλ᾽ ἡνίκ οὐκ ἔπειθε τὸν φυτοσπόρον
οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῦ ποτ' εἰμὶ πράγματος;
375
τίν εἰσδέδεγμαι πημονὴν ὑπόστεγον
λαθραῖον ; ὦ δύστηνος, ἆρ᾽ ἀνώνυμος
πέφυκεν, ὥσπερ οὑπάγων οὗπαγων διώμνυτο ;
τί χρή, γύναι, μολόντα μ᾿ Ηρακλεῖ ει from ηι Ἡρακλεῖ λέγειν ;
δίδαξον, ὡς ἕρποντος εἰσορᾶς ἐμοῦ.
μή, πρός σε πρὸς σὲ πρὸς σὺ τοῦ κατ᾿ ἄκρον Οἰταῖον νάπος
Διὸς καταστράπτοντος, ἐκκλέψῃς λόγον.
οὐ γὰρ γυναικὶ τοὺς λόγους ἐρεῖς κακῇ,
οὐδ᾽ ἥτις οὐ κάτοιδε τἀνθρώπων, ὅτι
χαίρειν πέφυκεν οὐχὶ τοῖς τοι τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀεί.
440
Ἔρωτι μέν νυν μεν.. ῦν μεν νῦν μὲν νῦν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται
πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ.
οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει,
κἀμοῦ γε· πῶς δ᾽ οὐ χἀτέρας, οἵας γ᾿ ἐμοῦ;
ὥστ᾽ εἴ τι τώμῷ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ om. add τἀνδρὶ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ τῇδε τῇ νόσῳ
445
ληφθέντι μεμπτός εἰμι μεμπτὸσ εἰμὶ μεμπτός εἰμι, κάρτα μαίνομαι,
πείθου λεγούσῃ λέγουσι λεγούσῃ χρηστά, κοὐ μέμψει χρόνῳ
470
γυναικὶ τῇδε τῇδε τῆδε, κἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ κτήσει χάριν.
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 141-204 focus
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 141 focus
I see you have been told of my distress,
And that hath brought you. But my inward woe,
Be it evermore unknown to you, as now!
Such the fair garden of untrammeled ease
Where the young life grows safely. No fierce heat,
No rain, no wind disturbs it, but unharmed
It rises amid airs of peace and joy,
Till maiden turn to matron, and the night
140
Inherit her dark share of anxious thought,
140
Haunted with fears for husband or for child.
140
Then, imaged through her own calamity,
140
Some one may guess the burden of my life.
140
Full many have been the sorrows I have wept,
140
But one above the rest I tell to-day.
When my great husband parted last from home,
He left within the house an ancient scroll
Inscribed with characters of mystic note,
Which Heracles had never heretofore,
In former labours, cared to let me see,—
As bound for bright achievement, not for death.
But now, as though his life had end, he told
What marriage-portion I must keep, what shares
He left his sons out of their father’s ground:
And set a time, when fifteen moons were spent,
Counted from his departure, that even then
Or he must die, or if that date were out
And he had run beyond it, he should live
Thenceforth a painless and untroubled life.
Such by Heaven’s fiat was the promised end
Of Heracles’ long labours, as he said;
So once the ancient oak-tree had proclaimed
In high Dodona through the sacred Doves.
Of which prediction on this present hour
In destined order of accomplishment
The veritable issue doth depend.
And I, dear friends, while taking rest, will oft
Start from sweet slumbers with a sudden fear,
Scared by the thought, my life may be bereft
Of the best husband in the world of men.
Garlanded, as if laden with good news.
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.
With a shout by the hearth let the palace roof ring
205
From those that are dreaming of bridal, and ye,
205
Young men, let your voices in harmony sing
205
To the God of the quiver, the Lord of the free!
205
And the Paean withal from the maiden band
205
To Artemis, huntress of many a land,
205
Let it rise o’er the glad roof tree,
205
To Phoebus’ own sister, with fire in each hand,
205
And the Nymphs that her co-mates be!
205
My spirit soars. O sovereign of my soul!
205
I will accept the thrilling flute’s control.
The ivy-crownèd thyrsus, see!
With Bacchic fire is kindling me,
And turns my emulous tread
Where’er the mazy dance may lead.
Euoî! Euoî!
O Paean! send us joy.
See, dearest Queen, behold!
Before thy gaze the event will now unfold.
Think not mine eye hath kept such careless guard,
Dear maids, that I could miss this moving train.
Herald, I bid thee hail, although so late
225
Appearing, if thou bringest health with thee!
Not so. The greater while he was detained
Among the Lydians, sold, as he declares,
To bondage. Nor be jealous of the word,
Since Heaven, my Queen, was author of the deed.
Enthrallèd so to Asian Omphalè,
He, as himself avers, fulfilled his year.
The felt reproach whereof so chafed his soul,
He bound fierce curses on himself and sware
That,—children, wife and all,—he yet would bring
In captive chains the mover of this harm.
Nor did this perish like an idle word,
But, when the stain was off him, straight he drew
Allied battalions to assault the town
Of Eurytus, whom, sole of earthly powers,
He had noted as the source of his annoy,
Because, having received him in his hall
A guest of ancient days, he burst on him
With outrage of loud voice and villanous mind,
Saying, ‘with his hand upon the unerring bow,
Oechalia’s princes could o’ershoot his skill;
And born to bondage, he must quail beneath
His overlord’; lastly, to crown this cry,
When at a banquet he was filled with wine,
He flung him out of door. Whereat being wroth,
When Iphitus to the Tirynthian height
Followed the track where his brood-mares had strayed,
He, while the thought and eye of the man by chance
Were sundered, threw him from the tower-crowned cliff.
In anger for which deed the Olympian King,
Father of Gods and men, delivered him
To be a bond-slave, nor could brook the offence,
That of all lives he vanquished, this alone
Should have been ta’en by guile. For had he wrought
250
In open quittance of outrageous wrong,
250
Even Zeus had granted that his cause was just.
250
The braggart hath no favour even in Heaven.
250
Whence they, o’erweening with their evil tongue,
250
Are now all dwellers in the house of death,
250
Their ancient city a captive;—but these women
250
Whom thou beholdest, from their blest estate
250
Brought suddenly to taste of piteous woe,
250
Come to thy care. This task thy wedded lord
250
Ordained, and I, his faithful minister,
250
Seek to perform. But, for his noble self,
250
When with pure hands he hath done sacrifice
250
To his Great Father for the victory given,
250
Look for his coming, lady. This last word
250
Of all my happy speech is far most sweet.
250
Now surety of delight is thine, my Queen,
Part by report and part before thine eye.
What know I? Why should’st thou demand? Perchance
Not lowest in the list of souls there born.
Pause first there on the threshold, till you learn
335
(Apart from those) who ’tis you take within,
335
And more besides that you yet know not of,
335
Which deeply imports your knowing. Of all this
I throughly am informed.
I heard this herald say, while many thronged
To hearken, that this maiden was the cause,
Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord
Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone
Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise,
And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks
Of rigorous Omphalè, nor that wild fate
Of rock-thrown Iphitus. Now he thrusts aside
The Love-god, contradicting his first tale.
When he that was her sire could not be brought
To yield the maid for Heracles to hold
In love unrecognized, he framed erelong
A feud about some trifle, and set forth
355
In arms against this damsel’s fatherland
355
(Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king)
355
And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked
Their city. Now returning, as you see,
He sends her hither to his halls, no slave,
Nor unregarded, lady,—dream not so!
Since all his heart is kindled with desire.
I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all
The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth,
Which many heard as well as I, i’ the midst
Of Trachis’ market-place, and can confirm
My witness. I am pained if my plain speech
Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell.
Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen?
375
What hidden woe have I unwarily
Taken beneath my roof? O misery!
Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?
What message must I carry to my lord?
Tell me, my Queen. I am going, as thou seest.
Nay, I entreat thee by His name, whose fire
Lightens down Oeta’s topmost glen, be not
A niggard of the truth. Thou tell’st thy tale
To no weak woman, but to one who knows
Mankind are never constant to one joy.
Whoso would buffet Love, aspires in vain.
For Love leads even Immortals at his will,
And me. Then how not others, like to me?
’Twere madness, sure, in me to blame my lord
When this hath caught him, or the woman there,
His innocent accomplice in a thing,
No shame to either, and no harm to me.
It is not so. But if from him thou learnest
440
The lore of falsehood, it were best unlearnt;
440
Or if the instruction comes of thine own thought,
440
Such would-be kindness doth not prove thee kind.
Then tell me all the truth. To one free-born
The name of liar is a hateful lot.
And thou canst not be hid. Thy news was heard
By many, who will tell me. If thou fearest,
Thou hast no cause—for doubtfulness is pain,
But to know all, what harm? His loves ere now
Were they not manifold? And none hath borne
Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not,
Though his new passion were as strong as death;
Since most mine eye hath pitied her, because
Her beauty was the ruin of her life,
445
And all unweeting, she her own bright land,
445
Poor hapless one! hath ravaged and enslaved.—
445
Let that be as it must. But for thy part,
Though false to others, be still true to me.
’Tis fairly said. Comply. Thou ne’er wilt blame
470
Her faithfulness, and thou wilt earn our loves.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 141 focus
Du kamst hieher, vermuth' ich, weil dir Kunde ward
135
Von meiner Drangsal: aber wie's mein Herz verzehrt,
Das mögst du niemals fühlen; noch erfuhrst du's nicht.
Denn also weidet frisch und froh die Jugend sich
Aus eignen Fluren; nicht des Sonnengottes Glut,
Kein Regen, keines Sturmes Hauch erschüttert sie;
140
Nein, mühelos in Wonnen lebt sie stolz dahin,
Bis endlich Eine, statt der Jungfrau Weib genannt,
Von nächtlich banger Sorgenlast ihr Theil empfängt,
Und um die Kinder und den Mann sich ängsten muß.
Und diese mag dann, blickend auf das eigne Loos,
145
Erkennen, welches Ungemach mich niederdrückt.
Ich weinte wohl schon über manches Mißgeschick;
Doch eines, dem kein früh'res gleicht, verkünd' ich jezt.
Denn als zu dieser lezten Fahrt der Herrscher sich
Erhob vom Hause, Herakles, da ließ er mir
150
Ein altes Täflein hier zurück mit schriftlichen
Geboten, die er früherhin, so oft er auch
Auszog zum Kampfe, nimmerdar mir offenbart;
Denn wie zu Thaten zog er, nicht zum Sterben, aus.
Doch jezt, als wär' er schon dahin, bestimmt' er, was
155
Mein Wittwengut sein solle, sagte, welches Theil
Des Vaterreiches jedem Kind er ausgesezt:
Zugleich erklärt er, wann er nach drei Monden Zeit
Und eines Jahrs Umlaufe nicht zurückgekehrt,
So sei zu sterben ihm verhängt in dieser Frist;
160
Doch, überschreit' er dieser Zeit bestimmtes Ziel,
Dann fließe fortan ohne Harm sein Leben hin.
So würden, sprach er, alle Müh'n des Herakles
Dereinst ihr Ende finden nach der Götter Schluß,
Wie's aus der Eiche greisem Stamm ihm ehedem 1
165
Im Hain Dodona's kundgethan der Tauben Paar.
Des Spruches Wahrheit, wie er sich erfüllen muß,
Wird jezt, in diesen Tagen, sich bestätigen.
Darum, Geliebte, fahr' ich oft aus süßem Schlaf
Empor, in Furcht erbebend, daß ich leben soll,
170
Nachdem der Helden bester mir entrissen ward.
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.
Jubelnd ertöne der Gesang
Ich seh' es, liebe Frauen, seh' ihn hier, den Zug,
Und meines Auges treuer Wacht entging er nicht.
220
Willkommen, Herold! ruf' ich, der nach langer Zeit
Willkommen nahte, wenn du mir Willkomm'nes bringst.
Mit nichten: meistens ward er fern in Lydia
Gehalten, nicht als freier Mann, so sagt er selbst,
Nein, als verkaufter Sklave. Doch darf keinen Groll
Dies Wort, o Frau, dir wecken, weil Zeus solches that.
245
Verhandelt einem fremden Weib, der Omphale,
(Erzählt er selber,) fröhnt' er ihr ein volles Jahr;
Und also nagte dieser Schimpf am Herzen ihm,
Daß er sich selber einen Eid' auflegt' und schwur,
Den Schnöden, der ihm dieses Leids Urheber sei,
250
Als Knecht dereinst zu fesseln, ihn mit Kind und Weib.
Nicht eitle Drohung war es; nein, sobald er sich
Gesühnt, so führt' er vor die Burg des Eurytos
Ein Heer von Söldnern; denn er sagte, der allein
Von allen Menschen trage Schuld an diesem Leid;
255
Der habe, wie Herakles ihn an seinem Herd
Als alter Gastfreund heimgesucht, mit Worten oft,
Und oft mit unheilvollem Sinn ihn aufgereizt;
So prahlt' er, unentfliehbar sei wohl sein Geschoß,
Doch steh' er seinen Söhnen nach im Bogenkampf;
260
Er müsse, rief er, als der Knecht dem freien Mann
Sich beugen. Dann bei'm Mahle warf er ihn hinaus,
Den Weinberauschten. Drob ergrimmt' Herakles, und,
Als Iphitos zu Tiryns' Hügel wiederum
Hinkam, der Spur verirrter Stuten nachzuspäh'n,
265
Da stürzt er diesen, der das Aug' hierher, den Sinn
Dorthin gewandt, vom hochgethürmten Fels hinab.
Ob dieser Unthat grollte Zeus, der Herrscher, ihm,
Der Vater Aller, thronend auf Olympos' Höh'n,
Verkauft' in ferne Länder ihn und trug es nicht,
270
Daß er von allen Menschen ihn allein mit List
Getödtet. Rächt' er offen sich, ihm hätte Zeus
Vergeben, weil er Rache nahm mit vollem Recht.
Denn frechen Hochmuth lieben auch die Götter nicht.
Doch jene, die mit böser Zunge sich gebläht,
275
Sie wohnen nun im Hades allzumal, die Stadt
Versank in Knechtschaft; die du hier erblickst, die Frau'n,
Die tief in Unheil stürzten aus des Glückes Höh'n,
Sie nahen dir. Denu also hat es dein Gemahl
Geboten; ich, sein treuer Diener, richt' es aus.
280
Er selbst, sobald er für den Sieg der Opfer Dank,
Die frommen Gaben dargebracht dem Vater Zeus,
Wird hier erscheinen, zweifle nicht; dies lezte Wort
Tönt unter vielen schönen wohl am süßesten.
Nun lacht, o Fürstin, offenbar die Freude dir,
285
Da diese hier sind und du hörst dies frohe Wort.
Was weiß denn ich? Wie magst du mich auch fragen? Wohl
Nicht aus dem lezten Hause dort entstammte sie.
Erst harre noch hier außen eine Weile, daß
Du hörst, von diesen ferne, wen du führst hinein,
330
Und was du nicht vernahmest und doch wissen mußt.
Denn über alles dieses bin ich wohl belehrt.
Aus jenes Mannes Munde selbst vernahm ich es
345
In vieler Zeugen Gegenwart, daß Herakles
Um dieser Jungfrau willen nur den Eurytos
Und dessen stolze Veste zwang, daß Eros ihn
Allein von allen Göttern lockt' in solchen Kampf,
Nicht Lydien oder Omphale's mühvoller Dienst,
350
Auch nicht der jähe Todessturz des Iphitos;
Und nun verwirst er's und erklärt das Gegentheil.
Nein, als Herakles nicht bewog den Eurytos,
Die Tochter heimlich als Gemahl ihm anzutraun :
Da bringt er eitle Klage vor um kleine Schuld,
355
Und rückte wider ihre Stadt mit Heeresmacht,
Wo, wie du hörtest, Eurytos den Thron besaß,
Erschlug den König, ihren Vater, und zerstört
Die Stadt. Und heute kehrt er, wie du siehst, zurück,
In dieses Haus sie sendend, nicht mit Unbedacht,
360
Noch als die Sklavin; das erwarte nicht, o Frau;
Wie wär' es möglich, wenn ihn Liebesglut entflammt?
Ich glaubte sorgsam Alles dir, o Königin,
Kundthun zu müssen, was ich hört aus seinem Mund.
Und dies vernahmen Viele noch zugleich mit mir
365
Auf offnem Markt in Trachis; diese mögen ihn
Wohl überführen. Sag' ich Unerfreuliches,
Es thut mir wehe; doch die Wahrheit sprach ich aus.
Was ist mit mir geschehen? Ich Unselige!
Ha, welch Verderben nahm ich unter dieses Dach
370
Unwissend auf? Grauen! Also namenlos
War sie geboren, wie der Herold mir beschwor?
Was meld' ich, Herrin, komm' ich dort zu Herakles?
Laß hören; fertig siehst du mich zur Wanderung.
Ich flehe dir bei'm Gotte, der auf waldigen
Felshöh'n des Oeta donnert, nicht verhehle mir's.
Denn keinem niedern Weibe sagst du solches Wort,
Noch Einer, die nicht wüßte, daß im Leben nicht
Denselben Menschen immerdar die Freude lacht.
435
Wer nun dem Eros Widerstand zu bieten wagt,
Faustkämpfern gleich, mit Händen, ist ein arger Thor.
Denn er beherrscht auch Götter, wie es ihm gefällt,
Und mich: warum nicht Andre, die mir gleichen, auch?
So wär' ich wohl von Sinnen, wenn ich meinem Mann
440
Groll hegte, daß ihn dieses Weh' ergriffen hat,
Und dieser Jungfrau, welche Nichts verschuldete,
Was sie verunehrt oder was mich kränken kanu.
Nicht also thu' ich! Aber wenn dich jener so
Die Lüge lehrte, lerntest du nichts Nühmliches:
445
Und wenn du hier dein eigner Lehrer bist, so wirst
Du schlecht erscheinen, wo du redlich heißen willst.
Sprich denn die Wahrheit offen aus; dem Freien hängt
Des Lügners Name schmählich als ein Flecken an.
Und mir's zu hehlen, das gelingt dir nimmermehr;
450
Denn Viele, denen du's vertraut, die sagen mir's.
Und wenn dir bangt, so bangt dir ohne Grund, indem,
Es nicht erfahren, mich allein betrüben kann.
Doch Wissen, kann das schaden? Hat nicht Herakles,
Der eine Mann, viel' andre Weiber schon gefreit?
455
Und keine noch aus diesen hat ein böses Wort
Noch Hohn von mir erduldet: ihr auch groll' ich nicht,
Und mag er auch in heißer Liebe glüh'n um sie;
Auf ihr ja ruht vor Allen mitleidvoll mein Blick,
Weil ihr die Schönheit mordet', ach! des Lebens Glück,
460
Und sie das Land der Väter nicht nach eigner Wahl
In Noth und Knechtschaft stürzte. Doch das ziehe hin
Mit guten Winden! Aber dir bedeut' ich: sei
Unwahr für Andre, gegen mich stets ohne Falsch!
Sie sprach die Wahrheit, folge denn; nie wirst du dann
465
Die Herrin tadeln, und von mir erwirbst du Dank.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 141 focus
The fame, it seems, of Deianira's woes
Hatli reached thine ears, but oh ! thou little knowst
What 1 have suffered ! Thou hast never felt
Sorrows like mine. And long may be the time
Ere sad experience shall aftiict thy soul
With equal woes ! Alas ! the youthful maid
In flowery pastures still exulting feeds,
Nor feels the scorching sun, the wintry storm,
140
Or blast of angry
140
Secure she leads
140
A life of pleasure, void of every care,
140
Till to the virgin's happy state succeeds
140
The name of wife. Tlien shall her portion come
140
Of pain and anguish, then her terrors rise
For husband and for children. Then perchance
You too may know what 'tis to be unhappy,
And judge of my misfortunes by your own.
Long since oppressed by many a bitter woe
Oft have 1 wept, but this transcends them all ;
For I will tell thee, when Abides last
Forth on his journey went, he left behind
An ancient scroll. Alas ! before that time
In all his labours he did never use
To speak as one who thought of death — secure
Always he seemed of victory ; but now
This writing marks, as if he were to die,
The portion out reserved for me, and wills
Ilis children to divide th' inheritance ;
Fixes the time, in fifteen moons, it saj^s.
He should return. That past or he must perish,
Or, if he 'scape the fatal houi", thenceforth
Should lead a life of happiness and joy :
Thus had the gods, it said, decreed his life
And toils should end : so from their ancient beach
Dodona's doves foretold. Th' appointed hour
Approaehes that must bring th' event, e'en now,
My friends, and therefore nightly do I start
From my sweet slumbers, struck with deadly fear.
Lest I should lose the dearest, best of men.
A messenger, who bears (for on his brow
Deianika, Attendant, Chorus.
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.
Chorus.
And therefore shall our words deserve thy praise.
O thou dear messenger ! Inform me first
What first I wish to know, my loved Alcides,
Doth he yet live — shall I again behold him?
Lie. I left him well. In health and manly strength
Exulting.
Ill CEchalia then
Hath my Alcides been this long, long time?
Lie. Not so : in Lydia (as himself reports)
Was he detained a slave. So Jove ordained ;
And who shall blame the high decrees of Jove ?
Sold to barbarian Omphale, he served
Twelve tedious months ; ill brooked he the foul shame.
Then in his wrath he made a solemn vow
He would revenge the wrong on the base author,
And bind in chains his >vife and all his race :
Nor fruitless the resolve, for when the year
Of slavery past had expiated the crime
Imputed, soon with gathered force he mai'ched
'Gainst the devoted Eurytus, the cause
Within his palace he had erst received
Alcides, but with bitterest taunts reviled him,
Boasting, in spite of his all-conquering arrows,
His son's superior skill, and Siiid a slave
Like him should bend beneath a freeman's power ;
Then, midst the banquet's mirth, inflamed with wine,
Cast forth his ancient guest. This to revenge
When Iphitus to search his pastured steeds
Came to Tyrinthia, Hercules surprised,
And, as he turned his wandering eyes aside.
Hurled headlong from the mountain's top. Great Jov
Father of men, from high Olympus saw
And disapproved the deed, unworthy him
Who ne'er before by fraud destroyed his foes ;
With open force had he revenged the wrong
Jove had forgiven, but violence concealed
250
The gods abhoi-, and therefore was he sold
250
To slavery. Eurytus' unhappy sons
250
Were punished too, and dwell in Erebus ;
250
Their city is destroyed, and they, whom here
250
Thou seest, from freedom and prosperity.
250
Reduced to wretchedness. To thee they come,
250
Such was Alcides' will ; which I, his slave.
250
Have faithfully performed. Himself ere long
250
Thou shalt behold, whon to paternal Jove
250
He hath fultilled his vows. Thus my long tale
250
Ends with the welcomest news which thou couklst
250
hear :
250
Alcides comes !
250
O queen ! thy happiness
Is great indeed, to see these slav^es before thee,
And know thy lord approaches.
The royal race
Of Eurytus?
Lie. 1 know not, nor did e'er
Inquire.
Stay thee awhile. I have a tale to tell
335
Touching these captives, which imports thee nearly,
335
And I alone am able to inform thee.
I heard him say, before attendant crowds,
It was 4.his virgin, this fair slave destroyed
That waged the war — no Lydian servitude,
Nor Omphale, nor the pretended fall
Of Iphytus — for so the tale he brings
Would fain persuade thee. Know, thy own Alcides,
For that he could not gain th' assenting voice
Of Eurytus to his unlawful love,
Laid waste the city where her father reigned,
355
And slew him. Now the daughter, as a slave,
Is sent to thee. The reason is too plain :
Nor think he meant her for a slave alone —
The maid he loves, that would be strange indeed !
My royal mistress, most unwillingly
Do I report th' unwelcome news, but thought
It was my duty : I have told the truth.
Wretch that I am ! To what am I reserved?
375
What hidden pestilence within my roof
375
Have I received unknowing ! Hapless woman !
She seemed of beauteous form and noble birth ;
Have you not heard her name? for Lichas said
He knew it not.
Her name lole ; he had not inquired
Touching her race.
Perdition on the man,
Of all most wicked, who hath thus deceived thee !
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
Assembled multitudes. The citizens
Lie. They might say they heard
Reports like these. But must it therefore seem
A truth undoubted?
Seem "? Didst thou not swear
470
That thou hadst brought this woman to partake
470
The bed of my Alcides ?
470
Lie. Did I say so?
But tell me who this stranger is.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 141 focus
Inform'd, I ween, of my afflictions thou
Art present here: what anguish rends my heart
May'st thou ne'er know by suffering; thou as yet
Art inexperienc'd. Youth at random roves
O'er its own flow'ry fields; nor scorching heat
Nor show'r annoys it, nor the noxious force
Of boisterous winds; in pleasures it supports
A life that knows not trouble, till the name
140
Of virgin now is lost in that of wife:
140
Then first she shares anxiety; the night
140
Then for her husband bids her wake to fears,
140
Or for her children; then she may be taught
140
By her own feelings what th' oppressive woe
140
That weighs me down. My tears have often flow'd
140
For many sufferings; but my present griefe
Springs from such cause as never rose before;
This I will tell thee. When my royal lord
On his last emprize issued from his house,
He left with me a writing of old date,
His mandates, which before when marching forth
To many contests he forbore to show,.!
But went as to o'ercome, and not to die.
But now, as to return no more, he gave
In charge what portion for my nuptial dow'r
I should receive, and to his sons assign'd do
To each his share of his paternal land and N
Nay, he the time determined; from these realms
Beyond the complete year three waining moons/
Should he be absent, then the fates required
That he must die; the dangers of that timeo
Should he surmount, then all his future life!
Will pass unshaded with affliction's cloud,
To all the toils of Hercules, he said,
Such is the period by the gods assign'd;
Thus at Dodona the prophetic Doves
Gave from their ancient beech the voice of fate.
These truths are certain, and the present time
Gives dreadful expectation of th' event;
So that, loved virgins, from sweet sleep I start,
Distracted with my fears lest I remain
Now of the noblest of mankind bereaved.
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.
I see, loved virgins, yes, my watchful eye,
205
Not faithless to its office, sees this train.
Herald, to joy I welcome thee, though late
Be thy arrival, if thou bring'st me joy.
No: but in Lydia he was long detain'd
Not free, such his account, but sold a slave.
We should not censure, Lady, what appears
Wrought by the hand of Jove. Betray'd, and sold
To the barbaric Omphale, he pass'd...
One tedious year a slave: but the disgrace
So stung his noble soul, that with an oath
He vow'd the author of this wrong, his wife,
And children should be slaves; nor vow'd in vain;
But, expiation made, with social hosts
Vengeful he march'd against the rampired walls
Of Eurytus, for him of all mankind
Alone he deem'd the cause of his disgrace,
Who, to his hearth when he approach'd, a friend
With hospitable rites received of old,
Insulted him aloud with taunting words,
And all the outrage of an hostile mind;
Reviling him as holding in his hands
Arrows by fate assign'd to reach the mark,
But that his sons excell'd him in the skill
To draw the bow; that by the nobly born
He as a slave should be trod down and crush'd;
Nay more, with wine when heated from his house:
He spurn'd him forth. Indignant at these wrongs,
O'er the Tirynthian hills when Iphitus
Search'd for his steeds that from their pastures roved,
His eye on other objects bent, his mind
On other thoughts engag'd, he hurl'd the youth
From the steep summit of the tow'ring rock.
Offended at the deed Olympian Jove,
The supreme king and father, sent him thence.
To slavery sold, nor brook'd a treacherous act
Unpractised but against this hapless youth:
250
With manly fortitude and front to front
250
In arms had he opposed him, heav'n's high king
250
Had pardon'd him, and deem'd his vengeance just;
250
But base insidious wrong the gods abhor.
250
But all those boasters, whose reviling tongues
250
Were wanton in their insolence, have now
250
Their mansions in the gloomy realms beneath,
250
And their proud city is enslaved. These dames,
250
Which here thou seest, from high and happy life
250
Sunk to this wretched state attend thy will.
250
Such are thy lord's commands, which I perform
250
With faithful zeal. When to his father Jove
250
The hallow'd victims for his conquest vow'd
250
Are slain, expect him here: of my long speech,
250
Though grateful all, this gives thee highest joy.
250
Now, royal lady, certain joy is thine;
This captive train gives proof of his report.
What can I know? Why ask of me? Perchance
She may from no ignoble race be sprung.
And painful not to know thee who thou art.
She will not speak; nor hath she to this hour
Unlock'd her lips, or ever utter'd word;
But obstinate in silence mourns her weight
Of misery, always weeping since she left
Her desolated country: her ill fate
Moves thee to pity and to pardon her.
Then let her be indulged, and in the house-
Find courteous treatment: to her present ills
I would not that from me fresh grief, her griefs
Augmenting, she receive; she hath enough
Of woe already. To our houses now
Let us all go; where thy occasions call,
Go thou; domestic duties claim my care.
And the high-tower'd Echalia. Love alone
Of all the gods incited him to arms;
And not his Lydian slavery, and base tasks
By Omphale commanded, nor the death
Of Iphitus hurl'd headlong from the rock.
This love conceal'd, the herald other pleas
Devised. But when his lord had urged in vain
The sire to give the daughter to his bed
In secret nuptials, he assign'd some cause
Of slight and trivial charge to march in arms
Against her country, where the royal throne
Was held by Eurytus; he slew the king
355
Her father, and his wasted city razed.
355
Her, as thou seest, returning he now sends
355
Thus, lady, not without peculiar care,
- Not as a slave; admit not such an hope;
It is not to be thought, since love inflames
His soul. By duty prompted I to thee
What was my chance to learn from him disclose :
And this, not I alone, but many heard;
Assembled he declared it; and to these
I make appeal. Unwelcome to thy ear
If what I tell thee, I have no delight
In speaking it, but what I speak is truth.
Unhappy me, what snares enclose me round!
375
Ah, what a secret pest have I received
375
Beneath my roof! This wretch then hath no name,
So he that led her swore, with all these charms,
This beauteous form, and dignity of mien!
What wou'dst thou, Lady, that I bear in charge
To Hercules? I hasten my return.
By Jove, who rolls his thunders through the grove
That shades the brow of Eta, do not hide
The truth: to no base woman wilt thou speak,
Noi an untaught mind that hath not mark'd
Man's nature, form'd not always to delight
In what once pleases. He, 'gainst Love who stands
In daring opposition, is unwise.
Love at his pleasure lords it o'er the gods,
O'er me too; why not o'er another then
E'en such as I? Should I then blame my lord
As vanquish'd by this pow'r; or should I blame
This woman, who to me causes no ill,
Nor brings dishonour, I were mad indeed.
It is not so. But if by him thy mind
To falsehood hath been train'd, no honest lore
Hast thou been taught : if from thyself thou draw'st
440
This glozing science, when thy heart shall prompt
440
To open faith, distrust with jealous eye
440
Will look on thee as base: let then thy tongue
Always speak truth: on the free man, who bears
The hateful brand of falsehood, shame attends.
Can'st thou escape detection ? Vain that hope:
What thou to many hast divulged, to me
Some will disclose. If thou hast fears, those fears
Are vain and causeless: not to be inform'd,
Aye, that indeed would grieve me; but to know,
Can that be dreadful? Hath not Hercules
Admitted others to his nuptial bed,
And many? Yet not one of those e'er heard
Harsh word from me, or keen reproach; nor now
Shall this Eubœan, though with love she melt
His yielding heart. Her, most of all the train,
Soon as I saw, I pitied: well I know
445
Her beauty hath undone her; cruel fate,
445
And not her will, hath on her country brought
445
Ruin and slavery. Of these things no more;
445
I give them to the winds. But mark thou well
My charge, on others practise thy deceits,
But always let thy tongue speak truth to me.
This is for thine advantage; be advised:
470
The time will come when thou wilt not repent
470
So doing; my esteem too thou wilt gain.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 141-495 focus