Macaria Volunteering Herself as the Sacrificial Victim — Euripides, Children of Heracles, lines 480–559, Greek & English

480

ἀλλʼ, εἰμὶ γάρ πως πρόσφορος, μέλει δέ μοι

”But — for I am in some way suitable, and I care most for my brothers — concerning them and myself

μάλιστ’ ἀδελφῶν, τῶνδε κἀμαυτῆς πέρι

I wish to inquire, lest some trouble added

θέλω πυθέσθαι, μὴ’πὶ τοῖς πάλαι κακοῖς

to the old evils is biting your heart.”

προσκείμενόν τι πῆμα σὴν δάκνει φρένα.¹

”O child, it is not just recently that I have had reason

ὦ παῖ, μάλιστα σʼ οὐ νεωστὶ δὴ τέκνων

to praise you above all the children of Heracles justly.

485

τῶν Ἡρακλείων ἐνδίκως αἰνεῖν ἔχω.

But our course, which seemed to go well,

ἡμῖν δὲ δόξας εὖ προχωρῆσαι δρόμος

has turned back again into helplessness.

πάλιν μεθέστηκʼ αὖθις ἐς τἀμήχανον·

For this man says that the singers of oracles declare,

χρησμῶν γὰρ ᾠδούς φησι σημαίνειν ὅδε,

not a bull nor a calf, but a maiden

οὐ ταῦρον οὐδὲ μόσχον, ἀλλὰ παρθένον

who is of noble birth, must be sacrificed to Demeter’s Daughter,

490

σφάξαι Κόρῃ Δήμητρος ἥτις εὐγενής,

if we, and if this city too, are to survive.

εἰ χρὴ μὲν ἡμᾶς, χρὴ δὲ τήνδʼ εἶναι πόλιν.

Over this, then, we are in perplexity; for he says

ταῦτʼ οὖν ἀμηχανοῦμεν· οὔτε γὰρ τέκνα

he will not sacrifice his own children nor those of anyone else.

σφάξειν ὅδʼ αὑτοῦ φησιν οὔτʼ ἄλλου τινός.

And to me he says, not clearly indeed, but in a way,

κἀμοὶ λέγει μὲν οὐ σαφῶς, λέγει δέ πως,

unless we find some way out of these difficulties,

495

εἰ μή τι τούτων ἐξαμηχανήσομεν,

that we must find some other land,

ἡμᾶς μὲν ἄλλην γαῖαν εὑρίσκειν τινά,

while he himself wishes to save this land.”

αὐτὸς δὲ σῶσαι τήνδε βούλεται χθόνα.

”Does our safety indeed depend upon this condition?”

ἐν τῷδε κἀχόμεσθα σωθῆναι λόγῳ;

”Upon this, though we have fared well in all other things.”

ἐν τῷδε, τἄλλα γʼ εὐτυχῶς πεπραγότες.

”Do not fear any longer, then, the hostile Argive spear;

500

μή νυν τρέσῃς ἔτʼ ἐχθρὸν Ἀργεῖον δόρυ·

for I myself, before being ordered, old man,

ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτὴ πρὶν κελευσθῆναι, γέρον,

am ready to die and to offer myself for the sacrifice.

θνῄσκειν ἑτοίμη καὶ παρίστασθαι σφαγῇ.

For what shall we say, if this city thinks it right

τί φήσομεν γάρ, εἰ πόλις μὲν ἀξιοῖ

to undertake a great danger for our sake,

κίνδυνον ἡμῶν οὕνεκʼ αἴρεσθαι μέγαν,

while we, imposing troubles upon others,

505

αὐτοὶ δὲ προστιθέντες ἄλλοισιν πόνους,

when it is in our power to save them, shall shun death?

παρόν σφε σῷσαι,² φευξόμεσθα μὴ θανεῖν;

No indeed, since indeed it is worthy of laughter

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί τοι καὶ γέλωτος ἄξια,

to lament as suppliants sitting before the gods,

στένειν μὲν ἱκέτας δαιμόνων καθημένους,

and, being born of that father from whom we are born,

πατρὸς δʼ ἐκείνου φύντας οὗ πεφύκαμεν

to be seen as cowards; where is this fitting among noble people?

510

κακοὺς ὁρᾶσθαι· ποῦ τάδʼ ἐν χρηστοῖς πρέπει;

It is better, I think, if this city is captured — which may never happen —

κάλλιον, οἶμαι, τῆσδʼ — ἃ μὴ τύχοι ποτέ —

to fall into the hands of the enemy,

πόλεως ἁλούσης, χεῖρας εἰς ἐχθρῶν πεσεῖν,

and then, being the daughter of a noble father,

κἄπειτα τινὰ πατρὸς οὖσαν εὐγενοῦς

to suffer outrage and face death nonetheless.

παθοῦσαν Ἅιδην μηδὲν ἧσσον εἰσιδεῖν.

Or shall I wander as an exile, cast out of this land?

515

ἀλλʼ ἐκπεσοῦσα τῆσδʼ ἀλητεύσω χθονός;

And shall I not be ashamed indeed, if someone says:

κοὐκ αἰσχυνοῦμαι δῆτ’, ἐὰν δή τις λέγῃ·

’Why did you come here with suppliant branches,

Τί δεῦρʼ ἀφίκεσθʼ ἱκεσίοισι σὺν κλάδοις

clinging to life yourselves? Go out of the land!

αὐτοὶ φιλοψυχοῦντες; ἔξιτε χθονός·

For we shall not help cowards.’

κακοὺς γὰρ ἡμεῖς οὐ προσωφελήσομεν.

But neither, if these die,

520

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μέντοι, τῶνδε μὲν τεθνηκότων,

and I myself am saved, can I have hope to fare well;

αὐτὴ δὲ σωθεῖσʼ, ἐλπίδʼ εὖ πράξειν ἔχω·

— for many have already betrayed their friends by this hope. —

— πολλοὶ γὰρ ἤδη τῇδε προύδοσαν φίλους. —

For who will wish to have a destitute maiden as his wife,

τίς γὰρ κόρην ἔρημον ἢ δάμαρτʼ ἔχειν,

or to beget children from me?

ἢ παιδοποιεῖν ἐξ ἐμοῦ βουλήσεται;

Is it not better, then, to die than to meet with such a fate,

525

οὐκ οὖν θανεῖν ἄμεινον ἢ τούτων τυχεῖν

which I do not deserve? And to some other woman

ἀναξίαν; ἄλλῃ δὲ κἂν³ πρέποι τινὶ

these things might be more fitting, who is not distinguished as I am.

μᾶλλον τάδʼ, ἥτις μὴ’πίσημος ὡς ἐγώ.

Lead me where this body of mine must die,

ἡγεῖσθʼ ὅπου δεῖ σῶμα κατθανεῖν τόδε

and deck me with garlands, and begin the sacrificial rites, if it pleases you;

καὶ στεμματοῦτε καὶ κατάρχεσθʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ·

and conquer your enemies; for this life of mine is ready,

530

νικᾶτε δʼ ἐχθρούς· ἥδε γὰρ ψυχὴ πάρα

willing and not unwilling; and I offer myself

ἑκοῦσα κοὐκ ἄκουσα· κἀξαγγέλλομαι

to die on behalf of these my brothers and myself.

θνῄσκειν ἀδελφῶν τῶνδε κἀμαυτῆς ὕπερ.

For, not loving life, I have found

εὕρημα γάρ τοι μὴ φιλοψυχοῦσʼ ἐγὼ

a most beautiful prize: to leave life with good glory.”

κάλλιστον ηὕρηκ’, εὐκλεῶς λιπεῖν βίον.

[Chorus] “Alas, what shall I say, hearing the great speech of the maiden,

535

φεῦ φεῦ, τί λέξω παρθένου μέγαν λόγον

who wishes to die on behalf of her brothers?

κλύων, ἀδελφῶν ἣ πάρος θέλει θανεῖν;

Who of men could speak more noble words

τούτων τίς ἂν λέξειε γενναίους λόγους

than these, or who could do a more noble deed?”

μᾶλλον, τίς ἂν δράσειεν ἀνθρώπων ἔτι;

[Iolaus] “O child, your head is not from elsewhere,

ὦ τέκνον, οὐκ ἔστʼ ἄλλοθεν τὸ σὸν κάρα,

but you are born Heraclean, a seed of that divine mind;

540

ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἐκείνου σπέρμα τῆς θείας φρενὸς

I am not ashamed of your words,

πέφυκας Ἡράκλειος· οὐδʼ αἰσχύνομαι

but I grieve for your fortune.

τοῖς σοῖς λόγοισι, τῇ τύχῃ δʼ ἀλγύνομαι.

But I will tell you how it might happen more justly:

ἀλλʼ ᾗ γένοιτʼ ἂν ἐνδικωτέρως φράσω·

we must call all the sisters of this girl here,

πάσας ἀδελφὰς τῆσδε δεῦρο χρὴ καλεῖν,

and then let her who draws the lot die on behalf of the family;

545

κᾆθʼ ἡ λαχοῦσα θνῃσκέτω γένους ὕπερ·

but it is not right that you should die without a lot.”

σὲ δʼ οὐ δίκαιον κατθανεῖν ἄνευ πάλου.

[Macaria] “I would not die if I won by lot of chance;

οὐκ ἂν θάνοιμι τῇ τύχῃ λαχοῦσʼ ἐγώ·

for there is no favor in that. Do not speak of this, old man.

χάρις γὰρ οὐ πρόσεστι· μὴ λέξῃς, γέρον.

But if you accept and wish to make use

ἀλλʼ, εἰ μὲν ἐνδέχεσθε καὶ βούλεσθέ μοι

of my eagerness, I give my life

550

χρῆσθαι προθύμως, τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν ἐγὼ

willingly to these, but not if forced.”

δίδωμʼ ἑκοῦσα τοῖσδʼ, ἀναγκασθεῖσα δʼ οὔ.

[Iolaus] “Alas!

φεῦ·

This speech of yours is even more noble than the previous one;

ὅδʼ αὖ λόγος σοι τοῦ πρὶν εὐγενέστερος·

and that one was excellent. But you surpass

κἀκεῖνος ἦν ἄριστος· ἀλλʼ ὑπερφέρεις

daring with daring, and noble speech with noble speech.

555

τόλμῃ τε τόλμαν καὶ λόγῳ χρηστῷ λόγον.

Indeed, I do not order you, nor do I forbid you, child,

οὐ μὴν κελεύω γʼ οὐδʼ ἀπεννέπω, τέκνον,

to die; but by dying you benefit your brothers.”

θνῄσκειν σʼ· ἀδελφοὺς δʼ ὠφελεῖς θανοῦσα σούς.

[Macaria] “You counsel wisely. Do not fear to share

σοφῶς κελεύεις· μὴ τρέσῃς μιάσματος⁴τοὐμοῦ μετασχεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐλευθέρως θάνω.

in pollution on my account, but let me die as a free woman.”

Syntax notes4 items

482μὴ ’πὶ τοῖς πάλαι κακοῖς προσκείμενόν τι πῆμα σὴν δάκνει φρένα
The conjunction μὴ introducing a clause of fearing with the present indicative δάκνει, representing a strong apprehension about a present reality (a fear that some new trouble is indeed actually biting his heart).
506παρόν σφε σῷσαι
Accusative absolute. The neuter singular accusative participle παρόν (from the impersonal πάρειμι) is used adverbially in a concessive sense ("although it is possible"), governing the infinitive σῷσαι and its direct object σφε.
526κἂν
κἂν is a crasis of καὶ ἂν. The particle ἂν belongs to the potential optative πρέποι to express a potential or conditional statement ("this might rather be fitting for another").
558μιάσματος
A partitive genitive governed by the infinitive μετασχεῖν ("to share in"). It is modified by the possessive τοὐμοῦ, referring to the pollution arising from Macaria's death.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:480-559