- Source
- Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:560-642
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
Macaria bids her final farewells to Iolaus and her brothers, bravely departing for the sacrificial altar. As Iolaus falls prostrate in grief and the Chorus reflects on the mutability of fate, a servant of Hyllus arrives with joyful news.
ἕπου δέ, πρέσβυ· σῇ γὰρ ἐνθανεῖν χερὶθέλω· πέπλοις δὲ σῶμʼ ἐμὸν κρύψον παρών·ἐπεὶ σφαγῆς γε πρὸς τὸ δεινὸν εἶμʼ ἐγώ,εἴπερ πέφυκα πατρὸς οὗπερ εὔχομαι.
[Macaria] And follow, old man; for I wish to die in your hands. And be present to cover my body with robes; since indeed I am going to the dread thing of sacrifice, if indeed I am born of the father of whom I boast.
οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην σῷ παρεστάναι μόρῳ.
[Iolaus] I could not stand by your fate.
σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ1 τοῦδε χρῇζε, μή μʼ ἐν ἀρσένων,ἀλλʼ ἐν γυναικῶν, χερσὶν ἐκπνεῦσαι βίον.
[Macaria] But do you at least ask this, that I may breathe out my life not in the hands of men, but of women.
ἔσται τάδʼ, ὦ τάλαινα παρθένων, ἐπεὶκἀμοὶ τόδʼ αἰσχρόν, μή σε κοσμεῖσθαι καλῶς,πολλῶν ἕκατι, τῆς τε σῆς εὐψυχίαςκαὶ τοῦ δικαίου· τλημονεστάτην δὲ σὲπασῶν γυναικῶν εἶδον ὀφθαλμοῖς ἐγώ.
[Iolaus] This shall be, O most wretched of maidens, since it is shameful for me too that you should not be beautifully adorned, for many reasons, both for your courage and for what is just; and I have seen you with my own eyes as the most long-suffering of all women.
ἀλλʼ, εἴ τι βούλῃ, τούσδε τὸν γέροντά τεχώρει προσειποῦσʼ ὑστάτοις προσφθέγμασιν.
But, if you wish at all, go after addressing these and the old man with your last words.
ὦ χαῖρε, πρέσβυ, χαῖρε καὶ δίδασκέ μοιτοιούσδε τούσδε παῖδας, ἐς τὸ πᾶν σοφούς,ὥσπερ σύ, μηδὲν μᾶλλον· ἀρκέσουσι γάρ.
[Macaria] O farewell, old man, farewell, and teach for me these, these children, to be wise in all things, just as you are, and no more; for they will suffice.
πειρῶ δὲ σῶσαι μὴ θανεῖν,2 πρόθυμος ὤν·σοὶ παῖδές ἐσμεν, σαῖν χεροῖν τεθράμμεθα.
And try to save them from dying, being eager; we are your children, we have been reared by your hands.
ὁρᾷς δὲ κἀμὲ τὴν ἐμὴν ὥραν γάμουδιδοῦσαν ἀντὶ τῶνδε κατθανουμένην.
And you see me too, giving my marriageable age to die in place of these.
ὑμεῖς τʼ, ἀδελφῶν ἡ παροῦσʼ ὁμιλία,εὐδαιμονοῖτε, καὶ γένοιθʼ ὑμῖν ὅσωνἡμὴ πάροιθε καρδία σφαγήσεται.
And you, the present company of brothers, may you be happy, and may there be to you all those things for which my heart will be sacrificed beforehand.
καὶ τὸν γέροντα τήν τʼ ἔσω γραῖαν δόμωντιμᾶτε πατρὸς μητέρʼ Ἀλκμήνην ἐμοῦξένους τε τούσδε. κἂν ἀπαλλαγὴ πόνωνκαὶ νόστος ὑμῖν εὑρεθῇ ποτʼ ἐκ θεῶν,μέμνησθε τὴν σώτειραν ὡς θάψαι χρεών.3
And honor the old man and the old woman inside the house, Alcmene, my father’s mother, and these strangers. And if a release from troubles and a return home should ever be found for you from the gods, remember that you must bury your savior.
κάλλιστά τοι δίκαιον· οὐ γὰρ ἐνδεὴςὑμῖν παρέστην, ἀλλὰ προύθανον γένους.
Indeed, it is most beautifully just; for I did not stand by you in a lacking way, but died beforehand for our race.
τάδʼ ἀντὶ παίδων ἐστί μοι κειμήλιακαὶ παρθενείας, εἴ τι δὴ κάτω χθονός·εἴη γε μέντοι μηδέν. εἰ γὰρ ἕξομενκἀκεῖ μερίμνας οἱ θανούμενοι βροτῶν,οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅποι τις τρέψεται· τὸ γὰρ θανεῖνκακῶν μέγιστον φάρμακον νομίζεται.
These are my treasures in place of children and virginity, if indeed there is anything below the earth; but indeed may there be nothing. For if we, the dead among mortals, are to have cares even there, I do not know where one will turn; for dying is considered the greatest medicine for evils.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ μέγιστον ἐκπρέπουσʼ εὐψυχίᾳπασῶν γυναικῶν, ἴσθι, τιμιωτάτηκαὶ ζῶσʼ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν καὶ θανοῦσʼ ἔσῃ πολύ·
[Chorus] But, O most outstanding in courage of all women, know that you will be most honored by us both living and dead;
καὶ χαῖρε· δυσφημεῖν γὰρ ἅζομαι θεάν,ᾗ σὸν κατῆρκται σῶμα, Δήμητρος κόρην.
and farewell. For I shrink from speaking ill-omened words of the goddess to whom your body has been consecrated, Demeter’s Daughter.
ὦ παῖδες, οἰχόμεσθα· λύεται μέληλύπῃ· λάβεσθε κεἰς ἕδραν μʼ ἐρείσατεαὐτοῦ πέπλοισι τοῖσδε κρύψαντες, τέκνα.
[Iolaus] O children, we are undone; my limbs are loosed with grief. Support me, children, and prop me up into a seat, covering me here with these robes.
ὡς οὔτε τούτοις ἥδόμαι πεπραγμένοις,χρησμοῦ τε μὴ κρανθέντος οὐ βιώσιμον·μείζων γὰρ ἄτη· συμφορὰ δὲ καὶ τάδε.
For I am neither pleased with these things that have been done, and if the oracle is not fulfilled, life is not worth living; for there is a greater ruin, though these things too are a calamity.
οὔτινά φημι θεῶν ἄτερ ὄλβιον, οὐ βαρύποτμον,ἄνδρα γενέσθαι·
[Chorus] I say that no man becomes prosperous or heavy-fated without the gods;
οὐδὲ τὸν αὐτὸν ἀεὶ βεβάναι δόμονεὐτυχίᾳ· παρὰ δʼ ἄλλαν ἄλλαμοῖρα διώκει.
nor does the same house always walk in good fortune; but one fate after another pursues them.
τὸν μὲν ἀφʼ ὑψηλῶν βραχὺν ᾤκισε,τὸν δʼ ἀλέταν εὐδαίμονα τεύχει.
One indeed it settles low from high places, and another, a wanderer, it makes happy.
μόρσιμα δʼ οὔτι φυγεῖν θέμις, οὐ σοφί-ᾳ τις ἀπώσεται, ἀλλὰ μάταν ὁ πρό-θυμος ἀεὶ πόνον ἕξει.
But it is not permitted to flee what is fated, nor will anyone thrust it away by wisdom, but in vain the eager man will always have labor.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὴ προπίτνων τὰ θεῶν φέρε, μηδʼ ὑπεράλγειφροντίδα λύπᾳ·
But do not fall down, but bear what comes from the gods, nor over-grieve your mind with sorrow;
εὐδόκιμον γὰρ ἔχει θανάτου μέροςἁ μελέα πρό τʼ ἀδελφῶν καὶ γᾶς·
for the unhappy maiden has a famous portion of death on behalf of her brothers and her land.
οὐδʼ ἀκλεής νινδόξα πρὸς ἀνθρώπων ὑποδέξεται·ἁ δʼ ἀρετὰ βαίνει διὰ μόχθων.
Nor will an inglorious reputation receive her from men; for virtue goes through labors.
ἄξια μὲν πατρός, ἄξια δʼ εὐγενί-ας τάδε γίγνεται· εἰ δὲ σέβεις θανά-τους ἀγαθῶν, μετέχω σοι.
These things are worthy of her father, and worthy of her noble birth; and if you respect the deaths of the good, I share with you.
ὦ τέκνα, χαίρετʼ· Ἰόλεως δὲ ποῦ γέρων;μήτηρ τε πατρὸς τῆσδʼ ἕδρας ἀποστατεῖ;
[Servant] O children, farewell. But where is the old man Iolaus? And is the mother of your father absent from this seat?
πάρεσμεν, οἵα δή γʼ ἐμοῦ παρουσία.4
[Iolaus] We are present, such indeed as my presence is.
τί χρῆμα κεῖσαι καὶ κατηφὲς ὄμμʼ ἔχεις;
[Servant] Why do you lie down, and have a downcast eye?
φροντίς τις ἦλθʼ οἰκεῖος, ᾗ συνειχόμην.
[Iolaus] A certain domestic care came, by which I was held.
ἔπαιρέ νυν σεαυτόν, ὄρθωσον κάρα.
[Servant] Raise yourself up now, lift up your head.
γέροντές ἐσμεν κοὐδαμῶς ἐρρώμεθα.
[Iolaus] We are old men and in no way strong.
ἥκω γε μέντοι χάρμα σοι φέρων μέγα.
[Servant] Yet indeed I have come bringing a great joy to you.
τίς δʼ εἶ σύ; ποῦ σοι συντυχὼν ἀμνημονῶ;
[Iolaus] And who are you? Where having met you do I forget?
Ὕλλου πενέστης· οὔ με γιγνώσκεις ὁρῶν;
[Servant] A serf of Hyllus; do you not recognize me when you see me?
ὦ φίλταθʼ, ἥκεις ἆρα σωτὴρ νῷν βλάβης;
[Iolaus] O dearest one, have you come indeed as a savior for us from harm?
μάλιστα· καὶ πρός γʼ εὐτυχεῖς τὰ νῦν τάδε.
[Servant] Indeed so; and moreover, these things are fortunate for now.
ὦ μῆτερ ἐσθλοῦ παιδός, Ἀλκμήνην λέγω,
O mother of a noble son, Alcmene I mean,
- 565σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ
The limiting or concessionary use of the particle ἀλλά after a preceding refusal or condition, meaning 'at least' or 'at any rate'. Macaria entreats Iolaus that, if he cannot stand by her death, he should 'at least' request this favor of dying in the hands of women.
- 577σῶσαι μὴ θανεῖν
A standard classical Greek construction of redundant negation (or double negative) with the infinitive after a verb of saving or preventing (σῴζω), where μή is added to emphasize the negative outcome to be avoided ('to save them from dying').
- 588τὴν σώτειραν ὡς θάψαι χρεών
A construction of prolepsis (anticipation), where the subject of the dependent clause (τὴν σώτειραν) is pulled forward into the main clause as the direct object (in the accusative case) of the verb μέμνησθε. Literally, 'remember the savior, how it is necessary to bury [her]'.
- 632οἵα δή γʼ ἐμοῦ παρουσία
An idiomatic, self-deprecating use of the qualitative relative pronoun οἷος, expressing one's current weak or pitiable state. Iolaus, exhausted and lying down, responds with the nuance of 'I am here, such as my weak presence is'.