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Euripides · The Phoenician Women §1230-1321

Agreement to Duel, Jocasta's Departure, Creon's Grief

Passage 15 of 20 · Greek

Summary

Eteocles' proposal for a single combat is accepted by Polynices and both armies, and a truce is sworn. Jocasta takes Antigone with her to hasten to the battlefield to stop the duel, while the Chorus sings in terror of the outcome and Creon enters carrying the body of his self-slain son Menoeceus.

§1230μόνος συνάψω συγγόνῳ τὠμῷ μάχην·
I will engage in battle alone with my brother.
§1231κἂν μὲν κτάνω τόνδʼ, οἶκον οἰκήσω μόνος, §1232ἡσσώμενος δὲ τῷδε παραδώσω μόνῳ·
And if I kill him, I will dwell in the house alone; but if I am defeated, I will hand it over to him alone.
§1233ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀγῶνʼ ἀφέντες, Ἀργεῖοι, χθόνα §1234νίσεσθε, βίοτον μὴ λιπόντες ἐνθάδε, §1235Σπαρτῶν τε λαὸς ἅλις ὅσος κεῖται νεκρός. §1236τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε· σὸς δὲ Πολυνείκης γόνος §1237ἐκ τάξεων ὤρουσε κἀπῄνει λόγους.
And you, Argives, leaving the contest, return to your own land, not leaving your lives here; and of the Spartoi, enough lie dead." Thus he spoke; and your son Polynices leaped forward from the ranks and approved of his words.
§1238πάντες δʼ ἐπερρόθησαν Ἀργεῖοι τάδε §1239Κάδμου τε λαὸς ὡς δίκαιʼ ἡγούμενοι.
And all the Argives and the people of Cadmus shouted their assent, deeming these things just.
§1240ἐπὶ τοῖσδε δʼ ἐσπείσαντο, κἀν μεταιχμίοις §1241ὅρκους συνῆψαν ἐμμενεῖν στρατηλάται.
On these terms they made a truce, and in the space between the armies, the generals bound themselves by oaths to abide by it.
§1242ἤδη δʼ ἔκρυπτον σῶμα παγχάλκοις ὅπλοις §1243δισσοὶ γέροντος Οἰδίπου νεανίαι·
And already the two young sons of old Oedipus were covering their bodies with all-bronze armor.
§1244φίλοι δʼ ἐκόσμουν, τῆσδε μὲν πρόμον χθονὸς §1245Σπαρτῶν ἀριστῆς, τὸν δὲ Δαναϊδῶν ἄκροι.
And their friends adorned them: the chiefs of the Spartoi for the champion of this land, and the foremost of the Danaans for the other.
§1246ἔσταν δὲ λαμπρὼ χρῶμά τʼ οὐκ ἠλλαξάτην §1247μαργῶντʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἱέναι δόρυ.
They stood there, resplendent, and did not change color, in their mad desire to hurl the spear at each other.
§1248παρεξιόντες δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν φίλων §1249λόγοις ἐθάρσυνόν τε κἀξηύδων τάδε· §1250Πολύνεικες, ἐν σοὶ Ζηνὸς ὀρθῶσαι βρέτας §1251τρόπαιον Ἄργει τʼ εὐκλεᾶ δοῦναι λόγον· §1252Ἐτεοκλέα δʼ αὖ· νῦν πόλεως ὑπερμαχεῖς, §1253νῦν καλλίνικος γενόμενος σκήπτρων κρατεῖς. §1254τάδʼ ἠγόρευον παρακαλοῦντες ἐς μάχην.
And their friends, coming up from various sides, encouraged them with words, saying: "Polynices, it is in your power to erect the trophy-statue of Zeus, and to give a glorious renown to Argos." And to Eteocles in turn: "Now you fight for your city; now, by becoming victorious, you will hold the sceptre." Thus they spoke, exhorting them to the battle.
§1255μάντεις δὲ μῆλʼ ἔσφαζον, ἐμπύρους τʼ ἀκμὰς §1256ῥήξεις τʼ ἐνώμων ὑγρότητʼ ἐναντίαν §1257ἄκραν τε λαμπάδʼ, ἣ δυοῖν ὅρους ἔχει, §1258νίκης τε σῆμα καὶ τὸ τῶν ἡσσωμένων.
And the seers slaughtered sheep, and observed the points of the sacrificial fire, and the clefts, and the moisture which portended opposition, and the top of the flame, which has two limits, the sign of victory and that of the defeated.
§1259ἀλλʼ, εἴ τινʼ ἀλκὴν ἢ σοφοὺς ἔχεις λόγους §1260ἢ φίλτρʼ ἐπῳδῶν, στεῖχʼ, ἐρήτυσον τέκνα §1261δεινῆς ἁμίλλης· ὡς ὁ κίνδυνος μέγας· §1262κἄπαθλα δεινὰ δάκρυά σοι γενήσεται §1263δισσοῖν στερείσῃ τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τέκνοιν.
But if you have any power, or wise words, or soothing charms of incantations, go, restrain your children from this terrible contest; for the danger is great, and terrible tears will be your prize, if you are deprived of your two children on this day.
§1264ὦ τέκνον ἔξελθʼ Ἀντιγόνη δόμων πάρος·
Jocasta: O child Antigone, come forth before the house!
§1265οὐκ ἐν χορείαις οὐδὲ παρθενεύμασι §1266νῦν σοι προχωρεῖ δαιμόνων κατάστασις, §1267ἀλλʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀρίστω καὶ κασιγνήτω σέθεν §1268ἐς θάνατον ἐκνεύοντε κωλῦσαί σε δεῖ §1269ξὺν μητρὶ τῇ σῇ μὴ πρὸς ἀλλήλοιν θανεῖν.
Not in choral dances nor in maidenly pursuits does the state of things ordained by the gods now go forward for you; but you must prevent two noble men, your own brothers, who are turning aside toward death, from dying by each other's hand, along with your mother.
§1270τίνʼ, ὦ τεκοῦσα μῆτερ, ἔκπληξιν νέαν §1271φίλοις ἀυτεῖς τῶνδε δωμάτων πάρος;
Antigone: O mother who bore me, what new terror do you cry out to your friends before these halls?
§1272ὦ θύγατερ, ἔρρει σῶν κασιγνήτων βίος.
Jocasta: O daughter, the life of your brothers is ruined.
§1273πῶς εἶπας;
Antigone: How did you say?
§1273bαἰχμὴν ἐς μίαν καθέστατον.
Jocasta: They have come to a single combat of spears.
§1274οἲ ʼγώ, τί λέξεις, μῆτερ;
Antigone: Ah me, what will you say, mother?
§1274bοὐ φίλʼ, ἀλλʼ ἕπου.
Jocasta: No pleasant news, but follow me.
§1275ποῖ, παρθενῶνας ἐκλιποῦσʼ;
Antigone: Whither, leaving my maiden chambers?
§1275bἀνὰ στρατόν.
Jocasta: To the army.
§1276αἰδούμεθʼ ὄχλον.
Antigone: I am ashamed of the crowd.
§1276bοὐκ ἐν αἰσχύνῃ τὰ σά.
Jocasta: Your situation is not one for shame.
§1277δράσω δὲ δὴ τί;
Antigone: And what indeed shall I do?
§1277bσυγγόνων λύσεις ἔριν.
Jocasta: You will dissolve the strife of your brothers.
§1278τί δρῶσα, μῆτερ;
Antigone: Doing what, mother?
§1278bπροσπίτνουσʼ ἐμοῦ μέτα.
Jocasta: Falling prostrate with me.
§1279ἡγοῦ σὺ πρὸς μεταίχμιʼ· οὐ μελλητέον.
Antigone: Lead on to the space between the armies; we must not delay.
§1280ἔπειγʼ ἔπειγε, θύγατερ·
Jocasta: Hasten, hasten, daughter!
ὡς, ἢν μὲν φθάσω §1281παῖδας πρὸ λόγχης, οὑμὸς ἐν φάει βίος· §1283θανοῦσι δʼ αὐτοῖς συνθανοῦσα κείσομαι.
For, if I reach my children before the spear is thrown, my life remains in the light; but if they die, I will lie dead along with them.
§1284αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, τρομερὰν φρίκᾳ
Chorus: Alas, alas!
§1285τρομερὰν φρένʼ ἔχω· διὰ σάρκα δʼ ἐμὰν §1286ἔλεος ἔλεος ἔμολε μα- §1287τέρος δειλαίας.
A trembling, with shuddering, a trembling heart I have; and through my flesh pity, pity has come for the wretched mother.
§1288δίδυμα τέκεα πότερος ἄρα §1289πότερον αἱμάξει —
Of the twin children, which one, then, will make the other bloody— oh, my woes!
§1290ἰώ μοι πόνων, ἰὼ Ζεῦ, ἰὼ γᾶ —
Oh Zeus!
§1291ὁμογενῆ δέραν, ὁμογενῆ ψυχὰν §1292διʼ ἀσπίδων, διʼ αἱμάτων;
Oh earth!— the kindred neck, the kindred life, through shields, through blood?
§1294τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ τάλαινα, πό-
Wretched me, wretched!
§1295τερον ἄρα νέκυν ὀλόμενον ἰαχήσω;
Which one of the dead, then, shall I bewail as destroyed?
§1296φεῦ δᾶ φεῦ δᾶ, δίδυμοι θῆρες,
Alas, earth! Alas, earth!
§1297φόνιαι ψυχαὶ δορὶ παλλόμεναι §1298πέσεα πέσεα δάιʼ αὐ- §1299τίχʼ αἱμάξετον.
Twin beasts, murderous souls brandishing the spear, hostile fallen bodies they will straightway stain with blood.
§1300τάλανες, ὅ τι ποτὲ μονομάχον §1301ἐπὶ φρένʼ ἠλθέτην,
Wretched ones, why indeed did it come to their minds to fight in single combat?
§1302βοᾷ βαρβάρῳ στενακτὰν ἰαχὰν §1303μελομέναν νεκροῖς δάκρυσι θρηνήσω.
With a foreign cry of wailing, I will sing a mournful lament for the dead, concerned with tears.
§1304σχεδὸν τύχα πέλας φόνου· §1305κρινεῖ φάος τὸ μέλλον.
The fortune of slaughter is close at hand; the coming light will decide.
ἄ- §1306ποτμος ἄποτμος ὁ φόνος ἕνεκʼ Ἐρινύων.
Accursed, accursed is the slaughter because of the Erinyes.
§1307ἀλλὰ γὰρ Κρέοντα λεύσσω τόνδε δεῦρο συννεφῆ §1308πρὸς δόμους στείχοντα, παύσω τοὺς παρεστῶτας γόους.
But look, I see Creon here, with clouded brow, walking toward the palace; I will stop the present laments.
§1310οἴμοι, τί δράσω;
Creon: Alas, what shall I do?
πότερʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἢ πόλιν §1311στένω δακρύσας, ἣν πέριξ ἔχει νέφος
Shall I weep and lament for myself, or for the city, which a cloud encompasses?
§1313ἐμός τε γὰρ παῖς γῆς ὄλωλʼ ὑπερθανών, §1314τοὔνομα λαβὼν γενναῖον, ἀνιαρὸν δʼ ἐμοί·
For my child has perished, dying for his land, gaining a noble name, but a painful one to me.
§1315ὃν ἄρτι κρημνῶν ἐκ δρακοντείων ἑλὼν §1316αὐτοσφαγῆ δύστηνος ἐκόμισʼ ἐν χεροῖν,
I, wretched, have just now taken him, self-slain, from the dragon's cliffs, and carried him in my arms.
§1317βοᾷ δὲ δῶμα πᾶν·
And the whole house resounds with wailing.
ἐγὼ δʼ ἥκω μέτα §1318γέρων ἀδελφὴν γραῖαν Ἰοκάστην, ὅπως §1319λούσῃ προθῆταί τʼ οὐκέτʼ ὄντα παῖδʼ ἐμόν.
And I, an old man, have come to fetch my aged sister Jocasta, so that she may wash and lay out my son who is no more.
§1320τοῖς γὰρ θανοῦσι χρὴ τὸν οὐ τεθνηκότα §1321τιμὰς διδόντα χθόνιον εὐσεβεῖν θεόν.
For the one who is not dead must, by paying honors to the deceased, show piety to the underworld god.

Notes

  1. §1244φίλοις δʼ ἐκόσμουν, τῆσδε μὲν πρόμον χθονὸς Σπαρτῶν ἀριστῆς, τὸν δὲ Δαναϊδῶν ἄκροι. — The verb ἐκόσμουν ("they adorned") governs two parallel clauses: one has "the champion of this land" (πρόμον, accusative) as the object, with "the best of the Spartoi" (Σπαρτῶν ἀριστῆς, nominative plural acting as subject) as the subject; the other has "the other" (τὸν δὲ, accusative) as the object, with "the foremost of the Danaans" (Δαναϊδῶν ἄκροι, nominative plural) as the subject.
  2. §1256ὑγρότητʼ ἐναντίαν — The adjective ἐναντίαν here means "opposing" or "unfavorable." In the context of sacrificial divination (extispicy and pyromancy), the presence of "moisture" (ὑγρότης) on the organs or the sacrificial fire was interpreted as an inauspicious or hostile sign.
  3. §1268ἐκνεύοντε κωλῦσαί σε δεῖ — The impersonal verb δεῖ ("it is necessary") takes an accusative and infinitive construction, where the accusative pronoun σε ("you") serves as the subject of the infinitive κωλῦσαι ("to prevent"), which in turn governs the accusative dual object representing the two brothers (ἀρίστω καὶ κασιγνήτω... ἐκνεύοντε).
  4. §1280ἢν μὲν φθάσω παῖδας πρὸ λόγχης — The verb φθάνω ("to anticipate," "to reach beforehand") governs the accusative object representing the children (παῖδας). The point of reference "before the spear" is expressed by the prepositional phrase πρὸ λόγχης. The whole clause indicates: "if I anticipate my children before their spear-fighting begins."
  5. §1310πότερʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἢ πόλιν στένω δακρύσας — The subjunctive verb στένω is a deliberative subjunctive, expressing a self-questioning of doubt or sorrow: "Should I lament?"

Cite this passage

Euripides, The Phoenician Women §1230-1321. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg015.humanitext-grc2:1230-1321

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