Hypermestra sends this to the only one left of so many brothers — The rest of the crowd of brides lies dead by their crime.
I am kept shut up in the house and bound with heavy chains; The cause of my punishment is to have been dutiful.
Because my hand feared to plunge the iron into your throat, I am accused; I would be praised, if I had dared to commit the crime.
It is better to be accused than to have pleased a parent in this way; I do not regret holding hands free from slaughter.
§14.9Me pater igne licet, quem non violavimus, urat, §14.10Quaeque aderant sacris, tendat in ora faces; §14.11Aut illo iugulet, quem non bene tradidit ensem, §14.12Ut, qua non cecidit vir nece, nupta cadam — §14.13Non tamen, ut dicant morientia 'paenitet!' ora, §14.14Efficiet.
Though my father burn me with the fire which we did not violate, and direct against my face the torches which were present at the sacred rites; or throat me with that sword which he wrongfully handed over, so that I, the bride, may fall by the death by which my husband did not fall — yet he will not make my dying lips say, "I repent!" He will not effect it.
non est, quam piget esse, pia.
She who regrets being dutiful is not dutiful.
Let Danaus and my cruel sisters repent of their crime; this consequence is wont to follow wicked deeds.
My heart trembles at the memory of that night polluted with blood, and a sudden trembling impedes the bones of my right hand.
She whom you might think could have accomplished the slaughter of her husband, fears to write of a slaughter not committed by herself!
§14.21Sed tamen experiar.
But yet I will try.
modo facta crepuscula terris; §14.22Ultima pars lucis primaque noctis erat.
Twilight had just been made upon the earth; it was the last part of the light and the first of the night.
We, daughters of Inachus, are led beneath the roof of great Pelasgus, and the father-in-law himself receives his armed daughters-in-law.
§14.25Undique conlucent praecinctae lampades auro; §14.26Dantur in invitos inpia tura focos; §14.27Vulgus 'Hymen, Hymenaee!' vocant. fugit ille vocantis; §14.28Ipsa Iovis coniunx cessit ab urbe sua!
On all sides shine torches encircled with gold; impious incense is offered upon unwilling altars; The crowd calls 'Hymen, Hymenaeus!' He flees from those who call; the wife of Jupiter herself withdrew from her own city!
§14.29Ecce, mero dubii, comitum clamore frequentes, §14.30Flore novo madidas inpediente comas, §14.31In thalamos laeti — thalamos, sua busta! — feruntur §14.32Strataque corporibus funere digna premunt.
Behold, unsteady with wine, crowded with the shouting of their companions, with fresh flowers binding their wet hair, they are joyfully carried into the bedchambers — bedchambers that are their own tombs! — and press with their bodies the couches worthy of a funeral.
§14.33Iamque cibo vinoque graves somnoque iacebant, §14.34Securumque quies alta per Argos erat — §14.35Circum me gemitus morientum audire videbar; §14.36Et tamen audibam, quodque verebar erat.
And now they lay heavy with food and wine and sleep, and deep, secure quiet was throughout Argos — Around me I seemed to hear the groans of the dying; and yet I did hear them, and what I feared was indeed happening.
My blood recedes, and warmth leaves my mind and body, and I lay cold on my new marriage-bed.
§14.39Ut leni Zephyro graciles vibrantur aristae, §14.40Frigida populeas ut quatit aura comas, §14.41Aut sic, aut etiam tremui magis.
As slender ears of corn are shaken by the gentle Zephyr, as a cold breeze shakes the leaves of the poplar, either so, or even more I trembled.
ipse iacebas, §14.42Quemque tibi dederant vina, soporis eras.
You yourself lay there, and you were of the sleep which wine had given you.
The commands of my violent father shook off my fear; I raise myself and take the weapon with a trembling hand.
I will not speak falsehoods: three times my hand raised the sharp sword, three times, with the sword wrongfully raised, my hand fell back.
§14.47Admovi iugulo — sine me tibi vera fateri! — §14.48Admovi iugulo tela paterna tuo; §14.49Sed timor et pietas crudelibus obstitit ausis, §14.50Castaque mandatum dextra refugit opus.
I brought it near your throat — let me confess the truth to you! — I brought my father's weapon near your throat; But fear and devotion opposed my cruel daring, and my chaste right hand shrank from the commanded deed.
§14.51Purpureos laniata sinus, laniata capillos §14.52Exiguo dixi talia verba sono: §14.53'Saevus, Hypermestra, pater est tibi; iussa parentis §14.54Effice; germanis sit comes iste suis!
Tearing my purple garments, tearing my hair, I spoke such words with a tiny voice: 'Cruel, Hypermestra, is your father to you; accomplish the commands of your parent; let this man be a companion to his brothers!
I am a woman and a virgin, gentle by nature and years; soft hands are not suited for savage weapons.
§14.57Quin age, dumque iacet, fortis imitare sorores —
Come, act!
§14.58Credibile est caesos omnibus esse viros!
And while he lies there, imitate your brave sisters — it is believable that husbands have been slain by all!
If this hand could commit any slaughter, it would be bloody with the death of its own mistress.
They deserved this death by holding their uncle's kingdom; we, a destitute crowd, wander with a destitute old man.
§14.63Finge viros meruisse mori — quid fecimus ipsae?
Suppose the husbands deserved to die — what have we ourselves done?
§14.64Quo mihi commisso non licet esse piae?
By what crime committed am I not permitted to be dutiful?
§14.65Quid mihi cum ferro? quo bellica tela puellae?
What have I to do with iron? For what purpose are weapons of war to a girl?
§14.66Aptior est digitis lana colusque meis. '
Wool and the distaff are more suited to my fingers.'