The Tragedies of Euripides Part 46

[36] ????t?? appears here to have an active sense. So in Soph. d. c. 1521.

a???t?? ????t????. It is used in its more frequent sense (a pa.s.sive) in v.

648, of this play. TR. Compare my note on aesch. Prom. 110, p. 6, n. I. B.

[37] Cf. Med. 169. ???a ?' ??? ????? ??at??? ta?a? ?e???sta?. B.

[38] There are various interpretations of this pa.s.sage. The Scholiast puts this sense upon it, _Phaedra was chaste (in your eyes), who had not the power of being chaste, I had the power, and is it likely that I did not exert it to good purpose?_ Others translate the former part of the pa.s.sage with the Scholiast, but make ?? ?a??? e???e?a refer to the present time, _had it to no good purpose_, i.e. am not now able to persuade you of my innocence. Some translate es?f???se?, _acted like a chaste woman_. TR.

There is evidently a double meaning, which is almost lost by translation.

Theseus is not intended to understand this. B.

[39] Cf. vs. 3. B.

[40] ?????? were the notes the augurs took of their observations, and wrote down on tablets. See Phn. 852.

[41] ???????????? appears to be metaphorically used, but I think the sense would be greatly improved by reading ?a????, and taking ???????????? to mean "to dwell with him," referring it to ??st??. B.

[42] But we must read ???ad?? ??pp?? with Reiske, Brunot, and Dindorf. See his notes. p?d? must be joined with ??. ??pp??. B.

[43] p?t?? ap?t??. B.

[44] ??ta?s?? a???a?s??. Some have supposed a???? to mean a part of the chariot, but this seems at variance with the best authorities (see Monk's note); perhaps the expression may mean what is implied in the translation; that Hippolytus did not wait to change any part of his dress. TR. But I agree with Dindorf, that a?ta?s?? is then utterly absurd and useless. The Scholiast seems correct in saying, ta?? t?? ?a?at?? pe?? t?? a?t??a, e??a t?? ?tas?? e?e? ?? ????????. B.

[45] "Adeo ut deficerent a visu, ne cernere possem, Scironis alta." B.

[46] ?a??a??, a word formed from the noise of the sea--?? ?a? ???? t??

??at?? e? t??? ?????as? t?? pet??? ????e???, d??e? ?e?s?a? t? ?a??a, ?a??a.--_Etym. Mag._

[47] ??????a?. See Blomfield's _Glossary to the Prometheus_, 1051.

[48] Musgrave supposes that Hippolytus wound the reins round his body; but on this supposition, not to mention other objections, the comparison with the sailor does not hold so well. It is more natural to suppose that he leaned back in order to get a purchase: in this att.i.tude he is made to describe himself in Ov. _Met._ xv. 519, _Et retro lentas tendo resupinus habenas._ If there be any doubt of e?? t???s?e? ??as?? being Greek, this objection is obviated by putting a stop after ??as??, and making it depend on ?e??e?.

[49] i.e. in Crete. See Dindorf's note. B.

[50] ??????eta?, _valde prorumpit, liberat terminos, quibus hactenus septum fuit_. REISKE.

[51] Heath translates a?e???f?s??? _adtollebam corpus_, honoris scilicet gratia. Compare Iliad, ?. 241. ata? as?a ?a? ??d??? pa?et', epe? ??

e?e??e ???? ???? a????????, which Pope translates,

"Jove thinking of his pains, they pa.s.s'd away:"

in which the idea is much more sublime; for there the thought of a Deity effects what the presence of one does here.

[52] Probably meaning Adonis. See Monk. B.

ALCESTIS.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

APOLLO.

DEATH.

CHORUS OF PHERANS.

ATTENDANTS.

ALCESTIS.

ADMETUS.

EUMELUS.

HERCULES.

PHERES.

THE ARGUMENT.

Apollo desired of the Fates that Admetus, who was about to die, might give a subst.i.tute to die for him, that so he might live for a term equal to his former life; and Alcestis, his wife, gave herself up, while neither of his parents were willing to die instead of their son. But not long after the time when this calamity happened, Hercules having arrived, and having learned from a servant what had befallen Alcestis, went to her tomb, and having made Death retire, covers the lady with a robe; and requested Admetus to receive her and keep her for him; and said he had borne her off as a prize in wrestling; but when he would not, he unveiled her, and discovered her whom he was lamenting.

ALCESTIS

APOLLO.

O mansions of Admetus, wherein I endured to acquiesce in the slave's table,[1] though a G.o.d; for Jove was the cause, by slaying my son aesculapius, hurling the lightning against his breast: whereat enraged, I slay the Cyclops, forgers of Jove's fire; and me my father compelled to serve for hire with a mortal, as a punishment for these things. But having come to this land, I tended the herds of him who received me, and have preserved this house until this day: for being pious I met with a pious man,[2] the son of Pheres, whom I delivered from dying by deluding the Fates: but those G.o.ddesses granted me that Admetus should escape the impending death, could he furnish in his place another dead for the powers below. But having tried and gone through all his friends, his father and his aged mother who bore him, he found not, save his wife, one who was willing to die for him, and view no more the light: who now within the house is borne in their hands, breathing her last; for on this day is it destined for her to die, and to depart from life. But I, lest the pollution[3] come upon me in the house, leave this palace's most dear abode. But already I behold Death near, priest of the dead, who is about to bear her down to the mansions of Pluto; but he comes at the right time, observing this day, in the which it was destined for her to die.

DEATH,[4] APOLLO.

DEA. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! What dost thou at the palace? why tamest here, Phbus?

Art thou again at thy deeds of injustice, taking away and putting an end to the honors of the powers beneath? Did it not suffice thee to stay the death of Admetus, when thou didst delude the Fates by fraudful artifice?[5] But now too dost thou keep guard for her, having armed thine hand with thy bow, who then promised, in order to redeem her husband, herself, the daughter of Pelias, to die for him?

AP. Fear not, I cleave to justice and honest arguments.

DEA. What business then has your bow, if you cleave to justice?

AP. It is my habit ever to bear it.

DEA. Yes, and without regard to justice to aid this house.

AP. _Ay_, for I am afflicted at the misfortunes of a man that is dear to me.

DEA. And wilt thou deprive me of this second dead?

AP. But neither took I him from thee by force.

DEA. How then is he upon earth, and not beneath the ground?