Stasimon 3
[Choral 1]
Joy is here and sorrow too,—
Chorus
for the state fair fame, and for our captains double meed of honour. Bitter for me it is to see the limbs of my dead sons, and yet a welcome sight withal, because I shall behold the unexpected day
780
after sorrow’s cup was full.
785
Would that Father Time had kept me unwed from my youth up e’en till now when I am old! What need had I of children?
Methinks I should not have suffered excessively, had I never borne the marriage-yoke; but now I have my sorrow full in view, the loss of children dear.
790
[Choral]
Lo! I see the bodies
Chorus
of the fallen youths. Woe is me! would I could join these children in their death and descend to Hades with them!
795
[Choral 2]
Mothers, raise the wail for the dead departed;
Adrastus
cry in answer when ye hear my note of woe.
800
Chorus
My sons, my sons! O bitter words for loving mothers to address to you! To thee, my lifeless child, I call.
Chorus
Ah me, my sufferings!
805
Chorus
A lacuna in the MS.
Adrastus
We have endured, alas!—
Chorus
Sorrows most grievous.
Adrastus
O citizens of Argos! do ye not behold my fate?
Chorus
They see thee, and me the hapless mother,
reft of her children.
810
Adrastus
Bring near the blood-boltered corpses of those hapless chiefs, foully slain by foes unworthy, with whom lay the decision of the contest.
Chorus
Let me embrace and hold my children to my bosom in my enfolding arms.
815
Adrastus
There, there! thou hast—
Chorus
Sorrows heavy enough to bear.
Chorus
Thy groans mingle with those of their parents.Reading with Hartung τοῖς τεκοῦσς’ ὁμοῦ λέγεις.
Chorus
O’er both of us thou dost lament.
820
Adrastus
Would God the Theban ranks had laid me dead in the dust!
Chorus
Oh that I had ne’er been wedded to a husband!
[Choral]
Behold this sea of troubles!The print edition reads: Ah! hapless mothers, behold this sea of troubles! The lines have been modified to more closely match the Greek.
Adrastus
Ah! hapless mothers.
825
Chorus
Our nails have ploughed our cheeks in furrows, and o’er our heads have we strewn ashes.
Adrastus
Ah me! ah me! Oh that earth’s floor would swallow me,
or the whirlwind snatch me away, or Zeus’s flaming bolt descend upon my head!
830
Chorus
Bitter the marriages thou didst witness, bitter the oracle of Phoebus!
The curse of Oedipus, fraught with sorrow, after desolatingFor the unintelligible ἔλημας of the MS. Hermann conjectured ἔρημα σ’ which is here followed. his house, is come on thee.
835