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    Contents:
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  • Choral 1
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  • Choral 2
  • Episode 3
  • Choral 3
  • Episode 4
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    		•

    Aeschylus, Suppliant Women (ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D.)

    King

    Editions and translations: Greek (ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph.D.) | English (ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D.)
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    Chorus

    Is there a report that once in this land of Argos Io was ward of Hera's house?

    King

    Certainly she was; the tradition prevails far and wide.

    Chorus

    [295] And is there some story, too, that Zeus was joined in love with a mortal?

    King

    This entanglement was not secret from Hera.

    Chorus

    What then was the result of this royal strife?

    King

    The goddess of Argos transformed the woman into a cow.

    Chorus

    [300] And while she was a horned cow, did not Zeus approach her?

    King

    So they say, making his form that of a bull lusting for a mate.

    Chorus

    What answer then did Zeus' stubborn consort give?

    King

    She placed the all-seeing one to stand watch over the cow.

    Chorus

    What manner of all-seeing herdsman with a single duty do you mean?

    King

    [305] Argus, a son of Earth, whom Hermes slew.

    Chorus

    What else did she contrive against the unfortunate cow?

    King

    A sting, torment of cattle, constantly driving her on.

    Chorus

    They call it a gadfly, those who dwell by the Nile.

    King

    Well then, it drove her by a long course out of the land.

    Chorus

    [310] Your account agrees with mine in all respects.

    King

    So she came to Canobus and to Memphis.

    Chorus

    And Zeus begot a son by the touching of his hand.

    King

    Who is it then that claims to be the cow's Zeus-begotten calf?

    Chorus

    [315] Epaphus, and truly named from “laying on of hands.”

    King

    [And who was begotten of Epaphus?]

    Chorus

    Libya, who reaps the fruit of the largest portion of the earth.

    King

    [What offspring, then, did Libya have?]

    Chorus

    [Agenor was her first child born.]

    King

    And who was his offspring?

    Chorus

    Belus, who had two sons and was father of my father here.

    King

    [320] Now tell me his wisely-given name.1

    Chorus

    Danaus: and he has a brother with fifty sons.

    King

    Reveal his name ungrudgingly.

    1 The epithet, properly applicable to the venerable, Danaus, is transferred to his name, because, to the Greek, name often connoted personality. So “the dreaded name of Demogorgon.”

    There is one comment on or cross reference to this page.

    Cross references from Walter Leaf, Commentary on the Iliad (1900):
    18, 3 [Book 18 (S)]

    Preferred URL for linking to this page: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aesch.+Supp.+291

    The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.

    This text is based on the following book(s):
    Aeschylus. Aeschylus, with an English translation by Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. in two volumes. 2. Suppliant Women. Herbert Weir Smyth, Ph. D. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. 1926.
    OCLC: 13109528
    ISBN: 0674991605

    Buy a copy of this text (not necessarily the same edition) from Amazon.com.

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