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Chorus Leader
And see, the aged Iphis, your father, draws near to hear your startling speech, which yet he does not know, and will grieve to learn. Iphis enters.
Iphis
Unhappy child! I have come, an unhappy old man, [1035] with twofold sorrow in my house to mourn, that I may carry to his native land the corpse of my son Eteoclus, slain by the Theban spear, and also in quest of my daughter who rushed headlong from the house, for she was the wife of Capaneus [1040] and longed to die with her husband. Before this she was guarded in my house, but, when I took the watch away in the present troubles, she was gone. But I feel sure that she is here; tell me if you have seen her. Evadne
[1045] Why question them? Here I am upon the rock, father, over the pyre of Capaneus, like some bird hovering lightly, in my wretchedness. Iphis
What wind has blown you here, child? What was your errand? Why did you pass the threshold of my house and seek this land? Evadne
[1050] It would only anger you to hear what I intend, and so I do not want you to hear, father. Iphis
What! does your own father not have a right to know? Evadne
You would not judge my purpose wisely. Iphis
Why do you deck yourself in that apparel? Evadne
[1055] This robe conveys a strange meaning, father. Iphis
You have no look of mourning for your lord. Evadne
No, the reason why I am decked in this way is new, perhaps. Iphis
Do you then appear before a funeral-pyre? Evadne
Yes, for here it is I come to take the prize of victory. Iphis
[1060] What victory do you mean? I want to learn this from you. Evadne
A victory over all women on whom the sun looks down. Iphis
In Athena's handiwork or in prudent counsel? Evadne
In courage; for I will lie down and die with my lord. Iphis
What are you saying? What is this foolish riddle you propound? Evadne
[1065] To that pyre where dead Capaneus lies, I will leap down. Iphis
My daughter, do not speak thus before the multitude! Evadne
The very thing I wish, that every Argive should learn it. Iphis
No, I will never consent to let you do this deed. Evadne
It is all one; you shall never catch me in your grasp. [1070] See! I cast myself down, no joy to you, but to myself and to my husband blazing on the pyre with me.She leaps into the pyre.
Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama, edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 1. The Suppliants, translated by E. P. Coleridge. New York. Random House. 1938.
The Annenberg CPB/Project provided support for entering this text.