Euripides' HERACLEIDAE Complete

Translated by E. Coleridge.

Euripides Bilingual Anthology  Studies  Euripides in Print

47 pages - You are on Page 22

Macaria: No longer then cower before the hated Argive spear; for I,
of my own free will, or ever they bid me, am ready to die and offer
myself as a victim. For what excuse have we, if, while this city deems
it right to incur great danger on our behalf, we, though we might
save ourselves, fly from death, by foisting our trouble on others?
No! indeed, 'twere surely most ridiculous to sit and mourn as suppliants
of the gods, and show ourselves but cowards, children as we are of
that illustrious sire. Where among the brave is such conduct seen?
Better, I suppose, this city should be taken and I (which Heaven forefend!)
fall into the hands of the enemy, and then, for all I am my noble
father's child, meet an awful doom, and face the Death-god none the
less. Shall I wander as an exile from this land? Shall I not feel
shame then, when someone says, as say they will, "Why are ye come
hither with suppliant boughs, loving your lives too well? Begone from
our land! for we will not succour cowards." Nay, if these be slain
and I alone be saved, I have no hope in any wise of being happy, though
many ere now have in this hope betrayed their friends, For who will
care to wed a lonely maid or make me mother of his children? 'Tis
better I should die than meet such treatment, little as I merit it.
This were fitter treatment for some other, one that is not born to
fame as I am. Conduct me to the scene of death, crown me with garlands,
and begin the rites, if so it please you; then be victorious o'er
the foe, for here I offer my life freely and without constraint, and
for my brothers and myself I undertake to die. For I, by loving not
my life too well, have found a treasure very fair, a glorious means
to leave it.

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