Persians
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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and Andros which lies adjacent to Tenos.
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Chorus
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And he held under his sway the sea-girt islands midway between the continents,
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Lemnos, and the settlement of Icarus, and Rhodes, and Cnidos, and the Cyprian cities Paphos, Soli, and Salamis,
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whose mother-city is now the cause of our lament.
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Xerxes
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Woe, woe is me!
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They beheld ancient and hateful Athens and with one convulsive struggle (alas, alas !) poor wretches, they lie gasping on the shore.
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Chorus
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Did you really lose your trusty eyeThe Persian kings had in their service officers called their eyes and ears, charged to make report of what they saw and heard.there, that which
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counted tens upon tens of thousands of the Persians, Batanochus’ son Alpistus . . . son of Sesames, Megabates’ son, Parthos and mighty Oebares, did you leave these behind?
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Alas, alas, the unhappy men! You speak of woe, surpassing woe, for noble Persians.
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Xerxes
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In truth you stir yearning in me for my gallant comrades
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when you tell me of woe, surpassing woe, hateful and unforgettable. The heart within me cries out aloud for the wretched ones.
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Chorus
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And yet there are others too whom we miss: Xanthis, commander of a myriad Mardian men, and warlike Anchares,
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Diaexis, too, and Arsaces, captains of the horse, Cegdadatas and Lythimnas, and Tolmus, insatiate in war. I marvel,
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that they do not follow behind around your wheeled tent.
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Chorus
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Yet the insidious guile of god—what mortal man can escape it? Who with agile foot can lightly overleap
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and escape its toils?
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Chorus
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For Delusion, with her fair appearance, lures men astray into her snares, from which it is not possible to escape without meeting with disaster.
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Xerxes
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Gone are they who were leaders of the host.
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Chorus
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Gone, alas, ingloriously.
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Xerxes
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Alas, alas!
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Chorus
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Alas, alas, you powers divine, you brought ruin upon us, unexpected, unmistakable to see, as is the glance of calamity.
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Xerxes
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We have been stricken by misfortune such as will endure for ages.
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Chorus
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We have been stricken; it is abundantly clear.
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Xerxes
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By strange woe, strange woe!
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Chorus
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It was with bad luck that we encountered Ionia’s mariners. Unfortunate in war, indeed, is Persia’s race.
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Chorus
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Therefore my heart is wrapped in gloom and is racked with fear for the Persian army lest the state learn that the mighty capital of Susa is empty of men.
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Chorus
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Fearful I am too that as bands of women cry aloud woe, the Cissian stronghold will raise a resounding shout responsive to the beating of breasts,
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and that there will be a tearing of fine linen robes.
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Xerxes
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How true it is. In the loss of so great an army
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I have indeed been dealt a blow, wretched as I am.
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Chorus
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What that belonged to Persia, unfortunate one, has not been destroyed?
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Xerxes
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Do you see this remnant of my royal robe?
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Chorus
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Yes, I do indeed.
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Xerxes
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And this quiver—
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Chorus
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What is this you say has been saved?
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Xerxes
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Treasury for shafts?
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Chorus
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Truly a small remnant from an ample store.
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Xerxes
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We have been deprived of defenders.
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Chorus
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Ionia’s people shrink not from the spear.
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Xerxes
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They are a war-like people. I have lived to behold a calamity I never expected.
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Chorus
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Are you speaking of the routed multitude which manned your ships?
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Xerxes
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And I rent my robe at the disastrous event.
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Chorus
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Alas, alas!
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Xerxes
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No, far worse than alas.
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Chorus
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Yes, for twofold and threefold—
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Xerxes
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Pain to us, but exultation to our enemies
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Chorus
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Yes, and our strength has been maimed.
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Xerxes
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I am stripped of my escort.
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Chorus
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By the disasters of your comrades upon the sea.
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Chorus
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For all the men-at-arms, those who urge on steeds and those who march along the plain, have left the city and gone forth, like bees in a swarm, together with the captain of the host.
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They have crossed the headland, projecting into the sea and common to either continent, through which both shores are bridged.
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Chorus
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And marriage-beds are filled with tears through longing for husbands;
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each Persian woman has sent to the field her warlike and fiery consort, and now in grief and longing for her beloved lord, is left forsaken by her mate.
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Xerxes
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Weep, weep over our calamity, and depart to your homes.
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Chorus
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Alas, alas, woe, woe!
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Xerxes
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Cry aloud now in response to me.
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Chorus
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A wretched offering from the wretched to the wretched.
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Xerxes
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Cry out, tuning your strain to mine.
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Chorus
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Oh, oh! That which has happened is grievous indeed.
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Alas, for I too share in your sorrow.
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Xerxes
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Strike, strike, and groan for my sake.
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Chorus
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I weep in lamentation!
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Xerxes
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Now cry aloud in response to me.
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Chorus
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This care, my lord, is mine.
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Xerxes
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Lift up your voice now in lamentation.
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Chorus
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Oh, oh! And with our wailing, alas, will be mingled bruising blows and shrieks of pain.
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Xerxes
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Beat your breast too, and raise the Mysian wail.
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Chorus
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Anguish, anguish!
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Xerxes
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And tear, I beg of you, the white hair from your beard.
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Chorus
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With clenched nails, with clenched nails, with loud wailing.
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Xerxes
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And utter shrill cries.
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Chorus
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This too I will do.
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Xerxes
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And with your fingers tear the robe which drapes you.
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Chorus
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Anguish, anguish!
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Xerxes
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Pluck out your locks, and lament our host.
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Chorus
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With clenched nails, with clenched nails, with loud wailing.
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Xerxes
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Let tears moisten your eyes.
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Chorus
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I am drenched with tears.
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Xerxes
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Ah me!