A monologue from the enjoy by Euripides
NOTE: This monologue is usually reprinted by The Takes on of Euripides in The english language, volume. ii. Trans. Shelley Dean Milman. London, uk: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1922.
JERR: I ought to not be break outs, it seems, in speech
Although like the skilful pilot, who, with sails
Scarce 50 percent unfurled, his bark more surely tutorials
Escape, O woman, your ungoverned tongue.
Since you the huge benefits on me conferred
Twist in and so proud stress, I regard
That I to Venus just, and no god
Or gentleman beside, my own prosperous trip owe.
Even though a wondrous subtlety of soul
To you personally belong, \twere an invidious speech
For me to make should I relate just how Love
By his inescapable shafts limited you
To save my life. I will not for that reason state
This kind of argument as well nicely, yet allow
Because you did aid me, it had been kindly performed.
But by simply preserving myself have you attained more
You bestowed, as I shall show: and first
Transplanted via barbaric shores, you dwell
In Grecian regions, and possess here recently been taught
To behave as proper rights and the regulations ordain
Neither follow the caprice of intense strength.
By all the Greeks your knowledge is identified
And you acquire renown, but had you’ll still
Inhabited that distant location of the planet
You never had been named. I would certainly not wish
Pertaining to mansions placed with precious metal, or to go over
The nicest notes of Orpheus\ magic lyre
Were those unfading wreaths which in turn fame bestows
From me personally withheld by fortune. My spouse and i thus far
On my own labours just have discoursed.
For you personally this odious strife of words commenced.
But in espousing Creon\s royal daughter
With which you have reproached me, Let me prove
I in operating thus i am wise and chaste
That we to you have been completely the best of friends
And to our children. But make no reply.
Since hither Iolchos\ land My spouse and i came
Combined with many woes, and such
Since could not be avoided, what system
More helpful would an exile shape
Than marriage the king\s daughter? Certainly not through hate
To you, which you reproach me with, certainly not smitten
With love to get a new consort, or a desire
The number of my children to reinforce:
For those we have already may possibly suffice
And i also complain certainly not. But to me personally it looked
Of great importance that we the two might live
As matches our get ranking, nor go through abject require
Well realizing that each friend avoids poor people.
I likewise wished to educate our sons
In such a way as befits my race
And with the noble brothers yet unborn
Make them a single family, that thus, my home
Cementing, I would prosper. In a few measure
Would it be your interest too that by my bride
I will have kids, and myself it much imports
By simply future children, to provide for all those
Who will be in being. Have I judged amiss?
You would not censure myself, unless your soul
Had been by a competitor stung. However your whole love-making
Hath these types of ideas, in the event in matrimony blest
En deem nought wanting, when some change
Of good fortune e\er betide the nuptial couch
Everything that was great and lovely ye abhor.
Far better were it for a persons race
Got children been produced by other means
Simply no females e\er existing: hence might gentleman
Exempt from just about every evil have remained.
