Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANDROMEDA; FRAGMENT, by EURIPIDES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ANDROMEDA; FRAGMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Holy night! / how long is the road of thy horses
Last Line: There is no fuller joy on earth to long for.
Subject(s): Andromeda (mythology)


ANDROMEDA. PERSEUS

(i)

ANDR.

Holy Night!
How long is the road of thy horses,
When thou drivest across the bright
Virginal spaces on high
Mid the starry courses
In the sacred expanse of sky.
And on thee, I call in thy cave,
Echo, to silence thy voice above me:
Ah, leave me alone to have
My fill of lament, and cry
With my maidens who love me.

(ii)

PERS.

Maiden, I pity thee who hangest there.

ANDR.

And who art thou who pitiest my sorrow?

(iii)

ANDR.

Stranger, have pity on my misery
And loose me from my chains.

(iv)

PERS.

Maid, if I save thee, wilt thou give me thanks?

(v)

ANDR.

Do not by offering hopes force me to tears.
Much yet may chance of which we have no thought.
But lead me, stranger, to attend on thee,
If so it please, or as a wife, or slave.

(vi)

ANDR.

O Love, our lord, of gods and men the king,
Either teach not how beauteous beauty is,
Or else, in troubles of thine own devising
Help lovers onward to a happy end.
Thus shalt thou gain high honour: otherwise
The loving lessons that men learn of thee
Will rob thee of their worship and goodwill.

When it befalls poor mortal men to love,
Should they find worthy objects for their loving,
There is no fuller joy on earth to long for.





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