Delphi Complete Works of Sophocles

by Sophocles

  How great our lost these streaming eyes can tell,

  This sorrow naught can quell.

  Thou hadst thy wish ‘mid strangers thus to die,

  But I, ah me, not by.

  ISMENE

  Alas, my sister, what new fate

  * * * * * *

  * * * * * *

  Befalls us orphans desolate?

  CHORUS

  His end was blessed; therefore, children, stay

  Your sorrow. Man is born to fate a prey.

  ANTIGONE

  (Str. 2)

  Sister, let us back again.

  ISMENE

  Why return?

  ANTIGONE

  My soul is fain —

  ISMENE

  Is fain?

  ANTIGONE

  To see the earthy bed.

  ISMENE

  Sayest thou?

  ANTIGONE

  Where our sire is laid.

  ISMENE

  Nay, thou can’st not, dost not see —

  ANTIGONE

  Sister, wherefore wroth with me?

  ISMENE

  Know’st not — beside —

  ANTIGONE

  More must I hear?

  ISMENE

  Tombless he died, none near.

  ANTIGONE

  Lead me thither; slay me there.

  ISMENE

  How shall I unhappy fare,

  Friendless, helpless, how drag on

  A life of misery alone?

  CHORUS

  (Ant. 2)

  Fear not, maids —

  ANTIGONE

  Ah, whither flee?

  CHORUS

  Refuge hath been found.

  ANTIGONE

  For me?

  CHORUS

  Where thou shalt be safe from harm.

  ANTIGONE

  I know it.

  CHORUS

  Why then this alarm?

  ANTIGONE

  How again to get us home

  I know not.

  CHORUS

  Why then this roam?

  ANTIGONE

  Troubles whelm us —

  CHORUS

  As of yore.

  ANTIGONE

  Worse than what was worse before.

  CHORUS

  Sure ye are driven on the breakers’ surge.

  ANTIGONE

  Alas! we are.

  CHORUS

  Alas! ’tis so.

  ANTIGONE

  Ah whither turn, O Zeus? No ray

  Of hope to cheer the way

  Whereon the fates our desperate voyage urge.

  [Enter THESEUS]

  THESEUS

  Dry your tears; when grace is shed

  On the quick and on the dead

  By dark Powers beneficent,

  Over-grief they would resent.

  ANTIGONE

  Aegeus’ child, to thee we pray.

  THESEUS

  What the boon, my children, say.

  ANTIGONE

  With our own eyes we fain would see

  Our father’s tomb.

  THESEUS

  That may not be.

  ANTIGONE

  What say’st thou, King?

  THESEUS

  My children, he

  Charged me straitly that no moral

  Should approach the sacred portal,

  Or greet with funeral litanies

  The hidden tomb wherein he lies;

  Saying, “If thou keep’st my hest

  Thou shalt hold thy realm at rest.”

  The God of Oaths this promise heard,

  And to Zeus I pledged my word.

  ANTIGONE

  Well, if he would have it so,

  We must yield. Then let us go

  Back to Thebes, if yet we may

  Heal this mortal feud and stay

  The self-wrought doom

  That drives our brothers to their tomb.

  THESEUS

  Go in peace; nor will I spare

  Ought of toil and zealous care,

  But on all your needs attend,

  Gladdening in his grave my friend.

  CHORUS

  Wail no more, let sorrow rest,

  All is ordered for the best.

  FRAGMENTS

  CONTENTS

  TRACKERS

  THE PROGENY

  MINOR FRAGMENTS

  TRACKERS

  Translated by Arthur S Hunt

  This play was written circa 460 B.C and only 400 lines have survived. Trackers is a satyr play, which was a type of burlesque or parody that playwrights staged after presenting their more serious tragedies. Satyr plays featured a chorus of eleven men dressed as satyrs. Only one stayr play survives complete, titled Cyclops and composed by Euripides. The plot of Trackers focuses on the exploits of Hermes, the winged messenger, a god renowned for theft, cunning, music and commerce. In the play, the chorus of eleven satyrs attempt to track down the cattle stolen by Hermes from the god Apollo. During their quest, Hermes charms them with an instrument of his own invention, a kithara (lyre).

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Hermes - wing-footed messenger of the gods

  A chorus of satyrs (horned and lustful deities, with the upper body of a man and the lower of a goat. They are well known for their love of wine and depravity.

  SCENE

  There is a cave upstage centre (represented by the skene door).

  Enter Apollo, right.

  APOLLO

  I, Apollo, proclaim to all gods and all mortal men : I shall give a golden basin to whoever can bring back my cattle from far away. It is quite unpleasant to me that they are gone, all of them: cows, calves, heifers. They are all gone, and I look in vain for their tracks, while they wander far from their own mangers. I never thought that any of the gods or of men, whose lives are like a single day, would dare do such a thing. Since I found out about this, shocked as I was, I have been seeking them, and I have proclaimed the deed so that no god or mortal men could be unaware of it. I am beside myself. I have gone to visit the whole nation of the Locrians, those who inhabit Opus, those in Ozolis, those in Knemis by the Cephisus. I have gone to Aetolia and to Acarnanian Argos. From there I came to the grove of Zeus at Dodona, shaded by leaves of prophecy. I then hastened to the fruitful plains of Thessaly and the wealthy cities of Boeotia. And then I came to Attica, to holy Athens, but I see my cows nowhere. Then I came to Dorian Argos and the nearby hill. From there I came, in one leap, to the Stymphalian Lake and Mount Cyllene, hard to climb. I speak to the forest: if any shepherd or any rustic or any charcoal-burner is here, or any saytr from the mountains, child of the river-nymphs, I announce these things to one and all. Whoever can capture the one who stole the cattle of Apollo Paean, his is the reward that stands here. Enter Silenus, left.

  SILENUS

  As soon as I heard you shouting your proclamation, I came as fast as an old man can, because I want to help you out, Phoebus Apollo, and perhaps I can hunt up your cattle. Then a messenger will announce my golden reward. I will tell my children to look carefully, if you really do mean to do what you’ve promised.

  APOLLO

  I will indeed; only confirm your promise.

  SILENUS

  I will bring you back your cattle; but you confirm the reward.

  APOLLO

  Whoever finds them will have it; it is ready at hand.

  SILENUS

  Seek!

  APOLLO

  Silenus.

  SILENUS

  What? What are you saying?

  APOLLO

  I say that you, and all the race of your children, will be free. Exit Apollo, right. Enter the chorus of satyrs, by the left parodos. They sing excitedly.

  CHORUS

  Come, come here, see if you can find the footprints of the lost cattle. Apapapay! Oh, oh, listen, I tell you! Get the thief! underground finish the job my old father. How can we find out the secret thefts in the night? if I did meet free life for my father. So
may the dear god bring an end to my labors, as he has shown us the extraordinary excellence of his gold.

  SILENUS (Speaking.)

  Oh gods, Fortune and the god who leads in the straight way, grant me success as I race out to seek out the prey, the spoil, and the booty: the cattle stolen from Phoebus. If there is anyone who has seen them, or heard about them, he would become my friend by telling me, and he would help me to help lord Phoebus. But if someone does not tell what he knows, his reward will be the god’s disapproval.

  CHORUS

  Hey… and not.

  SILENUS

  Does anyone say, or does anyone know, where the cattle are? It seems that I must begin the search. Come, all of you, track them by their scent, if there is any trace left anywhere. Bent over, crouching to the ground, be guided by the scent. Carry out your search this way and bring it to a worthy fulfilment. Exit Silenus. The satyrs divide into two groups and begin sniffing around the stage.

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god: aha! We seem to have it. Stand still, don’t move.

  SEMI-CHORUS B

  There they are: the marks of the cattle.

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Quiet! Some god is taking them to a new home.

  SEMI-CHORUS B

  What should we do, my friend? Do we have to get them out?

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Why? Do you think they’re in here?

  SEMI-CHORUS B

  Definitely. All the signs say so clearly.

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Look! Here’s the same hoof mark again.

  SEMI-CHORUS B

  Look at that! They measure out to exactly the same size.

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Make way, and if you hear any sound from the cattle.

  SEMI-CHORUS B

  I don’t yet hear their voices clearly. But these tracks and footprints are obviously those of the cattle.

  SEMI-CHORUS A

  Hey! As Zeus is my witness, the tracks turn around and go backward. Look at them. Why is that? Why would their line wheel around? The front is turned to the back, and they’re all tangled up together. The cowherd must have been awfully confused.

  SILENUS

  What kind of a way to hunt is that, bent over and leaning down to the ground? Where are you going? I don’t understand. You’re lying there like a hedgehog fallen on the ground, or an ape sticking his head forward and having a temper tantrum. What’s this? Where on earth did you learn this, and how? Tell me, because I certainly don’t understand what you’re doing.

  CHORUS

  Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh! The chorus are still squealing as he starts to speak.

  SILENUS

  What are you “ooh-ooh”-ing for? What are you afraid of? What do you see? What frightful thing are you looking at? Why are you carrying on like bacchantes? Is there a hawk nearby? From offstage, we hear a lyre being tuned. Since the player is in fact Hermes, it sounds divine, but no mortal has ever heard this instrument before, and the satyrs are terrified. They abruptly stop squealing. Do you want to know what it was? Why are you so quiet, when you were just now babbling away?

  CHORUS

  Be quiet!

  SILENUS

  What is it over there that you’re trying to get away from?

  CHORUS

  Listen!

  SILENUS

  I’ll listen. He pauses for a moment, listening. But I don’t hear any sound.

  CHORUS

  Do what I say!

  SILENUS

  No one is helping me with this hunt.

  CHORUS

  Listen just a moment, will you? When we went over there we were assaulted by a noise like no one ever heard before.

  SILENUS

  Why are you running away, afraid of a noise? You wretched beasts, with your filthy bodies all smeared with wax, seeing terrors in every shadow, scared of everything! You’re gutless, and careless, and servile. You’re nothing but body and tongue and voice. You trust to words and flee from actions. Worst of animals, how did you ever come to have a father like me? There are lots of monuments to my courage, when I was young, songs sung at every household’s wedding feast. I was never put to flight, never afraid, and I didn’t quiver at noises made by animals up on the mountains. Instead, I accomplished great things with my spear. That brilliant spear is now besmirched by you, because some new sound from the shepherds has frightened you, like the babies you are, and you’ve given up on the golden wealth that Phoebus said he was offering to you, to say nothing of freedom, which he also offered to you and to me. You’ve put all that away and gone to sleep. Unless you get back to work tracking those cows and their cowherd, wherever they are, you’ll be making noises of your own for your cowardice.

  CHORUS

  Father, walk beside me, so you’ll know whether I’m really a coward. If you’re here, you’ll know first hand, not through rumors.

  SILENUS

  I will approach this sound with you, and I will call out and whistle as I’d call a dog. You, line up three by three, and I will go beside you and get you straightened out again.

  CHORUS

  Perhaps separate satyrs sing the various lines of this song.

  With Silenus, they approach the cave, upstage, jostling, confused, and squabbling. The lyre-noises resume.

  Ooh, ooh, ooh, ssh, ssh, aah, aah! Say what you’re working on.

  Why did you shout and scream? It’s pointless. And why were you suspicious of me? Who’s holding back in our first task?

  You are. He came, he came.

  You are mine; lead the way.

  This way, ho! Who is the ?

  The dragon, the wrinkled one

  Goddess of fair winds, you were beside me, drunk

  Whatever bring set on top of it

  the way which warlike

  Follow me, this way! To the cows, to the task

  so he doesn’t drop the saffron

  You see something beautiful and the good lawful

  Follow me

  Oppopopoy! Hey, filthy polluted one! As soon as you get away from here, you’ll be set free and

  But don’t get lost. Come on, straight ahead, this way. Now we’ve got the crook.

  Father, why are you quiet? Isn’t what we’re saying true? Aren’t you listening? Or are you deafened by the noise?

  SILENUS

  Shush! What is it?

  CHORUS

  I’m getting out of here!

  SILENUS

  Stay, if you can.

  CHORUS

  No way. But you go ahead: you keep looking and track down the cows, any way you want to, and take the gold unless the biggest time.

  SILENUS

  No, I won’t leave you, nor sneak away from the work, before we know for sure what’s going on in there.

  CHORUS

  Addressing the source of the noise

  Hey! You in there! voice reward you will be happy at home.

  To Silenus

  He’s not coming out.

  To the noise-maker again. But I’ll force you out, making the ground rumble with my swift leaps and kicks, so you’ll listen, even if you’re altogether deaf.

  Cyllene emerges from the cave.

  CYLLENE

  Satyrs, why have you rushed up here making all this noise, on this mountain covered with green woods full of animals? Have you got yourselves a new job? You used to bring joy to your master , who would put on a fawn skin and carry a thyrsus in his hands. You would dance around the god shouting “Evoe,” along with the nymphs, who are his family, and a crowd of children. But now I don’t know what you’re doing. Where is this whirlwind of new craziness taking you? I heard something odd: first, nearby, orders like you’d give to hunting dogs when they get near a wild animal’s den in a thicket; then, at the same time, stretched out from the mouth to the thief . Then announcement . After that they went away, feet stomping, and a confused sound came from nearby. It would be different if So I heard the sounds of wrong notes you sick you di
d to a nymph that had nothing to do with it?

  CHORUS

  They sing.

  Deep-girdled nymph, don’t be angry. No one’s starting a war with you, nor has any unfriendly or trifling word touched my tongue. Please don’t threaten me, but graciously tell me what I need: who is it who seems to speak in a wonderful, inspired voice from below the earth?

  CYLLENE Speaking.

  That’s better: you sound gentler now. You would learn more by hunting rather than from a coward’s great deeds or a nymph’s ordeal. I won’t put up with your loud, quarrelsome words. But calm down and tell me what it is you need.

  CHORUS

  Mighty Cyllene, lady of this land, I’ll tell you in a moment why I’ve come. But first tell us about that scraping noise and who’s making it.

  CYLLENE

  First of all, understand this: if you say one word of what I’m about to tell you, you’ll be in trouble. This business is a secret even among the gods, so that no news of it may come to Hera. You see, Zeus came secretly to Atlas’ house to the deep-girdled goddess and in a cave begot a single son. I am bringing him up myself, for his mother’s strength is shaken by sickness as if by a storm. So I stay by his crib and take care of his food and drink and rest, all day and all night. He grows, day by day, in a very unusual way, and I’m astounded and afraid. It’s not even six days since he was born, and he already stands as tall as a young man. His growth spurt hasn’t wasted any time coming. That’s the kind of child that’s in my treasure-house. His father has ensured he would be difficult to find.

  He has a hidden machine that makes the sound you’re asking about, that so surprised you. It’s a box full of pleasure that he made in just one day from a dead animal he found, and he’s down there shaking it.

  CHORUS Singing.

  unspeakable child of a cow amazed prey speaking voice to make such sounds from a dead animal.

  CYLLENE

  Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you.

  CHORUS

  How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that?

  CYLLENE

  Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.

  CHORUS

  What did it look like? Long, curved, short?

  CYLLENE

  Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.

  CHORUS

  Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?

  CYLLENE

  In between, really: it’s round with short legs.

  CHORUS

  Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?