Quotes from The Persians
9 notable lines from Aeschylus · 472 BCE
On, sons of Greece! On, for your country's freedom! strike to save Wives, children, temples of ancestral gods, Graves of your fathers! now is all at stake.
Quotations follow the David Grene translation (University of Chicago Press, 2013) — our recommended edition.
Away unto the Grecian land Hath passed the Persian armament: We, by the monarch's high command, We are the warders true who stand, Chosen, for honour and descent, To watch the wealth of him who went.
Chorus of Persian Elders, opening of the play · trans. Morshead Hark to me, Persians! Persia's host lies low.
Messenger, announcing the defeat at Salamis · trans. Morshead For pride grows rankly, and to ripeness brings The curse of fate, and reaps, for harvest, tears!
Chorus, on hubris · trans. Morshead Doubt not that over-proud and haughty souls Zeus lours in wrath, exacting the accompt.
Ghost of Darius, on divine punishment of pride · trans. Morshead Alas! A vast ocean of woe has burst upon the Persians and the entire Eastern race.
Messenger Let no mortal wight, Holding too lightly of his present weal And passionate for more, cast down and spill The mighty cup of his prosperity!
Ghost of Darius, warning against greed · trans. Morshead Piled with men dead, yea, miserably slain, Is every beach, each reef of Salamis!
Messenger, describing the dead after the battle · trans. Morshead Alas the day, that I should fall Into this grimmest fate of all
Xerxes, lamenting his defeat · trans. Morshead