EURIPIDES
Macaria
Strangers, before all else, I hope you won't
Think it was brazen of me to come out. 475
I know a woman should be quiet and
Discreet, and that her place is in the home.
Yet I came out because I heard your cries. (Speaking to
lolaus.)
Although I'm not the family head, I have
A right to be concerned about the fate 480
Of my own brothers, and I'd like to know,
For my sake too, what new thing has turned up
To plague you—as if this were not enough.
lolaus
I've always thought your family contains
No cooler head than yours, Macaria. 485
The fact is, just when things were going well,
We suddenly fell downward with a crash,
Back where we were. The king's priests say he has
To sacrifice—not just a bull or calf—
A real live girl, of noble stock, to please 490
Persephone, if any of us here
Values his life. And that's our quandary.
The king won't kill a stranger's child, much less
His own, and hinted pretty plainly that
If we see no way out, we'll have to find 495
Another refuge. As for him, he's bound
To think of his own country's safety first.
Macaria
And on that issue, then, we stand or fall?
lolaus
All other matters being equal, yes.
Macaria
Then all your Argive fears are over, since 500
This volunteer is quite prepared to die,
And let herself be led off to the slaughter.
150