Stasimon 6
[Choral 1]
Behold me, alas, a fitting subject for lamentation, born a source of ruin to my race and fatherland.
Chorus
As a greeting for your return home I will lift up an ill-omened cry of woe, the voice, versed in lamentation, of a Mariandynian mourner,
935
a wail attended by many a tear.
940
Xerxes
Utter a strain of lamentation, plaintive and discordant. For Fortune has now veered and turned against me.
Chorus
I will indeed utter the song of lamentation
in commemoration of your sufferings and of our strongly-manned ships, buffeted by waves; the plaintive strain of our land which mourns its sons. And I will cry aloud in lamentation, shedding many a tear.
945
[Choral 2]
Yes, for the Ionian naval force, turning the tide of battle, swept them away, the Ionian host, ravaging the dark sea and the shore of doom.
950
Chorus
Woe! woe! cry aloud, learn about the whole disaster. Where is the rest of the multitude of your comrades? Where are those who stood by your side, such as Pharandaces, Susas, Pelagon, Dotamas, and
955
Agdabatas, Psammis, and Susiscanes of Agbatana?
960
Xerxes
By the shores of Salamis, dashing against its rugged shore,
I left them, fallen in death from a Tyrian ship.
965
Chorus
Woe! woe! cry aloud! Where is your beloved Pharnuchus, and the courageous Ariomardus? Where is prince Seualces,
or Lilaeus of noble lineage, Memphis, Tharybis and Masistras, Artembares and Hystaechmas? This I ask you.
970
[Choral 3]
Woe, woe is me!
Xerxes
They beheld ancient and hateful Athens and with one convulsive struggle (alas, alas !) poor wretches, they lie gasping on the shore.
975
Chorus
Did you really lose your trusty eyeThe Persian kings had in their service officers called their eyes and ears, charged to make report of what they saw and heard.there, that which
counted tens upon tens of thousands of the Persians, Batanochus’ son Alpistus . . . son of Sesames, Megabates’ son, Parthos and mighty Oebares, did you leave these behind?
980
Alas, alas, the unhappy men! You speak of woe, surpassing woe, for noble Persians.
985
Xerxes
In truth you stir yearning in me for my gallant comrades
when you tell me of woe, surpassing woe, hateful and unforgettable. The heart within me cries out aloud for the wretched ones.
990
Chorus
And yet there are others too whom we miss: Xanthis, commander of a myriad Mardian men, and warlike Anchares,
Diaexis, too, and Arsaces, captains of the horse, Cegdadatas and Lythimnas, and Tolmus, insatiate in war. I marvel,
995
that they do not follow behind around your wheeled tent.
1000
[Choral 4]
Gone are they who were leaders of the host.
Chorus
Gone, alas, ingloriously.
Chorus
Alas, alas, you powers divine, you brought ruin upon us, unexpected, unmistakable to see, as is the glance of calamity.
1005
Xerxes
We have been stricken by misfortune such as will endure for ages.
Chorus
We have been stricken; it is abundantly clear.
Xerxes
By strange woe, strange woe!
1010
