Rhesus Thrax dux Byzantiorum (ut Suidas† tradit) bellicis artibus rebusque fortiter gestis inter suos clarissimus extitit. Is, cum bellum Troianum iam non Asiam solum sed totum paene orbem terrarum concuteret, ut cui admiscerentur omnium gentium et nationum reges ac duces, multis legationibus ab Hectore sollicitatus ad Ilium valido cum exercitu venit: serius tamen Hectoris expectatione quod prius regni sui fines adversus Scytharum incursiones tueri necesse habuerit. Prima autem nocte in Troianorum castris cum iam certam spem victoriae concepisset seque cum suis quieti dedisset nihil periculi metuens omniumque rerum securus (quippe iam fractas Graecorum res dictitabant) a Diomede et Ulysse ductu Minervae obtruncatur. Iuno enim Graecorum rebus timens propter adventum Thracum misit Palladem, quae in exitium Rhesi istos iam dictos heroas excitet: a quibus interficitur et Dolon exploratum a Troianis missus hortatu Aeneae, qui Hectoris arbitrantis fugam moliri Graecos ardorem moderatur revocatque eum a nimis calido^ consilio, quo universis copiis oppugnare noctu munitiones Graecorum omnesque hostes in fuga opprimere constituebat. Terpsichore, vel (ut alii) Euterpe* mater, funus filii curat. Acerbum autem dolorem tam Troianis quam Thracibus fortissimi principis inopinatus ac miserabilis casus attulit. Sunt qui scribant Rhesum primo die secundo marte pugnasse multosque Graecos fudisse, ac secunda demum nocte insidiis exploratorum iugulatum periisse.†† Ceterum hoc totum argumentum sumptum est ex Iliad. κ.** Haec de Argumento, nunc de scopo huius fabulae.

†[Suda ρ 146 s.v. Ῥῆσος.]

^[The word printed is "callido," which means "prudent, shrewd," contrary to the notion that Hector has too be reined in by the prudent advice of Aeneas. "Calidus" with one l means "hot," hence "vehement" or "hasty, rash."]

*[The scholion on Rhesus 346 cites sources for Klio or Euterpe as mother of Rhesus, while the hypothesis to the play ascribed to Aristophanes of Byzantium gives the mother’s name as Terpsichore (all of these are Muses).]

††[Sch. Hom. Il. 10.435 says that Pindar told the version in which Rhesus fought successfully for one day (Pindar fr. 262 Snell-Maehler).]

**[Homer, Iliad, Book 10 (known as the Doloneia).]

Rhesus the Thracian, leader of the Byzantians (as Suidas relates), was the most famous amongst his people for his skills in war and brave deeds. When the Trojan War had already struck not only Asia but almost the whole world, because kings and leaders of all races and nations were involved in it, he, having been urged by many embassies from Hector, came to Ilium with a strong army: however, later than the expectation of Hector because he considered it necessary first to defend his own borders against the attacks of the Scythians. But on the first night in the camp of the Trojans, when he had already conceived a definite hope for victory and had given himself and his men over to rest, fearing no danger at all and untroubled in every respect (of course they were saying that the affairs of the Greeks had already been broken), he is killed by Diomedes and Ulysses led by Minerva. For Juno, fearing for the situation of the Greeks because of the arrival of the Thracians, sent Pallas to arouse those aforementioned heroes to the killing of Rhesus: and Dolon is killed by them when he was sent by the Trojans to investigate as a scout at the urging of Aeneas, who moderates the ardor of Hector, who thinks that the Greeks are planning to flee, and calls him back from his excessively rash plan, with which he was intending to attack the fortifications of the Greeks at night with all his forces and to crush all the enemies in flight. Terpischore, or (as others say) Euterpe mother (of Rhesus), arranges the funeral of her son. But the unexpected and miserable death of a very brave leader brought bitter pain as much to the Trojans as to the Thracians. There are some who write that Rhesus fought on the first day with military success and routed many Greeks, and only on the following night through the ambush of the spies died with his throat cut. Moreover, all of this argument was taken from Book 10 of the Iliad. This much concerning the Argument, now about the aim of this play.

In hoc dramate proponitur pulcherimma quaedam imago militaris oeconomiae, sive διοικήσεως: in qua non tam valent vis et prompta audacia praesentesque in periculis animi quam tuta consilia ac mentes cautae futurorumque praesagae. Hector totus calet amore pugnandi, nec animus nec vires desunt: at Aeneae prudentia sedata quomodo res et recte et tuto geri possit perspicit. Hectores isti fervidi saepe maximos exercitus in discrimem adducunt hostibusque sua temeritate victoriam veluti propinant. Sed Aeneae ingenii solertia prudentique consilio nonnumquam imbecilles robustissimas copias fuderunt. Unde Homerus prudentiam coniunctam cum viribus et virtute militari esse debere hoc versu docet: ἀμφότερον, βασιλεύς τ’ ἀγαθὸς κρατερός τ’ αἰχμητής.† Lege huc illam apud Ovidium in 12. Transform.†† Ulyssis et Aiacis super armis Achillis contentionem: in qua egregia comparatio bonorum animi (quae sunt sapientia, eloquentia, solertia, et quaedam omnium affectuum moderatio) et corporis, quae sunt robor, duritia, et laborum patientia, sanitas, unde immodica propriarum virium venit fiducia. Formam luculentam utriusque virtutis tam bellicae quam politicae Cyri paedia apud Xenophontem adumbrat. Meminerit etiam adolescens hic exhiberi imaginem quandam vitae militaris, in qua omnia incerta, periculosa, turbida, plena insidiarum: item eventus rerum insperati et subiti, ac plurima mortis imago ob oculos versatur. Quorum tamen incommodorum* maior pars ducum industria decidi potest. Nimia autem securitas et fiducia Rheso inopinatae necis causa extitit: quae duae res saepe faciunt ut maximas calamitates validissimi exercitus accipiant. Cicero in oratione pro lege Manilia** has fere dotes in summo imperatore requirit: felicitatem, scientiam rei militaris, virtutem, auctoritatem: item laborem in negotiis, fortitudinem in periculis, industriam in agendo, celeritatem in conficiendo, consilium in providendo. Sed haec hactenus.

†[Iliad 3.179 (Helen describing Agamemnon).]

††[Ovid, Metamorphoses, 12.620–13.383.]

*[misprint incommdorum in original]

**[Cicero, pro lege Manilia (de imperio Cn. Pompei) 28–29]

In this drama a most beautiful image of military arrangement, or administration, is presented: in which force, ready daring, and brave spirits present in dangers are not as strong as safe counsels and cautious minds that have foresight of the future. Hector is completely passionate with his love of fighting, lacking neither in spirit nor strength: but the calm sense of Aeneas perceives how the situation can be handled both correctly and safely. These fervid Hectors often lead the greatest armies into danger and by their own rashness seem to make a gift of victory to the enemies. But the Aeneases, by the shrewdness of their cast of mind and prudent advice, (although) sometimes being weak, have routed the strongest forces. From which Homer teaches in this verse that prudence ought to be combined with strength and military valor: "both, an excellent king and a powerful warrior." On this point, read in Book 12 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses that dispute of Ulysses and Ajax over the armor of Achilles: in which there is a exceptional comparison of the goods of the mind (which are wisdom, eloquence, shrewdness, and a certain moderation of all emotions) and of the body, which are strength, rigor, and endurance of hardship, and health, from which comes the excessive confidence in one’s own strength. The Education of Cyrus in Xenophon outlines the splendid form of both military and political virtue. Also let a young man remember that a certain image of military life is shown here, in which everything is uncertain, dangerous, turbulent, and full of traps: likewise, there are unexpected and sudden outcomes of actions, and many images of death are presented for one’s eyes. Nevertheless, the greater part of these disadvantages can be reduced by the diligence of the leaders. But the excessive sureness and confidence were the cause for Rhesus of his unexpected death: these two things often make the strongest armies suffer the greatest calamities. Cicero in his speech in defence of the Manilian Law requires these qualities in the best general: good luck, military knowledge, courage, and authority: also hard work in difficulties, fortitude in dangers, diligence in action, speed in completion, and counsel in foreseeing. But so much for these points.

[409] Argumentum Actus primi.

Vigiles excitant Hectorem imperatorem nocte intempesta nuntiantque magnos ignes passim per Graecorum castra lucere: incertum esse quidnam novarum rerum moliantur hostes. Unde viros in arma rapiendos suadent ne subito improvisi aliquo periculo implicentur. Hector ex his coniecturam facit Graecos fugam adornare: iamque ipsos in fuga persequi ac concidere gestit. Quod dum agitaret cum choro, Aeneas intervenit et quid sibi velint motus isti nocturni in exercitu percontatur: cognitaque re prudentissime consulit ne quid praecipitanter ageret neve noctu exercitum in discrimen adduceret, praesertim cum nondum satis constet quid hostes machinentur. Quin potius exploratorem mittendum ut per hunc cognitis hostium consiliis postea quid agendum tutius deliberari possit. 2. Dolon ultro suam operam offert hac in re pacisciturque de praemio cum Hectore seque iam ad ipsum factum accingit. 3. Chorus fausta precatione euntem Dolonem in manifestum periculum prosequitur, Apollinemque orat ut comes et socius esse velit viro tam praeclarum facinus obeunti pro patria utque eum victorem et multa Graecorum clade ovantem Troianis reddat.

Argument of the First Act:

The guards wake up their commander Hector in the dead of the night and they report great fires lit up everywhere throughout the camp of the Greeks: it is uncertain what new things the enemies are undertaking. Therefore they urged that men be rushed into arms so that they are not suddenly involved in some unforeseen danger. From this Hector makes a guess that the Greeks are preparing to flee: and now he is eager to follow and kill them in their escape. While he was discussing that with the chorus, Aeneas intervenes and asks what these nighttime disturbances in the army mean: and having learned the matter he most sensibly advised against doing anything rashly or leading the army into a decisive battle at night, especially since what the enemy was planning was still not yet sufficiently clear. Rather a scout should be sent so that, once the plans of the enemies had been learned through him, it can be decided later more safely what to do. 2. Dolon offers his service voluntarily in this matter and makes an agreement about his reward with Hector and prepares himself now for the deed itself. 3. The chorus accompanies Dolon going into evident danger with auspicious prayer, and prays to Apollo that he be a companion and ally to the man attending to a deed of such glory for his fatherland and return him to the Trojans a victor, celebrating over a great disaster of the Greeks.

[410] Argumentum Actus secundi.

Pastor quidam Rhesum Thracum regem adventare per Idae nemora cum valido ac firmo exercitu nuntiat: quem pastorem Hector vix admittit ad colloquium, ut erat vir vehementis animi et qui paucos tolerare posset. Deinde spe victoriae ferociens, quam iam in manu habere videbatur, aspernatur auxilia Rhesi, ut cuius opera iam magna ex parte confecto bello opus non esset. Persuadet tamen Chorus et nuntius ne fastidiret regem sed reciperet. 2. Chorus advenientem iam Rhesum cum pulchre instructis copiis laeto omine faustisque precationibus excipit.

Argument of the Second Act:

A certain shepherd announces that the king of the Thracians Rhesus is approaching through the woods of Ida with a strong and steadfast army: Hector barely admits the shepherd to a conversation, as he was a man of violent spirit and who could tolerate few men. Then fierce with the hope of victory, which he seemed to have already in his hand, he rejects the help of Rhesus, as there was no need for his aid now with the large part of the war finished. Nevertheless, the Chorus and the messenger persuade him not to despise the king but to receive him. 2. The Chorus receives with happy omen and auspicious prayers Rhesus now arriving with his beautifully equipped troops.

Argumentum Actus tertii.

Actus tertius continet congressum Rhesi et Hectoris, in quo Hector primum cum Rheso expostulat eique ingratitudinem obiicit, ut qui multis antea provocatus beneficiis bello difficillimo rebus ita accisis sero veniat auxilio. Contra Rhesus culpam morae longioris in Scythicum bellum transfert, quod se ad Troiam properantem retardarit. Deinde operam suam expromptam offert victoriamque Hectori suorum navitate se pariturum pollicetur, applaudente interim Choro alacritati et potentiae Thracis. 2. Idem Rhesus multis verbis praedicat quae in Graecos designare velit facinora atrocemque minatur vindictam: idque stolide, nimirum more humano, quo futurorum casuum ignari et incauti, dum saepe nimium nostris rebus fidimus, in ipsum ruimus exitium. Cuius tamen fiduciam Hector moderari cupit, ut cui notior esset Graecorum vis ac fortitudo, quam toties periclitatus erat eique tandem post longum colloquium stationis locum assignat. 3. Chorus vigilum dispensat custodias, quarum vices more militari variant.

Argument of the Third Act:

The third act contains the meeting between Rhesus and Hector, in which Hector first expostulates with Rhesus and accuses him of ingratitude, because having been called to the most difficult war previously with many favors, he comes to his aid too late with the circumstances having turned out in this way. In response Rhesus shifts the blame for rather long delay to his war with the Scythians, which slowed him in his hurrying to Troy. Then he offers his own assistance as ready and promises that he will win victory for Hector with the zeal of his own men. 2. Also Rhesus foretells with many words the crimes which he wants to perpetrate against the Greeks and threatens them with fierce vengeance: and he does this foolishly, evidently in a human way, in the way that we, being ignorant and careless of future dangers, while we often have too much faith in our own actions, rush into our own destruction. Nevertheless Hector wishes to moderate his confidence, because the strength and courage of the Greeks were better known to him, which he had often put to the test, and finally after a long conversation he assigns to him a place for camping. 3. The Chorus arranges the watches of the sentinels, whose turns they vary by their military custom.

[411] Argumentum Actus quarti.

Disceptantibus inter se exploratoribus Graecis, Ulysse videlicet et Diomede (quorum hic ulterius progrediendum et ad Hectoris aut Paridis tentorium contendendum suadet: ille contentus Dolonis caede cautus ac sibi metuens ad naves redire cupit), Pallas intervenit et eos ad occidendum Rhesum per insidias, quibus facile noctis beneficio ad hanc rem designandam uti possint, hortatur, ac quomodo id fieri debeat ostendit. Suam praeterea iungit operam dum Paridi Veneris induta vultus persuadet nihil periculi a Graecis in exercitu esse, iubetque eum bono securoque animo quiescere. 2. Dum redeunt Graeci, Ulysses et Diomedes, interfecto iam Rheso, incidunt in vigilias, ac plane tum actum fuisset de ipsis nisi Ulysses edita tessera militari illos avertisset iam tela vibrantes. Et dum Chorus coniecturis quibusdam divinat Ulyssem fuisse qui tantas turbas in exercitu excitarit, advenit auriga Rhesi nuntiaturus domini sui caedem.

Argument of the Fourth Act:

Meanwhile the Greek scouts were arguing amongst themselves, namely Ulysses and Diomedes (of whom the latter urges that they should advance and rush towards the tent of either Hector or Paris: the former, being satisfied with the killing of Dolon, cautious and fearing for himself, wishes to return to the ships), Pallas intervenes and urges them to kill Rhesus through ambush, which they could easily make use of because of the assistance of the night to accomplish this matter, and she shows how that ought to be done. Moreover, she joins her own aid when, having put on the face of Venus, she persuades Paris that there is no danger from the Greeks in the army, and orders him to rest with a good and untroubled feeling. 2. While the Greeks return, Ulysses and Diomedes, after Rhesus has already been killed, they fall upon the watchmen and very much would have been done for then if Ulysses had not turned them away as they were already shaking their spears by uttering the watchword of the army. And while the Chorus by certain guesses divines that Ulysses was the one who caused so much commotion in the army, the charioteer of Rhesus arrives to announce the killing of his master.

[412] Argumentum Actus quinti .

Auriga Rhesi deplorat et suam et domini occisi vicem exponitque quomodo necopinato ex insidiis sint oppressi ac huius facti ipsos Troianos insimulat. 2. Hector accensus ira in vigiles animaduersurum se minatur, quorum socordiae caedem Rhesi imputabat. Quam culpam sedulo Chorus deprecatur. Auriga vero Hectoris ad aedes ducitur male saucius ac curae committitur medicorum. 3. Musa complexa filium caesum deplorat miserabile funus ac rem tristem luget execraturque auctores caedis filii. Deinde παρέργως externa quaedam, non tamen aliena a praesenti argumento, de educatione, genere et fortuna Rhesi exponit immortalitatemque filio impetraturam se dicit ac eam caedam altera cuiusdam Graeci herois (Achillis nimirum) caede *compensandam. Hector interea exercitum in aciem et pugnas adversus Graecos educere parat.

*[in margin] piandam

Argument of the Fifth Act:

The charioteer of Rhesus mourns both his own lot and the fate of his slain master and explains how they were crushed unexpectedly by ambush and accuses the Trojans themselves of this deed. 2. Hector enraged with anger threatens to punish the watchmen, to whose laziness he was attributing the death of Rhesus. This fault, the Chorus eagerly denies. But the charioteer being badly wounded is led to the palace of Hector and is entrusted into the care of the doctors. 3. The Muse embracing her slain son weeps for the pitiable death and mourns the sad situation and curses the authors of the death of her son. Then, as a side issue, she presents certain outside information, nevertheless not alien to the present argument, about the upbringing, family background, and fortune of Rhesus and says that she will obtain immortality for her son and that this death is to be repaid with another death of some Greek hero (clearly, Achilles). Meanwhile Hector prepares to lead out his army into the battle line and the combat against the Greeks.

Translation by Tom Wang