Stepping into the Ring with Lust

Sophocles, Trachiniae 441-445 (Full text on the Scaife viewer)

“Whoever gets in the ring with Lust
Like a boxer with his hands up is stupid.
That one rules even the gods the way he wants.
And me too. How could he not rule a woman like me?”

Ἔρωτι μέν νυν ὅστις ἀντανίσταται
πύκτης ὅπως ἐς χεῖρας, οὐ καλῶς φρονεῖ.
οὗτος γὰρ ἄρχει καὶ θεῶν ὅπως θέλει,
κἀμοῦ γε· πῶς δ᾿ οὐ χἀτέρας οἵας γ᾿ ἐμοῦ;

Sophocles, Trachiniae 464-465 (Full text on the Scaife viewer)

“I pitied her when I saw her especially
Because her beauty has ruined her life.”

ᾤκτιρα δὴ μάλιστα προσβλέψασ᾿, ὅτι
τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς τὸν βίον διώλεσεν

“I have an old gift from an ancient beast…”

ἦν μοι παλαιὸν δῶρον ἀρχαίου ποτὲ
θηρός…

Sophocles, Trachiniae 582-3 (Full text on the Scaife viewer)

“May I never know anything about evil deeds
Nor learn them. I hate those women who commit them.”

κακὰς δὲ τόλμας μήτ᾿ ἐπισταίμην ἐγὼ
μήτ᾿ ἐκμάθοιμι, τάς τε τολμώσας στυγῶ.