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Euripides Bilingual Anthology : BETTER STAY CHILDLESS

from Euripides' Medea, * Lines 1081-1115, * Translated by E.P.Coleridge, * Greek Fonts

HORUS. Oft ere now have I pursued subtler themes and have faced graver issues than woman's sex should seek to probe; but then e'en we aspire to culture, which dwells with us to teach us wisdom; I say not all; for small is the class amongst women-(one maybe shalt thou find 'mid many)-that is not incapable of wisdom. And amongst mortals I do assert that they who are wholly without experience and have never had children far surpass in happiness those who are parents.

Ἄτεκνοι πολλῶν μόχθων ἀπέχονται

Χο. πολλάκις ἤδη διὰ λεπτοτέρων μύθων ἔμολον καὶ πρὸς ἁμίλλας ἦλθον μείζους ἢ χρὴ γενεὰν θῆλυν ἐρευνᾶν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔστιν μοῦσα καὶ ἡμῖν͵ ἣ προσομιλεῖ σοφίας ἕνεκεν͵ πάσαισι μὲν οὔ͵ παῦρον δὲ γένος (μίαν ἐν πολλαῖς εὕροις ἂν ἴσως) οὐκ ἀπόμουσον τὸ γυναικῶν. καί φημι βροτῶν οἵτινές εἰσιν πάμπαν ἄπειροι μηδ΄ ἐφύτευσαν παῖδας προφέρειν εἰς εὐτυχίαν τῶν γειναμένων.

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Reference address : http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/euripides-children.asp