Upon the roof of the palace of Agamemnon at ArgosWatchman:WatchmanRelease from this weary task of mine has been my plea to the gods throughout this long year’s watch, in which, lying upon the palace roof of the Atreidae, upon my bent arm, like a dog, I have learned to know well the gathering of the night’s stars, those radiant potentates conspicuous in the firmament,bringers of winter and summer to mankind [the constellations, when they rise and set]. So now I am still watching for the signal-flame, the gleaming fire that is to bring news from Troy andtidings of its capture. For thus commands my queen, woman in passionate heart and man in strength of purpose. And whenever I make here my bed, restless and dank with dew and unvisited by dreams—for instead of sleep fear stands ever by my side,so that I cannot close my eyelids fast in sleep—and whenever I care to sing or hum (and thus apply an antidote of song to ward off drowsiness), then my tears start forth, as I bewail the fortunes of this house of ours, not ordered for the best as in days gone by.
Φύλαξ:Φύλαξθεοὺς μὲν αἰτῶ τῶνδʼ ἀπαλλαγὴν πόνωνφρουρᾶς ἐτείας μῆκος, ἣν κοιμώμενοςστέγαις Ἀτρειδῶν ἄγκαθεν, κυνὸς δίκην,ἄστρων κάτοιδα νυκτέρων ὁμήγυριν,καὶ τοὺς φέροντας χεῖμα καὶ θέρος βροτοῖςλαμπροὺς δυνάστας, ἐμπρέποντας αἰθέρι[ἀστέρας, ὅταν φθίνωσιν, ἀντολάς τε τῶν].καὶ νῦν φυλάσσω λαμπάδος τό σύμβολον,αὐγὴν πυρὸς φέρουσαν ἐκ Τροίας φάτινἁλώσιμόν τε βάξιν· ὧδε γὰρ κρατεῖγυναικὸς ἀνδρόβουλον ἐλπίζον κέαρ.εὖτʼ ἂν δὲ νυκτίπλαγκτον ἔνδροσόν τʼ ἔχωεὐνὴν ὀνείροις οὐκ ἐπισκοπουμένηνἐμήν· φόβος γὰρ ἀνθʼ ὕπνου παραστατεῖ,τὸ μὴ βεβαίως βλέφαρα συμβαλεῖν ὕπνῳ·ὅταν δʼ ἀείδειν ἢ μινύρεσθαι δοκῶ,ὕπνου τόδʼ ἀντίμολπον ἐντέμνων ἄκος,κλαίω τότʼ οἴκου τοῦδε συμφορὰν στένωνοὐχ ὡς τὰ πρόσθʼ ἄριστα διαπονουμένου.
But tonight may there come a happy release from my weary task! May the fire with its glad tidings flash through the gloom! The signal fire suddenly flashes out Oh welcome, you blaze in the night, a light as if of day, you harbinger of many a choral dance in Argos in thanksgiving for this glad event!
νῦν δʼ εὐτυχὴς γένοιτʼ ἀπαλλαγὴ πόνωνεὐαγγέλου φανέντος ὀρφναίου πυρός.ὦ χαῖρε λαμπτὴρ νυκτός, ἡμερήσιονφάος πιφαύσκων καὶ χορῶν κατάστασινπολλῶν ἐν Ἄργει, τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.
Hallo! Hallo! To Agamemnon’s queen I thus cry aloud the signal to rise from her bed, and as quickly as she can to lift up in her palace halls a shout of joy in welcome of this fire, if the city of Iliumtruly is taken, as this beacon unmistakably announces. And I will make an overture with a dance upon my own account; for my lord’s lucky roll I shall count to my own score, now that this beacon has thrown me triple six. Ah well, may the master of the house come home and mayI clasp his welcome hand in mine! For the rest I stay silent; a great ox stands upon my tongue —yet the house itself, could it but speak, might tell a plain enough tale; since, for my part, by my own choice I have words for those who know, and to those who do not know, I’ve lost my memory. He descends by an inner stairway; attendants kindle fires at the altars placed in front of the palace. Enter the chorus of Argive EldersChorus:This is now the tenth year since Priam’s mighty adversary, king Menelaus, and with him king Agamemnon, the mighty pair of Atreus’ sons, joined in honor of throne and sceptre by Zeus,set forth from this land with an army of a thousand ships manned by Argives, a warrior force to champion their cause. Loud rang the battle-cry they uttered in their rage, just as eagles scream which,in lonely grief for their brood, rowing with the oars of their wings, wheel high over their bed, because they have lost the toil of guarding their nurslings’ nest.
ἰοὺ ἰού.Ἀγαμέμνονος γυναικὶ σημαίνω τορῶςεὐνῆς ἐπαντείλασαν ὡς τάχος δόμοιςὀλολυγμὸν εὐφημοῦντα τῇδε λαμπάδιἐπορθιάζειν, εἴπερ Ἰλίου πόλιςἑάλωκεν, ὡς ὁ φρυκτὸς ἀγγέλλων πρέπει·αὐτός τʼ ἔγωγε φροίμιον χορεύσομαι.τὰ δεσποτῶν γὰρ εὖ πεσόντα θήσομαιτρὶς ἓξ βαλούσης τῆσδέ μοι φρυκτωρίας.γένοιτο δʼ οὖν μολόντος εὐφιλῆ χέραἄνακτος οἴκων τῇδε βαστάσαι χερί.τὰ δʼ ἄλλα σιγῶ· βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώσσῃ μέγαςβέβηκεν· οἶκος δʼ αὐτός, εἰ φθογγὴν λάβοι,σαφέστατʼ ἂν λέξειεν· ὡς ἑκὼν ἐγὼμαθοῦσιν αὐδῶ κοὐ μαθοῦσι λήθομαι.Χορός:δέκατον μὲν ἔτος τόδʼ ἐπεὶ Πριάμουμέγας ἀντίδικος,Μενέλαος ἄναξ ἠδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,διθρόνου Διόθεν καὶ δισκήπτρουτιμῆς ὀχυρὸν ζεῦγος Ἀτρειδᾶνστόλον Ἀργείων χιλιοναύτην,τῆσδʼ ἀπὸ χώραςἦραν, στρατιῶτιν ἀρωγὰν,μέγαν ἐκ θυμοῦ κλάζοντες Ἄρητρόπον αἰγυπιῶν, οἵτʼ ἐκπατίοιςἄλγεσι παίδων ὕπατοι λεχέωνστροφοδινοῦνταιπτερύγων ἐρετμοῖσιν ἐρεσσόμενοι,δεμνιοτήρηπόνον ὀρταλίχων ὀλέσαντες·
But some one of the powers supreme—Apollo perhaps or Pan, or Zeus—hears the shrill wailing scream of the clamorous birds, these sojourners in his realm, and against the transgressors sends vengeance at last though late.
ὕπατος δʼ ἀίων ἤ τις Ἀπόλλωνἢ Πὰν ἢ Ζεὺς οἰωνόθροονγόον ὀξυβόαν τῶνδε μετοίκωνὑστερόποινονπέμπει παραβᾶσιν Ἐρινύν.
Even so Zeus, whose power is over all, Zeus, lord of host and guest, sends against Alexander the sons of Atreus, that for the sake of a woman with many husbands he may inflict many and wearying struggles (when the knee is pressed in the dust andthe spear is splintered in the onset) on Danaans and on Trojans alike. The case now stands where it stands—it moves to fulfilment at its destined end. Not by offerings burned in secret, not by secret libations,not by tears, shall man soften the stubborn wrath of unsanctified sacrifices. But we, incapable of service by reason of our aged frame, discarded from that martial mustering of long ago, wait here at home,supporting on our canes a strength like a child’s. For just as the vigor of youth, leaping up within the breast, is like that of old age, since the war-god is not in his place; so extreme age, its leavesalready withering, goes its way on triple feet, and, no better than a child, wanders, a dream that is dreamed by day.
οὕτω δʼ Ἀτρέως παῖδας ὁ κρείσσωνἐπʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ πέμπει ξένιοςΖεὺς πολυάνορος ἀμφὶ γυναικὸςπολλὰ παλαίσματα καὶ γυιοβαρῆγόνατος κονίαισιν ἐρειδομένουδιακναιομένης τʼ ἐν προτελείοιςκάμακος θήσων ΔαναοῖσιΤρωσί θʼ ὁμοίως. ἔστι δʼ ὅπη νῦνἔστι· τελεῖται δʼ ἐς τὸ πεπρωμένον·οὔθʼ ὑποκαίων οὔθʼ ὑπολείβωνοὔτε δακρύων ἀπύρων ἱερῶνὀργὰς ἀτενεῖς παραθέλξει.ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀτίται σαρκὶ παλαιᾷτῆς τότʼ ἀρωγῆς ὑπολειφθέντεςμίμνομεν ἰσχὺνἰσόπαιδα νέμοντες ἐπὶ σκήπτροις.ὅ τε γὰρ νεαρὸς μυελὸς στέρνωνἐντὸς ἀνᾴσσωνἰσόπρεσβυς, Ἄρης δʼ οὐκ ἔνι χώρᾳ,τό θʼ ὑπέργηρων φυλλάδος ἤδηκατακαρφομένης τρίποδας μὲν ὁδοὺςστείχει, παιδὸς δʼ οὐδὲν ἀρείωνὄναρ ἡμερόφαντον ἀλαίνει.
But, O daughter of Tyndareos, Queen Clytaemestra,what has happened? What news do you have? On what intelligence and convinced by what report do you send about your messengers to command sacrifice? For all the gods our city worships, the gods supreme, the gods below,the gods of the heavens and of the marketplace, have their altars ablaze with offerings. Now here, now there, the flames rise high as heaven, yieldingto the soft and guileless persuasion of holy ointment, the sacrificial oil itself brought from the inner chambers of the palace. Of all this declare whatever you can and dare reveal, and be a healer of my uneasy heart.This now at one moment bodes ill, while then again hope, shining with kindly light from the sacrifices, wards off the biting care of the sorrow that gnaws my heart.
σὺ δέ, Τυνδάρεωθύγατερ, βασίλεια Κλυταιμήστρα,τί χρέος; τί νέον; τί δʼ ἐπαισθομένη,τίνος ἀγγελίαςπειθοῖ περίπεμπτα θυοσκεῖς;πάντων δὲ θεῶν τῶν ἀστυνόμων,ὑπάτων, χθονίων,τῶν τʼ οὐρανίων τῶν τʼ ἀγοραίων,βωμοὶ δώροισι φλέγονται·ἄλλη δʼ ἄλλοθεν οὐρανομήκηςλαμπὰς ἀνίσχει,φαρμασσομένη χρίματος ἁγνοῦμαλακαῖς ἀδόλοισι παρηγορίαις,πελάνῳ μυχόθεν βασιλείῳ.τούτων λέξασʼ ὅ τι καὶ δυνατὸνκαὶ θέμις αἰνεῖν,παιών τε γενοῦ τῆσδε μερίμνης,ἣ νῦν τοτὲ μὲν κακόφρων τελέθει,τοτὲ δʼ ἐκ θυσιῶν ἀγανὴ φαίνουσʼἐλπὶς ἀμύνει φροντίδʼ ἄπληστοντῆς θυμοβόρου φρένα λύπης.
Chorus:I have the power to proclaim the augury of triumph given on their wayto princely men—since my age still breathes Persuasion upon me from the gods, the strength of song—how the twin-throned command of the Achaeans,the single-minded captains of Hellas’ youth, with avenging spear and arm against the Teucrian land, was sent off by the inspiring omen appearing to the kings of the ships—kingly birds,one black, one white of tail, near the palace, on the spear-hand, in a conspicuous place, devouring a hare with offspring unborncaught in the last effort to escape. Sing the song of woe, the song of woe, but may the good prevail!
Χορός:κύριός εἰμι θροεῖν ὅδιον κράτος αἴσιον ἀνδρῶνἐκτελέων· ἔτι γὰρ θεόθεν καταπνεύειπειθὼ μολπᾶνἀλκὰν σύμφυτος αἰών·ὅπως Ἀχαι-ῶν δίθρονον κράτος, Ἑλλάδος ἥβαςξύμφρονα ταγάν,πέμπει σὺν δορὶ καὶ χερὶ πράκτοριθούριος ὄρνις Τευκρίδʼ ἐπʼ αἶαν,οἰωνῶν βασιλεὺς βασιλεῦσι νε-ῶν ὁ κελαινός, ὅ τʼ ἐξόπιν ἀργᾶς,φανέντες ἴ-κταρ μελάθρων χερὸς ἐκ δοριπάλτουπαμπρέπτοις ἐν ἕδραισιν,βοσκόμενοι λαγίναν, ἐρικύμονα φέρματι γένναν,βλαβέντα λοισθίων δρόμων.αἴλινον αἴλινον εἰπέ, τὸ δʼ εὖ νικάτω.
Chorus:Then the wise seer of the host, noticing how the two warlike sons of Atreus were two in temper, recognized the devourers of the hare as the leaders of the army, andthus interpreted the portent and spoke: “In time those who here issue forth shall seize Priam’s town, and fate shall violently ravage before its towered walls all the public store of cattle.”“Only may no jealous god-sent wrath cast its shadow upon the embattled host, the mighty bit forged for Troy’s mouth, and strike it before it reaches its goal!”“For, in her pity, holy Artemis is angry at the winged hounds of her father, for they sacrifice a wretched timorous thing, together with her young, before she has brought them forth. An abomination to her is the eagles’ feast.” Sing the song of woe, the song of woe, but may the good prevail!
Χορός:κεδνὸς δὲ στρατόμαντις ἰδὼν δύο λήμασι δισσοὺςἈτρεΐδας μαχίμους ἐδάη λαγοδαίταςπομπούς τʼ ἀρχάς·οὕτω δʼ εἶπε τερᾴζων·χρόνῳ μὲν ἀγρεῖΠριάμου πόλιν ἅδε κέλευθος,πάντα δὲ πύργωνκτήνη πρόσθε τὰ δημιοπληθῆΜοῖρʼ ἀλαπάξει πρὸς τὸ βίαιον·οἶον μή τις ἄγα θεόθεν κνεφά-σῃ προτυπὲν στόμιον μέγα Τροίαςστρατωθέν.οἴκτῳ γὰρ ἐπί-φθονος Ἄρτεμις ἁγνὰπτανοῖσιν κυσὶ πατρὸςαὐτότοκον πρὸ λόχου μογερὰν πτάκα θυομένοισινστυγεῖ δὲ δεῖπνον αἰετῶν.αἴλινον αἴλινον εἰπέ, τὸ δʼ εὖ νικάτω.
Chorus:“Although, O Lovely One, you are so gracious to the tender whelps of fierce lions, and take delight in the suckling young of every wild creature that roams the field, promise that the issue be brought to pass in accordance with these signs, portents”“auspicious yet filled with ill. And I implore Paean, the healer, that she may not raise adverse gales with long delay to stay the Danaan fleet from putting forth,”“by urging another sacrifice, one that knows no law, unsuited for feast, worker of family strife, dissolving wife’s reverence for husband. For there abides wrath—”“terrible, not to be suppressed, a treacherous guardian of the home, a wrath that never forgets and that exacts vengeance for a child.” Such utterances of doom, derived from auguries on the march, together with many blessings, did Calchas proclaim to the royal house; and in harmony with this, Sing the song of woe, the song of woe, but may the good prevail!
Χορός:τόσον περ εὔφρων, καλά,δρόσοισι λεπτοῖς μαλερῶν λεόντωνπάντων τʼ ἀγρονόμων φιλομάστοιςθηρῶν ὀβρικάλοισι τερπνά,τούτων αἴνει ξύμβολα κρᾶναι,δεξιὰ μέν, κατάμομφα δὲ φάσματα [στρουθῶν].ἰήιον δὲ καλέω Παιᾶνα,μή τινας ἀντιπνόους Δανα-οῖς χρονίας ἐχενῇδας ἀ-πλοίας τεύξῃ,σπευδομένα θυσίαν ἑτέραν ἄνομόν τινʼ, ἄδαιτοννεικέων τέκτονα σύμφυτον,οὐ δεισήνορα. μίμνει γὰρ φοβερὰ παλίνορτοςοἰκονόμος δολία μνάμων μῆνις τεκνόποινος.τοιάδε Κάλχας ξὺν μεγάλοις ἀγαθοῖς ἀπέκλαγξενμόρσιμʼ ἀπʼ ὀρνίθων ὁδίων οἴκοις βασιλείοις·τοῖς δʼ ὁμόφωνοναἴλινον αἴλινον εἰπέ, τὸ δʼ εὖ νικάτω.
Chorus:Zeus, whoever he may be,—if by this name it pleases him to be invoked, by this name I call to him—as I weigh all things in the balance, I have nothing to comparesave “Zeus,” if in truth I must cast aside this vain burden from my heart.
Χορός:Ζεύς, ὅστις ποτʼ ἐστίν, εἰ τόδʼ αὐ-τῷ φίλον κεκλημένῳ,τοῦτό νιν προσεννέπω.οὐκ ἔχω προσεικάσαιπάντʼ ἐπισταθμώμενοςπλὴν Διός, εἰ τὸ μάταν ἀπὸ φροντίδος ἄχθοςχρὴ βαλεῖν ἐτητύμως.
He who once was mighty, swelling with insolence for every fight,he shall not even be named as having ever existed; and he who arose later, he has met his overthrower and is past and gone. But whoever willingly sings a victory song for Zeus,he shall gain wisdom altogether,—Chorus:Zeus, who sets mortals on the path to understanding, Zeus, who has established as a fixed law that “wisdom comes by suffering.” But even as trouble, bringing memory of pain, drips over the mind in sleep,so wisdom comes to men, whether they want it or not. Harsh, it seems to me, is the grace of gods enthroned upon their awful seats.
Χορός:οὐδʼ ὅστις πάροιθεν ἦν μέγας,παμμάχῳ θράσει βρύων,οὐδὲ λέξεται πρὶν ὤν·ὃς δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἔφυ, τρια-κτῆρος οἴχεται τυχών.Ζῆνα δέ τις προφρόνως ἐπινίκια κλάζωντεύξεται φρενῶν τὸ πᾶν·Χορός:τὸν φρονεῖν βροτοὺς ὁδώ-σαντα, τὸν πάθει μάθοςθέντα κυρίως ἔχειν.στάζει δʼ ἔν θʼ ὕπνῳ πρὸ καρδίαςμνησιπήμων πόνος· καὶ παρʼ ἄ-κοντας ἦλθε σωφρονεῖν.δαιμόνων δέ που χάρις βίαιοςσέλμα σεμνὸν ἡμένων.
Chorus:So then the captain of the Achaean ships, the elder of the two—holding no seer at fault, bending to the adverse blasts of fortune, when the Achaean folk, on the shore over against Chalcisin the region where Aulis’ tides surge to and fro, were very distressed by opposing winds and failing stores.
Χορός:καὶ τόθʼ ἡγεμὼν ὁ πρέ-σβυς νεῶν Ἀχαιικῶν,μάντιν οὔτινα ψέγων,ἐμπαίοις τύχαισι συμπνέων,εὖτʼ ἀπλοίᾳ κεναγγεῖ βαρύ-νοντʼ Ἀχαιικὸς λεώς,Χαλκίδος πέραν ἔχων παλιρρόχ-θοις ἐν Αὐλίδος τόποις·
Chorus:The breezes that blew from the Strymon, bringing harmful leisure, hunger, and tribulation of spirit in a cruel port, idle wandering of men, and sparing neither shipnor cable, began, by doubling the season of their stay, to rub away and wither the flower of Argos; and when the seer, pointing to Artemis as cause, proclaimed to the chieftains another remedy,more oppressive even than the bitter storm, so that the sons of Atreus struck the ground with their canes and did not stifle their tears—
Χορός:πνοαὶ δʼ ἀπὸ Στρυμόνος μολοῦσαικακόσχολοι νήστιδες δύσορμοι,βροτῶν ἄλαι, ναῶν ⟨τε⟩ καὶπεισμάτων ἀφειδεῖς,παλιμμήκη χρόνον τιθεῖσαιτρίβῳ κατέξαινον ἄν-θος Ἀργείων· ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ πικροῦχείματος ἄλλο μῆχαρβριθύτερον πρόμοισινμάντις ἔκλαγξεν προφέρωνἌρτεμιν, ὥστε χθόνα βάκ-τροις ἐπικρούσαντας Ἀτρεί-δας δάκρυ μὴ κατασχεῖν·
Chorus:Then the elder king spoke and said: “It is a hard fate to refuse obedience, and hard, if I must slay my child, the glory of my home, and at the altar-side stain”“a father’s hand with streams of virgin’s blood. Which of these courses is not filled with evil? How can I become a deserter to my fleet and fail my allies in arms?”“For that they should with all too impassioned passion crave a sacrifice to lull the winds—even a virgin’s blood—stands within their right. May all be for the best.”
Χορός:ἄναξ δʼ ὁ πρέσβυς τότʼ εἶπε φωνῶν·βαρεῖα μὲν κὴρ τὸ μὴ πιθέσθαι,βαρεῖα δʼ, εἰ τέκνον δαΐ-ξω, δόμων ἄγαλμα,μιαίνων παρθενοσφάγοισινῥείθροις πατρῴους χέραςπέλας βωμοῦ· τί τῶνδʼ ἄνευ κακῶν,πῶς λιπόναυς γένωμαιξυμμαχίας ἁμαρτών;παυσανέμου γὰρ θυσίαςπαρθενίου θʼ αἵματος ὀρ-γᾷ περιόργως ἐπιθυ-μεῖν θέμις. εὖ γὰρ εἴη.
Chorus:But when he had donned the yoke of Necessity, with veering of mind,impious, unholy, unsanctified, from that moment he changed his intention and began to conceive that deed of uttermost audacity. For wretched delusion, counsellor of ill, primal source of woe, makes mortals bold. So then he hardened his heart to sacrifice his daughterso that he might further a war waged to avenge a woman, and as an offering for the voyage of a fleet!
Χορός:ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀνάγκας ἔδυ λέπαδνονφρενὸς πνέων δυσσεβῆ τροπαίανἄναγνον ἀνίερον, τόθεντὸ παντότολμον φρονεῖν μετέγνω.βροτοὺς θρασύνει γὰρ αἰσχρόμητιςτάλαινα παρακοπὰ πρωτοπήμων. ἔτλα δʼ οὖνθυτὴρ γενέσθαι θυγατρός,γυναικοποίνων πολέμων ἀρωγὰνκαὶ προτέλεια ναῶν.
Chorus:For her supplications, her cries of “Father,” and her virgin life,the commanders in their eagerness for war cared nothing. Her father, after a prayer, bade his ministers lay hold of her as, enwrapped in her robes, she lay fallen forward,and with stout heart to raise her, as if she were a young goat, high above the altar; and with a gag upon her lovely mouth to hold back the shouted curse against her house—
Χορός:λιτὰς δὲ καὶ κληδόνας πατρῴουςπαρʼ οὐδὲν αἰῶ τε παρθένειονἔθεντο φιλόμαχοι βραβῆς.φράσεν δʼ ἀόζοις πατὴρ μετʼ εὐχὰνδίκαν χιμαίρας ὕπερθε βωμοῦπέπλοισι περιπετῆ παντὶ θυμῷ προνωπῆλαβεῖν ἀέρδην, στόματόςτε καλλιπρῴρου φυλακᾷ κατασχεῖνφθόγγον ἀραῖον οἴκοις,
Chorus:by the bit’s strong and stifling might. Then, as she shed to earth her saffron robe, shestruck each of her sacrificers with a glance from her eyes beseeching pity, looking as if in a picture, wishing she could speak; for she had often sung where men met at her father’s hospitable table,and with her virgin voice would lovingly honor her dear father’s prayer for blessing at the third libation —
Χορός:βίᾳ χαλινῶν τʼ ἀναύδῳ μένει.κρόκου βαφὰς δʼ ἐς πέδον χέουσαἔβαλλʼ ἕκαστον θυτήρ-ων ἀπʼ ὄμματος βέλειφιλοίκτῳ, πρέπουσά θʼ ὡς ἐν γραφαῖς, προσεννέπεινθέλουσʼ, ἐπεὶ πολλάκιςπατρὸς κατʼ ἀνδρῶνας εὐτραπέζουςἔμελψεν, ἁγνᾷ δʼ ἀταύρωτος αὐδᾷ πατρὸςφίλου τριτόσπονδον εὔ-ποτμον παιῶνα φίλως ἐτίμα—
Chorus:What happened next I did not see and do not tell. The art of Calchas was not unfulfilled.
Χορός:τὰ δʼ ἔνθεν οὔτʼ εἶδον οὔτʼ ἐννέπω·τέχναι δὲ Κάλχαντος οὐκ ἄκραντοι.
Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. But the future, that you shall know when it occurs; till then, leave it be—it is just as someone weeping ahead of time. Clear it will come, together with the light of dawn. Enter ClytaemestraBut as for what shall follow, may the issue be happy, even as she wishes, our sole guardian here, the bulwark of the Apian land, who stands nearest to our lord.
Δίκα δὲ τοῖς μὲν παθοῦσ-ιν μαθεῖν ἐπιρρέπει·τὸ μέλλον ⟨δʼ⟩, ἐπεὶ γένοιτʼ, ἂν κλύοις· πρὸ χαιρέτω·ἴσον δὲ τῷ προστένειν.τορὸν γὰρ ἥξει σύνορθρον αὐγαῖς.πέλοιτο δʼ οὖν τἀπὶ τούτοισιν εὖ πρᾶξις, ὡςθέλει τόδʼ ἄγχιστον Ἀ-πίας γαίας μονόφρουρον ἕρκος.
Chorus:I have come, Clytaemestra, in obedience to your royal authority; for it is fitting to do homage to the consort of a sovereign princewhen her husband’s throne is empty. Now whether the news you have heard is good or ill, and you do make sacrifice with hopes that herald gladness, I wish to hear; yet, if you would keep silence, I make no complaint.
Χορός:ἥκω σεβίζων σόν, Κλυταιμήστρα, κράτος·δίκη γάρ ἐστι φωτὸς ἀρχηγοῦ τίεινγυναῖκʼ ἐρημωθέντος ἄρσενος θρόνου.σὺ δʼ εἴ τι κεδνὸν εἴτε μὴ πεπυσμένηεὐαγγέλοισιν ἐλπίσιν θυηπολεῖς,κλύοιμʼ ἂν εὔφρων· οὐδὲ σιγώσῃ φθόνος.
Clytaemestra:As herald of gladness, with the proverb,may Dawn be born from her mother Night! You shall hear joyful news surpassing all your hopes—the Argives have taken Priam’s town!
Κλυταιμήστρα:εὐάγγελος μέν, ὥσπερ ἡ παροιμία,ἕως γένοιτο μητρὸς εὐφρόνης πάρα.πεύσῃ δὲ χάρμα μεῖζον ἐλπίδος κλύειν·Πριάμου γὰρ ᾑρήκασιν Ἀργεῖοι πόλιν.
Chorus:What have you said? The meaning of your words has escaped me, so incredible they seemed.
Χορός:πῶς φής; πέφευγε τοὔπος ἐξ ἀπιστίας.
Clytaemestra:I said that Troy is in the hands of the Achaeans. Is my meaning clear?
Κλυταιμήστρα:Τροίαν Ἀχαιῶν οὖσαν· ἦ τορῶς λέγω;
Chorus:Joy steals over me, and it challenges my tears.
Χορός:χαρά μʼ ὑφέρπει δάκρυον ἐκκαλουμένη.
Clytaemestra:Sure enough, for your eye betrays your loyal heart.
Κλυταιμήστρα:εὖ γὰρ φρονοῦντος ὄμμα σοῦ κατηγορεῖ.
Chorus:What then is the proof? Have you evidence of this?
Χορός:τί γὰρ τὸ πιστόν; ἔστι τῶνδέ σοι τέκμαρ;
Clytaemestra:I have, indeed; unless some god has played me false.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἔστιν· τί δʼ οὐχί; μὴ δολώσαντος θεοῦ.
Chorus:Do you believe the persuasive visions of dreams?
Χορός:πότερα δʼ ὀνείρων φάσματʼ εὐπιθῆ σέβεις;
Clytaemestra:I would not heed the fancies of a slumbering brain.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐ δόξαν ἂν λάβοιμι βριζούσης φρενός.
Chorus:But can it be some pleasing rumor that has fed your hopes?
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἦ σʼ ἐπίανέν τις ἄπτερος φάτις;
Clytaemestra:Truly you scorn my understanding as if it were a child’s.
Κλυταιμήστρα:παιδὸς νέας ὣς κάρτʼ ἐμωμήσω φρένας.
Chorus:But at what time was the city destroyed?
Χορός:ποίου χρόνου δὲ καὶ πεπόρθηται πόλις;
Clytaemestra:In the night, I say, that has but now given birth to this day here.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τῆς νῦν τεκούσης φῶς τόδʼ εὐφρόνης λέγω.
Chorus:And what messenger could reach here with such speed?
Χορός:καὶ τίς τόδʼ ἐξίκοιτʼ ἂν ἀγγέλων τάχος;
Clytaemestra:Hephaestus, from Ida speeding forth his brilliant blaze. Beacon passed beacon on to us by courier-flame: Ida, to the Hermaean crag in Lemnos; to the mighty blaze upon the island succeeded, third,the summit of Athos sacred to Zeus; and, soaring high aloft so as to leap across the sea, the flame, travelling joyously onward in its strength … the pinewood torch, its golden-beamed light, as another sun, passing the message on to the watchtowers of Macistus.
Κλυταιμήστρα:Ἥφαιστος Ἴδης λαμπρὸν ἐκπέμπων σέλας.φρυκτὸς δὲ φρυκτὸν δεῦρʼ ἀπʼ ἀγγάρου πυρὸςἔπεμπεν· Ἴδη μὲν πρὸς Ἑρμαῖον λέπαςΛήμνου· μέγαν δὲ πανὸν ἐκ νήσου τρίτονἈθῷον αἶπος Ζηνὸς ἐξεδέξατο,ὑπερτελής τε, πόντον ὥστε νωτίσαι,ἰσχὺς πορευτοῦ λαμπάδος πρὸς ἡδονὴν… πεύκη τὸ χρυσοφεγγές, ὥς τις ἥλιος,σέλας παραγγείλασα Μακίστου σκοπαῖς·
He, delaying not nor carelessly overcome by sleep, did not neglect his part as messenger. Far over Euripus’ stream came the beacon-light and signalled to the watchmen on Messapion. They, kindling a heap ofwithered heather, lit up their answering blaze and sped the message on. The flame, now gathering strength and in no way dimmed, like a radiant moon overleaped the plain of Asopus to Cithaeron’s ridges, and roused another relay of missive fire.
ὁ δʼ οὔτι μέλλων οὐδʼ ἀφρασμόνως ὕπνῳνικώμενος παρῆκεν ἀγγέλου μέρος·ἑκὰς δὲ φρυκτοῦ φῶς ἐπʼ Εὐρίπου ῥοὰςΜεσσαπίου φύλαξι σημαίνει μολόν.οἱ δʼ ἀντέλαμψαν καὶ παρήγγειλαν πρόσωγραίας ἐρείκης θωμὸν ἅψαντες πυρί.σθένουσα λαμπὰς δʼ οὐδέπω μαυρουμένη,ὑπερθοροῦσα πεδίον Ἀσωποῦ, δίκηνφαιδρᾶς σελήνης, πρὸς Κιθαιρῶνος λέπαςἤγειρεν ἄλλην ἐκδοχὴν πομποῦ πυρός.
Nor did the warders there disdain the far-flung light, but made a blaze higher than their commands. Across Gorgopus’ water shot the light, reached the mount of Aegiplanctus, and urged the ordinance of fire to make no delay.
φάος δὲ τηλέπομπον οὐκ ἠναίνετοφρουρὰ πλέον καίουσα τῶν εἰρημένων·λίμνην δʼ ὑπὲρ Γοργῶπιν ἔσκηψεν φάος·ὄρος τʼ ἐπʼ Αἰγίπλαγκτον ἐξικνούμενονὤτρυνε θεσμὸν μὴ χρονίζεσθαι πυρός.
Kindling high with unstinted force a mighty beard of flame, they sped it forward so that, as it blazed, it passed even the headland that looks upon the Saronic gulf; until it swooped down when it reached the lookout, near to our city, upon the peak of Arachnaeus; andnext upon this roof of the Atreidae it leapt, this very fire not undescended from the Idaean flame. Such are the torch-bearers I have arranged, completing the course in succession one to the other; and the victor is he who ran both first and last.
πέμπουσι δʼ ἀνδαίοντες ἀφθόνῳ μένειφλογὸς μέγαν πώγωνα, καὶ Σαρωνικοῦπορθμοῦ κάτοπτον πρῶνʼ ὑπερβάλλειν πρόσωφλέγουσαν· ἔστʼ ἔσκηψεν εὖτʼ ἀφίκετοἈραχναῖον αἶπος, ἀστυγείτονας σκοπάς·κἄπειτʼ Ἀτρειδῶν ἐς τόδε σκήπτει στέγοςφάος τόδʼ οὐκ ἄπαππον Ἰδαίου πυρός.τοιοίδε τοί μοι λαμπαδηφόρων νόμοι,ἄλλος παρʼ ἄλλου διαδοχαῖς πληρούμενοι·νικᾷ δʼ ὁ πρῶτος καὶ τελευταῖος δραμών.
This is the kind of proof and token I give you, the message of my husband from Troy to me.
τέκμαρ τοιοῦτον σύμβολόν τέ σοι λέγωἀνδρὸς παραγγείλαντος ἐκ Τροίας ἐμοί.
Chorus:Lady, my prayers of thanksgiving to the gods I will offer soon. But as I would like to hear and satisfy my wonder at your tale straight through to the end, so may you tell it yet again.
Χορός:θεοῖς μὲν αὖθις, ὦ γύναι, προσεύξομαι.λόγους δʼ ἀκοῦσαι τούσδε κἀποθαυμάσαιδιηνεκῶς θέλοιμʼ ἂν ὡς λέγοις πάλιν.
Clytaemestra:This day the Achaeans hold Troy. Within the town there sounds loud, I believe, a clamor of voices which will not blend. Pour vinegar and oil into the same vessel and you will say that, as foes, they keep apart; so the cries of vanquished and victors greet the ear,distinct as their fortunes are diverse. Those, flung upon the corpses of their husbands and their brothers, children upon the bodies of their aged fathers who gave them life, bewail from lips no longer free the death of their dearest ones, while these—a night of restless toil after battle sets them down famished to break their fast on such fare as the town affords; not faring according to rank, but as each man has drawn his lot by chance.And even now they are quartered in the captured Trojan homes, delivered from the frosts and dew of the naked sky, and like happy men will sleep all the night without a guard. Now if they keep clear of guilt towards the gods of the town—those of the conquered land—and towards their shrines,the captors shall not be made captives in their turn. Only may no mad impulse first assail the army, overmastered by greed, to pillage what they should not! For to win safe passage home they need to travel back the other length of their double course.
Κλυταιμήστρα:Τροίαν Ἀχαιοὶ τῇδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.οἶμαι βοὴν ἄμεικτον ἐν πόλει πρέπειν.ὄξος τʼ ἄλειφά τʼ ἐγχέας ταὐτῷ κύτειδιχοστατοῦντʼ ἄν, οὐ φίλω, προσεννέποις.καὶ τῶν ἁλόντων καὶ κρατησάντων δίχαφθογγὰς ἀκούειν ἔστι συμφορᾶς διπλῆς.οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀμφὶ σώμασιν πεπτωκότεςἀνδρῶν κασιγνήτων τε καὶ φυταλμίωνπαῖδες γερόντων οὐκέτʼ ἐξ ἐλευθέρουδέρης ἀποιμώζουσι φιλτάτων μόρον·τοὺς δʼ αὖτε νυκτίπλαγκτος ἐκ μάχης πόνοςνήστεις πρὸς ἀρίστοισιν ὧν ἔχει πόλιςτάσσει, πρὸς οὐδὲν ἐν μέρει τεκμήριον,ἀλλʼ ὡς ἕκαστος ἔσπασεν τύχης πάλον.ἐν ⟨δʼ⟩ αἰχμαλώτοις Τρωικοῖς οἰκήμασινναίουσιν ἤδη, τῶν ὑπαιθρίων πάγωνδρόσων τʼ ἀπαλλαγέντες, ὡς δʼ εὐδαίμονεςἀφύλακτον εὑδήσουσι πᾶσαν εὐφρόνην.εἰ δʼ εὖ σέβουσι τοὺς πολισσούχους θεοὺςτοὺς τῆς ἁλούσης γῆς θεῶν θʼ ἱδρύματα,οὔ τἂν ἑλόντες αὖθις ἀνθαλοῖεν ἄν.ἔρως δὲ μή τις πρότερον ἐμπίπτῃ στρατῷπορθεῖν ἃ μὴ χρή, κέρδεσιν νικωμένους.δεῖ γὰρ πρὸς οἴκους νοστίμου σωτηρίαςκάμψαι διαύλου θάτερον κῶλον πάλιν·
But even if, without having offended the gods, our troops should reach home, the grievous suffering of the dead might still remain awake—if no fresh disaster transpires. These are my woman’s words; but may the good prevail clearly for all to see!
θεοῖς δʼ ἀναμπλάκητος εἰ μόλοι στρατός,ἐγρηγορὸς τὸ πῆμα τῶν ὀλωλότωνγένοιτʼ ἄν, εἰ πρόσπαια μὴ τύχοι κακά.τοιαῦτά τοι γυναικὸς ἐξ ἐμοῦ κλύεις·τὸ δʼ εὖ κρατοίη μὴ διχορρόπως ἰδεῖν.
For, choosing thus, I have chosen the enjoyment of many a blessing.
πολλῶν γὰρ ἐσθλῶν τήνδʼ ὄνησιν εἱλόμην.
Chorus:Lady, you speak as wisely as a prudent man. And, for my part, now that I have listened to your certain proofs, I prepare to address due prayers of thanksgiving to the gods; for a success has been achieved that well repays the toil.
Χορός:γύναι, κατʼ ἄνδρα σώφρονʼ εὐφρόνως λέγεις.ἐγὼ δʼ ἀκούσας πιστά σου τεκμήριαθεοὺς προσειπεῖν εὖ παρασκευάζομαι.χάρις γὰρ οὐκ ἄτιμος εἴργασται πόνων.
Hail, sovereign Zeus, and you kindly Night, you who have given us great glory, you who cast your meshed snare upon the towered walls of Troy, so that neither old nor young could overleapthe huge enslaving net of all-conquering Destruction. Great Zeus it is, lord of host and guest, whom I revere—he has brought this to pass. He long kept his bow bent against Alexanderuntil his bolt would neither fall short of the mark nor, flying beyond the stars, be launched in vain.
Χορός:ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ καὶ νὺξ φιλίαμεγάλων κόσμων κτεάτειρα,ἥτʼ ἐπὶ Τροίας πύργοις ἔβαλεςστεγανὸν δίκτυον, ὡς μήτε μέγανμήτʼ οὖν νεαρῶν τινʼ ὑπερτελέσαιμέγα δουλείαςγάγγαμον, ἄτης παναλώτου.Δία τοι ξένιον μέγαν αἰδοῦμαιτὸν τάδε πράξαντʼ ἐπʼ Ἀλεξάνδρῳτείνοντα πάλαι τόξον, ὅπως ἂνμήτε πρὸ καιροῦ μήθʼ ὑπὲρ ἄστρωνβέλος ἠλίθιον σκήψειεν.
Chorus:“The stroke of Zeus” they may call it; his hand can be traced there. As he determines, so he acts. Someone saidthat the gods do not trouble themselves to remember mortals who trample underfoot the grace of things not to be touched. But that man was impious! Now it stands revealed!The penalty for reckless crime is ruin when men breathe a spirit of pride above just measure, because their mansions teem with more abundance than is good for them. But let there be such wealth as brings no distress, enough to satisfya sensible man. For riches do not protect the man who in wantonness has kicked the mighty altar of Justice into obscurity.
Χορός:Διὸς πλαγὰν ἔχουσιν εἰπεῖν,πάρεστιν τοῦτό γʼ ἐξιχνεῦσαι.[ὡς] ἔπραξεν ὡς ἔκρανεν. οὐκ ἔφα τιςθεοὺς βροτῶν ἀξιοῦσθαι μέλεινὅσοις ἀθίκτων χάριςπατοῖθʼ· ὁ δʼ οὐκ εὐσεβής.πέφανται δʼ ἐκτίνουσʼἀτολμήτων ἀρὴπνεόντων μεῖζον ἢ δικαίως,φλεόντων δωμάτων ὑπέρφευὑπὲρ τὸ βέλτιστον. ἔστω δʼ ἀπή-μαντον, ὥστʼ ἀπαρκεῖνεὖ πραπίδων λαχόντα.οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἔπαλξιςπλούτου πρὸς κόρον ἀνδρὶλακτίσαντι μέγαν Δίκαςβωμὸν εἰς ἀφάνειαν.
Chorus:Perverse Temptation, the overmastering child of designing Destruction, drives men on; and every remedy is futile. His evil is not hidden; it shines forth, a baleful gleam.
Χορός:βιᾶται δʼ ἁ τάλαινα πειθώ,προβούλου παῖς ἄφερτος ἄτας.ἄκος δὲ πᾶν μάταιον. οὐκ ἐκρύφθη,πρέπει δέ, φῶς αἰνολαμπές, σίνος·
Like base metal beneath the touchstone’s rub, when tested he shows the blackness of his grain (for he is like a child who chases a winged bird)and upon his people he brings a taint against which there is no defence. No god listens to his prayers. The man associated with such deeds, him they destroy in his unrighteousness. And such was Paris, who cameto the house of the sons of Atreus and dishonoured the hospitality of his host by stealing away a wedded wife.Chorus:But she, bequeathing to her people the clang of shield and spear and army of fleets, and bringing to Ilium destruction in place of dowry, with light step she passed through the gates—daring a deed undareable. Then loud wailed the seers of the house crying,“Alas, alas, for the home, the home, and for the princes! Alas for the husband’s bed and the impress of her form so dear! He sits apart in the anguish of his grief, silent, dishonored but making no reproach. In his yearning for her who sped beyond the sea,”“a phantom will seem to be lord of the house. The grace of fair-formed statues is hateful to him; and in the hunger of his eyes all loveliness is departed.”
κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόποντρίβῳ τε καὶ προσβολαῖςμελαμπαγὴς πέλειδικαιωθείς, ἐπεὶδιώκει παῖς ποτανὸν ὄρνιν,πόλει πρόστριμμʼ ἄφερτον ἐνθείς.λιτᾶν δʼ ἀκούει μὲν οὔτις θεῶν·τὸν δʼ ἐπίστροφον τῶνφῶτʼ ἄδικον καθαιρεῖ.οἷος καὶ Πάρις ἐλθὼνἐς δόμον τὸν Ἀτρειδᾶνᾔσχυνε ξενίαν τράπε-ζαν κλοπαῖσι γυναικός.Χορός:λιποῦσα δʼ ἀστοῖσιν ἀσπίστοράςτε καὶ κλόνους λογχίμουςναυβάτας ⟨θʼ⟩ ὁπλισμούς,ἄγουσά τʼ ἀντίφερνον Ἰλίῳ φθορὰνβέβακεν ῥίμφα διὰπυλᾶν ἄτλητα τλᾶσα· πολλὰ δʼ ἔστενοντόδʼ ἐννέποντες δόμων προφῆται·ἰὼ ἰὼ δῶμα δῶμα καὶ πρόμοι,ἰὼ λέχος καὶ στίβοι φιλάνορες.πάρεστι σιγὰς ἀτίμους ἀλοιδόρουςἄλγιστʼ ἀφημένων ἰδεῖν.πόθῳ δʼ ὑπερποντίαςφάσμα δόξει δόμων ἀνάσσειν.εὐμόρφων δὲ κολοσσῶνἔχθεται χάρις ἀνδρί·ὀμμάτων δʼ ἐν ἀχηνίαιςἔρρει πᾶσʼ Ἀφροδίτα.
Chorus:“Mournful apparitions come to him in dreams, bringing only vain joy; for vainly, whenever in his imagination a man sees delights,”“straightaway the vision, slipping through his arms, is gone, winging its flight along the paths of sleep.” Such are the sorrows at hearth and home, but here are sorrows surpassing these; and at large, in every house of all who went forth together from the land of Hellas,unbearable grief is seen. Many things pierce the heart. Each knows whom he sent forth. But to the home of each comeurns and ashes, not living men.
Χορός:ὀνειρόφαντοι δὲ πενθήμονεςπάρεισι δόξαι φέρου-σαι χάριν ματαίαν.μάταν γάρ, εὖτʼ ἂν ἐσθλά τις δοκῶν ὁρᾷ,παραλλάξασα διὰχερῶν βέβακεν ὄψις οὐ μεθύστερονπτεροῖς ὀπαδοῦσʼ ὕπνου κελεύθοις.τὰ μὲν κατʼ οἴκους ἐφʼ ἑστίας ἄχητάδʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τῶνδʼ ὑπερβατώτερα.τὸ πᾶν δʼ ἀφʼ Ἕλλανος αἴας συνορμένοιςπένθειʼ ἀτλησικάρδιοςδόμων ἑκάστου πρέπει.πολλὰ γοῦν θιγγάνει πρὸς ἧπαρ·οὓς μὲν γάρ ⟨τις⟩ ἔπεμψενοἶδεν, ἀντὶ δὲ φωτῶντεύχη καὶ σποδὸς εἰς ἑκά-στου δόμους ἀφικνεῖται.
Chorus:Ares barters the bodies of men for gold; he holds his balance in the contest of the spear; andback from Ilium to their loved ones he sends a heavy dust passed through his burning, a dust cried over with plenteous tears, in place of men sending well made urns with ashes.
Χορός:ὁ χρυσαμοιβὸς δʼ Ἄρης σωμάτωνκαὶ ταλαντοῦχος ἐν μάχῃ δορὸςπυρωθὲν ἐξ Ἰλίουφίλοισι πέμπει βαρὺψῆγμα δυσδάκρυτον ἀν-τήνορος σποδοῦ γεμί-ζων λέβητας εὐθέτους.
So they lament, praising now this one: “How skilled in battle!” now that one: “Fallen nobly in the carnage,”—“for another’s wife—” some mutter in secret, andgrief charged with resentment spreads stealthily against the sons of Atreus, champions in the strife. But there far from home, around the city’s walls, those in their beauty’s bloom have graves in Ilium—the enemy’s soil has covered its conquerors.
στένουσι δʼ εὖ λέγοντες ἄν-δρα τὸν μὲν ὡς μάχης ἴδρις,τὸν δʼ ἐν φοναῖς καλῶς πεσόντʼ—ἀλλοτρίας διαὶ γυναι-κός· τάδε σῖγά τις βαΰ-ζει, φθονερὸν δʼ ὑπʼ ἄλγος ἕρ-πει προδίκοις Ἀτρείδαις.οἱ δʼ αὐτοῦ περὶ τεῖχοςθήκας Ἰλιάδος γᾶςεὔμορφοι κατέχουσιν· ἐχ-θρὰ δʼ ἔχοντας ἔκρυψεν.
Chorus:Dangerous is a people’s voice charged with wrath—it acts as a curse of publicly ratified doom.In anxious fear I wait to hear something shrouded still in gloom. The gods are not blind to men with blood upon their hands. In the end the black Spirits of Vengeance bring to obscurity that one who has prospered in unrighteousness andwear down his fortunes by reverse. Once a man is among the unseen, there is no more help for him. Glory in excess is fraught with peril;the lofty peak is struck by Zeus’ thunderbolt. I choose prosperity unassailed by envy. May I not be a sacker of cities, and may I not myself be despoiled and live to see my own life in another’s power!
Χορός:βαρεῖα δʼ ἀστῶν φάτις ξὺν κότῳ·δημοκράντου δʼ ἀρᾶς τίνει χρέος.μένει δʼ ἀκοῦσαί τί μουμέριμνα νυκτηρεφές.τῶν πολυκτόνων γὰρ οὐκἄσκοποι θεοί. κελαι-ναὶ δʼ Ἐρινύες χρόνῳτυχηρὸν ὄντʼ ἄνευ δίκαςπαλιντυχεῖ τριβᾷ βίουτιθεῖσʼ ἀμαυρόν, ἐν δʼ ἀί-στοις τελέθοντος οὔτις ἀλ-κά· τὸ δʼ ὑπερκόπως κλύεινεὖ βαρύ· βάλλεται γὰρ ὄσ-σοις Διόθεν κάρανα.κρίνω δʼ ἄφθονον ὄλβον·μήτʼ εἴην πτολιπόρθηςμήτʼ οὖν αὐτὸς ἁλοὺς ὑπʼ ἄλ-λων βίον κατίδοιμι.
(One Elder):Heralded by a beacon of good tidings a swift report has spread throughout the town. Yet whether it is true, or some deception of the gods, who knows?(A Second Elder):Who is so childish or so bereft of sense,once he has let his heart be fired by sudden news of a beacon fire, to despair if the story changes?(A Third Elder):It is just like a woman’s eager nature to yield assent to pleasing news before yet the truth is clear.(A Fourth Elder):Too credulous, a woman’s mind has boundaries open to quick encroachment; but quick to perish is rumor spread by a woman.(Leader Of The Chorus):We shall soon know about this passing on of flaming lightsand beacon signals and fires, whether they perhaps are true or whether, dream-like, this light’s glad coming has beguiled our senses. Look! I see approaching from the shore a herald crowned with boughs of olive.The thirsty dust, consorting sister of the mud, assures me that neither by pantomime nor by kindling a flame of mountain wood will he signal with smoke of fire. Either in plain words he will bid us to rejoice the more, or—but I have little love for the report opposite to this!
Χορός:πυρὸς δʼ ὑπʼ εὐαγγέλουπόλιν διήκει θοὰβάξις· εἰ δʼ ἐτήτυμος,τίς οἶδεν, ἤ τι θεῖόν ἐστί πῃ ψύθος.—τίς ὧδε παιδνὸς ἢ φρενῶν κεκομμένος,φλογὸς παραγγέλμασιννέοις πυρωθέντα καρδίαν ἔπειτʼἀλλαγᾷ λόγου καμεῖν;—[ἐν] γυναικὸς αἰχμᾷ πρέπειπρὸ τοῦ φανέντος χάριν ξυναινέσαι.—πιθανὸς ἄγαν ὁ θῆλυς ὅρος ἐπινέμεταιταχύπορος· ἀλλὰ ταχύμορονγυναικογήρυτον ὄλλυται κλέος.—Χορός:τάχʼ εἰσόμεσθα λαμπάδων φαεσφόρωνφρυκτωριῶν τε καὶ πυρὸς παραλλαγάς,εἴτʼ οὖν ἀληθεῖς εἶτʼ ὀνειράτων δίκηντερπνὸν τόδʼ ἐλθὸν φῶς ἐφήλωσεν φρένας.κήρυκʼ ἀπʼ ἀκτῆς τόνδʼ ὁρῶ κατάσκιονκλάδοις ἐλαίας· μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι κάσιςπηλοῦ ξύνουρος διψία κόνις τάδε,ὡς οὔτʼ ἄναυδος οὔτε σοι δαίων φλόγαὕλης ὀρείας σημανεῖ καπνῷ πυρός,ἀλλʼ ἢ τὸ χαίρειν μᾶλλον ἐκβάξει λέγων—τὸν ἀντίον δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἀποστέργω λόγον·
May still further good be added to the good that has appeared!(ANOTHER ELDER):Whoever makes this prayer with other intent toward the state, let him reap himself the fruit of his misguided purpose!Enter a HeraldHerald:All hail, soil of Argos, land of my fathers! On this happy day in the tenth year I have come to you.Many hopes have shattered, one only have I seen fulfilled; for I never dared to dream that here in this land of Argos I should die and have due portion of burial most dear to me. Now blessings on the land, blessings on the light of the sun, and blessed be Zeus, the land’s Most High, and the Pythian lord;and may he launch no more his shafts against us. Enough of your hostility did you display by Scamander’s banks; but now, in other mood, be our preserver and our healer, O lord Apollo. And the gods gathered here, I greet them all; him, too, my own patron,Hermes, beloved herald, of heralds all revered; and the heroes who sped us forth, I pray that they may receive back in kindliness the remnant of the host which has escaped the spear. Hail, halls of our kings, beloved roofs, and you august seats, and you divinities that face the sun,if ever you did in days gone by, now after long lapse of years, with gladness in your eyes receive your king. For bearing light in darkness to you and to all assembled here alike, he has returned—Agamemnon, our king. Oh greet him well, as is right,since he has uprooted Troy with the mattock of Zeus the Avenger, with which her soil has been uptorn. Demolished are the altars and the shrines of her gods; and the seed of her whole land has been wasted utterly. Upon the neck of Troy he has cast such a yoke.Now he has come home, our king, Atreus’ elder son, a man of happy fate, worthy of honor beyond all living men. For neither Paris nor his partner city can boast that the deed was greater than the suffering. Convicted for robbery and for theft as well,he has lost the plunder and has razed in utter destruction his father’s house and even the land. The sons of Priam have paid a twofold penalty for their sins.
εὖ γὰρ πρὸς εὖ φανεῖσι προσθήκη πέλοι.—ὅστις τάδʼ ἄλλως τῇδʼ ἐπεύχεται πόλει,αὐτὸς φρενῶν καρποῖτο τὴν ἁμαρτίαν.Κῆρυξ:ἰὼ πατρῷον οὖδας Ἀργείας χθονός,δεκάτου σε φέγγει τῷδʼ ἀφικόμην ἔτους,πολλῶν ῥαγεισῶν ἐλπίδων μιᾶς τυχών.οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ηὔχουν τῇδʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονὶθανὼν μεθέξειν φιλτάτου τάφου μέρος.νῦν χαῖρε μὲν χθών, χαῖρε δʼ ἡλίου φάος,ὕπατός τε χώρας Ζεύς, ὁ Πύθιός τʼ ἄναξ,τόξοις ἰάπτων μηκέτʼ εἰς ἡμᾶς βέλη·ἅλις παρὰ Σκάμανδρον ἦσθʼ ἀνάρσιος·νῦν δʼ αὖτε σωτὴρ ἴσθι καὶ παιώνιος,ἄναξ Ἄπολλον. τούς τʼ ἀγωνίους θεοὺςπάντας προσαυδῶ, τόν τʼ ἐμὸν τιμάορονἙρμῆν, φίλον κήρυκα, κηρύκων σέβας,ἥρως τε τοὺς πέμψαντας, εὐμενεῖς πάλινστρατὸν δέχεσθαι τὸν λελειμμένον δορός.ἰὼ μέλαθρα βασιλέων, φίλαι στέγαι,σεμνοί τε θᾶκοι, δαίμονές τʼ ἀντήλιοι,εἴ που πάλαι, φαιδροῖσι τοισίδʼ ὄμμασιδέξασθε κόσμῳ βασιλέα πολλῷ χρόνῳ.ἥκει γὰρ ὑμῖν φῶς ἐν εὐφρόνῃ φέρωνκαὶ τοῖσδʼ ἅπασι κοινὸν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ.ἀλλʼ εὖ νιν ἀσπάσασθε, καὶ γὰρ οὖν πρέπειΤροίαν κατασκάψαντα τοῦ δικηφόρουΔιὸς μακέλλῃ, τῇ κατείργασται πέδον.βωμοὶ δʼ ἄιστοι καὶ θεῶν ἱδρύματα,καὶ σπέρμα πάσης ἐξαπόλλυται χθονός.τοιόνδε Τροίᾳ περιβαλὼν ζευκτήριονἄναξ Ἀτρείδης πρέσβυς εὐδαίμων ἀνὴρἥκει, τίεσθαι δʼ ἀξιώτατος βροτῶντῶν νῦν· Πάρις γὰρ οὔτε συντελὴς πόλιςἐξεύχεται τὸ δρᾶμα τοῦ πάθους πλέον.ὀφλὼν γὰρ ἁρπαγῆς τε καὶ κλοπῆς δίκηντοῦ ῥυσίου θʼ ἥμαρτε καὶ πανώλεθροναὐτόχθονον πατρῷον ἔθρισεν δόμον.διπλᾶ δʼ ἔτεισαν Πριαμίδαι θἀμάρτια.
Chorus:Joy to you, Herald from the Achaean host!
Χορός:κῆρυξ Ἀχαιῶν χαῖρε τῶν ἀπὸ στρατοῦ.
Herald:I do rejoice. I will no longer refuse to die, if that pleases the gods.
Κῆρυξ:χαίρω ⟨γε⟩· τεθνάναι δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἀντερῶ θεοῖς.
Chorus:Was it yearning for this your fatherland that wore you out?
Χορός:ἔρως πατρῴας τῆσδε γῆς σʼ ἐγύμνασεν;
Herald:Yes, so that my eyes are filled with tears for joy.
Κῆρυξ:ὥστʼ ἐνδακρύειν γʼ ὄμμασιν χαρᾶς ὕπο.
Chorus:It was then a pleasing malady from which you suffered.
Χορός:τερπνῆς ἄρʼ ἦτε τῆσδʼ ἐπήβολοι νόσου.
Herald:How so? Teach me, and I shall master what you say.
Κῆρυξ:πῶς δή; διδαχθεὶς τοῦδε δεσπόσω λόγου.
Chorus:You were smitten with desire for those who returned your love.
Χορός:τῶν ἀντερώντων ἱμέρῳ πεπληγμένοι.
Herald:Do you mean that our land longed for the longing host?
Κῆρυξ:ποθεῖν ποθοῦντα τήνδε γῆν στρατὸν λέγεις;
Chorus:Longed so, that often from a darkly brooding spirit I have sighed.
Χορός:ὡς πόλλʼ ἀμαυρᾶς ἐκ φρενός ⟨μʼ⟩ ἀναστένειν
Herald:Where did this gloom of melancholy upon your spirit come from?
Κῆρυξ:πόθεν τὸ δύσφρον τοῦτʼ ἐπῆν θυμῷ στύγος;
Chorus:Long since have I found silence an antidote to harm.
Χορός:πάλαι τὸ σιγᾶν φάρμακον βλάβης ἔχω.
Herald:How so? Did you fear anyone when our princes were gone?
Κῆρυξ:καὶ πῶς; ἀπόντων κοιράνων ἔτρεις τινάς;
Chorus:In such fear that now, in your own words, even death would be great joy.
Χορός:ὡς νῦν, τὸ σὸν δή, καὶ θανεῖν πολλὴ χάρις.
Herald:Yes, all’s well, well ended. Yet, of what occurred in the long years, one might well say that part fell out happily, and part in turn amiss. But who, unless he is a god, is free from suffering all his days?
Κῆρυξ:εὖ γὰρ πέπρακται. ταῦτα δʼ ἐν πολλῷ χρόνῳτὰ μέν τις ἂν λέξειεν εὐπετῶς ἔχειν,τὰ δʼ αὖτε κἀπίμομφα. τίς δὲ πλὴν θεῶνἅπαντʼ ἀπήμων τὸν διʼ αἰῶνος χρόνον;
For were I to recount our hardships and our wretched quarters, the scanty space and the sorry berths——what did we not have to complain of... Then again, ashore, there was still worse to loathe; for we had to lie down close to the enemy’s walls,and the drizzling from the sky and the dews from the meadows distilled upon us, working constant destruction to our clothes and filling our hair with vermin. And if one were to tell of the wintry cold, past all enduring, when Ida’s snow slew the birds;or of the heat, when upon his waveless noonday couch, windless the sea sank to sleep—but why should we bewail all this? Our labor’s past; past for the dead so that they will never care even to wake to life again.
μόχθους γὰρ εἰ λέγοιμι καὶ δυσαυλίας,σπαρνὰς παρήξεις καὶ κακοστρώτους, τί δʼ οὐστένοντες, οὐ λαχόντες ἤματος μέρος;τὰ δʼ αὖτε χέρσῳ καὶ προσῆν πλέον στύγος·εὐναὶ γὰρ ἦσαν δηΐων πρὸς τείχεσιν·ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δὲ κἀπὸ γῆς λειμώνιαιδρόσοι κατεψάκαζον, ἔμπεδον σίνοςἐσθημάτων, τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα.χειμῶνα δʼ εἰ λέγοι τις οἰωνοκτόνον,οἷον παρεῖχʼ ἄφερτον Ἰδαία χιών,ἢ θάλπος, εὖτε πόντος ἐν μεσημβριναῖςκοίταις ἀκύμων νηνέμοις εὕδοι πεσώντί ταῦτα πενθεῖν δεῖ; παροίχεται πόνος·παροίχεται δέ, τοῖσι μὲν τεθνηκόσιντὸ μήποτʼ αὖθις μηδʼ ἀναστῆναι μέλειν.
Why should we count the number of the slain, or why should the living feel pain at their past harsh fortunes? Our misfortunes should, in my opinion, bid us a long farewell. For us, the remnant of the Argive host, the gain has the advantage and the loss does not bear down the scale;
τί τοὺς ἀναλωθέντας ἐν ψήφῳ λέγειν,τὸν ζῶντα δʼ ἀλγεῖν χρὴ τύχης παλιγκότου;καὶ πολλὰ χαίρειν ξυμφορὰς καταξιῶ.ἡμῖν δὲ τοῖς λοιποῖσιν Ἀργείων στρατοῦνικᾷ τὸ κέρδος, πῆμα δʼ οὐκ ἀντιρρέπει·
so that, as we speed over land and sea, it is fitting that we on this bright day make this boast: “The Argive army, having taken Troy at last, has nailed up these spoils to be a glory for the gods throughout Hellas in their shrines from days of old.”
ὡς κομπάσαι τῷδʼ εἰκὸς ἡλίου φάειὑπὲρ θαλάσσης καὶ χθονὸς ποτωμένοις·Τροίαν ἑλόντες δή ποτʼ Ἀργείων στόλοςθεοῖς λάφυρα ταῦτα τοῖς καθʼ Ἑλλάδαδόμοις ἐπασσάλευσαν ἀρχαῖον γάνος.
Whoever hears the story of these deeds must extol the city and the leaders of her host; and the grace of Zeus that brought them to accomplishment shall receive its due measure of gratitude. There, you have heard all that I have to say.
τοιαῦτα χρὴ κλύοντας εὐλογεῖν πόλινκαὶ τοὺς στρατηγούς· καὶ χάρις τιμήσεταιΔιὸς τόδʼ ἐκπράξασα.πάντʼ ἔχεις λόγον.
Chorus:Your words have proved me wrong. I do not deny it; for the old have ever enough youth to learn aright.
Χορός:νικώμενος λόγοισιν οὐκ ἀναίνομαι·ἀεὶ γὰρ ἥβη τοῖς γέρουσιν εὖ μαθεῖν.
But these tidings should have most interest for the household and Clytaemestra, and at the same time enrich me.Enter ClytaemestraClytaemestra:I raised a shout of triumph in my joy long before this, when the first flaming messenger arrived by night, telling that Ilium was captured and overthrown.
δόμοις δὲ ταῦτα καὶ Κλυταιμήστρᾳ μέλεινεἰκὸς μάλιστα, σὺν δὲ πλουτίζειν ἐμέ.Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀνωλόλυξα μὲν πάλαι χαρᾶς ὕπο,ὅτʼ ἦλθʼ ὁ πρῶτος νύχιος ἄγγελος πυρός,φράζων ἅλωσιν Ἰλίου τʼ ἀνάστασιν.
Then there were some who chided me and said: “Are you so convinced by beacon-fires as to think that Troy has now been sacked? Truly, it is just like a woman to be elated in heart.” By such taunts I was made to seem as if my wits were wandering. Nevertheless I still held on with my sacrifice, and throughout all the quarters of the city, according to their womanly custom,they raised a shout of happy praise while in the shrines of the gods they lulled to rest the fragrant spice-fed flame. So now why should you rehearse to me the account at length? From the king himself I shall hear the whole tale;
καί τίς μʼ ἐνίπτων εἶπε, φρυκτωρῶν δίαπεισθεῖσα Τροίαν νῦν πεπορθῆσθαι δοκεῖς;ἦ κάρτα πρὸς γυναικὸς αἴρεσθαι κέαρ.λόγοις τοιούτοις πλαγκτὸς οὖσʼ ἐφαινόμην.ὅμως δʼ ἔθυον, καὶ γυναικείῳ νόμῳὀλολυγμὸν ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν κατὰ πτόλινἔλασκον εὐφημοῦντες ἐν θεῶν ἕδραιςθυηφάγον κοιμῶντες εὐώδη φλόγα.καὶ νῦν τὰ μάσσω μὲν τί δεῖ σέ μοι λέγειν;ἄνακτος αὐτοῦ πάντα πεύσομαι λόγον.