Chorus:Let us stand here, maidens of Chalcis, and lift the queen from her chariotto the ground without stumbling, supporting her gently in our arms, with kind intent, that the renowned daughter of Agamemnon, just arrived, may feel no fear; strangers ourselves, let us avoid anything that may disturbor frighten the strangers from Argos.
Χορός:στῶμεν, Χαλκίδος ἔκγονα θρέμματα,τὴν βασίλειαν δεξώμεθʼ ὄχωνἄπο μὴ σφαλερῶς ἐπὶ γαῖαν,ἀγανῶς δὲ χεροῖν μαλακῇ ῥώμῃ,μὴ ταρβήσῃ νεωστί μοι μολὸνκλεινὸν τέκνον Ἀγαμέμνονος,μηδὲ θόρυβον μηδʼ ἔκπληξινταῖς Ἀργείαιςξεῖναι ξείναις παρέχωμεν.
Clytemnestra:I take this as a lucky omen, your kindness and auspicious greeting, and have good hope that it is to a happy marriageI conduct the bride. To attendants. Take from the chariot the dowry I am bringing for my daughter and convey it within with careful heed.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὄρνιθα μὲν τόνδʼ αἴσιον ποιούμεθα,τὸ σόν τε χρηστὸν καὶ λόγων εὐφημίαν·ἐλπίδα δʼ ἔχω τινʼ ὡς ἐπʼ ἐσθλοῖσιν γάμοιςπάρειμι νυμφαγωγός. ἀλλʼ ὀχημάτωνἔξω πορεύεθʼ ἃς φέρω φερνὰς κόρῃ,καὶ πέμπετʼ ἐς μέλαθρον εὐλαβούμενοι.
My daughter, leave the horse-drawn chariot, planting your faltering footstep delicately. To the Chorus.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ τέκνον μοι, λεῖπε πωλικοὺς ὄχους,ἁβρὸν τιθεῖσα κῶλον ἀσθενές θʼ ἅμα.
Young women, take her in your arms and lift her from the chariot, and let one of you give me the support of her hand, that I may quit my seat in the carriage with fitting grace.
ὑμεῖς δέ, νεάνιδές, νιν ἀγκάλαις ἔπιδέξασθε καὶ πορεύσατʼ ἐξ ὀχημάτων.κἀμοὶ χερός τις ἐνδότω στηρίγματα,θάκους ἀπήνης ὡς ἂν ἐκλίπω καλῶς.
Some of you stand at the horses’ heads;
αἳ δʼ ἐς τὸ πρόσθεν στῆτε πωλικῶν ζυγῶν·
for the horse has a timid eye, easily frightened; here, take this child Orestes, son of Agamemnon, baby as he still is.
φοβερὸν γὰρ ἀπαράμυθον ὄμμα πωλικόν·καὶ παῖδα τόνδε, τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος γόνον,λάζυσθʼ, Ὀρέστην· ἔτι γάρ ἐστι νήπιος.
What! sleeping, little one, tired out by your ride in the chariot? Awake to bless your sister’s wedding; for you, my gallant boy,shall get by this marriage a kinsman gallant as yourself, the Nereid’s godlike offspring. Come here to your mother, my daughter, Iphigenia, and seat yourself beside me, and stationed near show my happiness to these strangers;yes, come here and welcome the father you love so dearly.
τέκνον, καθεύδεις πωλικῷ δαμεὶς ὄχῳ;ἔγειρʼ ἀδελφῆς ἐφʼ ὑμέναιον εὐτυχῶς·ἀνδρὸς γὰρ ἀγαθοῦ κῆδος αὐτὸς ἐσθλὸς ὢνλήψῃ, κόρης Νηρῇδος ἰσόθεον γένος.ἑξῆς κάθησο δεῦρό μου ποδός, τέκνον·πρὸς μητέρʼ, Ἰφιγένεια, μακαρίαν δέ μεξέναισι ταῖσδε πλησία σταθεῖσα δός,καὶ — δεῦρο δὴ — πατέρα πρόσειπε σὸν φίλον.
Iphigenia:Do not be angry with me, mother, if I run from your side and throw myself on my father’s breast.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ μῆτερ, ὑποδραμοῦσά σʼ· ὀργισθῇς δὲ μή·πρὸς στέρνα πατρὸς στέρνα τἀμὰ περιβαλῶ.
Clytemnestra:Hail! my honored lord, king Agamemnon! we have obeyed your commands and have come.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ σέβας ἐμοὶ μέγιστον, Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ,ἥκομεν, ἐφετμαῖς οὐκ ἀπιστοῦσαι σέθεν.
Iphigenia:[O my father! I long to outrun others and embrace you after this long while;] for I yearn to see your face; do not be angry with me.
Ἰφιγένεια:[ἐγὼ δὲ βούλομαι τὰ σὰ στέρνʼ, ὦ πάτερ,][ὑποδραμοῦσα προσβαλεῖν διὰ χρόνου·]ποθῶ γὰρ ὄμμα δὴ σόν. ὀργισθῇς δὲ μή.
Clytemnestra:You may do so, daughter; for of all the children I have borne, you have always loved your father best.Iphigenia: throwing herself into Agamemnon’s arms.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, χρή· φιλοπάτωρ δʼ ἀεί ποτʼ εἶμάλιστα παίδων τῷδʼ ὅσους ἐγὼ ʼτεκον.
I see you, father, joyfully after a long time.
Ἰφιγένεια:ὦ πάτερ, ἐσεῖδόν σʼ ἀσμένη πολλῷ χρόνῳ.
Agamemnon:And I, your father, see you; your words do equal duty for both of us.
Ἀγαμέμνων:καὶ γὰρ πατὴρ σέ· τόδʼ ἴσον ὑπὲρ ἀμφοῖν λέγεις.
Iphigenia:All hail, father! you did well in bringing me here to you.
Ἰφιγένεια:χαῖρʼ· εὖ δέ μʼ ἀγαγὼν πρὸς σʼ ἐποίησας, πάτερ.
Agamemnon:I know not how I am to say yes or no to that, my child.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως φῶ τοῦτο καὶ μὴ φῶ, τέκνον.
Iphigenia:Ah! how wildly you are looking, spite of your joy at seeing me.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἔα·ὡς οὐ βλέπεις ἕκηλον ἄσμενός μʼ ἰδών.
Agamemnon:A man has many cares when he is king and general too.
Ἀγαμέμνων:πόλλʼ ἀνδρὶ βασιλεῖ καὶ στρατηλάτῃ μέλει.
Iphigenia:Be mine, all mine today; do not turn to moody thoughts.
Ἰφιγένεια:παρʼ ἐμοὶ γενοῦ νῦν, μὴ ʼπὶ φροντίδας τρέπου.
Agamemnon:Why so I am, all yours today; I have no other thought.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἀλλʼ εἰμὶ παρὰ σοὶ νῦν ἅπας κοὐκ ἄλλοθι.
Iphigenia:Then smooth your knitted brow, unbend and smile.
Ἰφιγένεια:μέθες νυν ὀφρὺν ὄμμα τʼ ἔκτεινον φίλον.
Agamemnon:See! my child, my joy at seeing you is even as it is.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἰδού, γέγηθά σʼ ὡς γέγηθʼ ὁρῶν, τέκνον.
Iphigenia:And do you then have tears streaming from your eyes?
Ἰφιγένεια:κἄπειτα λείβεις δάκρυʼ ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων σέθεν;
Agamemnon:Yes, for long is the absence from each other, that awaits us.
Ἀγαμέμνων:μακρὰ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἡ ʼπιοῦσʼ ἀπουσία.
Iphigenia:I do not know, dear father, I do not know of what you are speaking.
Ἰφιγένεια:οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅ τι φῄς, οὐκ οἶδα, φίλτατʼ ἐμοὶ πάτερ.
Agamemnon:You are moving my pity all the more by speaking so sensibly.
Ἀγαμέμνων:συνετὰ λέγουσα μᾶλλον εἰς οἶκτόν μʼ ἄγεις.
Iphigenia:My words shall turn to senselessness if that will cheer you more.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀσύνετά νυν ἐροῦμεν, εἰ σέ γʼ εὐφρανῶ.
Agamemnon:Alas! this silence is too much. You have my thanks.
Ἀγαμέμνων:παπαῖ. τὸ σιγᾶν οὐ σθένω· σὲ δʼ ᾔνεσα.
Iphigenia:Stay with your children at home, father.
Ἰφιγένεια:μένʼ, ὦ πάτερ, κατʼ οἶκον ἐπὶ τέκνοις σέθεν.
Agamemnon:My own wish! But to my sorrow I may not
Ἀγαμέμνων:θέλω γε· τὸ θέλειν δʼ οὐκ ἔχων ἀλγύνομαι.
Iphigenia:Ruin seize their wars and the woes of Menelaus!
Ἰφιγένεια:ὄλοιντο λόγχαι καὶ τὰ Μενέλεω κακά.
Agamemnon:First will that, which has been my life-long ruin, bring ruin to others.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἄλλους ὀλεῖ πρόσθʼ ἃ ἐμὲ διολέσαντʼ ἔχει.
Iphigenia:How long you were absent in the bays of Aulis!
Ἰφιγένεια:ὡς πολὺν ἀπῆσθα χρόνον ἐν Αὐλίδος μυχοῖς.
Agamemnon:Yes, and there is still a hindrance to my sending the army forward.
Ἀγαμέμνων:καὶ νῦν γέ μʼ ἴσχει δή τι μὴ στέλλειν στρατόν.
Iphigenia:Where do men say the Phrygians live, father?
Ἰφιγένεια:ποῦ τοὺς Φρύγας λέγουσιν ᾠκίσθαι, πάτερ;
Agamemnon:In a land where I wish Paris, the son of Priam, never had dwelt.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οὗ μήποτʼ οἰκεῖν ὤφελʼ ὁ Πριάμου Πάρις.
Iphigenia:It is a long voyage you are bound on, father, after you leave me.
Ἰφιγένεια:μακρὰν ἀπαίρεις, ὦ πάτερ, λιπὼν ἐμέ.
Agamemnon:You will meet your father again, my daughter.
Ἀγαμέμνων:εἰς ταὐτόν, ὦ θύγατερ, ἥκεις σῷ πατρί.
Iphigenia:Ah! would it were seemly for you to take me as a fellow voyager!
Ἰφιγένεια:φεῦ·εἴθʼ ἦν καλόν μοι σοί τʼ ἄγειν σύμπλουν ἐμέ.
Agamemnon:You too have a voyage to make to a haven where you will remember your father.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἔτʼ ἔστι καὶ σοὶ πλοῦς, ἵνʼ ἀμμνήσῃ πατρός.
Iphigenia:Shall I sail there with my mother or alone?
Ἰφιγένεια:σὺν μητρὶ πλεύσασʼ ἢ μόνη πορεύσομαι;
Agamemnon:All alone, without father or mother.
Ἀγαμέμνων:μόνη, μονωθεῖσʼ ἀπὸ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος.
Iphigenia:What! have you found me a new home, father?
Ἰφιγένεια:οὔ πού μʼ ἐς ἄλλα δώματʼ οἰκίζεις, πάτερ;
Agamemnon:Enough of this! it is not for girls to know such things.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐατέʼ· οὐ χρὴ τοιάδʼ εἰδέναι κόρας.
Iphigenia:Please hurry home from Troy, father, as soon as you have triumphed there.
Ἰφιγένεια:σπεῦδʼ ἐκ Φρυγῶν μοι, θέμενος εὖ τἀκεῖ, πάτερ.
Agamemnon:There is a sacrifice I have first to offer here.
Ἀγαμέμνων:θῦσαί με θυσίαν πρῶτα δεῖ τινʼ ἐνθάδε.
Iphigenia:Yes, it is your duty to heed religion with aid of holy rites.
Ἰφιγένεια:ἀλλὰ ξὺν ἱεροῖς χρὴ τό γʼ εὐσεβὲς σκοπεῖν.
Agamemnon:You will witness it, for you will be standing near the libations.
Ἀγαμέμνων:εἴσῃ σύ· χερνίβων γὰρ ἑστήξῃ πέλας.
Iphigenia:Am I to lead the dance then round the altar, father?
Ἰφιγένεια:στήσομεν ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ βωμόν, ὦ πάτερ, χορούς;
Agamemnon:I count you happier than myself because you know nothing. Go within—it is wrong for maidens to be seen—after you have given me your hand and a kiss,on the eve of your lengthy sojourn far from your father’s side.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ζηλῶ σὲ μᾶλλον ἢ ʼμὲ τοῦ μηδὲν φρονεῖν.χώρει δὲ μελάθρων ἐντός — ὀφθῆναι κόραιςπικρόν — φίλημα δοῦσα δεξιάν τέ μοι,μέλλουσα δαρὸν πατρὸς ἀποικήσειν χρόνον.
Breast, cheek, and golden hair! ah, how grievous you have found Helen and the Phrygians’ city! I can speak no more; the tears come welling to my eyes, the moment I touch you.
ὦ στέρνα καὶ παρῇδες, ὦ ξανθαὶ κόμαι,ὡς ἄχθος ὑμῖν ἐγένεθʼ ἡ Φρυγῶν πόλιςἙλένη τε. — παύω τοὺς λόγους· ταχεῖα γὰρνοτὶς διώκει μʼ ὀμμάτων ψαύσαντά σου.
Go into the house. Exit Iphigenia.Agamemnon turns to Clytemnestra. I beg your pardon, daughter of Leda, if I showed excessive grief at the thought of giving my daughter to Achilles; for though we are sending her to taste of bliss, still it wrings a parent’s heart, when he, the father who has toiled so hard for them,commits his children to the homes of strangers.
ἴθʼ ἐς μέλαθρα. σὲ δὲ παραιτοῦμαι τάδε,Λήδας γένεθλον, εἰ κατῳκτίσθην ἄγαν,μέλλων Ἀχιλλεῖ θυγατέρʼ ἐκδώσειν ἐμήν.ἀποστολαὶ γὰρ μακάριαι μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμωςδάκνουσι τοὺς τεκόντας, ὅταν ἄλλοις δόμοιςπαῖδας παραδιδῷ πολλὰ μοχθήσας πατήρ.
Clytemnestra:I am not so senseless; But I think I will go through this as well, when I lead the girl from the chamber to the sound of the marriage hymn; so I do not chide you; but custom will combine with time to make the smart grow less.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐχ ὧδʼ ἀσύνετός εἰμι, πείσεσθαι δέ μεκαὐτὴν δόκει τάδʼ, ὥστε μή σε νουθετεῖν,ὅταν σὺν ὑμεναίοισιν ἐξάγω κόρην·ἀλλʼ ὁ νόμος αὐτὰ τῷ χρόνῳ συνισχανεῖ.
As for him, to whom you have betrothed our daughter, I know his name, it is true, but want to learn his lineage and the land of his birth.
τοὔνομα μὲν οὖν παῖδʼ οἶδʼ ὅτῳ κατῄνεσας,γένους δʼ ὁποίου χὡπόθεν, μαθεῖν θέλω.
Agamemnon:There was one Aegina, the daughter of Asopus.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Αἴγινα θυγάτηρ ἐγένετʼ Ἀσωποῦ πατρός.
Clytemnestra:Who wedded her? Some mortal or a god?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ταύτην δὲ θνητῶν ἢ θεῶν ἔζευξε τίς;
Agamemnon:Zeus, and she bore Aeacus, the prince of Oenone.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Ζεύς· Αἰακὸν δʼ ἔφυσεν, Οἰνώνης πρόμον.
Clytemnestra:What son of Aeacus secured his father’s halls?
Κλυταιμήστρα:τὰ δʼ Αἰακοῦ παῖς τίς κατέσχε δώματα;
Agamemnon:Peleus, who wedded the daughter of Nereus.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Πηλεύς· ὁ Πηλεὺς δʼ ἔσχε Νηρέως κόρην.
Clytemnestra:With the god’s consent, or when he had taken her in spite of gods?
Κλυταιμήστρα:θεοῦ διδόντος, ἢ βίᾳ θεῶν λαβών;
Agamemnon:Zeus betrothed her, and her guardian gave consent.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Ζεὺς ἠγγύησε καὶ δίδωσʼ ὁ κύριος.
Clytemnestra:Where did he marry her? in the billows of the sea?
Κλυταιμήστρα:γαμεῖ δὲ ποῦ νιν; ἦ κατʼ οἶδμα πόντιον;
Agamemnon:In Chiron’s home, at sacred Pelion’s foot.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Χείρων ἵνʼ οἰκεῖ σεμνὰ Πηλίου βάθρα.
Clytemnestra:What! the abode ascribed to the race of Centaurs?
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὗ φασι Κενταύρειον ᾠκίσθαι γένος;
Agamemnon:It was there the gods celebrated the marriage feast of Peleus.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐνταῦθʼ ἔδαισαν Πηλέως γάμους θεοί.
Clytemnestra:Did Thetis or his father train Achilles?
Κλυταιμήστρα:Θέτις δʼ ἔθρεψεν ἢ πατὴρ Ἀχιλλέα;
Agamemnon:Chiron brought him up, to prevent his learning the ways of the wicked.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Χείρων, ἵνʼ ἤθη μὴ μάθοι κακῶν βροτῶν.
Clytemnestra:Ah! wise the teacher, still wiser the one who gave his son.
Κλυταιμήστρα:φεῦ·σοφός γʼ ὁ θρέψας χὡ διδοὺς σοφώτερος.
Agamemnon:Such is the future husband of your daughter.
Ἀγαμέμνων:τοιόσδε παιδὸς σῆς ἀνὴρ ἔσται πόσις.
Clytemnestra:A blameless lord; but what city in Hellas is his?
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐ μεμπτός. οἰκεῖ δʼ ἄστυ ποῖον Ἑλλάδος;
Agamemnon:He dwells on the banks of the river Apidanus, in the borders of Phthia.
Ἀγαμέμνων:Ἀπιδανὸν ἀμφὶ ποταμὸν ἐν Φθίας ὅροις.
Clytemnestra:Will you convey our daughter there?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐκεῖσʼ ἀπάξει σὴν ἐμήν τε παρθένον;
Agamemnon:He who takes her to himself will see to that.
Ἀγαμέμνων:κείνῳ μελήσει ταῦτα, τῷ κεκτημένῳ.
Clytemnestra:Happiness attend the pair! Which day will he marry her?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀλλʼ εὐτυχοίτην. τίνι δʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ γαμεῖ;
Agamemnon:As soon as the full moon comes to give its blessing
Ἀγαμέμνων:ὅταν σελήνης εὐτυχὴς ἔλθῃ κύκλος.
Clytemnestra:Have you already offered the goddess a sacrifice to usher in the maiden’s marriage?
Κλυταιμήστρα:προτέλεια δʼ ἤδη παιδὸς ἔσφαξας θεᾷ;
Agamemnon:I am about to do so; that is the very thing I was engaged in.
Ἀγαμέμνων:μέλλω· ʼπὶ ταύτῃ καὶ καθέσταμεν τύχῃ.
Clytemnestra:And then will you celebrate the marriage feast afterwards?
Κλυταιμήστρα:κἄπειτα δαίσεις τοὺς γάμους ἐς ὕστερον;
Agamemnon:Yes, when I have offered a sacrifice required by the gods of me.
Ἀγαμέμνων:θύσας γε θύμαθʼ ἃ ἐμὲ χρὴ θῦσαι θεοῖς.
Clytemnestra:But where am I to make ready the feast for the women?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἡμεῖς δὲ θοίνην ποῦ γυναιξὶ θήσομεν;
Agamemnon:Here beside our gallant Argive ships.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐνθάδε παρʼ εὐπρύμνοισιν Ἀργείων πλάταις.
Clytemnestra:Finely here! but still I must; good come of it for all that!
Κλυταιμήστρα:καλῶς ἀναγκαίως τε· συνενέγκοι δʼ ὅμως.
Agamemnon:Do you know what to do, lady? Then obey me.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον, ὦ γύναι; πιθοῦ δέ μοι.
Clytemnestra:In what matter? for I was ever accustomed to obey you.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί χρῆμα; πείθεσθαι γὰρ εἴθισμαι σέθεν.
Agamemnon:Here, where the bridegroom is, I will—
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἡμεῖς μὲν ἐνθάδʼ, οὗπέρ ἐσθʼ ὁ νυμφίος—
Clytemnestra:Which of my duties will you perform in the mother’s absence?
Κλυταιμήστρα:μητρὸς τί χωρὶς δράσεθʼ, ἃ ἐμὲ δρᾶν χρεών;
Agamemnon:Give your child away with help of Danaids.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐκδώσομεν σὴν παῖδα Δαναϊδῶν μέτα.
Clytemnestra:And where am I to be then?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἡμᾶς δὲ ποῦ χρὴ τηνικαῦτα τυγχάνειν;
Agamemnon:Go to Argos, and take care of your unwedded daughters.
Ἀγαμέμνων:χώρει πρὸς Ἄργος παρθένους τε τημέλει.
Clytemnestra:And leave my child? Then who will raise her bridal torch?
Κλυταιμήστρα:λιποῦσα παῖδα; τίς δʼ ἀνασχήσει φλόγα;
Agamemnon:I will provide the proper wedding torch.
Ἀγαμέμνων:ἐγὼ παρέξω φῶς ὃ νυμφίοις πρέπει.
Clytemnestra:That is not the custom; but you think lightly of these things.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐχ ὁ νόμος οὗτος οὐδὲ φαῦλʼ ἡγητέα.
Agamemnon:It is not good for you to be alone among a soldier-crowd.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οὐ καλὸν ἐν ὄχλῳ σʼ ἐξομιλεῖσθαι στρατοῦ.
Clytemnestra:It is good that a mother should give her own child away.
Κλυταιμήστρα:καλὸν τεκοῦσαν τἀμά μʼ ἐκδοῦναι τέκνα.
Agamemnon:Yes, and that those maidens at home should not be left alone.
Ἀγαμέμνων:καὶ τάς γʼ ἐν οἴκῳ μὴ μόνας εἶναι κόρας.
Clytemnestra:They are well guarded in their maiden bowers.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὀχυροῖσι παρθενῶσι φρουροῦνται καλῶς.
Agamemnon:Obey.
Ἀγαμέμνων:πιθοῦ.
Clytemnestra:No, by the goddess-queen of Argos!
Κλυταιμήστρα:μὰ τὴν ἄνασσαν Ἀργείαν θεάν.
Go, manage matters out of doors; but in the house it is my place to decide [what is proper for maidens at their wedding].
ἐλθὼν δὲ τἄξω πρᾶσσε, τἀν δόμοις δʼ ἐγώ,[ἃ χρὴ παρεῖναι νυμφίοισι παρθένοις.]
Agamemnon:Woe is me! my efforts are baffled; I am disappointed in my hope, anxious as I was to get my wife out of sight; foiled at every point,I form my plots and subtle schemes against my best-beloved. But I will go, in spite of all, with Calchas the priest, to inquire the goddess’s good pleasure, fraught with ill-luck as it is to me, and with trouble to Hellas. He who is wise should keep in his housea good and useful wife or none at all.
Ἀγαμέμνων:οἴμοι· μάτην ᾖξʼ, ἐλπίδος δʼ ἀπεσφάλην,ἐξ ὀμμάτων δάμαρτʼ ἀποστεῖλαι θέλων.σοφίζομαι δὲ κἀπὶ τοῖσι φιλτάτοιςτέχνας πορίζω, πανταχῇ νικώμενος.ὅμως δὲ σὺν Κάλχαντι τῷ θυηπόλῳκοινῇ τὸ τῆς θεοῦ φίλον, ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐκ εὐτυχές,ἐξευπορήσων εἶμι, μόχθον Ἑλλάδος.χρὴ δʼ ἐν δόμοισιν ἄνδρα τὸν σοφὸν τρέφεινγυναῖκα χρηστὴν κἀγαθήν, ἢ μὴ τρέφειν.
Chorus:The Hellenes’ gathered army will come in arms aboard their ships to Simois with its silver eddies,to Ilium, the plain of Troy beloved by Phoebus; where Cassandra, I am told, wildly tosses her golden tresses, wreathed with crown of green laurel,whenever the god’s resistless prophecies inspire her.
Χορός:ἥξει δὴ Σιμόεντα καὶδίνας ἀργυροειδεῖςἄγυρις Ἑλλάνων στρατιᾶςἀνά τε ναυσὶν καὶ σὺν ὅπλοιςἼλιον ἐς τὸ ΤροίαςΦοιβήιον δάπεδον,τὰν Κασάνδραν ἵνʼ ἀκούωῥίπτειν ξανθοὺς πλοκάμουςχλωροκόμῳ στεφάνῳ δάφναςκοσμηθεῖσαν, ὅταν θεοῦμαντόσυνοι πνεύσωσʼ ἀνάγκαι.
Chorus:And on the towers of Troy and round her walls shall Trojans stand, when sea-borne troopswith brazen shields row in on shapely ships to the channels of the Simois, eager to take Helen, the sister of that heavenly pair whom Zeus begot, from Priam, and bear her back to Hellas by toilof Achaean shields and spears.
Χορός:στάσονται δʼ ἐπὶ περγάμωνΤροίας ἀμφί τε τείχηΤρῶες, ὅταν χάλκασπις Ἄρηςπόντιος εὐπρῴροιο πλάταςεἰρεσίᾳ πελάζῃΣιμουντίοις ὀχετοῖς,τὰν τῶν ἐν αἰθέρι δισσῶνΔιοσκούρων Ἑλένανἐκ Πριάμου κομίσαι θέλωνἐς γᾶν Ἑλλάδα δοριπόνοιςἀσπίσι καὶ λόγχαις Ἀχαιῶν.
Chorus:The son of Atreus, encircling Pergamus, the Phrygians’ town, with murderous wararound her stone-built towers, dragging Paris’s head backward to cut his throat and sacking the city from roof to base, shall be a cause of many tears to maids andPriam’s wife. And Helen, the daughter of Zeus, shall weep in bitter grief because she left her lord.
Χορός:Πέργαμον δὲ Φρυγῶν πόλινλαΐνους περὶ πύργουςκυκλώσας Ἄρει φονίῳ,λαιμοτόμου κεφαλᾶςσπάσας ⟨Πάριν Ἀτρεΐδας,⟩πέρσας κατάκρας πόλιν,θήσει κόρας πολυκλαύτουςδάμαρτά τε Πριάμου.ἁ δὲ Διὸς Ἑλένα κόραπολύκλαυτος ἑδεῖταιπόσιν προλιποῦσα.
Never may there appear to me or to my children’s childrenthe prospect which the wealthy Lydian ladies and Phrygia’s brides will have as at their looms they converse:
μήτʼ ἐμοὶμήτʼ ἐμοῖσι τέκνων τέκνοιςἐλπὶς ἅδε ποτʼ ἔλθοι,οἵαν αἱ πολύχρυσοιΛυδαὶ καὶ Φρυγῶν ἄλοχοιστήσουσι παρʼ ἱστοῖςμυθεῦσαι τάδʼ ἐς ἀλλήλας·
“Tell me, who will pluck me away from my ruined country, tightening his grasp on lovely tresses till the tears flow? it is all through you, the offspring of the long-necked swan; if indeed it is a true report”“that Leda bore you to a winged bird, when Zeus transformed himself there, or whether, in the tablets of the poets, fables have carried these tales to men’s ears”“idly, out of season.”
Τίς ἄρα μʼ εὐπλοκάμου κόμαςῥῦμα δακρυόεν τανύσαςπατρίδος ὀλλυμένας ἀπολωτιεῖ;διὰ σέ, τὰν κύκνου δολιχαύχενος γόνον,εἰ δὴ φάτις ἔτυμος ὡςἔτυχεν, [Λήδα] ὄρνιθι πταμένῳΔιὸς ὅτʼ ἠλλάχθη δέμας, εἴτʼἐν δέλτοις Πιερίσινμῦθοι τάδʼ ἐς ἀνθρώπουςἤνεγκαν παρὰ καιρὸν ἄλλως.
Achilles:Where is Achaea’s general? Which of his servants will announce to him that Achilles, the son of Peleus, is at his gates seeking him? For this delay at the Euripus is not the same for all of us;
Ἀχιλλεύς:ποῦ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν ἐνθάδʼ ὁ στρατηλάτης;τίς ἂν φράσειε προσπόλων τὸν Πηλέωςζητοῦντά νιν παῖδʼ ἐν πύλαις Ἀχιλλέα;οὐκ ἐξ ἴσου γὰρ μένομεν Εὐρίπου πέλας.
there are some, for instance, who, bing still unwed, have left their houses desolate and are idling here upon the beach, while others are married but without children; so strange the longing for this expedition that has fallen on their hearts by the will of the gods.
οἳ μὲν γὰρ ἡμῶν, ὄντες ἄζυγες γάμων,οἴκους ἐρήμους ἐκλιπόντες ἐνθάδεθάσσουσʼ ἐπʼ ἀκταῖς, οἳ δʼ ἔχοντες εὔνιδαςἄπαιδες· οὕτω δεινὸς ἐμπέπτωκʼ ἔρωςτῆσδε στρατείας Ἑλλάδʼ οὐκ ἄνευ θεῶν.
My own just plea I must declare, and whoever else has any wish will speak for himself. Though I have left Pharsalia, and Peleus, still I linger here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my Myrmidons, while they are always pressing on me,saying: “Why do we tarry, Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start for Ilium? do something if you are so minded; or lead home your men, and do not wait for the tardy action of these Atridae.”
τοὐμὸν μὲν οὖν δίκαιον ἐμὲ λέγειν χρεών,ἄλλος δʼ ὁ χρῄζων αὐτὸς ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ φράσει.γῆν γὰρ λιπὼν Φάρσαλον ἠδὲ Πηλέαμένω ʼπὶ λεπταῖς ταισίδʼ Εὐρίπου πνοαῖς,Μυρμιδόνας ἴσχων· οἳ δʼ ἀεὶ προσκείμενοιλέγουσʼ· Ἀχιλλεῦ, τί μένομεν; πόσον χρόνονἔτʼ ἐκμετρῆσαι χρὴ πρὸς Ἰλίου στόλον;δρᾶ γʼ, εἴ τι δράσεις, ἢ ἄπαγʼ οἴκαδε στρατόν,τὰ τῶν Ἀτρειδῶν μὴ μένων μελλήματα.
Clytemnestra:Hail to you, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard your voicefrom within the tent and came forth.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ παῖ θεᾶς Νηρῇδος, ἔνδοθεν λόγωντῶν σῶν ἀκούσασʼ ἐξέβην πρὸ δωμάτων.
Achilles:O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly dowered with beauty’s gifts?
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὦ πότνιʼ αἰδώς, τήνδε τίνα λεύσσω ποτὲγυναῖκα, μορφὴν εὐπρεπῆ κεκτημένην;
Clytemnestra:No wonder you do not know me, seeing I am one you have never before set eyes on; I praise your reverent address to modesty.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐ θαῦμά σʼ ἡμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, οἷς μὴ πάροςπροσῆκες· αἰνῶ δʼ ὅτι σέβεις τὸ σωφρονεῖν.
Achilles:Who are you, and why have you come to the mustering of the Danaids—you, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
Ἀχιλλεύς:τίς δʼ εἶ; τί δʼ ἦλθες Δαναϊδῶν ἐς σύλλογον,γυνὴ πρὸς ἄνδρας ἀσπίσιν πεφραγμένους;
Clytemnestra:I am the daughter of Leda; my name is Clytemnestra; and my husband king Agamemnon.
Κλυταιμήστρα:Λήδας μέν εἰμι παῖς, Κλυταιμήστρα δέ μοιὄνομα, πόσις δέ μοὐστὶν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ.
Achilles:Well and shortly answered on all important points,but it is shameful for me to stand talking to women.
Ἀχιλλεύς:καλῶς ἔλεξας ἐν βραχεῖ τὰ καίρια.αἰσχρὸν δέ μοι γυναιξὶ συμβάλλειν λόγους.
Clytemnestra:Stay; why seek to escape? give me your hand, a prelude to a happy marriage.
Κλυταιμήστρα:μεῖνον — τί φεύγεις; — δεξιάν τʼ ἐμῇ χερὶσύναψον, ἀρχὴν μακαρίαν νυμφευμάτων.
Achilles:What is it you say? I give you my hand? To lay a finger where I have no right, I could never meet Agamemnon’s eye.
Ἀχιλλεύς:τί φῄς; ἐγώ σοι δεξιάν; αἰδοίμεθʼ ἂνἈγαμέμνονʼ, εἰ ψαύοιμεν ὧν μή μοι θέμις.
Clytemnestra:The best of rights you have, seeing it is my child you will wed, O son of the sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus.
Κλυταιμήστρα:θέμις μάλιστα, τὴν ἐμὴν ἐπεὶ γαμεῖςπαῖδʼ, ὦ θεᾶς παῖ ποντίας Νηρηίδος.
Achilles:What wedding do you speak of? Words fail me, lady; can your wits have gone astray and are you inventing this?
Ἀχιλλεύς:ποίους γάμους φῄς; ἀφασία μʼ ἔχει, γύναι·εἰ μή τι παρανοοῦσα καινουργεῖς λόγον;
Clytemnestra:All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations,when these remind them of their wedding.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πᾶσιν τόδʼ ἐμπέφυκεν, αἰδεῖσθαι φίλουςκαινοὺς ὁρῶσι καὶ γάμου μεμνημένοις.
Achilles:Lady, I have never courted your daughter, nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
Ἀχιλλεύς:οὐπώποτʼ ἐμνήστευσα παῖδα σήν, γύναι,οὐδʼ ἐξ Ἀτρειδῶν ἦλθέ μοι λόγος γάμων.
Clytemnestra:What can it mean? Your turn now to marvel at my words, for yours are very strange to me.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη; σὺ πάλιν αὖ λόγους ἐμοὺςθαύμαζʼ· ἐμοὶ γὰρ θαύματʼ ἐστὶ τὰ παρὰ σοῦ.
Achilles:Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may be we are both correct in our statements.
Ἀχιλλεύς:εἴκαζε· κοινόν ἐστιν εἰκάζειν τάδε·ἄμφω γὰρ οὐ ψευδόμεθα τοῖς λόγοις ἴσως.
Clytemnestra:What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting has no reality it seems; I am ashmed of it.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἀλλʼ ἦ πέπονθα δεινά; μνηστεύω γάμουςοὐκ ὄντας, ὡς εἴξασιν· αἰδοῦμαι τάδε.
Achilles:Some one perhaps has made a mock of you and me;
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἴσως ἐκερτόμησε κἀμὲ καὶ σέ τις.
pay no heed to it; make light of it.
ἀλλʼ ἀμελίᾳ δὸς αὐτὰ καὶ φαύλως φέρε.
Clytemnestra:Farewell; I can no longer face you with unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar and suffering undeservedly.
Κλυταιμήστρα:χαῖρʼ· οὐ γὰρ ὀρθοῖς ὄμμασίν σʼ ἔτʼ εἰσορῶ,ψευδὴς γενομένη καὶ παθοῦσʼ ἀνάξια.
Achilles:It is “farewell” I bid you too, lady; and I go within the tent to seek your husband.Old man: calling through the tent door.
Ἀχιλλεύς:καὶ σοὶ τόδʼ ἐστὶν ἐξ ἐμοῦ· πόσιν δὲ σὸνστείχω ματεύσων τῶνδε δωμάτων ἔσω.
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! I mean you, O goddess-born, and you, daughter of Leda.
Πρεσβύτης:ὦ ξένʼ, Αἰακοῦ γένεθλον, μεῖνον· ὦ, σέ τοι λέγω,τὸν θεᾶς γεγῶτα παῖδα, καὶ σέ, τὴν Λήδας κόρην.
Achilles:Who is it calling through the half-opened door? What fear his voice betrays!
Ἀχιλλεύς:τίς ὁ καλῶν πύλας παροίξας; ὡς τεταρβηκὼς καλεῖ.
Old man:A slave; of that I am not proud, for fortune does not permit it.
Πρεσβύτης:δοῦλος, οὐχ ἁβρύνομαι τῷδʼ· ἡ τύχη γὰρ οὐκ ἐᾷ.
Achilles:Whose slave are you? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon’s goods are separate.
Ἀχιλλεύς:τίνος; ἐμὸς μὲν οὐχί· χωρὶς τἀμὰ καὶ Ἀγαμέμνονος.
Old man:I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her from Tyndareus her father.
Πρεσβύτης:τῆσδε τῆς πάροιθεν οἴκων, Τυνδάρεω δόντος πατρός.
Achilles:I am waiting; tell me, if you are desirous, why you have stopped me.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἕσταμεν· φράζʼ, εἴ τι χρῄζεις, ὧν μʼ ἐπέσχες οὕνεκα.
Old man:Are you really all alone here at the door?
Πρεσβύτης:ἦ μόνω παρόντε δῆτα ταῖσδʼ ἐφέστατον πύλαις;
Achilles:To us alone will you address yourself; come forth from the king’s tent.Old man: coming out.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὡς μόνοιν λέγοις ἄν, ἔξω δʼ ἐλθὲ βασιλείων δόμων.
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire!
Πρεσβύτης:ὦ Τύχη πρόνοιά θʼ ἡμή, σῴσαθʼ οὓς ἐγὼ θέλω.
Achilles:That speech will save them in the future; it has a certain pompous air.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὁ λόγος ἐς μέλλοντʼ ἂν ὤση χρόνον· ἔχει δʼ ὄγκον τινά.
Clytemnestra:Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is anything that you would say to me.
Κλυταιμήστρα:δεξιᾶς ἕκατι μὴ μέλλʼ, εἴ τί μοι χρῄζεις λέγειν.
Old man:Well, you know my character and my devotion to you and your children.
Πρεσβύτης:οἶσθα δῆτʼ ἔμʼ, ὅστις ὢν σοὶ καὶ τέκνοις εὔνους ἔφυν;
Clytemnestra:I know you have grown old in the service of my house.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οἶδά σʼ ὄντʼ ἐγὼ παλαιὸν δωμάτων ἐμῶν λάτριν.
Old man:Likewise you know it was in your dowry king Agamemnon received me.
Πρεσβύτης:χὥτι μʼ ἐν ταῖς σαῖσι φερναῖς ἔλαβεν Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ;
Clytemnestra:Yes, you came to Argos with me, and have been mine this long time past.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἦλθες εἰς Ἄργος μεθʼ ἡμῶν καὶ ἐμὸς ἦσθʼ ἀεί ποτε.
Old man:True; and I bear all goodwill to you, less to your husband.
Πρεσβύτης:ὧδʼ ἔχει. καὶ σοὶ μὲν εὔνους εἰμί, σῷ δʼ ἧσσον πόσει.
Clytemnestra:Come, come, unfold whatever you have to say.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐκκάλυπτε νῦν ποθʼ ἡμῖν οὕστινας λέγεις λόγους.
Old man:Her father, he that begot her, is on the point of slaying your daughter with his own hand.
Πρεσβύτης:παῖδα σὴν πατὴρ ὁ φύσας αὐτόχειρ μέλλει κτενεῖν.
Clytemnestra:How? That for your story, old man! you are mad.
Κλυταιμήστρα:πῶς; ἀπέπτυσʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, μῦθον· οὐ γὰρ εὖ φρονεῖς.
Old man:Severing with a sword the hapless girl’s white throat.
Πρεσβύτης:φασγάνῳ λευκὴν φονεύων τῆς ταλαιπώρου δέρην.
Clytemnestra:Ah, alas for me! Does my husband happen to have gone mad?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ. μεμηνὼς ἆρα τυγχάνει πόσις;
Old man:No; he is sane, except where you and your daughter are concerned; there he is mad.
Πρεσβύτης:ἀρτίφρων, πλὴν ἐς σὲ καὶ σὴν παῖδα· τοῦτο δʼ οὐ φρονεῖ.
Clytemnestra:What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐκ τίνος λόγου; τίς αὐτὸν οὑπάγων ἀλαστόρων;
Old man:Oracles, at least so Calchas says, in order that the army may start—
Πρεσβύτης:θέσφαθʼ, ὥς γέ φησι Κάλχας, ἵνα πορεύηται στρατός.
Clytemnestra:Where? Alas for me, and for the one her father is going to kill!
Κλυταιμήστρα:ποῖ; τάλαινʼ ἐγώ, τάλαινα δʼ ἣν πατὴρ μέλλει κτενεῖν.
Old man:To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen.
Πρεσβύτης:Δαρδάνου πρὸς δώμαθʼ, Ἑλένην Μενέλεως ὅπως λάβῃ.
Clytemnestra:So Helen’s return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?
Κλυταιμήστρα:εἰς ἄρʼ Ἰφιγένειαν Ἑλένης νόστος ἦν πεπρωμένος;
Old man:You know all; her father is about to offer your child to Artemis.
Πρεσβύτης:πάντʼ ἔχεις· Ἀρτέμιδι θύσειν παῖδα σὴν μέλλει πατήρ.
Clytemnestra:But that marriage—what pretext had it for bringing me from home?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὁ δὲ γάμος τίνʼ εἶχε πρόφασιν, ᾧ μʼ ἐκόμισεν ἐκ δόμων;
Old man:An inducement to you to bring your daughter cheerfully, to wed her to Achilles.
Πρεσβύτης:ἵνʼ ἀγάγοις χαίρουσʼ Ἀχιλλεῖ παῖδα νυμφεύσουσα σήν.
Clytemnestra:On a deadly errand have you come, my daughter, both you, and I, your mother.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ θύγατερ, ἥκεις ἐπʼ ὀλέθρῳ καὶ σὺ καὶ μήτηρ σέθεν.
Old man:Piteous the lot of both of you, and dreadful Agamemnon’s venture.
Πρεσβύτης:οἰκτρὰ πάσχετον δύʼ οὖσαι· δεινὰ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων ἔτλη.
Clytemnestra:Alas, I am undone; my eyes can no longer hold their tears.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οἴχομαι τάλαινα, δακρύων τʼ ὄμματʼ οὐκέτι στέγω.
Old man:If the loss of children is painful, shed your tears.
Πρεσβύτης:εἴπερ ἀλγεινὸν τὸ τέκνων στερόμενον, δακρυρρόει.
Clytemnestra:From where, old man, do you say you had this news?
Κλυταιμήστρα:σὺ δὲ τάδʼ, ὦ γέρον, πόθεν φῂς εἰδέναι πεπυσμένος;
Old man:I had started to carry you a letter referring to the former writing.
Πρεσβύτης:δέλτον ᾠχόμην φέρων σοι πρὸς τὰ πρὶν γεγραμμένα.
Clytemnestra:Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing the child to her death?
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐκ ἐῶν ἢ ξυγκελεύων παῖδʼ ἄγειν θανουμένην;
Old man:No, forbidding it, for your lord was then in his sober senses.
Πρεσβύτης:μὴ μὲν οὖν ἄγειν· φρονῶν γὰρ ἔτυχε σὸς πόσις τότʼ εὖ.
Clytemnestra:How comes it then, if you were really bringing me a letter, that you do not now deliver it into my hands?
Κλυταιμήστρα:κᾆτα πῶς φέρων γε δέλτον οὐκ ἐμοὶ δίδως λαβεῖν;
Old man:Menelaus snatched it from me, he who caused this trouble.
Πρεσβύτης:Μενέλεως ἀφείλεθʼ ἡμᾶς, ὃς κακῶν τῶνδʼ αἴτιος.
Clytemnestra:Do you hear that, son of Peleus, the Nereid’s child?
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὦ τέκνον Νηρῇδος, ὦ παῖ Πηλέως, κλύεις τάδε;
Achilles:I have been listening to the tale of your sufferings, and I do not bear my own lightly.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἔκλυον οὖσαν ἀθλίαν σε, τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν οὐ φαύλως φέρω.
Clytemnestra:They will slay my child; they have tricked her with your marriage.
Κλυταιμήστρα:παῖδά μου κατακτενοῦσι σοῖς δολώσαντες γάμοις.
Achilles:Like you I blame your lord, nor do I view it with mere indifference.
Ἀχιλλεύς:μέμφομαι κἀγὼ πόσει σῷ, κοὐχ ἁπλῶς οὕτω φέρω.
Clytemnestra:No longer will I let shame prevent my kneeling to you, a mortal to one goddess-born; why do I affect reserve? whose interests should I consult before my child’s? Throwing herself before Achilles. Oh! help me, goddess-born, in my sore distress, and her that was called your bride, in vain, it is true, yet called she was.
Κλυταιμήστρα:οὐκ ἐπαιδεσθήσομαί γε προσπεσεῖν τὸ σὸν γόνυ,θνητὸς ἐκ θεᾶς γεγῶτα· τί γὰρ ἐγὼ σεμνύνομαι;ἢ τίνος σπουδαστέον μοι μᾶλλον ἢ τέκνου πέρι;ἀλλʼ ἄμυνον, ὦ θεᾶς παῖ, τῇ τʼ ἐμῇ δυσπραξίᾳτῇ τε λεχθείσῃ δάμαρτι σῇ — μάτην μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως.
For you it was I wreathed her head and led her forth as if to marriage, but now it is to slaughter I am bringing her. On you will come reproach because you did not help her; for though not wedded to her, yet were you the loving husband of my hapless girl in name at any rate. By your beard, your right hand, and mother too I do implore you;for your name it was that worked my ruin, and you are bound to stand by that. Except your knees I have no altar to fly to; and not a friend stands at my side. You have heard the cruel abandoned scheme of Agamemnon; and I, a woman, have come, as you see, to a camp of lawless sailor-folk, bold in evil’s cause,though useful when they wish; Now if you boldly stretch forth your arm in my behalf, our safety is assured; but if not, we are lost.
σοὶ καταστέψασʼ ἐγώ νιν ἦγον ὡς γαμουμένην,νῦν δʼ ἐπὶ σφαγὰς κομίζω· σοὶ δʼ ὄνειδος ἵξεται,ὅστις οὐκ ἤμυνας· εἰ γὰρ μὴ γάμοισιν ἐζύγης,ἀλλʼ ἐκλήθης γοῦν ταλαίνης παρθένου φίλος πόσις.πρὸς γενειάδος ⟨σε⟩, πρός σε δεξιᾶς, πρὸς μητέρος —ὄνομα γὰρ τὸ σόν μʼ ἀπώλεσʼ, ᾧ σʼ ἀμυναθεῖν χρεών —οὐκ ἔχω βωμὸν καταφυγεῖν ἄλλον ἢ τὸ σὸν γόνυ·οὐδὲ φίλος οὐδεὶς γελᾷ μοι· τὰ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος κλύεις,ὠμὰ καὶ πάντολμʼ· ἀφῖγμαι δʼ, ὥσπερ εἰσορᾷς, γυνὴναυτικὸν στράτευμʼ ἄναρχον κἀπὶ τοῖς κακοῖς θρασύ—χρήσιμον δʼ, ὅταν θέλωσιν. ἢν δὲ τολμήσῃς σύ μουχεῖρʼ ὑπερτεῖναι, σεσῴσμεθʼ· εἰ δὲ μή, οὐ σεσῴσμεθα.
Chorus Leader:A strange thing is motherhood, carrying with it a potent spell, in which all share, so that for their children’s sake they will endure affliction.
Χορός:δεινὸν τὸ τίκτειν καὶ φέρει φίλτρον μέγαπᾶσίν τε κοινὸν ὥσθʼ ὑπερκάμνειν τέκνων.
Achilles:My proud spirit is stirred to range aloft, butI have learned to grieve in misfortuneand rejoice in high prosperity with equal moderation. For these are the men who can count on ordering all their life rightly by wisdom’s rules. True, there are cases where it is pleasant not to be too wise,but there are others, where some store of wisdom helps. Brought up in godly Chiron’s halls myself, I learned to keep a single heart; and provided the Atridae lead well, I will obey them; but when they cease from that, no more will I obey;
Ἀχιλλεύς:ὑψηλόφρων μοι θυμὸς αἴρεται πρόσω·ἐπίσταμαι δὲ τοῖς κακοῖσί τʼ ἀσχαλᾶνμετρίως τε χαίρειν τοῖσιν ἐξωγκωμένοις.λελογισμένοι γὰρ οἱ τοιοίδʼ εἰσὶν βροτῶνὀρθῶς διαζῆν τὸν βίον γνώμης μέτα.ἔστιν μὲν οὖν ἵνʼ ἡδὺ μὴ λίαν φρονεῖν,ἔστιν δὲ χὥπου χρήσιμον γνώμην ἔχειν.ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐν ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβεστάτου τραφεὶςΧείρωνος, ἔμαθον τοὺς τρόπους ἁπλοῦς ἔχειν.καὶ τοῖς Ἀτρείδαις, ἢν μὲν ἡγῶνται καλῶς,πεισόμεθʼ, ὅταν δὲ μὴ καλῶς, οὐ πείσομαι.
no, but here and in Troy I will show the freedom of my nature, and, as far as in me lies, do honor to Ares with my spear. You, lady, who have suffered so cruelly from your nearest and dearest, I will, by every effort in a young man’s power, set right, investing you with that amount of pityand never shall your daughter, after being once called my bride, die by her father’s hand; for I will not lend myself to your husband’s subtle tricks; no! for it will be my name that kills your child, although it does not wield the sword. Your own husbandis the actual cause, but I shall no longer be guiltless, if, because of me and my marriage, this maiden perishes, she that has suffered past endurance and been the victim of affronts most strangely undeserved.
ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐν Τροίᾳ τʼ ἐλευθέραν φύσινπαρέχων, Ἄρη τὸ κατʼ ἐμὲ κοσμήσω δορί.σὲ δʼ, ὦ σχέτλια παθοῦσα πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,ἃ δὴ κατʼ ἄνδρα γίγνεται νεανίαν,τοσοῦτον οἶκτον περιβαλὼν καταστελῶ,κοὔποτε κόρη σὴ πρὸς πατρὸς σφαγήσεται,ἐμὴ φατισθεῖσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμπλέκειν πλοκὰςἐγὼ παρέξω σῷ πόσει τοὐμὸν δέμας.τοὔνομα γάρ, εἰ καὶ μὴ σίδηρον ἤρατο,τοὐμὸν φονεύσει παῖδα σήν. τὸ δʼ αἴτιονπόσις σός. ἁγνὸν δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἐστὶ σῶμʼ ἐμόν,εἰ διʼ ἔμʼ ὀλεῖται διά τε τοὺς ἐμοὺς γάμουςἡ δεινὰ τλᾶσα κοὐκ ἀνεκτὰ παρθένος,θαυμαστὰ δʼ ὡς ἀνάξιʼ ἠτιμασμένη.
So am I made the poorest wretch in Argos;I a thing of nothing, and Menelaus counting for a man! No son of Peleus I, but the issue of a vengeful fiend, if my name shall serve your husband for the murder. No! by Nereus, who begot my mother Thetis, in his home amid the flowing waves,never shall king Agamemnon touch your daughter, no! not even to the laying of a finger-tip upon her robe; or Sipylus, that frontier town of barbarism, the cradle of those chieftains’ line, will be henceforth a city indeed, while Phthia’s name will nowhere find mention.
ἐγὼ κάκιστος ἦν ἄρʼ Ἀργείων ἀνήρ,ἐγὼ τὸ μηδέν, Μενέλεως δʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν,ὡς οὐχὶ Πηλέως, ἀλλʼ ἀλάστορος γεγώς,εἴπερ φονεύει τοὐμὸν ὄνομα σῷ πόσει.μὰ τὸν διʼ ὑγρῶν κυμάτων τεθραμμένονΝηρέα, φυτουργὸν Θέτιδος ἥ μʼ ἐγείνατο,οὐχ ἅψεται σῆς θυγατρὸς Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ,οὐδʼ εἰς ἄκραν χεῖρʼ, ὥστε προσβαλεῖν πέπλοις·ἢ Σίπυλος ἔσται πόλις, ὅρισμα βαρβάρων,ὅθεν πεφύκασʼ οἱ στρατηλάται γένος,Φθίας δὲ τοὔνομʼ οὐδαμοῦ κεκλήσεται.
Calchas, the seer, shall rue beginning the sacrifice with his barley-meal and lustral water. Why, what is a seer? A man who with luck tells the truth sometimes, with frequent falsehoods, but when his luck deserts him, collapses then and there.
πικροὺς δὲ προχύτας χέρνιβάς τʼ ἀνάξεταιΚάλχας ὁ μάντις. τίς δὲ μάντις ἔστʼ ἀνήρ,ὃς ὀλίγʼ ἀληθῆ, πολλὰ δὲ ψευδῆ λέγειτυχών, ὅταν δὲ μὴ τύχῃ, διοίχεται;
It is not to secure a bride that I have spoken thus—there are maids unnumberedeager to have my love —no! but king Agamemnon has put an insult on me; he should have asked my leave to use my name as a means to catch the child, for it was I chiefly who induced Clytemnestra to betroth her daughter to me;
οὐ τῶν γάμων ἕκατι — μυρίαι κόραιθηρῶσι λέκτρον τοὐμόν — εἴρηται τόδε·ἀλλʼ ὕβριν ἐς ἡμᾶς ὕβρισʼ Ἀγαμέμνων ἄναξ.χρῆν δʼ αὐτὸν αἰτεῖν τοὐμὸν ὄνομʼ ἐμοῦ πάρα,θήραμα παιδός· ἡ Κλυταιμήστρα δʼ ἐμοὶμάλιστʼ ἐπείσθη θυγατέρʼ ἐκδοῦναι πόσει.
I would had yielded this to Hellas, if that was where our going to Ilium broke down; I would never have refused to further my fellow soldiers’ common interest. But as it is, I am as nothing in the eyes of those chieftains, and little they care of treating me well or ill.
ἔδωκά τἂν Ἕλλησιν, εἰ πρὸς Ἴλιονἐν τῷδʼ ἔκαμνε νόστος· οὐκ ἠρνούμεθʼ ἂντὸ κοινὸν αὔξειν ὧν μέτʼ ἐστρατευόμην.νῦν δʼ οὐδέν εἰμι, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς στρατηλάταιςἐν εὐμαρεῖ με δρᾶν τε καὶ μὴ δρᾶν κακῶς.
My sword shall soon know if any one is to snatch your daughter from me, for then will I make it reek with the bloody stains of slaughter, before it reach Phrygia. Calm yourself then; as a god in his might I appeared to you, without being so, but such will I show myself for all that.
τάχʼ εἴσεται σίδηρος, ὃν πρὶν ἐς Φρύγαςἐλθεῖν, φόνου κηλῖσιν αἵματι χρανῶ,εἴ τίς με τὴν σὴν θυγατέρʼ ἐξαιρήσεται.ἀλλʼ ἡσύχαζε· θεὸς ἐγὼ πέφηνά σοιμέγιστος, οὐκ ὤν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως γενήσομαι.
Chorus Leader:Son of Peleus, your words are alike worthy of you and that sea-born deity, the holy goddess.
Χορός:ἔλεξας, ὦ παῖ Πηλέως, σοῦ τʼ ἄξιακαὶ τῆς ἐναλίας δαίμονος, σεμνῆς θεοῦ.
Clytemnestra:Ah! would I could find words to utter your praise without excess, and yet not lose the graciousness of it by stinting it; for when the good are praised, they have some sort of feelingof hatred for those who in their praise exceed the mean. But I am ashamed of intruding a tale of woe, since my affliction touches myself alone and you are not affected by troubles of mine; but still it looks well for the man of worth to assist the unfortunate, even when he is not connected with then.
Κλυταιμήστρα:φεῦ·πῶς ἄν σʼ ἐπαινέσαιμι μὴ λίαν λόγοις,μηδʼ ἐνδεὴς τοῦδʼ ἀπολέσαιμι τὴν χάριν;αἰνούμενοι γὰρ οἱ ἀγαθοὶ τρόπον τινὰμισοῦσι τοὺς αἰνοῦντας, ἢν αἰνῶσʼ ἄγαν.αἰσχύνομαι δὲ παραφέρουσʼ οἰκτροὺς λόγους,ἰδίᾳ νοσοῦσα· σὺ δʼ ἄνοσος κακῶν ἐμῶν.ἀλλʼ οὖν ἔχει τοι σχῆμα, κἂν ἄπωθεν ᾖἀνὴρ ὁ χρηστός, δυστυχοῦντας ὠφελεῖν.
Therefore pity us, for our suffering cries for pity; in the first place, I have harbored an idle hope, in thinking to have you marry my daughter; and next, perhaps, the slaying of my child will be to you an evil omen in your wooing hereafter, against which you must guard yourself.
οἴκτιρε δʼ ἡμᾶς· οἰκτρὰ γὰρ πεπόνθαμεν·ἣ πρῶτα μέν σε γαμβρὸν οἰηθεῖσʼ ἔχειν,κενὴν κατέσχον ἐλπίδʼ· εἶτά σοι τάχαὄρνις γένοιτʼ ἂν τοῖσι μέλλουσιν γάμοιςθανοῦσʼ ἐμὴ παῖς, ὅ σε φυλάξασθαι χρεών.
Your words were good, both first and last; for if you will it so, my daughter will be saved.
ἀλλʼ εὖ μὲν ἀρχὰς εἶπας, εὖ δὲ καὶ τέλη·σοῦ γὰρ θέλοντος παῖς ἐμὴ σωθήσεται.
Will you have her clasp your knees as a suppliant? it is no maid’s part; yet if it seems good to you, why, come she shall with the modest look of free-born maid;
βούλῃ νιν ἱκέτιν σὸν περιπτύξαι γόνυ;ἀπαρθένευτα μὲν τάδʼ· εἰ δέ σοι δοκεῖ,ἥξει, διʼ αἰδοῦς ὄμμʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐλεύθερον.
but if I shall obtain the same end from you without her coming then let her abide within, for there is dignity in her reserve; still reserve must only go as far as the case allows.
εἰ δʼ οὐ παρούσης ταὐτὰ τεύξομαι σέθεν,μενέτω κατʼ οἴκους· σεμνὰ γὰρ σεμνύνεται.ὅμως δʼ ὅσον γε δυνατὸν αἰδεῖσθαι χρεών.
Achilles:Do not bring your daughter out for me to see, lady, nor let us incur the reproach of the ignorant;
Ἀχιλλεύς:σὺ μήτε σὴν παῖδʼ ἔξαγʼ ὄψιν εἰς ἐμήν,μήτʼ εἰς ὄνειδος ἀμαθὲς ἔλθωμεν, γύναι·
for an army, when gathered together without domestic duties to employ it, loves the evil gossip of malicious tongues. After all, should you both supplicate me, you will attain a like result as if I had never been supplicated; for I am myself engaged in a mighty struggle to rid you of your troubles.
στρατὸς γὰρ ἀθρόος, ἀργὸς ὢν τῶν οἴκοθεν,λέσχας πονηρὰς καὶ κακοστόμους φιλεῖ.πάντως δέ μʼ ἱκετεύοντέ θʼ ἥξετʼ εἰς ἴσον,εἴ τʼ ἀνικέτευτος· εἷς ἐμοὶ γάρ ἐστʼ ἀγὼνμέγιστος ὑμᾶς ἐξαπαλλάξαι κακῶν.
One thing be sure you have heard; I will not tell a lie; if I do that or idly mock you, may I die, but live if I preserve the girl.
ὡς ἕν γʼ ἀκούσασʼ ἴσθι, μὴ ψευδῶς μʼ ἐρεῖν·ψευδῆ λέγων δὲ καὶ μάτην ἐγκερτομῶν,θάνοιμι· μὴ θάνοιμι δʼ, ἢν σῴσω κόρην.
Clytemnestra:Bless you for always helping the distressed!
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὄναιο συνεχῶς δυστυχοῦντας ὠφελῶν.
Achilles:Hearken then to me, that the matter may succeed.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἄκουε δή νυν, ἵνα τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἔχῃ καλῶς.
Clytemnestra:What is your proposal? for hear you I must.
Κλυταιμήστρα:τί τοῦτʼ ἔλεξας; ὡς ἀκουστέον γέ σου.
Achilles:Let us once more urge her father to a better frame of mind.
Ἀχιλλεύς:πειθώμεθʼ αὖτις πατέρα βέλτιον φρονεῖν.
Clytemnestra:He is something of a coward, and fears the army too much.
Κλυταιμήστρα:κακός τίς ἐστι καὶ λίαν ταρβεῖ στρατόν.
Achilles:Still argument overthrows argument.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἀλλʼ οἱ λόγοι γε καταπαλαίουσιν λόγους.
Clytemnestra:Cold hope indeed; but tell me what I must do.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ψυχρὰ μὲν ἐλπίς· ὅ τι δὲ χρή με δρᾶν φράσον.
Achilles:Supplicate him first not to slay his children; and if he is stubborn, come to me. For if he consents to your request, my intervention need go no further, since this consent insures your safety. I too shall show myself in a better light to my friend,and the army will not blame me, if I arrange the matter by reason rather than force; while, should things turn out well, the result will prove satisfactory both to you and your friends, even without my interference.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἱκέτευʼ ἐκεῖνον πρῶτα μὴ κτείνειν τέκνα·ἢν δʼ ἀντιβαίνῃ, πρὸς ἐμέ σοι πορευτέον.ᾗ γὰρ τὸ χρῇζον ἐπίθετʼ, οὐ τοὐμὸν χρεὼνχωρεῖν· ἔχει γὰρ αὐτὸ τὴν σωτηρίαν.κἀγώ τʼ ἀμείνων πρὸς φίλον γενήσομαι,στρατός τʼ ἂν οὐ μέμψαιτό μʼ, εἰ τὰ πράγματαλελογισμένως πράσσοιμι μᾶλλον ἢ σθένει.καλῶς δὲ κρανθέντων [καὶ] πρὸς ἡδονὴν φίλοιςσοί τʼ ἂν γένοιτο κἂν ἐμοῦ χωρὶς τάδε.
Clytemnestra:How sensibly you speak! I must act as seems best to you;
Κλυταιμήστρα:ὡς σώφρονʼ εἶπας. δραστέον δʼ ἅ σοι δοκεῖ.
but should I fail of my object, where am I to see you again, where? Must I turn my wretched steps and find you ready to champion my distress?
ἢν δʼ αὖ τι μὴ πράσσωμεν ὧν ἐγὼ θέλω,ποῦ σʼ αὖθις ὀψόμεσθα, ποῦ; χρή μʼ ἀθλίανἐλθοῦσαν εὑρεῖν σὴν χέρʼ ἐπίκουρον κακῶν;
Achilles:I will keep watch to guard you, where occasion calls, that none may see you passing through the army of Danaidswith that scared look. Do not shame your father’s house; for Tyndareus does not deserve not to be ill spoken of, being a mighty man in Hellas.
Ἀχιλλεύς:ἡμεῖς σε φύλακες οὗ χρεὼν φυλάξομεν,μή τίς σʼ ἴδῃ στείχουσαν ἐπτοημένηνΔαναῶν διʼ ὄχλου· μηδὲ πατρῷον δόμοναἴσχυνʼ· ὁ γάρ τοι Τυνδάρεως οὐκ ἄξιοςκακῶς ἀκούειν· ἐν γὰρ Ἕλλησιν μέγας.
Clytemnestra:It will be so. Command me; I must play the slave to you. If there are gods, you for your righteous dealingwill find them favorable; if there are none, what need to toil? Exeunt Achilles and Clytemnestra.
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἔστιν τάδʼ· ἄρχε· σοί με δουλεύειν χρεών.εἰ δʼ εἰσὶ θεοί, δίκαιος ὢν ἀνὴρ ⟨θεῶν⟩ἐσθλῶν κυρήσεις· εἰ δὲ μή, τί δεῖ πονεῖν;
Chorus:What wedding-hymn was that which raised its strains to the sound of Libyan flutes, to the music of the dancer’s lyre, and the note of the pipe of reeds?It was on the day Pieria’s lovely-haired choir came over the slopes of Pelion to the wedding of Peleus, beating the ground with print of golden sandals at the banquet of the gods,and hymning in dulcet strains the praise of Thetis and the son of Aeacus, over the Centaurs’ hill, down woods of Pelion.
Χορός:τίνʼ ἄρʼ Ὑμέναιος διὰ λωτοῦ Λίβυοςμετά τε φιλοχόρου κιθάραςσυρίγγων θʼ ὑπὸ καλαμοεσ-σᾶν ἔστασεν ἰαχάν,ὅτʼ ἀνὰ Πήλιον αἱ καλλιπλόκαμοιδαιτὶ θεῶν ἔνι Πιερίδεςχρυσεοσάνδαλον ἴχνοςἐν γᾷ κρούουσαιΠηλέως ἐς γάμον ἦλθον,μελῳδοῖς Θέτιν ἀχήμασι τόν τʼ Αἰακίδαν,Κενταύρων ἐν ὄρεσι κλέουσαιΠηλιάδα καθʼ ὕλαν.
There was the Dardanian boy,dainty morsel of Zeus’ bed, drawing off the wine he mixed in the depths of golden bowls, Ganymede the Phrygian; while, along the gleaming sand,the fifty daughters of Nereus graced the marriage with their dancing, circling in a mazy ring.
ὁ δὲ Δαρδανίδας, Διὸςλέκτρων τρύφημα φίλον,χρυσέοισιν ἄφυσσε λοιβὰνἐν κρατήρων γυάλοις,ὁ Φρύγιος Γανυμήδης.παρὰ δὲ λευκοφαῆ ψάμαθονεἱλισσόμεναι κύκλιαπεντήκοντα κόραι γάμουςΝηρέως ἐχόρευσαν.
Chorus:The revel-rout of Centaurs came too, mounted on horses, to the feast of the gods and the mixing-bowl of Bacchus,leaning on fir-trees, with wreaths of green foliage round their heads; and Chiron cried loudly: “Daughter of Nereus, you shall bear a son, a dazzling light to Thessaly;” and the prophet,skilled in arts inspired by Phoebus, gave his name; “for he shall come with an army of Myrmidon spearmen to the famous land of Priam,”“to set it in a blaze, his body cased in a suit of golden mail forged by Hephaestus, a gift from his goddess-mother, from Thetis who bore him.”Then the gods shed a blessing on the marriage of the high-born bride, who was first of Nereus’ daughters, and on the wedding of Peleus.
Χορός:ἀνὰ δʼ ἐλάταισι στεφανώδει τε χλόᾳθίασος ἔμολεν ἱπποβάταςΚενταύρων ἐπὶ δαῖτα τὰνθεῶν κρατῆρά τε Βάκχου.μέγα δʼ ἀνέκλαγον· Ὦ Νηρηὶ κόρα,παῖδα σὲ Θεσσαλίᾳ μέγα φῶςμάντις ὁ φοιβάδα μοῦσανεἰδὼς γεννάσεινΧείρων ἐξονόμαζεν,ὃς ἥξει χθόνα λογχήρεσι σὺν Μυρμιδόνωνἀσπισταῖς Πριάμοιο κλεινὰνγαῖαν ἐκπυρώσων,περὶ σώματι χρυσέωνὅπλων Ἡφαιστοπόνωνκεκορυθμένος ἔνδυτʼ, ἐκ θεᾶςματρὸς δωρήματʼ ἔχωνΘέτιδος, ἅ νιν ἔτικτεν.μακάριον τότε δαίμονεςτᾶς εὐπάτριδος γάμονΝηρῄδων ἔθεσαν πρώταςΠηλέως θʼ ὑμεναίους.
Chorus:But the Argives will crown you, wreathing the lovely tresses of your hair, like a pure, dappled heifer brought from some rocky cave, and staining with blood your human throat;
Χορός:—σὲ δʼ ἐπὶ κάρα στέψουσι καλλικόμανπλόκαμον Ἀργεῖοι, βαλιὰνὥστε πετραίων ἀπʼ ἄντρωνἐλθοῦσαν ὀρέωνμόσχον ἀκήρατον, βρότειοναἱμάσσοντες λαιμόν·
though you were never reared among the piping and whistling of herdsmen, but at your mother’s side, to be decked as the bride of a son of Inachus. Where now does the face of modestyor virtue have any strength? seeing that godlessness holds sway, and virtue is neglected by men and thrust behind them,lawlessness over law prevailing, and mortals no longer making common cause to keep the jealousy of gods from reaching them.Clytemnestra: reappearing from the tent.
οὐ σύριγγι τραφεῖσαν οὐδʼἐν ῥοιβδήσεσι βουκόλων,παρὰ δὲ ματέρι νυμφοκόμονἸναχίδαις γάμον.ποῦ τὸ τᾶς Αἰδοῦςἢ τὸ τᾶς Ἀρετᾶς ἔχεισθένειν τι πρόσωπον,ὁπότε τὸ μὲν ἄσεπτον ἔχειδύνασιν, ἁ δʼ Ἀρετὰ κατόπι-σθεν θνατοῖς ἀμελεῖται,Ἀνομία δὲ νόμων κρατεῖ,καὶ ⟨μὴ⟩ κοινὸς ἀγὼν βροτοῖςμή τις θεῶν φθόνος ἔλθῃ;
I have come from the tent to look out for my husband, who went away and left its shelter long ago;
Κλυταιμήστρα:ἐξῆλθον οἴκων προσκοπουμένη πόσιν,χρόνιον ἀπόντα κἀκλελοιπότα στέγας.
while my poor child, hearing of the death her father designs for her, is in tears, uttering in many keys her piteous lamentation. Catching sight of Agamamnon. It seems I was speaking of one not far away; for there is Agamemnon,who will soon be detected in the commission of a crime against his own child.
ἐν δακρύοισι δʼ ἡ τάλαινα παῖς ἐμή,πολλὰς ἱεῖσα μεταβολὰς ὀδυρμάτων,θάνατον ἀκούσασʼ, ὃν πατὴρ βουλεύεται.μνήμην δʼ ἄρʼ εἶχον πλησίον βεβηκότοςἈγαμέμνονος τοῦδʼ, ὃς ἐπὶ τοῖς αὑτοῦ τέκνοιςἀνόσια πράσσων αὐτίχʼ εὑρεθήσεται.