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Agamemnon
Scene. — The sea-coast at Aulis.
1
Leda, the daughter of Thestius, had three children, maidens,
Phoebe, Clytemnestra my wife, and Helen; the foremost of the favored sons of
Hellas
came to woo Helen; but terrible threats of spilling his rival’s blood were uttered by each of them, if he should fail to win the girl.
50
Now the matter filled Tyndareus, her father, with perplexity, whether to give her or not, how he might best succeed. This thought occurred to him: the suitors should swear to each other and join right hands and pour libations
55
with burnt-sacrifice, binding themselves by this curse: whoever wins the child of Tyndareus for wife, they will assist that man, in case a rival takes her from his house and goes his way, robbing her husband of his rights; and march against that man in armed array and raze his city to the ground,
60
Hellene no less than barbarian.
65
Now when they had once pledged their word and old Tyndareus with no small cleverness had beguiled them by his shrewd device, he allowed his daughter to choose from among her suitors the one towards whom
2
the sweet breezes of Aphrodite might carry her.
Her choice fell on Menelaus; would she had never taken him! Then there came to
Lacedaemon
from the Phrygians the man who,
Argive
legend says, judged the goddesses’ dispute; in robes of gorgeous hue, ablaze with gold, in true barbaric pomp;
70
and he, finding Menelaus gone from home, carried Helen off, in mutual desire, to his steading on Ida. Goaded to frenzy, Menelaus flew through
Hellas
, invoking the ancient oath exacted by Tyndareus and declaring the duty of helping the injured husband.
75
80
And so the Hellenes, brandishing their spears and donning their harness, came here to the narrow straits of
Aulis
with armaments of ships and troops, with many horses and chariots, and they chose me to captain them all
3
for the sake of Menelaus,
80
since I was his brother. Would that some other had gained that distinction instead of me! But after the army was gathered and come together, we still remained at
Aulis
weatherbound. In our perplexity, we asked Calchas, the seer,
85
and he answered that we should sacrifice my own child Iphigenia to Artemis, whose home is in this land, and we would sail and sack the Phrygians’ capital
if we sacrificed her, but if we did not, these things would not happen.
4
When I heard this, I commanded Talthybius
90
with loud proclamation to disband the whole army, as I could never bear to slay my daughter. Whereupon my brother, bringing every argument to bear, persuaded me at last to face the crime; so I wrote in a folded scroll and sent to my wife,
95
bidding her despatch our daughter to me on the pretence of wedding Achilles, at the same time magnifying his exalted rank and saying that he refused to sail with the Achaeans, unless a bride of our lineage should go to
Phthia
. Yes, this was the inducement I offered my wife,
100
inventing, as I did, a sham marriage for the maiden. Of all the Achaeans we alone know the real truth, Calchas, Odysseus, Menelaus and myself; but that which I then decided wrongly, I now rightly countermand again in this scroll, which you, old man, have found me
105
opening and resealing beneath the shade of night. Up now and away with this missive to
Argos
, and I will tell you by word of mouth all that is written here, the contents of the folded scroll, for you are loyal to my wife and house.
110
1
Old man, come here and stand before my dwelling.
1
5
Leda, the daughter of Thestius, had three children, maidens,
Phoebe, Clytemnestra my wife, and Helen; the foremost of the favored sons of
Hellas
came to woo Helen; but terrible threats of spilling his rival’s blood were uttered by each of them, if he should fail to win the girl.
50
Now the matter filled Tyndareus, her father, with perplexity, whether to give her or not, how he might best succeed. This thought occurred to him: the suitors should swear to each other and join right hands and pour libations
55
with burnt-sacrifice, binding themselves by this curse: whoever wins the child of Tyndareus for wife, they will assist that man, in case a rival takes her from his house and goes his way, robbing her husband of his rights; and march against that man in armed array and raze his city to the ground,
60
Hellene no less than barbarian.
65
Now when they had once pledged their word and old Tyndareus with no small cleverness had beguiled them by his shrewd device, he allowed his daughter to choose from among her suitors the one towards whom
2
the sweet breezes of Aphrodite might carry her.
Her choice fell on Menelaus; would she had never taken him! Then there came to
Lacedaemon
from the Phrygians the man who,
Argive
legend says, judged the goddesses’ dispute; in robes of gorgeous hue, ablaze with gold, in true barbaric pomp;
70
and he, finding Menelaus gone from home, carried Helen off, in mutual desire, to his steading on Ida. Goaded to frenzy, Menelaus flew through
Hellas
, invoking the ancient oath exacted by Tyndareus and declaring the duty of helping the injured husband.
75
And so the Hellenes, brandishing their spears and donning their harness, came here to the narrow straits of
Aulis
with armaments of ships and troops, with many horses and chariots, and they chose me to captain them all
3
for the sake of Menelaus,
80
since I was his brother. Would that some other had gained that distinction instead of me! But after the army was gathered and come together, we still remained at
Aulis
weatherbound. In our perplexity, we asked Calchas, the seer,
85
and he answered that we should sacrifice my own child Iphigenia to Artemis, whose home is in this land, and we would sail and sack the Phrygians’ capital
if we sacrificed her, but if we did not, these things would not happen.
4
When I heard this, I commanded Talthybius
90
with loud proclamation to disband the whole army, as I could never bear to slay my daughter. Whereupon my brother, bringing every argument to bear, persuaded me at last to face the crime; so I wrote in a folded scroll and sent to my wife,
95
bidding her despatch our daughter to me on the pretence of wedding Achilles, at the same time magnifying his exalted rank and saying that he refused to sail with the Achaeans, unless a bride of our lineage should go to
Phthia
. Yes, this was the inducement I offered my wife,
100
inventing, as I did, a sham marriage for the maiden. Of all the Achaeans we alone know the real truth, Calchas, Odysseus, Menelaus and myself; but that which I then decided wrongly, I now rightly countermand again in this scroll, which you, old man, have found me
105
opening and resealing beneath the shade of night. Up now and away with this missive to
Argos
, and I will tell you by word of mouth all that is written here, the contents of the folded scroll, for you are loyal to my wife and house.
110
Old man, come here and stand before my dwelling.
1
Old man
I come; what new schemes now, king Agamemnon?
I come; what new schemes now, king Agamemnon?
Agamemnon
Will you hurry?
Will you hurry?
Old man
I am hurrying. It is little enough sleep old age allows me
and keenly it watches over my eyes.
5
I am hurrying. It is little enough sleep old age allows me
and keenly it watches over my eyes.
5
Agamemnon
What can that star be, steering its course there?
What can that star be, steering its course there?
Old man
Sirius, still shooting over the zenith on his way near the Pleiads’ sevenfold track.
Sirius, still shooting over the zenith on his way near the Pleiads’ sevenfold track.
Agamemnon
6
The birds are still at any rate
and the sea is calm, hushed are the winds, and silence broods over the Euripus.
10
The birds are still at any rate
and the sea is calm, hushed are the winds, and silence broods over the Euripus.
10
Old man
Then why are you outside your tent, why so restless, my lord Agamemnon? All is yet quiet here in
Aulis
,
the watch on the walls is not yet astir. Let us go in.
15
Then why are you outside your tent, why so restless, my lord Agamemnon? All is yet quiet here in
Aulis
,
the watch on the walls is not yet astir. Let us go in.
15
Agamemnon
I envy you, old man, yes, and every man who leads a life secure, unknown and unrenowned; but little I envy those in office.
I envy you, old man, yes, and every man who leads a life secure, unknown and unrenowned; but little I envy those in office.
Old man
And yet it is there that we place the be-all and end-all of existence.
7
20
And yet it is there that we place the be-all and end-all of existence.
7
20
Agamemnon
Yes, but that is where the danger comes; and ambition,
8
sweet though it seems, brings sorrow with its near approach. At one time the unsatisfied claims of the gods
upset our life, at another the numerous peevish fancies of our subjects shatter it.
25
Yes, but that is where the danger comes; and ambition,
8
sweet though it seems, brings sorrow with its near approach. At one time the unsatisfied claims of the gods
upset our life, at another the numerous peevish fancies of our subjects shatter it.
25
Old man
I do not like these sentiments in one who is a chief. It was not to enjoy all blessings that
Atreus begot you, Agamemnon; but you must experience joy and sorrow alike, mortal as you are. Even though you like it not, this is what the gods decree. But you, after letting your taper spread its light abroad,
30
write the letter which is still in your hands and then erase the same words again, sealing and reopening the tablet, then flinging it to the ground with floods
35
of tears, and leaving nothing undone in your aimless behavior to stamp you mad. What is it that troubles you? what news is there affecting you,
9
king? Come, share with me your story;
40
you will be telling it to a loyal and trusty heart; for Tyndareus sent me that day to form part of your wife’s dowry and to wait upon the bride with loyalty.
45
115
I do not like these sentiments in one who is a chief. It was not to enjoy all blessings that
Atreus begot you, Agamemnon; but you must experience joy and sorrow alike, mortal as you are. Even though you like it not, this is what the gods decree. But you, after letting your taper spread its light abroad,
30
write the letter which is still in your hands and then erase the same words again, sealing and reopening the tablet, then flinging it to the ground with floods
35
of tears, and leaving nothing undone in your aimless behavior to stamp you mad. What is it that troubles you? what news is there affecting you,
9
king? Come, share with me your story;
40
you will be telling it to a loyal and trusty heart; for Tyndareus sent me that day to form part of your wife’s dowry and to wait upon the bride with loyalty.
45
Agamemnon
10
Daughter of Leda, in addition to my first letter, I am sending you word —.
115
Daughter of Leda, in addition to my first letter, I am sending you word —.
115
Old man
Say on and make it plain, that what my tongue utters may accord with what you have written.
Say on and make it plain, that what my tongue utters may accord with what you have written.
Agamemnon
Not to despatch your daughter to
Not to despatch your daughter to
Old man
And how will Achilles, cheated of his bride,
curb the fury of his indignation against you and your wife? Here also is a danger.
11
Make clear what you are saying.
125
And how will Achilles, cheated of his bride,
curb the fury of his indignation against you and your wife? Here also is a danger.
11
Make clear what you are saying.
125
Agamemnon
It is his name, not himself that Achilles is lending, knowing nothing of the marriage or of my scheming
or my professed readiness to betroth my daughter to him for a husband’s embrace.
12
130
It is his name, not himself that Achilles is lending, knowing nothing of the marriage or of my scheming
or my professed readiness to betroth my daughter to him for a husband’s embrace.
12
130
Old man
A dreadful venture yours, king Agamemnon, you that, by promise of your daughter’s hand to the son of the goddess,
were bringing the maid here to be sacrificed for the Danaids.
135
A dreadful venture yours, king Agamemnon, you that, by promise of your daughter’s hand to the son of the goddess,
were bringing the maid here to be sacrificed for the Danaids.
135
Agamemnon
Ah me! I am utterly distraught; alas! bewilderment comes over me. Away! hurry your steps,
yielding nothing to old age.
140
Ah me! I am utterly distraught; alas! bewilderment comes over me. Away! hurry your steps,
yielding nothing to old age.
140
Old man
I will make haste, king.
I will make haste, king.
Agamemnon
Do not sit down by woodland fountains; scorn the witcheries of sleep.
Do not sit down by woodland fountains; scorn the witcheries of sleep.
Old man
Hush!
13
Hush!
13
Agamemnon
And when you pass any place where roads diverge,
cast your eyes all round, taking heed that no mule-wagon eacape you, passing by on rolling wheels, bearing my child to the ships of the Danaids.
145
And when you pass any place where roads diverge,
cast your eyes all round, taking heed that no mule-wagon eacape you, passing by on rolling wheels, bearing my child to the ships of the Danaids.
145
Old man
It shall be so.
It shall be so.
Agamemnon
Start then from the bolted gates,
14
and if you meet the escort, start them back again, and drive at full speed to the abodes of the Cyclopes.
150
Start then from the bolted gates,
14
and if you meet the escort, start them back again, and drive at full speed to the abodes of the Cyclopes.
150
Old man
But tell me, how shall my message find credit with your wife or child?
But tell me, how shall my message find credit with your wife or child?
Agamemnon
Preserve the seal which you bear on this tablet. Away! Already the dawn is growing grey, lighting the lamp of day and the fire of the sun’s four steeds;
155
help me in my trouble.
Exit Old man. No mortal is prosperous or happy to the last, for no one was ever born to a painless life.
Exit Agamemnon.
160
Preserve the seal which you bear on this tablet. Away! Already the dawn is growing grey, lighting the lamp of day and the fire of the sun’s four steeds;
155
help me in my trouble.
Exit Old man. No mortal is prosperous or happy to the last, for no one was ever born to a painless life.
Exit Agamemnon.
160
Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.