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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;
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;
1
so strange the longing for this expedition that has fallen on their hearts by the will of the gods.
2
805
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
3
here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my Myrmidons, while they are always pressing on me,
810
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.
815
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;
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;
1
so strange the longing for this expedition that has fallen on their hearts by the will of the gods.
2
805
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
3
here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my Myrmidons, while they are always pressing on me,
810
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.
815
Clytemnestra
Hail to you, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard your voice
from within the tent and came forth.
820
Hail to you, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard your voice
from within the tent and came forth.
820
Achilles
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly dowered with beauty’s gifts?
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly dowered with beauty’s gifts?
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.
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.
Achilles
Who are you, and why have you come to the mustering of the Danaids—you, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
825
Who are you, and why have you come to the mustering of the Danaids—you, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
825
Clytemnestra
I am the daughter of Leda; my name is Clytemnestra; and my husband king Agamemnon.
I am the daughter of Leda; my name is Clytemnestra; and my husband king Agamemnon.
Achilles
Well and shortly answered on all important points,
but it is shameful for me to stand talking to women.
830
831
Well and shortly answered on all important points,
but it is shameful for me to stand talking to women.
830
Clytemnestra
Stay; why seek to escape? give me your hand, a prelude to a happy marriage.
Stay; why seek to escape? give me your hand, a prelude to a happy marriage.
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.
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.
Clytemnestra
The best of rights you have, seeing it is my child you will wed, O son of the sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus.
835
The best of rights you have, seeing it is my child you will wed, O son of the sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus.
835
Achilles
What wedding do you speak of? Words fail me, lady; can your wits have gone astray and are you inventing this?
What wedding do you speak of? Words fail me, lady; can your wits have gone astray and are you inventing this?
Clytemnestra
All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations,
when these remind
4
them of their wedding.
840
All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations,
when these remind
4
them of their wedding.
840
Achilles
Lady, I have never courted your daughter, nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
Lady, I have never courted your daughter, nor have the sons of Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
Clytemnestra
What can it mean? Your turn now to marvel at my words, for yours are very strange to me.
What can it mean? Your turn now to marvel at my words, for yours are very strange to me.
Achilles
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may be we are both correct in our statements.
5
845
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may be we are both correct in our statements.
5
845
Clytemnestra
What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting has no reality it seems; I am ashmed of it.
What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting has no reality it seems; I am ashmed of it.
Achilles
Some one perhaps has made a mock of you and me;
pay no heed to it; make light of it.
850
Some one perhaps has made a mock of you and me;
pay no heed to it; make light of it.
850
Clytemnestra
Farewell; I can no longer face you with unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar and suffering undeservedly.
Farewell; I can no longer face you with unfaltering eyes, after being made a liar and suffering undeservedly.
Achilles
It is
farewell I bid you too, lady; and I go within the tent to seek your husband.
855
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.
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! I mean you, O goddess-born, and you, daughter of Leda.
855
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! I mean you, O goddess-born, and you, daughter of Leda.
855
Achilles
Who is it calling through the half-opened door? What fear his voice betrays!
Who is it calling through the half-opened door? What fear his voice betrays!
Old man
A slave; of that I am not proud, for fortune does not permit it.
A slave; of that I am not proud, for fortune does not permit it.
Achilles
Whose slave are you? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon’s goods are separate.
Whose slave are you? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon’s goods are separate.
Old man
I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her from Tyndareus her father.
860
I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her from Tyndareus her father.
860
Achilles
I am waiting; tell me, if you are desirous, why you have stopped me.
I am waiting; tell me, if you are desirous, why you have stopped me.
Old man
Are you really all alone here at the door?
Are you really all alone here at the door?
Achilles
To us alone will you address yourself; come forth from the king’s tent.
To us alone will you address yourself; come forth from the king’s tent.
Old man
coming out.
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire!
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire!
Achilles
That speech will save
6
them in the future; it has a certain pompous air.
865
That speech will save
6
them in the future; it has a certain pompous air.
865
Clytemnestra
Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is anything that you would say to me.
Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is anything that you would say to me.
Old man
Well, you know my character and my devotion to you and your children.
Well, you know my character and my devotion to you and your children.
Clytemnestra
I know you have grown old in the service of my house.
I know you have grown old in the service of my house.
Old man
Likewise you know it was in your dowry king Agamemnon received me.
Likewise you know it was in your dowry king Agamemnon received me.
Clytemnestra
Yes, you came to
Argos
with me, and have been mine this long time past.
870
Yes, you came to
Argos
with me, and have been mine this long time past.
870
Old man
True; and I bear all goodwill to you, less to your husband.
True; and I bear all goodwill to you, less to your husband.
Clytemnestra
Come, come, unfold whatever you have to say.
Come, come, unfold whatever you have to say.
Old man
Her father, he that begot her, is on the point of slaying your daughter with his own hand.
Her father, he that begot her, is on the point of slaying your daughter with his own hand.
Clytemnestra
How? That for your story, old man! you are mad.
How? That for your story, old man! you are mad.
Old man
Severing with a sword the hapless girl’s white throat.
875
Severing with a sword the hapless girl’s white throat.
875
Clytemnestra
Ah, alas for me! Does my husband happen to have gone mad?
Ah, alas for me! Does my husband happen to have gone mad?
Old man
No; he is sane, except where you and your daughter are concerned; there he is mad.
No; he is sane, except where you and your daughter are concerned; there he is mad.
Clytemnestra
What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him?
What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him?
Old man
Oracles, at least so Calchas says, in order that the army may start—
Oracles, at least so Calchas says, in order that the army may start—
Clytemnestra
Where? Alas for me, and for the one her father is going to kill!
880
Where? Alas for me, and for the one her father is going to kill!
880
Old man
To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen.
To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen.
Clytemnestra
So Helen’s return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?
So Helen’s return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?
Old man
You know all; her father is about to offer your child to Artemis.
You know all; her father is about to offer your child to Artemis.
Clytemnestra
But that marriage—what pretext had it for bringing me from home?
But that marriage—what pretext had it for bringing me from home?
Old man
An inducement to you to bring your daughter cheerfully, to wed her to Achilles.
885
An inducement to you to bring your daughter cheerfully, to wed her to Achilles.
885
Clytemnestra
On a deadly errand have you come, my daughter, both you, and I, your mother.
On a deadly errand have you come, my daughter, both you, and I, your mother.
Old man
Piteous the lot of both of you, and dreadful Agamemnon’s venture.
Piteous the lot of both of you, and dreadful Agamemnon’s venture.
Clytemnestra
Alas, I am undone; my eyes can no longer hold their tears.
Alas, I am undone; my eyes can no longer hold their tears.
Old man
If the loss
7
of children is painful, shed your tears.
If the loss
7
of children is painful, shed your tears.
Clytemnestra
From where, old man, do you say you had this news?
890
From where, old man, do you say you had this news?
890
Old man
I had started to carry you a letter referring to the former writing.
I had started to carry you a letter referring to the former writing.
Clytemnestra
Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing the child to her death?
Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing the child to her death?
Old man
No, forbidding it, for your lord was then in his sober senses.
No, forbidding it, for your lord was then in his sober senses.
Clytemnestra
How comes it then, if you were really bringing me a letter, that you do not now deliver it into my hands?
How comes it then, if you were really bringing me a letter, that you do not now deliver it into my hands?
Old man
Menelaus snatched it from me, he who caused this trouble.
895
Menelaus snatched it from me, he who caused this trouble.
895
Clytemnestra
Do you hear that, son of Peleus, the Nereid’s child?
Do you hear that, son of Peleus, the Nereid’s child?
Achilles
I have been listening to the tale of your sufferings, and I do not bear my own lightly.
I have been listening to the tale of your sufferings, and I do not bear my own lightly.
Clytemnestra
They will slay my child; they have tricked her with your marriage.
They will slay my child; they have tricked her with your marriage.
Achilles
Like you I blame your lord, nor do I view it with mere indifference.
900
Like you I blame your lord, nor do I view it with mere indifference.
Clytemnestra
No longer will I let shame
8
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.
900
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;
905
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
9
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,
910
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.
915
No longer will I let shame
8
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.
900
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;
905
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
9
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,
910
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.
915
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.
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.
Achilles
10
My proud spirit is stirred to range aloft, butI have learned to grieve in misfortune
and 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,
920
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;
925
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 pity
930
and 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 husband
935
is 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.
940
944
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
11
serve your husband for the murder. No! by Nereus, who begot my mother Thetis, in his home amid the flowing waves,
945
never shall king Agamemnon touch your daughter, no! not even to the laying of a finger-tip upon her robe; or Sipylus
12
, 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.
950
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.
955
It is not to secure a bride that I have spoken thus—there are maids unnumbered
eager to have my love
13
—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
14
chiefly who induced Clytemnestra to betroth her daughter to me;
960
10
My proud spirit is stirred to range aloft, butI have learned to grieve in misfortune
and 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,
920
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;
925
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 pity
930
and 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 husband
935
is 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.
940
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
11
serve your husband for the murder. No! by Nereus, who begot my mother Thetis, in his home amid the flowing waves,
945
never shall king Agamemnon touch your daughter, no! not even to the laying of a finger-tip upon her robe; or Sipylus
12
, 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.
950
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.
955
It is not to secure a bride that I have spoken thus—there are maids unnumbered
eager to have my love
13
—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
14
chiefly who induced Clytemnestra to betroth her daughter to me;
960
Chorus Leader
Son of Peleus, your words are alike worthy of you and that sea-born deity, the holy goddess.
975
Son of Peleus, your words are alike worthy of you and that sea-born deity, the holy goddess.
975
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 feeling
of 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.
980
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.
985
Your words were good, both first and last; for if you will it so, my daughter will be saved.
990
992
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;
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.
995
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 feeling
of 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.
980
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.
985
Your words were good, both first and last; for if you will it so, my daughter will be saved.
990
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;
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.
995
Achilles
16
Do not bring your daughter out for me to see, lady, nor let us incur the reproach of the ignorant;
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;
17
for I am myself engaged in a mighty struggle to rid you of your troubles.
1000
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.
1005
16
Do not bring your daughter out for me to see, lady, nor let us incur the reproach of the ignorant;
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;
17
for I am myself engaged in a mighty struggle to rid you of your troubles.
1000
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.
1005
Clytemnestra
Bless you for always helping the distressed!
Bless you for always helping the distressed!
Achilles
Hearken then to me, that the matter may succeed.
Hearken then to me, that the matter may succeed.
Clytemnestra
What is your proposal? for hear you I must.
1010
What is your proposal? for hear you I must.
1010
Achilles
Let us once more urge
18
her father to a better frame of mind.
Let us once more urge
18
her father to a better frame of mind.
Clytemnestra
He is something of a coward, and fears the army too much.
He is something of a coward, and fears the army too much.
Achilles
Still argument overthrows argument.
Still argument overthrows argument.
Clytemnestra
Cold hope indeed; but tell me what I must do.
Cold hope indeed; but tell me what I must do.
Achilles
Supplicate him first not to slay his children; and if he is stubborn, come to me. For
19
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,
1015
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.
1020
Supplicate him first not to slay his children; and if he is stubborn, come to me. For
19
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,
1015
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.
1020
Clytemnestra
How sensibly you speak! I must act as seems best to you;
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?
1025
How sensibly you speak! I must act as seems best to you;
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?
1025
Achilles
I will keep watch to guard you, where occasion calls, that none may see you passing through the army of Danaids
I will keep watch to guard you, where occasion calls, that none may see you passing through the army of Danaids
Clytemnestra
It will be so.
21
Command me; I must play the slave to you. If there are gods, you for your righteous dealing
will find them favorable; if there are none, what need to toil?
Exeunt Achilles and Clytemnestra.
1035
It will be so.
21
Command me; I must play the slave to you. If there are gods, you for your righteous dealing
will find them favorable; if there are none, what need to toil?
Exeunt Achilles and Clytemnestra.
1035
Iphigenia in Aulis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.