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ATOSSA
Ever by nightly visions, manifold
*
Have I been haunted, since, intent to raze
Ionia's land, my son led forth his power.
180
But never saw I dream so manifest
As that of yesternight;—I'll tell it thee.
Methought two women came before my sight,
Richly apparelled, this in Persian robes
Was habited, but that in Doric garb;
In height above their sex pre-eminent,
Faultless in beauty, sisters of one race.
As Fatherland the one by lot had gained
Hellas, the other the Barbaric land.
Between these twain, for so methought I saw,
190
Some feud arose, which learning, straight my son
Strove to appease and soothe; he to his car
Yoked them, and placed the collar on their necks.
Proudly the one exulted in this gear,
And kept her mouth submissive to the reins;
Restive the other was; she with her hands
The chariot-harness rends, then, without bit,
Whirls it along, snapping the yoke asunder.
Prone falls my son, and close at hand his sire,
Ever by nightly visions, manifold
*
Have I been haunted, since, intent to raze
Ionia's land, my son led forth his power.
180
But never saw I dream so manifest
As that of yesternight;—I'll tell it thee.
Methought two women came before my sight,
Richly apparelled, this in Persian robes
Was habited, but that in Doric garb;
In height above their sex pre-eminent,
Faultless in beauty, sisters of one race.
As Fatherland the one by lot had gained
Hellas, the other the Barbaric land.
Between these twain, for so methought I saw,
190
Some feud arose, which learning, straight my son
Strove to appease and soothe; he to his car
Yoked them, and placed the collar on their necks.
Proudly the one exulted in this gear,
And kept her mouth submissive to the reins;
Restive the other was; she with her hands
The chariot-harness rends, then, without bit,
Whirls it along, snapping the yoke asunder.
Prone falls my son, and close at hand his sire,
Persians. Aeschylus. Anna Swanwick (Translator). London. 1886.
Sponsored by University of Leipzig.
Funding provided by European Social Fund Saxony.