KASSANDRA.

Well then, the oracle from veils no longer

Shall be outlooking, like a bride new-married:

But bright it seems, against the sun’s uprisings

1180

Breathing, to penetrate thee: so as, wave-like,

To wash against the rays a woe much greater

Than this. I will no longer teach by riddles.

And witness, running with me, that of evils

Done long ago, I nosing track the footstep!

1185

For, this same roof here — never quits a Choros

One-voiced, not well-tuned since no well it utters:

And truly having drunk, to get more courage,

Man’s blood — the Komos keeps within the household

— Hard to be sent outside — of sister Furies:

1190

They hymn their hymn — within the house close sitting —

The first beginning curse: in turn spit forth at

The Brother’s bed, to him who spurned it hostile.

Have I missed aught, or hit I like a bowman?

False prophet am I, — knock at doors, a babbler?

1195

Henceforward witness, swearing now, I know not

By other’s word the old sins of this household!

CHOROS.

And how should oath, bond honourably binding,

Become thy cure? No less I wonder at thee

— That thou, beyond sea reared, a strange-tongued city

1200

Shouldst hit in speaking, just as if thou stood’st by!

KASSANDRA.

Prophet Apollon put me in this office.

CHOROS.

What, even though a god, with longing smitten?

KASSANDRA.

At first, indeed, shame was to me to say this.

CHOROS.

For, more relaxed grows everyone who fares well.

1205

KASSANDRA.

But he was athlete to me — huge grace breathing!

CHOROS.

Well, to the work of children, went ye law’s way?

KASSANDRA.

Having consented, I played false to Loxias.

CHOROS.

Already when the wits inspired possessed of?

KASSANDRA.

Already townsmen all their woes I foretold.

1210

CHOROS.

How wast thou then unhurt by Loxias’ anger?

KASSANDRA.

I no one aught persuaded, when I sinned thus.

CHOROS.

To us, at least, now sooth to say thou seemest.

KASSANDRA.

Halloo, halloo, ah, evils!

Again, straightforward foresight’s fearful labour

1215

Whirls me, distracting with prelusive last-lays!

Behold ye those there, in the household seated, —

Young ones, — of dreams approaching to the figures?

Children, as if they died by their beloveds —

Hands they have filled with flesh, the meal domestic —

1220

Entrails and vitals both, most piteous burthen,

Plain they are holding! — which their father tasted!

For this, I say, plans punishment a certain

Lion ignoble, on the bed that wallows,

House-guard (ah, me!) to the returning master

1225

— Mine, since to bear the slavish yoke behoves me!

The ship’s commander, Ilion ’s desolator,

Knows not what things the tongue of the lewd she-dog

Speaking, outspreading, shiny-souled, in fashion

Of Até hid, will reach to, by ill fortune!

1230

Such things she dares — the female, the male’s slayer!

She is . . . how calling her the hateful bite-beast

May I hit the mark? Some amphisbaina, — Skulla

Housing in rocks, of mariners the mischief,

Revelling Haides’ mother, — curse, no truce with,

1235

Breathing at friends! How piously she shouted,

The all-courageous, as at turn of battle!

She seems to joy at the back-bringing safety!

Of this, too, if I nought persuade, all’s one! Why?

What is to be will come. And soon thou, present,

1240

True prophet all too much wilt pitying style me.

CHOROS.

Thuestes’ feast, indeed, on flesh of children,

I went with, and I shuddered. Fear too holds me

Listing what’s true as life, nowise out-imaged.

KASSANDRA.

I say, thou Agamemnon’s fate shalt look on.

1245

CHOROS.

Speak good words, O unhappy! Set mouth sleeping!

KASSANDRA.

But Paian stands in no stead to the speech here.

CHOROS.

Nay, if the thing be near: but never be it!

KASSANDRA.

Thou, indeed, prayest: they to kill are busy.

CHOROS.

Of what man is it ministered, this sorrow?

1250

KASSANDRA.

There again, wide thou look’st of my foretellings.

CHOROS.

For, the fulfiller’s scheme I have not gone with.

KASSANDRA.

And yet too well I know the speech Hellenic.

CHOROS.

For Puthian oracles, thy speech, and hard too.

KASSANDRA

Papai: what fire this! and it comes upon me!

1255

Ototoi, Lukeion Apollon, ah me — me!

She, the two-footed lioness that sleeps with

The wolf, in absence of the generous lion,

Kills me the unhappy one: and as a poison

Brewing, to put my price too in the anger,

1260

She vows, against her mate this weapon whetting

To pay him back the bringing me, with slaughter.

Why keep I then these things to make me laughed at,

Both wands and, round my neck, oracular fillets?

Thee, at least, ere my own fate will I ruin:

1265

Go, to perdition falling! Boons exchange we —

Some other Até in my stead make wealthy!

See there — himself, Apollon stripping from me

The oracular garment! having looked upon me

— Even in these adornments, laughed by friends at,

1270

As good as foes, i’ the balance weighed: and vainly —

For, called crazed stroller, — as I had been gipsy,

Beggar, unhappy, starved to death, — I bore it.

And now the Prophet — prophet me undoing,

Has led away to these so deadly fortunes!

1275

Instead of my sire’s altar, waits the hack-block

She struck with first warm bloody sacrificing!

Yet nowise unavenged of gods will death be:

For there shall come another, our avenger,

The mother-slaying scion, father’s doomsman:

1280

Fugitive, wanderer, from this land an exile,

Back shall he come, — for friends, copestone these curses!

For there is sworn a great oath from the gods that

Him shall bring hither his fallen sire’s prostration.

Why make I then, like an indweller, moaning?

1285

Since at the first I foresaw Ilion ’s city

Suffering as it has suffered: and who took it,

Thus by the judgment of the gods are faring.

I go, will suffer, will submit to dying!

But, Haides’ gates — these same I call, I speak to,

1290

And pray that on an opportune blow chancing,

Without a struggle, — blood the calm death bringing

In easy outflow, — I this eye may close up!

CHOROS.

O much unhappy, but, again, much learned

1295

Woman, long hast thou outstretched! But if truly

Thou knowest thine own fate, how comes that, like to

A god-led steer, to altar bold thou treadest?

KASSANDRA.

There’s no avoidance, — strangers, no some time more!

CHOROS.

He last is, anyhow, by time advantaged.

1300

KASSANDRA.

It comes, the day: I shall by flight gain little.

CHOROS.

But know thou patient art from thy brave spirit!

KASSANDRA.

Such things hears no one of the happy-fortuned.

CHOROS.

But gloriously to die — for man is grace, sure.

KASSANDRA.

Ah, sire, for thee and for thy noble children!

1305

CHOROS.

But what thing is it? What fear turns thee backwards?

KASSANDRA.

Alas, alas!

CHOROS.

Why this Alas! if ’t is no spirit’s loathing?

KASSANDRA.

Slaughter blood-dripping does the household smell of!

CHOROS.

How else? This scent is of hearth-sacrifices.

1310

KASSANDRA.

Such kind of steam as from a tomb is proper!

CHOROS.

No Surian honour to the House thou speak’st of!

KASSANDRA.

But I will go, — even in the household wailing

My fate and Agamemnon’s. Life suffice me!

Ah, strangers!

1315

I cry not ah — as bird at bush — through terror

Idly! to me, the dead this much bear witness:

When, for me — woman, there shall die a woman,

And, for a man ill-wived, a man shall perish!

This hospitality I ask as dying.

1320

CHOROS.

O sufferer, thee — thy foretold fate I pity.

KASSANDRA.

Yet once for all, to speak a speech, I fain am:

No dirge, mine for myself! The sun I pray to,

Fronting his last light! — to my own avengers —

That from my hateful slayers they exact too

1325

Pay for the dead slave — easy-managed hand’s work!

CHOROS.

Alas for mortal matters! Happy-fortuned, —

Why, any shade would turn them: if unhappy,

By throws the wetting sponge has spoiled the picture!

And more by much in mortals this I pity.

The being well-to-do —

Insatiate a desire of this

Born with all mortals is,

Nor any is there who

Well-being forces off, aroints

From roofs whereat a finger points,

No more come in! exclaiming. This man, too,

To take the city of Priamos did the celestials give,

1335

And, honoured by the god, he homeward comes;

But now if, of the former, he shall pay

The blood back, and, for those who ceased to live,

Dying, for deaths in turn new punishment he dooms—

1340

Who, being mortal, would not pray

With an unmischievous

Daimon to have been born — who would not, hearing thus?

AGAMEMNON.

Ah me! I am struck — a right-aimed stroke within me!

CHOROS.

Silence! Who is it shouts stroke — right-aimedly a wounded one?

AGAMEMNON.

Ah me! indeed again, — a second, struck by!

1345

CHOROS.

This work seems to me completed by this Ah me of the king’s;

But we somehow may together share in solid counsellings.

CHOROS 1.

I, in the first place, my opinion tell you:

— To cite the townsmen, by help-cry, to house here.

CHOROS 2.

To me, it seems we ought to fall upon them

1350

At quickest — prove the fact by sword fresh-flowing!

CHOROS 3.

And I, of such opinion the partaker,

Vote — to do something: not to wait — the main point!

CHOROS 4.

’T is plain to see: for they prelude as though of

A tyranny the signs they gave the city.

1355

CHOROS 5.

For we waste time; while they, — this waiting’s glory

Treading to ground, — allow the hand no slumber.

CHOROS 6.

I know not — chancing on some plan — to tell it:

’T is for the doer to plan of the deed also.

CHOROS 7.

And I am such another: since I’m schemeless

1360

How to raise up again by words — a dead man!

CHOROS 8.

What, and, protracting life, shall we give way thus

To the disgracers of our home, these rulers?

CHOROS 9.

Why, ’t is unbearable: but to die is better:

For death than tyranny is the riper finish!

1365

CHOROS 10.

What, by the testifying Ah me of him,

Shall we prognosticate the man as perished?

CHOROS 11.

We must quite know ere speak these things concerning:

For to conjecture and quite know are two things.

CHOROS 12.

This same to praise I from all sides abound in —

1370

Clearly to know — Atreides, what he’s doing!

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Much having been before to purpose spoken,

The opposite to say I shall not shamed be:

For how should one, to enemies, — in semblance,

Friends, — enmity proposing, — sorrow’s net-frame

1375

Enclose, a height superior to outleaping?

To me, indeed, this struggle of old — not mindless

Of an old victory — came: with time, I grant you!

I stand where I have struck, things once accomplished:

And so have done, — and this deny I shall not, —

1380

As that his fate was nor to fly nor ward off.

A wrap-round with no outlet, as for fishes,

I fence about him — the rich woe of the garment:

I strike him twice, and in a double Ah-me!

He let his limbs go — there! And to him, fallen,

1385

The third blow add I, giving — of Below-ground

Zeus, guardian of the dead — the votive favour.

Thus in the mind of him he rages, falling,

And blowing forth a brisk blood-spatter, strikes me

With the dark drop of slaughterous dew — rejoicing

1390

No less than, at the god-given dewy-comfort,

The sown-stuff in its birth-throes from the calyx.

Since so these things are, — Argives, my revered here, —

Ye may rejoice — if ye rejoice: but I — boast!

If it were fit on corpse to pour libation,

1395

That would be right — right over and above, too!

The cup of evils in the house he, having

Filled with such curses, himself coming drinks of.

CHOROS.

We wonder at thy tongue: since bold-mouthed truly

Is she who in such speech boasts o’er her husband I

1400

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Ye test me as I were a witless woman:

But I — with heart intrepid — to you knowers

Say (and thou — if thou wilt or praise or blame me,

Comes to the same) — this man is Agamemnon,

My husband, dead, the work of the right hand here,

1405

Ay, of a just artificer: so things are.

CASSANDRA

There is no escape, strangers, nothing is to be gained by time 3

.

CHORUS

Yet the last has the advantage in time.

CASSANDRA

This day has arrived; 'tis little I shall gain by flight.

CHORUS

Be sure, thou hast stout resolution in thy undaunted spirit.

CASSANDRA

Yet to die gloriously is surely a gratification to a mortal.

CHORUS

No one hears these sentiments from the happy 4

.

CASSANDRA

Alas, my sire, for thee and for thy noble children!

CHORUS

What is the matter? what terror turns thee away?

CASSANDRA

Faugh! faugh!

CHORUS

Why criest thou, faugh! unless there be something which thy heart loaths?

CASSANDRA

The palace reeks with blood-dripping murder.

CHORUS

How sayest thou? this is the smell of victims at the hearth.

CASSANDRA

'Tis plainly like a fume from the grave.

CHORUS

No Syrian luxury art thou describing in the house.

CASSANDRA

But I will go to shriek over my own destiny and that of Agamemnon also within the palace. Enough of life. Alas, strangers! Yet do I not vainly quail in terror, like a bird at a bush 1

. Do ye bear this testimony to me dying, when a woman shall perish for me a woman, and a man shall fall for one that was ill-mated. These boons I claim from you as on the point of death.

CHORUS

Wretched one, I pity thec for thy predicted doom.

CASSANDRA

Yet once more do I wish to utter a speech, or mine own dirge 2

. And (looking upon) his light for the last time, I pray the sun, upon my hated murderers, that they may at the same time pay the penalty for a slave, that dies an easy victim, to my avengers their murderers 3

. Alas for the condition of mortals! them when prosperous a shadow may overturn; but if they be in adversity, a moistened sponge blots out the picture: and for this I have far greater pity thau for that.

CHORUS

CASSANDRE

Rien ne peut me sauver ; pourquoi gagner une heure ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Mais de l'heure dernière le prix est infini.

CASSANDRE

Non, le jour est venu : quel profit ai-je à fuir ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Sache que tel courage révèle une âme brave.

CASSANDRE

Voilà qu'on ne dit pas aux heureux de ce monde !

LE CORYPHÉE

Mourir glorieusement est un bienfait des dieux.

CASSANDRE

Ah ! pitié sur toi, père, et sur tes nobles fils !

LE CORYPHÉE

Qu'y a-t-il ? quelle crainte a ramené tes pas ?

CASSANDRE

(Avec horreur.)

Ah ! ah !

LE CORYPHÉE

Pourquoi ce cri ? quel monstre se forge donc ton âme ?

CASSANDRE

Ce palais sent le meurtre et le sang répandu.

LE CORYPHÉE

Dis qu'il sent les offrandes brûlées sur le foyer.

CASSANDRE

On dirait les vapeurs qui sortent d'un tombeau.

LE CORYPHÉE

Tu lui prêtes un parfum qui n'a rien de l'encens !

CASSANDRE

Allons ! j'irai donc gémir jusque chez les ombres et sur moi et sur Agamemnon. Assez de cette vie !

CASSANDRE

Ah !
étrangers... Ne voyez pas en moi un oiseau qui pépie, effrayé, devant un buisson. Je veux seulement qu'après ma mort de tout ceci vous témoigniez pour moi, le jour où, pour prix de mon sang, le sang d'une femme, une femme aussi versera le sien, et où, pour prix d'un homme perdu par son épouse,
un homme tombera. C'est le présent que de mes hôtes j'implore à l'heure de mourir.

LE CORYPHÉE

J'ai pitié, malheureuse, du sort que tu prévois.

CASSANDRE

Plus qu'un mot encore — je ne veux pas chanter mon propre thrène. Au soleil — face à sa clarté
suprême — j'adresse ma prière : puissent mes vengeurs comme mes meurtriers payer ensemble la dette ¹ de l'esclave morte ici, qui fut une proie si facile !

LE CORYPHÉE

Ah ! triste sort des hommes ! Leur bonheur est pareil à un croquis léger ; vient le malheur : trois coups d'éponge humide, c'en est fait du dessin ! Et
c'est cela, plus encore que ceci ² , qui m'emplit

CASSANDRA.

I cou’d not by delay eſcape my fate.

CHORUS.

Yet is there ſome advantage in delay.

CASSANDRA.

The day is come: by flight I ſhou'd gain little.

1460

CHORUS.

Thy boldness adds to thy unhappineſs.

CASSANDRA.

None of the happy ſhuns his deſtin’d end.

CHORUS.

True; but to die with glory crowns our praiſe.

CASSANDRA.

So died my father, ſo his noble ſons.

CHORUS.

What may this mean? Why backward doſt thou ſtart?

1465

Do thy own thoughts with horror ſtrike thy ſoul?

CASSANDRA.

The ſcent of blood and death breathes from this houſe.

CHORUS.

The victims now are bleeding at the altar.

CASSANDRA.

’Tis ſuch a ſmell as iſſues from the tomb.

CHORUS.

This is no Syrian odour in the houſe.

1470

CASSANDRA.

Such tho' it be, I enter, to bewail

My fate, and Agamemnon’s. To have liv’d,

Let it ſuffice.

And think not, gen’rous ſtrangers,

Like the poor bird that flutters o’er the bough,

1475

Thro' fear I linger.

But my dying words

You will remember, when her blood ſhall flow

For mine, woman’s for woman’s: and the man’s,

For his that falls by his accurſed wife.

1480

CHORUS.

Thy fate, poor ſufferer, fills my eyes with tears.

CASSANDRA.

Yet once more let me raiſe my mournful voice.

Thou Sun, whoſe riſing beams ſhall bleſs no more

These

CASSANDRA.

These cloſing eyes! You, whoſe vindictive rage

1485

Hangs o'er my hated murderers, Oh avenge me,

Tho', a poor ſlave, I fall an eaſy prey!

This is the ſtate of man: in profperous fortune

A ſhadow, paſſing light, throws to the ground n

Joy’s baſeleſs fabric:

1490

in adverſity

Comes malice with a ſpunge moiſten’d in gall,

And wipes each beauteous character away:

More than the firſt this melts my ſoul to pity.

CHORUS.

CASSANDRA

Scampo non v'è, no, amici, nell' indugio!

CORIFEO

Piú assai che l'altre, pregio han l'ultime ore.

CASSANDRA

E' questo il giorno. Differir che giova?

1515

CORIFEO

La forza tua te pazïente rende.

CASSANDRA

Niun dei felici ascolta elogi simili!

CORIFEO

Fregio è per l'uomo gloriosa morte.

CASSANDRA

si avanza verso la porta, e d'un tratto balza indietro sbigottita.

Oh!, padre mio! Miei nobili fratelli !

CORIFEO

Che avviene? Che terror ti caccia indietro?

1520

CASSANDRA

Ahimè! Ahimè!

CORIFEO

Che ti lagni cosí? Per qual ribrezzo ?

CASSANDRA

Spira la casa orror che sangue stilla!

CORIFEO

Come? Certo è l'odore delle vittime!

CASSANDRA

Spira un alito, come di sepolcro !

1525

CORIFEO

Non parli, no, d'una fragranza assiria!

CASSANDRA

Entro! E pur nella casa ululerò

la morte mia, la morte d'Agamènnone !

Basta la vita!

Ospiti, ahimè! Non gemo,

1530

come in cespuglio augel, di terror vano.

Voi rendete giustizia a me che muoio,

quando, invece di me donna, morrà

CASSANDRA

una donna, d'un uom che triste moglie

s' ebbe, un uomo cadrà.

1535

Già moribonda

questi doni ospitali io porgo a voi!

CORIFEO

La tua sorte feral compiango, o misera!

CASSANDRA

Anche una volta, sopra me, non lagrime,

parole esprimo. Imploro per questa ultima

1540

luce del sole, i miei vendicatori,

ché gli assassini insiem con l'altro scontino

il vile colpo onde perí la schiava.

Ahimè, sorte degli uomini! Fortuna

a un'ombra pinta assimigliar potresti ;

1545

e se giunge sventura, umida spugna

con pochi tratti la cancella.

E questo,

piú d'ogni cosa, mi sforza a pietà!

Entra nella reggia.

COREUTA I

Chor.

Thyestes' Mahl von seiner eig'nen Kinder Fleisch

verstand ich und entsetzte mich und schaud're noch,

1315

Chor.

wie du so deutlich ohne Gleichnishülle sprachst;

1245 doch diesem Spruche folgt mein Raten ohne Pfad.

Kassandra.

Ich sage, schauen wirst du Agamemnons Mord.

Chor.

Unsel'ge, hemme deiner Zunge Lästerung.

Kassandra.

Was ich zu sagen hab' ist alles lästerlich.

1320

Chor.

Ja, wenn es wahr wird, aber nimmer werd' es wahr.

Kassandra.

1250 Dein ist das Wünschen, andre rüsten sich zum Mord.

Chor.

Wer ist der Mann, der solche Freveltat beginnt?

Kassandra.

O, wie so schlecht verstandest du mein Seherwort.

Chor.

Nur wer die Tat vollbringen soll, verstand ich nicht.

1325

Kassandra.

Und doch war alles gut hellenisch, was ich sprach.

Chor.

1255 Hellenisch redet Delphi auch und dunkel doch.

Kassandra.

Weh,

das Fieber packt mich wieder.

Weh,

1330

Cassandra.

Friends, there is no avoidance in delay.

Chorus.

Yet who delays the longest, his the gain.

Cassandra.

The day is come—flight were small gain to me!

1500

Chorus.

O brave endurance of a soul resolved!

Cassandra.

That were ill praise, for those of happier doom.

Chorus.

All fame is happy, even famous death.

Cassandra.

Ah sire, ah brethren, famous once were ye!

[ She moves to enter the house, then starts back.

Chorus.

What fear is this that scares thee from the house?

1505

Cassandra.

Pah!

Chorus.

What is this cry? some dark despair of soul?

Cassandra.

Pah! the house fumes with stench and spilth of blood.

Chorus.

How? 'tis the smell of household offerings.

Cassandra.

'Tis rank as charnel-scent from open graves.

1510

Chorus.

Thou canst not mean this scented Syrian nard? ¹

Cassandra.

Nay, let me pass within to cry aloud

The monarch's fate and mine—enough of life.

Ah friends!

Bear to me witness, since I fall in death,

1515

That not as birds that shun the bush and scream ²

I moan in idle terror. This attest

When for my death's revenge another dies,

A woman for a woman, and a man

Falls, for a man ill-wedded to his curse.

1520

Grant me this boon—the last before I die.

Chorus.

Brave to the last! I mourn thy doom foreseen.

Cassandra.

Once more one utterance but not of wail,

Though for my death—and then I speak no more.

Sun! thou whose beam I shall not see again,

1525

To thee I cry, Let those whom vengeance calls

To slay their kindred's slayers, quit withal

The death of me, the slave, the fenceless prey. ³

Ah state of mortal man! in time of weal,

A line, a shadow! and if ill fate fall,

1530

One wet sponge-sweep wipes all our trace away—

And this I deem less piteous, of the twain.

[ Exit into the palace.

Chorus.

Kassandra.

Freund, keine Rettung gibt es, auch kein Zögern hilft.

Der Chorführer.

Doch wer der Leyte zögernd bleibt, gewinnt den Preis.

Kassandra.

Sie kam, die Stunde: wenig hülfe mir die Flucht.

1250

Der Chorführer.

In Jammer stürzt dich, glaube mir, so kühner Muth.

Kassandra.

Doch ruhmgekrönt zu sterben ist dem Menschen süß.

Der Chorführer.

Niemals vernimmt man solches Wort von Glücklichen.

Kassandra.

(Naht sich dem Palaste.)

Weh, Vater, dir, und deinen edeln Kindern weh!

Der Chorführer.

(Da Kassandra entsetzt sich abwendet.)

Was hast du? Welch' Entsegen schreckt dich scheu zurück?

1255

Kassandra.

Weh, weh!

Der Chorführer.

Was soll der Wehruf? Grauen wohl erfaßte dich.

Kassandra.

Mord hauchen diese Mauern, blutumtrieften Mord.

Der Chorführer.

Wie so? Vom Opferherde weht ein solcher Duft.

Kassandra.

Es steigen Moderdünste wie von Gräbern auf.

1260

Der Chorführer.

Kein Syrerkleinod, was du da vom Hause rühmst.

Kassandra.

Ich gehe, will im Hause noch um mein Geschick

Und Agamemnons jammern. Sei's genug gelebt!

Weh, Freunde, weh!

Nicht, wie der Vogel um's Gebüsch, wehklag' ich bang

1265

Mit eitlem Rufe. Zeuget mir's, der Todten, einst,

Wenn mir, dem Weib, zur Nache todt hinsinkt das Weib,

Und für des schnöden Weibes Mann der Mann erliegt.

Mit diesem Gastgruß tret' ich ein als Sterbende.

Der Chorführer.

Dein Loos, enthüllt vom Gotte, wie beklag' ich es!

1270

Kassandra.

Ein einzig Wort noch fei're, nicht im Klageton,

Mein Todesschicksal! Helios, dich fleh' ich an

Bei'm lekten Lichtstrahl, meine Nächer ruf' ich auf:

Gebt meinen Mördern gleichen Tod, wie mich, die Magd,

Ihr Arm gemordet, leichterrungnen Sieges froh!

1275

Ach, Menschenleben! Lächelt ihm des Glückes Strahl,

So mag's ein Schatte stürzen; grollt das Ungemach,

Löscht eines Schwammes feuchter Hauch das düstre Bild.

Weit mehr beklag' ich solches Loos, als mein Geschick.

(Ab in den Palast.)

Der Chorführer.