CHOROS.

Who may he have been that named thus wholly with exactitude —

(Was he someone whom we see not, by forecastings of the future

Guiding tongue in happy mood?)

— Her with battle for a bridegroom, on all sides contention-wooed,

Helena? Since — mark the suture! —

685

Ship’s-Hell, Man’s-Hell, City’s-Hell,

From the delicately-pompous curtains that pavilion well,

Forth, by favour of the gale

Of earth-born Zephuros did she sail.

Many shield-bearers, leaders of the pack,

690

Sailed too upon their track,

Theirs who had directed oar,

Then visible no more,

To Simois’ leaf-luxuriant shore —

For sake of strife all gore!

695

To Ilion Wrath, fulfilling her intent,

This marriage-care — the rightly named so — sent:

700

In after-time, for the tables’ abuse

And that of the hearth-partaker Zeus,

Bringing to punishment

Those who honoured with noisy throat

The honour of the bride, the hymenseal note

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Which did the kinsfolk then to singing urge.

But, learning a new hymn for that which was,

The ancient city of Priamos

Groans probably a great and general dirge,

Denominating Paris

710

The man that miserably marries: —

She who, all the while before,

A life, that was a general dirge

For citizens’ unhappy slaughter, bore.

And thus a man, by no milk’s help,

Within his household reared a lion’s whelp

That loved the teat

In life’s first festal stage:

Gentle as yet,

720

A true child-lover, and, to men of age,

A thing whereat pride warms;

And oft he had it in his arms

Like any new-born babe, bright-faced, to hand

Wagging its tail, at belly’s strict command.

725

But in due time upgrown,

The custom of progenitors was shown:

For-thanks for sustenance repaying

With ravage of sheep slaughtered —

730

It made unbidden feast;

With blood the house was watered,

To household came a woe there was no staying:

Great mischief many-slaying!

From God it was-some priest

Of Até, in the house, by nurture thus increased.

At first, then, to the city of Ilion went

A soul, as I might say, of windless calm —

740

Wealth’s quiet ornament,

An eyes’-dart bearing balm,

Love’s spirit-biting flower.

But — from the true course bending —

She brought about, of marriage, bitter ending:

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Ill-resident, ill-mate, in power

Passing to the Priamidai — by sending

Of Hospitable Zeus —

Erinus for a bride, — to make brides mourn, her dower.

Spoken long ago

750

Was the ancient saying

Still among mortals staying:

Man’s great prosperity at height of rise

Engenders offspring nor unchilded dies;

And, from good fortune, to such families,

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Buds forth insatiate woe.

Whereas, distinct from any,

Of my own mind I am:

For ’t is the unholy deed begets the many,

Resembling each its dam.

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Of households that correctly estimate,

Ever a beauteous child is born of Fate.

But ancient Arrogance delights to generate

Arrogance, young and strong mid mortals’ sorrow,

Or now, or then, when comes the appointed morrow.

765

And she bears young Satiety;

And, fiend with whom nor fight nor war can be,

Unholy Daring — twin black Curses

Within the household, children like their nurses.

But Justice shines in smoke-grimed habitations,

And honours the well-omened life;

While, — gold-besprinkled stations

Where the hands’ filth is rife,

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With backward-turning eyes

Leaving, — to holy seats she hies,

Not worshipping the power of wealth

Stamped with applause by stealth:

And to its end directs each thing begun.

780

Approach then, my monarch, of Troia the sacker, of Atreus the son!

How ought I address thee, how ought I revere thee, — nor yet overhitting

Nor yet underbending the grace that is fitting?

Many of mortals hasten to honour the seeming-to-be —

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Passing by justice: and, with the ill-faring, to groan as he groans all are free.

But no bite of the sorrow their liver has reached to:

They say with the joyful, — one outside on each, too,

As they force to a smile smileless faces.

But whoever is good at distinguishing races

790

In sheep of his flock — it is not for the eyes

Of a man to escape such a shepherd’s surprise,

As they seem, from a well-wishing mind,

In watery friendship to fawn and be kind.

Thou to me, then, indeed, sending an army for Helena’s sake,

795

(I will not conceal it) wast — oh, by no help of the Muses! — depicted

Not well of thy midriff the rudder directing. — convicted

Of bringing a boldness they did not desire to the men with existence at stake.

But now — from no outside of mind, nor unlovingly — gracious thou art

To those who have ended the labour, fulfilling their part;

800

And in time shalt thou know, by inquiry instructed,

Who of citizens justly, and who not to purpose, the city conducted.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Long since, in truth, I raised the jocund shout through delight, when the first mighty messenger of fire arrived, telling of the capture and overthrow of Ilion.—And some one chiding me said, “Dost thou, persuaded by beacon-lights, think that Troy has now been sacked? Verily it is like a woman to be much elated in heart." By words like these I was made to seem in error 1

. Nevertheless I went on sacrificing; and, by a woman's edict, one and another, in different places throughout the city, raised aloud a shout of joy, pouring forth a hallowed song in the dwelling of the gods, while they lulled the fragrant incense-fed flame. And now what need is there for thee to say more to me? From the king himself I shall hear the whole tale. And I will haste to welcome back my revered lord on his return as well as I possibly can : for what day is more delightful for a woman to behold than this, to throw open the gates to a husband returning from warfare, when a god hath kept him safe? Bear thou this message to my husband, that he come with all speed, desired oy the city. And may he coming find a loyal consort in his house, just as he left her, a watch-dog of his home attached to him, a foe to the ill-disposed, and in -all other points alike, not having destroyed one single seal in the course of long time. I know not delight nor slanderous report from another man any more than brass does of dyeing 2

.

HERALD TALTHYBIUS

LE CORYPHÉE

Je me rends à ton rapport, je l'avoue : on n'est jamais trop vieux pour aller à l'école de la vérité.
Mais c'est surtout cette maison, c'est Clytemnestre que touchent ces nouvelles : je n'ai droit qu'à une part du trésor qui lui appartient.

CLYTEMNESTRE

Il y a longtemps déjà que j'ai poussé un long cri d'allégresse, quand, le premier, arriva dans la nuit le messager de feu annonçant la conquête et la ruine
de Troie. Alors, pleins de reproches, certains me disaient : « Pour des signaux de feu, te voilà donc certaine que Troie est maintenant une ville détruite ? Il est bien d'une femme de s'exalter ainsi ! » De tels propos me faisaient apparaître folle. Et, malgré tout, j'ordonnais des sacrifices, et le cri
rituel des femmes, mes gens ¹ , dispersés à travers la ville, le lançaient en accents joyeux, au fond des temples divins où ils cherchaient à endormir la dévorante ardeur des flammes parfumées. Quel besoin maintenant que tu m'en dises plus ? j'apprendrai tout du roi lui-même. Je ne veux plus songer
qu'à recevoir du mieux qu'il m'est possible l'époux respecté qui rentre en sa demeure. Quel soleil luit plus doux à une femme que la joie d'ouvrir les portes toutes grandes au mari que les dieux ont sauvé de la guerre. A mon époux
rapporte bien ceci : « Qu'il se hâte de répondre aux désirs de sa cité ! Qu'il vienne retrouver aussi dans sa maison, telle qu'il l'y laissa, une épouse fidèle, chienne de garde à lui

CLYTEMNESTRE

dévouée, farouche à ses ennemis, toujours la même en
tout et qui n'a point violé durant sa longue absence les dépôts confiés ² . Le plaisir adultère, même un simple bruit médisant, sont choses que j'ignore tout autant que l'art de teindre le bronze ³ . »

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Long fince my voice rais’d high each note of joy,

When thro’ the night the ſtreaming blaze firſt came,

And told us Troy was taken:

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Not unblam’d

That, as a woman lightly credulous,

I let a mountain fire tranſport my ſoul

With the fond hope that Ilion’s haughty tow’rs

Were humbled in the duſt.

680

At this rebuke

Tho’ ſomewhat ſhaken, yet I ſacrific’d;

And, as weak women wont, one voice of joy

Awoke another, till the city rang

Thro’ all its ſtreets; and at the hallow’d ſhrines

685

Each rais’d the pious ſtrains of gratitude,

And fan’d the altars’ incenſe-breathing flame.

But it is needleſs to detain thee longer,

Soon from the king’s own lips ſhall I learn all.

HERALD.

CLITENNESTRA

Un ululo di gioia alto levai,

subito, come a notte giunse il primo

670

messaggero di fiamma, ed annunziò

la presa, il sacco d'Ilio.

E alcuno, a biasimo,

diceva: « Credi presa Troia? Credi

a segnali di fuoco? E' ben da femmina

675

esaltarsi cosí ! »

Sí, che, ad udirlo,

mentecatta io sembrava.

E pure, tutti

sacrifici offeríano; e a mo' di femmine,

680

chi qua, chi là, per tutta Argo levando

alto clamore e augurî, entro i delúbri

sacri sopíano l'odorosa fiamma

voratrice d'incensi.

Ed or, che importa

685

un tuo lungo discorso? Presto udrò

tutto dal mio stesso signore.

Intanto

procaccerò che degnamente accolto

CLITENNESTRA

lo sposo sia, di reverenza degno.

690

Salvo, per opra degli Dei, dal campo

veder lo sposo entro le patrie mura:

per una sposa c'è più dolce giorno?

Al signor mio questo messaggio reca:

venga, come può prima, alla città

695

che lo brama: tornando alla sua casa,

ei troverà la fida sposa, quale

pur la lasciò: cane del tetto a guardia,

benigno a lui, nemico ai suoi nemici;

e costante in ogni altro atto, per lungo

700

volger di tempo, niun sigillo io fransi.

Immersa mi sarei prima in un bagno

d'ardente bronzo, che gustar piacere

d'un altr' uomo, ed averne scorno e biasimo.

CORIFEO

Chorführer.

Herold des Heers von Hellas, Freude sei mit dir.

590

Herold.

Sie ist es. Willig stürb' ich, da ich dies erlebt.

Chorführer.

540 Erfahren hast du, wie des Heimwehs Schmerzen thun?

Herold.

Drum macht das Wiedersehen mir das Auge feucht.

Chorführer.

Wenn ihr die bittre Wollust solcher Tränen kennt -

Herold.

Was willst du, rede weiter, ich versteh' dich nicht.

595

Chorführer.

So wißt, die Schmerzen haben wir mit euch geteilt.

Herold.

545 Du meinst, euch nach dem Heer gesehnt wie wir nach Haus?

Chorführer.

Und haben oft in bittrem Harme tief geseufzt.

Herold.

Woher befiel zu Haus euch solche Not und Angst?

Chorführer.

Ich schweige; dieses letzte Mittel lernt' ich längst.

600

Herold.

Ihr littet Zwang, dieweil der König ferne war?

Chorführer.

550 Ich sag' wie du: willkommen ist mir auch der Tod.

Herold.

Ja, denn wir steh'n am Ziele. Freilich, jedes Ding,

das lange dauert, hat nicht gute Seiten bloß;

da ist auch manches Schlimme: Göttervorrecht ist's

605

in Ewigkeit zu leben ohne Leid und Schmerz.

555 Wollt' ich von unsern Plagen reden, welche Not

das Unterkommen machte - schmal und hart und eng

der Bordgang, Sitzplatz nirgend, alles vollgepfropft -

und dennoch, ärger war die Plage noch zu Land.

610

Dicht vor des Feindes Mauern war die Lagerstatt;

560 die Feuchtigkeit des Himmels und des Wiesengrunds

Re-enter Clytemnestra.

Last night, when first the fiery courier came,

In sign that Troy is ta'en and razed to earth,

695

So wild a cry of joy my lips gave out,

That I was chidden— Hath the beacon watch

Made sure unto thy soul the sack of Troy?

A very woman thou, whose heart leaps light

At wandering rumours!—and with words like these

700

They showed me how I strayed, misled of hope.

Yet on each shrine I set the sacrifice,

And, in the strain they held for feminine,

Went heralds thro' the city, to and fro,

With voice of loud proclaim, announcing joy;

705

And in each fane they lit and quenched with wine

The spicy perfumes fading in the flame.

All is fulfilled: I spare your longer tale—

The king himself anon shall tell me all.

Remains to think what honour best may greet

710

My lord, the majesty of Argos, home.

What day beams fairer on a woman's eyes

Than this, whereon she flings the portal wide,

To hail her lord, heaven-shielded, home from war?

This to my husband, that he tarry not,

715

But turn the city's longing into joy!

Yea, let him come, and coming may he find

A wife no other than he left her, true

And faithful as a watch-dog to his home,

His foemen's foe, in all her duties leal,

720

Trusty to keep for ten long years unmarred

The store whereon he set his master-seal.

Be steel deep-dyed, before ye look to see

Ill joy, ill fame, from other wight, in me! ¹

Herald.

Klytämnestra.

Schon lange jauchzt' ich freudig auf in heller Lust,

Als nächtlich uns der erste Flammenbote kam,

Troja's Verheerung meldend und Eroberung.

Wohl sagte Mancher spottend: „Was? Dem Fackellicht

565

Vertrauend wähnst du, Troja lieg' in Asche nun?

Recht Weiberart ist's, allzuleicht sich aufzubläh'n!"

Nach solchen Neden stand ich wohl als Thörin da.

Doch ließ ich Opfer bringen, auf der Frau Gebot

Erhob sich hier vom Einen, dort vom Anderen

570

Ein heilig Jauchzen durch die Stadt, und dust'ge Glut,

Weihrauchverzehrend, stieg empor vom Götterherd.

Und nun was brauchst du Weit'res noch mir kundzuthun?

Bald hör' ich Alles aus des Herrschers eignem Mund.

Ich eile, will auf's Beste meinen würdigen

575

Gemahl empfangen, wenn er heute wiederkehrt.

Was kann die Gattin Süß'res schau'n, als, wenn ein Gott

Aus fernem Kriege rettend heimgeführt den Mann,

Das Thor ihm aufzuschließen? Melde meinem Herrn,

Er möge schleunig kommen, heißersehnt der Stadt:

580

Zu Hause find' er sein Gemahl, so treu, wie einst

Er sie verlassen, als des Hauses Wächterin

Dem Gatten holdergeben, Bösgesinnten feind,

Und sonst sich gleich in Allem, wie sie nimmer auch

Ein Siegel ihm erbrochen in der langen Zeit.

585

Verkehr mit andern Männern und befleckter Ruf

Sind mir so fremd, als Wunden, die das Schwert mir schlug.

Der Herold.