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Agamemnon
Well, if you will have your way,
quick, let some one loose my sandals, which, slavelike, serve the treading of my foot! As I walk upon these purple vestments may I not be struck from afar by any glance of the gods’ jealous eye. A terrible shame it is for one’s foot to mar the resources of the house by wasting wealth and costly woven work.
945
So much for this. This foreign girl receive into the house with kindness. A god from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master; for no one freely takes the yoke of slavery. But she,
950
the choicest flower of rich treasure, has followed in my train, my army’s gift.
Since I have been forced to obey you and must listen to you in this, I will tread upon a purple pathway as I pass to my palace halls.
955
Well, if you will have your way,
quick, let some one loose my sandals, which, slavelike, serve the treading of my foot! As I walk upon these purple vestments may I not be struck from afar by any glance of the gods’ jealous eye. A terrible shame it is for one’s foot to mar the resources of the house by wasting wealth and costly woven work.
945
So much for this. This foreign girl receive into the house with kindness. A god from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master; for no one freely takes the yoke of slavery. But she,
950
the choicest flower of rich treasure, has followed in my train, my army’s gift.
Since I have been forced to obey you and must listen to you in this, I will tread upon a purple pathway as I pass to my palace halls.
955
Since I have been forced to obey you and must listen to you in this, I will tread upon a purple pathway as I pass to my palace halls.
Clytaemestra
There is the sea (and who shall drain it dry?) producing stain of abundant purple, costly as silver
and ever fresh, with which to dye our clothes; and of these our house, through the gods, has ample store; it knows no poverty. Vestments enough I would have devoted to be trampled underfoot had it been so ordered in the seat of oracles
960
when I was devising a ransom for your life. For if the root still lives, leaves come again to the house and spread their over-reaching shade against the scorching dog star; so, now that you have come to hearth and home, you show that warmth has come in wintertime;
965
and again, when Zeus makes wine from the bitter grape,
1
then immediately there is coolness in the house when its rightful lord occupies his halls.
As Agamemnon enters the palace O Zeus, Zeus, you who bring things to fulfilment, fulfill my prayers! May you see to that which you mean to fulfill!
Exit
970
There is the sea (and who shall drain it dry?) producing stain of abundant purple, costly as silver
and ever fresh, with which to dye our clothes; and of these our house, through the gods, has ample store; it knows no poverty. Vestments enough I would have devoted to be trampled underfoot had it been so ordered in the seat of oracles
960
when I was devising a ransom for your life. For if the root still lives, leaves come again to the house and spread their over-reaching shade against the scorching dog star; so, now that you have come to hearth and home, you show that warmth has come in wintertime;
965
and again, when Zeus makes wine from the bitter grape,
1
then immediately there is coolness in the house when its rightful lord occupies his halls.
As Agamemnon enters the palace O Zeus, Zeus, you who bring things to fulfilment, fulfill my prayers! May you see to that which you mean to fulfill!
Exit
970
Agamemnon. Aeschylus. Herbert Weir Smyth (Translator). New York. 1926.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.