Aeschylus Agamemnon 184

CHOROS.

I am come, reverencing power in thee,

O Klutaimnestra! For ’t is just we bow

To the ruler’s wife, — the male-seat man-bereaved.

260

But if thou, having heard good news, — or none, —

For good news’ hope dost sacrifice thus wide,

I would hear gladly: art thou mute, — no grudge!

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Good-news-announcer, may — as is the by-word —

Morn become, truly, — news from Night his mother!

265

But thou shalt learn joy past all hope of hearing.

Priamos’ city have the Argeioi taken.

CHOROS.

How sayest? The word, from want of faith, escaped me.

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Troia the Achaioi hold: do I speak plainly?

CHOROS.

Joy overcreeps me, calling forth the tear-drop.

270

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Right! for, that glad thou art, thine eye convicts thee.

CHOROS.

For — what to thee, of all this, trusty token?

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

What’s here! how else? unless the god have cheated.

CHOROS.

Haply thou flattering shows of dreams respectest?

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

No fancy would I take of soul sleep-burthened.

275

CHOROS.

But has there Puffed thee up some unwinged omen?

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

As a young maid’s my mind thou mockest grossly.

CHOROS.

Well, at what time was — even sacked, the city?

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Of this same mother Night — the dawn, I tell thee.

CHOROS.

And who of messengers could reach this swiftness?

280

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Hephaistos — sending a bright blaze from Ide.

Beacon did beacon send, from fire the poster,

Hitherward: Ide to the rock Hermaian

Of Lemnos : and a third great torch o’ the island

Zeus’ seat received in turn, the Athoan summit.

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And, — so upsoaring as to stride sea over,

The strong lamp-voyager, and all for joyance —

Did the gold-glorious splendour, any sun like,

Pass on — the pine-tree — to Makistos’ watch-place;

Who did not, — tardy, — caught, no wits about him,

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By sleep, — decline his portion of the missive.

And far the beacon’s light, on stream Euripos

Arriving, made aware Messapios’ warders,

And up they lit in turn, played herald onwards,

Kindling with flame a heap of grey old heather.

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And, strengthening still, the lamp, decaying nowise,

Springing o’er Plain Asopos, — full-moon-fashion

Effulgent, — toward the crag of Mount Kithairon,

Roused a new rendering-up of fire the escort —

And light, far escort, lacked no recognition

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O’ the guard — as burning more than burnings told you.

And over Lake Gorgopis light went leaping,

And, at Mount Aigiplanktos safe arriving,

Enforced the law — to never stint the fire-stuff.

And they send, lighting up with ungrudged vigour,

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Of flame a huge beard, ay, the very foreland

So as to strike above, in burning onward,

The look-out which commands the Strait Saronic.

Then did it dart until it reached the outpost

Mount Arachnaios here, the city’s neighbour;

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And then darts to this roof of the Atreidai

This light of Ide’s fire not unforefathered!

Such are the rules prescribed the flambeau-bearers:

He beats that’s first and also last in running.

Such is the proof and token I declare thee,

315

My husband having sent me news from Troia .

CHOROS.

The gods, indeed, anon will I pray, woman!

But now, these words to hear, and sate my wonder

Thoroughly, I am fain — if twice thou tell them.

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Troia do the Achaioi hold, this same day.

320

I think a noise — no mixture — reigns i’ the city.

Sour wine and unguent pour thou in one vessel —

Standers-apart, not lovers, wouldst thou style them:

And so, of captives and of conquerors, partwise

The voices are to hear, of fortune diverse.

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For those, indeed, upon the bodies prostrate

Of husbands, brothers, children upon parents

— The old men, from a throat that ’s free no longer,

Shriekingly wail the death-doom of their dearest:

While these — the after-battle hungry labour,

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Which prompts night-faring, marshals them to breakfast

On the town’s store, according to no billet

Of sharing, but as each drew lot of fortune.

In the spear-captured Troic habitations

House they already: from the frosts upmethral

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And dews delivered, will they, luckless creatures,

Without a watch to keep, slumber all night through.

And if they fear the gods, the city-guarders,

And the gods’ structures of the conquered country,

They may not — capturers—soon in turn be captive.

340

But see no prior lust befall the army

To sack things sacred — by gain-cravings vanquished

For there needs homeward the return’s salvation,

To round the new limb back o’ the double race-course.

And guilty to the gods if came the army,

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Awakened up the sorrow of those slaughtered

Might be — should no outbursting evils happen.

But may good beat — no turn to see i’ the balance!

For, many benefits I want the gain of.

CHOROS.

Woman, like prudent man thou kindly speakest.

And I, thus having heard thy trusty tokens,

The gods to rightly hail forthwith prepare me;

For, grace that must be paid has crowned our labours.

O Zeus the king, and friendly Night

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Of these brave boons bestower —

Thou who didst fling on Troia ’s every tower

The o’er-roofing snare, that neither great thing might,

Nor any of the young ones, overpass

Captivity’s great sweep-net — one and all

360

Of Até held in thrall!

Ay, Zeus I fear — the guest’s friend great — who was

The doer of this, and long since bent

The bow on Alexandros with intent

That neither wide o’ the white

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Nor o’er the stars the foolish dart should light.