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.

285

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,

290

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.

295

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

300

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,

305

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;

310

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.

325

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,

330

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

335

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,

345

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

355

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

365

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

CLYTEMNESTRA

I say that Troy is in the power of the Argives—speak I clearly?

CHORUS

Joy is stealing over me, that calls forth a tear.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Ay, for thy countenance proves thy loyalty.

CHORUS

Why, what sure proof hast thou of these things?

CLYTEMNESTRA

I have a proof—why not?—unless the deity hath deluded me.

CHORUS

Art thou, then, reverencing the vision of dreams, that win easy credence?

CLYTEMNESTRA

I would not take the opinion of my soul when sunk in slumber.

CHORUS

But did some wingless rumour gladden thy mind?

CLYTEMNESTRA

Thou sharply mockest my sense as that of a young girl.

CHORUS

And at what time hath the city been sacked?

CLYTEMNESTRA

I say in the night that hath now brought forth this day.

CHORUS

And what messenger could come with such speed?

CLYTEMNESTRA

LE CORYPHÉE

Je suis venu rendre hommage à ton autorité, Clytemnestre : il est juste d'honorer une épouse
royale, quand est vide le trône de l'époux. Mais as-tu quelque heureuse nouvelle ? ou l'Espérance est-elle la douce messagère qui t'invite à sacrifier ? Je t'entendrai avec joie, mais, si tu te tais, ne saurai t'en vouloir.

CLYTEMNESTRE

Douce messagère, si le proverbe est
vrai, puisse l'être l'Aurore, fille de la Nuit douce ² ! Ta joie va dépasser toutes tes espérances : les Argiens ont conquis la ville de Priam.

LE CORYPHÉE

Comment ? Je comprends mal, tant j'ai de peine à croire.

CLYTEMNESTRE

Troie est aux mains des Grecs : parlé-je clairement ?

LE CORYPHÉE

La joie pénètre en moi et me tire des larmes.

CLYTEMNESTRE

Oui, tes yeux disent bien tes loyaux sentiments.

LE CORYPHÉE

Mais de cela,

CLYTEMNESTRA.

The joy-importing morn ſprings, as they ſay,

From night, her mother. Thou ſhalt hear a joy

Beyond thy hopes to hear: The town of Priam

Is fall’n beneath the conquering arms of Greece.

CHORUS.

What ſaid’ſt thou ? Paſſing credence fled thy word.

295

CLYTEMNESTRA.

In Troy Greece triumphs. Speak I clearly now?

CHORUS.

Joy ſteals upon me, and calls forth the tear.

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Thy gliſt’ning eye beſpeaks an honest heart.

CHORUS.

Does ought of certain proof confirm these tidings?

CLYTEMNESTRA.

It does: Why not? Unleſs the Gods deceive us.

300

CHORUS.

Perchance the viſions of perfuaſive dreams.

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Sport of the ſlumb’ring ſoul; they move not me.

CHORUS.

Hath then ſome winged rumour ſpread these tranſports?

CLYTEMNESTRA.

As a raw girl’s, thou hold’ſt my judgment cheap.

CHORUS.

How long hath ruin cruſh’d this haughty city?

305

CLYTEMNESTRA.

This night, that gave this infant morning birth.

CHORUS.

What ſpeed cou’d be the herald of this news?

CLYTEMNESTRA.

CLITENNESTRA

Col proverbio dirò: nuncia di bene

nasca l'aurora dalla madre notte.

Udrai maggior d'ogni speranza un giubilo:

300

gli Argivi han presa la città di Priamo.

CORIFEO

Frantesi? Che dici? Io non so crederti!

CLITENNESTRA

Che Troia è degli Achei: non parlo chiaro ?

CORIFEO

Serpe una gioia in me che il pianto provoca!

CLITENNESTRA

E' del tuo buon volere indizio il pianto.

305

CORIFEO

Di tanto, dimmi, c'è prova sicura ?

CLITENNESTRA

C'è, come no? Se un Dio non ci delude!

CORIFEO

L'hai visto in sogno, forse? E tu lo credi?

CLITENNESTRA

Alla mente assonnata io prestar fede?

CORIFEO

Non ti pascesti d'una vana ciancia?

310

CLITENNESTRA

Tu m'oltraggi! Non son fanciulla sciocca!

CORIFEO

Da quanto tempo è presa la città ?

CLITENNESTRA

Dalla notte onde nata è questa luce.

CORIFEO

E qual nuncio poté giunger sí rapido?

CLITENNESTRA

Cho.

Venio colens Cytemnestra tuum robur.

Iustum est uirum principem honorare

Vxorem relicto folio uirili.

250

Cly.

Tu uerò siue bonum, fiue non audiens

Nuncia ſpe placabis.

Audirem lata,neq; taceat inuidia,

Nuncius bonus quide queadmodu ſe habet puerbili,

Fiat à matre nocte,dics.

255

NVN

Intelliges gaudium maius ſhe audire.

Priami occuparunt Argiui urbem.

Cly.

Qua dicis aufugit fermo pre incredulitate,

Troiam exiftentem Achæoru, manifeſtè dico.

Cho.

Gaudium me inuadit, euocata ad lachrymas.

260

Bene enim tui ſapiemis oculus comprobat.

Cly.

Quod'nam fidele tibi est fignum horums

Hoc est, nisi Deus me decipiat.

Cho.

Vtru uifiones fomniorŭ colis faciles perfuafu?

Non opinionem acciperem torpeſcětis mentis.

265

Cly.

Sed te premit aliqua bene alata fama?

Tang uuenis pueri ualde reprehendiſti mente.

Cho.

Quo tempore uaſtata eſt urbs?

Cly.

Lucem huius parientis noctis dico.

Cho.

Et quis nunciorum uenit ita celeriter?

270

Cly.

Chor.

Was weiter ward, sah ich nicht, sag' ich nicht.

250 Des Kalchas Kunst trügt nicht. Doch durch Leiden

280

Clytemnestra.

As saith the adage, From the womb of Night

Spring forth, with promise fair, the young child Light.

Ay—fairer even than all hope my news—

320

By Grecian hands is Priam's city ta'en!

Chorus.

What say'st thou? doubtful heart makes treach'rous ear.

Clytemnestra.

Hear then again, and plainly—Troy is ours!

Chorus.

Thrills thro' my heart such joy as wakens tears.

Clytemnestra.

Ay, thro' those tears thine eye looks loyalty.

325

Chorus.

But hast thou proof, to make assurance sure?

Clytemnestra.

Go to; I have—unless the god has lied.

Chorus.

Hath some night-vision won thee to belief?

Clytemnestra.

Out on all presage of a slumb'rous soul!

Chorus.

But wert thou cheered by Rumour's wingless word?

330

Clytemnestra.

Peace—thou dost chide me as a credulous girl.

Chorus.

Say then, how long ago the city fell?

Clytemnestra.

Even in this night that now brings forth the dawn.

Chorus.

Yet who so swift could speed the message here?

Clytemnestra.

Klytämnestra.

Zu froher Botschaft steige, nach dem alten Spruch,

Der helle Morgen aus dem Mutterschooß der Nacht!

Du sollst ein Glück erfahren, über Hoffen groß:

Erstürmt von Argos' Volke, sank die Troerburg.

Der Chorführer.

Was ist's? Das Wort entging mir, weil's unglaublich ist.

250

Klytämnestra.

In Argos' Hand ist Troja: red' ich also klar?

Der Chorführer.

Die Wonne faßt mich und entlockt die Thräne mir.

Klytämnestra.

Dein Auge, Greis, bezeugt mir, daß du's redlich meinst.

Der Chorführer.

Wie? Bürgen sichre Zeichen dir gewiß dafür?

Klytämnestra.

Gewiß-warum nicht? - wenn ein Gott mich nicht betrog.

255

Der Chorführer.

Vertraust du nicht leichtgläubig einem Traumgesicht?

Klytämnestra.

Ich achte nicht auf schlafgebundnen Sinnes Wahn.

Der Chorführer.

So regte wohl ein flatternd Volksgerücht dich auf?

Klytämnestra.

Als hätt' ich junger Mädchen Sinn, so schiltst du mich.

Der Chorfühter.

In welcher Zeit denn wurde Troja's Burg erstürmt?

260

Klytämnestra.

In jüngster Nacht, die dieses Morgens Licht gebar.

Der Chorführer.

Doch welcher Bote mochte wohl so schnell sich nah'n?

Klytämnestra.