章节正文
maidens at their wedding. Exit.
AGAMEMNON
Woe is me! my efforts are baffled; I am disappointed in my hope,
anxious as I was to get my wife out of sight; foiled at every point, I
form my plots and subtle schemes against my best-beloved. But I will
go, in spite of all, with Calchas the priest, to inquire the goddess's
good pleasure, fraught with ill-luck as it is to me, and with
trouble to Hellas. He who is wise should keep in his house a good
and useful wife or none at all.
Exit.
CHORUS
They say the Hellenes' gathered host will come in arms aboard
their ships to Simois with its silver eddies, even to Ilium, the plain
of Troy beloved by Phoebus; where famed Cassandra, I am told, whene'er
the god's resistless prophecies inspire her, wildly tosses her
golden tresses, wreathed with crown of verdant bay. And on the
towers of Troy and round her walls shall Trojans stand, when sea-borne
troops with brazen shields row in on shapely ships to the channels
of the Simois, eager to take Helen, the sister of that heavenly pair
whom Zeus begat, from Priam, and bear her back to Hellas by toil of
Achaea's shields and spears; encircling Pergamus, the Phrygians' town,
with murderous war around her stone-built towers, dragging men's heads
backward to cut their throats, and sacking the citadel of Troy from
roof to base, a cause of many tears to maids and Priam's wife; and
Helen, the daughter of Zeus, shall weep in bitter grief, because she
left her lord.
Oh! ne'er may there appear to me or to my children's children
the prospect which the wealthy Lydian dames and Phrygia's brides
will have, as at their looms they hold converse: "Say who will pluck
this fair blossom from her ruined country, tightening his grasp on
lovely tresses till the tears flow? 'Tis all through thee, the
offspring of the long-necked swan; if indeed it be a true report
that Leda bare thee to a winged bird, when Zeus transformed himself
thereto, or whether, in the pages of the poets, fables have carried
these tales to men's ears idly, out of season."
Enter ACHILLES.
ACHILLES
Where in these tents is Achaea's general? Which of his servants
will announce to him that Achilles, the son of Peleus, is at his gates
seeking him? For this delay at the Euripus is not the same for all
of us; there be some, for instance, who, though still unwed, have left
their houses desolate and are idling here upon the beach, while others
are married and have children; so strange the longing for this
expedition that has fallen on their hearts by Heaven's will. My own
just plea must I declare, and whoso else hath any wish will speak
for himself. Though I have left Pharsalia and Peleus, still I linger
here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my
Myrmidons, while they are ever instant with me saying, "Why do we
tarry, Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start
for Ilium? do something, if thou art so minded; else lead home thy
men, and wait not for the tardy action of these Atridae."
Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hail to thee, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard thy voice from
within the tent and therefore came forth.
ACHILLES
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly
dowered with beauty's gifts?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No wonder thou knowest me not, seeing I am one thou hast never
before set eyes on; I praise thy reverent address to modesty.
ACHILLES
Who art thou, and wherefore art thou come to the mustering of
the Danai-thou, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The daughter of Leda I; my name Clytaemnestra; and my husband king
Agamemnon.
ACHILLES
Well and shortly answered on all important points! but it ill
befits that I should stand talking to women.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Stay; why seek to fly? Give me thy hand, a prelude to a happy
marriage.
ACHILLES
What is it thou sayest? I give thee my hand? Were I to lay a
finger where I have no right, I could ne'er meet Agamemnon's eye.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The best of rights hast thou, seeing it is my child thou wilt wed,
O son of the sea-goddess, whom Nereus begat.
ACHILLES
What wedding dost thou speak of? words fail me, lady; can thy wits
have gone astray and art thou inventing this?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations, when
these remind them of their wedding.
ACHILLES
Lady, I have never wooed daughter of thine, nor have the sons of
Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What can it mean? thy turn now to marvel at my words, for thine
are passing strange to me.
ACHILLES
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may
be we are both correct in our statements.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting
has no reality, it seems; I am ashamed of it.
ACHILLES
Some one perhaps has made a mock of thee and me; pay no heed
thereto; make light of it.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Farewell; I can no longer face thee with unfaltering eyes, after
being made a liar and suffering this indignity.
ACHILLES
'Tis "farewell" too I bid thee, lady; and now I go within the tent
to seek thy husband.
ATTENDANT (Calling through the tent-door)
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! thee I
mean, O goddess-born, and thee, daughter of Leda.
ACHILLES
Who is it calling through the half-opened door? what fear his
voice betrays!
ATTENDANT
A slave am I; of that I am not proud, for fortune permits it not.
ACHILLES
Whose slave art thou? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon's goods are
separate.
ATTENDANT
I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her
from Tyndareus her father.
ACHILLES
I am waiting; tell me, if thou art desirous, why thou hast
stayed me.
ATTENDANT
Are ye really all alone here at the door?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
To us alone wilt thou address thyself; come forth from the
king's tent.
ATTENDANT (Coming out)
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire!
ACHILLES
That speech will save them-in the future; it has a certain pompous
air.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is
aught that thou wouldst say to me.
ATTENDANT
Well, thou knowest my character and my devotion to thee and thy
children.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I know thou hast grown old in the service of my house.
ATTENDANT
Likewise thou knowest it was in thy dowry king Agamemnon
received me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Yes, thou camest to Argos with me, and hast been mine this long
time past.
ATTENDANT
True; and though I bear thee all goodwill, I like not thy lord
so well.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Come, come, unfold whate'er thou hast to say.
ATTENDANT
Her father, he that begat her, is on the point of slaying thy
daughter with his own hand.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How? Out upon thy story, old dotard! thou art mad.
ATTENDANT
Severing with a sword the hapless maid's white throat.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah, woe is me! Is my husband haply mad?
ATTENDANT
Nay; sane, except where thou and thy daughter are concerned; there
he is mad.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him?
ATTENDANT
Oracles-at least so Calchas says, in order that the host may start
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whither? Woe is me, and woe is thee, thy father's destined victim!
ATTENDANT
To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
So Helen's return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?
ATTENDANT
Thou knowest all; her father is about to offer thy child to
Artemis.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But that marriage-what pretext had it for bringing me from home?
ATTENDANT
An inducement to thee to bring thy daughter cheerfully, to wed her
to Achilles.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
On a deadlyerrand art thou come, my daughter, both thou, and I,
thy mother.
ATTENDANT
Piteous the lot of both of you-and fearful Agamemnon's venture.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Alas! I am undone; my eyes can no longer stem their tears.
ATTENDANT
What more natural than to weep the loss of thy children?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whence, old man, dost say thou hadst this news?
ATTENDANT
I had started to carry thee a letter referring to the former
writing.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing the child to her
death?
ATTENDANT
Nay, forbidding it, for thy lord was then in his sober senses.
AGAMEMNON
Woe is me! my efforts are baffled; I am disappointed in my hope,
anxious as I was to get my wife out of sight; foiled at every point, I
form my plots and subtle schemes against my best-beloved. But I will
go, in spite of all, with Calchas the priest, to inquire the goddess's
good pleasure, fraught with ill-luck as it is to me, and with
trouble to Hellas. He who is wise should keep in his house a good
and useful wife or none at all.
Exit.
CHORUS
They say the Hellenes' gathered host will come in arms aboard
their ships to Simois with its silver eddies, even to Ilium, the plain
of Troy beloved by Phoebus; where famed Cassandra, I am told, whene'er
the god's resistless prophecies inspire her, wildly tosses her
golden tresses, wreathed with crown of verdant bay. And on the
towers of Troy and round her walls shall Trojans stand, when sea-borne
troops with brazen shields row in on shapely ships to the channels
of the Simois, eager to take Helen, the sister of that heavenly pair
whom Zeus begat, from Priam, and bear her back to Hellas by toil of
Achaea's shields and spears; encircling Pergamus, the Phrygians' town,
with murderous war around her stone-built towers, dragging men's heads
backward to cut their throats, and sacking the citadel of Troy from
roof to base, a cause of many tears to maids and Priam's wife; and
Helen, the daughter of Zeus, shall weep in bitter grief, because she
left her lord.
Oh! ne'er may there appear to me or to my children's children
the prospect which the wealthy Lydian dames and Phrygia's brides
will have, as at their looms they hold converse: "Say who will pluck
this fair blossom from her ruined country, tightening his grasp on
lovely tresses till the tears flow? 'Tis all through thee, the
offspring of the long-necked swan; if indeed it be a true report
that Leda bare thee to a winged bird, when Zeus transformed himself
thereto, or whether, in the pages of the poets, fables have carried
these tales to men's ears idly, out of season."
Enter ACHILLES.
ACHILLES
Where in these tents is Achaea's general? Which of his servants
will announce to him that Achilles, the son of Peleus, is at his gates
seeking him? For this delay at the Euripus is not the same for all
of us; there be some, for instance, who, though still unwed, have left
their houses desolate and are idling here upon the beach, while others
are married and have children; so strange the longing for this
expedition that has fallen on their hearts by Heaven's will. My own
just plea must I declare, and whoso else hath any wish will speak
for himself. Though I have left Pharsalia and Peleus, still I linger
here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus, restraining my
Myrmidons, while they are ever instant with me saying, "Why do we
tarry, Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start
for Ilium? do something, if thou art so minded; else lead home thy
men, and wait not for the tardy action of these Atridae."
Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hail to thee, son of the Nereid goddess! I heard thy voice from
within the tent and therefore came forth.
ACHILLES
O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold, so richly
dowered with beauty's gifts?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
No wonder thou knowest me not, seeing I am one thou hast never
before set eyes on; I praise thy reverent address to modesty.
ACHILLES
Who art thou, and wherefore art thou come to the mustering of
the Danai-thou, a woman, to a fenced camp of men?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The daughter of Leda I; my name Clytaemnestra; and my husband king
Agamemnon.
ACHILLES
Well and shortly answered on all important points! but it ill
befits that I should stand talking to women.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Stay; why seek to fly? Give me thy hand, a prelude to a happy
marriage.
ACHILLES
What is it thou sayest? I give thee my hand? Were I to lay a
finger where I have no right, I could ne'er meet Agamemnon's eye.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
The best of rights hast thou, seeing it is my child thou wilt wed,
O son of the sea-goddess, whom Nereus begat.
ACHILLES
What wedding dost thou speak of? words fail me, lady; can thy wits
have gone astray and art thou inventing this?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations, when
these remind them of their wedding.
ACHILLES
Lady, I have never wooed daughter of thine, nor have the sons of
Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What can it mean? thy turn now to marvel at my words, for thine
are passing strange to me.
ACHILLES
Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may
be we are both correct in our statements.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What! have I suffered such indignity? The marriage I am courting
has no reality, it seems; I am ashamed of it.
ACHILLES
Some one perhaps has made a mock of thee and me; pay no heed
thereto; make light of it.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Farewell; I can no longer face thee with unfaltering eyes, after
being made a liar and suffering this indignity.
ACHILLES
'Tis "farewell" too I bid thee, lady; and now I go within the tent
to seek thy husband.
ATTENDANT (Calling through the tent-door)
Stranger of the race of Aeacus, stay awhile! Ho there! thee I
mean, O goddess-born, and thee, daughter of Leda.
ACHILLES
Who is it calling through the half-opened door? what fear his
voice betrays!
ATTENDANT
A slave am I; of that I am not proud, for fortune permits it not.
ACHILLES
Whose slave art thou? not mine; for mine and Agamemnon's goods are
separate.
ATTENDANT
I belong to this lady who stands before the tent, a gift to her
from Tyndareus her father.
ACHILLES
I am waiting; tell me, if thou art desirous, why thou hast
stayed me.
ATTENDANT
Are ye really all alone here at the door?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
To us alone wilt thou address thyself; come forth from the
king's tent.
ATTENDANT (Coming out)
O Fortune and my own foresight, preserve whom I desire!
ACHILLES
That speech will save them-in the future; it has a certain pompous
air.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Delay not for the sake of touching my right hand, if there is
aught that thou wouldst say to me.
ATTENDANT
Well, thou knowest my character and my devotion to thee and thy
children.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I know thou hast grown old in the service of my house.
ATTENDANT
Likewise thou knowest it was in thy dowry king Agamemnon
received me.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Yes, thou camest to Argos with me, and hast been mine this long
time past.
ATTENDANT
True; and though I bear thee all goodwill, I like not thy lord
so well.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Come, come, unfold whate'er thou hast to say.
ATTENDANT
Her father, he that begat her, is on the point of slaying thy
daughter with his own hand.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
How? Out upon thy story, old dotard! thou art mad.
ATTENDANT
Severing with a sword the hapless maid's white throat.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah, woe is me! Is my husband haply mad?
ATTENDANT
Nay; sane, except where thou and thy daughter are concerned; there
he is mad.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What is his reason? what vengeful fiend impels him?
ATTENDANT
Oracles-at least so Calchas says, in order that the host may start
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whither? Woe is me, and woe is thee, thy father's destined victim!
ATTENDANT
To the halls of Dardanus, that Menelaus may recover Helen.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
So Helen's return then was fated to affect Iphigenia?
ATTENDANT
Thou knowest all; her father is about to offer thy child to
Artemis.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But that marriage-what pretext had it for bringing me from home?
ATTENDANT
An inducement to thee to bring thy daughter cheerfully, to wed her
to Achilles.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
On a deadlyerrand art thou come, my daughter, both thou, and I,
thy mother.
ATTENDANT
Piteous the lot of both of you-and fearful Agamemnon's venture.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Alas! I am undone; my eyes can no longer stem their tears.
ATTENDANT
What more natural than to weep the loss of thy children?
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Whence, old man, dost say thou hadst this news?
ATTENDANT
I had started to carry thee a letter referring to the former
writing.
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Forbidding or combining to urge my bringing the child to her
death?
ATTENDANT
Nay, forbidding it, for thy lord was then in his sober senses.
- wedding [´wediŋ]
n.婚礼，结婚 (初中英语单词) - priest [pri:st] n.教士；牧师；神父 (初中英语单词)
- beloved [bi´lʌvd] a.为....所爱的 n.爱人 (初中英语单词)
- inspire [in´spaiə] v.鼓舞；使感悟；吸入 (初中英语单词)
- prospect [´prɔspekt, prəs´pekt] n.景色；境界 v.勘察 (初中英语单词)
- wealthy [´welθi] a.富有的；丰富的 (初中英语单词)
- blossom [´blɔsəm] n.花；开花期 vi.开花 (初中英语单词)
- winged [´wiŋd] a.有翼的 (初中英语单词)
- instance [´instəns] n.例子，实例，例证 (初中英语单词)
- instant [´instənt] a.立即的 n.紧迫；瞬间 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- shortly [´ʃɔ:tli] ad.立刻，马上；不久 (初中英语单词)
- remind [ri´maind] vt.提醒；使记(想)起 (初中英语单词)
- marvel [´mɑ:vəl] n.令人惊异的事；奇迹 (初中英语单词)
- reality [ri´æliti] n.现实(性)；真实；逼真 (初中英语单词)
- ashamed [ə´ʃeimd] a.惭愧；不好意思 (初中英语单词)
- suffering [´sʌfəriŋ] n.痛苦；灾害 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- preserve [pri´zə:v] v.保藏 n.保藏物 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- devotion [di´vəuʃən] n.献身；忠诚；热爱 (初中英语单词)
- affect [ə´fekt] vt.影响；感动；假装 (初中英语单词)
- deadly [´dedli] a.致命的 ad.死一般地 (初中英语单词)
- errand [´erənd] n.差使，使命 (初中英语单词)
- fearful [´fiəfəl] a.可怕的；担心的 (初中英语单词)
- heavenly [´hevənli] a.天的，天空的 (高中英语单词)
- converse [´kɔnvə:s] n.交谈 a.相反的 (高中英语单词)
- desolate [´desəleit] a.荒凉的；孤独的 (高中英语单词)
- longing [´lɔŋiŋ] n.&a.渴望(的) (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- goodwill [,gud´wil] n.友好，亲善；信誉 (高中英语单词)
- concerned [kən´sə:nd] a.有关的；担心的 (高中英语单词)
- cheerfully [´tʃiəfuli] ad.高兴地，愉快地 (高中英语单词)
- brazen [´breizən] a.黄铜制的；无耻的 (英语四级单词)
- murderous [´mə:dərəs] a.行凶的；势不可挡的 (英语四级单词)
- modesty [´mɔdisti] n.谨慎；端庄；羞怯 (英语四级单词)
- wherefore [´weəfɔ:] ad.为什么；因此 (英语四级单词)
- astray [ə´strei] ad.&a.在歧途上(的) (英语四级单词)
- desirous [di´zaiərəs] a.渴望的；想往的 (英语四级单词)
- foresight [´fɔ:sait] n.先见，深谋远虑 (英语四级单词)
- touching [´tʌtʃiŋ] a.动人的 prep.提到 (英语四级单词)
- unfold [ʌn´fəuld] v.展开；显露，表明 (英语四级单词)
- fraught [frɔ:t] a.充满...的 (英语六级单词)
- phoebus [´fi:bəs] n.太阳神 (英语六级单词)
- citadel [´sitədl] n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 (英语六级单词)
- minded [´maindid] a.有...心的 (英语六级单词)
- calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
- hapless [´hæpləs] a.不幸的；倒楣的 (英语六级单词)
- inducement [in´dju:smənt] n.诱导，动机 (英语六级单词)
- undone [,ʌn´dʌn] a.未完成的，没有做的 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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