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Who rend the unborn brood； insatiate…
Yea； loathes their banquet on the quivering hare。
（Ah woe and well…a…day！ but be the issue fair！）
epode
For well she loves…the goddess kind and mild…
The tender new…born cubs of lions bold；
Too weak to range…and well the sucking child
Of every beast that roams by wood and wold。
So to the Lord of Heaven she prayeth still；
〃Nay； if it must be； be the omen true！
Yet do the visioned eagles presage ill；
The end be well； but crossed with evil too！〃
Healer Apollo！ be her wrath controll'd
Nor weave the long delay of thwarting gales；
To war against the Danaans and withhold
From the free ocean…waves their eager sails！
She craves； alas！ to see a second life
Shed forth； a curst unhallowed sacrifice…
'Twixt wedded souls； artificer of strife；
And hate that knows not fear； and fell device。
At home there tarries like a lurking snake；
Biding its time； a wrath unreconciled；
A wily watcher； passionate to slake；
In blood； resentment for a murdered child。
Such was the mighty warning； pealed of yore…
Amid good tidings； such the word of fear；
What time the fateful eagles hovered o'er
The kings； and Calchas read the omen clear。
（In strains like his； once more；
Sing woe and well…a…day！ but be the issue fair！）
strophe 2
Zeus…if to The Unknown
That name of many names seem good…
Zeus； upon Thee I call。
Thro' the mind's every road
I passed； but vain are all；
Save that which names thee Zeus； the Highest One；
Were it but mine to cast away the load；
The weary load； that weighs my spirit down。
antistrophe 2
He that was Lord of old；
In full…blown pride of place and valour bold；
Hath fallen and is gone； even as an old tale told：
And he that next held sway；
By stronger grasp o'erthrown
Hath pass'd away！
And whoso now shall bid the triumph…chant arise
To Zeus； and Zeus alone；
He shall be found the truly wise。
strophe 3
'Tis Zeus alone who shows the perfect way
Of knowledge： He hath ruled；
Men shall learn wisdom； by affliction schooled。
In visions of the night； like dropping rain；
Descend the many memories of pain
Before the spirit's sight： through tears and dole
Comes wisdom o'er the unwilling soul…
A boon； I wot； of all Divinity；
That holds its sacred throne in strength； above the sky！
antistrophe 3
And then the elder chief； at whose command
The fleet of Greece was manned；
Cast on the seer no word of hate；
But veered before the sudden breath of Fate…
Ah； weary while！ for； ere they put forth sail；
Did every store； each minish'd vessel； fail；
While all the Achaean host
At Aulis anchored lay；
Looking across to Chalcis and the coast
Where refluent waters welter； rock； and sway；
strophe 4
And rife with ill delay
From northern Strymon blew the thwarting blast…
Mother of famine fell；
That holds men wand'ring still
Far from the haven where they fain would be！…
And pitiless did waste
Each ship and cable； rotting on the sea；
And； doubling with delay each weary hour；
Withered with hope deferred th' Achaeans' warlike flower。
But when； for bitter storm； a deadlier relief；
And heavier with ill to either chief；
Pleading the ire of Artemis； the seer avowed；
The two Atreidae smote their sceptres on the plain；
And； striving hard； could not their tears restrain！
antistrophe 4
And then the elder monarch spake aloud…
Ill lot were mine； to disobey！
And ill； to smite my child； my household's love and pride！
To stain with virgin blood a father's hands； and slay
My daughter； by the altar's side！
'Twixt woe and woe I dwell…
I dare not like a recreant fly；
And leave the league of ships； and fail each true ally；
For rightfully they crave； with eager fiery mind；
The virgin's blood； shed forth to lull the adverse wind…
God send the deed be well！
strophe 5
Thus on his neck he took
Fate's hard compelling yoke；
Then； in the counter…gale of will abhorr'd； accursed；
To recklessness his shifting spirit veered…
Alas！ that Frenzy； first of ills and worst；
With evil craft men's souls to sin hath ever stirred！
And so he steeled his heart…ah； well…a…day…
Aiding a war for one false woman's sake；
His child to slay；
And with her spilt blood make
An offering； to speed the ships upon their way！
antistrophe 5
Lusting for war； the bloody arbiters
Closed heart and ears； and would nor hear nor heed
The girl…voice plead；
Pity me； Father！ nor her prayers；
Nor tender； virgin years。
So； when the chant of sacrifice was done；
Her father bade the youthful priestly train
Raise her； like some poor kid； above the altar…stone；
From where amid her robes she lay
Sunk all in swoon away…
Bade them； as with the bit that mutely tames the steed；
Her fair lips' speech refrain；
Lest she should speak a curse on Atreus' home and seed；
strophe 6
So； trailing on the earth her robe of saffron dye；
With one last piteous dart from her beseeching eye。
Those that should smite she smote
Fair； silent； as a pictur'd form； but fain
To plead； Is all forgot？
How oft those halls of old；
Wherein my sire high feast did hold；
Rang to the virginal soft strain；
When I； a stainless child；
Sang from pure lips and undefiled；
Sang of my sire； and all
His honoured life； and how on him should fall
Heaven's highest gift and gain！
antistrophe 6
And then…but I beheld not； nor can tell；
What further fate befell：
But this is sure； that Calchas' boding strain
Can ne'er be void or vain。
This wage from justice' hand do sufferers earn；
The future to discern：
And yet…farewell； O secret of To…morrow！
Fore…knowledge is fore…sorrow。
Clear with the clear beams of the morrow's sun；
The future presseth on。
Now； let the house's tale； how dark soe'er；
Find yet an issue fair！…
So prays the loyal； solitary band
That guards the Apian land。
（They turn to CLYTEMNESTRA； who leaves the altars and comes
forward。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O queen； I come in reverence of thy sway…
For； while the ruler's kingly seat is void；
The loyal heart before his consort bends。
Now…be it sure and certain news of good；
Or the fair tidings of a flatt'ring hope；
That bids thee spread the light from shrine to shrine；
I； fain to hear； yet grudge not if thou hide。
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…
By Grecian hands is Priam's city ta'en！
LEADER
What say'st thou？ doubtful heart makes treach'rous ear。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Hear then again； and plainly…Troy is ours！
LEADER
Thrills thro' heart such joy as wakens tears。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Ay； thro' those tears thine eye looks loyalty。
LEADER
But hast thou proof； to make assurance sure？
CLYTEMNESTRA
Go to； I have…unless the god has lied。
LEADER
Hath some night…vision won thee to belief？
CLYTEMNESTRA
Out on all presage of a slumb'rous soul！
LEADER
But wert thou cheered by Rumour's wingless word？
CLYTEMNESTRA
Peace…thou dost chide me as a credulous girl。
LEADER
Say then； how long ago the city fell？
CLYTEMNESTRA
Even in this night that now brings forth the dawn。
LEADER
Yet who so swift could speed the messa