按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of Leda； if I showed excessive grief at the thought of resigning my
daughter to Achilles； for though we are sending her to taste of bliss；
still it wrings a parent's heart； when he； the father who has toiled
so hard for them； commits his children to the homes of strangers。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I am not so void of sense； bethink thee； I shall go through this
as well； when I lead the maiden from the chamber to the sound of the
marriage…hymn； wherefore I chide thee not； but custom will combine
with time to make the smart grow less。
As touching him； to whom thou hast betrothed our daughter； I
know his name； 'tis true； but would fain learn his lineage and the
land of his birth。
AGAMEMNON
There was one Aegina； the daughter of Asopus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Who wedded her？ some mortal or a god？
AGAMEMNON
Zeus； and she bare Aeacus； the prince of Cenone。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What son of Aeacus secured his father's halls？
AGAMEMNON
Peleus； who wedded the daughter of Nereus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
With the god's consent； or when he had taken her in spite of gods？
AGAMEMNON
Zeus betrothed her； and her guardian gave consent。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Where did he marry her？ amid the billows of the sea？
AGAMEMNON
In Chiron's home； at sacred Pelion's foot。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What！ the abode ascribed to the race of Centaurs？
AGAMEMNON
It was there the gods celebrated the marriage feast of Peleus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Did Thetis or his father train Achilles？
AGAMEMNON
Chiron brought him up； to prevent his learning the ways of the
wicked。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah wise the teacher； still wiser the father； who intrusted his son
to such hands。
AGAMEMNON
Such is the future husband of thy daughter。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
A blameless lord； but what city in Hellas is his？
AGAMEMNON
He dwells on the banks of the river Apidanus； in the borders of
Phthia。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou convey our daughter thither？
AGAMEMNON
He who takes her to himself will see to that。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Happiness attend the pair！ Which day will he marry her？
AGAMEMNON
As soon as the full moon comes to give its blessing。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hast thou already offered the goddess a sacrifice to usher in
the maiden's marriage？
AGAMEMNON
I am about to do so； that is the very thing I was engaged in。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou celebrate the marriage…feast thereafter？
AGAMEMNON
Yes； when I have offered a sacrifice required by Heaven of me。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But where am I to make ready the feast for the women？
AGAMEMNON
Here beside our gallant Argive ships。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Finely here！ but still I must； good come of it for all that！
AGAMEMNON
I will tell thee； lady； what to do； so obey me now。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wherein？ for I was ever wont to yield thee obedience。
AGAMEMNON
Here； where the bridegroom is； will！
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Which of my duties will ye perform in the mother's absence？
AGAMEMNON
Give thy child away with help of Danai。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And where am I to be the while？
AGAMEMNON
Get thee to Argos； and take care of thy unwedded daughters。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And leave my child？ Then who will raise her bridal torch？
AGAMEMNON
I will provide the proper wedding torch。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
That is not the custom； but thou thinkest lightly of these things。
AGAMEMNON
It is not good thou shouldst be alone among a soldier…crowd。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
It is good that a mother should give her own child away。
AGAMEMNON
Aye； and that those maidens at home should not be left alone。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
They are in safe keeping； pent in their maiden…bowers。
AGAMEMNON
Obey。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Nay； by the goddess…queen of Argos！ go； manage matters out of
doors； but in the house it is my place to decide what is proper for
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