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450 BC
THE CHOEPHORI
by Aeschylus
translated by E。D。A。 Moreshead
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
ORESTES； son of AGAMEMNON and CLYTEMNESTRA
CHORUS OF SLAVE WOMEN
ELECTRA； sister of ORESTES
A NURSE
CLYTEMNESTRA
AEGISTHUS
AN ATTENDANT
PYLADES； friend of ORESTES
（SCENE：…By the tomb of Agamemnon near the palace in Argos。
ORESTES and PYLADES enter； dressed as travellers。 ORESTES carries
two locks of hair in his hand。）
ORESTES
Lord of the shades and patron of the realm
That erst my father swayed； list now my prayer；
Hermes； and save me with thine aiding arm；
Me who from banishment returning stand
On this my country； lo； my foot is set
On this grave…mound； and herald…like； as thou；
Once and again； I bid my father hear。
And these twin locks； from mine head shorn； I bring；
And one to Inachus the river…god；
My young life's nurturer； I dedicate；
And one in sign of mourning unfulfilled
I lay； though late； on this my father's grave。
For O my father； not beside thy corse
Stood I to wail thy death； nor was my hand
Stretched out to bear thee forth to burial。
What sight is yonder？ what this woman…throng
Hitherward coming； by their sable garb
Made manifest as mourners？ What hath chanced？
Doth some new sorrow hap within the home？
Or rightly may I deem that they draw near
Bearing libations； such as soothe the ire
Of dead men angered； to my father's grave？
Nay； such they are indeed； for I descry
Electra mine own sister pacing hither；
In moody grief conspicuous。 Grant； O Zeus；
Grant me my father's murder to avenge…
Be thou my willing champion！
Pylades；
Pass we aside； till rightly I discern
Wherefore these women throng in suppliance。
（PYLADES and ORESTES withdraw； the CHORUS enters bearing
vessels for libation； ELECTRA follows them； they pace slowly
towards the tomb of Agamemnon。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Forth from the royal halls by high command
I bear libations for the dead。
Rings on my smitten breast my smiting hand；
And all my cheek is rent and red；
Fresh…furrowed by my nails； and all my soul
This many a day doth feed on cries of dole。
And trailing tatters of my vest；
In looped and windowed raggedness forlorn；
Hang rent around my breast；
Even as I； by blows of Fate most stern
Saddened and torn。
antistrophe 1
Oracular thro' visions； ghastly clear；
Bearing a blast of wrath from realms below；
And stiffening each rising hair with dread；
Came out of dream…land Fear；
And； loud and awful； bade
The shriek ring out at midnight's witching hour；
And brooded； stern with woe；
Above the inner house； the woman's bower
And seers inspired did read the dream on oath；
Chanting aloud In realms below
The dead are wroth；
Against their slayers yet their ire doth glow。
strophe 2
Therefore to bear this gift of graceless worth…
O Earth； my nursing mother！…
The woman god…accurs'd doth send me forth
Lest one crime bring another。
Ill is the very word to speak； for none
Can ransom or atone
For blood once shed and darkening the plain。
O hearth of woe and bane；
O state that low doth lie！
Sunless； accursed of men； the shadows brood
Above the home of murdered majesty。
antistrophe 2
Rumour of might； unquestioned； unsubdued；
Pervading ears and soul of lesser men；
Is silent now and dead。
Yet rules a viler dread；
For bliss and power； however won；
As gods； and more than gods； dazzle our mortal ken。
Justice doth mark； with scales that swiftly sway；
Some that are yet in light；
Others in interspace of day and night；
Till Fate arouse them； stay；
And some are lapped in night； where all things are undone
strophe 3
On the life…giving lap of Earth
Blood hath flowed forth；
And now； the seed of vengeance； clots the plain…
Unmelting； uneffaced the stain。
And Ate tarries long； but at the last
The sinner's heart is cast
Into pervading； waxing pangs of pain。
antistrophe 3
Lo； when man's force doth ope
The virgin doors； there is nor cure nor hope
For what is lost；…even so； I deem；
Though in one channel ran Earth's every stream；
Laving the hand defiled from murder's stain；
It were in vain。
epode
And upon me…ah me！…the gods have laid
The woe that wrapped round Troy；
What time they led me down from home and kin
Unto a slave's employ…
The doom to bow the head
And watch our master's will
Work deeds of good and ill…
To see the headlong sway of force and sin；
And hold restrained the spirit's bitter hate；
Wailing the monarch's fruitless fate；
Hiding my face within my robe； and fain
Of tears； and chilled with frost of hidden pain。
ELECTRA
Handmaidens； orderers of the palace…halls；
Since at my side ye come； a suppliant train；
Companions of this offering； counsel me
As best befits the time： for I； who pour
Upon the grave these streams funereal；
With what fair word can I invoke my sire？
Shall I aver； Behold； I bear these gifts
From well…loved wife unto her well…loved lord；
When 'tis from her； my mother； that they come？
I dare not say it： of all words I fail
Wherewith to consecrate unto my sire
These sacrificial honours on his grave。
Or shall I speak this word； as mortals use…
Give back； to those who send these coronals；
Full recompense…of ills for acts malign？
Or shall I pour this draught for Earth to drink；
Sans word or reverence； as my sire was slain；
And homeward pass with unreverted eyes；
Casting the bowl away； as one who flings
The household cleansings to the common road？
Be art and part； O friends； in this my doubt；
Even as ye are in that one common hate
Whereby we live attended： fear ye not
The wrath of any man； nor hide your word
Within your breast： the day of death and doom
Awaits alike the freeman and the slave。
Speak； then； if aught thou know'st to aid us more。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Thou biddest； I will speak my soul's thought out；
Revering as a shrine thy father's grave。
ELECTRA
Say then thy say； as thou his tomb reverest。
LEADER
Speak solemn words to them that love； and pour。
ELECTRA
And of his kin whom dare I name as kind？
LEADER
Thyself； and next； whoe'er Aegisthus scorns。
ELECTRA
Then 'tis myself and thou； my prayer must name。
LEADER
Whoe'er they be； 'tis thine to know and name them。
ELECTRA
Is there no other we may claim as ours？
LEADER
Think of Orestes； though far…off he be。
ELECTRA
Right well in this too hast thou schooled my thought。
LEADER
Mindfully； next； on those who shed the blood…
ELECTRA
Pray on them what？ expound； instruct my doubt。
LEADER
This： Upon them some god or mortal come…
ELECTRA
As judge or as avenger？ speak thy thought。
LEADER
Pray in set terms； Who shall the slayer slay。
ELECTRA
Beseemeth it to ask such boon of heaven？
LEADER
How not； to wreak a wrong upon a foe？
ELECTRA （praying at the tomb）
O mighty Hermes； warder of the shades；
Herald of upper and of under world；
Proclaim and usher down my prayer's appeal
Unto the gods below； that they with eyes
Watchful behold these halls。 my sire's of old…
And unto Earth； the mother of all things；
And loster…nurse； and womb that takes their seed。
Lo； I that pour these draughts for men now dead；
Call on my father； who yet holds in ruth
Me and mine own Orestes； Father； speak…
How shall thy children rule thine halls again？
Homeless we are and sold； and she who sold
Is she who bore us； and the price she took
Is he who joined with her