AESCHYLU^rSGT^MEMNON 
 
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 FROM THE 
 
 SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 A:iAlllA ^PAL. 
 
 9963 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PA 3825.A8 1906 
 
 Agamemnon of Aeschylus : 
 
 3 1924 026 461 008 
 
The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026461008 
 
THE 
 
 AGAMEMNON OF AESCHYLUS 
 
 A REVISED TEXT AND A TRANSLATION 
 
 BY 
 WILLIAM W. GOODWIN 
 
 ELIOT PROFESSOR OF GREEK LITERATURE (EMERITUS) 
 IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
 
 PUBLISHED FOR THE 
 CLASSICAL DEPARTMENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
 
 BY 
 
 GINN & COMPANY 
 
 BOSTON ■ NEW YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON 
 
A, 
 
 This edition was prepared for use at the presentation of the Agamemnon at 
 Harvard University on June i6 and 19, 1906. 
 
 Copyright, 1906, by W. W. Goodwin 
 
The "Agamemnon " is the first of three connected tragedies 
 which together won the first prize in the dramatic contest at 
 Athens in the spring of 458 B.C. 
 
 Ten years have passed since Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, and 
 King of Argos and Mycenae, led the expedition against Troy to 
 take vengeance on Paris, Priam's son, who had carried off Heleh, 
 wife of his brother Menelaus. To appease the wrath of Artemis 
 whom he had angered, and who therefore restrained the fleet 
 at Auhs, Agamemnon has been compelled to sacrifice his daugh- 
 ter Iphigenia. Filled with desire to avenge on the King the death 
 of her child. Queen Clytaemnestra (Helen's sister), who mean- 
 time held sway at Argos, lent a willing ear to the passion of Prince 
 Aegisthus, son of that Thyestes whom his brother Atreus had 
 caused to feast on the flesh of his own children in requital for the 
 seduction of his wife by Thyestes. The curse resting on the house 
 of Agamemnon had descended from earlier generations ; for Atreus 
 was the son of Pelops, who by foul play had won his bride Hippo- 
 dameia from her father Oenomaus, and Pelops was himself the son 
 of Tantalus. 
 
 Now it had been foretold that Troy should fall in the tenth year 
 of the siege, and for the space of an entire year a watchman has 
 been stationed on the roof of the palace at Argos, on the lookout , 
 for the flaming of the nearest of the series of beacon-fires arranged ' 
 by Agamemnon to convey intelligence to his Queen that Troy had 
 fallen. — Here the action of the play begins. 
 
 The " Libation-pourers." — After the murder of Agamemnon, 
 Clytaemnestra and Aegisthus rule at Argos undisturbed for seven 
 years. Though her crime remains unpunished, the Queen has 
 dreamed that she has given birth to a serpent which she has nour- 
 ished at her breast. Now it came to pass that Orestes, her son 
 and Agamemnon's, who had been sent away to Phocis, has grown 
 to manhood and returns, in company with his friend Pylades, in 
 obedience to the command of Apollo, to take vengeance upon his 
 mother. On the day of his arrival his sister Electra, who had 
 remained at home suffering contumely at the hands of her mother, 
 has been despatched by the Queen to the tomb of Agamemnon, 
 
IV 
 
 bearing offerings by which Clytaemnestra hoped to propitiate the 
 shade of her murdered husband. The Princess is accompanied by 
 her handmaidens, consisting of captive Trojan women, who form 
 the chorus of " Libation-pourers." Despite their long separation, 
 brother and sister recognize each other and prepare to avenge their 
 murdered father. Orestes disguises himself and reappears as a 
 stranger, who tells the Queen a false message of his own death, 
 which she receives with feigned grief. Orestes is lodged within 
 the palace, and the absent Aegisthus is sent for, but returns only to 
 meet his death. His cries summon Clytaemnestra, who discovers 
 his dead body, and beside it the stranger in whom she divines her 
 own son. The mother at first appeals for pity, then, regaining 
 courage, threatens her son with madness from the Furies, who 
 avenge the crime of matricide. Clytaemnestra is driven within and 
 killed by Orestes, who reappears bearing the blood-stained robe in 
 which his father had been entangled in the bath. Orestes then 
 declares his purpose to seek purification at Apollo's shrine at 
 Delphi, but sees the avenging Furies of his mother, who are visible 
 to him alone, and rushes forth pursued by them. 
 
 The "Furies." — Orestes appears as a suppliant in the sanctuary 
 at Delphi overtaken by the dread band of Furies, who have pursued 
 him even to the shrine of his patron God. The ghost of Clytaem- 
 nestra arouses the Furies, who have fallen asleep after their long, 
 chase, and stimulates them to their duty of enacting vengeance on 
 a son who has shed a mother's blood. Apollo presents himself to 
 the harassed Orestes and bids him repair to Athens and take sanctu- 
 ary on the Acropolis there under the protection of Athena. The 
 scene shifts to Athens, where a solemn court is instituted on the 
 Areopagus under the presidency of the Athenian goddess. Orestes 
 defends his action as undertaken by the injunction of Apollo, who 
 testifies in his behalf and justifies his counsel. The Furies them- 
 selves are the accusers, and are incensed at the acquittal of their 
 intended victim, who is pronounced guiltless only by the deciding 
 ballot of Athena. Their threats to bring ruin on the land of 
 Athena yield to the entreaties of the Goddess, who promises them 
 honors for all time if they will lay aside their wrath and make 
 Athens their abiding place. And thus the curse of the house of 
 Agamemnon is laid at rest. 
 
ERRATA 
 Vs. 52, read iperfiolaiv ipetraofievoi, 
 
 " 742, " ^€\0<!, 
 " 929, " ^tX.j7. 
 
 Agamemnon 
 
 Scene: before the Royal Palace at Argos. 
 Time: night, and then day. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONAE 
 
 Agamemnon, King of Argos. 
 
 Clytaemnestra, his Queen. 
 
 Cassandra, a captive Trojan princess and prophetess. 
 
 Aegisthus, a prince, cousin of Agamemnon. 
 
 Watchman. 
 
 Herald. 
 
 Chorus of Argive Elders. 
 
 Scene: before the Royal Palace at Argos. 
 Time: night, and then day. 
 
AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 WATCHMAN 
 
 I have prayed the Gods for respite from these 
 toils through the length of my year's watch, 
 while, bedded on the roof of the Atreidae, from 
 my bended arm I watch like a dog the assem- 
 blage of the stars of night, those that bring 
 
 5 winter and summer to mortals, bright lords 
 gleaming in the sky, — the stars I mean, their 
 settings and their risings. And now I am watch- 
 ing for the signal of the torch, the gleam of fire 
 that is to bring news from Troy and tidings of 
 
 10 her capture ; for so commands a woman's manly 
 counselling hopeful heart. But while I keep this 
 night-wandering dewy bed, not visited by dreams, 
 — this bed of mine, for fear is my companion in 
 
 15 place of sleep, so that I cannot close my eyes 
 steadily in slumber, — and when I please to sing 
 or hum, taking this medicine of song to keep off 
 sleep, then I weep, bewailing the calamities'' of 
 this house, which is not as of yore ordered for the 
 
 20 best. And now I pray that a happy release from 
 my toils may come, by the signal fire appearing 
 with good tidings through the gloom of night. 
 
 Hail, light of the night, showing us a light 
 
AI2XTAOT AFAMEMNUN 
 
 *YAAZ 
 
 0eous fi€V aiTw twuS' aTTaWayrjv ttovcdv, 
 (jjpovpas ereias /atjkoSj yjv KoijiAWjuevos 
 (TTeyai'; 'ArpeiBav a-yKaOev, kwo<; BCktjv, 
 acrTpwv\KaTOLpa vvKT€po}v\ op-rfyvptv, \ 
 
 5 Kal Tov<s <j>ep6vTa^ ^et/ia koI depo? l3poTol<i 
 Xa/XTT/Dovs 8wd(TTa<s, iu,TTp€novTa<; aWepi, 
 ao"Te^as, orai' (poivuiaiv, avjoka<i rr€ tcov. 
 Kal vvv <f)v\oi(T(Toi) Xa/A7raoos to avp-^okov, 
 avyrjv TTvpo's (jtepovcrav e/c Tpoias ^oltiv 
 
 lo dXwcri/xdi' re /Spi^LV • oiSe yap Kparel 
 yvvaLKO<; avBpo^ovkov cXttC^ov Kcap. ■ \ 
 eSr' av Se wKTiiTXayKTOv ivhpoaov t i\(a 
 evvrjv 6ve[poL<; ovk iTricrKOTrovp.ei/'qv 
 ifiTfjv — <f)6^o'; yap avd' vttvov TrapacTTaTel, 
 
 IS TO fir) fiel3aCw's fi\e(f)apa a-Vfi^aXeiv vttvw — 
 OTav 8' deiSeti' ■^ fiivvpecrOai Sokw, 
 VTTVOV ToS' avTifJioXTTOv ivTep.voiv a»C09, 
 /cXatcD tot' oiKow ToSSe a-vp,<j)opav (TTevwv, 
 ovx (M5 Ta vpocrff' apiara Siairovovju.o'ou. 
 
 20 j/vi/ 8' euTu^i^^^s yivoiT aTraXXayr] ttovcov 
 evayyeXov (f)av€VTO<; 6p(f)vaiov irvpos. 
 S) X^-^P^ XafiTTTrfp vvKTo^, rjfiepija-Lov 
 3 
 
4 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 bright as the day, and causing many choruses 
 to assemble in Argos to celebrate this event. 
 
 25 Huzza! Huzza! I give this loud signal to Aga- 
 memnon's queen, that she rise from her couch 
 with all haste and raise a song of joyous triumph 
 in the palace for this signal-fire, if the city of Ilion 
 
 30 is really captured, as this bright flame clearly 
 announces. And I myself will dance a prelude ; 
 for I shall count it that our masters' fortunes have 
 taken a lucky turn, since this fire has thrown me 
 treble sixes. May it be my fortune with this 
 
 35 hand of mine to lift the loving hand of the master 
 of this house on his return. Of all else I am 
 silent ; a great ox has stept upon my tongue. Yet 
 the house itself, if it should find a voice, might 
 speak most plainly; but I willingly speak to 
 those who know, and willingly forget to those 
 who know not. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 40 This is the tenth year since Priam's great adver- 
 
 saries. King Menelaus and Agamemnon, with 
 double-throned and double-sceptred honor from 
 Zeus, a mighty pair of sons of Atreus, led from 
 
 45 this shore the Argive armament of a thousand 
 ships, a vengeful array, shouting the name of 
 mighty Ares from their hearts, like vultures 
 
AI3XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 
 
 <f>do<; TTL(f>avcrKQ)v Kal -^opwv KaroicrTacnv 
 TToXkcov iv "Apyei,, rrjcrBe cruju^Ojoas )(dpiv. 
 
 25 lov lov. 
 
 'AyafJi€fj,vovo<; yvvaLKi (rrjixaCvo) ropws, 
 €vvrjs iircwTCLXacrav &)s Tct^j^os Sd/iois 
 oXoXvyfiov £v<f>if][iovvTa rySe Xa/ATTciSi 
 eTTop^tct^eti', einep 'IXlov ttoXis 
 
 30 idXa)K€v, cos 6 (f>pvKTo^ dyyeXXcou, irpeTrei • 
 auTos T iyoiye ^poCfitov -)(opev(rofiai,. 
 TO. SecnroTCJV yap ev ireaovTa drfcxofiai 
 rpl's €^ j8a\ouo"7js TrjcrSe jjloi. (f)pvKTojpia<;. 
 yevo LTo S' ovv (jloXovto^ ev^LXrj X^P» 
 
 35 dvaKTO<s oiKOiv TrjSe ^atrraaat X^P^' 
 
 TO. 8' aXXa (Tiyw • ^Sou? em yXwcrcrTj fieyas 
 ^e/3y)Kev oTkos S' auT09, ei (jydoyyriv Xd/Soi, 
 tra<^«rTaT* aj* Xefciev • ws e/f<i)i' e'yo) 
 p.adov(Tiv auScD kou padovcri XTjOop^ai. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 40 SeKaTov p.kv eros toS' cTrei Tlpidp^ov 
 p,eya<; dirtSiKO?, 
 MeveXaos wa^ ^8' 'Ayafiepvcav, 
 Sidpovov Aid^ei/ Kai St,(TKii]TrTpov 
 TLprji;, oxvpov ^euyos 'ArpeiSdv, 
 
 45 o-rdXoi' 'Apyeicov ^iXiovauTiji' 
 
 •^pai/, a-TpancoTLV dpayyijv, 
 piyav e/c dvfiov /fXa^ovTes "Apr; 
 rpoTTOv aiyvmmVf 
 
AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 I 
 
 so who, in solitary grief for their young, wheel 
 round high above their nests, rowing with the 
 oars of their wings, having lost the labor spent 
 in watching the nests of their young. But 
 some God above, Apollo, Pan or Zeus, hearing 
 the shrill bird-cry of these strangers, sends a 
 late-avenging Fury against the transgressors. 
 
 60 Thus the mighty Zeus, God of hospitality, 
 sends the sons of Atreus against Alexander, in 
 vengeance for the woman of many suitors, to 
 impose on Greeks and Trojans alike struggles 
 many and wearying to the limbs, where the knee 
 is pressed in the dust and the spear is shivered 
 in the onset. Things are where they are, but 
 they are coming to pass according to fate ; and 
 no man by secret burnt-offerings or libations, or 
 
 70 by tears, will soften the wrath of the Gods excited 
 by unacceptable sacrifices. But we, dishonored 
 with our ancient bodies, left behind by the array 
 which then set forth, remain at home, supporting 
 our child-like strength upon our staves. For 
 when the youthful marrow that rules within the 
 breast becomes oldlike and the God of war is no 
 longer at his post, then in hoary age, now in 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNON 
 
 S° oiT iKiTOLTioi^ aXyetrt iraCScov 
 
 xmaTOi Xe^eiwv crTpo^ohivovvTai, 
 
 TTTipVyWV iffffJiOliTLU ip^-CTOfJievOL, 
 
 BeiJLVLOTijpy] 
 
 TTovov opTa\i)((iiv oXeicrai'res' 
 55 UTTttTO? 8' a'C(av rj tis 'AttoWwi' 
 
 ■^ Ilai' -^ Zeus olcavodpoov 
 yoov o^vjSoav TwvSe [1€TOlk(ov 
 
 VCTTepOTTOlVOV 
 
 'TTCfiTTeL irapa^acrCv 'Epivvv. 
 
 60 ovTCD 8' 'Arpecus 7rat8as 6 Kpeiaaoiv 
 
 in 'AXe^avSpto 7re/x7rei $€i/i,o<s 
 Zeus TToXvdvopo'S dfi(j>l yuvat/cds, 
 TToWa TTa\aicrp.aTa Kol yvioJSaprj 
 •yovaros kovmlo-lu ipeihopiivov 
 
 65 SiaKvaiofxevT}^ t iv irpoTek^iois 
 
 Kct/iaKos drjaoiv AavaolcTL 
 TpcDcrC 6' 6iiOLO}<;. eo"Tt 8' ottt; i'ui' 
 ecTTi • TeXeirat 8' es to Trenpojp^ei/ov • 
 ovd' vTTOKaiuiv ovd' VTro\eL/3cov 
 
 70 oure 8aKpvQ)v d-nvpoiv lepmv 
 
 o/jyas aTet'eis irapadeX^ei. 
 rjp.ei'; 8* driTat crapKi TraXata 
 T^s tot' dpayyfji; vTToK.ei^difTe's 
 pClxvojJLev icr^uj' 
 
 75 io"dirat.8a v4povT€<; iirt aKrjTTTpoi<i. 
 
 ore ydp veapos /tueXos (rrepvwv 
 ei^TOS dvdtTcroiv 
 icroTrpeo-^us, "ApTys 8' ou/c cvi X'^P?' 
 
AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 the sear and withered leaf, man goes his way 
 80 on three feet, and, no better than a child, wan- 
 ders a vision in the light of day. But thou 
 daughter of Tyndareus, Queen Clytaemnestra, 
 what is thy need ? What news hast thou ? Per- 
 suaded by what message dost thou kindle these 
 sacrifices sent to all these altars ? And the shrines 
 of all the Gods who rule the city, the Gods 
 above, the Gods below, the Gods in heaven, 
 90 and the Gods of the market, are flaming with 
 offerings; and now here, now there, high as 
 heaven rises the flame of the torch, fed with the 
 soft deceitless persuasions of pure unguent, the 
 royal oil frojn the choicest palace stores. Tell us 
 whatever of this thou canst and what it is right 
 to tell, and become a healer of this our anxiety, 
 100 which at one moment is fraught with thoughts of 
 evil, while again soothing hope comes to us from 
 thy sacrifices and drives off insatiate care, the 
 grief that is devouring our soul 
 
 I am empowered to tell of the victory of aveng- 
 ing men that was foreboded on the road, — for per- 
 suasion from the Gods still inspires my song, and 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNIiN 9 
 
 TO^' VTT€pyr]pcD<;, <f>vX\dSo's •tjSr) 
 80 KaTaKap^qfJuivrf<s, rpiTToSas jJ^^v oSous 
 
 (TTet^ct, iraioos o ouoev apeuov 
 
 ovap rjfJiepo^avTov aXaCuei. 
 
 cri) Se, Tui'Sapeci) 
 
 dvyarep, ^ao'ikaa KXyTaifiijcTTpa, 
 85 Tij^peos; Tiviov; tC S' iiraLadofievrj, 
 
 tCvo<s dyyeXia? 
 
 iradoi irepLirefiiTTa ^uoctkcis ; 
 
 TToivTwv Se ^ewi' Twi' d(rTw6fJi,(0V) 
 
 90 t5i' t' ovpavLwv Twv r dyopaCcov, 
 
 ^loiiol SapouTL ^Xeyoirai • 
 
 aWij S' aWo^ev oipauofiiJKr]^ 
 
 \aju,7ra? dvitrj^et, 
 
 <f>ap[ia(r<TOixev'rj j^ptjotaTOS dyi/ou 
 9S fiaXaKais dSdXoicrt '!rapy)yopiai<i, 
 
 m\dv(o fLV)(6de.v ^atriXeio). 
 
 TovTOiv Xefai9 o Ti Kal Swarov 
 
 iraidtv re yevoO TiJcrSe [iepLfivir)<;, 
 100 -^ j/Ci' TOTC /xei' KaK6<f)pci)v Tekedei, 
 TOTS 8' e/f dv(Ti(tiv dyavT) <jiav0ela'' 
 eXirls dfivuei tftpovriS' dirXyjcTTOv, 
 T^v dviio^opov ^p&a XvTrqv. 
 
 Kvpi6<i elfJLi dpoeiv oSiov KpdTo<s aicnov dvhpStv Str. 
 105 cKTeXecov — ert ydp deodev KaTarrveUi 
 tradoi fioXnav • 
 
10 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 my age still gives me strength, — how the two- 
 no throned might of the Achaean s, the harmonious 
 leaders of the youth of Hellas, the fierce bird 
 sends to the Trojan land with spear and avenging 
 hand ; the king of the birds appearing to the 
 kings of the ships, — himself black, with another 
 white-tailed, — appearing near the roof -tree on the 
 spear-hurling hand, in all conspicuous seats, feed- 
 ing on the offspring of a hare pregnant with her 
 120 brood, stopped in her last course. Sing a song 
 of woe, a song of woe; but may the good prevail. 
 
 And the noble prophet of the army seeing the 
 two warrior sons of Atreus unlike in their tempers, 
 recognized the martial leaders in the devourers of 
 the hare. And thus he spake, interpreting the 
 omen : "In time this armament shall capture 
 Priam's city, and fate shall violently destroy all 
 the collected possessions of her towers, the 
 130 people's abund3.nt wealth ; only let no wrath 
 from the Gods cast a gloom upon the great army 
 now encamped, which is to be a bit for the mouth 
 of Troy, and strike it down before its time. For 
 holy Artemis is full of vengeance against the 
 royal house, the winged hounds of her father, w^o 
 are devouring the poor timorous hare with all her 
 brood before she gives them birth; and she 
 loathes the eagles' banquet. Sing a song of woe, 
 a song of woe ; but may the good prevail. 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNflN ii 
 
 oKKav (fdfJL^VTO? alwv — 
 
 OTTWS 'A^ai(ov hidpovov Kparos, 'EXXaSos rj^a^ 
 iio ^vfi^pova ray OLv, 
 
 irifJuTT^i crvv Sopl /cat ;^epi irpaKTopi 
 
 dovpio's opvi^ TevKpiS' ctt' alav, 
 
 oloivSiv ^atriXeus 
 
 /SacrtXeucrt veStv, 6 KeXai,v6<s, 
 "5 o T egoTTLv apyq,^, 
 
 (f>avevT€<; LKTap fieXadpatv X^P°5 ^'^ SopuTraXrov 
 
 irap.TrpiTTToi's iv eSpatcrt, 
 
 ^ocTKopuevoi, Xaytvav epLKVixdSa (j>epfiaTL yivvav, 
 I20 pXa^ivTa XoicdCcou hp6p.o}v. 
 
 alXivov alXivov elire, to S' ev viKaTO). 
 
 KeSvo<s Se (TTpaTopavTL? iSwv Svo Xrjfiaai Sicrcrou? Ant. 
 
 'ArpeiSas /xa^i/Aous iharj XayoSairas 
 
 TTo/ATTOus t' d/a^as ' 
 125 ourw 8' etTre Tepd^cov 
 
 " )(p6vco p,ev ay pel Jlpidfiov ttoXlv aSe /ceXeu^os, 
 
 irdvTa 8e Trupyotv 
 
 KTtjvrj TrpocrdeTO. h'qp.ioirX'qdyj 
 130 Moi/a' dXaTTCt^ei Tr/)6s to fiCacov • 
 
 oToi' ju,"*; Tis aya deodev Kye^day irporuirkv (nor 
 fiLOv fxeya Tpotas 
 13s CTTpaToydev. oi/cw ydp im<f)0ovo<; "AprejXL^ aypd, 
 
 TTTo.vo'ia-iv Kvcri Trarpos 
 
 avTOTOKOv irpo Xoxov fioyepav Trrd/ca dvopivoiat. • 
 
 trrvyet Se SeiTri'Oi' aierwi'." 
 
 aiXti'oi' alXivov elne, to 8' eS vindTw. 
 
AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 "So kindly as the beautiful Goddess is to the 
 140 tender young of savage lions, and delightful as 
 she is to the breast-loving offspring of all the 
 beasts that roam the field, she is begging her 
 father to fulfil what these omens signify, the 
 propitious but also the inauspicious omens of the 
 birds. But I invoke the aid of Apollo, the heal- 
 ing God, that she may cause no long delays to 
 detain the ships by contrary winds, in her eager- 
 150 ness for a new sacrifice, a lawless one, of which no 
 man can partake, a kindred worker of strife, one 
 that fears not man ; for there abides, — terrible, 
 ever rising afresh, haunting the house, deceitful, 
 never forgetting, — the wrath that avenges a 
 slaughtered child." Such things, mingled with 
 great good, did Calchas proclaim as predicted to 
 the royal house by the omens seen upon the road. 
 In harmony with these, sing a song of woe, a song 
 of woe, but may the good prevail. 
 
 160 Zeus, whoever he may be, if it pleases him 
 thus to be called, thus I invoke him. I cannot 
 divine, when I weigh everything except Zeus, 
 whether I have a right truly to cast aside this 
 burden of. grief from my soul. 
 
 He who of old was mighty, swelling with all- 
 
AI5XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 13 
 
 140 't6(T(T0v Trep €V(f)pcov Ka\a Epod. 
 
 hpocTOKT&lSenTol^ fxaXepcJi' Xeovrcov, 
 
 TravTiav t aypovop,(t>v (jaXofJioicrTOL'i 
 
 drjpmv 6/3piKdXoi(Ti. repTrvd, 
 
 TOVTcov alrei ^vfji^oXa Kpdvai, 
 14s oe^ia fiev, Kara/x,o/A(^a 8e (fxicrpaTa (TTpovOcov. 
 
 irjiov oe Kokecj Ilaiai^a, 
 
 pyj TLVa^ dvTiTTVOOVS 
 
 Aavaots ^(poi'tas e^ei'TjiSas 
 
 crirevSopeva dvcrtav irepav dvopov tiv-, dhaiTOv, 
 
 VetKCCDV T€KTOVa (TVp(}>VTOV, 
 
 ov heurrjvopa. pCpvei yap <f)o^epd TtaXLvopTO^ 
 155 olKov6po<; SoXia pvdpav py)vi<; TeKv6voLvo<;." 
 
 ToiaSe KctX^as ivu peyd\gL<s dya^ois dire/cX.ayfei' 
 popuip aTT* opvidoiv oSicop ot/cots ySacrtXeiois. 
 
 TOIS 8' 6p6(ji(Ji}VOV 
 
 atXiiVOV alXivov elm, to 8' eu viKdroi. 
 
 160 Zeus, otrri? ttot' icrTiv, el toS' au- Str. i 
 
 TO) (jjCXov KeKXyjpevet), 
 
 TovTo viv TTpoaevveTTOi. 
 
 ovK e^o) TTpoaeiKda-at 
 
 TrduT eTn(TTadp(apevo<i 
 165 TrXy]v Aids, et ToS' e/u,as d770 <])povTi8o<s a)^do<i 
 
 ■)(pri ^aXeiv erqTvpoi?. 
 
 ovh' ocTTis Trdpoidev rjv peya<;, Ant. i 
 
14 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 170 defiant courage, shall not even be mentioned ; 
 he is among the things that were. And he who 
 followed next has found his champion and is 
 gone. But he who zealously shouts the name of 
 Zeus in songs of victory shall gain the whole of 
 wisdom, — 
 
 Zeus, who set mortals on the road to wisdom 
 by enacting as a fixed law that knowledge 
 Cometh by suffering. And o'er the heart in sleep 
 
 180 trickle drops of torturing recollection of woe, 
 and thus does discretion come to men even 
 against their will. And this is surely a boon of 
 the Gods, who sit in might upon their awful 
 thrones. 
 
 And then the elder leader of the Achaean 
 ships, having no blame for any prophet, yielding 
 to the fortunes which smote him, when the 
 Achaean host was pressed by delay which ex- 
 hausted their stores, while they were held fast 
 
 190 beyond Chalcis in the refluent region of Aulis ; 
 
 And when the blasts that blow from the Stry- 
 mon, causing evil delay, hungry blasts, which 
 keep men at anchor to their hurt, which drive 
 mortals astray, unsparing of both ships and 
 cables, ever redoubling the time of their delay, 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNIiN 15 
 
 Trafx-fidxcp dpda-et, ^pvoiv, 
 170 ouSe Ke^eraL TrpXv uiv • 
 
 OS o ejretT e^u, rpia- 
 
 KTYJpo^ oi^erat Tvy^atv. 
 
 Zyjva 8e rts Trpo<f>p6vo}<i iiriviKia Kkdtfiiv 
 17s Tfv^erai (f)p€va>v to irai' • 
 
 Tov ^povelv /SpoToi)? oSca- Str. 2 
 
 aavTa, tov irddei fxddos 
 divTa KvpCco^ ^X^"'" 
 {TTaQet, o ev o virvm npo fcapoias 
 180 [ivT](rLTT'q(JiO)v TTOvos • Kot TTap' dK0VTa<: ^X^e o"a)- 
 <l>povuv. 
 
 CTcXjua crepLVov •fjp.evwv. 
 
 185 Kai To^' r}yepoi)v 6 npd- Ant. 2 
 
 o-ySus fewv 'AxdUKwv, 
 
 pidvTiv ovTiva \peyQ}V, 
 
 €/A7raiois Tv^aLCTL aviiTivioiv, 
 
 €VT dirXoiif Kevayy^ jSapvvovT 'A^aiiKos Xe<us, 
 190 XaX/ctSos iripav e)(oiv Trakippo- 
 
 lY^OtS CI' AuXlSoS TOTTOtS • 
 
 iri'oal S' ttTT-o 'ZTpvp,6vo<; poXovcrat Str. 3 
 
 KaKoo-;Yo^o''5 vrjcmSes, Svcroppoi, 
 fipoTwv dXai, 
 195 uewv re Kai ireurp-dTcov a^eiSeis, 
 ■nakippLiqKr) ^povov Tidelcrai 
 
1 6 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 were wasting the flower of the Argives; and 
 when the prophet proclaimed in the name of 
 Artemis another remedy for the bitter storm, but 
 more terrible still, so that the sons of Atreus 
 smote the ground with their staves and could not 
 restrain their tears. 
 
 Then the elder king thus spake and said : 
 " Hard is the fate not to obey ; but hard is it if 
 I must slay my child, the ornament of my house, 
 polluting with streams of virgin blood a father's 
 hands before the altar. Which of these is without 
 its terrors ? How can I desert my fleet and lose 
 my allies ? For that they in their temper should 
 intemperately call for a sacrifice to still the wind 
 and for the virgin's blood is right; and may it be 
 for the best." 
 
 And when he had bowed his neck to neces- 
 sity's yoke, breathing now an impious change of 
 heart, unblessed and unholy, then he turned to 
 contemplate the all-daring deed. For base-coun- 
 selling wretched infatuation, the beginning of 
 woe, emboldens mortals. And he dared to become 
 the sacrificer of his daughter, to aid the war 
 waged to avenge a woman, and as an offering of 
 first-fruits for the ships. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 17 
 
 Tpi^o) Kari^aivov dvOos 'ApyeiW, 
 iirel 8e koI iriKpov 
 X^LfiaTO'i aXX.0 fj-rj^ap 
 200 jSpLdvrepov irpofxoicnv 
 
 [idvTL<; eK\ay^€v '!rpo(}>ep(av "Aprefiiv, wcTTe ^ffova 
 
 r/3oi5 emKpovcravTa<; 'Ar/oetSas hd.Kpv jj^tj Kara- 
 
 205 dva^ 8' 6 TTpiafivi tot elire. (fxavav ■ Ant. 3 
 
 " jSapeia p,kv Krjp to p.7) iriOicrdaL, 
 /Sapeia 8', ei 
 
 TCKvov Satfo), 86p,(oy dyaXfia, 
 jMiaCvcov TTap9eyocr<^dyoicn 
 
 2IO peCdpOL^ TTaTpCOOVS X^P*^^ TTcXaS j3Q)fl0V. 
 
 Ti TwvS' ai'eu KaKuiv. ; 
 TTWS XlTTOi'aus yevxap-ai 
 £u/i.ju,a^ias dp-apTCov ; 
 215 iravcravep.ov ydp dv(xia% irapdeviov B' <]l[x,a,TO<i op- 
 ya Trepi6pyco<; i'mdvp.uv dep,L<;. eu ydpelr]," 
 
 inel 8' dj'ayffas e8u \e7ra8i'oi' Str. 4 
 
 (f)p€vo^ TTvecDvSvcrcre/S'fj TpoiraCav 
 220 dvayvov, dvUpov, Todev 
 
 TO TravTCfro\p.qv (fypoveiv p^Teyvm. 
 
 ^poTov'S dpatrvvu ydp alcr)(p6p.rfTLS 
 
 rdkaLva irapaKOTrd TTpwTonrjp.ct)v. 
 
 erXa 8' ovv dvTrjp yeve- 
 225 (rdat OvyaTpo'i, yvvacKOVoCvcov TTo\ep,o}v aporyav 
 
 Kal irporeXeta vawi'. 
 
 AGAMEMNON — Z 
 
1 8 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 230 And the war-loving nobles made of no account 
 her tears and her calling upon her father's 
 name and her virgin age ; and the father, after a 
 prayer, bade the servants with all their courage 
 to raise her, like a kid, above the altar, with neck 
 inclined, enveloped in her falling robes, and, as a 
 guard upon her beautiful mouth, to restrain her 
 voice that might utter a curse upon the house, 
 
 by the strength and silencing force of gags. 
 And as she let fall to the ground the saffron 
 
 240 dye, she smote each of her sacrificers with 
 a piteous glance from the eye; and she lay 
 beautiful as in a picture, wishing to speak, for 
 oft in her father's hospitable halls she had sung, 
 and a pure virgin with her chaste voice she had 
 lovingly honored her dear father's thrice-blessed 
 joyous life. 
 
 What followed I neither saw, nor do I tell it ; 
 but the divinations of Caleb as never fail in ful- 
 
 250 filment. Justice brings knowledge within the 
 reach of those who have suffered ; but as to the 
 future, you can hear it when it comes ; before 
 that bid it farewell ; it is as well as to lament it 
 beforehand, for it will come precisely in accord- 
 ance with those divinations. But may good 
 
AI5XYA0Y AFAMEMNflN 19 
 
 XiTtts Se Kal KkrjS6va<; Trar/Oftjous Ant. 4 
 
 Trap' ov8ev aia>va Trapdivuov t 
 230 WevTO ^iXo/Aa^oi fipafirj^. 
 
 (ftpdaeu o dd^oi; narrjp p,eT evy^av 
 
 h'lKau ^tju,aipas rnrepde ySw/xoS 
 
 ■TreVXoio-t irepLTTeTrj iravrl dvp.<a 
 
 TTpovdynrj \aj3elv dep- 
 23s ^fjv, cTTOjuaTos re KaWtTrpwpov <f)v\aKdv KaTacr^eii/ 
 
 <f)d6yyov dpalov OLKOL<i 
 
 j3iq. '^oKivSiv T dvavZta p,evei. Str. 5 
 
 KpoKov fiacj)d<; 8' es trihov j^eoucra 
 240 e)SaXX' eKacTTov dvTtjpcDV an op^p-aTOS ^eXet <^t- 
 
 Xot/CTGJ, 
 
 TTpeTTovcrd 6' &»s ei' ypa.^al's, TrpocrevveiTei.v 
 6i\ovcr, inel TToXXa/cts 
 TTarpos far' di'Spwi'as evrpaTre^ov^ 
 24s epLehjjev, dyi'a S' dTavpo)To<; auSa TraT/aos 
 
 (f>L\oV T pLTOCTTTOVOOV evTTOTpOV 
 
 aiS)va (jiikcos iripa. 
 
 TO. 8' ei'^ei' our' elSoi' our' ivvenoi • Ant. 5 
 
 Te^vaL 8e KctX^j^avTos ov/c aKpavTou 
 250 Ai/ca Se Tois /i-ei' Tradovcnv padelv itrippeTrei - to 
 peWov S' 
 CTTcl yevotr' ai^ /cXuois • irpo ^atpcTCD • 
 lerov Se t<3 irpocTTeueiv • 
 Topov ydp ri^ci crvvopuov ai/rai?. 
 
 255 TreXoiTO S' GUI' TaTTt TOVTOKTLV eVTTpa^L^, (US 
 
20 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 fortune follow these events, for thus prays this 
 nearest and only guard now left to the Apian 
 land. 
 
 I have come, Clytaemnestra, to do homage 
 to thy authority ; for it is right to honor the wife 
 of a man in power when the husband's throne is 
 260 left vacant. But I would gladly hear whether 
 thou hast heard anything new, or whether, in lack 
 of news, thou art sacrificing through hope of good 
 tidings ; nor will I grudge it thee if thou art 
 silent. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 With good tidings, as the proverb says, may the 
 Morn appear from her mother Night; and you 
 shall learn a joy which is beyond all hope to hear. 
 The Argives have captured the city of Priam. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 What sayest thou ? Thy word has escaped me 
 from my distrust. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 i Troy is in the hands of the Greeks. Do I 
 
 ' speak plainly ? 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 270 Joy creeps over me and calls forth my tears. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Yes, your eye declares that your thoughts are 
 kind. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 21 
 
 ^eXei ToS' ay^KTTov 'Arrias 
 yaias iJiou6<f>povpou ipKos- 
 
 ■t]KO) (rej3i^(ov (Tov, 'KXvTaiyjqa-Tpa, Kpa,TO<s ' 
 SiKr) yap ecrri <f)CDTO<s dp^rjyov tUlv 
 260 yvvaiK iprjfKodevToi; apcrevo? dpo'^ov. 
 (TV 8' ei Ti Kehvov eire fxy) irerTva'p.ivri 
 evayyekoKTiv ekiriariv dvr]TTo\ei<;, 
 KXvoLfi av ev<f)pci}u • ouSe aiyuxTrj <f>06uo^. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 euayyeXos /nev, axrirep rj TrapoLfiLa, 
 265 eiws yivoiTO fiy]Tpo<; ev^p6v'q<; irdpa. 
 
 irevaei Se ^dpfia fi€L£,ov cXttiSos kXvclv • 
 ILpLcifiov yap ypyJKacrcv 'ApyeloL ttoKiv. 
 
 X0P05 
 TTws ^T^s ; iri^evye touttos ef aTricrTias. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 Tpoiav 'AxaLMU ovarav • ^ TopSts Xeyco ; 
 
 XOPOS 
 270 xa/)a /!,' v(f)epTT€i SaKpvov eKKaXovp^evrj. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 eu yap ^povovvTo<; 6p,p.a aov KaTTjyopei,. 
 
22 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 But how? Hast thou any credible proof of 
 this ? 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 , Of course I have, unless a God has deceived me. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Dost thou honor as credible visions which come 
 to thee in dreams ? 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 I would not base my judgment on a mind 
 asleep. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Well, has any unfledged report elated thee ? 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 You scorn my thoughts as if I were a mere girl. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Well, how long then has the city been captured .' 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Within the night which has just given birth to 
 this day, I tell you. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 280 And what messenger, pray, could come with 
 such speed as this? 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNQN 23 
 
 XOPOS 
 Tt yap ; to ttuttov icm roivZi croL TCKfiap ; 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 ecTLv • TL S' ov)(L ; fir} SoX(oa-avTO<s deov, 
 
 XOPO$ 
 TTorepa 8' oveCpav (fxicrfiaT evmdrj cre/SeL^ ; 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 27s ov Sd^ai' av XajSoijui ^pit,ovcryj<; (j)peu6^. 
 
 XOPOS 
 dW ^ (T imavev rts dnTepois (jidrK ; 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 TraiSos ve'as ws Kapr ipMp/rjact) tftpei/a^. 
 
 XOPOS 
 TToCov -^povov Se KoX veiropdrjTai ttoXis ; 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 T^s vvp TeKovcTr)<; ^Ss toS' €V(j>p6vr]<s Xeyoi. 
 
 XOPOS 
 280 Kal Tis ToS' i^LKOLT oLu dyyeWoiv rd^o? ; 
 
24 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Hephaestus, sending the gleaming signal from 
 Ida. And beacon sent beacon on, sped by the 
 courier flame. Ida sent it to the Hermaean crag 
 of Lemnos ; and thirdly the height of Athos, 
 sacred to Zeus, received the great flame from 
 the island. Then leaping high, so as to skim 
 the sea, the mighty torch, proceeding on its 
 joyous way, bright as a sun, announced the 
 golden-gleaming light of the pine to the watch- 
 
 290 man on Macistus. But he, not delaying, nor 
 foolishly overcome by sleep, passed on the mes- 
 senger's duty; and the light of the torch went 
 far on to the streams of the Euripus, and gave 
 the signal to the guards of Messapinm. And 
 they in turn hghted their fire and sped the mes- 
 sage on, kindling a heap of gray heath. And the 
 mighty torch, not yet dimmed, leaped over the 
 plain of the Asopus, like the gleaming moon, 
 to the crags of Cithaeron, and there roused a 
 
 300 new succession of the courier flame. And there 
 the guard did not reject the far-sent light, and 
 sent the courier flame mounting to heaven. 
 Then the light darted over Lake Gorgopis, and 
 coming to Mt. Aegiplanctus, exhorted the suc- 
 cession of the fires not to fail. And they sent 
 on a great beard of fire, kindling it with un- 
 stinted might, so that it flamed onward and 
 even overleaped the cliff which looks down 
 ' upon the Saronic Gulf. Then it darted on, 
 
AI5XYA0Y ArAMEMNiiN 25 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 
 H^attTTos 'iSrjs Xa[XTTpov iKTrcfiTTcov creXas. 
 <f>pvKTO^ 8e ^pvKTOV SeSp' OTr' ayydpov vvpoq 
 iTrep.vev • *I8tj ju.ei' Trpov 'Epfialov Xeiras 
 ATJfivov ' fieyav 8e iravov e/c vrjaov TpiTOv 
 
 285 'Adwov aiTTOS Zrjvo<s i^eSd^aro • 
 
 UTrepTeXijs re, irdfTov cucrre voyriaan, 
 Icr^^'i TTopevTov Xa/XTraSos tt/oos r}8ovfjv 
 irev/fT/s TO ^^/Ducro^eyye's, <U5 ris '^Xtos, 
 (TcXas naprfyydpevcre Mafctcrrou crKOiTaL<; • 
 
 290 6 S' ouTi jxeWcov ouS' d^pacrp.6vo}<; vttvco 
 viKa>p.€vo<; TTaprJKev dyyeXov p.ipos • 
 e/ca? Se <f)pvKTov <^5s eir' Eupirrou yooas 
 Meo"cra7riou <f)vXa^i, crrjixaCveL pokov. 
 01 8' dvTeXapxpav Koi irapiqyyeiKav Trpocrcj 
 
 29s ypaia<; ipeLKrj<; datpov d^avTe<; TTvpC. 
 
 cr6ei/ov(ra XajLwras 8' ovheircii pavpovpivy], 
 VTrepdopovaa neSCov 'Actodttov, Slktjv 
 (jyaiBpas (re\ijv7]<;, Trpos Ki^ai/awj/os XeTras 
 yjyeipev dWrjv e/<8o^T)i' Tropnov irvpo'S. 
 
 300 ^aos 8e TTjXeTTopnov ovk rjvaiveTO 
 
 ^povpd, irpocraLdpL^ova-a TTopmpov <j)\6ya • 
 XCpvTjv 8' UTre/) ro/oywTTti' ecrKTj^ev (f)do<; • 
 opos t' ctt' AtyiTrXay/cTov i^LKvovpevov 
 &rpvve Oecrpov prj -^apitiEadai TTvpo^. 
 
 305 TTepTTQVcri 8' di'8aioi'Tes d^dovco pevet 
 ^Xoyos peyav ircoycova, kol %apQ)VLK6v 
 
 TTOpdpOV KdrOTTTOU TTpCOU VTTCp^dWeLV TTp6(T(0 
 
26 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 and then it came to Mt. Arachnaeum, our neigh- 
 boring watch. And then it strikes upon this roof 
 310 of the Atreidae, this flame, true child of the fire 
 kindled on Ida. Such are the ready stations of 
 the torch-bearers, filled one in succession from 
 another; and the first and the last runners are 
 both victors. Such proof and such token I give 
 to you, my husband having sent me the message 
 from Troy. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Hereafter, queen, I will pay my devotions to 
 the Gods; but now I would fain once more 
 hear and wonder at thy story as thou dost 
 tell it. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 320 The Achaeans hold Troy this very day. I 
 think that an unmixed cry is to be heard in the 
 city. If you mixed vinegar and oil in the same 
 vessel, you would say that they separated in no 
 friendly way. So there may be heard distinct 
 the voices of the captured and the captors, each 
 for his own fortune. The Trojans, fallen upon 
 the bodies of their brethren and their kinsfolk, 
 children on the bodies of old men, from necks 
 no longer free bewail the fate of their dearest. 
 On the other hand, the night-wandering toil 
 
 330 after the battle ranges the Greeks hungry at 
 breakfast on what the city affords, according 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNON 27 
 
 ^Xeyovaav • etr' ecrKTj^ev, elr' a^iKero 
 Apa^valov aiTTOs, dcrruyeiTOfas crKoird? • 
 310 KaneiT 'ArpeiSwi' es ToSe cr/cifTrrei crreyos 
 ^aos ToS' ouK diraTTTTOv 'iSatov irvpos- 
 TOioCo eroifiOL Xap/rTahrj^opav voiioi, 
 aWo? Trap' aXXou SiaSo^ais irXr/povfievoi, • 
 vLKa 8' 6 TTpaJTo^ Koi reXeuTaios 8pap.(ou. 
 
 315 T€K[Jiap TOIOVTO (TVfl^oXoV T€ CTol XevCD 
 
 dv8p6<s wapayyeiXavTos ck T/joias c/aoi. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 ^eots //.ev av^is, w yuvat, irpoaev^ofiaL. 
 Xdyous S' ttKoucrat rouo-Se KdvodavfidcraL 
 Staj/e/cws 0eXoL[i du, ws Xeyeis, irdXiv. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 320 TpoCau 'A;)^aiot r^S' e^ovcr iv rjfiepa. 
 oifiaL ^orfv afieiKTOv iv TrdXet TrpeireLv. 
 6^o<; T dXeL(j)d t iyx^a'S ravTco kvt€l 
 8t)(0(TTaTovvT av ov (j)iXw's Trpocrei'venoL<;. 
 Kol Tb)V dXovTwv Kot KpaTTjcrdvTcov StT^a 
 
 325 <f)doyyd<i aKovav €(TTi crvfi<f)opd^ SlttXtJs. 
 ol fjLev yap d)Li<^l crcofiaciu ireiTTWKOTe's 
 dv8pwv KacriyvrjTOiv re /cai ^vraXfiCcov — 
 TTatSes yepovTOiv — ovkct i^ iXevSepov 
 8epr]<; aTTot/Aw^oucrt (jtiXTaTcov [lopov • 
 
 33P T0U5 8' auTC vvKTiTTXayKTO<; e/f fidx'r)'; ttwos 
 vifcrreis TT/aos dpiaTOKTiv wv ix^i iroXiq 
 
28 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 to no fixed rule and order ; but as each one has 
 drawn fortune's lot, they dwell now in the captive 
 Trojan houses, free from the frosts and dews of 
 the open air, for the poor fellows can now 
 sleep the whole night without guarding. But if 
 they pay due reverence to the Gods which hold 
 the city, those of the conquered land, and the 
 
 340 shrines of the Gods, they cannot, after capturing 
 the town, again be. captured in their turn. Only 
 I pray that no desire may prematurely fall upon 
 the host to ravage what they should not, tempted 
 by gain ; for to secure a safe return home they 
 have to bend their way back through the other 
 arm of the double race-course. But, even if the 
 army should arrive here without having offended 
 the Gods, the suffering- of the perished may 
 still prove wakeful, even if no new calamity 
 befall them. 
 
 This is what you can hear from me, a woman ; 
 and may the good prevail, so that we may see 
 it in no doubtful light. For many are the bless- 
 ings of which I have promised myself the enjoy- 
 
 350 ment. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Queen, thou speakest wisely, like a prudent 
 man. But having heard thy trusty proofs, I am 
 preparing to pay due thanks to the Gods ; for 
 a blessing not unworthy of our toils has been 
 wrought. 
 
 O king Zeus, and friendly night who hast put 
 us in possession of mighty honors, who didst 
 throw over the towers of Troy a close net, so 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNflN 
 
 Tacraei,, irpo^ ovBeu iv fiepet TeK/jLtjpLov • 
 dXX ais e/fttCTTOS ea-iraaev tu^tjs ttciXov, 
 iv aij^/AttXturois TpwtKois oiKTQfiacnv 
 
 33S vaCovcnv 17817, twi' viraidpioiv Tidyoiv 
 
 hp6<r(iiv T aTTaXXayeWes, cLs BvcrSaCfiove^ 
 d.(j>v\aKTov euSyjcrovcn iracrav ev(f)p6vr)v. 
 el 8' eS cre^ovcrL rous TroXtcrcrov^ous ^eous, 
 Tou? 1-^9 dXouo-Tys 7179, Oecov 6' iSpvfiaTa, 
 
 340 ou TOLV eXovTcs a5^t9 di'^aXoiei' di'. 
 
 e/)(W9 8e ju,T7 Tt9 TTporepov ifnruTTTri aTpar^ 
 TTopdelv a firj XPV' Kep8eari,v viKcafidi/ov?, 
 8er yap 7r/D09 olkov; voa-TLfiov (rcoTrjpLa^ 
 Koifirpai BlouXov ddrepov kcoXov TrdXiv • 
 
 34S ^£019 8' di'aju.77Xd/C7^ro9 et /xdXot crTyoaros, 
 iyprjyopos to irfjixa tS)v okaikoTav 
 yivoiT OLV, el TrpocTTTaia jlit) tu^oi /caKa. 
 TOiaurd toi 'yuj'ai/fo9 el' eju,oG KXuei9 • 
 TO 8' eS Kparoirj, jjl^ Si^oppoTrcos ISelv • 
 
 35° iToXXeilj/ yap iadkwv t^v omjcrw eikofirjv. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 ywai, AcaT* avSpa crcixfipov' ev(f)p6vQ)^ Xeyets. 
 eyft) 8' dKova'a<; incrTd aov TeKfiyjpua 
 6eov<; irpoaeLTTevu ev Trap(WKevdt,op,ai. 
 j^dpi9 yap ovK aTLfios elpyacTTai irovcov. 
 
 3SS S Zev ^atriKev Ka\ vv^ (fyiXCa 
 fieyaXoiv Kocrfiav Kredreipa, 
 rjT eVl Tpoia<; TTvpyoL<; lySaXcs 
 
 29 
 
30 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 that neither full-grown nor young could escape 
 360 the great slavery-net of all-conquering Ate. I 
 reverence mighty Zeus, God of hospitality, who 
 has wrought this, who of old had his bow bent 
 against Alexander, that his dart might neither 
 fall short of the mark, nor fly high above the 
 stars. 
 
 It is a blow from Zeus they have to tell of; 
 this we may trace out. He (Paris) fared as he 
 (Zeus) willed. There was one who denied that 
 370 the Gods deign to care for mortals by whom 
 the honor of things sacred is trampled under 
 foot ; but he was no pious man. The truth 
 has been shown to the posterity of insufferable 
 men, who breathe the spirit of war more than is 
 ■just, whose houses overflow with wealth beyond 
 what is best. But may my lot be free from woe, 
 380 and yet such as to content one who has a fair 
 share of wisdom. For there is no protection in 
 wealth to hide a man who has once in his inso- 
 lence kicked^against the great altar of Justice. 
 
 Him wretched persuasion drives on, the 
 fore-counselling unbearable child of Ate. And 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNIlN 31 
 
 (TTeyavov SCktvov, ws fiijTe fiiyav 
 
 fj.yJT ovv veapSiv tlv VTrepTekea-ai. 
 360 fiiya SouXetas 
 
 ydyyap^ou aTTys TravaXcl^ov. 
 
 Aia TOL ^eviov fieyav aihovfiai 
 
 Tov TCtSe irpd^avT, in ' AXe^dvSpat 
 
 TttvovTa TraXat ro^ov, ottws olv 
 365 /ATjTe irpo Katpov pLrjd' vwep dcxTpcau 
 
 )Se\os rjXWiov (TKij^eLev. 
 
 Aios nXaydv €)(ov(tiv etireii', Str. i 
 
 irdpecTTL TovTO y i^L')(vevcrai. 
 
 eirpa^ev ais eKpavev. ovk itfta tis «. 
 
 370 ^eous ^poTb)v d^iovadai fidXeiv 
 
 ocrois ddlKTcov X^'-P'''' 
 
 iraToiff ■ 6 8' ou/f evcrefiij<s. 
 
 TTe(f>avTaL 8' eKyovoi^ 
 375 aToXju.Tfro)!' 'A/stj 
 
 TTveovTwv [lel^ov rj StKaCo)^, 
 
 (fiXeovTcop ScjfiaTcov vTTep(f)eu 
 
 imp TO ^4\ti(ttov. ccttoj S' dinJiJiavTov, axTTe 
 KaTTapKelv 
 380 eS trpaTrihoiv Xa^owa. 
 
 ou yap icTTLV eiraXfi? 
 
 TrXourou tt/oos Kopov dvBpl 
 
 XaKTuravTL fieyav AtKas fimp-ov eis d^dvuav. 
 
 385 ^Lorai 8' a rctXaiva ireiOca, Ant. i 
 
 Trpo^ovXoTrais d^epToi dras- 
 
 *^1 
 
32 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 all help is vain. The mischief is not concealed, 
 but shines, a balefully gleaming light. And 
 
 39° like base metal, by rubbing and by striking he 
 becomes blackened when put to the test; for he 
 is like the boy chasing a bird in the air, and 
 he brings unbearable evil to his state. No one 
 of the Gods listens to his prayers ; but they 
 destroy the, unjust man who has dealt with 
 deeds like these. So Paris, when he came to 
 
 400 the house of the Atreidae, disgraced the hospi- 
 table board by the rapine of the queen. 
 
 And leaving to her citizens the din of shields 
 and spears and naval armaments, and bearing 
 destruction as her dowry to Ilion, she sped nimbly 
 through the gates, daring what none should dare. 
 And the prophets of the house uttered many 
 lamentations, thus speaking : "Woe! Woe for the 
 
 410 palace and the nobles! woe for the nuptial couch 
 and the traces of a wife's affection ! 
 
 ****** 
 And in his longing for her who is beyond the sea 
 a phantom will seem to be queen of his palace. 
 And even the grace of comely statues is odious 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNON 33 
 
 a/cos 8e TTOLV jxaTaiov. ovk iKpv(})0r], 
 
 TrpeTret 8e, (^5? aivoXa/ATres, crii/os • 
 390 KaKov Se ^aX/fou Tponov 
 
 TpC^co re /cat irpofr^oXals 
 
 p.e\ap.TTayri<i TreXei 
 
 Stfcatw^eis, e;rei 
 
 Stc3/cet TTttis TToravov opviv, 
 395 TToXej, irpocTTpifip.' d<j)epTov ivdeL<;. 
 
 XitSi' 8' d/covei p.kv ouTis ^ewi/ • toi/ 8' IniaTpo^ov 
 
 <j}a)T dBiKov Kadaupei. 
 ofos Kol Ilapts iXdcDV 
 400 es Sofiov Tov 'ATpei^av 
 
 ■^(T^^vve $ei/Cav Tpdire^av KXoTraio"! yufaiKOS. 
 
 XiTTOvcra 8' dcrTolcrtv dcTTriiXTopa'S Str. 2 
 
 405 kXovous Xoy^i/Aovs re koX vav^dra^ ottXktjlious, 
 
 dyovcrd r dvTC(f>epvov 'iXtai (jydopav 
 
 ^efiaKev pifx^a 8i,a ttuXSi' 
 
 arXara rXatra • TroXXa 8' icrrevov 
 . TOT ivverrovT€<; Sofiav Trpo^^rai • 
 410 loi to) B&jxa Satfjua /cat Trpofxoi, 
 
 lo) Xe)(os fat (TTi/Soi ^iXdvopes. 
 
 t ndpecTTi (Ttyas dTLfio<; dXoi8opos 
 
 d8to"Tos d(}>efji,euo}v iSeiv. t 
 
 TTo^ft) 8' UTre/aTTOjTia? 
 415 (f>d(rfia 8o^et 86fi(t>v dvaaauv. 
 
 evfjLoptjjcov 8e KoXocrcrwi' 
 
 e)(^0eTai 'X.dpi^ dvSpC' 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 3 
 
34 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 to the man, for in the want of the living eyes all 
 love has vanished. 
 
 420 And there come to him sad visions in dreams, 
 bringing empty pleasure; for empty it is when 
 one believes that he sees a noble prize, — and 
 slipping through his hands the vision is gone no 
 sooner than it came, on wings that attend the 
 paths of sleep." 
 
 The woes seen at home by the hearthstone are 
 these, and still more terrible than these; and 
 everywhere for those who departed from the land 
 
 430 of Hellas sorrow that wears the heart is seen in 
 thq homes of each. There are many things 
 indeed that touch the heart; for everyone knpws 
 whom he sent forth, but, instead of living men, 
 urns and ashes are coming to each one's house. 
 And Ares, the broker who deals in human 
 bodies, and holds the scales in the contest of the 
 spear, is sending home from Troy to the friends 
 
 440 the sad dust burnt in the fire, wept with tears, 
 loading the urns with well-packed ashes in the 
 place of men. And they lament, speaking well 
 of one man as skilled in battle, and of another as 
 having fallen nobly in a conflict for another's wife. 
 But there are other things which many a one is 
 muttering silently, and grief mixed with hatred 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNflN ,35 
 
 onfidrwv 8' iv a^rjvCaL^ 
 eppCL TTacr 'Ae^poSira. 
 
 420 ov€ip6^avToi 8e vcvOijfiove^ Ant. 2 
 
 TrdpetcTLV 80/cat (jiepovcrai )(apiv fiaraiav. 
 
 fidrau yd.p, eur' a.v icrdXd ns BoKotu opav — 
 
 vapaWd^acra 8ia ^epwv 
 425 Pe/3aKev oi//ts ou fiedvarepov 
 
 TTTepois 67708015 VTTi'ou /ccXeu^ois. 
 
 TCI /nei" /car' oikov? e^' icTTLa^ d^Tj 
 
 rdS' ecTTi /cai twj/8' VTrep/Sarwrepa. 
 
 TO Trav 8' d<^' 'EXXa8os yas <TVvopfi4voi,<i 
 430 Trivdeia. TXr]crLKdphio<; 
 
 BojXCOU CKdcTTOV TT/OCTTei. 
 
 iToXXa yoCv diyydvei irpos "^nap • 
 ous /u-ei' ydp Tts ewe/Ai/zei' 
 oTSei', dw 8e (fxoTwv 
 
 435 Tev^T) Koi <T77oSoS CIS €»cd- 
 CTTOU 8d/A0US d<j)LKvelTai. 
 
 6 )(pva-a[iOL/3o<; 8' "ApTjs awiidroiv Str. 3 
 
 /cal TttXavTovxo? eV /"•a;^>; Soyaos 
 440 -nvpcadev ef 'iXiou 
 
 ^ikouTL irefJUTTeL jSapi) 
 
 jprjyfia BvaSdKpvrov, dvTijvopo'; (tttoSov yep-C- 
 i,(ov \e/3r)Ta<; evOerov. 
 445 arivovai 8' eS XeyovTes dvhpa. tov p,ev ws 
 
 jLid^T^s r8pts, Toi/ 8' 61/ (f)Ovat<; KaKci)<; irecrovr 
 
 dXXoT/Jias Sial •yui'aiKds. rd 8e trlyd tis ^av- 
 
36 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 450 is creeping upon the avenging sons of Atreus. 
 And there are others who there before the wall 
 in goodly form fill tombs of Trojan earth, and a 
 hostile land has buried its possessors. 
 
 And the speech of the citizens is heavy with 
 wrath; it acts the part of a curse ratified by the 
 people. But my anxious heart is waiting to hear 
 
 460 something still wrapped in night; for the Gods 
 are ever observant of those who have slain many, 
 and the dark Furies in time bring to obscurity 
 him who is fortunate without justice, when his 
 fortunes are reversed in the wear of life; and 
 after he has once passed among the unseen, no 
 help can reach him. It is dangerous for men 
 to have too great glory, for a thunderbolt from 
 
 470 Zeus is hurled into their eyes. I prefer unenvied 
 prosperity. May I riot be a destroyer of cities, 
 nor may I ever see myself living as a captive in 
 the hands of others. , 
 
 By this signal fire with its good tidings a swift 
 report has spread through the city; but who 
 knows whether it is true, or whether it is not 
 some divine falsehood? Who is so childish 
 or so stricken in mind, that, inflamed in heart 
 by the fresh announcement of a signal fire, he 
 
 480 must afterwards suffer when the report is 
 changed .■" It is like a woman's rule to approve 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNflN 37 
 
 45° ^ei. ^douepov 8' vtt' aXyos epirei 
 
 TrpoSiKots 'ArpetSats. 
 
 01 8' avTov nepl ret^os 
 
 dtJKas 'iXiaSos yas 
 455 fvpLop^oi KaT€)(ov(rLv • ix^P^ §' ex°''^*5 eKpvijiev. 
 
 ^a/seta 8' do'Twi' ^arts ^i' kotw • Ant. 3 
 
 ^IJLOKpoivTov 8' dpa9 Tii^et XP^°^- 
 
 fievei. 8' d/covtrat rt jixou 
 460 p^epifiva vvKTrjpe^ei;. 
 
 tS)v TrokvKTovoiv yap ovk dcrKoiroL 6eoi. KeXai- 
 val 8' 'Eyoii'ues xpova 
 
 rvxyipov ovT dvev 8t/ca5 TraXivrv^rj 
 465 Tpt/3a ^Lov Tideicr' djxavpov, iv 8* di- 
 
 CTTOIS TeXedoVTO^ OUTIS dXKCl • TO 8' VTTepKOTCOi; 
 
 /cXueii/ 
 eS ^apv ' ySdXXerai ydp ocrcrots 
 47° Aiodev Kepavu6<s. 
 
 Kpivat o' d^dovov oK^ov. 
 
 flTjr' ei7]U TTToXiTTOpdr]? 
 
 [nJT ovu avros dXous vtt dWcju jSCov /fartSoi/At. 
 
 475 TTvpoi; 8' uir' euayyeXou Epode 
 
 TToXll' SiTjKei, dod 
 
 ^d^iq • ei 8' iTTjTVfiO^, 
 
 tC<s olSev, rj tol deiov can //.17 ^v6o<;. 
 
 Tts ft)8e ■jrai8i'os '^ ^p^vwv KeKOfip,£vo<s, 
 480 <j)\oyo<; vapayyeXfJiacnu 
 
 vioLS TTVpoiddvTo. KapSCav eTreir' 
 
38 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 a thanksgiving before the fact is known. The 
 female sex ranges too credulous, quick in re- 
 sources; but by a speedy death perishes glory 
 which is woman-heralded. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 We shall quickly know of this succession of 
 light-bearing torches and signal fires and flame, 
 
 49° whether they are truthful, or whether this pleas- 
 ant light has come like a dream to deceive our 
 minds. Here I see a herald coming from the 
 shore, shaded by boughs of olives ; and the thirsty 
 du^, twin sister of the mud, testifies to me this, 
 that not without voice, and not by kindling a 
 flame of mountain forests will he tell his story by 
 the smoke of fire ; but either by plain speech he 
 will bid us rejoice the more, — the opposite of this 
 I shrink from uttering. I pray only that a good 
 
 500 sequel may come to that which has begun so well. 
 Whoever prays that this may be otherwise to our 
 state, may he reap the fruits of the folly of 
 his mind. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 Hail, paternal soil of this land of Argos ! In 
 the light of this tenth year have I come, with 
 many hopes blasted, successful in but one; for 
 I never thought that I should die in this Argive 
 land, and here have the right of burial most 
 dear to me. Now hail, O land; hail, light of 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNnN 39 
 
 aWaya \6yov Kafieiv ; 
 yvvaiKos al)(iJLS, Trpiirei 
 irpo Tov <^avivTO<i X'^P'-^ ^vvaivicrai. 
 485 irt^avos ayav 6 O'^Xv's opo<s imvifierai 
 Ta^uTTOpo? • dXXa Ta^vfiopov 
 ^vaiKoyrlpvfov oWvrat kXcos. 
 
 Ta^' ela-ofieada \ap,Trddo)P <f)ae(r(f)6pcov 
 490 <ftpvKTOipiS>u re kol ttu/oo? irapaWayd's, 
 eiT ovv dXiy^ets etr' oveipdraiv SCktjv 
 TepiTvov ToS' iXdbv (fyax; ec^ijXwcrei' ^peva^, 
 KTJpVK OLTr' dKTrj<s TOuS' opS) KardcTKLOV 
 fcXaSois eXaias • fxapTvpu Se fioi Kd(n<i 
 49S ir'iqXm) ^vvovpo<s Bixjjia k6vl<; rctSe, 
 
 a»S 0U7' ai'avSos oure crot Saicov ^Xoya 
 uXtjs opeias crrjfiavei Kairvw vvpo^, 
 dXX' ^ TO x^Cpeip fiaWov iK^d^ei Xeycav, — 
 TOV dvTLOv 8e TorcS' diTOcrTepyo) \6yov 
 5CX) eS ydp Trpos eS (j)av€iaL TrpocrdyJKr] ttcXoi. 
 oo-Tiv Tao aXAcDS T170 CTreu^^erai TToXei, 
 avTOS (ftpevwv KapiroiTo Trjv dp,apTiav. 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 l(o TTarpaov ovSas 'Apyeias ^i^^oi/o?, 
 Se/caTft) <re <f)eyyeL twS' d<f)iK6p.rjv erou?, 
 505 TToXXcDi/ payetcav iXiriScov /xias tv)((ov. 
 ov yap TTOT iqvxovv t^S* ej' 'ApyeCa x^ovl 
 davoiv fiede^eiv <f)iXTdTov rdtfiov fji.€po<;. 
 vvv X^'P^ Z*^" y^^v, X^^P^ ^' V^^ov ^do<s, 
 
40 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 the sun ; hail, Zeus, lord of the land ; hail, thou 
 Sio Pythian king, mayest thou no longer send upon 
 us darts from thy bow. Sufficiently hostile 
 didst thou show thyself by the Scamander ; but 
 now again be our saviour and our healer, king 
 Apollo. And I pray all the Gods of the market- 
 place, and my protector Hermes, the beloved 
 herald, whom all heralds honor, and the heroes 
 who sent us forth, that again with friendly 
 hearts they may welcome home the army which 
 the spear has spared. Hail, palace of the king, 
 beloved roofs, and high-honored seats, and Gods 
 who face the rising sun, if ever of old, now 
 520 with those gleaming eyes receive in honor our 
 king after this long lapse of time. For he has 
 come, bringing light in the night to you and to 
 all these together, — king Agamemnon. And 
 reverence him well, for it is his due, now that 
 he has levelled Troy with the spade of avenging 
 Zeus, with which he has dug over the plain. 
 And the altars and the shrines of the Gods 
 have disappeared, and the seed has perished 
 from the whole land. Having thrown such a 
 530 yoke over the neck of Troy, king Atreides, 
 revered happy man, has now come home; and 
 he is the most worthy to be honored of all mor- 
 tals who live. For neither Paris nor the city 
 which was his partner now boasts the deed 
 more than the suffering. For cast in a suit 
 for rapine and theft, Paris has lost his prize, 
 and has utterly destroyed his ancestral house and 
 the land on which it stood; and the sons of 
 Priam have paid a double forfeit. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNflN 41 
 
 wttTos Te )(wpa<i Zeus, 6 Ilu^tds t' a,va$, 
 
 510 TO^ois laTTTcuv firjKeT CIS T7)uas /Sc'Xtj • 
 aXts napa "ZKoiixavSpov ^crd' d,vdp(ri.o<s • 
 vvv o aSre crcoTrjp icrdi koX TraKUfios, 
 ai^ag *A7roX.X.ov. tous t' dytui'ious 6eovs 
 Trairas irpoaavZS), tov t ifiov Ti,p.dopov 
 
 515 '^pfirjv, ^l\ov KTJpvKa, KTjpvKcav cre^a?, 
 i7pws re rows trifxr^avra^, €vp,eveZ<s ttoKiv 
 crrpaTov Sej^ecr^at tov XeXeLfjbfjidvov Soyod?. 
 ift) [jLiXadpa fiaaiKicxiv, <f)i\ai, a-Tcyai, 
 (Tefjivoi re daKoi,, Satjuoves t' at'T'J^Xioi, 
 
 520 €1 TTOu irctXat, ^aiSpoicrt roicriS' ofjufiaau 
 Se^aade Koafico /SacrtXea ■n^oWw ^p6va>. 
 TjKEL yap vfuv ^ws ev ev<f)p6vy] (jtepcDv 
 Kol ToicrS' a/Tracri koivov, ' Kyayiifwav dva^. 
 dW ev viv dtntdaaaOe, koX yap ovv Trpiirei, 
 
 525 Tpoiav KaTaaKdxfiavTa tov Si,Krj<j)6pov 
 Atos [laKeWy, Ty Kareipyacrrai mSov. 
 fiwpjoX S' dicTTOL Kal OeSiv ISpvfiaTa, 
 Kal (Tirepixa iTdcrr]<; i^aTToXXvTai )(0ov6<s. 
 Tot6v9e TpoCa Trepu^aXfou ^evKTijpiov 
 
 53° dva^ 'Ar/aeiSrjs Trpecr^v; evSaCfjucDv dvrfp 
 TjKeL, Tiecr^ai 8' d^iwTaTo<; ^poTwv 
 Ttov vvv • lidpi'S yap oure crvvveX^^ ttoXis 
 efeu^^erat to Bpdfia tov irddov? TrXeof. 
 6(f)\ci)v yap dptrayrji; re /cal kXottiJs Slktjv 
 
 S35 TOV pvcriov 6' rj/jLapTe Kot iravcoXedpov 
 avT6)(dovov iraTpwov idpicra' oofiov. 
 StTrXa S' ereiaav II/otajLitSat 0dfidpTLa. 
 
42 , AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Hail, herald of the Achaeans from the army. 
 
 HERALD 
 I welcome your greetings, and I will no 
 longer grudge my life to the Gods. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 540 Was it love for this your fatherland that ex- 
 ercised you .'' 
 
 HERALD 
 
 Yes, so that my eyes wept with joy. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 A pleasant disease this, with which you were 
 
 taken. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 How is that ? Only when instructed shall I 
 master that saying. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 You were smitten with love of those who loved 
 you in turn. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 O, you mean that this land longed for the 
 army which longed for it. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Yes, so that we lamented deeply from a sor- 
 rowing heart. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 Whence came this grief, of which the army 
 hates to hear ? 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNfiN 43 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 KHPYZ 
 ^atpw Tedvavai h' ovk4t avrepo) ^eois. 
 
 XOPOS 
 540 epct)^ TTarpcfa? Trja-?€ y^s cr' iyvfjivaatv ; 
 
 KHPYE 
 clxtt' ivoaKpveiv y oixfiaaiv ^apas viro. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 KHPYE 
 7rw5 81^; SiSa^^els rouSe SeaTToaca Xoyov. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Tajf avTepcjvraiv dpepo) TreTrkrjyfJieuoL. 
 
 KHPYE 
 545 nodeiv TTodovvra TijvSe yrjv crrpaTov Xeyets. 
 
 XOPOS 
 ft)S TToXX' a,[iavpa<; ck (j)pev6<; p,' ava(TT€vav. 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 TTodtV TO Svcr(f>p0l> TOVT iTTrjv, OTWyOS (TTpaTOt ; 
 
44 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Long ago have I found silence a cure for 
 harm. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 But how ? When the kings were absent did 
 you have any to fear ? 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Sso I repeat your own words : even to die had been 
 great joy for us. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 Yes, it has been well done. Of these events in 
 the long lapse of time, we may say that some 
 have turned. out well and others are blameworthy. 
 But who except the Gods is ever free from woe 
 through his whole lifetime ? For should I tell 
 of our toils and hard bivouacs, our scanty and hard- 
 bedded landings, but — what did we not have to 
 lament, what did we not receive as our daily por- 
 tion ? And then again, when we reached the land, 
 there was even greater horror; for our beds 
 560 were before the very walls of the enemy, and the 
 meadow-dews distilled from heaven and from the 
 earth, a constant destruction to our garments, 
 making our hair like that of beasts. And should 
 I tell of the bird-slaying winter, what an unbear- 
 able one the snow of Ida brought us, or the heat, 
 when the sea in its windless midday bed fell wave- 
 less to sleep ; — but why lament all this .' the labor is 
 past ; it is past indeed for those who have fallen 
 
AISXYAOY APAMEMNON 45 
 
 XOPOS 
 ' irdkai. TO CTiyav (juxpfiaKov ^\oij3r)<s ex*"* 
 
 KKPYE 
 /cat irojs; atrovTcav Koipdvcav er/3€ts Tii'as; 
 
 X0P05 
 SS° ws vvv TO crov Srj, koI davelu TToXXrj ^dpL<;. 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 eS yap TiiiTpaKTai. raura S' iv ttoXXw xpo^V 
 TO, fi€v Tts av Xe^etei* euTTCTftis e^^Lv, 
 TO. S' aSre Ka77ijLio/i.<^a. tis 8e 77X171/ ^eaji/ 
 aTTavT OLTrrnioiv tov Si' aiSvos xpovov; 
 
 5SS p.6^ov<; yap el \eyoLp,i Kal SucrauXias, 
 
 (TTTapvai; 7rapTf]^€L<s koi KaKoaTpwrov;, — ti S' ou 
 cTTeVoKres ou Xa^oi'TCS rjp.aT0<s pipo<i ; 
 TO. 8' avre )(epcrw, Kal Trpo(T7]v ttXcov trruyos • 
 ewai yap •^crav Satcjv irpos Tei^eaLV 
 
 560 ef ovpavov 8e xdiTO y^s XeLfidtviai 
 SpoaoL KaTe\jjdKa[,ov, ifXTreSov (tCvo<; 
 ia-0r)ixdTO}v, Ti^eVres ivOiqpov Tpi^a. 
 "^eipSiva 8' €t Xeyoi tis oiwi'OKTdi'Oi', 
 oioi' TrapeZ^ d(f>epTov 'iSaia X''^^> 
 
 565 •^ ddXiTO's, eure ttowos ei/ p,€a-'r)fji/3pLval<s 
 Koirai; olkv/jlcdv vqvip.oi'i euSot necrdv 
 TL TavTa irevdeiv Sel; napoi^eTai ttovo^' 
 irapoC^eTai 8e, roio-i jnei' TeOvrjKocnv 
 
46 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 so that they never even care to rise again. But 
 570 why should we take account of those who have 
 perished, and why should the living grieve for 
 adverse fortune ? I think it right to bid a long 
 farewell to calamities. And to us who remain of 
 the Argive army the gain prevails, and woe does 
 not weigh down the scale ; for it is fitting for us 
 thus to boast in presence of this light of the sun, 
 as we flit over sea and land : " This Argive host 
 has captured Troy, and has nailed up these spoils 
 to the Gods throughout Greece to be an ancestral 
 580 glory to their temples." When men hear things 
 like these, they must glorify the city and the 
 generals ; and the grace of Zeus which has accom- 
 plished this shall be honored. You have my 
 whole story. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 I do not refuse to be overcome by your words ; 
 for it is always youthful for the aged to learn 
 wisdom. But it is right that this should chiefly 
 concern the palace and Clytaemnestra, but that it 
 should also enrich me. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Long ago did I raise the song of joy, when the 
 first fiery messenger came by night, announcing 
 590 the capture and destruction of Ilion. And many 
 a one chided me and said : " Persuaded by fire 
 signals do you now believe that Troy has been 
 sacked.' Surely it is just like a woman to be 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 47 
 
 TO fitjiTOT au^i5 {JLTiS' dva(rTrjvaL fieXav. 
 
 570 Ti Toirs dva\(i)6evTa<s iv »/»»?^a> Xeyeiv, 
 
 Tov ^oli/ra 8' dXyeii' ^/jt) tv^tjs irakiyKOTOV ; 
 KoX TToWa. ■^aCpeiu crvix(f>opat<; Kara^vw. 
 rj^uv Se Tots XoiTToIcrti' 'ApyeCcov crrpaTov 
 viKo, TO KepZo^, Tnjfia S' ouk avTippina. 
 
 57S a>S /co/ATToicrai Tft)8' ei/cos ')7X.iou <^a€i 
 
 U77ep daXda-crrjs koI ^dovos noTcofieuois ' 
 " TpoCav eXoi'TCs SifTTor' 'ApyeCwv crroXos 
 OeoL's \d(j>vpa rdCra rots Ka^' 'EWetSa 
 Sd/iiois iTTacTcrdkevcrav dp^aZov yduo<;." 
 
 580 TotaSra ^/a-^ /cXuovTas euXoyeiv ttoXij' 
 
 /cat Tou? CTT/aaTT^yous • /cat X'^P'''' TLptja-eTau 
 Atos ToS' eKTrpd^acra. Ttdvr ex^'^ Xdyoi'. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 VLK(6fJis^os \6yoicnv ovk dvaivop.ai. 
 du yap 17/Sa Tots yepovcTLV ev p^adeiv. 
 585 Sd/xots Se raura /cat KXurat/xT^crrpa peXeuv 
 Et/cos jLiaXtcrra, crut' Se TrXourt^eii/ e/xe'. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 di/tt»XdXvfa /Acv TrdXat x^P^s uiro, 
 
 ot' ^X^' 6 TrpwTos vu^'o? ctyyeXos irvpo^, 
 
 ^pdtfiiv d\(o(TLV 'iXtou t' dvdaTacTLv. 
 
 590 Kai TI5 jU,' ivLTTTCDV ellTe, " (f)pVKTCDp(t)V Sta 
 
 Tretcr^etcra TpoCav vvv TreTTopdrjcrdat So/cets; 
 ^ Kapra Trpos ywat/cos atpecr^at Keap." 
 
48 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 thus elated in heart." When such things were 
 said, I appeared like one crazed. But still I 
 made my sacrifices; and by my woman's com- 
 mand now here, now there, throughout the city 
 they raised the shout of joyous praise, as they 
 lulled to sleep the fragrant sacrificial flame on 
 the altars of the Gods. Now why need you tell 
 me more ? I shall soon have an account in full 
 
 600 from the king himself. But let me hasten to 
 receive with the highest honor my revered husband 
 on his return ; for what light is more delightful to 
 the eyes of a wife than this, — when God has 
 brought her husband home safe from the army, 
 to open the gates to him ? Bear this message to 
 my husband. Bid him come with all speed, 
 beloved as he is by the city ; and when he arrives, 
 may he find his wife faithful in his house as indeed 
 he left her, a noble watch-dog over his home, a 
 foe to his enemies, and the same in all things else, 
 
 610 having broken no seal in this long lapse of time. 
 Nor do I know pleasure nor even scandalous 
 report regarding any other man any more than I 
 know the dyeing of bronze. Such a boast, loaded 
 with truth, is no disgrace for a noble woman to 
 utter. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 She has spoken her speech thus speciously to 
 you, who have plain interpreters to make it clear. 
 But tell me, herald, — I am asking of Menelaus, — 
 whether he will accompany you and return safe 
 home again, the beloved ruler of this land. 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 49 
 
 Xoyots TotouTois TrXayfcros over* i<j>aii'6fn]v. 
 o[iQ}<i 8' Wvov, KoX yvvaLKeio) vofjio) 
 
 595 oXoXvyiwu aXXos dWodev Kara tttoKiv 
 eXaCTKOf €v<])r]fiovvT€^, iv dea>v eSpais 
 dvrj(f>d'yov KOLiJ.S>vTe<; evcuSij ^Xoya. 
 Koil vvv TO, fidcTcrct) fi-kv TL Set o"' e/itoi \eyeiv; 
 ai'a/fTos aurou iravra 7reuo"OjU,at X.oyoi'. 
 
 600 oTTftJS S' dpiara tov ijjibu alSolou ttoctlv 
 
 crirevcra) vaXiv fioXovTa hi^aadai. ri yap 
 yvvaiKi tovtov ^eyyos 178101/ SpaKetv, 
 dno cTTpareiag di/Spi crtucrairos ^eoG 
 TTuXas dvoZ^ai; TavT dirdyyeiXov rrdcref 
 
 605 rJKeLv OTTWS Ta^icTT epdapjiov TrdXet* 
 
 yuvar/ca TTLcrTTjv 8' ev 8djU,ois eupoi [jloXcuv 
 olavnep ovv iXenre, Bcofidrcov Kvva 
 icrdXriv Ik^Lvm, TToXe/Aiav rots crva^poaiv, 
 Kal rdXX' ofioiav ndura, cr'r}fJiavTy]pLov 
 
 610 ovhev Sta<f>deLpacra.v iv p/rjKet ■^povov. 
 oiS' oTSa T€p^iv ovB' iTTixjJoyov (f)aTtv 
 dXXov irpos avSpo? fidXXou 17 ;j(aX/coi) jSac^cts. 
 TOtdcrS' 6 K6p,TT0<s TTjs dXr]6eia<; yifjioiv 
 ovK atcr^pos (ws ywaiKt yevvaCq, XaKelv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 615 avTT; jiio' ovrws ewre fiavOdvovri (Tol 
 TopoicTLv ipp,7]vev(rLV evirpeiTM^ Xoyov. 
 cri) 8' eiire, Krjpv^, MeveXecov 8e Trevdofiai, 
 el v6(rTLix,6<; re fcai creo'coafiei'o'; iraXiu 
 "tj^eL (Tvv vfiiv, TrjaSe yrj'S (f)iXov Kparos- 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 4 
 
so 
 
 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 HERALD 
 
 It is not possible for me to tell pleasant false- 
 620 hoods, for my friends to reap the fruit after a 
 long time. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 But how can you chance to tell us what is both 
 good and true ? These two when separated are 
 not easily concealed. 
 
 HERALD 
 
 The man has disappeared from the Achaean 
 hosts, — himself and his ship. I tell you no false 
 story now. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Did you see him sail away alone from Ilion ; 
 or did a storm, a common grief, snatch him from 
 your host on the way ? 
 
 HERALD 
 
 You have hit the mark like a skilful archer, 
 and have briefly told a long tale of woe. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 630 Was he spoken of by the other sailors as 
 living or dead ? ' 
 
 HERALD 
 
 No one knows enough to report it truly, except 
 the Sun who nourishes the life of the earth. 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNfiN 51 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 620 ovK i(r6' 07r&»5 Xeifatjut to, »/»ei;8^ /caXa 
 
 es Tov TToXiiv (ftCXoLCTL KapnovcrdaL ^povou. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TTois 8rJT av eliroDv KeSva TaXyjOrj ru^ots; 
 crxi-crOema S' ovk evKpviTTa yCyveraL rctSe. 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 av^p a^avTO^ i^ 'A^aitKou (TTparov, 
 625 auTos re Kal to TrXotov. ou \liev8rj Xeyco. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 TTorepov ava^dei<s ejow^avois ef 'iXiou, 
 
 ^ )(€Lfjia, Koivhv a)(do?, rjpTraa-e arpaTov; 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 eKvpcra<; aJcrTe to^ottjis a/cpos <r/co7rou • 
 p.aLKpov 8e TTTJiia avvT6p,oi<i i(f)T)p,Lcrci). 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 630 TTorepa yap avTov ^wvto<; rj TeOvTjKOTo^ 
 (fxiTL'; TTpo<; aXKwv vavrCXwv e/cXij^CTO j 
 
 KHPYE 
 
 OVK olSev ouSeis wtrr' aTrayyetXai TopSi<;, 
 ■jrXrjv TOV Tp4j>ovTo% 'HXiou ^^^oi'os (Jjvctlv. 
 
52 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 How do you say that this storm began and 
 ended for the naval host through the wrath of 
 the Gods ? 
 
 HERALD 
 
 It is not right to pollute a joyous day by a 
 tongue that bears evil tidings. The honor due 
 the Gods forbids. But when a messenger with 
 sad countenance brings to a city a woful tale of a 
 
 640 fallen army, — of one public wound for the 
 whole state to feel, and of many men dragged 
 to the sacrifice from many homes by the double 
 scourge which Ares is wont to wield, calamity 
 armed with double lance, a fatal pair, — when 
 he comes loaded down with woes like these, 
 it becomes him to sing this paean of the Furies. 
 But when a messenger of good tidings comes to 
 a city rejoicing in good fortune, — but how can 
 I mix the good with the evil, in telling of this 
 storm which befell the Greeks not without wrath 
 from the Gods .■' For the fire and the sea, 
 
 650 greatest enemies of old, conspired, and gave 
 pledges to destroy the ill-fated host of the 
 Argives, And by night arose the perils of the 
 stormy waves. For the Thracian blasts dashed 
 the ships upon one another ; and they, violently 
 gored by the whirlwind's storm with the sea- 
 lashed surge, disappeared, whirled out of sight 
 by the evil shepherd. And when the bright 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNON 53 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TTcSs yoLp Xeyets )(ei,fia)vcL vavTCKW (TTpaja 
 63s €kd^v TeXevrrjcrai re Saufiovov kotw ; 
 
 KHPYE 
 ev(f)rifwv ^fiap ov Trpenei KaKayyeXo) 
 
 OTai' 8' aTTevKTO, TTrip,a.T ayyeXos TrdXet 
 (TTvyvco TrpoacoTTOi TTToxrifJiov (TTpaTov (fiepri,- 
 
 640 77oXei fji.€v eX/cos ei* to hrip.iov Tv^eZv, 
 
 TToXXous 8e TToW5)v i^ayL(rdivTa<i Sofiwv 
 dvSpa^ 8177X77 fjidcTTtyi, rrjv * Apii]<; (^iXet, — 
 8iXoyxoi' drrjv, t^oLvCav ^vv(op[8a • 
 Totwj'Se p.€VTOi TTTjixaTcov crecayfjievov 
 
 64s TTpinei Xeyetv iraiai'a Toi'8' '^pvvucov. 
 aoynqpLCDV 8e TTpayfidrcov evdyyekov 
 rjKovTa irpos ^aipovcrav eveaTol tt6\iv, — 
 TTWS KeSi'a rots KaKoZcri (Tvp.jjiei^<a, Xeyoiv 
 ■^eifjLwu 'A^aiwv ovk diJi.T]VLTOv deol? ; 
 
 650 ^vvw/jiocrav ydp, ovres Ix^icrroi to wpiu, 
 TTvp KOL ddXacra-a, koI to. iriaT ehei^driqv 
 (fideCpovTe Tov SvcrTrjvov 'ApyeCcav (TTparov. 
 iv vvktX Sv(rKV[iavTa 8' d)pwpei KaKd. 
 vaCs yap wpos aXXi^Xatcrt SpyKiai irvoai 
 
 65s yjpeLKov at 8e KepoTvvovfJievai fiia 
 
 ■)(€iilS>vi TV^a criiv ^dkrj t o^^poKTvirto, 
 af)(ovT di^avToi, Trot/iei/o? KaKov aTpofic^. 
 iirel 8' dvrjXde Xafnrpov 7]Xiov (f>do^, 
 
54 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 light of the sun came, we saw the Aegean 
 660 blossoming with corpses of Achaean men and 
 with wrecks of ships. And as to ourselves, it 
 was some God (no man) who took the helm, 
 and stole or begged us off, with our ship's 
 hull uninjured. And Fortune as a willing 
 saviour sat upon our ship, so that she should 
 neither take in the surging wave at anchorage, 
 nor be dashed upon a rock-bound coast. And 
 afterwards, having escaped a watery grave, in 
 the bright day, not yet trusting our fortune, we 
 brooded in our thoughts over our new calamity, 
 670 on the sufferings of our army, most wretchedly 
 destroyed. And now if any of them still breathe, 
 they speak of us as dead. Why should they 
 not .' We believe that this has been their fate. 
 But may it be for the best. At least, first and 
 above all expect the return of Menelaus ; for, if 
 any ray of the sun now finds him alive and well, 
 through the help of Zeus who is not yet ready 
 utterly to annihilate our race, there is still hope 
 that he will come back to his home. When you 
 680 have heard all this, know that you have the truth. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Who was it who once named her with such 
 perfect truth ? — was it perhaps some one whom 
 we do not see, in foreknowledge of what was 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON S5 
 
 6pa)[jicu dv9ovv TreXayos Alyaiov veKpol<i 
 660 dvBpa>v 'K^OLiSiv vavTLKOL<s t e/D€i7rtois. 
 
 rjixd<; ye fiev St) vavv t aKTJpaTov (TKoicjios 
 
 r)TOL Tts iicKXexj/ev ^ '^TfiTtjaaTo 
 
 deo^ Tis, ovK dvdpcjTTO^, olaKO's duycov. 
 
 TV)(r] 8e crcjTfjp vavv deXovcr' itj^e^eTO, 
 665 a)s p.'^T iv opp.(a KVfiwros C'^Xrjv e)(ei.v 
 
 firjT efoKCiXai tt/oos KparaCKecov )(d6va. 
 
 CTreira 8' a8r]v ttovtlov Trec^euyore^j 
 
 XevKov Kar '^p-ap, ov ireTroi^dres TV)(ri, 
 
 ifiovKoXovpev t^povriaiv veov irddo'i, 
 670 (TTpaTov Kap6vTo<5 Koi KaKot^ (TTTohovpivov. 
 
 /cat vvv eKeCvoDV ei tis ia-rlv ipnvecov, 
 
 Xeyovcn,v rjpd^ a»s oXwXdras, rt pT] ; 
 
 'ffpeL<; T iKeivov? raur' e)(eiv So^d^opev. 
 
 yevoiTo S' a»s dpicna.. Mei'eXeajv yap GUI' 
 67s Trparov T€ Kal pdXiaTa irpoahoKa poXetv. 
 
 el 8' ovv Tts d/cTts i7Xtou I'ti^ IcTopel 
 
 ^Xwpov re /cat ^Xeirovra, pr))(avais Atds, 
 
 ouTTft) 6eXovTo<; i^avaXwa-ai yevo'S, 
 
 cXtTIS Tts aVTOV 77/305 8djLtOVS 'I?^^!!' TToXlV. 
 
 680 TocrauT' d/coucras tcr^t TdXyjdrj kXvwv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Tts itot' 0)v6pat,ev 6j8' Str. i 
 
 es TO irai' enqvupwi ; 
 
 prj Tts ovTiv ov\ bpSt- 
 
 pev TtpovoiaiCTi toC ireTrpcupevav 
 
56 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 fated, guiding the tongue in fortune ? — her the 
 spear-wedded, much fought-for Helen ? For 
 being in very truth the destroyer of ships, the 
 destroyer of men, the destroyer of cities, she 
 sailed forth from the rich curtains of her home, 
 
 690 driven by the breath of the giant west wind. 
 And hosts of spear-bearing huntsmen followed in 
 their track, after they had plied their oars out of 
 sight to the leafy banks of the Simois, there to 
 rouse bloody strife. 
 
 But wrath which works its vengeance brought 
 
 700 to Ilion a «^So? (marriage or woe), rightly so named, 
 late in time exacting the penalty for the dishonor 
 of hospitality and of hospitable Zeus from those 
 who loudly applauded the nuptial song, which it 
 
 710 then fell to the brethren of Paris to sing. But 
 Priam's venerable city is learning a new song, 
 and utters a loud cry of grievous woe, now 
 calling Paris the accursedly wedded, — 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNIiN 57 
 
 68s •ykaxraav iv Tu^f vifioiv ; 
 
 Tav hopiyayu^pov d/xc^ivet- 
 Krj B' '^Xivcw ; iirel itpenovTOi'; 
 €K4vav<s, ikavSpos, eXewToXtS} 
 
 690 CK TWJ/ afipOTip,())V 
 
 TrpoKokvpifx.a/TOiv eTrkevcre 
 t,e(f)vpov yiyavTO<i avpa, 
 voXvavSpoC T€ ^epdcnnSe<; 
 69s Kvvayol /car' i^i^os, TrXctrai' a^avrov 
 
 KeXaavTcuv Stju.oevTos 
 d/cras ctt' defte^uXXous 
 St' epiv alfJiaToccrcTav. 
 
 'l\C(t> Be /f^Sos op- Ant. I 
 
 700 Owvvixov TeKecrai^pav 
 
 firjvL^ ri\a(rei>, Tpane- 
 
 ^as OLTifJicocnv vcrrepw ^pouat 
 
 Kal ^vvea-Ttov Atos 
 705 TTpacrcropei'a to vvp^on- 
 
 pov /xeXos €K^ajTO}<s Tioiras, 
 
 vpeuaiov, o<s tot' iTreppeirev 
 
 yap^polcriv deCBeLv. 
 
 peTapavddvovaa 8' vpvov 
 710 Upidpov TToXis yepaid 
 
 TTokvd prfvov peya ttov cTTevei 
 
 KLKkrjcTKOVcra lidptv tov alv6\eKTpov, 
 
 t TTapirpoa-Oy) iroXvOprjvov 
 715 alwv' dp(f)t ttoXitSv 
 
 pe\eov alp' dvarXa<ra.t 
 
S& AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 So did a man once rear in his house a savage 
 lion, taken unweaned from its mother's breast. 
 
 720 In its young life he was gentle, friendly to the 
 children and a joy to the old ; and he was often 
 in their arms, like a new-born babe, with eyes 
 brightening towards the friendly hand, and 
 fawning in its need of food. 
 
 But after a time he showed the primal nature 
 of his race; for, as thanks for his nurture, by 
 
 730 destruction of slaughtered sheep he unbidden 
 prepared a banquet; and the house was stained 
 with blood, a hopeless grief to the servants, a 
 mighty murderous mischief. And now it was seen 
 that a priest of Ate had by God's behest been 
 reared within the house. 
 
 In like manner, I should say, there came to the 
 
 740 city of Ilion (in Helen) a spirit of unruffled calm, 
 a gentle ornament of wealth, a soft glance of the 
 eye, a soul-consuming flower of love. But soon 
 
A12XYA0\ ArAMEMNON 59 
 
 ^Ope^eu Se Xtovra Str. 2 
 
 <tCvlv 8d/iois dydXaKTOv 
 ov7<ws dvrjp ^iXofiacTTov, 
 720 ip ySidrou TTporeXeiois 
 
 afxepov, eu^tXoTraiSa 
 Kat yepapot'i iirixapTov. 
 iroAea o ea/c €v ay/caAais 
 VeOTp6<f)OV TCKVOV SiKav, 
 
 voiv TC yaorpos di^ayKats. 
 
 X^povLcrOel^ 8' oLTTeSeL^ev Ant. 2 
 
 e^os TO TTpocrde roKiqcav. 
 
 ■^dpiv Tpo<l)d<; yap dp^eC^cov 
 730 prfXo^ovoLCTLv iv aTai5 
 
 SaiT* dfceXeuoTos erev^ev • 
 
 atp^aTL S' oT/cos i(f>vp6ri, 
 
 dpa^ou dXyos oi/cerais 
 
 |u,eya (Tivo<s ttoKvktovov. 
 735 e/c t/eou o uepev^ ns a- 
 
 ras Sd//,ois irpoaedpi^dri. 
 
 trdpavra S' iXOeiv es 'IX.10U ttoX.u' Str. 3 
 
 XeyoLfi dv (ftp6v7)fia. p.€v 
 740 irr]V€fiov yaXdj'as, 
 
 d/cacr/cardi' t' ayaX/xa ttXovtou, 
 p,aX6aKov OjipaTOiv ySeXos, 
 Srj^Cdvfiov ipcoTO^ dvdos. 
 
6o AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 she darted from her course and brought to pass the 
 bitter ends of her marriage, settled with them for 
 woe, befriended with them for woe, rushing upon 
 the sons of Priam, under the guidance of hospitable 
 Zeus, as an avenging Fury which brides bewail. 
 
 750 There is a venerable saying, uttered of old among 
 mortals, that man's high fortune, when it is 
 matured, bears offspring, and dies not childless; 
 but that from good fortune there springs by 
 descent insatiate woe. But apart from others I 
 am of my own mind. It is the impious deed 
 
 760 that afterwards begets children which are like 
 their race, while the fate of righteous houses 
 is always blessed in its offspring. One ancient 
 outrage is wont from time to time, when the fated 
 moment comes, to beget a new outrage, sporting 
 wantonly in the calamities of men, . . . until at last 
 it breeds the divinity against which none can fight 
 
 77° and none can war, the unholy audacity of Ate, 
 who brings darkness into houses, like to her 
 parents. But Justice shines in smoky houses, 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNfiN 6i 
 
 745 TTapaKh,vaa-' iircKpavev Se ydfiov iriKpaq TeXeuras, 
 oucreopos koX BvcofiiXo? 
 avfieua HpiafiiSaLcrLV, 
 TTOfJura Atos ^eviov, 
 vujLK^o/cXavros 'E/jtj'vs. 
 
 7S° 7ra\ai<^aT0S S' ei/ ^porols yipcav Xoyos Ant. 3 
 
 TeTVKTai, jxeyav reXe- 
 
 adivra ^(i)to<s oX/Sov 
 
 TeKvovddai p.r]8' diratSa dvyaKciv, 
 755 ejc 8' dyada<; Tu;(as yeVei 
 
 /SXacTTaveii' aKopecrTov oi^w. 
 
 oi^a o* aXXojv fiovoiftpcov Ufii • to SucrtrcySes yap 
 epyov 
 
 fieTo. jxev vXeCova ri/cret, 
 760 (r<l)eTepq. 8' ei/cdra yivva, 
 
 OLKcov S' ap' evdvSCKCJv 
 
 fcaXXiTrats ttot/xos dei. 
 
 ^tXei Se TiKTeiv vjBpi<; Str. 4 
 
 ju.ei' TTaXaid vect- 
 765 ^ovcraj' et" Ka/cots ^porZv 
 
 vjSpLU TOT ^ t69', OTe TO Kvpiov fioXr) 
 
 iveapd ^dovs kotov,^ 
 
 Saifiovd re rcti' dp.a}(ov, diToKep.ov, dvUpov 
 770 6pd(ro<; jLieXaiVas ixeXddpoLcriv "Aras, 
 
 elSop-euav To/ceucru/. 
 
 A Iff a Se XdjJLTTeL p,ev iv Ant. 4 
 
 Svcr/cctTn'ois BatiJiacnv, 
 
62 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 and honors the righteous life; but gilded abodes 
 where hands are unclean she leaves with averted 
 780 eyes, and comes to pious homes, having no rev- 
 erence for the power of wealth which is falsely 
 stamped with praise; and she guides everything 
 to its destined end. 
 
 Hail, O king, destroyer of Troy, son of Atreus, 
 how shall I address thee, how shall I honor thee, 
 without rising above or falling below the proper 
 meed of thy praise? Many mortals honor the 
 mere semblance of being, transgressing justice; 
 
 790 and every one is ready to lament with the unfortu- 
 nate, though no sting of grief comes to his heart ; 
 and men rejoice with counterfeit joy, straining 
 their unsmiling faces. But whoever is a good 
 judge of his flock, can never mistake the eyes 
 which seem to greet from a friendly heart, 
 but only fawn with watery friendship. So then, 
 when thou didst lead forth thy army to avenge 
 
 800 Helen (I will not conceal it from thee), thou wert 
 very unfavorably depicted, as not guiding well the 
 helm of thy thoughts, as inspiring with willing 
 courage men who were doomed to death. But 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 63 
 
 77S Tov 8' ivaCa-Lfiov tUi [/Sioi/]. 
 
 Ta ^puo"07rao"Ta S' eSe^Xa (tvv ttCvo) \epS>v 
 
 TTokivrpoTTOi^ 
 
 OfifiaaL XiTTOuo"', ocna irpoaefioXe, hvvayuiv ov 
 780 cre^ovcra nXovrov irapacnqiiov alvoi • 
 
 TToiv o' inl Tepfia vcofia. 
 
 dye St], /3a(Ti,\ev, Tpoiaq iTToXiiropO' , 
 'Arpecus yevedXov, 
 
 785 Trws cre irpoaeino} ; ttcDs ere cn^Ltfit 
 p^Tjd' virepdpa'i fxijd' inroKafi^a'S 
 Katpbv ■)^dpiTO<s ; 
 
 voXkoi oe PpoTwv TO hoK€iv eli/at 
 npoTLOvai hiK-qv irapa^durei. 
 
 790 T(a hvcrirpayovvTi S' iTTKTTevdxeiv 
 TTtts Tis CTOi/AOS ' Srjyfia 8e Xu7rr;s 
 ouSei' e^' ■^vap TrpocriKveiTai • 
 KaX ^vy)(a.Lpov(Tiv bp.oioirpe.'mi'i 
 dyeXacTTa Trpocronra /Sta^o/tei'oi. 
 
 79S ooTts 8' dyados irpo^aToyvdifioiv, 
 ovK ecTTi Xadeiu o/ijuara <J)(ot6^, 
 TO, So/coSi/t' ev<f)povos iK Siavoia^ 
 v8apei cratveiv ^lXottjtl. 
 <Tv 8e p.0L Tore fx,€v areXXcov (TTparidi/ 
 
 800 'EXb/t^s iv€K, ov ydp a iiriKevcro), 
 
 Kdpr dTrofiov(ro)<; rjada yeypafjifievos, 
 ovS' ev TrpairiZoiv olaKa veficov 
 ddpcro^ iKovatov 
 dvhpdcri Ov^aKovcri KOfiu^av. 
 
64 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 now from the depths of my heart, and not without 
 friendship, do I say that labor is joyous to those 
 who have finished it well. And thou wilt learn in 
 time by inquiry who of the citizens justly, and 
 who wrongly, directs the state. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 8io First it is right for me to address Argos, and 
 . the Gods of the land who have helped me in my 
 return and in the justice which I exacted from 
 the city of Priam; for the Gods, hearing the 
 cause pleaded (but not by the tongue), cast their 
 votes without dissent into the bloody urn for 
 the murderous destruction of Ilion. And Hope 
 approached the other urn, which no hand had 
 filled. The captured city is even now conspicuous 
 
 820 by its smoke. The blasts of calamity still live; 
 but the ashes of the city, as they die with them, 
 send forth rich blasts of wealth. For all this we 
 must pay ever memorable honor to the Gods; for 
 we drew our nets exceeding high, and to avenge 
 a woman the Argive monster levelled the city with 
 the dust, the offspring of a horse, a spear-bearing 
 host, which sprung its leap as the Pleiads were 
 setting; and the savage lion, leaping over the 
 towers, lapped its fill of tyrants' blood. All this 
 prelude have I uttered to the Gods. But as 
 
 830 to your friendly spirit, I remember what I have 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 65 
 
 80s vvv 8' ovK an a»cpa? (^joevos ovS' dc^iXws 
 €V(f)poiv v6vo<s ev Te\ecrao"t. 
 yv(6cr€L 8e ■)(^p6v(a Siairevdoixevo? 
 Tov re OLKaiCt)^ kol tov aKaLpco^ 
 TToKiv oiKovpovvTa voXitS>v. 
 
 AfAMEMNQN 
 
 810 Trpo)TOV [i€u "Apyoi; koI deov<; iy)(ci)pLov<; 
 
 Slkt) TTpocreuTTelv, tous ip-ol jneraiTious 
 
 vocTov SiKaCcov 6' wv ivpa^dfjirfv ttoXlv 
 
 Hpidfiov • St/ca9 yap ovk 0.770 yX(i}cra7)<; deol 
 
 KXvovTe<; avSpodv^ra? 'iXiou <f)dopa^ 
 815 ets alfiaTTjpbv Teu^os ou Si^oppoTTCos 
 
 i/»7j(^ous iOevTO • TO) 8' ivavTuo Kvrei 
 
 eXms Trpocryet X^''P°^ °^ nX-qpovfiei/co. 
 
 KaTTva 8* dXoucra i/ui/ er' eva"r)p,o<; ttoXis- 
 
 (XTT^s ^ueXXai 4'>>o'i • avvOvya-Kova'a Se 
 820 o'';ro8os TrpoirifiiTei TTiovas ttXoutou TTvod^. 
 
 TovTwv deoi(rL xp^ TToXviivrja-Tov ;j^apii/ 
 
 TLveLV, eireiTrejO /cai Trdyas VTrepKorov; 
 
 ivpa^dfjieada, /cat ywai/cos owe/ca 
 
 iroXti' BiTffjiddvvev 'Apyelov Scikos, 
 825 i777rou veocrcro?, dcnnSrj(j)6po^ Xews, 
 
 7r')]8rjfL opovcra's dfji,(f>l HXeidScov Bvcruv 
 
 virepdopav 8e irvpyov oifx/rfCTTy]^ Xitav 
 
 dSr]v eXec^ev alfiaro^ TvpavPiKov. 
 
 OeoLS fjiev e^ereiva (f)poCfjLLov rdSe • 
 830 rd 8' es TO crov ^povrjfia iJiep,in]p,aL kXvcov 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 5 
 
66 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 heard; for I say the same, and you have me as 
 your advocate. For there are few men to whom 
 this is native born, to honor a friend who is fortu- 
 nate without jealousy. For hateful poison sits at 
 the heart, and doubles the grief to him who is 
 infected with the disease : he is himself weighed 
 down by his own afflictions, and when he sees the 
 prosperity of another, he laments. I can speak 
 
 840 from knowledge; for I know full well men who 
 are a mere mirror of friendship, a shadow of a 
 shade, men who seem to be very kindly disposed 
 to me. But U lysses alone, though he sailed with me 
 against his will, was always by my side as a ready 
 trace-horse, — whether I am speaking of him liv- 
 ing or dead. As to other matters, regarding the 
 state and the Gods, we will hold public assemblies 
 and consult about them in full council; and what 
 is well, we will take council that it may long abide; 
 but for whatever needs healing remedies, either 
 
 850 by cautery or by friendly surgery we will try to 
 avert the harm of the disease. And now I must 
 pass into my house and to the hearthstone of my 
 home; and first let me give my thanks to the 
 Gods, who sent me forth and now have brought 
 me home again. And since victory has followed 
 me, may it abide forever. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Citizens, old men of Argos who are present, I 
 will not be ashamed to speak to you of my ways 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 67 
 
 Kol ^rifxX TavTO. koI awqyopov jjl exeis- 
 Traupois yap avhpwv eari arvyytvk^ rdSe, 
 ^ikov Tov iVTV^ovvT avcv ^Oovov aefieLV. 
 Sv(r<j)pwv yap los Kaphiav Trpoarj p,ivo<i 
 
 835 a^^os SiTrXoi^et tw neirafievw votrov, 
 TOis t' auTos avTov iryjp.acrtv /Sapwerctt 
 Kttl TOV dvpatov ok^ov ei(Top<au (rrevei. 
 £iSa)S Xeyoip,' av, ev yap efeiricrrajoiai 
 ojuiXta? KaTOTTTpov, eihaikov crKia<s, 
 
 840 SoKoui'Tas cTvat Koipra irpevfievel^ ip,oi. 
 
 fjLovo^ S' 'OSutrcT'eus, ocmep ou^ eKOJi/ eVrXei, 
 ^euj^^els eroi/ios ^J' Cju,oi <Teipa<f)6po^ • 
 eir' oSc dav6vT0<s etre /cat ^wi'tos Trcpt 
 Xeytu. TO, 8' aXXa tt/do? 770X11' Te Kai ^eous 
 
 84s KOLvovs a.ywva<; devres iv iravqyvpei 
 
 ^ovXevaofiecrOa. kol to fiev /caXois eX"" 
 OTTws -^(povilpv ev fievet jSovXevTeov • 
 OTft) Se Kol Sei ^apfioLKwu TTaioiVLOiv, 
 TjTOL /ceavTes '^ re/idi'Tes ev<f>povci}? 
 
 850 TTCLpao'op.ecTda TTrjpL airoorpei/fat vocrov. 
 vvv 8' es fidXadpa Kat Sd/xous i(f)e<TTLOV<s 
 ekdoiv deolcTL irpSiTa Sefitutro/xat, 
 oiTrep npocroi TTefJi.x}tavTC<i rjyayov iraXiv. 
 vCkj) 8' ineCirep ea-irer, eiiTtih(a<i fnivoi. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 855 duSpa iroXirai, irpea-jSa 'Apr/eCoav rdSe, 
 ov/c alcryyvovfJiaL tows <j>iXdvopas Tpowovs 
 
68 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 of affection to my husband; in time timidity dies 
 out in mortals. Not having learned from others, 
 I will tell you of my own wretched life during 
 
 860 the whole time while he was absent at Troy. In 
 the first place, it is a terrible evil for a wife to sit 
 deserted In her home without her husband, hear- 
 ing many adverse reports, and for one man to 
 come with ill news and then for another to bring 
 in a tale of woe worse than the first and proclaim 
 it to the house. And if this man had been wounded 
 as often as the reports came running into our 
 house, I must say that he has as many wounds in 
 him as a net has holes. And if he had perished 
 as often as the reports made out, why then like a 
 
 870 second three-bodied Geryon, he might boast of 
 having received many a triple coverlet of earth, 
 — all above ground (I have nothing to say of any 
 below), — having died once in each of his three 
 forms. In consequence of such adverse rumors 
 many a time have others had to loosen forcibly 
 halters from my neck, suspended to a beam above. 
 Owing to this our son is not here by my side, the 
 lord of my and thy affections, Orestes. Do not 
 
 880 be surprised at this, for a friendly ally is protect- 
 ing him, Strophius of Phocis, who warned me of 
 the twofold dangers which threatened us, first, 
 of thy danger at Troy, and then again, in case 
 anarchy shall be proclaimed by the people and 
 overthrow thy council, as it is natural to mortals 
 to trample all the more upon one who has fallen. 
 
AI5XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 69 
 
 Xe'fai Trpos vfia<; • iv XP°^V §' OLiro^Oivei 
 TO Tdpl3o<; dv6pcoTTOt,(Tiv. ovK dWav irdpa 
 fiadova-', iixavTrj<i hva^opov Xefw ^iov 
 
 860 rotroi'S' ocrovTTep oSros ^i' utt' 'iXiw. 
 TO /jueu yvvoLKa irpwTov aptrevos Si^a 
 •qcrOaL Sojiiots €prqp.ov eKirayXov kukov, 
 TToWas /fXuoucrai' KXTjSoi'as TraXiy/coTous • 
 Kai Tov /ief rJKUv, tou S' eTretr^epeii' fcaKov 
 
 865 KdKLOV dk\o TT^fia, Xda-KovTa<s Sojiiois. 
 Kai rpavfiaTcov p,kv ei Tocrwi' irvy^avcv 
 dvrjp oS', ots TT/Jos oTkoi' ti^CTeuCTO 
 (^ciTis, TerpoiTai Ziktvov likiov Xeyav. 
 et S' '^i' T^dvrjKW';, tu? iTrKrjOvov Xoyot, 
 
 870 TpicrMfxaro^ tou Trjpvojv 6 SeuTe/aos 
 
 ■TToXX'^i' dvcodev — T'^i' KaTO) ydp ov \eyti} — 
 ■^dovo<s Tpifioipov ^XoLvav i^v)(^£L Xafiwv, 
 dva^ iKdcrrco Kardavoiv fiop^wfiari,. 
 
 TOlOJvS' CKaTL kX-Tj^OVCDV TTokiyKOTOiV 
 
 875 •77oXXas dvcD0ev dpTdua<s ip,'f}<; Sepij? 
 eXvcrav aXXoi iTpo<s ySiav XeXrjfJineuT]^. 
 ix T&vSe Toi Trats ivBaS' ov TrapacrTarei, 
 ificov re koX acou Kvpio<s vicrrevp^dTov, 
 ais XPV^> 'OpeaTTj? • [irjSe 6av[idcrr)<s ToSe. 
 
 880 Tpe<j}€i, yap avrov evp,evr]<s Sqpv^evo^ 
 
 %Tp6^L0<i 6 3>(UKeus, djjicjyiXeKTa Trr/jnaTa 
 ifiol Trpocfxovwv, top 0' vtt' 'IXCw (xedev 
 Kivhvvov, el re Srjfiodpov? dvap)(ia 
 l3ovX'^v KaTappii^eiev, atare avyyovov 
 
 885 /SpoTOLCTL TOP TTecTovTa XaKTi<Ta.i irXiov. - 
 
70 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 This excuse of mine has no deceit in it. For me 
 now the gushing fountains of my tears are dry ; 
 there is not a drop left in them. 
 
 And I have suffered in my late-watching eyes, 
 
 890 always bewailing the fire signals which were to 
 bring news of thee, but were always neglected ; 
 and in my dreams I was constantly awakened by 
 the gentle buzzing of the humming gnat, seeing 
 more calamities befall thee than the time I was 
 sleeping could have held. Now, having endured 
 all this, with heart free from sorrow, I can ad- 
 dress this man as the watch-dog of the fold, as 
 the mainstay that saves the ship, as the firmly 
 fixed pillar of a lofty roof, as an only born child 
 to a father, and as land seen by sailors when 
 
 900 all hope was lost, as a day most beautiful to be- 
 hold after a storm, as the stream of a fountain 
 to a thirsty wayfarer. It is delightful to escape 
 all necessity. With such words do I think it 
 right to address . him. But let all jealousy be 
 absent. Many are the woes we have endured 
 hitherto ; but now, dear one, dismount from thy 
 chariot, but do not touch to the ground that foot 
 of thine, O king, which has trampled upon Ilion. 
 Servants, why do you delay, you to whom has 
 been given the duty of spreading embroideries 
 
 910 over the path on which he is to walk ? Let there 
 immediately be made a way spread with purple 
 into a house he little hoped to enter, as Justice 
 shall guide him. And all else my care, not over- 
 come by sleep, will arrange justly with God's help 
 according to fate. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 71 
 
 Toiaoe jxeuTOL cr/c^»|»i,9 ov SoXov ^ipu. 
 e/ZiOiye joiei/ 817 KKavfioLTcav inio'crvToi, 
 irriyaX KaTe(T^rjKa(Tiv, ou8' evi cnayuiv. 
 iv o^pLKoCroLS 8' ofifiacTL /8Xa/8as ex*** 
 
 890 Tcts djLK^i o"oi xXaoucra \afnTTr]pov)(^ia<; 
 dT7)iJL€X7]Tov<; aUv. iv 8' oveipacri 
 XcTTTais UTrat /cwi'tUTros iirjyetpofiriv 
 pnraXai, 6o)v<TaovTO<;, a/jLcjii trot 770^17 
 opaxra ttXcio) tov ^vev8ovTo<; xpovov. 
 
 89s vvv TavTa TravTa rXacr' aiT€vd'qT(a <f)pevl 
 
 Xeyoi/i' ai* dvSpa Tdi'8e tw crradpav Kvva, 
 (TOiTrjpa vao<; irpoTovov, v^Xrj^ aTeyr)^ 
 CTTvXou TToStjpi], p^ovoyeves t4kvov Trarpi, 
 KCLi yr^v ^apelcrav vauriXois Trap' eX7ri8a, 
 
 900 KaXXitrrov rjixap elaihetv e/c x^t/iaTos, 
 68oi7ropoj 8it/>GJi'Tt injyaiov peo<s. 
 Tepirvov 8e Ta^'ay/caioi' eK^vyelv dirav. 
 TOLOLcrSe Toi I'll' d^io) Trpo(r^deyp,acriv. | 
 <f)d6vo<s 8' dire(TT(o • noXXd yap rd nplv Ka/cd 
 
 905 r/veixopecrda. vvv 8e jnot, ^LXov Kapa, 
 eK^aiv dTnjvqii TrjaSe, firj ^apal Ti^els 
 TOV (TOV TToS', oiva.^, 'iXiou TTopdrJTopa. 
 SpaaC, TL peXXed', ais itriaTaXTai tcXos 
 7re8oi' KcXeu^ou (TTopvvvai TreTaapaaiv ; 
 
 910 evdv<s yevecrdio TTop(j>vp6(rTpoyTO^ iropo? 
 es 8a)ju,* deXTT-Toi/ <U9 di/ rjyrJTat SiKr}. 
 rd 8' dXXa <f)povTl<; ou^ utti'w vLKcopevrj 
 dtjcrei. StKatws crvi/ ^eois eipappeva. 
 
72 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Offspring of Leda, guardian of my house, thou 
 hast made a speech which was becoming to my 
 long absence, for thou hast spoken at length ; 
 but to be praised justly, that is a boon that ought 
 to come from others. Moreover, do not treat me 
 effeminately as if I were a woman ; and do not, 
 
 920 like a barbarian, open thy mouth to utter a cring- 
 ing cry; and do not make my way odious by 
 strewing it with costly robes. With these we 
 should honor the Gods ; but for one who is a 
 mortal to walk on these beauties of embroidery is 
 to my mind by no means without its terrors. 
 I beg thee to honor me like a man, not like a God. 
 Without foot-mats and embroideries Fame makes 
 herself heard ; and not to be evil-minded is the 
 greatest gift of the Gods. When a man has 
 ended his life in fair prosperity, we may call him 
 
 930 happy. If I can fare in all things as I have 
 done now, I have good courage. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 Now do not say this to thwart my purpose. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Purpose .' Understand that I am not going to 
 let my purpose be thwarted. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Couldst thou perhaps have promised the Gods in 
 some moment of terror that thou wouldst act thus .■' 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 73 
 
 AfAMEMNfiN 
 
 Ai/Sas ydvedXov, Scu/xarcDi/ ificjv (f)vXa^, 
 
 915 airovcTLq, fiev eiTras ei/cdrcos e/x^ • 
 
 fiaKpav yap efereivas • dXA.' ivaurifiox; 
 aivelv, vap' dWcDv XPV ''"°^' e/a^eor^ai y4pa<i. 
 KoX TttWa /n^ yui/at/cos ev T/307rots Cjite 
 dfipvve, ju,T^Se ^apfidpov (fxoTo^ Siktjv 
 
 920 ^a/u,ai7reTes ySda/na TTpoa-^avr}? Cjuoi, 
 
 |Li7jS' ci/xao-i. crrpcoToa iiTi(f)dovov iropov 
 Tide.L • 6eov^ TOL TotcrSe TLfia\(f)elv ^pedv • 
 €1' iroiKiXots 8e dvrjTov ovra KaWeaiv 
 /3aivei,v ifiol fiev ouSa/Aws ai^eu <f)6/3ov. 
 
 92s Xeyw /far' dvZpa, fi^ deov, ae/Seiv ifii. 
 ^(u^is TroSoxjt'ija'Tpcov re »cal twi' ttolklXcov 
 kXtjSqju duVei xai to ju,'^ Ka/cws (jjpovelv 
 0€ov fieyLcxTOv Satpov. oX/SCcrai, Se ^/3i^ 
 /Sioi' TeXeuTT^o-aiT' eV evecrTol (jnXy. 
 
 930 ei TTavTo, 8' ois irpda-cTOLiJ.' dv, evdapa^^ lyat. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 /cal /x^v ToS' eiTTC /xt) Trapd yvcofirjv i/jLoC. 
 
 AfAMEMNQN 
 yviap/rjv ftev urdi p.rj hia^dcpwvT ip.i. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 •qv^oi deols Scleras av wS' ep8eiv rdSe ; 
 
74 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 I uttered this determination, if ever a man did, 
 knowing well what I was doing. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 What dost thou think Priam would have done 
 if he had accomplished all this ? 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Oh, I think he would have walked on the em- 
 broideries. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Do not now pay so much regard to the cen- 
 sure of men. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 But a voice uttered by the people has mighty 
 power. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 The man who is unenvied is not a man to be 
 envied. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 940 It is nqt a woman's way to be so eager for a 
 quarrel. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 But it becomes men in high prosperity even 
 to submit to conquest. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Is that t^e kind of conquest that thou boldest 
 in honor ? 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNnN 75 
 
 ArAMEMNJiN 
 eiirep tis, eiStus y ev toS' e^eiTTOv reXos. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 93S Ti 8' av SoKel aoL YlpLafio's, el raS' rjuvcrev ; 
 
 AFAMEMNflN 
 iv iroi/fiXots a,v Kapra fioi jS^vai So/cei. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 fLij vvv TOP d,v0p(OTretou alSeadrji; xftoyov. 
 
 ArAMEMNfiN 
 <f>'>]p-rj ye p.euTot hr)p.6dpov<; p-eya crdivei. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 o 8' d(f»d6vr)T6<s y qvk e'jTiX;t]ko<i ttekei. 
 
 ArAMEMNQN 
 940 mnoi yvvaLKos ecmv Ifjieipeiv iia)(y)<s. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 Tots 8' 6Xj3lol^ ye koX to viKacrdai irpeirei. 
 
 ArAMEMNQN 
 rj KCLi (TV vLKTjv TrjvSe Syjpioi Tiets ; 
 
76 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 Obey me. Be willing to let me have my way. 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Well, if this is what thou dost wish, let some 
 one quickly loose the slavish sandals on which 
 my feet tread ; and while I walk on these purple 
 robes, let no jealousy from the eye of any of the 
 Gods strike me from afar. For I feel much 
 shame at my effeminacy in trampling under foot 
 this wealth and these costly webs. So much for 
 950 this. But take in kindly this foreign woman. 
 God looks from afar with kindness on the gentle 
 conqueror, for no one willingly wears the yoke of 
 slavery. But she, the chosen flower of much 
 wealth, the gift of the army, has accompanied 
 me. Well, since I am compelled to obey thee in 
 this, I will pass beneath my roof tree, treading 
 upon purple. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 There is an ocean, — who shall drain it dry .' — 
 which affords ever afresh the plenteous juice of 
 960 purple, precious as silver, to dye our robes; and 
 the house, with God's blessing, O king, is well 
 supplied with this ; this palace knows no poverty. 
 Indeed I would have vowed the trampling of many 
 robes, had this been offered to our house in oracles 
 when I was devising votive gifts for the safety of 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 77 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 TTidov ' KpaTO^ [lei^Toi Trapes y e/cwj' e/toi. 
 
 AfAMEMNiiN 
 
 dXX' el So/fei aoi Tovd', virai tis ap/SuXas 
 945 Xuot Ta^o?, TT/adSouXoi' ifi/Sacnv ttoSos. 
 
 »cai TotcrSe ju,' iiJi/3atvou6' aKovpy4<Tiv 6e.S)v 
 fiij Tis TrpocTOide/ 6fjLfx.aTo<s fidXot, (f)d6vo^. 
 TToW^ yoLp atSo); cr(ofiaTO(j>0opelv nocrlu 
 (fideCporrra ttXovtov dpyvptovrJTov; Q' v^oi<;. 
 950 TovTCDv fiev ouTws " TTju ^evTjv Se Trpevp.evw'i 
 TtjvB' ecTKOfutje. • rov Kparovvra fiakdaKCj^ 
 9eo<s irpocTdidev euju.ei'ws vpoaBepKeTai. 
 CKcju yap ouSeis SovXiw ^prJTai t^vya. 
 avTT] 8e, TToXXwf ^pr)fji,dTO}v e^aiperov 
 955 a.vdo<i, (TTparov S(opy]fi, ifiol ^vvecnrcTo. 
 inel S' oiKoveLU crou /caTeorpa/ijuat rciSe, 
 eiju,' es Soficju jxeXadpa iropt^vpa.'; iraTtov. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 eCTLV 6d\acrcra, ti<; Se viv KaTacr^eaeL ; 
 Tp€<f>ov(Ta TToWrjs; Trop(j)vpas Icrapyvpov 
 960 KTj/ciSa irayKaivLCTTov, elfidTav jSai^a;. 
 oIkos S' v7rdp\€L TCJvSe criiv 0eol<;, avaq, 
 e^eii/ ■ Ttiveadai S' ov/c eniaTaTai Sojuos. 
 TToWcDv iraTTjcrpLov 8' elfiaTov av 7]v^d[ir)v, 
 SofioLO-L ■Trpovve)(divTo<; iv ^(/Di^crTT/ptot?, 
 
78 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 this soul. For while the root remains, foliage 
 spreads over the house, spreading its shade 
 against the fierceness of the dog-star. So when 
 thou hast returned to thy house and home, thou 
 art like warmth appearing in winter; and when 
 970 Zeiis is maturing the wine from the unripe grape, 
 then it is like refreshing cool in the house when 
 the lord and master walks through his home. O 
 Zeus, Zeus who dost accomplish all, bring my 
 prayers to pass; and mayest thou have a care for 
 what thou art about to work. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Why does this flitting phantom continually 
 hover before my foreboding heart; and why 
 does my song become prophetic, unbidden and 
 980 unrewarded .■' And why do I not spurn all this 
 like indistinguishable dreams, and let confident 
 courage sit on the dear throne of my soul .■' 
 
 — when the naval host set forth for Troy. 
 
 And now I learn of their return with my own 
 
 eyes, being myself a witness. But my heart 
 
 within me, self-taught, nevertheless sings the 
 
 990 Furies' lyreless dirge, not having at all the dear 
 
AI5XVA0Y ArAMEMNliN 79 
 
 965 «|»i'X'^5 KOfiLcrTpa TrjaSe [jLyj^avafievrj. 
 
 pil,'t]<i yap ova"i}<; ^wWas i/cer' es 8d/ious, 
 CTKMv uTrepTeiVacra creipiov kvv6<;. 
 Kol crov fioXovTO^ ScofiaTLTtv iariau, 
 0a.XiTO<; [lev iu ^ei/xwt't cTTjju.aii'eis p-oXov • 
 
 97° OTav Be Tev^Q Zeus a7r' 6p,^aKQ<; iriKpas 
 otvov, TOT rjSy] i/^G^os ei/ Sdjuots Tre'Xei, 
 dvS^os reXeiou Sw/a' iTna-Tpoxfxofievov. 
 Zev Zeu reXete, toLs ejnas eu;(as reXei • 
 p.e\oL Se Tot crol Tcavnep av fjbiWri<; Tektiv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 975 TITTTC /U.01 ToS' ijJLTTeSa)^ Str. I 
 
 Seiy/Att TrpoaTOLTrjpiov 
 
 KapBLai.<i TepacTKOTTOv iroTOLTai, 
 
 p^avTiTToKei S' d/feA.euo"Tos ajxifrdo^ aoihd, 
 980 ouS' dTTOTTrucras SUav 
 
 hvCTKpLTOiV oveipa/TOiv 
 
 6dpcro<; evinces i^et 
 
 (f)peuo<; (})l\ov dpovov ; t XP°^°^ ^' ^''''^' 
 
 Trpvp.vqa-Lcav fui'e/A/SoXais 
 985 xjjafifiLa? d/fctTa Trapyj^rjaev, t eu^' uiJ"' iXioi' 
 
 a)/3To i^auySdras o-TJoards. 
 
 irevOofiat 8' aTr' 6p,p,a,T(av Ant. i 
 
 vdcTTOi', auTO/x.a/JTus wi' • 
 990 TOi' 8' di/eu Xupas djutus vpvcaSel 
 
 dprjuov 'E/aiJ'uo? auToSi8afTos ^crwOep 
 
8o AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 confidence of hope. And my inward parts do 
 not divine in vain, as my heart is whirled by fatal 
 currents upon my justly foreboding breast. But 
 I pray that, contrary to my forebodings, it may 
 
 looo all prove false, so as never to be accomplished. 
 
 The limits of great prosperity are ever insati- 
 ate ; for disease is always pressing as a next-door 
 neighbor, and the fate of man in its onward 
 course often strikes a hidden reef. Then the re- 
 luctant master casts away a part of his rich 
 
 loio cargo, and by a moderate sacrifice saves his 
 whole house from falling, though weighed down 
 too deeply with woe, and his ship from sinking ; 
 and the bountiful gifts, which come in abundance 
 from Zeus and from the harvests of the next 
 year, ward off the disease of famine. 
 
 1020 But when the life-blood of a man has once 
 fallen to the ground, who by any charms can 
 recall it ? Otherwise Zeus never would, by way 
 of caution, have checked him who rightly knew 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNIiN 8i 
 
 ^ujoios, ov TO trav e)((ov 
 
 cXttiSos <f)LXov dpd<ro^. 
 995 a-irXdy^va S' ovTi jLiara^ei 
 
 TTpos ei'SiKots <l>p€(r\v reKeo'^opoi^ 
 
 Sij^ais KVKKovfiivov Keap. 
 
 cu^o/xai o eg' e)u,as eATTioos Y/ut'i? ■jrecreii' 
 looo es TO /at) TeXe(r(f>6pov. 
 
 [idXa ye tol to fieyd\a<; uyiias Str. ^s 
 
 aKopeaTov Tepfia. vocroi ydp du 
 yuTOiv ofjiOTOfx^o^ ipeiSei, 
 loos Kol 7rdT/u,os evdvTTopwv 
 
 avS/jos eTTaicrev d<f)avTov ipjxa. 
 
 KOL TO flkv TTpO ^pTJ/AaTWV 
 
 KTTjcrLcav' OKvo? /SaXwi' 
 loio cr<f)evh6va<; an' eu/xer/aou, 
 
 ou/c eSu TTpdira? Sd/xos 
 
 iT7]ixovd<; y4p.(av ayav, 
 
 ovS' eirdwicre cr/fa(^os- 
 lois TToXXoi Tot Sdtrts ck Aios d/*- 
 
 (f)L\a(f}ij<s Te Kal e^ dXd/ccDi' eTrereiai/ 
 
 v^(TTiv aXetrev voaov. 
 
 TO 8' eTTi yav Treo-w ojraf Oavdvifiov Ant. 2 
 I020 trpondpoLd' dvSpos fieXau alfxa tis ai' 
 
 TTctXti/ dyKaXetrair' eTraeiotui/ ; 
 ouSe Toi' opdoSarj 
 Tmv ^difievciiv dvdyew 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 6 
 
82 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 how to raise the dead. But did I not feel that 
 one fate fixed by the Gods might prevent another 
 fate from gaining more than its right, my heart 
 would anticipate my tongue and pour forth all 
 1030 that it could say ; but as it is, it moans in dark- 
 ness, sorely grieved, and having no hope that it 
 will ever unravel anything that is timely, while 
 my soul burns within me. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Take yourself in too, — I mean you, Cas- 
 sandra, — since Zeus has ordained, not in wrath, 
 that you should be a sharer in the holy water 
 of this house, standing with many slaves near the 
 household altar. Dismount from that chariot, 
 1040 do not be too proud ; for they say that once even 
 the son of Alcmene endured to be sold and to eat 
 the bread of slavery. If now the necessity of this 
 fortune should fall to one's lot, it is a great boon 
 to have masters of ancient wealth ; but they who 
 have reaped a rich harvest they never hoped for 
 are savage to their slaves in every way, even be- 
 yond measure. You have what you may expect 
 from us. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 It is a plain speech which she has just spoken 
 to thee. Since thou art now within the meshes 
 of fate, thou canst obey if thou seest fit ; perhaps 
 thou mayest please to disobey. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 83 
 
 Zeu5 av inavcrev in evXa/Seiq,. 
 1025 et 8e joii) rerayfiiva 
 
 fiolpa fiolpav €K deZv 
 eipye fir) nXeou ^epeLV, 
 TTpot^ddcracra KapSCa 
 yKoxTcrav av rao e^e^ei. 
 
 1030 VVV 8' VTTO (TKOTCp jSpifieL 
 
 dvyua\yrj<i re koL ovBev ineX- 
 TTOfieva TTOT€ Kaipiov iKToXvirevaeiv, 
 tfiynvpovp£vas (f)pev6<i. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 1035 eicrw KOjui^ou koI cru, KacravSpav Xeyco, 
 iirei a idrjKe Zeus a.fi7)VLT0)<; Sd/iois 
 
 KOLVMVOV cTl'ai -^^pVL^OiV, TtoXXSiV ^.€70. 
 
 SovXcov (TTadeicrav ktyjctlov /3co[ji,ov ireXas ■ 
 
 €K/3aLv' dlTTJvT}^ T^CtSc, jMTjS' VTTep^poVU. 
 
 1040 KoX TTttiSa ydp Toi <f>acrlv 'AXK/JLtjin}^ nore 
 TrpaOeura rX'^vuL SovXias fioi[,r)<s Tu^eiv. 
 ei S* 0?!' avdyKT) rrjaS' iirippeiTOL tu^tjs, 
 dp-)(^cuoirXovT(ov bea-iroToiv ttoXXtj xdpi,<;. 
 ot 8' ovTTOT iXirCcravTe^ rj/JLTjarav /caXws, 
 
 1045 Q)[jioC TC SouXois irdvra koX irapd (TTadfiiqv. 
 ej^eis vap' "^fjicov otdwep vofiL^eTau. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 (Toc TOL Xeyovca irwuerai (ra(f>rj \6yov. 
 ei'Tos 8' av ovcra fLopcripjOiv dypevfidrcov 
 ireidoC dv, ei tt^WoC ■ aTrei^oiT/s 8' ictcds- 
 
84 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 1050 But if she is not like a swallow, possessed of 
 some unknown barbarian tongue, then speaking 
 within her apprehension I must persuade her by 
 my words. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Follow her. She gives thee the best advice 
 thou canst have. Obey her and leave this seat in 
 the chariot. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 I have no leisure to wait here at the ^ate ; for 
 the victims now stand ready for the sacrifice of 
 fire at the central hearth, for us who never ex- 
 pected to have this joy. If you will do anything 
 that I tell you, make no delay ; but if you do not 
 1060 understand me and take in my words, then speak 
 with your barbarian hand instead of your voice. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 The strange woman seems to need a skilful 
 interpreter; but her manner is like that of a 
 newly captured beast. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Surely she is mad and listens to evil thoughts, 
 she who has left the newly captured city and 
 come hither; but she knows not how to endure 
 the bit until she has foamed away her strength in 
 blood. I, however, will not disgrace myself by 
 wasting more words on her. 
 
AI2XYAOY ArAMEMNflN 85 
 
 KAYTAIMH§TPA 
 
 1050 a\X eiirep iarl firj ^eXiSoi/os hiicqv 
 ayvwTa <]icDvr)v jSaip^apov KeKTrjfJuevTf, 
 ecro) <fipei>ci)v Xeyovcra. irtido} vtv \6ya. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 iiTov. TO. XaJcrra tuu irapecTTUTtov Xeyei. 
 TTtOov Xiirovaa tovS' afia^TJpr} dpovov. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 1055 ovTot Ovpaiav rfjh' ip-ol cr^i^oXi^ ndpa 
 
 Tpi/3eLv • TO. fiev yap eorias fJiea-oii^dXov 
 i(rT7]Kev rj8ir] jxrjXa vpos <T<f>aya's irvpoi, 
 a)S ovTTOT i\'nL(Ta(Ti TtjvS" e^eiv -^dpiv. 
 (TV S' et Ti S/Dtto-ets T(Sv8e, fir) (T)(o\y]v rCdei. 
 
 1060 el 8' d^vvTjfjicov ovcra fir/ Sej^ci \6yov, 
 
 (TV S' dvTL (})(t)vrj<s (f>pd^€ Kap^dv(o X^P*- 
 
 X0P05 
 
 epfir)veo}<; eoLKev r) ^evrj ropov 
 
 SelcrdaL- t/jottos Se Orjpo'; &»s veauperov. 
 
 KAYTAIMH§TPA 
 
 ^ jxaCveTaC ye koI KaKmv /cXuei <^pevmv, 
 1065 T^Tts XiTTOucra //.ej/ ttoXii/ veaiperov 
 
 rjKei, ^aXii/oi/ 8' oujc iirCcTTaTai (jtepecv, 
 irplv aliJLaTr)pov i^a(f>pi^e(TdaL p.4vo<;. 
 ov [i^v TrXect) pi^acr' dTi,iJi.a(r6rj(rofiai,. 
 
86 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 I pity thee and will not be angry. Go, wretched 
 1070 one ; leave the chariot, yield to this necessity, 
 and bow thy neck beneath the new yoke. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Oh, woe is me ! Alas ! Alas ! Oh, Apollo ! 
 Oh, Apollo ! 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Why hast thou uttered these shrieks to Loxias.' 
 It is not for him to hearken to a mourner's wail- 
 ing. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Oh, woe is me ! Alas ! Alas ! Oh, Apollo ! 
 Oh, Apollo! 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 She in her ill-spoken words calls upon the God 
 who must not be present at lamentations. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 1080 Apollo, Apollo ! God of streets, my Apollo ! 
 Thou hast ruined me utterly for the second time. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 She seems to be about to prophesy of her own 
 coming woes; the divine spirit remains even in 
 her enslaved mind. 
 
A12XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 87 
 
 XOPOS. 
 
 eyw 8', itioiKripoi yo.p, ov ^ujMwcro/xat. 
 1070 id', J) TciXaLva, tovB' iprjfi(o(Tacr' o^ov, 
 eLKovo"' avdyKYj rgSe KaLvurov ^vyov. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 OTOTOTOTOL TTOTTOt Stt. Str. I 
 
 SiTToWoV diTTokXoV. 
 
 XOPO? 
 
 Ti ravT dt'WTOTufas dft^t Ao^tov ; 
 1075 ou ydp TotouTos wcrre dprjvrjTov TV^elv. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 OTOTOTOTOl TTOTTOl SS. Ant. 1 
 
 StToXXoI' (UTToXXot'. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 17 8' avre Sva-()>T)fx,ov(Ta tov deov icaXei 
 0^861/ TTpoatJKOPT iv yoois Trapao'TaTelv. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 1080 "AttoXXov "ATroXXov Str. 2 
 
 dyutar' aTToXXwi/ ejU,os- 
 dTTwXctras yd/) ou ju,dXis to oevrepov. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 ■Xprjaeiv eoiKev dfji^l rcov avTT]<; KaKutv. 
 pAvei TO ^etoi' 8owXia -rrep iv <f)p£VL. 
 
88 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Apollo, Apollo ! God of streets, my Apollo ! 
 Ah, whither hast thou brought me? To what 
 roof ? 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 To the Atreidae's roof ; if thou dost not know 
 that, I can tell thee. This thou wilt not say is 
 false. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 i-igo Nay, a god-detested roof, conscious of many 
 things ; here are horrors of kindred slaughter, 
 here are nooses, a human slaughter-house, and a 
 floor reeking with blood. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 The strange woman seems to be quick-scented, 
 like a dog ; and she is searching for those whose 
 murder she can trace out. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Yes, for I am persuaded by these testimonies. 
 Look at those children bewailing their own 
 slaughter and their roasted flesh which their 
 father has tasted! 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 In truth we had heard of thy prophetic fame ; 
 but we want no prophets here. 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 89 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 
 1085 'AttoXXoi/ "AttoWov Ant. 2 
 
 ayvLar olitoWcdv ifio'S. 
 a TTOL WOT T/yayej fie ; tt/jos ttomp a-Teyr/v ; 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TTjOos T^i* 'ArpeiSwi'- et cru /x^ toS' ivvoei^, 
 iyoi Xeycj o"oi- /cai raS' ovk epeis xIwOtj. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 1090 fiiarodeov fieu ovv, ttoWo. crwCcTTopa • Str. 3 
 
 auTO<^di'a /ca/ca /cal apTavai, 
 dvSpocr(f)ayelov Kal TreSoppavTijpioi'. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 eoLKev €vpi<i rj ^ivq Kvvbs Slktjv 
 etvai, fiarevei. 8' wv dvevptjaci, ^di/oj/. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 109s p.apTvpioi(Ti yap rotcrS' imireCdop^ai' Ant. 3 
 
 KXdiofieva rdSe jSpeiffr) (r(f>ayd<s 
 oTTTCis re crdpKa<; vpo'i Trar/aos /8ey8yo<u/u,efas. 
 
 XOPOS 
 ■^ /i^i/ /fXeos crow p.avTLKov Treirva-fjievot 
 
90 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 iioo Oh woe is me! What is she plotting? What 
 is this new great grief, this mighty evil that she 
 is plotting in this house, unbearable for friends, 
 hopeless ? — and all help stands afar. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 I do not understand these divinations ; but the 
 others I understood : the whole city rings with 
 them. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas, wretched woman ; what ! wilt thou do 
 
 this deed .' having welcomed thy wedded husband 
 
 mo with the bath, — how can I tell the end .' But it 
 
 will quickly come ; and she extends one hand 
 
 after another. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 I have not yet understood ; after thy riddles I 
 am perplexed by thy dim divinations. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Ah, alas, alas! What is this that I see .' Is it 
 a net of Hades.? The net is the wife, the ac- 
 complice in murder. Now let the insatiate band 
 utter a shriek over this race for a sacrifice that 
 merits stoning. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 91 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 
 1100 10) iroiroi, tC ttotc /AT^Serat; Str. 4 
 
 Ti ToSe veov a;^os joteya 
 fiey' iv Sd/AOKTi ToicrSe fitjSerai, KaKov 
 d^epTov ^L\oL(Tiv, hvaiaTOv ; oKko. S* 
 e/cas dTTocrraTer. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 1105 TovTwv ai'Spt? et/Ai twi' fiavTevfidrcov. 
 e/cetva 8' eyvcjv ndcra yap ttoXis /80a. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 ift) TaXauva, ToSe yap reXetSj Ant. 4 
 
 TOV OfJiohillV lOV TTOCriV 
 
 \ovTpol(Ti ^ai^pvvacra — ttws (ftpdcro) reXos ; 
 mo Td^o<; yap toS' ecrraf vpoTeCveL Se X^V ^'^ 
 ^cpos opeyop.iva.. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 ouTTO) ^vvTJKa.- vvv yoLp ef alvLyixdrcav 
 iirapyefiouTL ^ecri^arois dp.'t]')(a.vSi. 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 
 €7^, TraTTol ircnraZ, ti toSc ^aCveran; Str. 5 
 
 HIS ■^ St/cTudi' rt^AiSov; 
 
 ^aX\' dpKv? 7) ^vvewo<;, r) ^vvania. 
 -' (f)6vov. crrdai'; 8' d/fdjoeros yivet, 
 KaToXoXv^droj 6vp,aTo<; Xeucrt/Aov. 
 
92 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 What is this avenging Fury that thou dost 
 II20 summon to raise her cry over this house? Thy 
 words do not delight me. The drop of saffron 
 blood rushes back to my heart ; . . . and mis- 
 fortune strides apace. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Ah, look there ! look there ! Protect the bull 
 from the cow ! Having entangled her black- 
 horned victim in the robes by stratagem, she 
 smites him, and he falls in the urn of water. It 
 is the fortune of a murderbusly deceitful caldron 
 that I am telling you. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 1 1 30 I cannot boast to be a skilled interpreter of 
 oracles ; but this bodes some calamity. But what 
 good word ever comes to mortals from oracles .'' 
 For through a course of evils their wordy arts 
 bring men to know oracular fear. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas, alas, the wretched fortunes of me 
 miserable ! Now I speak of my own affliction, 
 pouring this into the cup of woe. To what 
 end didst thou bring me, wretched one, hither.' 
 For nothing except to die with thee. For what 
 else ? 
 
AISXYAOY APAMEMNnN 93 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TToiav 'Epivvv TTJuSe Swju.acrti' KeXei 
 1120 iTTopOidtfiiv; ov fie ^aihpvvei Xdyo5. 
 CTTi Se Kaphiav iSpafie KpoKofia(^'q<s 
 (TTaydiv, fare Kaipia TTTOxrifio'; 
 ^wavvreL jSiov Swtos auyats.t 
 Ta^eia 8' dra ireXei. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 1125 dd, ISoii iSov- ttTre^e ras /Soos Ant. 5 
 
 Tov Tavpov iv TTinXoicri 
 p-eXayKepcou Xa^ovaa ixrj^avijfiaTi 
 
 TVTTTeL- TTlTVei 8' iv IvvhpOJ KVT€l. 
 
 SoXo(f)6i/ov Xc/St^tos Tu^af croi Xiyco. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 1 130 ov KO/jLTrdcraip,' dv dea^drcav yvcofjucDv a/cpos 
 
 elvai, KaKa Se rw Trpocrei/fa^w raSe. 
 
 diro Se de(T<f)dTCDP tis dyadd <f>dTL<; 
 
 ^poTol<; TeXXerai; KaKCJv yap Sial 
 
 TToXveireX's re^vai de(nno)8ov 
 "3S (f)6j3ov (j)epov(TLv p-adeiu. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 10) IW TttXaiva? KaKOTTOTp-OL TU^ai • Str. 6 
 
 TO yap e/AW dpow irddo^ CTrey^^eacra. 
 7701 Si^ jne hevpo rrjv TaXaivav ■^yay€<; ; 
 ovhiv iroT el prj ^vvOavovp^evqv. tC ydp ; 
 
94 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 1 140 Thou art distracted by divine madness, and 
 about thyself thou dost utter an unmelodious 
 song ; as some tawny nightingale insatiate of 
 wailing, alas, from her wretched soul with 
 a cry of " Itys, Itys," bewails her life which is 
 blossoming with sorrows. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Oh, alas for the fate of the clear-voiced 
 nightingale! For the Gods have given her a 
 winged body and a sweet life without weeping ; 
 but there awaits me to be cleft by the two-edged 
 sword. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 1 150 Whence come these vain pangs that rush 
 upon thee through some divine power > Why 
 dost thou strike these terrible notes with ill- 
 omened cries, and likewise in shrillest strains .' 
 Why dost thou keep to these ill-boding ways 
 of the prophetic road ? 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas for the nuptials of Paris, destructive to 
 his friends! Alas for the Scamander, from 
 which my fathers drank! Once as a child I 
 1 1 60 was reared upon thy banks ; but now on the 
 banks of Cocytus and of Acheron I seem 
 likely soon to sing my prophetic song. 
 
A12XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 95 
 
 X0P05 
 
 1 140 <f>p€vofiav'q<; T15 et 6eo<f)6pr]To<;, dfiijil 8* auras dpoeis 
 voyiov dvo/jiov, old tis ^ovdd 
 OLKopeTO'; /Soa?, <f>€v, raXaii/ais <j>pe(Tiv 
 "Itvv "Itvv (TTevovcr' dpi^idaXTJ /ca/cois 
 
 "45 drfhcav ^iov. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 lea loi Xtyeias pjopov d-qhovo^ • Ant. 6 
 
 irepe^aXov yd.p 01 iTTepo<j>6pov Seju,as 
 ^eoi yXuKuf r' alStva. Kkavp^aroiv arep' 
 ifiol Se fjbCiJLuei, (T^icr/nos d/x^rj/cei Sopi. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 1 150 TTodev eiricrcnjT0V5 6eo^6pov<; t e'x^''' fiaraCovs Suas, 
 TO. S' eVi'(^Oj8a 8v(T<f)dTa) Kkayya 
 IJi,e\oTVTTeL<; ofiov t 6p6LOL<; iv v6ixol<;; 
 TToOev 6pov<s exets deaTreaLas oSoC 
 
 1 155 KaKoppyjjxova^ ; 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 tct) ydfioi ydfioL IlaptSos oKidpioi (fiiXcov. Str. 7 
 
 iw %Kafidvhpov irdrpiov ttotov. 
 Tore fji€v dp<f)l eras dioi'as TctXaiv 
 '^vvTOfiav Tpo(})al<;- 
 1 160 i;|}j> 8' d)Li<^t KtuKirroi' re KaxepovcrCov^ 
 6)(dov<i eoi/ca deaTTLCohiija-eLv Ta^a. 
 
96 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 What is this too true word that thou hast 
 uttered ? Even a young child could understand 
 this. But I am smitten with a deadly sting when 
 through thy grievous fortune thou utterest thy 
 tale of woe which it shatters me to hear. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas, alas, for my city, utterly destroyed ! 
 Alas for my father's sacrifice of many herds of 
 1 1 70 grazing cattle to save his towers! But they 
 afforded no help to save his city from suffering 
 as it did ; and I with my burning soul must soon 
 fall to the ground. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Thou hast uttered this in accordance with 
 what thou hast said before ; and some God 
 with thoughts of evil, descending upon thee 
 with heavy weight, drives thee to sing of these 
 grievous deadly sufferings. But I am helpless 
 to divine the end. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 My oracle shall no longer look forth from 
 beneath her veil, like a newly wedded bride ; 
 1 1 80 but now it appears ready to burst forth with a 
 clear blast to the rising sun, so that a woe much 
 greater than this shall dash up like a wave 
 into his rays. And I will teach you no longer 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 97 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TL ToSe Topov ayav ino^ i^yjfiCcra) ; 
 v^oyvo<i dvdpcoirtov fidOoi,. 
 irivX'iqyix.ai S' virai Safcet (f)otvC(o 
 "65 SucraXyet ru^qi fitvvpd dp£Ofieva<s, 
 dpavp,aT ifiol xXueti/. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 i<M TTOVOL TTOvoL TToXeos okop.4va<; TO Trai/. Ant. 7 
 
 lo) wpoTTvpyoL dvcrtai iraTpbg 
 
 TToXvKavel'S fioTbtV TTOLOVOfJLCOV ttKOS S' 
 
 1 1 70 ovSeu iiTTjpKecrav 
 
 TO fj-r) 7ro\tv p.ev aScTTrep ovp e^et iraOeiv. 
 t eya> Se depfiovovi rd)^ iv ireSco /SaXw.t 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 eTTOfMeva TTporipoicri TctS' ec^ry/Aicrw. 
 /cat Tts o"e KaKO(j)povwv tlOt]- 
 117s o-t haipjoiv viT€pl3apri<s ifjUTriTVcov 
 pe\C£,eLv vddr) yoepd 6avaTO(f)6pa. 
 Tepfia 8' dprj^avS). 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 Kal fiTjv 6 )(py]afib<; ower eK Ka\vfip.dTa>v 
 eorai SeSop/c&JS v€oydp.ov vvfi<j)y]'; Slktjv 
 1180 Xa/x77po? 8' ioLKev rfkiov irpos diroXa? 
 TTueoy icrd^eLV, acrre KVfiaTO<; Pi/ojv 
 /fXu^etv Trpos auyas TovSe TTiJixaTo^ ttoXu 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 7 
 
gS AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 by riddles. Bear witness to me as I closely 
 scent the track of evils which have been wrought 
 of old. There is a band that never leaves this 
 roof, concordant, but not harmonious, for it 
 speaks no good ; and having drunk of human 
 blood so as to be still more emboldened, this 
 1 190 band of revellers abides in this house, hard to 
 be expelled, this band of kindred Furies. And 
 as they sit upon the roof tree they sing their 
 song of the primeval curse ; and in turn they 
 spurn with loathing the brother's bed, hostile 
 to him who defiled it. Am I wrong, or like a 
 good archer do I hit my mark? Or am I a 
 false prophet, a vagrant babbler ? Bear witness 
 on your oath that I know the story of the ancient 
 crimes of this house. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 How can an oath, a security firmly given, 
 
 prove healing here .'' But I am surprised that 
 
 1200 thou, reared beyond the sea, dost chance to 
 
 speak of this foreign city as if thou hadst always 
 
 lived in it. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 The prophet Apollo appointed me to this duty. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Can it be that the God was smitten with love of 
 thee ? 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNflN 99 
 
 fiel^ov • (f>pev(acrca o ovKer ef alvtyfiaTOiv. 
 Kai /AaprupetTC (xvvhp6^oi<; L)(yo<; KaKtJu 
 
 1185 pivy]kaTov(Tijj rS)v TraXai ireTTpayfievcav. 
 
 TTjv yap (TTeyrjv TrjvS" ovvot' iKXeiveL ^o/aos 
 (TVfL^doyyo<s ovK ev<j)0)vo<s ■ ov yap eS \^ei. 
 Kai fjirju TreTTco/ctas y', ws dpacrvvecrdau irXiov, 
 fipcneiov atfia Kcopo? iv Sojiiots fieuei, 
 
 1 190 SucTTre/xTTTos e£<u, cruyyoi'wi' 'Eyoivuoji'. 
 vfAvovcTL 8' vfivov Scofiacrtv Trpoarfp^evai 
 TrpcoTapxov aTTjv iv fiepa 8' avinrvfTav 
 evva? aSeX(f)ov tw ttotovvti Svajxeveis- 
 yjfjiapTov, 7] d-qpoi) Ti to^ott]^ tis tSs ; 
 
 1195 ■^ ^ev86fJi.avTt^ eljjLL dvpoKono^ (jyXeSwv; 
 iKfiapTvpyja-ov Trpov/xocras to p.' eiSeuai, 
 Xoyco TraXatas twi'8' apapTia<s B6p,o)v. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 /fai TTws ai' O/3/C0?, Trfjypa yei'i^aitus vayev, 
 TTaibiviov yei/OLTO ; davpdtfi) 8e ere 
 1200 TTOVTOW iripoLV Tpa^acrav dXXodpovu ttoXlv 
 Kvpelv Xiyovcrav, axrirep et TrapecrTctTeis- 
 
 KASANAPA 
 p-avn^ ju.' 'AttoXXwi' t&58' iireo'T'qa'ev reXei. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
loo AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 Once I was ashamed to speak of this. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Yes, every one when he is in prosperity is 
 more delicate. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Yes, he was a suitor who breathed upon me 
 with great favor. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Didst thou ever consent to bear children to him .' 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 I assented to Loxias, but deceived him. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Wert thou already possessed of prophetic arts ? 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 I2IO I already predicted to my citizens all their 
 sufferings. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Then how didst thou escape unpunished by 
 the wrath of Loxias ? 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 I could make no one believe anything, because 
 I had done him this wrong. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON loi 
 
 KASANAPA 
 trpoTov [i€v aiSws •^v ifiol Xdyeiv raSe. 
 
 XOPOS 
 1205 a^pvverai yap ttSs tis ev Trpdcraoiv irXeop. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 dXX.' ^u iraXaitTTTj? Kapr ipol irvecjv ^dpiv. 
 
 X0P05 
 ■^ Koi TCKvcov eis ipyou -^XdeTrjv v6p,co ; 
 
 KASANAPA 
 fwaivecrao-a Ao^Cav i\^ev<Tdp,rjv. 
 
 X0P05 
 ■^St; T€)(yaLcnv ivOioi^ T^prifiiur) ; 
 
 KASANAPA 
 1210 ■^817 TToXtrais irdvT ide(XTnt,ov irdOrj. 
 
 X0P05 
 TTcDs 8'^t' dvaTO<; rjada Ao^iov koto) ; 
 
 KASANAPA 
 CTTeidov ovhiu ovSev, a»s TaS' rjfnrXaKov. 
 
I02 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Thou seemst to us at least to divine things that 
 are credible. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas, alas ! Oh, woes ! Oh, woes ! Again the 
 terrible suffering of true divination torments 
 me by these bewildering preludes. Do you see 
 those children sitting by the house, like to 
 forms of dreams .■• There they are, children 
 murdered as it were by their own friends, having 
 
 1 220 their hands full of the meat of their own flesh, 
 with their hearts and their inwards, a piteous 
 load, of which their father has tasted ! As 
 punishment for this I say that a cowardly lion, 
 lurking in his lair, is lying in wait to watch for 
 my master on his return. I say " my master," for 
 I now must bear the yoke of slavery. And the 
 commander of the ships and the destroyer of 
 Ilion little knows what the tongue of this lewd 
 beast has uttered, and what she has held forth 
 with cheerful countenance, like a deceitful 
 
 1230 Ate, and what she will accomplish by evil 
 fortune. So daring is she ; the woman is the 
 murderer of the man. By calling her what 
 odious beast can I hit the mark ? Can I call her 
 an amphisbaena, or a Scylla dwelling in the 
 rocks, the pest of sailors, raging mother of 
 Death, breathing an implacable curse upon 
 her friends ? And how the audacious woman 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNfiN 103 
 
 XOPOS 
 •fjljuv ye fji€v 8^ TTLCTTa decTTTL^eiv So/ceis. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 » \ » ^ ^ * / 
 
 lov Lov, o) (0 KaKa. 
 
 1215 VTT av fie SeiTOS opdofiavreia^ ttovo^ 
 
 (TTpo/Sel TapdcTcrcDV (ftpoLfiioL'i {8v(r({)povfJiiois)- 
 opare ToucrSe tous So/aoi? i<^'qp.€i'ov<; 
 v4ov<;, 6veipo)i> Trpocr^epeis fJi.op^cofj.a(Xi ; 
 TTttiSes dauovre^ oxmepei TTyoos rciiv (jiCkcov, 
 
 1220 T^eipas Kpecjv TrXyjdovTe<s oi/cetas fiopa<;, 
 
 (xiiv ivTepot<; re crTrXay^i'', eiroiKTia-Tov y4fio<;, 
 TTpenova"' e')(ovT€<i, Stv iraT-qp iyevaaro. 
 e/c Twi'Se TTOivd<; <^7j/ai ^ovXeveiv tlvol 
 XeovT dvakKiv iv X.e)(ei aTpcacfxoixevov 
 
 1225 OlKOVpOV, OlflOL, TftJ fLoXoVTl OeCTTTOTri 
 
 ejLtw • ^epuv yap -^prj to SovXlov l,vy6v • 
 vecov T iTTap-)(o<; 'iXtov t dva(TTa,Tr)<; 
 ovK oTSev Ota yXaxraa p,i(rrJTT)<i kwos 
 Xe^aaa KOLKTeivaaa ^aiSpovovi;, SiKyju 
 
 1230 arjjs Xadpatov, reu^eTai KaKy Tv^y. 
 TOLavTa ToXfia ■ 6rjXv<; dparevo? (fjovev? 
 icTTiv. Ti vvv KaXovcra 8wo"<^iXes oaKos 
 TV)(OLp^ dv ; d[i<f)C(Tl3aLvav, rj %KvXXau tlvol 
 olKovaav iv wer/aaicn, vavTiXcav ^Xd^iqv, 
 
 1235 d'vovcrav "AiSou p/r^Tep', dairovoov t dpdv 
 <^tXots TTveovaav ; ws S' e77(wXoXvfaTO 
 17 TTtti'TOToX/oios, wcnrep iv pdxr)<; Tpoirrj. 
 
104 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 exulted, as if in the turn of battle : and she 
 seems to delight in his safe return. But it is 
 all one whether I make you believe any of this 
 1240 or not. For why.? The future will come ; and 
 soon shall you be present as a witness, and in your 
 pity declare me to be only too true a prophetess. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 The banquet of Thyestes on his children's 
 flesh I know and have shuddered at; and fear 
 possesses me when I hear thy tale told with 
 no mere semblance of truth. But as to the rest, 
 when I listen, I fall from my course and run wild. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 I say that you are to behold the death of 
 Agamemnon. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Oh, wretched woman, hush thy mouth in silence. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 Ah, no God of healing attends this saying. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 No, not if it is to be done; but may it not be 
 done. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 1250 You make prayers, while they are concerned 
 with murder. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 By what man is this grief to be brought about > 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNfiN 105 
 
 SoKel 8e )(aCpeLv vocrTLfio} (TCiyrrjpta. 
 KOI tS>vB' ajJiOLOv £t T6 fjirj TreWoi ■ tl yap ; 
 1240 TO fieWov yf^ei. koI cru fi iu rct^ei irapoDv 
 ayav aX'qdop.avTLv oiKTtpas epeis. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Trjv fiep @vi(rTov Saira TratSeiwv Kpetxtv 
 ^vrJKa Koi iri^piKa, koI ^oySos ju,' e^et 
 /cXuoi't' d\i7^a)9 oirSei/ cfrjfcacrjLieVa. 
 1245 TO, S' aXX' d/coucra? e/f Bpo/xov Trecrwj^ rpi^o). 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 ' Ayap,ep.vov6's ere <^i7/a' i'n-6\fie<x0ai p.6pov. 
 
 XOPOS 
 eitprjixov, a> rdXati^a, Koip-rjcrov crTOfxa. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 dXX' ouTt TTatwi' TftJS' eVtcTTaTer Xd-yw. 
 
 X0P05 
 oi!/f, eiTTC/a itrrai y • dXXd )U,'^ yevono ircus. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 1250,. (TV /ACi' Korev'XXi, toi? 8' aTroKTeCveuv fiikei. 
 
 X0P05 
 Ttvos TT/oos di'Spos TOUT ayos TTopcrvverai ; 
 
io6 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Surely you must have misapprehended my 
 divinations. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 For I have not understood the plan of him 
 who is to execute it. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 Yet I understand Greek speech only too well 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 So do the Pythian oracles; but still they are 
 hard to understand. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas ! What is this fire ! And it is coming upon 
 me. Woe is me, Lyceian Apollo, woe is me. This 
 two-footed lioness, bedded with the wolf, in the 
 1260 absence of the noble lion, is to slay me wretched; 
 and like one mixing a potion, she will add to the 
 cup of her wrath also a requital for me. And she 
 boasts, as she is whetting her sword for her hus- 
 band, that she will repay him with murder for 
 bringing me hither. Why do I keep these things 
 that merely bring laughter upon me, my wands 
 and these prophetic fillets on my ijeck.'' Thee I 
 will destroy before I meet my fate. Go ye down 
 to destruction, and I will follow. Enrich some 
 other pest instead of me. Behold, here is Apollo 
 himself stripping me of my oracular robes, after 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 107 
 
 KASANAPA 
 7] KapT ap av wapecrKOiTeL^ ■^pyjo'ficov ifiwu. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Tov yap TcXoCiTos ov ^wrJKa p/q^av^qv. 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 Kai pyjv ayaj" y EkXrjv' iirCcrTapai ^dnv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 1255 Kal yap ra irvOoKpavra • Svcrpadrj S' opco?. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 traiTat, otov to vvp • CTrep^^erat 8e poi. 
 
 OTOTOi, AvKEL "AttoXXov, o* iyci) iy(o. 
 
 avTT} SiTTous Xcau'a crvyKoipapivrj 
 
 \vKco, \eovTo<s cvyevov^ dirovcrCa., 
 1260 KTevei fie ttjv ToKaivav • cd<; Se <jioippaKov 
 
 Tev^ovaa Kapov purdov iudTJcret Korea • 
 
 KaTreu^eTat drjyovcra <J)0)tI <f)dayavov 
 
 ipyj? oiya)yyj<; avriTilaacrOai ^ovov. 
 
 tC Srjr' ipavTrj<s KarayeXcoT ej^cu raSe, 
 1265 Kal cTKyjirrpa Kal pavreia irtpl ^eprj ari^iq ; 
 
 <re pev irpo poipa<s ttjs e/i^s Zia^depw. 
 
 It i<s ^dopov irea-ovT, iyo) 8 dp' ixjjopai, • 
 
 dWrjv TLv aTiqv dvr ipov TrXowrt^cTe. 
 
 180U 8' 'AvoWoiv avTO<s iKhvatv ipe 
 
io8 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 1270 he has seen me even in this garb ridiculed among 
 friends by my enemies without dissent, but with- 
 out cause. And I endured like a vagrant wapdei;er 
 to be called a beggar, a wretch, a starveling. And 
 now the prophet, having undone me a prophetess, 
 has brought me to these fatal fortunes. Instead 
 of my father's altar a butcher's block awaits me, 
 when I am smitten in hot blood by murderous 
 slaughter. But we shall not die dishonored by 
 
 1280 the Gods ; for there shall come hereafter another 
 to avenge us, a child who will slay his mother and 
 will avenge his father; and he who is now a wan- 
 dering exile, a stranger to this land, will return to 
 put the coping stone to this edifice of calamity for 
 his house. For a mighty oath has been sworn 
 by the Gods; that the fall of his murdered father 
 shall bring him home again. Why now do I 
 abide here thus lamenting, since first I have seen 
 the city of I lion faring as it has fared, and since 
 I have seen those who held the city come out thus 
 
 129° in the judgment of the Gods? I will go to meet 
 my fate: I will endure to die. These gates that 
 are before me I address as the gates of Hades ; 
 and I pray that I may receive a fatal blow, so that 
 without a struggle, my life-blood flowing in easy 
 death, I may close these eyes. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Oh, woman of much grief, but also of much 
 wisdom, thou hast spoken at length; but if thou 
 truly knowest thy own fate, why dost thou step 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNON 109 
 
 127° XPV^''"'1P^'^^ icrdrJT', eVoTrreucra? 8e fie 
 Kav ToicrSe koctjuois KaTayeKoifiivqv [leya 
 ^iKcov VTT i^dpwv, ov hi^oppoTroi^, fiaTrjv. 
 KaXovfievrj oe, <^otTas a»s oLyvprpia, 
 iTTCi))(o<s TttXaiva Xifiodi^^ riy€cr')(6p,'rjv. 
 
 1275 /cat vvv 6 fiduTL's p,a.vTLU iKirpa.^a<; ifie 
 aTTyjyay' es TotacrSe davacrCfJiov^ Tu^i^as. 
 ^cofjiov irarpcoov S' di'r' iirL^rfvov fievei,, 
 6epp.M KOTTeicrrj^ (jiOLvCw TTpocr<j>dyf/'Oi-TL. 
 oil firjv aTifioC y e/c Qetav Teduij^ofjiev. 
 
 1280 Tj^ei yap ■^p.Zv aWos aS TLfidopo^, 
 
 jxrjTpoKTovov (fiCrvfia, iroivoLTcap TraTp6<; • 
 <f)vya^ 8' dXT^TTjs T^trSe y^s aTTO^evos 
 Ko/reLcrLv, aras TatrSe dpiyKaaoiv ^tXois ■ 
 oficofioraL yap 6pKo<s,iK dewv jxeya?, 
 
 1285 afew' viv iiTTTiacrfia K!eLp.evov Trarpo?. 
 TL S^t' eyo) KdToiKo<; wS' dva(TTevca, 
 eirei to TrpcjTov elSov 'WCov ttoXlv 
 Trpd^acrav <us eirpa^ev, ol S' et^ov irdXti' 
 ourojs diraXXao'crouo-ii' ev ^ecSi' Kpuxei ; 
 
 1290 loGcra TTpd^Q) ■ rXijcTOfiaL to Kajdavelv. 
 "Aidov 77uXas Se rdcrS' eyo) TrpoaevveTTOi • 
 eVeu^o/u.at Se /catpias TrXTjy^s Tw^eiv, 
 Ol? dcre^dSacTTO?, alfidroiv evdvrja-CfjLcov 
 diToppvivTCiiv, ofifla cru/A/8dX&> rdSe. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 1295 tu TToXXd ju,ev raXaiva, ttoXXIx o' au (To^rj 
 yvvai, fiaKpav eTeiva<;. et S' eT^jTUju-tus - . 
 
no AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 to the altar with such calm courage, like an ox 
 whom a God drives to the sacrifice? 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 There is no escape; there is none, strangers, 
 for a longer time. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 1300 And yet he who comes last in time has an 
 advantage. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 My day has come ; I shall gain little by flight. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 But know that thou art suffering with a coura- 
 geous heart. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 That is a consolation that no happy man ever 
 hears. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 But it is a boon for a mortal to die nobly. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 Alas, oh, father, for thee and for thy noble 
 children ! 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 What is it now .' What terror turns thee back .' 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 
 
 ixopov Tov auTTjs oXada, ttw<; de-qkarov 
 j3oos BCktjv ir/3os ficjfiov euroX/itos Trareis ; 
 
 KASANAPA 
 ovK iar aXu^ts, ov, ^ivoi, ^povou irXeca. 
 
 XOPOS 
 1300 o 8' vtTTaTos ye Tou -^^povov irpecr^eveTai. 
 
 KA§ANAPA 
 17/cei ToS* '^fiap ■ cTfiLKpa Kephavu) (ftvyy- 
 
 X0P05 
 dX.X' 1(7^1 tXtJiicou over' an' euroX/iou ^pevo?. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 ouSeis aKov€L ravra twv evSaifiovotv. 
 
 X0P05 
 dXX' cvkXcoj? Toi Kardavuv x«*/"5 )8/3ot^. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 1305 ia» irdrep crow crwi' re yevuaicau tckumv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Tt 8' eo-Ti XPVH'"'- ' ''"^5 ^' oLiroa-Tpi^ei. <^6^o% ; 
 
112 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 Oh, horror! horror! 
 
 CHOfiUS LEADER 
 
 Why hast thou uttered this cry, unless there is 
 some loathing in thy heart ? 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 This house has the scent of murder dripping 
 with blood. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 But how is that ? This scent is from the sacri- 
 1310 fices of the central hearth. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 It seems like a blast from the tomb. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 It is no glory of Syrian perfumes that thou 
 ascribest to this house. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 I am going into the house, there also to bewail 
 my death and Agamemnon's. Enough of life, O 
 strangers. It is not in vain that I shrink from 
 this house in terror as a bird flutters around a 
 bush. When I am dead, bear testimony to this, 
 when a woman shall die to avenge me a woman, 
 and when a man shall fall to avenge an ill-wedded 
 1320 man. I ask this gift of hospitality from ypu as 
 one about to die. 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNflN 113 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 ^eu (f)ev. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Ti tovt' ei^eufas ; et ti jiat) (jtpevaiv oruyos. 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 ^ovov od/ioi TTveovcTLV alfjiaTocTTayrj. 
 
 XOPOS 
 1310 Kal TTws ; ToS' o^ei dv/jiaTrnv i^ecTTicov. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 o/iotos dTjU,09 wcrnep e/c Toi(f>ov TrpeireL. 
 
 X0P05 
 ou %vpiov dyXaicrfjia Scofiaa-iv Xeyeis. 
 
 KASANAPA 
 
 dW eljiii Kav odjiAotcrt kcokvctovct ifirfv 
 ' Ayaficfivovo'S re fioipav. apKeiro) ySt'os- 
 
 '3'5 tw fet'oi. 
 
 ovroi Sucroi^aj ddfivov cus d/oji'ts (f>6^a) 
 dWoJS • dauovcrrj jxapTvpebTe fioi ToSe, 
 orav yvvrj yuvat/cos dir' e/AOu ddvrj, 
 dvrjp re SutrSd/Aapros dir' di/8/3os Triarj. 
 
 1320 iTn^evovfJiai, ravra 8' ws davovfiivq. 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 8 
 
114 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Oh, wretched woman, I pity thee for the death 
 thou hast foretold. 
 
 CASSANDRA 
 
 I wish once more to speak, or rather to sing 
 my own dirge; and I pray to the sun in the 
 presence of this last light of his, * * • 
 
 ****** 
 when I die as a slave, an easy victim. Alas for 
 human fortunes; When they are happy, a mere 
 shadow can overturn them ; but if they are ca- 
 lamitous, a wetted sponge by one stroke obliter- 
 1330 ates all trace: and for this last I have more pity 
 than for the former. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Prosperity is ever insatiate with all mortals ; 
 but no one ever shuts her out from his house say- 
 ing " No longer enter here." So to this man the 
 blessed Gods have granted to capture Priam's city, 
 and honored by God he returns home. But, now, 
 if he is to atone for the blood of former victims, 
 1340 and dying for those who have died is to pay the 
 penalty for other deaths, what mortal hearing 
 this would ever boast that he was born with a 
 fate free from harm ? 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNfiN 115 
 
 X0P05 
 <u TXTJfiov, oiKTipoi ere 0e(T(f>oiTov fiopov. 
 
 KA5ANAPA 
 
 ana^ er' elTreiv prj(nv ^ dpyjvov dikot 
 ifwv Tou avT'^<;. r)\.i(o 8' itrev^opuai 
 
 TTpOS V(TTaTOV ^WS t TOIS C/AOl? Tl/U.aO/30tS 
 
 '325 €)(dpoi<i (f)ovev(TL TOIS Cjaois rCveLv 6)u,ov,t 
 SouXtjs davova"!q<;, evpapov? ^ei/Jcujotaros. 
 10) /Sjodreia vpdyfiaT • evrvx^ovvra ixev 
 (TKid Tis ai' Tpexjieuev • ei 8e Svotu^tj, 
 ^SoXai? vyptoaawv CTTToyyos wXecrei' 'Ypa<f>t]v. 
 
 1330 Jcai raCr' iKeCucov ixaWov olKrCpo) ttoXv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 TO /lei' eS TTpda-aeiv aKopecTTov e^v 
 
 iraai jSpoTolcTLV • SaKruXoSei/crwv S' 
 
 ouTis direiTTCDV evpyei, ixeXdOpaiv, 
 
 /jLT^Ker' i(Ti\drj<s, TciSe ^<avoiv. 
 '335 Kal TftJSe 770X11' jMCj" eXeti/ i8o(Tav 
 
 [idKape^ Ilpidpov 
 
 deoTCixr)TO<; 8' ot/caS' iKdvei. 
 
 vvv S' ei TTporipbiv atfi diroTeiarj 
 
 /cat Totcrt davovcTi davcov dWcov 
 1340 TTOivoLs davarwv iiriKpavrj, 
 
 Tis itot' ai' eufatTO ^poTwv daivet 
 
 Sa'fiovL (pvvat rdS' aKovcov ; 
 
ii6 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 Oh, woe is me ! I am struck to the heart with 
 a fatal blow. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Silence! Who cries out, struck with a fatal 
 blow ? 
 
 AGAMEMNON 
 
 1345 Woe is me again, struck with a second blow ! 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 It seems to me, by the wailing of the king, 
 that the deed has been done. But let us take 
 counsel, in case any safe plan shall appear. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS 
 
 I. I give you my opinion, that we should pro- 
 claim to the citizens to bring help hither to the 
 palace. 
 1350 2. And it seems to me that we should rush in 
 with all speed, and convict the murderer in the 
 act with his newly dripping sword. 
 
 3. And I share in the same opinion, and I vote 
 to do something. It is high time for no delay. 
 
 4. Yes, we can see; for they are beginning 
 to act like men who would threaten the state with 
 tyranny. 
 
 5. Yes, for we are slow; but they trample 
 under foot the glory of delay, and are sleepless 
 with their hands. 
 
 6. I know not what advice I can find to utter. 
 It is the part of one who acts also to take counsel. 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 117 
 
 AfAMEMNQN 
 (ofjLoi, TriirX-qy^j.ai Kaipiav TrXT/yjji' eitreu. 
 
 XOPOS 
 criya • rts irX-qyy^v duVei Kaipicu; ovTa(Tiiivo<; ; 
 
 ArAMEMNQN 
 1345 <u)u,oi ju,a\' au^is, Sevrepav 7mr\iqyiiivo<i- 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Tovpyov elpydcrOaL So/cei joioi ySatrtXeiws olp^coyfjiaTt. ■ 
 dXXa Koivai(Ta>p,ed' rjv •77009 a(r<f>a\rj ^ovXev/jLara. 
 
 XOPEYTAI 
 
 I. eyo) jiiei' u/aii' Trji* e/i^v yvcjp.yjv Xeyco, 
 
 Trpbs SwjLia SeS/j' dcrToitrt Kr]pv(Tcrei.v /3oy]v. 
 1350 2. e^oi S' OTTws Td')(i(TTd y ifnrecrelv SoKei 
 Kot TTpayp,' iXey^€i,v aiiv veoppvTO) ^i<f)eL. 
 
 3- Kayo) ToiovTov yvwfJiaTo^ koivcjpo^ wv 
 xjjrj^Ct^ojJiai Ti Spav • to firj fieWav S' aKfiij. 
 
 4- opav TTapecTTi • <j>poip.Ld^ovTaL yap to? 
 '3SS Tvpavviho<i a-r]p.ela irpdo-iTOVTes ttoX-ci. 
 
 5- xpovit,op.ev ydp. ol Se rrjs jLieXXoCs kXcos 
 TreSot TraTovvTe<; ov Kadeuhovcriv X^P*- 
 
 6. ovK oXha fiovKri<i ■^cTTivo<s tu^wv Xeyw. 
 Tov SpcivTos icTTi Kol TO ySovXeCcTai 7re/3i. 
 
ii8 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 1360 7. And I take the same view, for I am at a 
 loss to know how to raise the dead again by words. 
 
 8. Shall we let our lives go on, and thus yield 
 to these men in power who are disgracing this 
 house ? 
 
 9. That is not endurable: it is better to die, 
 for death is a gentler fate than tyranny. 
 
 10. Well now ! on the testimonies of mere 
 groans are we to divine that the man is really 
 dead .■' 
 
 11. We ought to speak on this from clear 
 knowledge ; but guessing is very far from know- 
 ing clearly. 
 
 12. {The Chorus Leader.') I am supported 
 1370 from all sides in approving this, that we learn 
 
 clearly how it really fares with the son of Atreus. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Having said much before this to suit the mo- 
 ment, I will not be ashamed now to speak the 
 opposite. For how can any one, who is devising 
 hostility to foes who profess to be friends, sur- 
 round them with woe like a i^et too high to be 
 leapt over.' To me now this contest, which of 
 old has never been forgetful of a former victory, 
 has come in time, but it has come. I stand where 
 I smote him, with the deed accomplished. And 
 1380 I so did it, for I will not deny it, that he should 
 neither escape nor ward off his fate. I surround 
 him, like a shoal of fish, with a net which had no 
 outlet, a fatal wealth of robe. And I smite him 
 twice, and with two groans he relaxes his limbs ; 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNliN 119 
 
 1360 7. Kaya ToioCros etju,', eVei Sva-fjiTj^avSt 
 Xoyoicrt tov ^avwr' aviaTavai iraKiv. 
 8. ?! KoX fiLov T€ivovTe<s SS' viTeC^ofjiev 
 
 Sofiatu KaTa.i(rxwTr\p(Ti toictS* rfyovfievoi'i ; 
 9- dX\' ouK ducKTOv, dWd Kardavew Kparei • 
 1365 ireTTaiTepa yap [lolpa rrj^ rvpavvCSo^. 
 
 10. ■^ yap TeKfirfpioiaLv ii oijutay/xarwi/ 
 fiavrevcrofiecrda ravSpos &»s 6X&)Xoto5 ; 
 
 11. o-a^' etSoras XPV Twi'Se pvBeta-dai vept • 
 TO yap Toird^eii^ tov (rdtf}' eiSevai Si^a. 
 
 1370 12. TavTrjv iirau^eiv vdvTod^v TrXrjdvvofiai, 
 
 Tpav5><i 'ATpeCSrjv clSevai Kvpovvff oirws. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 
 iroXXwi' wdpoiOev Kaipioi^ elp-qpivoiv 
 
 rdi/ai'Ti* elirelv ovk iTrai.<r)(yvdii)(Top,ai.. 
 
 TTcils yap Tis ix0pol<: ^X^P^" T^opcrvucDV, <^iXois 
 
 '375 BoKovcriv etvai, irTjfiovrjv dpKvcTTar av 
 ^pd^eiev, v»/»os Kpetaaov exTn^Sry/itaTos ; 
 e/xoi o ayo)!' 00 ovk atppovTUTTo? Tra\aL 
 vCKr)<s TTaXaia? ^X^e, criiv XP°^^ 7^ Z^'?'' ' 
 ea-TTTjKa o eva CTraicr ctt egeipyacr/ievois. 
 
 1380 ourtu S' iirpa^a, kcu TctS' ou/c dpinjcroiiai,, 
 ftis /xijTe (ftevyeiv firJT' dfivfeadaL popov. 
 direipov dp^ifiXiqaTpov, warnep lxOvcdv, 
 irepKTTiX'^lfli, irkovTov elpaTO'i KaKov. 
 iraCo) Se vlv Sis • Kdv Svolv oipcoypdTOLV 
 
 1385 pedrJKSP avTov KolXa • Koi ireiTTWKOTi 
 
I20 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 and when he has fallen, I add a third blow, a 
 grateful boon to Hades beneath the earth, the 
 saviour of the dead. Thus falling, he pants forth 
 his life; and as he breathes forth the sharp gush 
 1390 of his life-blood, he strikes me with a dark drop of 
 deadly dew, and I rejoice in it no less than the 
 sown field rejoices in beauty sent from Zeus in 
 the bursting of the flower-cup. Since this is so, 
 aged men of Argos, you may rejoice if so you 
 please ; but I exult. And if it were becoming to 
 pour a libation over this dead man, this would be 
 just, nay, exceeding just. With so many cursed 
 calamities has he filled the cup in this house, and 
 now he has come home to drain it off. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 We wonder at thy tongue, — how bold-mouthed 
 1400 thou art, who dost utter such a boastful speech 
 over thy husband. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 You are trying me as if I were a foolish 
 woman ; but I with fearless heart say to you who 
 know, — and it is all one to me whether you wish 
 to approve or to blame me : " This is Agamem- 
 non, my husband, now dead, the work of this right 
 hand, a righteous worker. So stands the case." 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 What evil thing hast thou eaten which grew 
 on earth, or what hast thou drunk which came 
 from the flowing sea, that thou hast placed this 
 
AISXYAOY APAMEMNnN 121 
 
 TpLTTjv eTrevStScojUt, tov Kara ^^oi'os 
 'AiSou veKpSiu (TCDTrjpo'i evKTaCav ^dpiv. 
 ovTO) TOV avTov dvfiov opfxaCveL irecrav, 
 KdK<fivcn.(ov o^elau ai/iaros (T^ayrjv 
 
 1390 /SaWei ju,' ipefivy xpaKaSi, ^oivia<; hpoaov, 
 ■^aCpovcrav ov8ku ■^aaov rj SlocSotq) 
 yaveL cnroprjTos koXvko^ iu Xo'^^evp.acrvv. 
 ois wS' ixovTcov, TrpecrySos 'ApyeCwv ToSe, 
 ^aCpoLT av, et ■^atpoLr', iyo) 8' iTrev^ofiai. 
 
 139s et S' '^j/ irpeirovTwv wot' iTrLcnrevSeiv veKpw, 
 raS' av StKatws ^i', uTrepSi/ctus jmcj/ oSv. 
 TOcrwrSe Kparrjp' iv So/xois KaKcou oSe 
 TrXijcras dpaCwu auros iKwCvei fioXwv. 
 
 XOPO? 
 
 davixd^ofxev crov yXSto'cra.v, ois 6 pa(ru(TTop,o<;, 
 1400 tjItis TOioi'S' ctt' dfS^l Kop,TTa.tfii<i \6yov. 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 
 treipda-de fiov yvvaLKo<; cLs d(j)pdcrp.ovo^ ■ 
 iyo) 8' drpeaTa) Kap8iq, irpo'S eiSoTois 
 \ey<u • cru S' alveiv eire ju,e \peyeLv ^eXets 
 6p.oiov. ouTos ecTTti' ' Ayafiifivcov, e'jLios 
 1405 170(715, veKpo's Se, TTjo-Se Sefias X^P°5 
 epyov, oi/catas tcktovos. rao wo e;^ei. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Ti KaKov, a> ywai, ■)(6ovoTpe(j)es iSavov Str. 
 
 ■^ TToroi' vacrap^eva pvrds ii dXos opfievov 
 
122 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 incense upon thy head with the people's curses. 
 1410 Thou hast cast him out, thou hast cut him off ; 
 and thou shalt be cut off from the city, a mighty 
 abomination to the citizens. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Now you would condemn me to be exiled from 
 the city and to have the hatred of the citizens 
 and the people's curses, when you brought 
 nothing like this against this man, who, regard- 
 ing it as little as if it had been the death of a 
 beast, while sheep were abounding in his fleecy 
 flocks, sacrificed his own daughter, my dearest 
 offspring, to quiet the Thracian blasts. Should 
 you not h9,ve banished him from this land as a 
 punishment for his foul deeds ? When you hear 
 1420 of my acts you are a harsh judge ; but I tell you 
 to go on with your threats, for I am prepared 
 on equal terms, if you overpower me by your 
 hands, to let you rule me ; but if God wills it 
 otherwise, taught late in life, you shall learn a 
 lesson of prudence. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Thou hast grand thoughts, and hast uttered 
 haughty words. Thy mind is maddened, as it 
 were, by thy murderous fortune. A clot of 
 blood is to be seen on thy brow yet unatoned ; 
 and hereafter, bereft of friends, thou must pay 
 1430 blow for blow. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNUN 123 
 
 T08' iireOov dvo<s BrjfioOpoov? t dpd? ; 
 1410 aTreSi/ces, direTafie^ • dTrdiroXis S* ecrrf 
 filaos o^pifjLOv doTois. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 vvv iL€v otKa^eis e'/c TrdXews fftvyrjv ifiol 
 /cat jLiitros daTwv Byjixodpov; t ^x^iv dpd^, 
 ouoet' TOO avopi rmo €vavTt,ov (pepojv • 
 
 1415 OS ov irpoTip.oiv, wa-nepel /Sotov fjLopov, 
 fiTijXav (f>\e6vTQ)v euTTo/cois vop.tvp,a(Tiv, 
 edvcrev avrov iraiSa, (ftiXTdTrjv e/xot 
 diSlv', iiTOiBou @pr)Kicov drjfidTcov. 
 ov TovTov iK yrj<; rrjcrSe XPV^ ""' dvSprjXaTeiv, 
 
 1420 fiiaafiaTOiv avoiv' ; CTTif/coos S' e/twj/ 
 
 epyoov StKacTTrj's Tpa^ix; el. Xeytu Se croi 
 TOiavT diretXetv, ws TTapecrKevacrpAvrf^ 
 iK tS>v Ofjuoimv X^'P' viKTJcravT ifiov 
 dpx^i-v ■ eai' Se TovfiiraXiv KpaCvr) ^eds, 
 
 1425 yvwcrrj StSa^^eis dt/>e yoSi' to aoi^poveiv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 p.eyaXojXTfTi'; et, irepi^pova S' e\aKe<; • Ant. 
 
 wcnep ovv ^ovo\L/3el Tv^a (fypr/u iirLfjuatpeTaL • 
 Xwros C'Jr' ofifjidrav aiju,aTos ip,Trp4iT€i 
 drCeTov. ctl ae ^PV crTepofievav (jtiXcav 
 1430 TVfifJia TVfJifiaTL TEicrai. 
 
124 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 And now you hear the solemn justice of my 
 oaths. By the accomplished vengeance for my 
 daughter, by Ate and the avenging Fury to whom 
 I sacrificed this man, I have no expectation that 
 fear will tread my house so long as Aegisthus 
 kindles the fire upon my hearth, kindly disposed to 
 me as of old. For he is no slight shield to my 
 courage. Here lies the man who foully wronged 
 this woman, the darling of every Chryseis at Ilion ; 
 1440 and here lies this captive woman, this sorceress, 
 his concubine, his faithful prophetic companion, 
 who shared with him the benches of his ship. 
 They have suffered a fate not undeserved; for 
 he lies, as you see ; and she, having like a swan 
 sung her last death song, lies here, his lover; 
 - and by her death she has brought to me fa dainty 
 dish of new delight, f 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 Alas ! O that death might come speedily, not 
 1450 with heavy pangs, nor lingering, and bring to us 
 eternal sleep, now that our most friendly guar- 
 dian has been laid low, who suffered much for a 
 woman's sake ! — and at a woman's hands he has 
 
AI2XYA0Y ArAMEMNON 125 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 Kol TTJuS" d/COUeiS OpKLCOV ifl(bv difJLlV ' 
 
 /xd Tr)v riXeiov t'^s e/A'»Js ttuiSo? Alkyji/, 
 ATtjv 'EpLvvv 6', atat t6v8' eicrc^af iyto, 
 ov ixoL <j)6j3ov fiiXadpov iXiTl<s ifjiTvaTtiv, 
 
 1435 etus av aWrj irvp icf)' earias ip.rj<; 
 
 Ai-ytcr^os, ws to irpocrdev eS (ftpovav ifioL 
 ouTos yap Tj/itv acTTTis ov <jp,iKpa. dpdcrov'S. 
 KeLTaL yx/i/aiKO'; TrjcrSe \vixavT-qpio<;, 
 XpverrjtSwv p-eikiyixa twv in 'IXiw ■ 
 
 1440 1^ T ai\p.dXa)TO<s rjhe koX Tepa(TK6iTO<; 
 7) KoivoXeKTpos TouSe, dea(f>aTr]\6yo<; 
 TTLCTTrj ^vvevvo<i, \ vavTiKoiv Se acXfiaTcov 
 icroTpi./Sij'i.'f drt/Aa S' ovk iTrpa^aTrju. 
 6 jLiev yap ourtus, "f) 8e tol kvkvov hiK-qv 
 
 1445 Tov vcrraTov fj.eX\jja.(Ta 6ava.cnp.ov yoov 
 Kurai ^ikrjTcap TouS', ipoX 8' iin/jyayev 
 few^s wapo^mvrjpa t^s e/x,^? ^XtS^?.! 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 (f)ev, tC<; av iv rd^ei, pr] Trc/otwSuvo?, Str. i 
 
 jUT/Se 8?pviOTTJpri<s, 
 1450 ju,dXoi TOV del <f>epov(r iv iqpiv 
 
 Molp^ dreXevTov vnvov, SapevTos 
 (j)v\aKo<; evpevecTTaTov 
 iroXea TXdvTOS ywt'at^os Siai ; 
 Trpos ywai/cos S' aTrif^uiaev fiiov. 
 
126 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 lost his life. Alas, alas, infatuated Helen, who 
 . alone destroyed the many, the very many lives 
 which were lost at Troy. 
 
 ****** 
 
 1460 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Do not be oppressed by this and invoke on 
 yourselves the fate of death; and do not turn 
 your wrath against Helen, and say that she is a 
 murderess, that she alone destroyed the lives of 
 many Grecian men and wrought this crushing 
 grief. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 O divinity, who dost fall upon this house and 
 1470 the double offspring of Tantalus, and dost wield 
 a power of equal might with theirs in women's 
 hands, heartrending to me. Standing over this 
 body like an odious crow, he exults in singing 
 his inharmonious song. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Now you have righted the judgment of your 
 mouth, in invoking the thrice-gorged avenging 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNON 127 
 
 1455 ict> ico 7rapdvov<i 'EXeVa 
 
 fiia ToLs TToWas, ras Trdpv TroWag 
 xfruxoLS oXeVacr* vwo Tpoia. 
 t I'Si' Se TeXeCav . . 
 
 7] TT0\vfWa.(TT0V inHJvO L(Ta) OLfl dviTTTOV, 
 1460 TJTIS ^V TOT iv hofJiOl'S 
 
 e/ots eyotS/xaros di'S/jos oi^us- 1 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 
 fjiTjoev OavaTov fiolpav inev^^ov Anap. 
 
 ToicrSe ^apvvdei<i • 
 prjh' eis 'Ekevrjv kotov iKTpeipig';, 
 1465 0)5 dvSpoXeTCLp' , at? /1,1a ttoWoji/ 
 dvBpiov xjjv)(d<s Aavamv okecracr 
 d^vaTaTOv aXyos ivpa^e. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 SaijiAOt', OS ip-TTiTvei^ Sda/juaaru Kal Si<f>vi- Ant. i 
 oicri TajTaXtSaicrii', 
 1470 KpdTo? T KToxjiv^ov eK yvvaiKuiv 
 KapSioBrjKTov ipol KpaTvvei<;. 
 im Se <T(aix,aTo<; BCkuv 
 KopaKos i^Opov (TTadela' iKvop^ws 
 vfivov vfiveiv eTrew^cTat. 
 ***** 4t 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 
 I47S vvu 8' cjp0O)(Ta<s (TTO/LiaTos yv(ap/qv, Anap. 
 
 roi' Tpnrd^vvTQv 
 
128 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 Fury of this race. It is owing to him that this 
 passion for lapping blood is nurtured in its inward 
 1480 parts: before the ancient grief has ceased, new 
 blood is shed. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 It is a mighty deity and one heavy with wrath 
 that thou dost tell of as haunting this house, — • 
 alas, in a direful tale of baneful, insatiate for- 
 tune, — alas, through Zeus, the worker of all, the 
 cause of all. For what comes to mortals without 
 Zeus.' What of all this is not divinely ordered.' 
 149° Alas, O king, O king, how shall I weep for thee.-" 
 From my friendly heart what shall I say to thee.' 
 Thou liest in this spider's web, breathing out thy 
 life in impious death. Alas, in this slavish man- 
 ner dost thou lie, overpowered by deceitful death, 
 by a doubly cutting dart from the hand. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 You declare that this deed is mine; but do 
 not say that I am the wife of Agamemnon; 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNflN 129 
 
 haC[iova y&vrj<; TrjcrBe KiKhqaKoiv. 
 Ik tov yap epws ai/xaTo\ot;(os 
 veCpr) T/3e<^eTai- irplv KaTakrj^aL 
 1480 TO TraXaioi' a^os, veos ''X'^P- 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 ^ jxeyav oiKovofLov Str. 2 
 
 Saijxova koI ^apvfiTjVLV alj/els, 
 ^ev <^ei), KaKOv aTvov aTt]- 
 
 pa<i TVXC-'S a.K0p4(TT0V • 
 
 1485 Ir) irj Sial Atos 
 
 TravaLTLov Travepyera. 
 
 Tt yap fipoTol<; avev Aio? TeXelrai ; 
 
 Ti Twj'S' ou deoKpavTov ecTTtv ; 
 
 iw i&) ^acriXev /SacriXeu, 
 1490 TTft)? (re 8aKpv(T(o ; 
 
 <f)pev6<; Ik (^tXias ti ttot eLTTCo ; 
 /cetcrai 8' d/aa^j^Tjs et" u<^ao-ju,aTt tw8' 
 daefiei davdT(a ^Lov eKirveoiv, — 
 ol/iot /Aot KOLTav Toivh' dueXevdepov 
 1495 SoXift) p.6p(p Sa/ACt? 
 
 CK X^/oo5 d)U,(^tTO)Li&> ^eXefivo). 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 auxc'5 ^'''"'' ^o^^ Tovpyov ep,6v ■ Anap. 
 
 ' Ayap.€p,vovta.v dvai /a' aXo^ov. 
 
 AGAMEMNON — 9 
 
I30 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 but the ancient grim avenger of Atreus, savage 
 1500 feaster, likening himself to the wife of this dead 
 man, paid him as a penalty, sacrificing a full- 
 grown man for infant children. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 That thou art guiltless of this murder, who will 
 testify? How, how? And yet the avenging 
 Fury of the father may prove to be thy helper. 
 Black Ares forces his way through streams of 
 kindred blood to a point where he will work ven- 
 1510 geance for the gore of the devoured children. 
 
 Alas, O king, O king, how shall I weep for thee? 
 From my friendly heart what shall I say to thee? 
 Thou liest in this spider's web, breathing out thy 
 life in impious death. Alas, in this slavish man- 
 ner dost thou lie, overpowered by deceitful death, 
 by a doubly cutting dart from the hand. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 131 
 
 1500 (f)avTat,6fievo<; Be ywaiKi veKpov 
 
 TouS' o TraXaios 8/3tju,us dXdcrTwp 
 'At/dcws xoXeiroC doivarripos 
 Toi/S' direraaev, 
 TeXeou veapols iTridva'as- 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 '505 ft»? ju.ei' dvaiTtos el Ant. a 
 
 ToCSe <f>6vov Tis 6 fiapTvpTjo'cjv ; 
 
 TTws 170)5 ; varpodev 8e cuXXtj- 
 
 TTTw/D yivovT cLv oKda-Twp. 
 
 ^la^erai 8' o/xocrirdpois 
 1510 itrippdOAcnv alfiaTuv 
 
 jLieXas ^Apr)<s ottol SiKav -npo^aivoiv 
 
 'ird)(ya Kovpo^opo) irape^ei. 
 
 101 10) /SacriXet) ^ao-tXeC, 
 TTWS ere SaKpvcro) ; 
 1515 <f)p€v6? e/c ^iXias Ti 770T eiTTOj ; 
 
 Keicrai 8' apd^vT]? iv v^dafiaTL to)8' 
 dcrefiei davdrco ^iov iKirvewv. 
 
 wfioL p.01 KoCrav rdvh' dveXevdepov 
 SoXio) fJiopcp Sa/xEi? 
 1520 e/c X^P°^ dfiifjLTOfJbO) j3eXep.ua. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 [ovt' dve\evdepov oT/iai ddvarov 
 T0)8e yej^ecr^ai.] 
 
132 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Has he not brought calamity by deceit to this 
 1520 house? And to my offspring begotten by him, 
 the much-bewailed Iphigeneia, having done things 
 worthy of his suffering, and now suffering things 
 worthy of his deed, let him not bewail in Hades, 
 when he has atoned for what he did through death 
 by the sword. 
 
 CHORUS 
 
 I am at a loss, bereft of thought, for some 
 1530 ready device, whither I shall turn now the house 
 is f aUing. I fear the crash of the storm that is to 
 destroy this house, the storm of blood; the drop- 
 pings now cease. And fate is whetting the sword 
 of Justice for a new deed of mischief upon new 
 whetstones. 
 
 Alas, O earth, O earth, would that thou hadst 
 received me before I had beheld this king lying 
 1540 low in the bath with silvered walls! Who now 
 will bury him .' Who will lament him .' Wilt thou 
 dare to do this, — after slaying thy husband to 
 bewail his soul, and unjustly show him a thank- 
 less favor in requital for thy odious deeds. What 
 funeral eulogy over this godlike man, though 
 1550 spoken with tears, will grieve in truth of soul.' 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNflN 133 
 
 ovoe ya.p ovros SoXiav a/r'qv Anap. 
 
 OIKOKTIV €07] K ; 
 
 1525 dXX' ifiov CK TovB' epvos aepdiv, 
 TTjV TTokvKXavTrjv 'l<f>Ly€V€CaV, 
 a^ia S/aacras a^ta Trda^oiv 
 fjiTqSev iv "AtSov /ieyaXau^^eirw, 
 
 davaTOi reicras anep ip^ev. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 1530 dfirj^avo) ^povTt,ho<; (TTepiqOels Str. 3 
 
 evTTaXafiov [lepifivav 
 
 OTTa TpaTTOifiaL, TTITVOVTO? OIKOV. 
 
 SeSoi/ca S* ofifipov ktvttov Sofiocr(f)a\fj 
 Tov alp.aTiqpov • »/»a/cas 8e XTjyci. 
 153s S'fi? S' €77* aXXo irpayp^ dop dijyeL )8Xa/8i7S 
 TT/Dos aXXais O-qyavaicri Moipa. 
 
 (.(w ya ya, eiu ep. eoego), 
 
 irplv TovS' iniSeiv a,pyvpoToi)(ov 
 T540 Spotra? KaTe-)(ovTa ■)(aptvvriv. 
 
 Tis 6 Oaxjicov viv ; TL^ 6 dprjinjawv ; 
 
 Tj av roS' 1/3 fat rXiycrei, KTCLvaa' 
 
 dvBpa Toj' avT'q<;, aTTOKcoKvaaL 
 ■545 xffvxvv, d-^apiv ^dpLV dvT ipyoiv 
 
 peydXct)u dSt/cws eTTLKpavai; 
 
 Tts S' iniTvp/SLO's alfos eir' dvS/ai ^eio) 
 cruf SaKpycnu IdiTTOiv 
 1550 dXa^ei<f (f>psv(t>v novrja-eu; 
 
134 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 It becomes you not to talk thus of this duty. 
 By us he fell, by us he died; and we will bury him, 
 but not with lamentations from the house ; . . . 
 but his daughter Iphigeneia, as is her right, will 
 affectionately meet her father at the swift-flow- 
 ing passage of sorrows, and throw her arms about 
 his neck and kiss him. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 1560 This disgrace has come to atone for another 
 disgrace. These are hard quarrels to settle. 
 Some one spoils the spoiler, the slayer pays the 
 penalty; but it abides, while Zeus remains and 
 time endures, that the doer shall suffer, for it is 
 the law. Who can expel from the house the 
 accursed brood.' This race is welded to calamity. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 You have come with truth upon this oracular 
 
 saying. And I am ready to make a compact with 
 
 1570 the divinity of the Pleisthenidae, that I will ac- 
 
AI2XYA0Y AFAMEMNflN 135 
 
 KAYTAIMH5TPA 
 ov ae "TTpoaiJKei, to /xeX-T^jna Xiyeou Anap. 
 
 TOVTO- Tr/30S '^flCOV 
 
 KaiTTTeae, Kordave, Koi KaTa6d\jJ0fiev 
 
 ovx ^""o K\avd(ici)u T<av ef olkcjv, 
 
 ****** 
 
 '555 dW 'I^iyeveia vii' dcTTrao-iws 
 
 6vydT7)p, &>9 XP'?? 
 TTarip dvTid(ra.<Ta. rrpo^ wKvwopov 
 ■nopdpevp,' dxeoyu 
 nepl x^^P^ ^akovcra ^iXtja-ei,. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 1560 oi/£iSo? T^icei ToS' avr' 6i/eiSous. Ant. 3 
 
 Svcrp.a)(a S' ecm Kplvai. 
 
 <l)epet, <f)€povT, iKTLveu S' 6 Katvoiv. 
 
 pLp,va Se pipvovTo<i iv XP^^'P Aios 
 
 iradelv tov ep^avra. di&p.iov ydp • 
 1565 Tis av yovdv dpalov e/c^dXoi Sofitju; 
 
 KeKoWrjTau yeVos tt/jos ar^. 
 ****** 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 es rot's' ive^rji; ^vv dXrjdeia Anap. 
 
 / j' \ sj» ? 
 
 VOT^CTjU.OI'. Cyw O GUI' 
 
 idiXoi SaCpovk Tw nXeio-^ej'iSa)i' 
 1570 opKovi d€p.ivrj TaSe jiicv (TTepyeiv, 
 
136 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 quiesce in this, grievous though it is, and for the 
 future that he shall depart from this house ^nd 
 waste some other race by kindred deaths. And 
 I am satisfied to have a small portion of the 
 wealth, if I may relieve this house from the mad- 
 ness of murdering one another. 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 Oh, joyous light of a day of justice ! Now I 
 can say that the Gods as avengers of mortals 
 look from above on the woes of earth, when I 
 
 1580 have seen this man to my delight lying in the 
 Furies' woven robes, atoning for the devices of 
 his father's hand. For Atreus, the ruler of this 
 land, this man's father, drove from the city and 
 his home Thyestes, my father and his brother 
 (to tell the whole tale), when his power was dis- 
 puted by him. And wretched Thyestes, returning 
 as a suppliant to his hearthstone, found his fate 
 secure, so that he should not perish on the spot 
 and stain his ancestral pavement with his blood. 
 
 1590 But this man's impious father Atreus, by way of 
 hospitality, with more eagerness than friendship, 
 while he professed to be keeping a festal day with 
 good cheer, set before my father a banquet of his 
 own children's flesh. The parts about the feet 
 and the finger-tips he broke off, as he sat by him- 
 self at the head of the table ; and my father in 
 
Al^XYAOY ArAMEMNnN 137 
 
 ovcrrKrjToi nep ovd', o Se Xolttov, Iovt 
 CK TOivOi. oofLwv dWyfv yeveav 
 Tpi/SeLV dava.Toi<i avdevTaLcn • 
 KTedvcov re fiepo; 
 fiatov ixoijcrrj irdv drrd^/DTj fiot, 
 '575 fiavia<s fieXdOpcav 
 
 d\\rjXo(j>6vov<; d^eKovay]. 
 
 Ainseos 
 
 d) <j}eyyo^ evtjipov 'f)p,€pa<; 8iKr)(f»6pov. 
 ^ai,7]v av TjSrj vvu /3pOT(av TLixaopov; 
 0eov'S avoiOev yrjq iiTOTTTeveLV d^r], 
 
 1580 iScjv V(j)avTOi<s iv iTeTT\oL<s 'EipLvvcav 
 Tov dvBpa TovSe KeCfievov (f)CXw<s ifioC, 
 X^po'i TTarpcoa's iKrCvovra prj^avd^. 
 'Arpeus yap dp-^cav rrjaSe y^s, tovtov naTTjp, 
 TTarepa ©vecrrrju tov e/xov, o)? ropw? (^pdaai, 
 
 1585 avTov S' d8e\cf)6v, dju,<^t\e/fTOS atv Kpdrei, 
 TjvhprfkdTiqaev ck TrdXews re /cai Sofxcov. 
 KoX TTpoo'tponaio^ eorias pokav ndXiv 
 TXrjpLCDV ©uecTTTjs p.oZpav rjvpeT d(T(f)aXr}, 
 TO jjurj Oavcbv iraTptSov alp-d^ai -jreSov 
 
 1590 avTov- feVta Se roGSe Sucr^€os TraTrjp 
 
 'Ar/jeus, Trpodvfio)? fidXXov ^ ^iXcus, irarpl 
 TQ)fi(p, Kpeovpyov ^fiap evdvp.(as ayeiv 
 SokSiv, Trapia-)(e Saira TratSeicov Kpeav. 
 TO, fjiev TToSyjpr) koI x'^paiv aKpov; /crems 
 
 'S9S edpVTTT dvoiOev dvSpcLKd<; Kadrjp.evo'; • 
 
138 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 his ignorance, hastily taking the parts which were 
 not distinguishable, ate food which, as you see, 
 was full of destruction to our race. And after- 
 wards, when he recognized his unholy deed, he 
 groaned and fell back vomiting from the murder- 
 
 1600 ous feast ; and he invoked upon the Pelopidae a 
 doom intolerable, uniting the overturn of the table 
 with a general curse that thus might perish the 
 whole race of Pleisthenes. From this you now 
 may see this man lying dead. And I am the 
 righteous planner of this murder; for he drove 
 me out also, when I was a new-born babe in swad- 
 dling clothes, the third child of my wretched 
 father. And when I had grown up, Justice brought 
 me back again ; and while I was abroad I worked 
 against this man, plotting every device of evil 
 
 1610 counsel. So it is delightful for me now even to 
 die, when I have seen this man in the nets of 
 Justice. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Aegisthus, I have no respect for insolence amid 
 calamities. You say you slew this man of your 
 free will, and that you alone devised this piteous 
 murder. Be assured, I declare to you, that in 
 justice your head shall not escape the stony curses 
 which the people will hurl. 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 Do you talk this way, sitting at the lower oar, 
 when those who sit on the higher bench command 
 the ship .'' Old as you are, you shall learn that it 
 is hard for those of your age to be taught when 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNflN 139 
 
 aoTj/itt 8' avTwv avriK ayvoia, Xa^oiv 
 
 icrdeu ^opav aaoiTov, cos opq.<i, yivH. 
 
 Ka.tTe.iT iiTLyvov^ epyou ov KaTaiaiov 
 
 wfico^ev, afjuTTiTTTei 8' diro cr(f)ayrj^ ipwv 
 1600 jjiopov 8' d<j)epTov rie\om8ais inevx'^Tai, 
 
 XaKTio-fia BeCirvov ^wSlko)? ridels apa 
 
 ouTft)? oXecrdat ttSLv to HXeucrdevov? yivo<s. 
 
 Ik TcovBi (Toi TvecrovTa tovS' iZav -ndpa. 
 
 Kajbi Sifcaio; TouSe tov cfiovov pa<f)ev^. 
 1605 Tp'tTov yap opTa p,' CTriTe/c' aOXico TraTpl 
 
 (Tvve^eXavveL tvtOov ovt Iv crTTapya,voL<s • 
 
 Tpa^evTa 8' aS^ts 17 81x17 KaTijyayev. 
 
 Kal TouSe TavSp6<s ■qxfidiJiTjv Ovpcuoq wv, 
 
 iraaoLV (rvvd^as py)')(avr]v 8va'/3ovXia?. 
 1610 ovTCi) KoXov S"^ Kol TO KaTOavelv ipLoi, 
 
 Ihovta TovTOv TTjs SiKTjs iv epKeaiv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Alyiaff, v^ptt,uv iv kolkoIo'lv ov cre/Sw. 
 (TV 8' dvBpa TovSe (f)rj? eKOJi/ KcnTaKTavelv, 
 p6vo<; 8' ewoLKTov Tovhe jSovXevcraL (j>6vov 
 1615 ov <j>'r]p.' dXv^eiv iv Bik-q to crbv Kapa 
 
 8y)p,oppt(l}eL<;, crd(j)' ladi, Xevaifiovs dpa^. 
 
 AinSGOS 
 
 (TV TavTa ^(iiV€i<s v€fyrep(^ Trpo(TTJfj.evo? 
 KCJTTy, KpaTovvTcav TCiv iirl ^uyw 8opos; 
 yvcjcrcL yepcov wv ws 8i8dc7'Kecr^at jSapv 
 
I40 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 you are commanded to be prudent. Chains and 
 1620 hungry pangs are most powerful healing prophets 
 of the soul to instruct even old age. Do you not 
 see when you behold this.' Don't kick against 
 the pricks, lest you strike and suffer. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 You woman, you who tarried at home waiting 
 for those who returned from battle, after dis- 
 gracing the man's bed the while, did you plot this 
 death against the great commander ? 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 These words too are but the beginning of sor- 
 row. You have a tongue most unlike that of 
 1630 Orpheus. For he by his voice led all things after 
 him joyously; but you, having aroused men by 
 your mild barkings, will yourself be led captive ; 
 and you will appear gentler when overcome. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 To talk about your being tyrant of the Argives, 
 — you, who when you had plotted death for this 
 man, did not dare to perform the deed with your 
 own hand ! 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 Yes, for plotting was clearly the woman's part ; 
 since I was a suspected enemy from my very 
 birth. But with his wealth I shall try to rule the 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 141 
 
 1620 Tw TrjXiKovTco, crco<f>poveLv eipyjiiei/ov. 
 Secr/Aos 8e koX to yrjpai; ai te vrfcmSes 
 Suat SiSdcTKeiv e^o^wTarai (j)pevS>v 
 iaTpop.civT£L<;. ovx opa.<s bpoiv raSej 
 rrpos nivTpa p,rf XctKn^e, firj Traicrois ficyyrj'S. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 1625 yuvat, crii tous 'i7/coi'Ta5 ek /xa^Y/s piivoiv 
 olKOvpo<s evi>7)u dvSpo^ aicr^was ajua, 
 avSpl crTparrjyw tovS' e^ouXeucras [lopov; 
 
 Ainseos 
 
 Kai Taura rairry KXavfidrcov dpxT)yevrj. 
 'Opt^et 8e yXoio'crai' ttji* ivavTuav ex^'^* 
 1630 6 ju.ei' yap i^ye isavT dno <f>9oyy'fj'i xa/oot, 
 crii 8' i^opiva<s ■^ttiois vXayfiacriv 
 d^ei- KpaT7j6el<; S' r)ixep(OTepo<s (jiavel. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 ft)5 817 (TV [loi Tvpavvo? 'Apyeicjv iar], 
 o? ovK, iireiSYj ToiS' e^owXencras p.6pov, 
 163s hpdaai rdS' epyou ovk ItXt^? avroKTovoyi. 
 
 Ainseos 
 
 TO yoL/o SoXwtrai ir/305 yui'atKos ^f aacjiZ?, 
 iyat 8' vTroTTTos ex^joo? •^ waXaiyevT/?. 
 CK Twi' 8e TouSe XPVH''^'''^^ rreipaxrofxai 
 
142 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 citizens ; and any one who disobeys me I will put 
 1640 under a heavy yoke, so that he shall no longer 
 run as a rampant colt in harness. But hateful 
 hunger, with darkness as his companion, will see 
 him made gentle. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Why in the baseness of your soul did you not 
 slay this man yourself, but let a woman, the pol- 
 lution of this land and of the Gods of our coun- 
 try, join in the murder ? Does Orestes anywhere 
 still behold the light, that he may return home 
 by kindly fortune and prove an all-powerful de- 
 stroyer of both of these .' 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 Well, since you think of acting as well as 
 1650 talking, you shall quickly find out. Ho now! 
 friends in ambush, your work is not far off. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Ho now! let every one be ready with hand 
 upon his sword. 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 And I, with hand on my sword, do not refuse 
 to die. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 We hail your word when you speak of death, 
 and we accept that fortune. 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNiiN 143 
 
 dp^eiv itoXltZv top 8e [jbrj iruddvopa 
 1640 ^ev^o) ^apetais ovtl fir) (reipa^opov 
 
 KpidSiVTo, TTwXov • dW 6 Svcr<j)ikri^ ct/cotm 
 Xi/Aos ^vuoiKO<s jxaXdakov (r(f>' iiroxjieTaL. 
 
 XOPOS 
 
 Ti 8'^ Tov dvSpa Tot's' ttTTO ^v)(rj<; KaKrjs 
 ovK auTos riva,pit,€<5, dXXd crui' 'yi;vi7 
 1645 ^(opa<; /aiacr/ia /cal ^ewi/ iy^otpuav 
 
 €KT€iv' ; 'OpecTTrjs cipd TTov ^Xejrei ^ctos, 
 0770)5 KCLTe\0cov Sevpo vpevfieveL rvxu 
 dp,<^oZv yeVTyrai Toti'Se TTayKpaTrj<; ^ovevs ; 
 
 Airi50OS 
 
 aAA cTTCi oo/ceis rao epoeiv Kai KeyCLv, yvcDire 
 Tct^a. 
 1650 eia Sij, (f)iXoi, Xo^^Tai, rovpyou ov^ eKcls rdSe. 
 
 XOPO? 
 ela S17, ^i<j)o<s irpoKCDTTOv ttSs tis ewTpeTTi^erw. 
 
 Ainseos 
 
 dXXd 1L1171' Kayo) TrpoKWTros ovk dvaivoiiai Oaveiv. 
 
 X0P05 
 
 Se^ofievoii; Xeyeis 0aveiv ae • rfjv TV'yjqv S' alpov- 
 fjieda. 
 
144 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 By no means, dearest of men, let us do more 
 evils. It will be a wretched harvest to reap even 
 these many which we have done. Enough of woe 
 we have; let us shed no more blood. Depart 
 with the old men to your proper homes, before 
 committing any fatal act and suffering the pen- 
 alty. What we have already done we had to 
 do. If this should prove to be enough of 
 trouble, we would accept it, grievously smitten 
 1660 as we are by the heavy hand of fate. This is 
 the word of a woman, if any one sees fit to 
 learn from it. 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 But to think that these men should thus hurl 
 upon me the flowers of an empty tongue, and 
 should utter words like these, tempting fate, and 
 that they should miss wise counsel and insult the 
 one in power. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 This would not be like men of Argos, to fawn 
 upon a base man. 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 But I will still pursue you in days to come. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Not if fate shall guide Orestes to return hither. 
 
AISXYAOY ArAMEMNON 145 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 jUTjSajLiais, ft) ^i^raT avSpcov, aWa Bpda-wfiev KaKa. 
 1655 dXka Koi TctS' efa/ATjcrai, ttoWo, dv(TTr]vov depos • 
 TrrjjxovTJs S' a\is y vndp^ei • fjiy]8ei> ai/iaTW/Ae^a. 
 <TT£i)(e KoL ail xoi yepovres tt/oos Sdju-ovs ireirpoir 
 
 TTplv iradeiu ep^avT aKaipov • XPV^ ^'*^' ^'* ^'^P^' 
 
 61 8e TOL fx6)(d(m/ yivoiTO t&vS' aXtSj Se;^otju,e^' dv, 
 1660 Saifiovos XV^V /8a/3eia Sucrrux^s Tre-irXrjyfieifOL. 
 ft»S' Ij^et Xoyos y wai/cds, ei Tis af loi iiadelv. 
 
 Airi50O§ 
 
 aX\d rovcrS' e)u,oi fJiaraCav y\(0(T(rav wS' d77av- 
 
 ^tcrai 
 KaK^aXelv eirrj ToiavTa Saip,ovo^ ireiponfjidvov^, 
 (Tot^povo'i yvdifirfi S' dfiaprelu Toi/ KpaTOvvrd &" 
 
 V^piXTO-l. 
 
 XOPOS 
 1665 ou/f dv 'ApyeCwv toS' etr), ^wra irpoa-a-aCveiv KaKov. 
 
 Airi50O? 
 dW eyw a iv vtrripaunv y]fiipai<i yueTeifi eri. 
 
 XOPOS 
 ovK, idv SaCfjLOJv 'Op€(TT7]v Bevp' dire.vdvvq fioXeiv. 
 
 AGAMEMNON — lO 
 
146 AESCHYLUS' AGAMEMNON 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 I know that men in exile feed on hopes. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 
 Go on, wax wanton, and defile justice. Now is 
 your time. ^ 
 
 AEGISTHUS 
 
 1670 Know that you will pay the penalty for this 
 folly. 
 
 CHORUS LEADER 
 Boast and be bold, like a cock before the hen. 
 
 CLYTAEMNESTRA 
 
 Pay no attention to these vain barkings. You 
 and I in power over this house will set it all right. 
 
AISXYAOY AFAMEMNnN 147 
 
 Ainseos 
 
 0T8' iyo) <f)evyovTa^ dvSpa'; e\mSas criTovfidvov?. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Trpaaae, TTiaCvov, jjitatvcov Trjv SCktjv, iirel irdpa. 
 
 Airi50OS 
 1670 Lcrdi /AOi owTwv aTTOiua rrjcrSe p,(api(i<i ')(apiv. 
 
 XOPOS 
 Kopiracrou Oapcrcjv, dkeKTap oicrTe 6r)\eLa<; ireXas. 
 
 KAYTAIMHSTPA 
 
 /u,'^ ■7rpoTLfiy]crr)<s /naxatwi' Tali's' vXayp^droiv • iya 
 Kal crv dtjcropev KpaTovvre TwvSe Sofidrcov /caXws- 
 

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