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HE S U PPLIA NT M A I D E NS
T HE PE R S IA NS
S EV E N A GA I NS T T HE B E S
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FOR M E R Y A S S I S TA NT
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1
90 8
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I T ED
L ON D ON
ND
I NT R O D U C T I O N
su rviving dr am a s o f Aeschylu s are seven i n
n u mb e r though he i s believed t o have wri t ten nearly
a hundred during h i s life of si x ty - n ine ye a r s fr o m
That h e fo ught at M arathon
5 2 5 B C to 4 5 6 B C
in 4 9 0 and at Salam i s i n 4 8 0 B C i s a strongly
accredited traditi o n rendered alm o st certai n by th e
vi vid references to b o th battles in h is play o f Tae
h ich was pr o duced i n 4 7 2
B ut hi s
Pe r si a n s w
e a r li e st e x tant play was
pr o bably n o t Th e Pe r si a n s
but Th e S upplia n t M a i de n s a myth ical d rama th e
fame o f whi ch has been largely eclipsed by th e
hist o ric interest o f Tli e Per si a n s and i s und o ubt e dly
the least known and least regarded of th e seven
I ts
topi c —the flight of th e daughters of D anaus from
Egy p t t o Argos in o rder to escape from a fo rced
bridal with th eir fi r st cousins the son s o f Aegyptus
i s legendary and the l yric element pred o m inates i n
the play as a whol e
W e m ust keep ourselves
reminded that th e an cient Athen i an custom o f
presenting dramas in Tn log i es—that is in three c o n
se c u t i ve plays deal ing with d i fferent stages o f one
THE
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P L AY S
FOU R
O F AE S C H Y L U S
legend —was pro bably n o t uni fo rm : i t su rvives for
u s i n one instance o nly viz th e O restean Tri logy
c o mpri si ng the A g a me m n o n t he Li ba ti o n -B ea r er s and
the E mn e m de s o r Fu r i es Thi s T ri l ogy i s th e mast e r
piece o f t he Aesch y lean D rama : the fo ur remain ing
plays o f th e poet whi ch are t ranslated in thi s v o lu me are
all fragments o f lost Trilogies that i s t o say the plays
are complete as p o ems but i n regard t o the poet s
larger design they are frag m ents th ey o nce had pre
de c e sso r s or seq uels o f wh ich only a few words o r
l ines o r sho r t paragraph s su rvive
I t i s not certain
bu t seems probable t hat th e earliest of these single
completed plays i s T12: S u pp/ra n t M a i de n s and o h
t ha t su ppositi o n i t has been placed fi rst in t he present
volum e
The maidens accom panied by th eir father
D anaus have fled from Egypt and arri ved at A rgos
to take sanctuary th ere and to avoid capture by their
pu rsuing kin smen and sui to r s
I n the course of the
play t h e pu rsuers shi p a rri ves to reclaim the maiden s
fo r a fo rced wed lock i n Egypt
The action o f the
d rama turns on the attitude o f th e king and pe o pl e
of Argos in vi ew of t h is i ntended abd u c t i o n
Th e
king puts th e questi o n t o t he po pular v o te and th e
demand o f t he s u i tor s i s u nan imously r ej ected : t he
play C loses wi t h thanks an d grati t ude o n the pa r t o f
t h e fu gi t ives who in lyri cal strains o f quiet beauty
seem t o r e fer the wh o le question of t hei r ma rr iage t o
t he subsequent decisi o n o f the gods and in particula r
of Aphro dite
O f th e second po rti o n of the T ril o gy we can o nly
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I N TROD U CT I O N
speak conj ecturall y
vii
There i s a passage i n the
i n wh i ch we learn that
Pr o mei nen s B o n n a (11 8 6 0
the maidens were s o meh o w reclaimed by the s ui t o rs
and that all e x cept o ne slew thei r bri degr o om s o n
t he wedding nigh t There i s a faint t race am o ng the
Fragments o f Aesch ylus o f a play called Tna la rn op o i o i
i e Th e P r ep a r e r s of t/z e CIza m ber —wh i ch may well
have referred t o th i s tragi c scene
I ts grim titl e will
recall to all class ical readers the magni ficent though
terrible versi o n of th e legend i n th e final stanzas o f
the eleventh p o em in the th ird bo o k of H o race s Oa es
The final play was probably called Tne D a n a i a e s and
described the ac q ui ttal o f th e brides th rough s o me
intervention o f Aph r o d i te a fragment o f i t survives
i n wh ich the goddess appears t o be pleading her
special prero gati ve
The legend s wh i ch comm i t th e
daughters o f D anaus t o an eternal penalty i n H ades
apparently o f later o rigi n
H o mer i s s ilent
a re
o n any such penal ty ; and P indar Aeschyl u s
c o ntemporary actually describes the once suppliant
maidens as hon o urably enth roned (Py i n i x 1 1 2 ;
1
New x
Th e Tartarean part o f th e st o ry
i s i n fact p o st Aesch y lean
Tne S upplia n t M a i de n s i s fu l l o f charm th o ugh
the text o f the part wh i ch describes th e a rrival o f th e
pursuers at Arg o s i s full o f uncertain ties
I t remains
a fine th o ugh archai c poem wi th th i s special C laim
on our interest that i t i s probabl y th e earl iest e x tant
W e see in i t th e te n de n cy t o grandiose
poeti c drama
languag e n o t yet fully dev e l o ped as i n the Pr o meth eu s
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vi i i
FOUR
P L A Y S O F AE SC H Y L U S
the inclination of yo u th to simpl icity , and even pla t i
tude i n religi o us and gene r al speculation : and yet
we rec o gn ize as i n th e germ the profo und th eology
of th e Ag a me mn o n and a touch of the political
vei n wh ich appears more fully i n th e Fu r i es
If
th e p recedence in time h ere ascribed to i t i s correct
th e play i s perhaps w o rth more recogni tion than it
h as recei ved from the countrym en of Shakespeare
Tfie Per si a n s has bee n placed second in thi s
v o lum e a s th e old est play wh o se date i s ce rtainly
known
I t was brough t o u t i n 4 7 2 B C eight years
aft er t he sea fi g h t o f S a lam i s wh ich it c o mmemorates
and five years be fo re the S even a g a i n s t Tlzebes
6
I
t
is
though
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to
be
the
sec
o
nd
play
of
a Tri
4
7
(
logy standi ng be tween the P/i i n e u s and the Gla n a z s
Ph ineu s was a legendary see r of the Argonautic
!
e ra
Ti resias and Phineus prophets o ld L and the
play n am ed after h i m may have contai ned a pr o ph ecy
of the gr eat conflict wh ich i s actually desc ri bed i n TIn
Per sa e : the plot of the Gl
a u c n s i s unknown
I n any
case The Per si a ns was prod uced before the eyes o f a
gene rati on whi ch ha d seen the stru g gles West against
East at M arathon and Th e rmopylae , Salami s and
Plataea
I t i s as though Shakespeare had com
m e mo r a t e d th rou gh t he li ps of a Spani sh su rvivor in
t he ears o f o ld counci ll o rs of Ph i lip th e Second , th e
d i spersal of the Armada
Again st the pi teo us want of manl iness on the pa rt
of the retu rning X e rxes we may well set the grave
and digni fi ed patrioti sm of Atossa the Q ueen -m other
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I N T R O D U C T I ON
ix
o f the Persian kingdom th e l oy alty in spi t e of thei r
bewi lde r men t o f th e aged m en wh o fo rm th e C h o r u s
and ab o ve all th e r o yal phan t o m o f Darius ev o ked
fr o m th e shad o wland by th e libation s o f At o ssa and
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by the appealing cries of the Choru s
Th e latter
indeed hardly dare to add r e ss the kingly gh o st : but
Atossa bravely narrates t o h i m the catastrophe o f
which i n the lower world , D ari us has known n o th ing
though he real izes that disaster so o n o r late i s th e
l o t o f mortal p o wer
As the tale i s unr o lled a spi ri t
o f p ro phecy possesses h im and h e fo retell s the com ing
slaughter of Plataea ; then with a last r oyal a dm o n i
ti o n that the defeated X erxes shall o n hi s retu rn b e
received with all cerem o ny and o bservance and wi th
a characteristi c warn i ng t o th e aged men that th e y
must take such pleasure s as th ey may i n thei r
waning y ears , he return s t o th e shades
Th e play
ends with the u n dig n i fi e d reappe aran ce o f X erxes and
a melancholy pr o cessi o n int o the palace o f Susa
It
was perhaps inevitable that th i s cl o se o f t h e great
drama sh o uld verge o n th e farci cal and that th e
p o ltr o onery of X e r x es sh o uld in a measure o bscure
A e schylus gener o us portrai ture of Atossa and D ari u s
But h i s magni ficent picture o f the battle o f Salam is
i s u nequalled i n the p o eti c annals o f naval war
No
acc o unt o f the fl igh t o f th e A r mada n o r e c o rd o f
Lepant o or T r afalga r can be j u stly set beside i t The
M esseng e r m ight well like Pr o spe ro ann o un ce a
tragedy b y o ne lin e
S i t sti ll a n d h e a r th e l a st o f o u r sea so rro w
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P L AY S O F A E S C HY L U S
FOUR
F ive yea rs after T/ze Per si a n s i n 4 6 7 B C , the play
w h i ch we call the S even a g a i n s t T/ze bes was presented
at Athen s
I t bears now a ti tle whi ch Aeschylu s can
h ardl y have gi ven to i t for though the scene of the
d rama o verl o oks the region whe re the ci ty of Thebe s
afte rwards came into being yet i n th e play i tself
Thebe s i s n e ver men t ioned
Th e scene o f acti o n i s
the C a dmea , or C i tadel of Cadm us and we know that
i n Aeschyl u s li fe t im e that C i tadel was n o l o nger a
me re fastness but had so grown outwards and
enlarged i tself tha t a new name Thebes was applied
t o the collective city
(All th is h as been made
abundantly clear by D r Ve rrall in h is I nt r oduction t o
t he S ev e n a g a i n s t n e bes to wh i ch eve ry re ader o f
the play i tself will natu ral ly and m o st pr o fi tabl y refe r )
I n the time o f Aeschylus Thebes was o f c o urse a
notable C i ty ; h i s great c o ntemporar y Pind ar w a s a
ci tizen of i t
But the Thebes of Aeschylus date i s
o ne th ing : the fortress represented in Aeschylu s play
is q u ite another and i s never by him called Thebes
That the play received and retai ns the nam e Ti re
S et/ en a g a i n st Tl
ze bes i s beli eved t o be due to two li nes
of Ari stophan es i n h i s Fr og s (4 0 6
where he de
“
scri bes Aeschylus play a s the Seven agai nst Thebe s
a dram a instinct wi th War, wh ich any one wh o
”
beheld must have yea rned to be a war r ior
Th is is
rather an excellent desen pti o n of the play than t he
title of it and could not be i ts Aeschylean name fo r
the ve ry su ffi cient reason that Thebes i s not menti o n ed
i n the play at all
Aeschylus , i n fact was poetizing
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I N T R OD U C T I O N
xi
an earli er legend o f th e fo rtress of Cadmu s
Th i s
being premised we may ad o pt under pr o test as i t
were th e Ari st o phani c name wh ich has accr u e d to
the play
I t i s the th ird part o f a Tril o gy which
mi g ht have been called c o llectively T/z e Ho u se of
La i a s
S o phocles and Euripides give u s t /z ei r versi o n s
o f the legend wh ich we may ep i tom ize witho u t
h o wever affi rm ing that they fo llowed e x actl y the l ines
o f Aeschylus Tri logy they for i nstance speak fr eely
o f Tneoes Laius K ing of Thebes m arried Io k a ste :
he was warned by Apo l l o that i f h e had any ch il dren
r uin w o uld befall h i s h o u s e B ut a chi ld was born
and t o av o id t h e th r e atened catastr o ph e with o ut
actually killing the ch ild he e x p o sed i t o n M o un t
C ithaer o n that i t sh o uld die
S o me herdsmen saved
it and gave i t o ver to th e care o f a neighb our ing king
and q u e e n w h 0 reared i t
Later o n , learn ing that
there was a doubt o f h i s parentag e th i s ch ild gr o wn
n o w t o m aturity left h i s fo ster parents and went to
D e lph i t o c o nsult th e o racle and received a mysteri ou s
and terrible warn ing that he was fated t o slay h i s
father and wed h i s mother
To av o id thi s h o rro r h e
res o lved never t o appr o ach the h o me o f his supp o sed
parents
M eantime hi s r eal fath e r L aiu s o n lzi s
way t o c o n sul t t h e g o d at D elph i met h i s u nkn o wn
s o n r e turni n g from that sh ri ne : a quarrel fe ll o ut
and the y ou nger man slew the e lder
F o ll o wed by
his e vil destiny he wandered o n an d fo un d th e n o w
kingless Thebes in th e grasp o f th e Sph i n x m o nst e r
o ver whom he triumphed and was rewarded by th e
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F O U R P L A Y S O F A E S C HY L U S
xi i
hand o f Io ka st e h i s o wn mother !
N o t till fo u r
c hildren —two
s o ns and two daugh ters —had been
b o rn to them was th e secre t of the lineage revealed
Io ka ste slew herself in h o rror and the wretched king
t o re ou t hi s eye s t hat he might never again see the
chi ldren o f h i s awfu l union
Th e two son s qu arrelled
over t h e successi o n t hen agreed on a c o mp r o mi se ;
then fell at vari ance again and finally slew each other
i n single c o mbat
These two sons according t o one
t radi t ion were twins but th e more usual view i s t h a t
the elder was called E teocles the y o ung e r Polyn ices
To the p o int at wh ich th e i n te m e c i n e enm ity
between Eteocles and Polynic e s arose we have had
to fo llow S o phocles and Euripides the fi rst two parts
o f Aeschylus Trilogy being los t Bu t the th i rd pa rt
as we have said survives u nder th e name gi ven to i t
i es
by A r istophanes t h e S ev en a g a i n st Tbe l
it o pens
wi th an exh o rta t ion by Eteocles to h is C a dme a n s that
”
“
th ey sh ould q uit them like men agains t the o u
th e Choru s
sl
a u g h t of Pol y nices and hi s Argive all ies
i s a bevy o f scared Cadmean maidens , to whom the
very sound of war and t ramp o f horsemen are new
and terri fi c
I t end s wi t h the n ews of the dea th o f
the two princes and the lamentat ions o f thei r two
sisters An tig o ne and I smene
The o nslaught fro m
with o ut has been repul sed b u t the male l ine of the
h o use of Laius i s extinct Th e C a dme a n s resol ve that
Ete o cles shall be b u ried i n honour and P o lynices
flung t o the dogs and bi r ds
Against th e latter
sentence An tigone protests and defies th e decree :
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xi v
P L AY S
FOU R
O F A E S C HY L U S
Th e Pr o met/ze u s B o u n d i s C onspicu o us fo r i ts giganti c
and stri c t ly superhuman plot
Th e Ag a me m n o n i s
h u man th o ugh legendary : the Pr o me t/ze u s presents
to u s the god s o f O lym pus in days when mankind
crept like em mets u pon the earth o r dwelt i n caves
scorn ed by Zeus an d the other powers of heaven
and ti ll aided by Prometheus t he Ti tan —wh o lly wi th
o u t art o r science le t ters or hand ic r aft s F o r h is
be nevolence toward s oppressed mankind Prometheus
i s condemn ed by Zeus to u ncounted ages o f pain and
torm ent shackled and impaled i n a lonely cleft of a
Scyth ian preci pi ce
The pl a y o pens with t hi s act o f
di vine r esen t men t e n forced by the will of Zeus and
by t he han di c raft o f H ephaest u s wh o i s aided by two
dem o n s im personati ng S t rength and V i o lence These
agents o f th e i re of Zeus di sappear after the first
scene : the rest o f the play represen ts Pro metheu s in
t he migh ty s o l itude but visited after a wh i le by a
Choru s o f S ea nymph s who from the d istant depths
o f o cean have h eard th e C lang of the dem o ns
hamm e rs and arri ve , i n a wi nged car from the sub
mari ne palace o f thei r fa ther O cean us To them
P ro me t heus relates h i s penalty and its cause vi z h is
o ver tendern ess to th e luckless race o f mankind
O ceanus h im self follows o n a h i ppo g r i fl and c o unsels
Prometheus t o submit t o Ze u s
But the Titan wh o
has hailed the sea -nymph s with all gentleness recei ves
the advice of their si re with scorn and c o ntempt and
O ceanus reti res Bu t the courage whi ch he lacks
hi s daughte rs p o s sess t o the full : they remain by
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I N T R O D U C T I ON
Pr o metheu s
xv
t o the end and sh are h is fate l iterally i n
the crack of d oo m
B u t before the end t h e str a n g e
half human figure o f lo victim o f the lust o f Zeus
and th e j eal ou sy o f H era c o mes wandering by and
t e lls Prometheu s o f her wrongs
He b y h i s di vine
p o wer r e c ou nts t o her not o nly the past but al s o the
future o f her wande r i ngs : then in a fresh access of
fr enzy sh e d ri fts away int o th e unkn o wn world
Then Prometheus partly reveals t o th e sea maiden s
his secret and the mysterious cause of Ze u s hatred
against hi m —a cause whi ch w ou ld avai l t o h url the
tyrant fr o m his p o wer
So deadl y i s th i s secret that
Zeu s will, i n the lapse of ages be forced t o rec o ncile
h imself with P rometheus , t o escape deth ronement
Finally H ermes , the messenger o f Zeus appears
with fresh threats that he may e x t o rt the mystery
fro m th e Titan
B ut P rometheu s i s firm d e fying
b o th the tyrant and hi s env o y th o ugh already the
lightn ing i s fl ash ing th e thunder r o lling and sky and
sea are mingl ing th e i r fu ry
H ermes can say n o
m o re th e sea n y mph s res o l utely refu se t o reti re and
await thei r d oo m
I n th is c r ash of th e w o rld P r o
me th e u s fl i n g s h i s final defiance against Ze u s and
amid the lightnings and shattered r o cks that a r e
overwhelming h im and h i s c o mpan i o ns S peaks hi s
“
I t i s u nju s t !
last w o rd
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Any spectacular r e p r esentation o f th i s finale must
it i s clear have r o used in te n se sympathy with the
Titan and th e nymph s alike
I f howev e r the se q uel
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F O U R P L AY S
xvi
O F A E S C HY L U S
plays had survi ved t o u s we m ight c o nceivably have
fo und and realized another and less intolerable
soluti o n
The n a me Ze u s i n G reek like t h at of
Go d i n Engli sh c o mp ri ses very diverse vi e ws of
di vine pers o nali ty
The Zeu s in the Pr o me the u s has
l ittl e but th e nam e i n common wi t h the Zeu s in the
fi rst Ch o ru s of the Ag a me m n o n or in The S u pp/ra n t
l
and pa rallel reflections wi ll gi ve
la i de n s (11 8 6 -1 0 3 )
us much food fo r th ought
Bu t i n a n y case let u s
realize that the Pr o me th eu s i s n o t a human play wi th
t he p o ssi ble e x cept ion of lo eve ry ch aracter in it i s
an imm o rtal bei ng
I t i s no t as a vaun t but as a
fact that P ro metheus declares as against Zeu s
“
l
t
hat
M
e
at
least
H
e
shall
never
gi
ve
to
(
”
death
A s t upendou s theologi cal d rama of wh ich two
th i rds has bee n l o s t has left an aching y o id wh ich
now can n ever be fi ll ed i n our mi nds
No reader of
poetry needs t o be reminded of t he gl o rious at t em pt
o f Shelley to w o rk o ut a possible and worthy sequ e l
t o t h e Pr o me th e u s Wh o will not ech o the w o rds of
“
M r G ilbert M urray when he says that no piece
o f l o st l i t e ratu re has been m o r e a rdently l o nged fo r
”
t han t he Pr o meth e u s Fr eed
But a t t h e end o f a rathe r prolonged attempt t o
u n derstand and transla t e the su rviving tragedies of
Aeschylus o n e feels incl ined t o repeat the w o rds u sed
by a powerfu l critic about one o f the greatest of
mode rn poets
F o r man , i t i s a weary way to Go d
”
bu t a weari er far to any demigod
We shall n o t
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I N T R O D U C T I ON
xv i i
disc o ver the full s e qu e l o f Aeschylus m ighty dramati c
“
c o ncepti o n : w e kn o w in part and we prop h e sy in
”
part
The I ntr o d u cti o n (pp x vi -x vi ii ) pre fi x ed b y
M r A O Pr i c k a r d t o h is edi ti o n o f the P r o m eth e a s
is fu ll o f p e r suasi ve g race o n th i s t o pi c : t o h im a n d
t o D r Verrall o f Cambridge —Zn e i da s i de r a o f h e lp
and enc o urag e m e nt in th e study o f Aeschylus —t h e
translat o r s thanks are due and are gratefully and
affectionately rendered
E D A M
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U NI FOR M
WI TH THIS
VOL U M E
THE
H O U S E OF A T R E U S : B E I N G
T HE A G A M E M NO N
L I AT I ON B EA R R S A N D
FU E s O F AES C H Y L U S
Tr
l t d i to
B
,
RI
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Th e
6d
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n et
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—Th
t wo v l u m e s c
o
e
S u pp lia
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D
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e
n
A M O R S H EA D M
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A
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o
Ai sch yl
us
a n s a
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E n gli s h v e r s e by E
25
E
nt
on s
titut e
a c
f Z
us
E sc h yl
M a i de n s, (fie
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o mp l e t e tr
l ti o n
an s a
.
D ED I C A T ION
T A K E thou th i s gift from out the grave of Time
The urns o f G reece l i e shattered and the cup
That fo r Athen ian li ps the M uses filled
And fl o wery crowns that on Athen ian hair
H id the ci cala freed o m s golden si g n
D ust i n th e d u st h ave fallen
Calmly sad
The marble dead up o n Athen ian tombs
”
“
Speak fr om thei r eyes
Farewell : and well have
fared
They and th e saddened friends whose clasping hand s
Wi n fr o m th e solemn st o ne etern ity
Yea well they fared unt o th e evening god
Passing beyond th e l imi t o f the w o rld
Where face t o face th e son hi s moth er saw
A living man a shadow while sh e spake
Words that O dy sseu s and that H o mer heard ,
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I t o o , 0 ch i l
d, I r ea c h ed th e c o mmo n do o m,
Th e g r a v e, t h e g o a l of fa te , a n d a ssed a w ay
—
Such
p
.
as thy voice t o h im
Across th e di m gray gulf of death and time
I s that of G reec e a m o th er s t o a ch ild
M o ther of each wh ose dream s are grave an d fair
Who sees the N aiad w here the streams are brigh t
And in the sunny ri pple of the sea
,
An ti c l
e ia ,
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D E D I CAT I O N
4
C ym odoce with floating golden hai r :
And i n the whi sper o f t h e waving oak
H ears sti ll the D ryad s plai nt and i n th e wind
That sigh s through m oonli t w o odl ands kn o ws t h e horn
O f Ar t em i s and silver sh afts and bow
Therefo re i f still around th i s b roken vase
B o rne by r o ugh hands un w orthy o f their load
F ar fro m C e ph i su s and th e wandering ri lls
There cling a fragrance as o f th ings once swee t
O f h oney from H ymettus dese rt h ill
Take thou the gift and h o ld it Cl o se and dear
F o r gift s that d ie have l iving m em o ri es
Voices o f u nretu rn ing days that breath e
The spi ri t of a day th at never dies
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A R G U M E NT
the daught e r of I nachus Kin g of Argo s, was
beloved of Zeus
But H era was j ealou s of that love
and by her ill will wa s I o gi ven over to fren zy and
h er b o dy took the semblance o f a hei fer and Argus
a m any -eyed herdsman was set by H era to watch 1 0
whi thers o ever sh e st r ayed
Yet i n despi te o f Argus
did Zeu s d r aw nigh unto h er in th e shape o f a bull
And by the wi ll of Ze u s and th e craft o f H e rm es was
A r gus slai n
Then I o was driven over far lands and
seas by her madness and cam e at length t o the land
o f Egypt There was sh e rest o red t o h erself by a
t ou ch o f th e hand of Zeu s and bare a C h ild called
Epaph u s
And fr o m Epaph us sprang Libya, and
fro m Libya Bel u s ; and from Belus Aegyp tus and
Danaus
An d th e s o n s of Aeg y ptu s willed to take
the daugh ters of D anaus in m ar riage
B ut th e
maidens h e ld such wedl o ck i n h o rro r and fled with
thei r father o ver the sea t o A rg o s ; and th e king
and citizens o f Arg o s gave them shelter and protec t i o n
fr o m thei r pursuers
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D RAM A T I S
Da n a us
THE
RS ONAE
.
K I NG
H ERA L D
sa c re d
PE
OF
or
pr ec i n c t
ARGOS
A s o vr
n ea r
.
'
rus
.
the g a tes
f
o
A rg o s
sta t u es
T H E S U PP L I A N T M A I D EN S
8
O ur wanderi ng pinnace came
Arg o s the i mmem o rial h o me
O f her fro m whom we boast to come
I o the o x-horned maiden wh o m
After long wand e ri ng w o e and scath e
Zeu s w i th a t o uch a mysti c breath
M ade m o t her of our name
Therefo re of all t h e lands of earth
O n th i s most gladly step we fo rth
And i n our hands aloft we bear
S o le weapon fo r a suppliant s wear
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The o live sh o o t, with wool enwound
C ity and land and waters wan
O f I nachus and g o ds most h igh ,
And ye who deep beneath the ground
B ring vengeance wei rd on mortal man ,
Powe r s o f t he grave on you we cry !
And unto Zeus th e Saviour gua rd
O f mortals holy pu ri ty !
R ec e i ve ye u s keep watch and ward
Above the suppl iant maiden band 1
Chaste be the hea rt o f th is y o ur land
T o wards the weak l bu t e re the th rong
The wanton swarm from Egypt sp rung
Leap fo rth u pon th e si l t ed shore
Th rust back th eir swift -ro wed bark again
R epel the m, urge them to the m ain !
And there mid storm and ligh t n ing s sh i ne,
And scudding d ri ft and thund e r s r o ar,
D eep death be theirs i n stormy bri ne !
Befo re they fo u lly grasp and win
U s maiden children of thei r kin ,
And cli mb the couch by law deni ed
And wrong each weak reluctant bride
And now on her I call
o
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T H E S U P P L I A N T M A I D EN S
9
M ine anc e stress , wh o far on Egypt s sh o re
’
A y o ung cow s semblan ce w o re
A maiden o n ce by H era s m alice changed
An d th en o n hi m withal
Wh o as am id th e flowers the grazi ng creature
ranged
Was i n h er by a breath of Zeus conceived
And as the hour of bi rth drew n igh
B y fate fu lfilled unt o the li ght h e cam e
An d Epaph us for name
B o rn fr o m th e touch of Zeus , th e ch ild received
O n him o n hi m I cry
And h i m fo r patr o n hold
Wh ile i n th i s grassy vale I stand
Where I o r o amed of o ld
And h ere rec o unting all her t o il and pain
Sign s will I show t o th o se who rule the land
That I am C h ild o f hers and all shall unde r stand
H earing the d o ubtful tale o f th e dim past made plain
And , ere th e end shall be
Each man the tru th of what I tell shall see 5
And if th ere d well hard by
O ne skilled t o read fro m bi rd n o tes augu ry
That man when th rough h is ears shall thrill o ur
tearful wail
Shall deem h e h ears th e voice the plaintive tale
O f her th e pi te o u s sp o use o f Te r eu s l o rd o f g u i le
Whom the hawk harries yet th e m o u rn ing nightingale
She, from her happy h o me and fair stream s scared
away
Wai ls wild and sad fo r hau nts bel o ved e r ewh ile
Yea and for I tyl u s —ah w e lla day !
Slain by her o wn h i s m o th e r s hand
M addened by lustful wro ng, the d e ed by Tereus
planned
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T H E S U P P LI A N T M A I D EN S
IO
Like her I wail and wail in soft I o nian t o nes
And as she wastes even so
Wastes my s o ft ch eek o nce ri pe wi th N ilu s sun s,
An d all m y h eart di ss o lves in u tter woe
Sad flowers of gri ef I cull
Fleeing fro m kinsm en s love u nmerciful
Yea from the clu tching hands th e want o n crowd
‘
I sped across the waves , from Egypt s land of cloud
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G ods of the ancient cradle of my race
H ear me j ust god s ! Wi th righteou s grace
O n me o n me look down
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G ran t not to youth i ts heart s unchaste desire
Bu t swi ftly spu rn ing lus t s unholy fire
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Bless only love a n d wi lling wedl ock s c rown
Th e war-wo m fliers from the battle s wrack
Find refuge at the hallowed a lta r side ,
The san ctuary d ivine
Ye gods ! such refuge unto me provide
Such sanctuary be m ine
Though th e deep will of Zeus be hard to track,
Y et doth i t flame and glance
A beacon i n the dark m id cl o uds of chance
That wrap mankind
Y ea though th e counsel fall u ndon e i t shall not lie
Whate er be shaped and fixed with in Zeus ruling
mi nd
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T h i s pit h t m y a ppe a r str a n g e to
mo d r rea d r
t h i k o f Eg ypt a s l n d f
c ust o med t
C l o u dl ss
Ne v rt h l
bo t h
ki
d pe ll c i d t m o sph e re
P i n da r (Pyth iv
6 7 ) spea k
a n d A po ll o ius R h o diu s (i v
o f it i
It h as b
c
th
sa m
w y a s A s h yl us
j t u re d
t ha t t h y ll ude to t h e fo g b k th t o ft n o b scu re t h e lo w
c o a s ts—
m o n l i k ly t o i mpress t h e ea rly n a vi g a tor s
a ph e
n d to be re po rt d b
y th e m
“
depi ct s da b
e n
e
e s.
s
e
e
e
a
e c
-
en
e
.
an
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ee n
.
s
a
a
o
e ess .
e
.
n
a
e
a
n
a
.
no
a
u
a
e
o
ac
es a n
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n
e
2
o n ec
e
,
TH E S U PPL IANT MAI D EN S
I I
Dark as a s o lemn gr o ve with s o mb re leafage shaded
H i s path s o f pu rp o se wind
A marvel t o man s eye
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Smi tten by him fro m towering h opes degraded
M o rtals l ie l o w and still
Ti reless and e ff o rtless works forth its will
The arm d ivine
Go d from H i s holy seat i n calm of unarmed p o wer
Brings fo rth the deed at i ts appoi nted h ou r
Let H i m l o ok d o wn o n mortal want o nness
Lo how the y o uthful stock o f B elus li ne
C raves for me uncontro lled
With greed and madness b o ld
U rged on by passion s sh unless stress
’
And cheated learn s too late the p rey h as scaped
their h o ld
Ah l isten , li sten t o my grievous tale
M y sorrow s word s my shrill and tearful cri es
A h woe ah w o e
Loud with lament the accents rise
And fro m my living lips my o wn sad dirges flow !
O Apian land o f h i ll and dale
Thou ke n n e st yet 0 land th is faltered fo reign wail
H ave mercy hear m y pra y er
Lo how again again I re n d and tear
M y woven raime n t and from o ff my hair
C ast the S idon ian veil
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Ah but if fo rtune sm ile if death be driven away
Vowed rites with eager haste we t o th e gods will
pay
Alas alas again
O whither drift the waves ? and who shall loose the
pain
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T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
12
O Apian land o f h ill and dale
,
yet , 0 land thi s faltered fo reign wail
H ave mercy hear my prayer !
L o h o w agai n again , I rend and tear
M y woven ra iment and from o ff my hai r
Cas t the S idonian vei l
k e n n e st
Thou
,
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,
The waft ing o a r th e bark wi th woven sail
F r o m wh i ch the sea foamed back
Sped m e unharmed o f storms along the bree z e s
track
Be i t unblamed of m e l
B u t ah th e end th e end of my empri se
M ay H e the Fath er, wi th all -seeing eyes
G rant me that end to see !
G rant that h encefo rth unstained as heretofore
I may escape th e forced embrace
O f th o se p roud children of the race
That sacred Io bore
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And thou O maiden -goddess C haste and pure
Q ueen o f t he i nner fane
Lo o k o f t hy grace on m e 0 Artemi s
Thy willing suppl i an t —thine , thine i t i s
Wh o from the lus tful on slaught fled secure
T o gran t that I t oo wi t h o ut stai n
The shelter of thy purity may gain
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G rant that hencefo rth un stained as h eretofore
1 may escape th e fo rced embrace
O f t h o se p rou d ch ildren o f the race
Tha t sacred lo b o re !
Yet i f thi s may n o t be
We, the dark race sun smi tten , we
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TH E SU PPLIAN T MAI D EN S
1
3
Wi ll speed wi th suppliant wands
To Zeu s wh o rules bel o w wi th h o sp i t able hands
Wh o wel comes all th e dead from all t he lands
Yea by o ur own hands strangled we will go
Spurned by O lymp ian g o ds u nt o the gods below !
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Zeus hear and save
The search ing poisonous hate that [ 0 ve x ed and
drave
Was o f a g o ddess : well I kn o w
The bitter ire the wrathfu l w o e
O f H era q u een o f heaven
A storm a storm h er breath , whereby we yet are
d r iven
Beth ink thee , what di spraise
O f Zeus h im self manki nd will raise,
If now h e turn h i s face ave rted fr o m o u r c r i es
I f n o w, dish o n o ured an d al o ne
The o x h o rned maiden s race shall be undone
Children of Epaph us hi s o wn begotten s o n
Zeus , listen from o n high I—t o thee o u r pra y ers ari se
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Zeus h ear an d save
The search ing p o is o n ou s hate that I o ve x ed and
drave
Was o f a g o ddess well I know
The bitter ire th e wrath ful w o e
O f H e ra q u een o f h eaven
A storm a st o rm her breath whereby we yet a r e
driven !
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D A NAUS
Ch ildren be wary—wa r y he with wh o m
Y e c o me y o ur tru s t y sir e a n d steersman o ld
And that same cauti o n h o ld I here o n land
And bi d y ou hoard my w o rds i nscribi ng th e m
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T H E S U P P L I A N T M A I D EN S
14
O n memo r y s tablets
L o I see afar
D ust voiceless heral d o f a h ost ari se
And hark with i n thei r grid ing sockets ring
Axles 0 f h urrying wheels I see approach
Born e in cu rved cars , by speeding horses drawn
A speared and sh ielded band Th e C hiefs perchance
O f thi s their lan d are h itherward i ntent
To look on us of whom they yet have heard
By messengers alone
But come who may
And come he peaceful or i n raven ing wrath
Spu rred on h i s path t were best in any case
D amsels t o C l ing unt o thi s altar m o und
M ade sacred t o their g o ds of festi val ,
A sh r ine i s stronger than a tower to save
A shi eld that none may cleave
Step swi ft thereto
And in your left h ands hold wi t h reverence
The wh ite cr o wned wands of suppl iance the sign
Beloved of Zeus c o mpassi o n s lord , an d speak
To those that question you words meek and low
And pite o us as beseems y o ur stranger state
Clearly avowing of th is fligh t o f y o urs
Th e bloodless cau se and on your utte ran ce
S ee to i t well that mod esty attend ;
From down cast eyes from brows of pu re control
Let Chastity look forth nor when ye speak
B e voluble nor eager—th ey that dwell
Wi th in th i s land are ste rnly swift to chide
And be your words subm i ssi ve : heed th i s well
F o r weak ye are outcasts on stranger lands
And froward talk beseems not stren gthless h ands
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C HORU S
O father wa ri ly t o u s awa re
Thy w o rds are sp o ken and thy wi sdom s b e st
M y mind shall hoard with Zeus o ur si re t o aid
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T H E S U PPL I ANT MAI D E N S
16
D A N AU S
.
N ex t bright Apoll o e x iled once from heaven
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C HORU S
The e x iled god will p i t y ou r e x ile
.
D AN AU S
Yea may h e pity givi ng grace and aid
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C HO RU S
Wh o m next i nv o ke
l,
of these other g ods
?
D A NAUS
L o he re a t rident, sym bol o f a god
,
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C HORU S
Wh o
gave sea-safe t y
1
;
may he bles s o n l a nd
D A N AU S
Thi s next i s H erm es carved i n G recian wise
,
C H ORU S
Then
l
et
h im he ral d h e lp to freed o m w o n
.
D A N AU S
Las t ly adore th is al t ar c o n sec rate
T o many lesser gods i n o ne t hen crouch
,
1
P
o se i do n
.
.
!
TH E S U PP L I ANT MA I D E N S
‘
1
O n holy ground a flock o f doves that fl ee
S cared by n o alien h awks a ki n n o t kind
H atefu l and fain of love m o re h atefu l still
F o ul i s the bird that rends an o th er bi rd
And fo ul the men wh o h ale unwilling maids
F r o m sire unwill ing to the b r idal bed
N ever o n earth nor i n th e lower world
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Shall lewdn ess such as th ei rs escape th e ban
There too if m en say right a G od th ere 1 5
Who up o n dead men turn s th ei r sin t o d oo m
T 0 final d o om
Take heed draw h i therward ,
That from th i s hap your safety ye m ay win
E
n te r t h e KIN G OF ARGO S
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THE
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K IN G O F ARGO S
Speak —0 f what land are ye ? N o G recian band
Is thi s t o wh o m I speak with Eastern r o bes
And w rappings rich ly digh t n o Argive maid
N 0 w o man i n all G reece such garb doth wear
Th i s t o o gives marvel how unt o th i s land
U nheralded unfriended with o ut gu ide
And with o ut fear ye cam e ? yet wands I see
True S ign Of suppliance by you laid d o wn
O n sh r ines o f these o ur g o ds o f festival
N 0 land but G reece can rede such sign s ari gh t
M u ch else there i s c o nject u re well m igh t guess
B ut let words teach the man wh o stands to h ear
,
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,
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,
,
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C HORU S
True i s the w o rd thou spakest o f my garb
B ut speak I unt o thee as citizen
O r H ermes wa n db e a r e r o r C h ieftain king
,
’
,
?
C
1
T H E S U P P LI A N T M A I D E N S
8
O F ARGO S
THE K ING
F or th at , take h eart and answer without fear
.
I am Pelasgus ruler of th is land
Ch ild of Pa la i c h th o n , whom the earth brough t forth
And rightly named from me the race who reap
Th i s c o untry s harves t s are P e lasgian called
And o er the wi de and westward st retching land
Through wh ich the luc e nt wave o f Strym o n fl o ws
I rule ; Pe r r h ae b ia s land my bo u nda r y i s
N o rt h wa r d and Pi ndus fu rther slopes , that watch
Pze o n ia and D o do n a s m o untai n ridge
West east the limi t of t h e wash ing seas
R estrains my rul e th e i nterspace i s m ine
B ut thi s where o n we stand i s Apian land ,
Styled so of o ld from the g r eat heale r s n am e ;
F or Api s c o mi ng from N aupa e tus shore
Beyond the strai t , C h ild o f Apollo s self
And l ike h i m seer and h ealer cl e an sed th is land
From man -dev o u r ing monsters whom the ear t h
S tained wi t h p o lluti o n o f o ld blo o dshedding
B rough t fo rt h i n mali ce beasts o f raven ing j aws
A g risly th rong of serpents mani fo ld
And heal ings Of t hei r hu rt by knife and C ha rm
Apis devised unblamed o f A rgiv e men
And in th ei r prayers fo und h o n ou r fo r reward
—Lo th o u hast heard the tokens that I gi ve :
S peak n o w thy race and tell a forth right tal e
I n sooth , th is people loves n ot many words
,
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—
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'
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C HORU S
Short i s my w o rd and clear
O f Argive race
\Ve c o me fr o m her the o x-h o rned maiden who
E r st bare the sacred chi ld
M y word shall give
Whate e r can stablish t h i s my s oo th fast tale
.
,
,
.
’
.
TH E S U PPL IANT MA I D EN S
1
9
K IN G O F ARGO S
THE
O stranger maids I may not t r ust thi s word
,
,
That ye have share in th i s our Argive race
N o l ikeness o f our c o untr y do ye bear
B ut semblance as of L ibyan w o mankind
Even such a stock by N ilu s banks m ight gr o w
Yea and th e Cyprian stamp in female form s
Sh o ws t o the life what males impressed th e same
And fu rtherm ore o f r o ving I ndian maids
Whose campi n g grou nds by A e th i o pi a lie
And camels bu rdened even as mules and bea r ing
R iders as h o rses bear m i ne ea r s have heard
And tales o f fl e sh devouring m ateless maids
Called Amaz o ns t o these i f bows ye bare
I m o st had deemed y o u like Speak fu rther yet
That o f you r Argive bi r th the truth I learn
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C HORU S
H ere in th i s A rgi ve land —so run s th e tale
1 0 was p r iestess o nce o f H era s fan e
’
.
T HE
K IN G O F ARGO S
Yea t r u t h i t i s and far th i s w o rd prevai ls
I s t said t hat Ze u s wi th m o rtal m in g l e d l o ve
,
,
’
C HORU S
A y,
and that H era that embrace surm ised
.
T HE K I NG OF A R G o s
H o w issued then th i s strife of th o se o n h igh
C HORU S
By H e r a s will a hei fer sh e be cam e
’
,
.
?
.
TH E S U PPLIANT MAI D EN S
20
THE
K IN G O F ARGO S
H eld Zeus aloof then from the horn ed beast
C HORU S
Tis said , he loved , i n semblan ce of a bull
’
T HE
An d
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
h i s stern consort, d id she aught th e r eon
C HORU S
O ne myri ad eyed sh e set th e
-
,
THE K I N G OF
h e ife i
’
s
guard
.
ARGO S
H ow namest thou this herdsman man y eyed
P
-
C HORU S
Argus , th e chi ld of Earth whom H ermes slew
,
F
THE K I NG
O F ARGO S
S till d id th e goddess vex the beast ill -sta rred
C HORU S
g a dfly
She wrought a
THE
Th us d rave she
lo
with a g o ading sting
.
K IN G O F AR C O S
hence t o roam afar
,
C HORU S
Yea—th is
th y
word coh e res exact with mi ne
.
?
.
T
HE S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
THE
21
KIN G O F ARGO S
Then to Canopus and t o M emph i s came she
?
C HORU S
’
An d by Zeu s hand was touched and bare a child
,
THE
.
K I N G O F ARGO S
’
Who vaunts h im th e Zeus mated creature s son
-
C HOR U S
Epaphus named rightly fr om the saving touch
,
'
THE
.
KI N G O F ARGO S
1
?
And whom in turn d id Epaphus beget
C HORU S
Libya , with name of a wide land end o wed
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
THE
And who from h er was born unto th e race
C HORU S
Belus
from h im two sons my father one
,
.
K I N G O F ARGO S
THE
Speak n o w to m e h is name th i s greybeard wise
,
1
He re
B th
o
one
ve rse
e se e m s t o
b y th e
ne
xt l i
be
at
l t
ve ri
ne, a nd
h a s be e n
fi e d a s fa r a s
ea s
has
,
c o n se q u e n
l t
os
Th e
.
t
su b s a n c e
t ly b e
e n ad o
j
t r
r
c o n ec u
is
pt
.
e
of
c o n c e n e d,
ed
.
T H E S U PP L I A N T M A I D E N S
22
C HO RU S
D anau s
hi s brother fifty sons be gat
.
T HE
K IN G O F AR GO S
G rudge n o t i n t ell in g h i s nam e too to tell
.
,
,
C HORU S
Aegyptus thou my li nea ge old hast heard
S tri ve then to a i d a ki ndred Argi ve band
.
THE
K IN G O F ARGO S
Yea o f a tru t h in backward scope of time
O f Argi ve race ye seem but say w h at chan ce
Fell o n y o u goa di ng you from h o me and land ?
,
,
,
C HORU S
Lord of Pelasgian men calami ty
ls man i fold and diverse
as of bi rds
Feather from feather di fi e r s so of men
Th e woe s are s u ndry
Who had dared foretell
That th i s our sudden fl igh t th i s ha te and fear
O f loathly wedlock , woul d o n Argos shore
Set fort h a race of kindred lineage ?
,
'
,
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,
’
THE
K IN G
or
AR GO S
What crave ye of these god s of festival
H old ing up newly-plucked wh i t e tufted boughs
,
-
C HORU S
N e er t o
’
be
’
slaves un to Aegyptu s race
.
T HE
24
S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
C HORU S
R evere the god s thus crowned who steer the S tate
,
K IN G
THE
Awe th ri ll s me
cr o wned
,
.
ARGO S
or
seeing these sh ri nes with leafage
.
C HORU S
Yea ste m th e wra t h of Zeus th e suppl ian ts lord
C hild of Pa la ic h th o n royal ch ief
O f th y Pelasgians hear !
B o w down th ine heart to my relief
A fugitive a suppli ant swift wi t h fear
A crea t u re wh o m th e wild w o lves chase
O er t o ppling c rags i n pi teous case
Al o ud afar she lows
Call ing the herd sman s trusty arm to save her from
her foe s
’
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’
K IN G O F ARGO S
THE
Lo wi t h bowed h eads beside ou r ci ty shrines
Ye si t neath sh ade of n ew-plucked oli ve -boughs
O ur distant kin s resentment H eaven fo r e fe n d l
Let not th i s hap , unhoped and unforeseen
B ring war on u s fo r st ri fe we covet not
,
’
.
’
,
.
C HORU S
J usti ce th e daughter of ri gh t-dealing Zeus
J ustice th e queen of suppl iants l o ok d o wn
That th i s o ur plight n o i ll ma y l o ose
U pon your town I
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,
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,
,
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
25
Thi s w or d ev e n fr o m the young let age and wi sd o m
lea r n
I f th o u t o suppliants sh o w grace
Th ou shalt n o t lack H eaven s grace i n tu rn
So long as virt u e s gifts on heavenl y shri nes h ave place
,
,
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’
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THE
K I N G O F ARGO S
N o t at m y pr ivate hea r th y e s it and sue ;
And if the ci ty b e ar a c o mm o n stai n
B e i t t h e c o mm o n t o il t o cleanse t h e same
The r efor e n o pl e dg e n o p ro mis e will I giv e
Ere c o unsel with th e comm o nwealth be held
,
,
,
.
C HORU S
’
N ay but th e sou rce of sway , the ci ty s se lf art
th o u
A p o wer unj udged th i ne o nl y thine
T o rule the right o f hea r th and sh rin e !
Befo re thy th r o ne and sc e ptre all m en b o w l
Th o u in all causes l o rd beware th e c u rse di vm e
,
,
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,
,
,
THE
KING OF
A R GO
S
M ay that curse fall up o n m in e en e m i e s
I cann o t ai d y o u with o ut risk o f scath e
N o r sc o rn y o ur praye r s —unm ercifu l i t were
Perple x ed distraugh t I stand and fe ar alik e
The twofo ld chance t o d o or not t o d o
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,
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C HORU S
H ave heed o f h i m wh o looketh fr o m o n h igh
The gua r d o f w o efu l m or tals wh o so e e r
U nt o their fell o ws c ry
And find n o pity find n o j usti ce th e re
’
,
,
,
.
,
26
TH E SU PPL I ANT MAI D EN S
Abiding i n his wrath , the suppli an ts l o rd
D oth smite, unmoved by cri es unbent by prayerful
word
’
,
.
K IN G O F
THE
A R GO S
B ut if Ae g yptus ch ildren g r asp you here
Claim ing, thei r c o un try s right to h o ld you thei rs
As next o f ki n, who dares to coun ter th is
Plead ye y o u r co u n t ry s laws i f plead ye may
That u pon you they lay no lawful hand
’
,
’
,
’
,
,
.
C HORU S
Let me not fall 0 nevermore
A prey into the y o ung men s h and ;
R a t her th a n wed whom I abhor
By pi lo t sta rs I flee th i s land ;
0 king take j ustice to t hy side
And wi t h the ri g hteous powers decide
,
,
’
,
,
,
THE K IN G
or
!
ARGO S
H ard i s th e cause—make me not j udg e thereo f
Already I have v o wed i t t o d o n o ugh t
Save aft er c o un sel with my people ta en
King tho u gh I be th at ne er in aft er time
.
,
’
,
’
,
I f ill fate chance my peopl e then may say
I n a i d of s tr a ng e r s th o u t /te sta te h a s! sl
ain
,
.
C HORU S
Zeu s , l o rd of kinsh ip rules at will
The s waying balance and surveys
E vi l and good ; to men of ill
G i ves evil and to good men prai se
And t hou —S i nce true th o se scales do sway
Shalt tho u from justice sh ri nk away
,
,
,
.
T HE
SU P P L I ANT MA I D E N S
K IN G O F
THE
27
A R GO S
A deep a saving counsel here there ne ed s
A n eye that l ike a diver to th e depth
O f da r k perplexity can pass and see
U ndizzied unconfused Firs t must we care
That t o th e S tate and to ourselves th i s th in g
Shall bring no ru in ne x t that wrangling hands
Shall grasp y o u n o t as prey n o r we ou rselves
B etray yo u thus embracing sacred sh rines
N or make the avengi ng all destroying g o d
Wh o n o t in hell itself sets dead men free
A grievou s inm ate an abiding bane
—Spake I not right o f saving counsel s need ?
,
,
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’
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C H ORU S
Yea c o unsel take and stand t o aid
At J ustice side and m ine
Betray n o t me th e ti m o ro us maid
Whom far beyond the bri ne
A g o dless vi o lence cast fo rth fo rlorn
0 King wilt thou behold
L ord of thi s land wilt thou behold m e torn
From altars man ifo ld ?
Bethink thee o f the young men s wrath and lust ,
H old o ff thei r evil pride
Steel not thyself to see th e suppliant th rust
Fr o m hallowed statues S ide
H aled by the fron tlet on my forehead bound
As steeds are led , and drawn
By hands that drag fro m sh rine and altar mound
M y vesture s fri ng ed lawn
Know th o u that wh eth er fo r Aegyptus race
Thou dost their wi sh fulfil
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T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
28
O r for the gods and fo r each holy place
B e thy ch oice good o r ill
Blow i s wi th bl o w requited grace with g r ace
,
,
.
S uch i s Zeus righteou s wi ll
’
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
THE
Yea I have pondered from the sea of doubt
H ere drives at length th e bark of th ou g h t ashore
Landward with screw and windlass haled and firm
C lamped to her prop s she lies
The need i s stern
Wi th men or gods a migh ty stri fe we strive
Pe rforce , and eith er hap in g ri ef concludes
F or, if a house be sacked , new weal th for old
N ot hard i t i s to wi n i f Zeus the lord
O f treasure favour—more th an q uits th e loss
Enough to pile th e store of wealth full h igh
O r i f a tongue sh oo t forth untimely speech
B i tter and strong to goad a m an to wrath
So ft words th ere be to soothe that wrath away
B ut what devi ce shall make the war of ki n
B loodless that woe th e blood of many beasts
And vi ctim s man ifold to many god s ,
Alon e can cu re
R ight glad I were to shun
Th i s stri fe, and am more fain of i gnoran ce
Than o f th e wi sdom of a woe endu re d
The god s send better than my soul foretells l
,
,
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—
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.
C HORU S
O f many c ries for mercy h ea r th e end
,
THE
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
Say o n , th en fo r it sh all not scape m ine ear
’
,
.
;
TH E S U PPL IANT MA I D E N S
29
C HORU S
G irdles we have and bands that bind our robes
,
THE
Even so
K IN G
OF
ARGO S
such things beseem a woman s wear
’
.
C HORU S
Know then , with th ese a fai r device there i s
,
T HE
KIN G O F ARGO S
what uttera n ce doth thi s fo retell
Speak then
,
?
C HORU S
U nless to u s thou givest pledge secure
T HE
What can
th y
KIN G O F ARGO S
girdles craft ach ieve fo r thee
’
C HORU S
Strange v o tive tablets shall these statues deck
THE
KIN G
OF
ARGO S
M ysteriou s thy resolve —avow i t clear
.
C HORU S
Swiftly to hang me on these sc u lptured g o ds
T HE
KIN G O F ARGO S
Thy word i s as a lash t o u rge my heart
.
.
.
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
C HORU S
Thou s eest truth for I have clea red th ine eyes
,
K I N G O F ARGO S
THE
Yea and woes man i fold invincible
A c ro wd of ills sweep on me tor r en t-l ike
M y bark goes forth up o n a sea o f troubles
U nfathomed ill to traverse harbourless
F o r i f my deed shall match not y o ur d e mand
D i r e beyond sh o t o f speech shall be the bane
Y o ur death s polluti o n leaves unt o th is land
Yet i f against you r kin Aegyptus race
Befo re our gates I fr o nt the d oom o f war
\Vill not the city s loss be sore ?
Shall men
For women s sake i n c a m a din e th e gro und
B ut yet th e w rath of Zeu s th e suppl iants lord,
I needs must fear m o st awful unto man
The te rr or of h is anger
Th ou , o ld man
The father of these maidens gather u p
Within y o u r arm s th es e wands o f suppliance
And lay th em at the altars manifo ld
O f all o ur country s gods that all th e town
K n o w by th i s S ign that ye come he re to sue
N or in thy has te d o thou say augh t of me
S wift i s th is fo lk t o censure th ose who m le
But if they see th ese signs of suppliance
I t well may chance that each wi ll pity y o u
And l o athe the young men s violent pursuit
And t h us a fai re r fav o ur you may find :
F or to the helpless each man s heart is kind
,
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,
DANA U S
T o us beyond gi fts manifo ld i t i s
T 0 find a champi o n th us c o m passionate
,
.
.
3
2
T HE
S U PPLIANT MAI DEN S
C HORU S
U nconsecrate it is and cannot sh ield me
,
THE
.
KI N G O F ARGO S
We wi ll n o t yield thee to those falcon s greed
’
.
C HORU S
What help
?
more fierce they are than serpents fell
T HE
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
—speak thou th em fair in tu rn
We spake thee fai r
.
C HORU S
\Vh a t
marvel t hat we loath e t hem scared i n soul
,
T HE
K I N G O F ARGO S
Awe towards a king should other fears transcend
.
C HORU S
Thu s speak, th us act , and reassure my mi nd
THE
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
N ot long thy si re shall leave th ee des o late
B u t I will call the country s i ndwellers
And wi th s o ft w o rds t h assembly will persuade
And warn y o ur sire what pleadings wi ll avai l
The refore abide ye and w i th prayer entreat
The country s g od s to c o mpass your desi re
The while I g o th i s matter t o provide
Persuasion and fai r fOIt u n e at my side
e KIN G OF ARGO S
E
x
i
M
t
[
.
’
,
’
,
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,
’
,
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.
.
T HE
S U PPLIANT MAI D EN S
C HORU S
0 K ing o f K ings am o ng th e blest
Thou h igh e st and th o u happiest
Li sten and grant o ur pray e r
And deeply l o ath ing thru st
Away fro m u s the y o ung men s lust
33
,
,
,
,
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’
,
And deeply drown
I n azure waters d o wn and ever d o wn
B enches and r o w e rs dark
Th e fatal and pe r fi di o u s bark
U nt o the maidens t u rn thy graci ou s care
Th ink yet agai n up o n th e tal e o f fame
H o w from the maiden l o ved o f th e e there sprung
M ine ancient l ine l o ng s ince in many a legend sung !
R emember 0 remember th o u whose hand
D id I o by a touch t o human shape reclaim
For from th is Arg o s erst o u r m o ther came
D rive n h e nce t o Egypt s land
Yet spru ng of Zeu s we were and hence ou r birth we
clai m
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
’
,
,
.
And n o w have I r o amed back
U nt o th e ancient track
Where I o roamed and pastured among flowers
Watched o er by Argus eyes
Thro ugh th e lush grasses and the meadow bowers
Thence by th e g a dfly maddened fo rth she flies
U n t o far lands and al ien peoples driven
And fo ll o wing fate th r ou gh path s o f fo am and
s u rge
Sees as she g o es th e cleaving strai t divide
G reece fro m th e Eastland riven
And S wift th rough Asian b o rders doth S h e urge
H er cours e o er Ph rygian m o untai ns sh eep clipt
side
,
’
’
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,
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’
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,
D
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
Thence , where th e M ysian realm o f Teuth ras lies,
T o wards Lydian lowlands h ies
And o er Cil ician and Pa m ph ylia n hills
And ever -fl o w i n g rills
1
And th ence to Aph r o di te s fert ile shore
T h e land of garn ered wheat and weal t hy st or e
And thence deep-stung by wi ld un rest
By the winged fly that goaded her and drave
U nto the fe rtile land the god -po sse st
-o fl snows
\
Vh
re
fed
fr
o
m
far
e
,
(
Li fe gi ving N ilus fl o ws ,
U rged o n by Typho s streng t h , a fertilizing wave )
She roves , i n harassed and d ish on o u red fl igh t,
S cathed by the blas ting pan gs of H e ra s dread
despi te
And th ey wi th in the land
With terro r sh o o k and wanned
So strange th e sight they saw and were afraid
A wild t wy-natured t h ing ha lf heifer and half maid
,
’
,
’
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
-
’
,
’
.
,
,
.
,
hand was laid a t last on I o t hus forlorn
\Vith m an y r o amings worn ?
\Vh o bade t he haras sed maiden s peace retu rn
Zeus l o rd of time etern e
Yea, by h i s breath di vi ne by h is u n sc a th i n g
strength
She lays aside h er bane
And softened back to womanhood at length
Sheds h uman tears again
Then , quickened wi t h Zeus veritable seed
A progeny she bare ,
A stainless babe a child of heavenly b reed
O f life and fortun e fair
\Vh o se
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
,
.
’
,
,
,
.
1
C
ypru
s.
T HE
Hi s
S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
—
if e
i s M e lgfe of l
Hz s i s M e seed
'
’
Wh o
el
se
fia o
Her
’
fl
o w er
v en g
ef
all men say
so
f
o
Ze u s
s te m
ulcu r se
35
,
.
He r o
'
!
s er a
? to
s tay ,
lo l
o o se 9
.
Yea all fro m Zeus b e fe l
And rightly w o uldst th o u tell
That we fro m E p aph u s h i s ch ild were b o rn :
J ustl y hi s de e d was d o n e ;
U nto what other o n e
O f all th e gods should I fo r j u stice turn ?
Fro m h im o ur race did sp r i ng ;
Creator he and King
Ancient o f days and wisd o m h e and might
As bark befor e the wind
S o wafted by hi s m ind
M oves every c o uns e l e ach d e vi ce arigh t
B eneath n o stronger h and
H o lds h e a weak c o mmand
N o th rone d o th h e abase h im t o ad or e ;
Swift as a w o rd , h is deed
Acts out what stands decreed
I n counsels of h i s h eart, for evermore
R
e -en te r D ANA U S
[
,
,
,
,
,
,
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,
,
,
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,
.
,
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D ANA U S
’
Take heart my ch ildren the land s heart i s kind
And t o full i ssue has thei r voting come
,
.
C HO RU S
All hail my sire thy word brings utmost j oy
Say t o what issue i s th e v o te made sure
An d h o w prevailed th e p e o pl e s cr o wdi n g hands
,
.
,
,
’
?
,
.
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
6
3
D ANA U S
Wi th one assent th e Argives spake their will
And hearing m y o ld heart t oo k youthful cheer
The very sky was th ri lled when high in ai r
The concourse rai sed right hands an d swore thei r
oath
Fr ee sh a llth e ma i de n s sojou r n i n th i s la n d
,
,
,
u n de
U n h a r r i ed,
No
na
.
mi ld by m
o
e
t i v e ha n d, n o h a n d o
f
S ha l
ldr a g th e m h en ce ;
Wh o e e r of
’
To
a
B en e a t h the
t he i r
people s
i
lw g h t
o r ei n e r
f
g
o r ta
ma n
a ny
co u n t ryme n sha
llo u r
c o me u n to
if
.
u se
f
or c e
llfa i l
let h i m g o fo r t h ,
cu r se , to ba n i sh me n t
a i d,
’
.
So d id t he king o f th i s Pelasgian fo lk
Plead o n behalf of u s and bade them h eed
That never i n the a ft er -time th i s realm
Sh ould feed to fulness t h e great enmity
O f Zeu s the suppl iants guard agai nst itself I
A twofo ld cu rse for wrongi ng st r anger guests
Wh o are aki n wi thal c o n fr o n ti n g ly
Should ri se befo re th i s ci ty and be shown
A ru thless monster fed o n human d o om
Such things th e Argive pe o ple heard and straight
Wi thout proclaim of herald gave assent
Yea, in full conclave, the Pelasgian folk
H eard suasive pleas and Zeus th rough them resolved
,
,
,
’
,
,
-
,
,
!
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
C H ORU S
Arouse we now t o chant our p rayer
F or fai r retu rn of service fai r
And Argos ki ndly will
Zeus lord of g u e st r ig h t look upon
The grace our stranger lips have won
I n ri ght and truth , as they begun
’
.
,
,
,
.
T HE
S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
37
G ui de them wi th fav o u r ing hand unti l
Th o u d o st thei r blameless wish fulfil l
,
,
Now may the Zeus bo r n g o ds on h igh
H ear us p o ur for th
A v o ti v e pra y e r fo r Argo s clan I
N ever m a y th i s Pe lasgian e a r th
Ami d th e fi r e wrack sh rill the di smal cry
O n A r es rav e ning l o rd o f figh t
Wh o i n an alien harvest mows d o wn man I
F o r 10 th i s land h ad p it y o n o u r plight
And unt o us were merci fu l and leal
T o us th e pite o us flo ck wh o at Zeus altar kneel I
They sc o rn ed n o t the pleas of maidenh oo d
N or with the y ou ng m en s will hath thei r will sto o d
They knew righ t well
Th unearthly watch ing fiend invi ncible
The fou l avenger—let h i m n o t draw near !
F o r he on r oo fs ill starred
D efil
i n g and p o ll u ting ke e ps a gh astly ward 2
The y knew hi s vengeance and t oo k h o l y heed
T o u s the sist e r suppliants who cry
T o Ze u s the l or d o f purit y
Therefo re with al t ars pur e they shall the g o ds r e vere
Thu s th r o u g h the b ou gh s that shade our lips fly
forth i n ai r
Fly forth O eager prayer
M ay never pestilen ce e fl a c e
Thi s city s race
N o r be the land wi th c o rpses strewed
N or stai ned with civi c bl oo d 1
The stem o f y o uth u n plu c k t t o manh oo d c o me
N or Ares ri se fro m Aphr o dit e s b o we r
The l o rd o f death and bane t o waste o ur youthfu l
flo w e r
-
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,
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,
.
38
T H E S U P P L I A NT M A I D E N S
Long may th e old
C rowd t o t h e altars kindled t o c o nsume
G ifts rich and man ifold
O ff ered to wi n fro m powers divine
A benison on ci t y an d on S h ri ne :
Let all th e sacred migh t ad o re
O f Zeus most high the lord
O f g u e st r ig h t and the hospitable board
Whose im memori al law d o th rule Fa t e s scales arigh t
The garn ers of ea rth s store
Be full for everm o re
And grace of Artemis make women s travail light
N o devastating cu rse of fell di sease
Th is ci ty seize
N o clamour of the S tate arouse t o war
Ares fr om whom afar
S h r i n ke t h the lute by whom the dances fai l
Ares t h e lord of wail
S warm far alo o f from Argos citi z ens
All plague and pestilence
And may the Archer G od ou r ch ildren spar e
M ay Zeus wi th foison and with fru itfulness
The land s each seas o n bless
And q u ickened with H eaven s b o unty mani fold
Teem grazing flock and fold
Beside the al tars o f H eaven s hallowin g
Loud let the minstrels sing
And from p u re lips fl o at fo rth the harp-led strai n i n ai r I
And let the people s v o i ce the p o wer
That sways the State in danger s h o u r
Be wary wi se fo r all
N or honour in di shonou r h old
B ut —ere the voi ce of war be b o ld
Let th em to stranger peoples grant
Fai r and u nblo od y covenant
,
,
’
’
,
’
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,
’
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-
’
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’
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’
,
’
,
’
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,
,
T H E S U P PL I AN T M A I D E N S
40
F oiled shall they be
.
Y et well i t were for you
,
(I f, ere wi th aid I come I tarry long ) ,
N o t by one step thi s san ct u ary t o leave
Farewell , fear nough t soon sh all the hour be born
When h e th at sc o rn s t he gods shall rue hi s scorn
,
.
.
C HORU S
Ah but I shudder father —ah even n o w
Even as I speak th e swift -winged ships d r aw nigh
,
,
,
,
I shudder I sh iver I peri sh wi th fear :
O vers eas though I fl ed
Y et n ought i t avails my pu rsuers are near l
,
,
,
D ANA U S
Ch ildren take heart they who d ec re ed to aid
Th y cause wi ll a rm fo r ba t tle well I ween
,
.
,
C HORU S
B ut despe rate i s Aegyptus ravening r a c e
With fi ght u nsated ; thou too kn o w st i t well
’
,
’
.
I n thei r wrath they o e r ta k e u s the prow i s deep -d a rk
I n the wh ich they have sped
And dark i s the bench and the crew o f the bark l
’
,
D A NA U S
Y ea bu t a crew as stout t hey here sh all find
And a rm s well steeled benea t h a n oo n da y sun
,
-
C HORU S
Ah ye t 0 fa t her leave u s not forlorn
Alone a maid is nough t a strengthless arm
,
,
,
,
.
.
T HE
S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
41
With gu ile the y pursue me wi th c o unsel malign
An d u nholy th ei r s ou l
And as raven s th e y seize me u nh eeding the sh rin e
,
,
,
D A NA U S
Fair wi ll befall us ch ildren in thi s chance
I f thus i n wrath they wr o ng the g ods and y o u
,
,
,
.
C HORU S
Alas n o r tridents nor th e sancti ty
O f shrines will drive them O my si re from u s
,
,
,
U nh o ly and dari ng and cursed i s thei r i re
N o r own they control
O f the g o ds b u t like jackals they glut th ei r desire !
,
,
I
D A NA U S
a
h
but Co me w o l
e
e
a
h
l
saith
t
e saw
c
f fl j
N o r can the fl a x plan t overbear the c o rn
A y,
,
;
,
-
.
C HORU S
Lustful accu rs ed m o nstr o us is thei r will
As o f beasts ravening— ware we of thei r
,
,
’
l
w
o
e
r
p
DAN A U S
L oo k you n o t swiftl y put s a fleet t o sea
N o r swiftly to its m o orings l o ng i t is
O r e er the saving cables t o the sh o re
Are b o rne and long o r e e r the steersmen cry
7 h e g o o d s t o sw i n g s a t a n c h o r —a ll i s w ell
L o ngest o f all th e task t o c o me aland
Wh ere haven there i s n o n e wh e n sunset fades
,
,
’
’
,
,
‘
.
,
,
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
42
To p ilo t w i se the adage sai t h
I n night
Ni g h t i s a day of w a kef uln ess a n d p a i n
Therefore no fo rce o f weaponed men as yet
Sca t heless can come ash o re before th e bark
Li e at her anchorage secu rely m o ored
B ethink t hee therefore n o r i n pani c leave
The shrine of god s whose succour th o u hast won
I g o for aid —men shall not blame m e l o ng
O ld but with y o u th at h e art and on my t o ngue
x i t D A NA U S
E
[
C HO RU S
0 land o f hi ll and dale O holy land
Wh at shall befal l u s wh i t her shall we flee ,
F rom Apian land to some dark lai r o f earth ?
.
,
,
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,
,
would tha t i n vapour of sm o ke I might ri se to the
clouds of th e sky
That a s dust whi ch fli t s up wi t hout wings I might pass
and evan ish and die !
I dare not I dare n o t abide : m y heart yearns eager
to fl y ;
And dark i s th e cas t o f my though t ; I shudder and
tremble fo r fear
M y father looked forth and beheld I die of the sigh t
that dra ws near
And fo r m e be th e strangling cord the h alter made
ready by Fa t e
B efore t o my b o dy d raws n igh t he man o f my horr o r
and ha t e
N ay ere I will o wn h i m as lord as handmai d t o
H ades I g o !
And oh that al o ft i n th e sky where t he da r k clouds
are fr o zen to sn o w
A refu ge fo r me might be found o r a mountain -mp
smooth and to o h igh
0
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
T HE
F or
S U P PL I A N T M A I D E N S
43
foo t o f th e g o at where t h e vulture S its l o n e l y
and n o n e may descry
Th e pi nnacl e veiled i n th e cl o ud t h e highe s t a n d
she e re s t o f all
E r e t o w e dl o ck that r e n de th my heart and l o ve that
is l o v e l e ss I fall !
Y e a a p r ey t o th e d o gs and t he bi r ds o f t h e mo u nt
w il
l I give me t o be
Fro m wailing and cu r se and po ll u ti o n i t i s death o nl y
death sets m e free
Let death com e u p o n m e b e fo re t o th e ravish e r s bed
I am th r ust ;
What champ i o n what savi o u r b u t d e ath can I find
o r what refuge fro m lust ?
I will utter m y sh riek o f ent reaty a prayer that shrills
u p t o the sky
That call e th the g o ds t o c o mpassi o n a t u nefu l a
pitifu l cry
That i s l o ud t o inv o k e the release r
O fathe r l oo k
d o wn on the fight
L oo k d o wn in thy w r ath o n t h e wro nger wi th e y es
that are eager fo r right
Z e us th ou th at art l o rd o f th e w or ld wh o s e k ingd o m
i s st ro ng o ver all
H ave mercy o n us ! At thine altar fo r refuge and
safety we call
For th e rac e o f Aegypt u s i s fierce , with greed and wi th
malice a fi r e
They c r y as the q u esti ng h ou nd s th e y swe e p with t he
s p e e d o f desire
B u t thine i s the balance o f fate th o u r ulest t h e
wavering scal e
And without th e e n o mortal emprise shall hav e
strength t o ach ieve o r prevai l
th e
,
,
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T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
44
Alack, alack ! th e ravi sher
He leaps from b o at t o beach h e draweth near !
Away th o u plun derer accu rs t
D ea t h seize th ee first
O r e er thou touch m e —o fi
G od hear our cry
O ur maiden agony
Ah ah the touch th e prelude of my shame
Alas m y maiden fam e
O sister si ster to the a l tar cli ng ,
F or he that se iz e th me
G rim i s h i s w rath and ste m by land as on th e sea
G uard u s 0 king !
E
n ter the H E R AL D o r A E G Y PT U S
[
,
,
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'
’
,
,
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,
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,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
A E G YPT U S
II ER ALD o r
H ence to my barge —step swiftly tarry not
,
.
C HORU S
Alack h e rends —
h e rends my hai r !
0 wound on
w o und
H el p ! my l o pped head wi ll fall my blood gush o er
the gro u nd
,
’
,
II ER A LD
Aboard ye cu rs ed
,
A EG YP T U S
o r
—wi th a new curse
,
go
!
C HO RU S
W o uld G od tha t o n th e wa n d r in g b r ine
Th o u and t hi s braggart tongue o f thine
H ad sunk beneath the main
Thy mas t and planks made fast i n vain
Thee would I drive ab o ard once more
A slayer and a dastard from the sh o re
’
,
,
,
T HE
S U P PL I A N T M A I D E N S
II ER A LD
45
O F A E GY P TUS
B e still th o u vain demented soul ;
M y fo rce thy craving sh all c o ntrol
Away ab o ard ! What c lin g e st t o the shrine ?
Away ! th i s ci ty s g o ds I hold not fo r divi ne
,
.
,
,
’
.
C HORU S
Ai d m e ye g o ds that never never
I may again beh o ld
,
,
,
The mighty th e life giving river
N ilu s th e q u i ckener of fi e ld a n d fo ld
Alack O s ire unt o th e sh r ine I cling
Shrine o f th is land fro m wh ich mine ancient line did
-
,
,
,
,
,
s pfi n
g !
ITE RA LD OF A EGY PTU S
.
Shri nes shrines fo rsooth —th e ship the ship
be shrine
Ab o ard perfo rce and will ye n ill ye g o
O r e er fro m hands o f m ine
Ye su fi e r torm ents worse and bl o w on blow
,
,
,
-
-
,
,
’
'
.
C HORU S
Alack G od grant th o se hands may strive in vain
‘
,
Wi th the salt stream ing wave
When gain st th e wide bl o wn blasts th y bark
shall strai n
T o round S a r pe do n s cape the sandbank s t r e a c h r o u s
grave
-
,
’
-
’
’
’
,
.
IJ E R A LD OF A E GY PTU S
.
Shrill ye and sh riek unt o what gods ye may
Ye shal l n o t leap fro m o ut Aegyptus bark
H o w bitterly so e e r ye wail y our w o e
’
,
’
.
,
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
6
4
C HORU S
Alack, alack my w r ong !
S tern i s thy voi ce thy vaunti ng l o ud and str ong
Thy sire th e mighty N il u s dri ve thee hence
Turning to death and d oo m thy greedy vi olence !
,
,
,
H E RAL D
or
.
,
A E G Y PT U S
Swi ft to the vessel o f the double p r ow
Go q uickly ! let none linger else thi s hand
R uthless will hale y o u by y o ur t resses hence
,
,
.
C HORU S
A lack O fa ther from the sh ri ne
N o t ai d b ut ago ny i s mine
As a spider h e creeps and he clutches h i s p r ey
And he hales me away
A spectre of darkness , of darkness
Alas and alas !
well -a -da y !
0 Earth 0 my mother ! 0 Zeus thou king o f the
ea rt h, and her ch ild !
Tu rn back we p ray thee, from u s h i s clamou r and
t h reatenings wild
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
II ER A LD OF AEG Y PTU S
.
Peace ! I fear not thi s country s deities
They foste red not my ch ildhood nor mine
’
.
a ge
.
C HORU S
L ike a snake that i s human he comes h e shudde rs
and c rawls to my side
As an adde r that biteth the foo t h i s clutch o n my
flesh d o th abide
,
,
.
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
48
H E RA LD
or
A EG vPTU S
Say thou wherein my deeds tran sgress my ri g h t
.
K IN G O F AR GO S
T HE
F i rs t that thou
,
a y st
pl
’
H E R AL D
\Vh e r e i n ?
a stranger s pa rt ami ss
0 F
’
.
A E G YPT U S
I do but sea rch and claim mine
o wn
.
K I N G O F ARGO S
THE
T o wh o m o f o ur gu est -cham pi ons h ast ap pealed
H E R A LD
OE A EG vPT U S
T o H erm es , he r ald s ch a m pion l o rd o f search
’
,
THE
Y ea to a
,
K I N G O F ARGOS
—yet
g od
.
dost th o u wrong th e god s
!
H E R ALD O F A EG YPTU S
Th e gods that rule by N ilus I revere
T HE
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
H ear I aright ? our Argi ve gods are nought ?
H E R AL D
or
A EG YPT U S
Th e prey is m in e unless force rend i t fr o m me
,
THE
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
At t h ine own peril t o uch
them —ware
’
,
and soon
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
49
H E R AL D O F A E G Y P T U S
I hear thy speech n o h o spi table word
,
T HE
KIN G
OF
.
ARGO S
I am no host fo r sacri legiou s h ands
.
H E R AL D O F A E G Y P T U S
I will g o tell th i s t o Aegyptu s s o ns
’
T HE
Tell i t
.
K IN G O F ARGO S
my p r ide wi ll p o nder n o t thy word
.
H E R AL D O F A E G YP T U S
Yet that I have my message cl e ar t o say
(F o r it beh o ves that heralds w or ds be clear
B e they o r ill or g oo d ) h o w a rt th o u named ?
By whom d e sp o il ed o f th i s si ster band
O f maidens pass I h o meward —speak and say
F o r 10 hencefo rth in Ares c ou rt we stand
Wh o j u dges n o t by witness but by war :
N o pledge o f si lver n o w can bring th e caus e
T o iss u e
ere thi s th ing end there must be
Corpse piled o n c o rpse and m any lives gasped for th
,
’
,
,
-
’
,
,
,
THE
.
KI N G O F ARGO S
What skills it that I tell my name t o thee ?
Tho u and thy mates shall learn i t ere th e end
Know that i f w o rds unstained by violence
Can change th ese maid e n s ch o ice then m ayest th o u
With fu ll c o nsent o f th e i rs c o nduct th em h enc e
But thus th e city with o ne voi ce o rdai n e d
.
’
,
,
.
E
,
50
TH E S U PP LIANT MAI D E N S
No f o r ce
sh a
llbea r
th e m a i de n ha n d
a w ay
.
Fi rmly th i s w o rd upon the temple wall
I s by a ri vet clen ched an d shall abide
N ot upon wax in scribed and delible ,
N or u pon parchment sealed and stored away
Lo th ou hast h eard our free mouth s speak thei r
wi ll
O ut from our p resence tarry not but go
,
.
,
—
,
H E R AL D O F A E G YPT U S
M eth inks we s tand on some new edge of war :
B e st r ength and tri umph on the young men s side
’
K IN G O F ARGO S
THE
N ay but here also shall ye find yo u ng men
U nsodden with th e j uices oo zed fro m grain l
i
E
x
t
r
H
E
R
AL
D
A
E
G
YP
T
U
o
S
[
But ye O maids wi th your attendants true
Pass hence wi t h trust int o t he fe nc ed t o wn
R inged wi t h a wide confine of guarding towers
Therei n a r e many dwellings for such guests
As the State h o nou rs ; th ere myself am h oused
Wi th in a palace nei t her scant n o r str ai t
There dwell ye if ye wi ll to lodge at ease
I n halls well thronged : yet i f you r s o ul prefer
Tarry secluded i n a sepa rate home
C hoose ye and cull fro m these o u r pro ff ered gifts,
,
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,
i us ta u t tro g ly i llustra tiv o f wh a t
Bro w i g ll s a tio a l ity i dri ks see Her do tus ii 7 7
A i mi l r f l i g m a y p rh a ps b t r a c d i T a c it u s d sc ri pti
f t h Ge rm s :
Po t u i h u mo r x
o f th e
a ti o a l b v
g
i
d m
f um t
h o r deo
ut
si mi l
i t di e m
q
m
i
h
p
xxiii
G
co r r upt
)
(
1
th is
Fo r
n n
s
cu r o
n
ca
a
ee
a
as
!
n
e
e
r
er
er a
e
en o
,
an
a
,
c
n
s
.
n
n
n
n
n
!
n
e
n
.
'
n
e
e
an
ua n
.
o
,
e
o
a
e
.
a
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on
e
u
n
vz n z
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
5r
W h i c h e e r is best and sweetest to your will
And I and all these citizens wh ose vote
Stands thu s decreed , wi ll your protectors be
Look not to find elsewh ere more loyal guard
’
.
.
C HORU S
O godlike ch ief G od grant m y prayer :
Fa i r blessi ng s o n thy pr ofi r s fa i r
,
,
Lo r d
f
Yet of thy grace unt o our side
Send th o u th e man o f c o urage tried
O f c o unsel deep and prudent th o ugh t
B e D anaus t o h is ch ildren brough t
For hi s it i s to gu ide u s well
And warn where i t behoves t o dwell
W hat place S hall guard and shelter u s
From mali ce and t o ngues slandero u s
Swift al ways are th e lips o f blame
A stranger maiden t o defam e
But Fortune give u s grace
o
Pe la sg i a
,
’
s r a ce
,
,
,
-
THE
K IN G O F AR GO S
A stainless fame a welcom e kin d
From all t h is people shall y e find :
D well therefo re damsels l o ved of u s
With in o ur walls as D anau s
All o ts t o each in or der due ,
H er d o wer of attendants t rue
R
e e n ter D ANA U S
[
,
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D AN A U S
H igh thanks my ch ildren unto Argos con
And t o th i s fo lk as t o O lympian gods
G ive o ff erings Ir i e e t of sacri fice an d win e ;
,
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52
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
F or savi ours are they in g oo d sooth t o you
.
F rom me th ey heard an d b itter was thei r wrath
H ow th ose y o ur kinsmen strove to work you wrong
And how of us were thwarted then t o me
This company of spearmen did they g r ant
That honoured I migh t walk nor unaware
D ie by s o m e secret th rust and o n th i s land
B ring down the cu rs e o f death that die t h n o t
Such boons they gave m e : i t behoves me pay
A deeper reverence from a s o ul sincere
Ye , to the m any words of wari ness
S poken by me your father add thi s word
That, t ri ed by time our unknown company
Be held for h o nest over-swift are t o ngues
T o slander strangers , over-l igh t i s speech
To b ri ng polluti o n on a stranger s n am e
Therefore I rede you b ri ng no shame on me
N ow when man s eye beholds y o ur maiden prime
Lovely i s beauty s ripening harvest -fie ld,
But ill to guard and men and beasts I wot ,
And bi rd s and c r eeping t hings make p rey o f i t
And when t h e fru i t i s ri pe fo r love , th e voice
O f Aphr o dite b ru i te th i t abro ad ,
The wh ile she guards t h e ye t un ri pened growth
O n the fai r ri chn e s s o f a maiden s bl o om
Each passer l oo ks o e r c o m e wi t h stro ng de si re
With eyes t hat waft the wistful dart o f love
Then h e n ot such o ur hap whose li velong toi l
D id m ake our pinnace pl ou gh th e m igh ty main
N o r bring we sh a me up o n ourselves and j oy
U nto m y foes Beh o ld a twofold h ome
O ne o f t h e king s and one the pe o ple s gift
U nb ou gh t , ti s y o urs t o h o ld —
a graci o u s boon
G o —but remember ye you r si re s behest
And hold your l ife less clear than chasti ty
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T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
53
C HORU S
The gods above grant that all else be well
B ut fear n o t thou O S ire lest augh t befall
O f ill unt o o ur ripened maidenho o d
S o l o ng as H eaven have n o new i ll devised
From i ts chaste path my sp i rit sh al l not swerve
.
,
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,
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S E M I C HORU S
-
Pass an d adore ye the B lessed the gods of the ci ty
wh o dwell
Around E r a sin u s the gush of the swift i mmemorial
ti de
,
,
.
S E M I C HORU S
-
Chant ye
,
O maidens
;
aloud let
th e praise
of
Pe l
a sg i a
sw e ll
H ymn we n o l o nger the shores where N i lus t o ocean
d o th glide
‘
.
S E M I -C HO RU S
Sing we the bounteous streams that ripple and gush
through the city
Quicken ing flow they and fertile th e soft new l ife of
the plain
,
.
S E M I C H ORU S
-
Artemi s maiden most pu r e l oo k on u s wi th grace
and with pi ty
Save u s from forced embraces : such love hath n o
crown but a pain
,
,
.
THE
54
S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
S E M I -C HORU S
Yet not in scorn we ch a nt , but i n honour o f
Aph rod i te
She truly a n d H era alone have power with Zeus and
c o ntrol
H oly th e deeds of her rite her craft is secret and
m i gh ty
And h igh i s h er honour on earth and subtle h er
sway of the soul
.
,
,
,
.
S E M I -C HO RU S
her ch ild i s D esi re : i n the train of h i s
mother he goe th
Yea and Persu asion s o ft -li pped whom none can deny
or r epel
C ome t h H armonia too on whom Aphrod ite b e sto we th
The whi spe ri ng parley the path s of the raptu re that
lovers love well
Y ea ,
an d
,
,
,
.
S E M I -C HOR U S
I
Ah but I tremble and q uake l est agai n t hey should
sail to reclai m !
Alas for the sorrow to come the blood and t he
carnage o f war
Ah by whose wi ll was i t d o ne that o er the wide
ocean they came
G uided by favouring winds and wa fted by sail and
by oar
S E M I -C HORU S
,
,
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’
,
,
,
Peace ! for what Fate hath ordained will surely not
ta rry but come
Wide i s the c o unsel of Zeus by no man escaped or
wi th stood :
,
56
T H E S U P P L I AN T M A I D E N S
S E M I -C HORU S
B eware nor sligh t th e god s in speech
,
.
S E M I -C HO RU S
Zeus , hold from my body th e wed lock detested the
bridegroom abh o rred
I t was th o u i t was thou didst r eleas e
M ine an ces tres s 1 0 from sorrow th ine h ealing i t
was that restored
The t o uch o f thine hand gave her peace
,
,
,
.
S EM L C HOR U S
B e thy will for the cause of the maidens o f two ills ,
the lesser I pray
The e xile tha t l eaveth me pu re
M ay thy j usti ce h ave h eed to m y ca use my p rayers
to thy mercy find way !
For the h ands o f th y savi ng are S u re
.
,
.
T HE
PE R S I A N S
S7
A R G U M E NT
XE RX E S
son of D arius and of h i s wi fe Atossa
daughter of Cyrus went fo rth agai nst H ellas t o take
vengeance upon th o se wh o had defeated h i s father at
M arath o n But ill fo rtune befell th e king and hi s
army b o th by land and sea neither did i t avai l h im
that he cast a bridge over the H ellespont and made a
canal acr o ss the promontory of M o u n t Ath o s and
brough t m y riads of men by land an d sea t o s u bdue
the G reeks
F o r i n the strai t between Athens and
th e island o f Salam is the Persi an sh ips were shattered
and sunk or put t o flight by th o se of Athens and
Lacedaemon and Aegi na and C o rinth and X e rxes
wen t h o mewards on th e way by wh ich he had come
leaving hi s general M a r do n i u s wi th three hundred
th o u sa n d m e n t o strive wi th the G reeks by land : but
in the next year they were destroyed n ear Plataea in
B o e o tia, b y t h e Lacedaemonian s and Ath en ians and
Tegeans
Such was the end of th e army wh i ch
X erx es left beh i nd h im B ut th e king himself h ad
re ached the bridg e over th e H ellesp o nt and late and
hardly and i n sorry pligh t an d with few com panions
came home unto th e Palace of S usa
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59
D RAMAT I S
C HORU S
or
PERS I
AN
D ERS
D A R I U S AN D
EL
ATOS S A W I Do w o r
A M ESS ENGE R
THE G HOS T OE D A R I U S
X ERX ES
,
.
.
PE R S O N A E
.
.
M OT H ER
OF
XERXES
.
T HE
PE R S I A N S
C HORU S
A W A Y unto th e G recian land
H ath passed the Persian armamen t :
We by the m o narch s high c o mmand
We are th e warders true wh o stand
Chosen fo r h o n o ur and d e scen t
T o watch the wealth o f h im wh o went
G uards o f th e g o ld and fai thfu l styled
B y X erxes great D arius chi ld !
’
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B u t the king wen t n o r c o m e s again
And fo r that host we saw depart
Arrayed i n g o ld , my b o ding h eart
Aches with a pulse o f an x i ou s pain
Presageful fo r i ts yo uthfu l king
N o sc o ut no steed n o battle car
C o mes speeding h i therward t o bring
N ews t o our ci ty from afar !
Erewh ile they went away away
Fr o m S u sa fro m E cbatana
Fr o m K i ssa s timew o rn fo rt r ess grey
Passing t o ravage and t o war
S o me up o n steeds on galleys some
S o me in cl o se files they passed from h o me
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61
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
62
Al
lu pon warl ike erran d bent
A m i st r e s, A r t a ph e r n e s went ,
A s t a spe s, M e g a b a z e s high ,
Lords o f the Persian chi val ry
M arshals who serve the great kin g s word
Chieftains o f all th e m igh ty h o rde
H orsemen a n d bowmen streamed away
G ri m in th eir aspect, fixed to slay
And resolu t e to face th e fray
\Vi th t r oop s o f h orse , careering fast
M a s is t e s A r t e mb ar e s passed
Ima e u s too th e bowm an brave
S o stha n e s Ph a r a n dake s d rave
And others the all -nu rs ing wave
O f N ilu s to th e battle gave ;
Came S u si skan e s warrior wild
And Peg a s tag o n , Egypt s ch ild :
Thee brave A r sa m e s from afar
D id h o ly M em ph is la u nch t o war ;
And A r io ma r du s h igh i n fame
From Thebes the immemorial came
And oarsmen ski lled from N i lu s fen
A countless crowd o f w arlike men :
And ne x t the dain ty Lydian s went
Soft rulers of a con t inent
M i t r a g a t h e s and A r c t e u s bold
I n twin command thei r ranks controlled
And Sardi s t o wn t hat teems wi th g o ld
Sen t forth i ts s q uadrons to the war
H orse upon horse and car on car
D ouble and tri ple t e am s they rolled
I n on se t awful to behold
F rom Tmo lu s sacred h ill t here came
The native h ordes to join the fray
And upon H ella s neck to lay
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T H E P E R S I AN S
64
Some by the way o f the waves, and some o er th e
planking h ave pressed
For the king i s a lord and a god he was born of th e
golden seed
That erst upon D anae fell —hi s captains are strong at
the need !
And dark is th e glare of hi s eyes , as eyes of a serpent
bl o od fed
And wi t h mani fo ld troops i n hi s t rain an d wi th
man i fo ld sh ips hath he sped
Y c a sped with hi s Syrian cars
he leads on the lords
of the h o w
To meet wi t h th e men of the West , th e spear-a rm ed
fo rce of th e fo e !
Can any make head and re si st him when he comes
wi t h t he roll o f a wave ?
N o barri er n o r phalanx of migh t n o chief be he ever
so brave !
For ste m i s the onset of Persia, and gallant her
ch ildren i n figh t
But the gu ile of the god i s decei tful , and who shal l
e lude h im by fligh t ?
And who i s th e l o rd o f the l ea p that can spring and
aligh t and evade ?
For A té d e ludes and allures till round h i m the meshes
are laid
And no man h i s d oom can escape ! i t was wri t in the
rule o f h igh H eaven
That i n tram p of t he steeds and in c r ash of th e
charge the war-cry of Pers ia be gi ven
They hav e learned t o beh old the fo rbidden the sacred
enclosure o f sea
Where; the waters are wide and in stress of the wi nd
the billows roll hoary to Ic e
’
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T HE
PE RS I AN S
65
And their trust i s i n cable and cordage, t o o weak i n
the p o wer o f the blast
And frail are the links o f the bridge whereby unt o
H ellas th ey passed
,
.
Therefo re my gloom -wrapped h e art i s re nt with sorro w
F o r what may hap t o m or ro w !
Alack for all the P ers ian armament
Alack lest there be sent
D read news of des o lati o n S u sa s land
B ereft, fo r lorn unm a n ned
Lest the grey K i ssia n for tress echo back
The wail A la ch A Za c h
The s o und of women s shriek who wail and mourn
With fi n e spu n raiment torn
The chari o teers wen t forth n o r come again ,
And all the march ing men
Even as a swarm o f bees have flown afar
D rawn by the king to war
Crossing the sea bridge linked from side to s i de
That d o th th e waves divide
And th e s o ft bridal couch of byg o ne years
I s n o w bedewed with tears
Each p r incess clad i n garments delicate
Wail s fo r h er wid o wed fate
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Al
st
a s my
a n t br i deg r o o m , l
o
a
l
l
g
A n d I a m left a l
on e
a n d g o n e,
B u t n o w ye warders o f the state
H e r e i n thi s hall o f o ld renown
Beh o ves that we delibe r ate
I n c o unsel de e p and wise debate
F o r need i s su r ely sh o wn
Ho w fa r e th he Dariu s ch ild
The Persian king fro m P erseus styled ?
,
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F
T H E P E R S I AN S
66
Comes tri umph to the easte rn bow,
O r hath the lance point con q uered now ?
-
See yonder comes the moth er-q ueen
Light o f our eyes in go dlike sh een
The r o yal mother of the king
Fal l we befo re he r ! well i t were
That, a llas one, we sue to her,
And r o und her footsteps cling
,
,
,
,
Q u een , among dee p-girded Pers ian dames thou highest
and m o st royal
’
H oary mother, thou, o f X e rxes and D a ri us wi fe
of old !
To godl ike si re and godl ike son we bow us and are
loyal
U nle ss o n u s an adverse tide of destiny has rolled !
,
,
,
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,
,
ATOS S A
Therefore c o me I fo rth to you from chambers decked
and golden
Wh ere long ag o D ari u s laid h i s head, with m e
beside
And my h eart i s torn with angui sh and wi th te rror
am I holden
And I plead unto your friendship and I bid you to
my side
,
,
,
,
,
.
D ari us in the old time by aid of some I mmortal
R aised up the sta t ely fabric o ur wealth o f l o ng ag o :
B u t I tremble lest i t totter d o wn and ru i n porch and
,
,
,
-
,
,
portal ,
And the wh i rl i ng dust of d o wnfall ri se above its
overt hrow !
T HE
P E R S I AN S
67
Therefo re a dread unspeakable with in me never
slumbe r s ,
Saying Ho n o u r n o t th e g a u ds of w ea lth if men h a ve
,
c ea s ed
No r
dee m
to g r o w ,
t h a t me n , a
st r e n g
p
th i n
a rt
fr o m
w ea l
th ,
ca n
fi n d th e i r
m be r s
nu
We shudder fo r o ur light and king th o ugh we
have g o ld enow
,
No
lig h t th er e i s, i n
a ny
h o u se,
sa t / e
pr e
f
s en c e o
th e
So runs the saw y e aged men ! and truth i t says
indeed
O n you I call the wise a n d true to ward u s from
disaster
For all my hope i s fixed on you to pr o p us in o ur
need !
,
,
,
,
,
C HORU S
Queen -M o ther o f the Persian land t o th y c o mmand
ment b o wi ng
Whate er thou wilt i n w o rd o r de e d we fo ll o w t o
,
,
’
,
,
fu lfi l
N o t twi ce we need th ine h igh behest ou r faith and
d u ty kn o wing
I n council and i n act al ike thy loyal servants still
,
,
,
ATO SS A
Long wh ile by various vi sion s of th e n igh t
Am I beset since to I o nian lands
With marshalled h o st my s o n went forth to war
Yet never saw I presage s o disti nct
As in the night n o w passe d —Attend my tale
A d r eam I had : two w o men n o bly clad
,
.
TH E PERS IAN S
68
Came to my sight o ne robed in Persi an dress
The oth er vested i n the D orian garb
And b o th ri ght statel y and more tall by far
Than w o men o f to day and beautiful
Bey o nd disparagement and sisters sprung
B o th of o ne race but by th eir na t al l ot
O ne born i n H e ll as o ne i n Eastern land
Th ese as i t s eemed unto my watch ing eyes
R oused each the oth er t o a mutual feud :
The wh ich my son percei ving set h i mself
To check and soothe thei r struggle and an o n
Yoked them and set the c o lla rs on their necks
And one th e I onian , p roud in thi s array,
Paced i n h igh q uietu de, and lent her mouth ,
O bedient to the gu idance of the rein
B ut resti vely the other st r ove and b roke
The fittings of the ca r, and plunged away
Wi th mouth u n -bi tted : o er the bro ken yoke
M y son was hurled and lo ! D ari us stood
I n lamentation o er h i s fallen child
Hi m X e rxes saw and ren t h is ro be i n gri ef
Such was my vi si on of the nigh t now past
B ut when ari si ng I had dipped my hand
I n t h e fai r lus t ral stream I drew towards
The al tar i n the act o f sacri fi ce
H aving in mind to o fi e r as thei r due,
The sacred meal -cake t o th e averting powers
Lords of the rite that b a n i sh e th ill d reams
When lo I saw an eagle fleeing fast
T o Phoeb u s sh ri ne —O fri ends I stayed my ste ps
Too scared to s peak fo r cl o se u pon hi s flight
A little fa lcon dashed in winged p u rs uit
P lucking with claws th e eagle s head wh il e h e
Could onl y c ro uch and cower and yield himse lf
Scared was I by that sight and eke t o y o u
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T HE
PE R S I AN S
69
N 0 less a te rro r must i t b e t o hear !
F o r m a rk th is well —i f X e rx es have p r e vai l e d
H e sh a ll c o me back the w o nde r o f th e wo r ld
I f n o t still n o ne can call him t o acc ou nt
So h e but live he liveth P ers ia s K i ng
,
,
’
,
C HORU S
Queen it stands n o t with my pu r p o se t o abet these
fears o f th ine
N o r t o speak with gl o zing c o mfor t na y betake thee
t o the S h r i ne
I f thy dream fo retold disaster, sue t o g o ds t o bar its
,
,
,
w a y,
And fo r thyself son state , and fr iends to bring fai r
fate t o day !
Next u nt o Earth and t o the D ead be d u e libati o n
p o ured
And by thee let D ari u s s o ul b e wi stfu ll y impl or ed
s a w th ee
in l
a st n z h t s dr ea m
a p h a n to m
l
or d
g
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
’
’
,
fr o m
I
p
r ay
th e g
t h ee ,
p
h el
To me
‘
r a v e,
l
o r d,
a n d sa ve
a n
,
,
d to thy
fr o m
ea r
th be n ea th
c o me
fo r th
to
!
so n
se n
d
u
p
t h e bl
i ss of
p
tr i u m h
n o w,
An d h o l
d th e g l
o o my
be l
ow
fa tes of
il
l
di m i n
,
th e
da r h
S u ch be th y w ords ! my inner h e a r t g oo d ti di ngs
d o th fo ret e ll
And that fair fate will s pr ing the r e o f i f wisd o m g u ide
u s well
,
,
.
ATO S S A
Loyal th ou t hat first hast read th i s dream t hi s vi si o n
of the n ight
,
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
70
Wi th l o yalty t o me th e q ueen —b e then thy presage
right !
And therefo re as thy bidding is what time I pas s
with in
T o dedi cate these o ff e ri ngs new prayers I wi ll begin
Alike t o gods and the great dead wh o l o ved our
li neage well
Yet one more word —say , i n what realm do the
Atheni an s dwell ?
,
,
,
,
,
.
C HORU S
Far hence even where in evening l and goes down
our Lord the Sun
,
,
,
.
A TO S S A
Say
,
had my son so keen desi re
’
o e r ru n
,
that region to
?
C HORU S
Y ea —i f she fell the rest of G reece were subj ect to
,
ou r sway
ATOSSA
H ath sh e so great predom i nance such legions in
,
array
—such
Ay
day
C HORU S
a h ost as sm o te u s sore upon an earlier
.
And what ha t h sh e
weal t h in store ?
A T OS S A
,
he r
besides
men
?
en o w o f
C HORU S
A m ine of treasure i n th e earth a fount of silver ore
,
!
T H E P E R S I AN S
72
M ES S EN G E R
O walls and towers o f all the Asian realm
O P ers ian land O treasure h o u se o f gold I
H ow by one str oke d o wn t o destructi o n d o wn
H ath sunk o ur pride and all th e flower o f war
That o nce was Pe rs ia s lieth i n th e dust !
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
Woe on th e man who fi rst a n n o u n c e th woe
Yet must I all the tale of death unr o ll
H ark to me P ersian s ! Persia s h ost lies l o w
’
,
.
C HORU S
O ru in man ifold and woe and fear !
,
,
Let th e wild tears run down for the great d o om i s
he re !
,
M ES S EN G E R
Thi s blow hath fallen t o t he ut t erance
And I , past hope behold my safe retu rn
,
,
,
C HOR U S
Too long alack , too l o ng th i s li fe o f mine
That i n mine age I see thi s sudden woe condi gn
,
,
M ES S EN G E R
As one wh o saw by no loose rumour led
Lords I would tell what doom was deal t to u s
,
,
,
C HORU S
Alack, how vai nl y have they stri ven !
O ur myri ad hordes with sh aft and bow
Wen t fr om the E astl a n d t o lay low
H ellas , beloved of H eaven !
,
.
!
T HE PE R S I A N S
73
M E S S EN G E R
P iled wi th men dead y ea m iserabl y slain
I s every beach each reef o f Salam i s
,
,
,
,
C HORU S
Thou sayest so o th —ah well a day
Battered am id t he wav e s a n d t o rn
O n surges hi ther th i ther b o rne
D ead b o dies bl o odstained and for l o rn
I n thei r l o ng cloaks they t o ss and stray
-
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
!
M E S S EN G E R
Their b o ws availed n o t all have perish e d all
By charging galleys crushed and whelmed in death
,
,
C HORU S
Shriek o ut your s o rrow s wistful wail
T o t h eir untim ely d oo m they w e nt
I ll str o ve th e y and t o n o avail
And m inished i s thei r armament
’
,
,
M E S S EN G E R
O ut o n thee hateful name o f Salam is
O ut u p o n Athens mournfu l mem o r y !
,
,
C H ORU S
W o e u p o n th i s da y s e vil fame
Th ou Ath e n s art ou r mu r deress
Alack fu ll ma n y a P e r sian dame
IS left for l o rn and husba n dl e ss
’
,
,
,
;
,
.
T H E P E R S I AN S
ATO SS A
M ute have I been awhi le a n d overwrought
At t his great s o rrow fo r it passeth speech
And pas se t h all desi re t o ask of i t
Yet i f th e g od s send evils men must bear
( To the M ES S EN G E R )
U n roll the record I stand com posed and t e ll
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
Although thy h ea rt be groaning i n wardly
Wh o hath escaped, and o f our leade r s whom
H ave we to weep ? what C hieftains in the van
S tood , s a nk an d died and left us leaderless ?
,
,
,
,
M E S S EN G E R
X erxes
h imself su rvi ves and sees the day
.
A TO S S A
Then to my line thy word renews the dawn
And golden da yspring after gloom of night
M ES S EN G E R
B ut th e brave marshal of ten thou sand horse
A r t e m b a r e s i s t ossed and flung in death
Along the rugged r ocks S i le n ia n
And D a da c e s no l o nger leads h is troop ,
But smitten by the S pear from o ff the prow
H ath lightly l eaped to death and Te n a g o n
I n t rue descent a Bac t rian n o bly bo rn
D rift s by the sea -lashed reefs o f Salam i s,
The i sle of Aj ax
G one Li la e u s t o o
G one are A r sa me s and Argestes ! all
Around th e i slet where the sea -doves bree d
D ashed th eir defeated heads on i ron rocks :
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
76
M ES S EN G E R
Know, i f m e re c o unt of ships c o uld win th e da y
Th e Persian s had p revailed
The G r e e ks in s oot h
H ad but t h r ee hundred galleys at th e m o s t
And o ther ten, select a n d separate
But —I am wi tness X erxes h eld comm and
O f full a thousand keels and th o se apart
Two h undred m o re , and seven fo r speed ren o wned
S o stand s the reck o n ing , and who shall da r e
To say we Pe rsian s had the les ser host ?
,
.
,
,
—
.
,
,
,
,
A T O SS A
N ay we we re worsted by an unseen p o wer
Who swayed the balance d o wnward to o ur d oom
,
M ES S EN G E R
In
ward of h eaven d o th Pallas ci ty s tand
’
.
A TOS S A
H ow then ? i s Athens yet i nvi o late ?
M ES S ENG ER
W h ile her men live her bulwark standeth fi rm
,
A TOS S A
Say how began t he st ruggle of t h e sh ips ?
Who fi rst j o i ned i ssue ? did th e G reeks attack
O r X e r xes i n h is numbe r s confid e nt ?
,
,
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
77
M E S S EN G E R
queen ou r wh o l e di saster thus befell
Thr ou g h interventi o n o f s o m e fiend or fate
I kn o w n o t what —that h ad ill will t o u s
Fro m the Athenian h o st s o me G reek came o
T o thy s o n X erx es wh ispering thi s tale
On c e le t t h e g lo o m of n ig h t h a v e g a the r ed i n
0
,
,
.
’
e r,
,
p
Th e Gr eeh s w i ll t a r ry n o t, bu t sw iftl
s
n
r
i
y
g
e -be n c h , i n f ur ti v e
E a ch t o h i s g a ll
i
h
t
y
flg ,
S oft l
t
r
i
i
n
a
o
n
c
v
s
y
f e ty f o r th ei r lif e
g
.
Thy s o n believed the w or d and m issed the craft
O f that G reek foeman , and the spite o f H eaven ,
And straight t o all h i s captain s gave thi s cha rge
ig h t w a r ms th e g r o u n d n o m o r e ,
l
Andg l
o o m e n w r a s th e s a n ct u a ry of shy ,
R a ng e w e o u r fl eet i n t r if le se r r i ed lin es
To ba r t h e a ss a g e fr o m th e seeth i n g str a i t,
Th i s w ay a n d th a t
let o the r sh i s su r r o u n d
Th e i sl
e o
a x, w i th th i s w a r n i n
A
w
d
r
o
f
g
f
Th a t if th e Gr eeh s th e i r je o a r dy sh o u l
d s ca e
By w a ry c r aft , a n d w i n th ei r sh i s a r o a d,
As
so o n a s s u n
p
p
p
p
,
E a c h P er si a n
By fo rfei t
ca
pt
a
sh a
in
p
p
llh i s fa i l
ure
p
spake the king,
ay
S
o
f
I nspire d at h eart with o ver c o n fi de n c e
U nwitting o f th e g o ds predestined will
There o n o ur crews with no dis o rdered haste
D id se rvi ce t o h i s bidding and purveyed
The meal of aftern oo n each r o wer then
O ver th e fitted r o wl o ck l oo ped hi s oar
Then when the splend o u r o f th e sun had set
And n ight drew o n each master o f the o a r
And each armed warri o r s t raigh twa y wen t ab o a r d
F or ward the l o ng ships moved r ank che e ring rank
Each fo rward set up o n its ordered co u rse
o
h i s h ea d
.
-
,
’
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
TH E PERS IAN S
78
And all night long the cap tain s of the fleet
Kept their crews moving up and down th e s t r ait
So the n igh t waned and not one G recian sh i p
M ade e ffo rt to elude and sli p away
But as dawn came and wi th her c o ursers whi te
Shone i n fai r radiance o ve r all th e earth
Fi rst fr o m the G recian fleet rang out a cry
A song of onset and th e I sland crags
Re -echoed to the sh ri ll ex u lting sound
Then on u s Eastern men a m az ement fell
An d fear i n place of hope
for what we heard
Was not a cal l to fl ight the G reeks rang out
Th ei r holy resolute exult i ng ch an t
L ike men c o me forth to dare and do and d ie
Thei r trumpets pealed an d fire was in that sound
And wi th t he dash o f simultaneous oars
R eplyi ng to th e war-ch a nt on they came
Smi ting th e swi rling brine a n d in a trice
They flash ed u pon th e vision of the foe
The right wing fi rst in orderly advance
Cam e on a steady c o lumn fo llowing then
The rest o f their array m oved out and on
And to our ea rs there cam e a bu rst of sound ,
A clamour man ifol d On so n s of Gr eec e !
On f o r yo u r co u n try s fi eedo m st r i ke t o sa v e
lVi ves ch i ldr en te mples of a n cest r a lg o ds
la t sta h e
no w i s a l
Gr a v es of y o u r fa t h er s
Then from ou r side swelled up the m ingled din
O f Pe rsi an tongu es and ti me brooked n o delay
Ship i nto sh i p d rave hard its braz en beak
W ith S peed of though t a S h atteri ng blow ! and fi rst
O ne G recian bark plunged straight and sheared away
Bowspri t and stem of a Phoenician sh ip
And then each gal ley on some ot her s prow
Came crashing in
Awh ile our stream of sh i ps
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
A
,
—
,
’
,
/
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
TH E PERS I AN S
ATO S S A
Nay what disaster could be worse than th i s
Say on wha t w o e up on th e a r my cam e
Swaying t h e scale t o a yet further fall
,
,
M ES S EN G E R
The very flower and crown of Persia s race
G allan t of s o ul and glori ou s in descent
And h i g hest held in t rust befo re th e king
Lies sh amefully and m i serably slain
’
,
,
,
.
A TO S S A
Alas fo r me and for thi s ru in friends !
D ead sayest thou by what fate overth ro wn
,
,
?
M ES S EN G E R
An i slet i s there, fro n t ing Salami s
S t rai t and wi th evi l anchorage : there o n
Pan t reads t he m easure o f the dance he love s
Along the sea -beach
Thi ther the king sent
H i s n o blest that when e er t he G recian fo e
Should scape wi th shattered sh ips , unto th e i sle
We m ight make easy pre y of fugi ti ves
And slay them there and fro m th e wash ing tid e s
R escue our friends I t fell out otherw i se
Than he divi ned for when by aid of H eaven
The H ellenes held the vi ctory on the sea
Thei r sailors then and t here begi rt them selves
With brazen mail and bounded from their S h ips
And t hen en ri nged the islet , poi nt by p o in t
So that our Pe rsian s i n bewilderment
Knew n o t wh ich way to turn
O n every side
,
.
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
TH E PERS I AN S
81
Battered wi th stones they fell whi le arrows flew
Fr o m many a stri ng and sm o te them t o the death
Then at the last with sim u l t ane ou s rush
The fo e came bursti ng o n us h acked and hewed
T o fragments all that m i se r able band
Till n o t a s o ul of them was l e ft al ive
Then X erxes saw disast e r s depth and shri e ked
F ro m wh ere he S a t o n high surveying all
A l o fty em inence bes ide the b r ine
Whence all h i s armament lay clear in V iew
H i s robe h e rent with loud and bitter wail
And t o h i s land fo rce swiftly gave c o mma n d
And fl ed with shame beside h i m
N o w lamen t
That sec o nd w o e , upon the first imposed
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
-
,
,
A T OS S A
Ou t on thee Fortune th o u hast fo iled th e h o pe
And p o wer o f P ersia t o th i s bi tter end
M y s o n went fo rth t o w r eak h is great revenge
O n famou s Athens all t oo few they seem e d
Ou r men wh o d ied up o n the Fenn e l fi e ld !
Vengean ce fo r them my s o n had m ind t o tak e
And d r ew o n hi s o wn head t h e se whelm i n g woe s
B u t th ou say o n t h e sh ip s that scaped fro m wreck
Where didst th ou leave them ? make th y st o ry clear
,
,
-
,
.
’
,
M E S S EN G E R
Th e captains of th e sh ips that still survived
Fled in dis or der scudding d o wn the wind
The wh ile o u r land for ce o n B o e ot ia n s o il
Fell int o ru i n s o m e besi de the s pr i n gs
D r opping befo re the y drank , and s o me o utworn
P u rsued , and panting all thei r l ife away
The rest of us o ur way to Phoci s won ,
,
,
-
,
.
,
.
T H E P E R S I AN S
82
then ce to D ori s and th e M elian gu lf
Wh ere with soft s t ream S pe r c h e u s lave s th e so il
Thence t o the n o rth ward did Ph th i o t i s plain
And some Thessal ian fortress lend us aid
For fam ine pinched we were and many died
O f drought and hunger s twofo ld present scourge
Thence t o M agnesia came we an d the land
Where M acedoni a n s dwell and crossed the ford
O f A xi u s and B olhe s reedy fen
And mount Pa n g a e u s in Edo n ia n land
There i n t h e very n igh t we c a m e the god
B rou g ht winter ere i t s ti me from bank to bank
Freezing t he holy Strym o n s tide
Each man
\Vh o heretofore held li gh t ly of the god s
N ow crouched and p ro ffered prayer t o Earth and
H ea ven !
Then aft er many o ri sons pe rfo rm ed
The army ventu red on the frozen fo rd :
Yet only th o se wh o cr o ssed before th e sun
Shed its warm rays w o n to t h e farther s ide
For soon th e fe rvour o f t he gl o wing orb
D id wi th i ts keen rays pierce the i ce -bound str eam
And men sank th rough and th ru st each o ther do wn
Best was h is lot whose breath was stifled fi rst
B ut a llwho struggled th rough and gained the bank,
Toilfully wending through th e land of Th race
H ave made thei r way a s o rry s canted few
U nto th i s h o meland Let th e city now
Lament and yea rn for all t he l o ved and l o st
M y t ale i s t ru t h yet much untold remain s
O f ills that H eaven hath hurled upon o ur land
An d
,
.
’
,
,
,
-
,
’
.
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
.
C HORU S
S pi ri t of Fate too h eavy were thy feet
Those ill to match that sprang o n Persi a s realm
,
,
’
.
THE
34
P E R S I AN S
Ye Persian women ! pas t rel ief
I s n o w your sorr o w to the war
Your l o ved ones went and come no more
Go ne fr o m you i s y o ur j oy and p r ide
Severed the bri degro om fro m the bride
The wedded cou ch luxurious
I s wid o wed now, and all the house
P ines ever with insatiate sighs
And we stand here a n d bid ari se
For t hose wh o fo rth i n ardour wen t
And c o me not back th e loud la ment
,
,
,
Land of th e East th ou m o u r n e st fo r t h e host
Be reft o f all thy s o ns , alas t he day !
F o r them whom X erxes led hath X e rxes lost
X erxes who wrecked the fl eet , and flung o ur hope s
away !
,
,
H o w came it that D arius once controlled
And wi t h ou t scathe th e army o f the bow
L o ved by t h e fo lk o f Susa wi se and b o ld ?
N o w i s the land fo rc e l o s t t h e sh ipmen sunk bel o w !
,
,
,
,
-
,
Ah fo r t h e shi ps t hat bore them w o e i s me
B o re th e m t o death and d oo m ! th e c rash ing
prows
O f fierce I onian oarsmen swept the sea,
And dea th was i n thei r wake and sh ipwreck
mu rderou s
,
,
—
Late late an d hardl y i f t rue tales they tell
D id X erxes flee along the wintry way
And sn o ws of Th race but ah the fi rst who fell
Lie by the rocks or float upon C yc h r e a s bay !
,
—
,
’
THE
P E R S I AN S
85
M o u rn , each and all
waft heavenward your cry
Stung t o the s o ul bereaved di sc o n s o late
Wail out y o ur angui sh till i t pierce the sky
I n shrieks of deep despair ill -omened desperate !
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
The dead are driftin g yea
By voiceless children of
O r battered by the surge
F o r husbands gone to death
,
,
,
are gnawed upon
th e stainless sea
we m o urn and gro an
for chi ldless agony !
,
Alas th e aged men wh o m o urn to day
The ruinous s o rrows that th e g o ds ordai n
O er the wide Asian land the Persian sway
Can force no t ribute now, and can n o rule sustain
-
,
’
,
.
Yea men will crouch no m o re t o fallen p o wer
And kingship overthr o wn th e wh o le lan d o er
M en speak th e th ing they will and fr o m th i s h ou r
The folk wh o m X erxes ruled obey h i s word n o m ore
,
’
,
,
.
The yoke o f fo rce i s br o ken from the neck
The i sle o f Aj ax and t h en ci rcl ing wave
R eek with a blo o dy cro p of death and wreck
O f Persia s fallen power, that none can l ift nor save
’
’
-en ter
R
e
[
A T O S S A,
i n m o u r n i ng
r o bes.
A TO S S A
Friends , wh o so e e r i s versed i n h uman ills
K n o weth righ t well that wh en a wave o f woe
C o mes o n a man he sees i n all th ings fea r ;
’
Wh ile i n fl o o d tide o f fo rtune ti s h i s m oo d
T o take that fo rtune as unchangeable
Wafting hi m ever forward
M ark m e now
Th e gods th wart purp ose doth confront m ine eyes
’
,
,
-
,
!
,
,
.
’
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
86
And all i s terror to me in m ine ears
Th ere sounds a c ry but not of tri umph now
So am I scared at h eart by woe so great
Th erefore I wend forth from the h o use anew
B orne i n no car o f state nor r o bed in p ride
As heretofore but bri nging fo r the s ire
Who did beget my son l ibations meet
F or h o l y ri tes that shall appease the dead
The sweet wh ite milk d rawn fro m a spotless cow
The oozing drop of golden honey culled
B y the fl o we r -haunting bee and therewi thal
Pu re d ra u ghts of water from a vi rgin spri ng
And lo ! besides the stainless e fllu e n c e,
Born of the wild vine s bos o m sh i ning store
Treasu red to age, thi s bright and l u sciou s wine
An d eke th e fragrant fru i t upon the bough
O f the grey olive -tree , whi ch l ives its l ife
I n sprou t ing leafage and the twin ing flowers ,
B right ch ild ren of th e earth s fertility
B ut you 0 friends abo ve thes e offe rings poured
To reconcile the dead ring out your dirge
To su mmon u p D ari u s from the shades,
H im self a shade ; and I will pour these draugh ts
Wh ich ea rth sh all d ri nk , unto the god s of hell
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
C HORU S
Queen , by the Persian land adored
By thee be th i s l ibation poured ,
Passing t o those wh o hold command
O f dead m e n in the spi ri t land
And we will sue in s o lemn chan t
That god s who d o escort th e dead
I n nether realms our prayer may grant
Back to u s be D ari u s l ed
,
-
,
,
,
T H E P E R S I AN S
88
A m ist of fate and hell i s ro un d u s now
And all the city s flower t o death i s done
Alas we wept thee on ce and weep again !
0 L o rd o f l o rds , b y recklessness twofold
The land i s wasted of i ts men
And down to death are rolle d
Wreckage of sai l and oar
Sh i ps that are sh ips n o more,
And bodies of the sla in
T
h
e G HO S T O F D A R I U S r i ses
[
,
’
,
,
,
,
.
G HO S T O F D A R I U S
Ye age d Pers ians , tru est of th e true
Coeval s of the you th that once was m i ne,
What troubleth now our ci ty ? harken how
I t m o ans and beats the breast and rends th e plai n
And I beholding how my consort stood
B eside my t o mb was moved wi th awe , and took
The gift o f her libation graciou sly
B ut ye are weeping by my sepulchre,
And sh ri lling fo rth a sad , evoking cry
S ummon m e m o u m fu lly, A r i se a r i se
N o light th i ng i s i t to come back from death
F or i n g o od s ooth the $5 134 ; m
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
Yet
o r ds
L est I b e bla me d fo r ta rry ing overlong !
Wh at new d isaster broods o er Persia s realm
’
’
C H ORU S
With awe on thee I gaz e
And standing face to face
I tremble as I did in olden days
,
,
,
!
?
,
T HE
P E R S I AN S
89
G HO S T OF D A R I U S
Nay bu t as I r o se t o ea r th again o bedient to y ou r
,
,
call
be one w or d enough
Prithe e tarry n o t i n parley
fo r all
Speak and gaze on me unsh rinking neither let my face
appal !
C HORU S
,
,
,
I tremble t o reveal ,
Yet tremble t o concea l
Th ings hard fo r friends t o feel
G HO S T O F DA R I U S
Nay but if th e o ld time terro r on yo u r spiri t keep s its
-
,
hold
Speak th o u O r o yal lady wh o didst c o uch wi th me
of o ld I
Stay thy weepi n g and lamenting and to me reveal
the truth
Speak ! fo r man i s born t o s o rro w ; yea the pro verb
sa ye th so o th
Ti s the doom o f mortal beings if they l ive t o see old
age
To su ffer bale by land and sea, th rough war and
tempest s rage
ATO S S A
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
’
.
O th o u whose blissful fate on earth all m o rtal weal
e x celled
Wh o wh ile the s u nligh t t o uch ed t h ine eyes th e l or d
o f all w e rt held
A g o d t o Pe r sian men th o u we r t i n bliss and pr id e
,
,
,
I
and fame
h o ld thee blest t oo i n thy death or e er the ruin
came !
’
,
T HE
90
Al as
PE R S I AN S
D arius ! one b rief word must tell thee all the
tale
The Persian power i s i n the dust gone down in blood
and bale
,
,
G HO S T O F D A R I U S
—
Speak b y what chan ce
des cend
di d man rebel or pes tilence
,
AT OS S A
’
N either ! by Ath ens fatal
end
S
hore s o u r army met i ts
.
G HO S T
or
D AR I US
Wh ich of my ch ildren led our host to Athens
a n d say
?
speak
.
AT OSS A
Th e frowa rd X erxes, l eavi ng all ou r realm to d isa rray
G HO S T
or
.
D AR I US
’
W a s it wi th arm y or wi t h flee t on folly s q ues t he went ?
’
A T O SS A
Wi th bo th a l ike, a twofold front of double armament
G HO S T
or
.
DA R I U S
And how then did so large a h o st o n fo ot pas s o er
th e sea ?
’
A T O SS A
H e bridged t he ford o f H elle s strai t by artfu l
’
carpentry
.
T H E P E R S I AN S
92
ATO S S A
old wi th y o ung the Bactri an force hath pe ri shed
at our side
Ay
,
G HO S T O F D A R I U S
Alas, my son
to death
what gallant youths ha th he sent down
ATO S S A
Alone o r with a s can ty gu ard —for so the rumour
saith
,
G HO S T O F DA R I U S
H e came—but h ow an d to what end ? doth augh t of
,
hope remain
ATOS S A
Wi th j o y he reach ed th e b ridge
H ellespo ntine main
t hat
spann ed the
.
G HO S T
or
D A R I US
H ow ? i s he safe in Persian land ? S peak soo th ly yea
,
,
or nay
A TO S S A
ea r
Cl
and more
to ga insay
cl
ea r
the rumour comes , for n o man
.
G HO S T
or
D A R I US
W o e fo r the oracle fu lfilled the p r esage of the war
Launched o n my son by will of Zeus I deemed ou r
doom afar
I n lap o f time but if a king push forward to h i s fate
The god h im self allu res to dea th th at man i nfatuate !
,
,
,
,
T HE
PE RS I AN S
93
So n o w the very fount of woe stream s ou t on those I
l o ved
And m ine o wn son unwisely b o ld the truth h ere o f
hath proved !
H e s ou ght to s h ackle and c o nt ro l the H ellesponti ne
wave
That rushes fro m the B osph o r us wi th fetters of a
S lave
T o cu rb and b r idge, with welded l inks th e stream ing
water way
And gu ide acr o ss the passage broad h i s manifo ld
array !
Ah fo lly voi d of counse l ! he d e emed that m or tal wigh t
C ou ld thwart th e will o f H eaven i tself and cu rb
P o seid o n s might
Was it not m adness ? much I fear lest all my wealth
and store
Pass fro m my t r e a su r e h o u se , t o be the snatcher s
p r ize o nce more
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
’
’
ATO S S A
Such i s th e less o n ah to o lat e ! t o eage r X erxes
tau ght
Tru sti n g r and o m counsell o rs and hare b rai ned men
o f n o ught
Wh o sai d D a r i u s mig h ty w e a lth a n d fa m e t o u s di d
,
,
!
,
-
,
B u t th o u
ar
t
n o u g h t, a
blu n ted
pe
s
ar
,
a
a l
a ce —
h eefi i n g
b
,
h i ng l
U nt o th o se s o rry c o unsell o rs a read y ear h e le n t
And led away t o H ellas sh o re h i s fated armament
,
’
G HO S T O F D A R I U S
Therefor e through them hath c o me calamity
M ost huge a n d past forgetting nor o f old
.
T HE
94
P E R S I AN S
D id ever such exterm ina t i o n fall
U pon th e ci ty Susa Long ago
Zeus in h i s power t h is privi lege bestowed
Th a t wi th a gu iding sceptre one s o le m an
Should rule thi s Asi an land of fl o ck and herd
O ver the folk a M ede A stya g e s
.
,
,
,
D id grasp the power : th en C ya xa r e s ruled
I n h i s si re s place and held th e sway aright
S teeri ng hi s state wi th watchful wariness
Th i rd in successi o n, Cyrus blest o f H eave n ,
H eld rule and stabl ished peace fo r al l h is clan
Lydian and Phrygian won he t o h i s sway
And wide l o nia t o h is yoke constrained
For the god favoured h is disc retion sage
Fourth in the d ynasty was Cyrus son
And fifth was M a r du s, scandal o f h i s land
And ancient li neage
H i m A rt a ph r e n e s
H ardy of h ea rt wi th i n h is palace slew
Aided by loyal plotters set fo r thi s
And I to o gained the l o t fo r whi ch I craved
And o ft entimes led ou t a goodly host
Yet never brough t di saster such as t h is
U pon the city B ut my son is young
And reckless i n hi s youth and h e e de t h not
The warnings of my mou th
M ark th is my fr ien ds
Born wi t h my bi rth coeval with m i ri e age
N ot a llwe kings wh o held successi ve rule
H ave wrought combined such ru in as my son
’
,
,
.
,
’
,
,
.
’
,
,
.
,
,
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,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
C HORU S
H ow then 0 King D arius ? wh itherward
D ost thou di rect thy wa rning ? from this pligh t
H o w can we Pers ian s fa r e t o wards h o pe again
,
,
THE
96
P E R S I AN S
W ith ri lls that soft ly bless B oeotia s plain
Th ere i s i t fated fo r them t o endure
The very crown of m isery and do o m
R equi tal for thei r god fo rgetting pride
F o r why ? t hey raided H ellas had the h eart
To wr o ng the i mages of holy gods
And gi ve the sh rines and temples to the flame
D efaced and dashed fr o m sight the altars fe ll
And each god s i mage from i ts pedestal
Th rust and flung down , in di m confusion lies !
Therefo re , fo r outrage vile a d o om as dark
They s u ffer and yet m o re shall undergo
They touch n o b o tt o m i n the swamp of d oo m
But r o und them rises , bubbling up the ooze I
So deep sh all li e th e gory clotted mass
O f co rpses by the D ori an spear transfixed
U pon Plataea s field ! yea, pi les of slain
To the th ird gene r ation S hall attest
B y s ilent eloq uence t o th o se that see
’
,
-
,
,
!
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
’
Le t
mo r t a l v a u n t h i m
n ot a
o ve r
m u ch
.
F o r pride gro ws rankly and to ripeness brings
The cu r se o f fate and reaps fo r harves t tea rs
Therefo re when ye beh o ld fo r deeds like these
Such S tern re q u i tal paid remember then
Le t n o m o rtal wigh t
A t hens and H ellas
H olding too ligh tly of h is present we a l
And passionate for more cast down and spill
Th e m igh ty cup of his prospe ri ty !
D oubt n o t that over-proud and h aughty souls
Zeus lours in wrath exacting th e accompt
Therefore, wi th wary warni ng sch oo l my son
Though h e be lessoned by th e gods al ready
To curb the vaunting that a fl r o n t s hi gh H eaven
And thou O venerable M other -queen
Beloved of X e rxes to the palace pas s
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
‘
,
,
,
I
T HE
P E R S I AN S
97
And take therefro m such raimen t as befits
Thy s o n and go to m eet h i m fo r h is garb
I n thi s e x tremity o f g r ief hangs rent
Around h is b o dy w o efu lly unstitched
M ere tattered frag ments o f o nce r oy al robes
G O th o u to h im S peak s o ft and s oo thing words
Thee and n o ne ot her will he bear t o hear
But I mu st pass away
A S well I kn o w
Fr o m earth ab o ve u nto the nether gl o om ;
The refo re o ld men take my farewell and clasp
Ev e n amid the ru in o f thi s ti me
U nt o yo ur so u ls the pleasure o f the day
F o r dead m en have n o pr o fit o f their gold
T
h
e G HO S T OF D A R I U S si n h s
[
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
C HORU S
Alas I thrill with pain fo r Persia s w o es
’
,
M any fulfilled , and others hard at hand
A TO S S A
O spirit of the race what s o rrows crowd
U p o n me and th is a n gui sh stings m e worst
That round m y r o yal s o n s dish o n ou red fo rm
H ang rags and ta t ters degradati o n deep
I will away and bringing fr o m withi n
A seemly r o yal r o be will st r aightway strive
T 0 meet and greet my s o n fo ul sc o rn it were
To leave o u r dea r est in h i s hour o f shame
E
xi t A T O S S A
[
C HORU S
Ah gl o ri o us and g o odly they were the life and the
l o t that we gai ned
The ci t ies we h e ld in o ur hand when the m o narch
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
invincible reigned
,
H
T HE
93
PE RS I AN S
The k i ng that was good t o h is realm su ffi c i n g ful
fi ll ed o f hi s swa y
A lord that wa s pee r of the gods the pri de of th e
bygone day
Then could we sh ow to the skies great hos ts a n d a
gloriou s n ame
And la ws t hat were s table in might ; as towe rs they
guarded our fam e !
There wi thout woe or d i saster we cam e from th e foe
a n d the figh t
I n tri um ph enri ch ed with the S poi l to the land and
the city s delight
What to wn s e r e the Ha lys he pas sed ! what town s
ere he came to th e Wes t
To the mai n and the i sles of t he S trymon and the
Th racian region po ssess d
And t hose that stan d back from the main en ri nged
by their fortified wall
G ave o er to D a ri us th e king the sceptre and s way
over a ll
Th ose too by th e ch a nnel o f H elle, where southward
it broaden s and glides
B y the inlets P roponti s ! o f th ee and th e strai t of
t he Pon t i c t ides
And the isles that lie fr o n ting o u r sea -boa rd and th e
Eas t land l oo ks on ea ch one
Lesbos and Ch i os and Pa ro s, and S am o s wi t h olive
t rees gr o wn
And N axos and M yc o n o s rock, and Ten o s
Andros hard by
And i sles t hat in midmost Aegean aloof fr o m
continent lie
And Le mn os and I car o s h old —all th es e to
scept r e we re bowed
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
’
,
,
’
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,
,
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,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
’
,
T H E PERS I AN S
10 0
C HOR U S
Ah welladay, my King ah w o e
F o r all our h eroes overthrow
F o r all t he gallant h o st s array
F o r Persia s h o nour pa ss d away
F o r gl o ry and heroic sway
M own d o wn by F o rtune s hand to -day
H ark how the ki ngdom makes its m oan
F o r y o uthful valour l o st and g o ne
By X erxes shattered and undone
H e h e hath crammed th e maw of hell
With bowmen brave wh o nobly fell
Thei r c o un t r y s mighty a rmament,
Ten th o u sand h eroes deathward sent
Alas fo r all th e valian t hand
th i ne Asian land
0 king and lord
D own down u pon i ts knee i s bent
’
’
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
X E RX E S
.
Alas a lamen table sou nd
A c ry o f ruth for I am fo und
A cu rse to land and lineage
\Vi t h n o ne my sorrow to assuage
,
,
,
!
C HORU S
Alas a d ea th -song desolate
I send fo rth for thy home -coming
A screa m a di rge for woe and fate
Such as the Asian m o urners sing
A s o rry and ill o mened tal e
O f tears and sh rieks and Easte rn wail !
,
,
,
,
,
-
TH E PE RS I AN S
I OI
XE RX E S
A y launch the w o e fu l s o rrow s cry
Th e harsh di sc o rdan t melody
F o r 10 the p o wer we held for sure
H ath turned t o my di sc o mfi tu r e !
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
C HORU S
Yea dirges dirges man ifo ld
W ill I send forth for warriors bold ,
For the sea s o rr o w o f o ur h o st
The ci ty mourn s an d I must wai l
With plashing tears ou r s o rr o w s tale
Lamenting for the l o ved and lost
,
,
,
-
,
’
,
XE RX E S
Alas the god o f war who sways
,
,
The scales of figh t i n di verse ways
G ives gl o ry t o I onia !
I o nian sh ips in fenced array
H ave reaped thei r harvest in the bay
A darkling harvest fi e ld o f Fate
A sea a shore of do o m and hate !
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
C HORU S
Cry out and learn the tale Of w o e
Where are thy comrades ? where the band
Wh o st oo d beside thee hand i n hand
A little wh ile ag o ?
Where n o w hath Ph a r a n dak e s g o n e
Where Psa mm i s and wh ere Pelag o n ?
Where n o w i s brave A g da b a t a s
An d S u sa s t oo and D a t a m a s
H ath S u si sc a n e s past awa y
The C h i e ftain of Ecbatana ?
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
TH E PERS IAN S
10 2
X E RX E S
I left them m angled castaways ,
Flung fr o m thei r Tyrian deck and tossed
O n S a lam i nian water way s
From su rging tides to rocky coast !
,
,
-
,
C HORU S
Alack , and i s Ph a r n u c h u s slain
And Ar i o ma r du s brave i n vai n ?
Where i s S e u a lc e s h eart of fire ?
Li l
a e u s ch i ld of n o ble s ire ?
Are Th a ru b i s and M emph i s spe d ?
Hysta e c h ma s Ar t e mb are s dead ?
An d where i s brave M a s i st e s where ?
S um up dea th s count that I may hear !
,
,
’
,
,
,
’
,
XE RX ES
Alas alas they cam e their eyes su rveyed
Ancestral Athen s o n t hat fatal day
Then wi t h a rending st ru ggle were they laid
U pon the land an d gasped their life awa y
,
,
,
.
,
C HORU S
ch i ld A lpist u s great
S u m a m e d the Eye of State
Saw y o u and left yo u h im wh o once o f old
Ten t h o usand t hou sand fi g h t i n g men enro lled ?
H i s s ire was ch ild o f S e sa ma s and he
From M e g a b a t e s sprang
Ah woe is me
Thou king of evi l fa t e !
H ast thou lost Pa rt h u s lost Oe ba r e s great ?
Alas the s o rrow bl o w su c c e e de t h bl o w
O n Persia s pride t hou tellest woe on w o e !
And
Ba t a n o c h u s
’
,
,
-
,
.
,
,
’
,
,
10
T H E P E R S I AN S
4
X E RX ES
Smi tten are
we
—time tells no heavi er blow !
C HORU S
Smi tten
!
th e doom is plain
XE RX ES
!
ang
we
know
p
Cu rse u pon curse and pan g on
C HORU S
Wi th th e I o n ian power
We clash ed in evi l hou r !
W oe fall s on Pe rsia s race yea, woe again again
,
’
,
,
XE RX ES
Yea smi tten am I and my host i s
,
,
to ru in hurled !
al
l
CHORU S
J
Y ea verily—In mighty wreck ha t h sunk th e Persian
world
X E RX ES
S ee
!
i
h
ng
l
d
o
(
u
p
a
to r n
r o be a n
you thi s t attered rag of p ride
d
a
r
u
i
v
e
q
)
?
C HORU S
I see it , welladay
XE RX ES
See you th i s qu i ver
T HE
PE RS IAN S
19
5
C HORU S
Say hath aught survi ved and scaped th e fray ?
’
,
XE RX E S
A store for d a r ts i t was , erewh i le
C HORU S
R emain but two or three
XE RX E S
N o aid i s left
C H ORU S
I on ian fo lk such darts u nfearing see
,
,
!
XE RX E S
R ight resolute they are
!
I saw d isaster unforeseen
.
C HORU S
Ah speak est th ou o f wreck o f flight of carnage that
hath bee n
,
,
,
XE RX E S
Yea and my r o yal r o be I rent in terr o r at thei r fall
,
,
C HORU S
Alas alas
,
XE R X E S
Yea thrice alas
,
C HO RU S
F o r all have perished all
,
!
10
TH E PERS IAN S
6
XE RX ES
Ah woe to u s ah j oy to them who stood agai nst our
,
fi
d
e
!
p
C HORU S
And all our streng th i s mi nish ed and sundered from
our side !
XE RX ES
N o escort have I
C HORU S
N ay, thy friends are whelmed beneath the tide
XE RX ES
Wai l wail the m ise rable doom and to th e p a lace h ie
,
,
C HORU S
Alas , alas , and woe agai n
X E RX ES
Sh ri ek smi te the b r east as I
,
,
C HORU S
An e vi l gift a sad exch ange of tears poure d out in
vain
,
,
XE RX ES
Shrill out you r simultan eous w a i l l
C HORU S
Alas the woe and pa in
10
T H E P E R S I AN S
8
XE RX ES
Yea , bea t anew thy breast
M ysi an call
,
ring ou t the
C HORU S
An agony an agony
,
!
XE RX ES
Plu c k out
th y
wh itening beard
C HORU S
By handfuls a y, by h a ndfuls wi th
smeared
,
,
X E RX ES
Sob out thine aching sorro w
C HORU S
I wi ll th i ne hest o bey
.
XE RX ES
With th ine han ds ren d thy man t le s fold
’
C H ORU S
Alas woe w o rth the day
,
!
X ER X ES
Wi th th ine o wn fingers t ea r thy locks be wail t he
army s wei rd
,
’
T H E P E R S I AN S
109
C HORU S
B y han dfuls yea by handfuls with tears o f dol e
besmeared
,
,
,
XE RX E S
No w let th ine eyes find
o ve r fl o w
C HORU S
I wend i n wail and pain
X E RX E S
.
C r y o ut fo r me an answering m o an
C HO RU S
Alas alas agai n
,
!
XE RX E S
Shriek with a cry o f agony and lead the d o lefu l trai n
,
C HO RU S
Alas alas th e Persian land i s woeful n o w to tread
,
,
!
XE RX E S
Cry out and m o urn
the dead
!
th e city n o w d o th wai l ab o ve
C HORU S
I sob and m o an
XE RX E S
I bid ye
now
be deli cate in grief !
T H E P E R S I AN S
1 10
C HORU S
Alas the Pers ian land i s sad and knoweth not relief !
,
XE RX ES
Alas
,
tri ple banks o f o ars and those who
the r eby !
th e
C H ORU S
Pass
will l e ad y o u bri ng y o u h o me with many a
b r o ken sigh
!
1
,
,
A R G U M E NT
L AI U S ki ng of th e C a dm e a n s was warned by the
o racle of D elphi that he sh o uld n o t beget a ch ild
But h e di s o beyed thi s command and when a s o n
was b o rn t o h im h e cast t h e chi ld away that he
migh t peri sh on C i thae ro n
B u t a h erdsman fo und
the babe y et ali ve and he was nouri shed i n Cori nth
and grew to manho o d n o t kn o wing h i s true parentage
and was named O edipus and he S lew u nkn o wingly
h i s father Laius and afterwards saved th e town
o f th e C a dm e a n s from a dev ou ring monster and
married the wid o wed queen I o cast e and begat s o ns
and daugh te r s
B ut when he learn ed what h e had
wr o ught unwittingly h e fell i nto despai r and th e
queen slew hersel f
But b e fo re O edipus died h e
laid a curse upon h i s male ch ildren , E teocles and
Polyn i ces that th ey should make even d ivision of th e
kingd o m by the sword ; and i t fell o ut even s o fo r
the tw o brothers str o ve t o geth er for the inh eritance
and Po lyn ices brough t an army fro m Arg o s against
Ete o cles ; and th e broth ers fo ught and fell each by
the o ther s hand and th e curse was fulfilled
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n
3
D RAM A T I S
TEOC LE S
E
.
C A D HEA N
.
NE
IS M E
A
RS ONA E
.
S PY
CHOR U S OE
ANT I GON E
A
PE
.
H ERA L D
.
I I4
M A I DEN S
.
T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H EB E S
1 16
Your waxing youth was patient o f the toi l
And cheri shed you o n the land s graci o us lap
Alike to plant the hearth and bear the sh ield
I n loyal service fo r an h ou r like t hi s
M ark now ! until to da y l u ck rules o ur scale
For we though long belea g uered i n the main
H ave wi t h o ur sallies struck the foemen hard
B ut now t he see r th e feeder of the birds,
(W hose a rt unerri ng an d prophetic skill
O f ear and mind d ivi nes their utterance
Without th e lo r e o f fire interpreted )
Fo r e te lle th by the mastery o f hi s art
That now an onset o f A c h a e a s host
I s by a council of the n ight design ed
To fa ll i n double streng t h up o n our walls
U p and a way then to the battlements
The gates the bul warks don your panoplies ,
Array you at th e breast -work take your stand
O n flo o ri n g s o f t he towers and with good h eart
S tand firm fo r sudden sallies at th e gates
N or hold too h einou s a respect fo r hordes
Sen t o n you from afar : some go d will guard !
I too for shrewd espi al of thei r camp
H ave sent fo rt h scou t s and con fidence i s m i ne
They will not fail nor tremble at thei r task
And with their news I fear no foeman s gui le
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E
n te r
[
A
THE S p v
Eteocles high king of Cadmus folk
I S t and here wi th news cert i fied and sure
Fr o m Arg o s camp things by myself descried
Seven warri o rs yonder d ou gh ty ch iefs o f might
I n to th e crim soned concave o f a sh i e ld
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S PY
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N S T T H E B E S
1 1
7
H ave shed a bu ll s bl o od and with hands immersed
I nto the g o re of sac r i fi ce have sw o rn
By Ares l o rd o f fight and by thy name
B l oo d lapping Terr o r L et o u r o a th be h ea r d
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E i th er to m a c th e w a ll
d
s , m a h e v o i d th e h o l
0f Ca dmu s s tr i v e h i s c h i ldr e n a s they may
—
dy i n g h e r e, to m a h e t h e f o em en s la n d
’
Wi th blo o d i m a s ted Then , as memory s
0
r
’
,
p
.
gift
U n to thei r parents at the far o fl h o me
C haplets they hung up o n Adrastus car
With eyes tear dr o p p in g but n o w o rd o f moan
For th eir steeled spi r i t gl o wed w i t h high resolve
As lions pant with ba t tle in th ei r eyes
F o r them n o weak alarm delays th e clear
I ssues o f death o r life I parted thence
Even as they cast th e l o ts h o w each should lead
Against wh ich gate h is serri ed c o mpany
R ank then thy bravest with w hat speed th o u may st
H ard by the gates t o dash on them fo r n o w
Full armed th e o n ward ranks o f Argos come
The dust wh i r ls up and fro m their pan ting st e eds
Wh i te fo amy flakes like snow bedew the plain
Th o u therefo re C h ieftain like a ste e rsman S killed
Ensh ield the ci ty s b u lwarks ere the blast
O f war c o mes darting o n them ha r k th e ro ar
O f the great landst o rm with i ts waves o f men !
Take F o rtune by th e fore l o ck fo r the rest
B y yonder dawn light will I scan th e fi e ld
C lear and aright and su r ety o f my w or d
Shall keep thee scatheless o f th e com ing storm
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E TE OC LE S
O Zeu s and Earth and ci ty guarding g o ds
And th ou my father s Curse o f baneful might
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1 18
T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
Spare ye at l eas t th is t o wn nor r oo t i t up
By vi o lence of the foemen stock and stem
F o r h ere fr om h o me an d hearth rings H ellas ton gue
F or bid t hat e e r the y o ke o f S lavery
Should h o w thi s land o f freed o m Cadmus h o ld
Be y e her help ! your cause I plead wi t h mi ne
A city saved doth honour to her g o ds 1
t
E
x
i
E
TE
O
LE
e tc
C
S
E
n t e r th e
[
C HO RU S OF M AI D EN S
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C HORU S
I wail i n the stress of my terro r and S hrill i s my cry o f
despai r
The foe men ro ll fo r t h fro m thei r camp as a bi llow
and onward they bear
Thei r horsemen are swift i n th e fo refront the d u st
ri ses up to t he sky
A signal th ou gh speechless , of doom a herald m o re
clear th an a cry !
H oof-tram pled the l and o f m y love bears on wa rd the
di n t o m ine ears
As a torrent descending a mountain i t thunders and
ech o es and nea rs
Th e d o om i s u nloosen e d and cometh
O kings and O
qu eens o f h igh H eaven
P revai l t hat it fall n o t u p o n u s t he sign fo r th e i r o nset
i s gi ven
They stream t o the walls from wi t h o ut wh i t e -s hield ed
and keen fo r th e fray
They st o rm to the citadel ga t es —what g o d o r wha t
goddess can sta y
The rush o f th ei r fe et ? t o what sh rine shall I bow
me i n terro r and pray ?
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 20
I n fatherly presence revealed t o res cue H armonia s
t o wn
Th ine t oo Aphrodi te we are ! th o u art m ot her and
queen of o ur race
T o t h ee we cry o u t in ou r need fr o m thee let thy
children have grace !
’
Ye too to scare back the fo e be y o u r cr y as a wol f s
howl wild
Th o u O the wo lf lo r d, and thou o f she w o lf Let o the
ch ild
Woe and alack for the sound fo r the rattl e o f cars to
the wall
And the creak of th e griding axles ! O H era, to
thee i s our call
A rtem is maiden beloved ! th e ai r i s di straugh t wi t h
the s pears
And wh i t her doth d e stiny d ri ve us and where i s the
goal of our fears ?
The blast of the terrible stones on the ridge of o ur
wall is n o t stayed
At t he gates i s the braz en clash o f t he buckle rs
Apollo to aid
Thou too 0 daugh ter of Zeus wh o guidest th e
wave ri ng fray
T o th e h o ly d e ci si o n of fate A t hena ! be wi th us to -da y
C o me d o wn to th e sev e nfo ld ga te s and h arry the
fo emen away !
0 god s and 0 sisters of god s our bulwark an d
gu ard ! we beseech
Th at ye give n o t o ur war w o rn h o ld t o a rabble Of
al ien s peech !
Li st to t he call o f t h e maidens t he hands h e ld up fo r
the righ t,
B e near us protect us and S h o w that t he city i s dear
i n your s igh t !
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T H E S EVE N
A GA I N S T
TH EBE S
1 21
H ave heed for her sacri fice h o ly and th ou gh t o f her
,
'
o fi e r in g s
take
F o rget n o t her l o ve and h er w o rsh ip be near her
and sm ite fo r her sake
R
e -e n ter E T E O C LE S
[
,
,
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E TE O C LE S
H a rk t o my q uestion things d e testable
I s th i s arigh t and fo r the city s weal
And helpfu l t o o ur army thus beset
That ye befo re the statues of o ur g o ds
Sh o uld fling y o urselves and scream and shriek y o u r
,
’
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,
,
fears
l mmodest unc o ntrolle d ! Be thi s my l o t
N ever in t r oubl o u s n o r in peacefu l days
T o dwel l with a u gh t that wears a femal e fo rm
Whe r e w o mankind has p o wer n o man can h o u se
Where w o manki nd feeds pan i c rui n r u les
Alike in house and city
L oo k you n o w
Y o ur fl yi n g feet and rum our o f y o ur fears
H ave spread a so u lless pan i c on ou r walls
And they with ou t d o g o fr o m st r ength t o strength
And we with i n make b r e ach up o n ou rselves
S u ch fa t e it brings t o h o u se with w o manki n d
Therefo re i f any shall resi st my ru le
Or man o r w o man o r s o m e se x l e ss thing
The v o te Of sentence S hall decide th ei r d oo m
And st o nes o f e x ec u ti o n past escape
Shall finish all
Let n o t a w o man s v o i ce
B e l ou d in c ou n cil fo r t h e th i n gs wi th o ii t
A man m u st car e ; let w o men keep wit h i n
Even th e n i s misch ief all t oo p ro bable
H ear ye ? or speak I t o unheeding ears
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 22
C HORU S
Ah b u t I shudder ch ild of O edipus !
I h ea rd the clash an d clang !
The axles r o lled and rumbled woe to us
Fi re welded bridles rang
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,
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E TE O C LE S
Sa y —when a sh i p i s s trained and deep in b ri ne,
D id e er a S eaman mend h i s chance wh o left
The helm , t i nvoke the image at the p row ?
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C HO RU S
Ah but I fled to the sh ri nes I called t o our
helpers on h igh
t he stone -shower ro a red a t th e po rtals !
I sped to th e temples al o ft and l o ud was my call and
my C W
,
,
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,
1
Lo o h do w n
an
d de l
i ver , I mmo r ta l
s
E TEOC LES
pray amai n that stone may vanquish stee l
Were n o t t hat grace of g od s ? a y a y—meth inks
When ci ties fal l the gods go forth from them !
A y,
,
,
C HORU S
Ah let me die or ever I behold
Th e gods go fo rth i n c o n fla g r a t io n dire !
The fo e m e n s rush and raid and all ou r hold
Wrapt in the bu rn ing fi re
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N S T T H E B E S
1 24
E TE O C LES
N ow if ye hear the b ru i t o f death or wounds
G i ve n o t y o urselves o e r m u c h to S h ri ek an d scream
For Ares ravins u pon human flesh
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C HORU S
Ah but th e snorting of the steeds I hear
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!
E TEO C LES
Then if thou hearest h ear them not too well
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C HORU S
H ark the earth rumbles as they close us round
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,
!
E TE O C LE S
Enough if I am here wi th plan s prep a red
,
.
C HO RU S
\lack ,
the batteri ng at th e gates i s loud
E TE O C LES
Peace
!
stay y o u r t o ngue o r else th e town may hea r
,
C HORU S
O wa rders o f the walls bet ray them n o t
,
E TE OC LES
Beshrew your cri es
!
i n silence face y o ur fa t e
.
!
THE
S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 25
C HORU S
Go ds of ou r city see me not enslaved !
,
E T E O C LE S
On
me ,
on
all th y c r ies b ri ng slavery
,
.
C HORU S
Zeus str o ng t o sm it e t ur n u p o n fo es thy blow
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,
!
E T E O C LE S
Zeus what a curse are w o men wrough t by thee
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,
!
C HORU S
Weak wretches even as men when cities fall
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,
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E TE O C LE S
clasping go ds yet v o i cing thy despai r
What
,
?
C HO RU S
I n the si ck heart , fear mak e th prey
Of
speech
.
E TE O C LE S
Light i s the th ing I ask th e e —d o my will
C HORU S
Ask swift ly
swiftly S hall I kn o w my p o wer
.
E T E O C LE S
S ilence weak wretch
,
n o r p u t thy friends i n fear
.
T H E S EVE N A G A I N S T T H E B E S
1 26
C HORU S
I spea k n o more
th e general fate be mi ne
:
E TE O C LE S
I take that word as wiser than th e rest
N ay more : these im ages possess thy will
Pray in th ei r strength that H eaven be on our si de !
Then h ear my p rayers wi thal and th en ring out
The female tri umph -note th y p ri vi lege
Yea utter fo rth the usage H ellas kn o ws
Th e cry be side the altars sounding cl ear
Enc o uragement to fri ends alarm to foes
But I unt o all gods that guard ou r walls
L o rds o f the plai n or warde rs of the ma rt
And t o I smenus stream and D i r c e s rills
I swear if Fortun e smiles and saves our to wn,
Th at we will make our al t ars reek wi t h blood
O f sheep and kine shed fort h u nt o the god s,
And with victori o us t oken s fro nt ou r fanes
Co rslets and casques that once o u r foemen wore
S pear S hattered n ow—to deck these h oly homes !
B e such thy vows t o H eaven —away wi th sigh s,
Away wi t h outcry vai n and barbarous
That S hall avail n ot in a general doom
Bu t I will back and wi th six chosen men
M yself the seventh t o confr o nt th e fo e
I n t h i s grea t aspect of a poi s ed war,
R etu rn and plant them at th e sevenfo ld gates
O r e er the prompt and clamo ro us battle sc o uts
H aste to i nflame ou r counsel with the need
E
x
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E
TE
O
C
LE
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[
C HORU S
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I mark h i s words , yet dark and deep
M y heart s ala rm fo rbiddeth sleep !
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 28
That, b a le d by th e hair as a steed th ei r mantles
dishevelled and torn
The maiden and matr o n al ike should pass to th e
wedlock o f sc o rn
I hear i t ari se fro m the city the man ifo ld wail o f
d e spai r
W o e w o e f o r th e do o m t h a t sh a ll be as in grasp o f
th e fo eman they fare
Fo r a wo e and a weeping i t i s , if th e maiden i nviolate
flower
I s plucked by the foe i n h is migh t n ot culled i n the
bridal bower !
Al as for th e hate and the horror—how say i t —less
hateful by far
I s the doom t o be slai n by t he sword hewn down i n
the ca rnage of war !
F or wide ah wi de i s th e w o e when the foeman has
mounted th e wall
Th e re i s hav o c and terror and flame and t he dark
smoke brood s over all
An d wild i s the war-god s brea t h as i n fre nzy o f
conquest h e springs
’
And pollutes with the blast o f h i s l ips t h e g lo ry of
h o l iest th in g s
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U p to the ci tadel ri se clash and d in
,
Th e wa n n e t closes i n
The spear i s in the heart wi t h blood imbru ed
Yo u ng m others wail al o ud
For chi ld r en at thei r breast who scream and d ie
And boys and maidens fl y
Yet sca pe n o t the pursuer i n h i s greed
T o th ru st and g rasp and feed
R obber wi t h r o bber j o i ns each calls h is mate
U nt o the feast of hate
,
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,
!
T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
—
p
o I i s s r ea d
Th e ba n q u et, l
se i z
No n e ed to ch o o se o r sh a r e t
1 29
e, r e n d, a n d te a r
!
And all the wealth o f earth to waste i s pour e d
A sigh t by all abh o rred !
The grieving h ou sewives eye i t heaped and blent
Earth s boons are sp o i led and spen t
And waste t o n o thi ngness and O alas
Young maids for l o rn ye pass
Fresh horr o r at y our h e arts —b e neath the p o wer
O f t h o se wh o cro p th e flo we r !
Ye o wn the r u fh a n ravi sher fo r l o rd
And n ight b r ings r ites abh o rred
W o e w o e fo r y o u u po n you r gri e f and pai n
There c o mes a fou ler stain
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’
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E
n te r ,
[
o th e r ,
on
THE S PY ;
a n d th e S I X C H
M
o n e s i de,
E TE O C LE S
on
th e
A P I ON S
S E M I C HO RU S
-
.
A
L oo k fr iend s meth inks the sc ou t wh o parted hence
T o S py u p o n the fo emen c o m e s with new s
H is feet as S wift as waftin g cha r i o t wh e el s
,
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S E M I C HORU S
-
ou r k i ng t h e s o n o f O e dip u s
C o m e s p r o mpt to time t o l e a r n t h e sp y s report
H i s heart i s fai n e r t han h i s foo t is fast !
A y,
an
d
,
,
’
,
THE S PY
Well have I scanned t h e fo e and w e ll can say
U nt o wh ich ch i e f by l o t each gate is gi ven
Tyde u s al r eady with his o nset c ry
St o rms at the gate called Pr o e ti de s but h i m
Th e seer Amph iaraus h o lds at halt
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
30
N or wills that he should cro ss I smenus ford,
U nti l the sacri fices pr o mi se fair
B ut Tydeus mad wi th lust o f blood and bro il
Like t o a cockatri ce at n oo ntide h o ur
H isses o u t wrath and smi tes with sc ou rge o f t o ngu e
The pro phet -s o n of Oe c le u s Wi se th o u a r t
’
.
,
,
,
,
Fa i n t a g a i n s t w a r ,
a nd
hol
di n g ba t h fr o m de a th I
Wi th such revil ings l ou d u pon h i s lips
H e waves the t ri ple pl u mes that o er h i s h elm
’
Floa t o vershad o wing as a c o u rser s m an e
And at h i s sh ield s rim terr o r i n their tone
Clang and reverbe ra t e the b raz en be ll s
And t h i s pro ud S ign wrough t on hi s sh ield, h e bears
The vault o f heaven in la id with blazing s tars ;
And fo r t h e boss the brigh t m oon glows at fu ll
The eye o f n ight the fi rst a n d lordlies t star
Th u s w i th hi g h vaunted a r m o ur madly bold
H e clamou rs by t he stream -bank wild for war
As a steed panting g r imly o n h is bi t
H eld i n and chafing fo r the trum pet s bray !
Whom wilt th o u set against h im wh e n t he gates
O f P ro etus yi e ld , who can h is rush repel ?
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E TEOC LES
To me no bl az on on a fo eman s sh ield
Shall e e r present a fear ! su ch pointed th r eats
Are po werles s t o w o und h i s pl u mes and be lls
Wi t h out a s pear are snakes wi t hout a sting
N ay m o re —that pageant o f wh ich thou tellest
Th e nigh t ly sky displayed ablaze wi t h stars
U pon h is sh ield pal ters wi t h double sense
O ne hea dstrong foo l will find i ts tru th anon
For if n igh t fall u pon h i s eyes i n death ,
Y o u vaun t ing blazon will i t s o wn t ruth prove
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
32
And, for the flashes o f t h e levin b o l t
H e holds them harmless as the n oo ntide rays
M ark too th e symb o l o n hi s sh ield —a man
l
S c o m fu l
weaponless
b
u
t
to
rch
in
h
nd
a
y
And the flame glows wi thi n hi s grasp prepared
F or ravi n : l o the legend w r o u gh t in w o rds
Fi r e f o r the c i ty br i ng I fl ares in g o ld
Against such wight send fort h —yet whom what man
\
Vill fro nt that va u n t ing figure and no t fe ar ?
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E T E OC LES
Aha thi s profits al so gain on gai n
I n sooth , for m o rtals the tongue s utte rance
Bewrays unerringly a fo o li sh pri de
H i t her stalks Capaneus wi t h vaunt a n d th reat
Defying god -like powe rs e q uipt t o act
And mortal though he be he strain s h i s tongue
I n fo ll y s ecstasy and casts aloft
H igh swelling words agains t the ears of Zeus
R ight well I trust —if justice gran t s t h e word/
Tha t by the m ight of Z e us a bol t of fl ame
J
I n m o re than semblance shall d e scend o n h im
Agains t h i s vaun t s t h o ugh reckless I have se t
T o make assu rance sure a warri o r stern
S t r o ng Po lyph o n t e s fervid for the fray
A s tu rdy bulwa rk he by g race o f H eav e n
And favou r o f hi s cham pi o n A rt em is
Say o n wh o h o lde t h t h e n e xt g at e i n w ard ?
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C HORU S
Pe r ish the w r etch whose vaunt a ffro nts ou r h o m e
O n h im t he red bol t c o me
Ere to t he maiden b o wers h is wa y he cleave
T o ravage and bereave
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T H E S E V E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1
33
THE S PY
I will say on
Eteoclus i s th ird
T o him i t fe ll what tim e th e th ird lot sprang
O er the i nve r ted h e lme t s brazen rim
T o dash hi s st o rmers o n N e Ista e gate
H e wheels h i s mares wh o at thei r fr o ntl e ts chafe
And yearn t o charge up o n th e gates amain
They sn o rt the b r eath o f pride and filled therewith
Thei r n o zzles wh i stle wi t h barbari c sound
H igh t oo and haugh t y i s hi s shi eld s device
An arm ed man wh o climbs fro m r u ng to rung
A scaling ladder u p a h o stile wall
and h e too cries
A fi r e t o sack and slay
By
letters
full
o
f
s
o
und
u
p
o
n
the
sh
ield
)
(
l
ca s t m e fr o m t h e w a l
sh a l
l
No t A r es sel
f
L o ok t o it send against th is man a man
Str o ng to debar the slav e s yo ke from o ur town
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ET E O C LE S (po i n ti n g
t o M EG A R EU S
)
S e nd will I—even thi s man wi t h luck t o aid
By h i s worth se n t alr e ady n o t by p r ide
And vain pretence i s h e
Ti s M e g a r e u s
The child of C r e o n o f the Earth sp rung bo r n
H e will not sh rink fro m guarding o f th e gates
N o r fe ar the maddened charger s frenzied neigh
B ut if he dies wil l n o bly qu it the sc o re
F o r nurt u re t o th e land t hat gave h i m bi rth
O r fro m the S h ield side h ew tw o wa rr i o rs down
Eteocl u s and the figu r e th at h e l ifts
A y and th e cit y pi c t ur e d all i n o ne
And deck wi t h sp o ils the t e mple o f h i s sir e
Ann o unce t h e ne x t pai r stin t n o t o f thy t o n g u e
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T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
34
C HORU S
O t hou the ward e r o f my home
G rant unt o u s Fate s fav o uri ng tide
Send o n the foemen doom
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Th ey fling forth taun ts of fr enzied p ri de
O n them may Zeus with glare o f vengeance come
,
THE S PY
Lo ne x t h im stands a fo urth and shou ts amain
B y Pallas O nca s portal and displays
A di fferent challenge ti s H ippomedon !
H uge t he device that starts up from h is ta rge
I n h igh relief ; and, I deny i t not,
I S huddered see ing how u pon the rim
I t made a m igh ty circle round the sh ield
N o sorry c raft sman h e wh o wrought that work
And clam ped i t a llaro u nd th e buckle r s edge
The fo rm was Typh o n from h i s glowing th ro at
R olled luri d sm oke spark -l itten kin of fi re
The flattened edge w o rk ci rcl ing round the whole
M ade strong suppo rt fo r coiling snakes that gr ew
Erect above th e c o ncave of the sh ield
L ou d rang t he warri o r s voice inspired for war,
H e raves to slay as doth a Bacchanal
H is very glan ce a terror ! of such wigh t
Beware th e onset cl o sing on the gates
H e peals hi s vaunting and appall ing cry !
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E TE O C LES
Yet fi rst o ur Pallas O n ca —wardress she
Planting her foo t hard by her gate —shal l stand
‘
The M aid against th e r u fli a n and repel
H is force as fro m her brood the mother -bi rd
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13
T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
6
U pon a myst ic spear head wh ich he deems
Mo re holy than a godhead and m o re sure
To find i ts mark than any glance o f eye
Th at will the y n ill th ey h e wi ll storm and sack
The h o ld o f th e C a dm ea n s
Such h i s oath
H is the bold w arri o r yet of ch i ldish y ea rs
A bud of beau t y s foremost fl o wer the s o n
O f Zeu s and of th e mountai n maid I mark
H ow t he soft down i s waxi ng on hi s ch eek
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Thick and close grow ing in its tender pri me
I n name n ot m ood i s he a maiden s ch ild
Parthen o pae u s larg e and bright h is eyes
B ut fierce t he wrath wh erewith he fro nts t he ga te
Yet not unheralded he takes his stand
Befo re the portal on his brazen sh ield
Th e rounded screen and shelter of h i s form
I saw h i m S h o w th e raveni ng Sph i nx the fiend
Tha t shamed o u r ci ty—h ow i t glared and mov e d
C lamped on the buckler wro ught in high relief
And in i ts claws did a Cadmean bear
N or h eretofore for any single pre y
Sped S h e aloft th rou gh such a st o rm of dart s
As now awaits he r
S o our foe i s here
Like as I deem , to ply n o s t inted t rade
I n bl ood and bro il b ut t ra flfic k as i s meet
I n fi erce exchange fo r hi s long wayfaring
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ETEOC LES
Ah may they meet the d oo m th ey think t o bring
They and t hei r impious vaunts from t h o se on h i g h !
So should they si nk hurled d o wn t o d e epest death
This foe , at leas t by thee Arcad ian styled
I s faced by o ne who bears n o bragg art S ign
But h i s hand see s to smi te where blows avai l
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T HE
S E VE N A G A I N S T T H E B E S
13
Act o r o wn br o ther t o Hype r b i u s
H e will n o t let a b o ast with o ut a bl o w
S tream th rou gh our gates and n o u r ish o ur despai r
N o r g ive h i m way wh o o n h is h o sti le sh ield
Bea r s the b r ute image of th e l o athly Sph in x
Blocked at the gate sh e wi ll r e buke th e man
Who strives t o th rust her fo rward wh en S h e feels
Th ick c rash o f bl o ws up t o the city wall
Wi th H eaven s g o odwill m y forecast S hall be tr u e
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C HORU S
H o me t o my heart the vaunti ng g o es
And q u ick with terror on my head
R i ses my hai r at s ou n d o f th o se
Wh o wildl y impi o usly r ave
I f g o ds there be to t hem I plead
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Gi ve th em to da r h n ess
an
d t h e g r a ve
.
THE S PY
Fr o nting the si x th gate stands an o ther foe
Wi sest of warri o rs b r avest among seers
S u ch must I name Amph iarau s : h e
Set steadfast at t h e Ho m o lo i d gat e
Berates str o ng T y de u s with reviling w o rd s
Th e ma n of blo o d th e ba n e of st a te a n d h o me
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To A r g o s, a r c h -a llu r e r to a lli l
l
,
E vo h er of th e fu ry -fi e n d of h e ll,
’
D ea th s m i n i ster , a n d co u n se llo r of w r o ng
U n to A dr a st u s i n th i s f a ta lfi e l
d
A y, and with eyes up t urned and m i en o f scorn
.
H e ch ides thy bro ther P o lyni c e s t oo
At h is desert and o nce and y et again
D wells hard and meanin g ly up o n h is name
Where i t saith g lo ry yet i m po r t e th feu d
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7
13
T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
8
su c h
Ye a ,
th o u
ar
t in
a c t, a n
d
s u ch
t hy g r
a ter t i me
f
a ce
f Hea ven a n d su c h i n
Thy fa m e f o r libs a n d ea r s of mo r ta lmen J
He st r o ve to sa c h th e c i ty of h i s si r es
A n d te mpl
es o
h
e
r
d
a n d br o u h t o n h e r
o
s
f
g
g
An al
i e n a r ma me n t of fo r eig n fo es
Th e fo u n ta i n of ma tee
bl
o o d o u tpou r ed
W h a t po we r ca n st a u n ch ev en so , thy fa th er la n d
In
t
h
g
si
o
,
,
,
.
On ce by thi n e
S ha l
ln e
’
er
ma l
i ce
a r de n t
j
oin
fo r ce
med a nd ta en ,
”
Fo r me , I kn o w
st o r
w i th th ee
.
I t do t h r e m a i n to let my bl
o o d e n r i ch
Th e bo r der of t h i s la n d tha t lo v es me
Bl
o od
f
o
a
No w f o r
,
sh a
p r oph e t
,
in
t h e ba t t l
e
’
n ot
fo r e ig n
g r a ve
I f o r eh n ow my do o m ,
a
l
lbe w i th h o n o u r
S o h e s pake
The prophet, holdi ng u p hi s targe of bro nze
W r ough t wi t h ou t blaz on t o the ears o f men
\Vho stood around and heeded not h is word
For on no bru i t and rumou r of grea t deeds
But o n thei r d o i ng i s h i s spirit set ,
And in hi s heart he reaps a fu rrow ri ch
Wherefro m t he fo i s o n of good counsel spri ngs
Against h i m send brave h eart and hand of m ight
F or the god -lover i s man s fiercest foe
Yet i t
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E TE O C LES
O ut on the chance that couples mort a l men
,
Li nking the j ust and impious i n one !
I n eve ry i ssue th e one curse i s th is
C o m pan i o nsh ip with men of evi l heart
A banefu l ha rves t let n o ne ga t her it
The field o f sin is rank and brings fo rth death
At wh iles a righ teou s man wh o goe s aboard
Wi th reckless mates a horde of vi llainy
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
40
T HE S PY
Last let me name yon seventh antagonist
Thy brother s self at the seventh portal set
H ea r wi t h wh at wra t h h e imprecates o u r doom
Vowi ng to m o un t th e wall though ban i shed hence ,
And pea ! aloud the wild exul ting cry
then clash hi s sword with th ine
The to w n i s ta en —
G ivi ng and taking dea t h in close embrace
O r i f t hou sca pe st fli nging u pon thee
As robbe r of h i s h onour and h i s home
The doom of exi le such as he has bo rne
So clamou rs h e and s o invokes th e god s
Who guard hi s r ace and h o me to hear and heed
The cu rse tha t sounds i n P o lynices name
H e h e a r s a round sh ield fresh from fo rge and fi re
And wrough t u pon i t i s a twofold sign
F or lo a w o man lea ds decoro usly
The figure of a warri o r wrought in gold
And t hu s the legend ru ns —I j u sti ce a m
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A n d I w i llbr i ng th e h e r o h o me a g a i n ,
To h o ld o n ce mo r e hi s l
a c e w i t hi n t hi s to a m,
’
On ce mo r e to f a ce hi s si r e s a n cest r a lha ll
p
.
Such are t he sym bols by our foemen shown
N ow make th ine own deci sion wh o m to send
Against th is last Opponen t ! I have said
N or canst th o u i n my tidings fi nd a fla w
Th i ne is i t n o w to steer th e cou rse a righ t
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E TE OC LE S
Ah me the mad man and t he cu rse of H eaven
And woe for us the lamentable line
O f O edipus and woe t hat i n th i s hou se
O ur father s curse must find accomplishment
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 41
B ut n o w a truce t o tears and l o ud lam ent
Lest they sh o uld bre ed a still mo r e r u eful wail
As fo r th i s P o l y n ices nam ed t oo well
S oo n shall we kn o w h o w h i s devi ce shall end
Whether the g o ld wrought symb o ls on h i s sh ield
I n thei r mad vaunting and bewi ldered pride
Shall guide him as a vict o r t o hi s h o m e !
F o r had but J ustic e maiden ch ild o f Zeus
Stood by h is act and th o ugh t i t m ight have been
Yet never fro m the day he reached the ligh t
O ut o f the darkness o f hi s mother s w o mb
N ever i n ch ildh ood n o r i n y o uthful prime
Nor when h is ch in was gatheri ng i ts beard
H ath J u stice hailed or clai med h im as her o wn
Therefo re I deem n o t that she standeth n o w
T o aid h im in th i s ou t rage o n h i s h ome !
M i snamed in truth were J usti ce utterly
I f t o impiety she lent her hand
Sure i n thi s faith I will myself g o fo rth
And match m e with h im wh o hath fai re r claim
R uler ag ai nst o ne fain t o snatch the rul e
B ro ther wi t h br o ther matched and fo e with fo e
Will I c o nfro nt th e i ssue
T o the wall
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C HORU S
O th o u true h eart 0 ch ild o f O edipu s
Be n o t in wrath t oo like the man whose name
M urmurs an evi l o men
Ti s en ou gh
That Cadm u s clan S h o uld strive with Arg o s host
F o r bl oo d there i s that can at o ne that stai n
But—brother up o n br o th er deal ing death
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Not time i tself can expiate the sin
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
I 42
E TE OC LE S
I f man find hurt y e t clasp hi s h o n o ur still
Ti s well th e dead have h o n ou r nought bes ide
H u rt wi t h di sh o n o ur win s n o w o rd o f prai se !
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CHORU S
Ah what i s t hy desi re ?
Let n o t the lust and ravi n of t he swo rd
Bear the e adown t he t ide accursed abh o rred
Fling o ff t hy passion s rage thy S pi ri t s pro mpting
di r e !
E TE OC LE S
,
,
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—
N ay si nce the god i s urgent for ou r d oom
Let La i us house by Phoebus loathed and scorn ed
Foll o w the gale o f des t iny and win
I ts great i nhe ri tance the gulf of hell !
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C HORU S
R u t hless t hy c ravi ng is
C raving fo r kindre d and fo rbidden blood
T o b e o u t pou red a sacri fice imbrued
\
Vi t h sin a bi tt er fru i t o f murder o us enmi ties !
—
,
E TE OC LE S
Yea my own father s fateful Cu rse proclaims
A ghas t ly p re sence and her eyes are d ry
S t r i ke
h o n o u r i s t h e pr i z e n o t life pr o lo ng ed
’
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C HORU S
Ah , be n ot urged of h er ! fo r none shall da re
T o cal l thee co w a r d in th y th r o ned estate
,
1 44
T HE
S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
C HORU S
Yet th e g o d l o ves to let t h e weak prevail
.
E TE O C LES
That t o a sw o rdsman i s no welcome word
,
C HORU S
Shall th i ne own brother s blood be victory s palm
’
’
?
E TE O C LE S
II!
wh ich the god s have sent t h o u canst n ot shun !
t
ES
x
E
TE
O
L
E
i
C
[
C HORU S
.
I shudder in d read o f the power abhorred by t h e
g o ds of h igh heaven
The ruinous cu rse of the home ti ll roof-tree and rafter
be ri ven
Too t ru e are t he vi si o n s o f i ll too t ru e the ful filmen t
t hey bring
T o the cu rse that was s poken of old by t he fren z y
and wra t h o f t h e king
l
le r will is t he d oom of t he ch ild ren and D i scord i s
k indled amain
And strange i s the L o rd of D i vi si o n who cl e a veth
the bi rt hright in t wain
The edged th ing bo rn of t he n o r t h t he s t eel t hat i s
ru t hless and keen
D ivid in g i n bi tt er d iv i si o n th e l o t o f t h e ch ild re n o f
t een !
N ot the wide lowland aro und the realm of thei r si re
shall t hey have
Yet enough fo r t he dead to i nhe ri t the piti fu l space
o f a g rave
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1 45
Ah b u t when kin meets kin when sh e and ch ild
U nkn o wing are de fi le d
B y sh e dd ing c o m m o n blo o d , and when th e pi t
O f death devoureth i t
D rinking the cl o tted stain the gory dye
Wh o wh o can purify ?
Wh o cleanse poll u ti o n where the ancient ban e
R ises and re eks again ?
W h ilo m e i n olden days the sin was wro u ght
An d swift requital bro u g ht
Y e a o n the ch ildren o f the ch ild came still
N ew heritage o f ill
F o r thric e Apoll o sp o ke th i s w or d divin e
Fr o m D elph i s central sh r ine
T o Laius —D i e th o u ch i ldless ! th u s a lo n e
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,
Ca n th e la n d s w ea lbe w o n
’
B ut vai nly w i t h hi s wife s desi re h e strove
And gave h im self t o love
B egetti ng O edipus by wh o m h e died
Th e fatefu l parricide
The sacred seed pl o t h i s o wn mother s w o mb
H e s o wed h i s h o use s d o om
A root o f blood by fr enzy lured they came
U nt o their wedded shame
And n o w the waxing su rge th e wave o f fate
R olls o n them , triply great
O ne bill o w sinks the ne x t towers h igh and dark
Ab o ve o ur city s bark
O nly the narrow bar r ier o f the wall
T o tters as soon to fall
And if our C h i e ftain s i n th e st or m go d o wn
What chance can save th e t o wn
Curses i nherit e d fro m l o n g ago
B r ing heav y frei ght o f woe
R ich stores o f merchandi se o e r lo a d th e deck
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1
46
T H E S E VE N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
N ear, nearer comes th e wreck
And all i s lost cast out upon the wave
Floating wi th none to save
,
,
,
Whom d id the g o ds whom did th e ch ief of men
Wh om did each ci tizen
In crowded concourse i n such hon o ur hold
As O edi pu s of o ld
When the grim fi end th at fed on human prey
H e took from us away ?
,
,
,
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,
,
But when in th e fulness of days he knew o f hi s
b ri dal unblest
A twofo ld horro r he wr o ugh t in t h e frenz ied despa ir
o f h i s b reast
D ebarred fro m the grace o f th e ban quet the service
of goble t s o f go ld
H e flung on hi s ch ild ren a curse fo r th e splend o ur
they dared to withh o ld
A cu rse pr Oph e t ic and bi t ter —Th e g lo ry (y w ea lth
a n d o pr i de
f
Hi th i r o n n o t g o ld i n yo u r h a n ds ye sh a llc o me a t
,
,
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’
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,
a s t , to di vi de
th e l
Beh o ld how a sh udder runs th ro ugh me les t n o w
i n the fulness o f time
The h o use -fi e n d awake and retu rn t o mete out the
m easure of crime
,
,
,
,
,
E
n te r T HE S PY
[
.
T HE
S PY
Take h eart ye daughters whom you r mothers m ilk
M ade m ilky-h ea rt ed ! lo o u r ci ty stands
Saved from t he yoke o f se rvitude th e vaunts
O f o verweenin g men a r e silent n o w
’
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T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
1 48
C HORU S
Li e they o ut yo nder the fu ll horror speak
D id hands meet hands m o re cl o se than bro therl y ?
Cam e fa t e o n each and in the selfsame h o ur ?
,
T HE S PY
Yea, bl o ttin g ou t t h e li neage ill -starred !
N o w m i x your exul t ation and y o ur tears
O ver a ci ty saved th e while its lords
Twin leaders o f the figh t, have parc e lled o ut
With fo rged arbi t rament of Scyth ian steel
Th e full d ivi si o n o f t hei r fatherland
And as their father s impreca t ion bade
Shall h ave thei r due of land a tw o fo ld grave
So i s the c ity saved the earth has drunk
Bl ood of twin princes by ea ch other slain
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C HORU S
O m igh ty Zeus and gua r dian powers
The st rength and stay of Cadmu s towers
Shall I send forth a j o yous cry
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’
2
,
Ha i lto t h e lo r d of wea lr e n e wed
O r weep the mi sbegotten twain
Bo r n t o a fatal destiny ?
Each numbe red now among th e S lain
Each dying in ill forti tude ,
d 1yf eu d
Each t r u l
y n a med each c h i l
,
,
,
0 dark and all prevai ling ill
That bro ods o er O edipus and all h i s line
N umbing my heart wi t h mortal ch ill
Ah me thi s s o ng of m ine
Which Th ya d like I woke now falleth still
O r only tells of doom
-
,
’
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
T H E S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1
And ech o es ro und a t o mb
D ead are th e y dead in thei r o wn bl o od they l ie
I ll o mened the concent that h ails o ur vi ctory
The curs e a father o n h i s children spake
H ath faltered n o t nor failed
N o ught Lai u s th y stubb o rn ch o ice avai led
First t o beget then i n th e after da y
And fo r th e ci ty s sake
The ch ild t o S lay
F o r nought can bl u nt n o r mar
The speech o racular !
Ch ild r e n o f teen by disbeli e f ye erred
Yet i n wild weeping came fulfilmen t o f the word
49
,
-
,
,
,
,
’
,
!
A
NTI
GO
N
E
a n d I S M EN E a ppr o a ch
i
t
a
w
h
[
t r a i n of m o u r n er s bea r i ng t h e bo di e s
of E TE O C LE S a n d PO L Y N I C E S
L o ok up l oo k forth the d oo m i s plain
N o r spake th e messenger i n vain !
A tw o fold sorrow, tw o fo ld stri fe
E ach brave agai nst a brothe r s life !
I n d o u b le d o om h ath s o rr o w c o me
H ow S hall I S peak i t
o n t h e home
Alas my siste r s ! be y o ur si g h s the gale
Th e smi ting o f yo ur br o ws th e plash o f o ars
Wafting t h e boat t o Acher o n s dim sh or es
That passeth ever with its darkened sail
O n i ts uncharted voyage and sunless way
Far fr o m thy beams Apoll o g o d o f day
The melanch o ly bark
Bound fo r the com mon b o u rn the harbou r of th e
dark
,
,
.
,
,
’
—
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Lo o k u p l o ok y o nder ! from the h o me
Anti g o ne I smene c o m e
,
,
,
1
T H E S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
50
O n the last saddes t errand bound
T o ch an t a d irge o f d o leful sound
Wi t h agony o f eq ual pa in
,
,
,
Above thei r brethren slain
Thei r si ster bo s o ms surely swell
H eart with rent h eart according well
I n grief fo r those who fough t and fe ll
Y e t—
ere t h e y u tter fo rth t h e i r w o e
\Ve m u st awake t he r u efu l s t r ain
T o venge ful powers in realm s bel o w
And mourn hell s triumph o er the S lain
-
,
,
,
’
’
of all the breast wh o bind
Y ea all t he race o f wom ankind
O maidens ye are most be r eaved !
For yo u fo r you the tear drops start
D eem that i n tru th and undecei ved
Ye h ear the sorrows of my heart
T
t
a
d
o
h
e
d
e
(
)
Children o f bi tte r ness and s ternly brave
O ne proud o f heart agai nst persuasi on s v o ice
O ne agai nst exile proo f ! ye win yo ur ch o ice
Each in your fatherland a S eparate grave !
Alas
!
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
’
,
,
,
,
Alack o n h o use and heritage
They brought a ban e ful doom and death for wage !
O ne stro ve t hro u g h tottering walls to force hi s way
O ne claimed in bi t ter arr o gance the s way
And both al ike even n o w and here
H ave cl o sed thei r suit with steel fo r arbi ter !
And lo the Fury -fie n d of O edipus their si re
H ath brought h i s curse t o consummation dire !
Each in the left side sm i t ten see them laid
The child ren o f one womb ,
Slai n by a mutual d o om
,
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,
1
T H E S E VE N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
2
5
Say we above these brethren dead
0 u ci ti z en o n for eig n f o e
,
,
,
B r a v e w a s th ei r
No w
,
,
r u sh , a n d st e r n
th ei r bl
ow
l
a
r
e
a
i
d
l
ow l
t
h
e
l
y
y
lwomen up o n earth
al
B eyond
Woe woe for her who gave them bi rth !
U nknowingly her son she wed
The ch ildren of th at marriage bed
Each i n the self sam e womb , were bred
Each by a bro ther s hand li es dead
,
,
-
,
-
’
Yea fr o m o ne seed they sp rang and by one fate
Thei r heri tage i s desolate
Th e heart s di vi si on sunde red clai m from c laim
And from thei r fe ud death came !
N ow i s t h ei r h ate allayed
N ow i s th ei r life -s t ream sh ed
En sangu ini ng the ea rth wi th cri mson dye
Lo from o ne blood they sp r ang and i n one blood
they l ie
A grievous a rbi ter was gi ven the twain
The stranger fr o m t h e northern main ,
The sharp divi d ing sw o rd
Fresh fro m th e forge and fi re
The War-god treach erous gave ill award
And broug ht their fathe r s cu rse to a fulfilment di re !
They have their po rti on —each hi s lot and doom
G iven from the g o ds on h igh !
Yea the piled wealth o f fathe r land for tomb
Shall undern eath them lie !
wi th flowers o f fam e and pride
Al
a s alas
Your h ome ye gl o ri fied
B ut i n the end th e Furies gath ered round
Wi t h chants of b o ding sou nd
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
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’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
T HE
S EVE N A G A I N S T T H E B E S
Sh rieki ng
,
In w i l
d def e a t
B eh o l
d, y e ,b a ss
a
an
1
53
d di sa r r a y ,
w ay
The sign of R uin standeth at th e gate
The r e wh ere th e y str o ve with Fate
And the ill p o wer beh eld the brothers fall
And triumphed o ver all
,
,
’
A NTI GO NE I S M EN E
,
,
a nd
,
C HORU S
s
n
a
l
h
a
t
i
P
c
e
s
o
C
n
r
o
(
)
Thou we rt sm itten i n smi ting
Th o u didst slay an d wert S lai n
B y th e spear of each o ther
Y e l ie on the p lain
And ruthless the deed t hat y e wrough t was and ruth
less th e death o f the twain
,
,
,
,
,
Take voice 0 my sorrow
Fl o w tear up o n tear
Lay th e slai n by the sla y er
M ade one o n the bier !
O ur soul i n d istracti o n i s l o s t, and we mourn o er th e
prey o f th e spear !
,
,
’
Ah woe fo r your ending
U nbrotherly w r o ugh t
And w o e fo r th e i ssue
The fray that ye fought
The doo m of a m u tual S laugh ter wh ereby to th e
grave ye are brough t
,
,
,
,
Ah tw o fo ld th e s o rrow
The heard and th e seen
And d ou bl e the tid e
O f ou r tea r s and ou r teen
As we stand by our bro th ers i n death and wai l for
the l o ve tha t has been
,
,
1
T HE
54
S EV E N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
O gri ev o us t he fate
That attends up o n wr o ng
Stern gh o s t o f ou r si re
Thy vengea nce i s l o ng
D ark Fury o f hel l and of death the hands o f th y
ki ngd o m are stro ng !
,
,
dark w e re the s o rrows
That e x i le ha t h known !
H e slew but re t urned n ot
Ali ve t o h is o wn
H e st ruck down a bro t her bu t fell in the moment
triumph hewn down
0
,
,
,
Of
O lineage accurst
O d oo m and despair !
Al a s for t hei r qu arrel
The bro thers that we re
I fo r t hei r pi tiful end wh o once were o ur
,
,
And
,
,
l o ve and our care
O grievous th e fat e
That attends u pon wrong
Stern gh os t of our s ire,
Thy vengea nce i s long
D ark F ury o f hell and o f dea t h t he hands o f t hy
kingdom are stro ng !
,
By pro o f have ye learnt it !
At o nce and as one
o vé d,
0 br o thers be l
T o death ye were done
came to t he st ri fe o f th e sword and be h old
a re both overthrown
,
Ye
,
!
ye
1
T H E S EVE N A G A I NST T H E B E S
56
Agai nst h im stood th i s wretch an d brought a horde
O f fo re ign foemen t o beset our t o wn
H e t herefore shall receive h is rec o mpense
B u ri ed i gn o bly i n th e maw o f kites
N o women -wailers to escort h is c o rpse
N o r pile h is tomb n o r S h ri ll h i s dirge anew
U nhou selled u nattended cast away !
S o for t hese brothe rs doth our S tate o rdain
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
A NTI GO NE
And l—t o t hose wh o make such claim s of rule
I n Cadmus to wn —I th o ugh no other help
Po i n ti ng t o th e bo dy of PO L Y N I C E S )
I I will bury th i s my brot her s corse
And ri sk y o ur wrath and what may come of i t !
I t sham es me not to face the State and set
Will agai nst power, rebellion resolute :
D eep i n my h ea r t is set my si sterh ood
M y common bi rth right wi t h my brothers born
All o f one w o mb her children wh o fo r woe
B rough t forth sad o ff sp ri ng to a si re ill st a rred
The refore my soul ! take t hou thy willing sh a r e
I n aid of h im who now can will no mo r e
Against thi s ou trage be a sister tru e,
Wh ile yet th o u li vest to a brother dead
H i m never shall the w o lves with ravening maw
Re a d and devour : I do fo rbid th e though t
I for h i m I -albei t a woman weak
I n place of bu rial pit will give h im rest
B y th is pro tec ting handful of l i g ht dus t
Wh ich i n the lap of thi s poor linen robe
I bear t o hallow and best rew h is c o rpse
\
Vi t h t h e due covering
Let n o ne gain sa y :
C o u rage and craft S hall a rm m e thi s t o d o
’
,
,
’
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.
,
T HE
S EVE N A G A I N ST T H E B E S
1
57
H E R AL D
I charge th ee n o t t o flo u t th e ci ty s law
’
,
A NTI GO NE
I charge thee use
,
no
u seless h eralding
H E R AL D
Stern i s a pe o pl e n e wly scaped from death
’
.
A N T I G ONE
Whet th o u thei r sternn e ss
burial he sh all have
.
H ERAL D
H ow ? grace o f bu rial t o th e city s fo e
’
,
A N T I GO NE
Go d hath n o t j udged h i m separate i n gu ilt
.
H E R AL D
T rue
-
till h e put th i s land i n j eopardy
.
A NTI GO NE
H is rights usurped he answered wrong with wrong
,
H E R AL D
Na
—
y bu t fo r o ne
man s si n h e smote th e State
’
A NTI GO NE
C o ntention d o th o ut talk all o ther g o ds
P r ate th o u n o more —I will t o bury h i m
-
.
.
.
1
58
T HE
SEVE N A G A I N ST T H E BE S
H E R A LD
Wi ll an th ou wi lt ! but I for bi d the d e e d
,
E
x
i
t
t
h
e
[
.
H E R AL D
C HORU S
Exulting Fates who waste the li ne
And whelm the h o use Of O edipus !
Fiends wh o have slain i n w rath c o nd ign
The father and t he ch ildren thu s
What now befi t s i t that I d o
What meditate wh at underg o ?
Can I the fun e ral ri t e refrai n
N or weep for Polyn ices slai n ?
Bu t yet wi t h fear I sh ri nk and thrill
Presagefu l o f t he ci ty s will !
Th o u O Eteocles shalt have
Full ri tes and mou rners at thy grave
B ut he t hy brother slain shall h e
\Vi t h n o n e t o w eep o r c ry A l
as
T o unbefr iended bu rial pass ?
O nly o ne si ster o er h i s bie r
T o raise t h e c ry and pou r t h e tea r
Wh o can o bey such S te rn decree
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
S E M I -C HORU S
Le t t h o se w h o hold our ci ty s sway
Wreak or fo rbear to wreak t hei r will
O n t h o se wh o c ry A h re ell-a -day
Lamen t ing P o l ynices s t ill
\Ve wil l g o fo rt h and sid e by side
Wi t h her du e burial wi ll provide !
Ro yal he was t o h i m be paid
O ur grief wh erever h e b e laid
The cro wd may sway and ch ange , and still
Take its ca p ri ce fo r Ju s t i ce will
’
,
,
,
,
t
,
,
,
,
’
.
PR OM E T H EU S
161
B OU N D
M
D R A M AT I S
STR ENGT H A N D
II EPHA ES TU S
PE
RSONAE
FORC E
.
.
T H EU S
CH O RU OP S EA NY M PH S
OC EAN U S
PROM E
-
S
,
DA U G HT ERS
or
.
IO
.
H E RM ES
.
r oc k
y r a vi n e
i n th e mou n ta i n s
164
OC EA N U S
.
PR OM ET HE U S
B OU N D
S T R EN G T H
’
the earth s bound and li mitary land
The Scyth ian steppe the waste un tr o d of men !
L oo k to i t n o w H e phaestus —th ine i t i s
Thy S i re o beying th i s arch th ief to clench
Agai nst th e steep d o wn precipice o f r o ck
Wi th stubborn links o f adamantine chain
L o ok th ou thy fl o wer the gleaming plasti c fi re
H e st o le and lent t o m o rtal man —a si n
That gods i mmortal make h im rue to day
Less o ned hereby to own t h o mn ipoten ce
O f Zeus and to repent h i s l o ve t o m a n
LO,
,
,
,
,
-
,
-
,
.
,
-
,
’
,
H E P H AE S T U S
S trength and Force fo r you the
of Zeus
Stands all ach ieved and noth ing bars yo ur wi ll
But I— I dare n o t bind t o st o rm ve x t cleft
O ne o f our race i mmortal as a r e we
Y e t n o ne the l e ss necessi ty c o nst r ai n s
F o r Ze u s defi e d i s heavy i n r evenge !
( To P RO M ET H E U S )
O deep devising ch ild o f Them i s sage
Small will have I to d o o r th o u t o bear
0
,
b e st
,
-
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
1
65
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 66
What yet we mus t
Be y o nd the haunt o f man
U nt o thi s ro ck with fette r s gri mly fo rged
I must t ra n sfi x and shackle u p th y li mbs
\Vh e r e thou shal t m ark no v o i ce nor human fo rm ,
But parch ing in the gl o w and glare of sun
Thy bod y s flower shal l su ff e r a sky-change
And gladly wi lt th ou hai l the hour when Night
Shall in her starry r o be invest th e day
O r when the Sun shall mel t the m o rn ing rime
B ut, da y o r n ight for ever shall the load
O f was t ing agony, that ma y not pass
Wear thee away for kn o w the womb of Time
H ath not c o nceived a power to set thee free
S uch meed t hou hast for love t oward m a nkind
F o r t h o u a g od defyi ng w r ath o f god s
Beyond the o r dinance didst champi on men
And for rewa rd shalt kee p a sleepless watch
S t i ff kn eed e rec t nailed to thi s di smal rock
With mani fo ld laments and u seless cri es
Against th e will i nexorable o f Zeus
H ard is the heart of fresh -u su rp ed power !
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
S T R EN G T H
Enou g h o f u seless ru th why t arriest th o u
Why pi t ie s t o ne wh o m all god s wholly hate
O ne who to ma n g ave o e r thy privilege
,
’
H E P H AE S T U S
Kinsh i p and fr iendsh ip wri ng my heart fo r h i m
S T R EN G T H
—but how d isregard our S ire s command ?
’
Ay
I s n o t thy pity weaker than
th y
fear
?
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 68
S T R EN G T H
Then cast them round hi s arm s and wi th sheer
strength
S wing d o wn the ham me r clinch h i m to th e crags
.
,
H E P H AES T U S
L o t i s to ward
’
,
—n o weakness in the work !
S T R EN G T H
S mi t e harder wedge i t h ome —no faltering here
H e hath a craft can pas s t h i mpassable !
,
!
’
H E P H A ES T U S
Th i s arm i s fas t i nex t ri cably bound
,
.
S T R EN G T H
Then shackle safe the other tha t he know
H i s utmost cra ft i s weaker far than Zeus
,
.
II EPHAES TU S
H e but none o ther can accuse m ine art
,
,
S T R EN G T H
N ow s t rong a n d sheer drive th ro fro m breast to
back
Th e adam an t ine wedge s stubborn fang
’
,
,
’
.
II EPHA ES TU S
Alas P rometheus
,
! l lament
thy pa in
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1
69
S T R EN G T H
Th o u falte r ing and weeping sore fo r those
Wh o m Zeu s abh o rs ! ware lest th o u rue thy
tears !
H E P H AE S T U S
,
’
,
Th o u
g a z e st
on a scene that p o i s o ns sight
.
S T R EN G T H
I gaze o n one wh o s u ff e rs h i s desert
N o w between rib and sho u lder shackle h i m
.
II E PHA E S TU S
D o i t I must —h ush thy superflu o us cha r ge
S T R EN G T H
U rge thee I will —a y h o und th e e t o the prey
Ste p downward n o w en ring h i s legs amai n !
,
.
,
H E P H AE S T U S
L o , i t i s done — twas but a momen t s t o il
’
’
.
S T R EN G T H
N o w str o ngly st rike d r ive i n th e piercing gyves
S t ern is the p o wer that o versees thy task !
,
,
H E P H A ES TU S
B ruti sh thy form th y speech brutality
,
S T R EN G T H
B e gentle an thou wilt but blame not me
F o r th is m y stubborn ness and anger fell
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
l7 o
H E P H A ES T U S
Let u s go hence
;
h is legs are firml y chai ned
.
S T R EN G T H ( To P ROM ET H E U S )
Ah a ! t here play t he i ns o lent and s t eal
F o r crea tur es o f a day the righ ts of go ds !
0 deep d e lusion o f th e powers t ha t n a med t hee
Prome t h eus th e F o re t h i nker ! thou hast need
O f o thers fo reth o ught and device whereby
Th o u may st el u de t hi s handi craft of ou rs
x
t
H
E
P
H
A
E
T
U
S
T
R
EN
G
T
H
E
eu
n
S
S
[
a n d F OR C E
A pa u se
,
,
,
-
,
’
,
’
—
,
.
P RO M ET H E U S
Sky divine, O Winds of pin ion s swift
O fountai n -h eads of R ivers and O thou
I llimi table laughter o f the S ea !
0 Earth the M igh ty M o ther and thou S un
Whose orbed ligh t s u r ve ye th all —attest
\Vh a t ill s I su ff er from th e gods a god
Behold me wh o mus t here susta in
The marring agonies of pa in
\Vr e s t l
in g with torture d oomed t o bear
Ete rn al ages, year on yea r !
Such and so shameful i s the chain
Wh i ch H eaven s new tyran t doth ordain
To bind me helpless here
Woe ! for the ru thless present doom
Woe ! for the Future s teeming w o mb !
O n wha t far dawn in wha t dim skies
Shall s t ar of my deliverance ri se ?
0
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
’
,
,
Tru ce to thi s utte rance to i ts di mmest verge
I d o fo reknow the fu ture hour by hour
,
,
,
1
PRO M ETH EU S BOU N D
72
C HORU S
Ah fear u s n o t ! as friends wi t h ri val ry
O f swiftly-vying wings we came t o gether
U n to this rock and thee !
W i t h ou r sea sire we pleaded ha r d until
\Ve won h im to ou r wi ll
And s wi ft th e wafting breezes bore us h ither
The h eavy h amme r s steely blow
Th ri lled to our oc ean cave m from afar
Banish ed soft shyn ess from ou r maiden b r ow
And wi t h unsandalled feet we come in winged
car
,
,
,
-
,
,
.
’
-
,
,
,
PRO M ET H E U S
Ah well a day ! ye c o me ye com e
Fr o m t h e Sea -M o ther s teeming home
Children of Te t hys and t he sire
Wh o around Ea rt h rolls gyre on gyre
H i s sleepless o cean ti de
Lo o k on me —shackled wi th what chain
U p o n t h is chasm s beetli ng side
I must my di sm a l watch sus t ain
-
-
,
’
,
,
-
,
’
C HORU S
Yea I b e hold Prome t heu s ! and my fea rs
D raw swi ft ly o er m i ne eyes a mist fulfilled of
tea r s
When I behold t hy frame
B o und was t ing on the r o ck and put t o shame
B y adamantine chain s
The rudder and th e rule of H eaven
Are to stran g e pilots given
,
,
’
,
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U ND
1
73
Zeus with new laws and stro ng caprice h o lds
sway
U nkings the an cient Powers thei r migh t c o n
strai ns
And th rusts thei r pride away
’
,
,
,
P ROM ET H E U S
H ad he but hurled me far beneath
The vast and gh o stly halls of D eath
D o wn to th e limitless pro found
O f Ta r taru s i n fett e rs b o und
Fi x ed by h is unrelenting h and
S o had n o man n o r G od o n high
E xu lted o er min e ag o ny
B ut n o w a sp or t t o wind an d sky
M o cked by my fo es I stand !
,
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’
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C HORU S
What G od can wear such ruthless heart
A S t o deligh t i n i ll ?
Wh o i n thy sorr o w bears n o t part
Zeu s Zeus al o ne ! fo r h e w ith w r ath ful will
Clenched and infle x ible
Bears d o wn H eaven s race —n o r end shall be till
hate
H i s s o ul shall satiate
O r ti ll by s o m e d e vic e s o m e o the r han d
Shall wrest fro m h im h is stern ly clasped c o m
mand
,
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-
P ROM ET H E U S
Yet —
th o ugh in shackles cl o se and str o ng
I lie i n wasting t o rm ents long
,
,
1
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
74
Yet th e new t yran t n e ath whose n o d
Cowers d o wn each blest subservient god
O ne day far hence my help S hall need
The destined stratagem to read
Whe r eby i n s o me y et di stant day
Zeus shall be reaved o f pride and sway
And no persuasion s h o n ied spell
S h a ll lure me o n t he t al e to tell
And no stern th reat shall make me cower
And y ield the secret to hi s powe r
U n t il hi s pu rp o se be fo regone
A n d shackl es y i e ld and he atone
The deep despi t e that h e hath done !
’
,
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,
C HORU S
strong in hardih ood, thou st r i v st amai n
Against the stress of pain
But ye t t oo free , too resolute thy tongu e
In ch al lenging thy w r ong !
Ah shudde ri ng dread doth make my spi rit q u i ver
And o er thy fate sits Fear
I see not to wha t shore o f safe t y ever
Thy bark can steer
ln d e p t hs unreached t he w ill o f Zeus d o th dwell
H idden implacable
’
0
,
’
,
,
PRO M ET H E U S
ste m i s Zeu s and J ustice stands
W re nched to h i s pu rp o se i n h is hands
Ye t shall he lea rn pe rfo rce t o kn o w
A milder m ood when falls t he blow
H i s ru thless wrath he shall lay still
And h e and I wi t h m utual will
I n c o ncord s bond shall g o
A y,
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P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
76
And those wh o strove beside h im
Such th e aid
I gave the lord of heaven —my meed fo r wh ich
H e paid me t hus a penal recompense
F o r t i s the inward vi ce of tyranny
T o deem of friends as being secret foe s
N ow to your q uestion —hear m e clearly S how
O n what imputed fault he tortures me
Scarce was he seated on h is fathe r s th r one
When he began h i s doles of privilege
Am o ng th e lesser gods allotting power
I n t ri m d ivi si o n wh ile of mortal men
N oth ing h e recked nor of th ei r misery
Nay even willed to blas t thei r race en t ire
T o n ot h ingness an d b reed an oth er brood
And n o ne but I was found to cro ss h i s will
I dared i t I al o ne ; I rescued men
From c ru shing ru in and th abyss of hell
Therefo re am I c o n strained in chastisement
G rievous to bear and pite o us to behold
Yea fi rm to feel compassion for mankind
M yself wa s held unw o rthy of the same
A y beyond pity am I r anged and rul ed
T o s u fle ra n c e a sigh t that shames h i s sway
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C HORU S
A heart o f steel a m o uld o f st o ne were he
W h o c o uld complacently behold t hy pai ns
I came n o t h e re as c r a ving for t h i s sigh t
And seein g i t I s t and h e art -wrung wi t h pain
,
,
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P RO M ET H E U S
Y ea t ruly kindly eye s must pi ty me !
,
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 77
C HORU S
?
Say didst thou push transgression further sti ll
,
P ROM ET H E U S
A y,
man thr o me ceased t o fo reknow his death
’
.
C HORU S
What cure couldst th o u discover fo r th i s curse
?
P ROM ET H E U S
B lind h o pes I sent to nestle i n man s h eart
’
.
C HORU S
Thi s was a g oo dly gift th o u gavest them
.
P ROM ET H E U S
Yet m o re I
g a ve
them ev e n the bo o n o f fire
,
.
C HORU S
What
?
radiant fire t o th i ngs ephemeral
,
?
P ROM ET H E U S
Yea —many an art t oo shall they learn thereby
C HOR U S
Then u pon imputati o n o f such guilt ,
D o th Zeus without su r cease t o rmen t thee thus
I s there n o limit t o thy c o urse o f pai n ?
,
PROM ET H EU S
N o n e till h i s
,
o wn
will sh all decree an end
.
N
?
!
1
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
78
C HORU S
An d
how S hall h e d e cree i t ? say , what hope ?
Se est t h ou n o t thy sin ? yet o f that sin
I t i rks me s o re t o speak as thee t o hear
N ay, n o more w o rds hereof ; be t hink thee now
From th i s o rdeal h o w t o find release
.
,
,
.
P ROM ET H E U S
Easy it i s fo r one wh o se foo t i s set
O uts ide the sl o ugh of pain t o less o n well
Wi t h adm o ni t i o ns h im wh o lies therein
W i t h pe rfect kn o wledge did I all I did
I willed to S i n and sinned I own it all
cham pioned men u n to my p rope r pain
Yet scarce I d eemed t ha t i n such cruel d oom
VVi th e r i n g up o n th is skyey precipice
I should inheri t l onel y m ountai n c rags,
H ere in a vast n u -neighbou red s o li tude
Yet l ist n o t t o lament my present pains
But , stepping from your cars un to th e ground
Li sten th e wh ile I tell t h e future fates
N ow d rawing n ear until ye kn o w the wh o l e
G ran t ye 0 grant my prayer be piti ful
To o ne now racked with woe ! t he doom o f pain
Wanders but settles soon o r late , on all
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C H ORU S
T o willing hearts an d sch ooled to feel
P rometheus came thy tongue s appeal
Therefore we leave with ligh tsome tread
The flyin g cars in wh ich we sped
We leave the stainless vi rgin ai r
\Vh e r e wi n g é d creatures fl o a t and fare
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UND
P RO M ET H E U S
I 8O
BO
M e , friend o f Zeus , p art auth o r of h i s power
M ark , i n what ru th lessness h e bows me d o wn
-
O CEA N U S
Y ea I behold P rometheus
and would warn
Thee spi te of all thy wi sdom for thy weal
Learn now thyse lf to know and to renew
A rightful spi ri t wi th in th e e fo r made n e w
Wi t h p ri de of place sits Zeu s among th e gods
N ow if th o u ch oosest to fling fo rth on h im
W o rds rough with anger thus and edged wi t h
scorn
Zeu s though he sit aloof afar on high
M ay h ear th ine utterance and make thee deem
H i s present wrath a me re pretence of pa in
Bani sh poor wre tch t he passion of thy s o ul
And seek i nstead acqui ttance from thy pang s
Belike my wo rds seem ancient ry to thee
Such natheless O Pro m eth eus i s th e meed
That doth awai t th e over weening tongue !
M eek wert t h o u never wil t not cr o uch t o pain
B ut set am id m i sfo rtun e s c r a ve st m o re !
No w i f t hou let thysel f be sch o oled by me
Th o u m us t n ot kick against t he goad
Th o u
knowes t
A despot ru les harsh res o lute su prem e
\
Nh o se law i s will Yet shall I go to h im
\Vith all endeav ou r t o r elieve t hy plight
S o th o u wilt curb the temp e s t o f t hy tongu e !
S u re ly th o u kn o west i n thy wisd o m deep
The saw lV/zo v a u n ts a m i ss q u i ck pa i n
11 1 s
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P RO M ET H E U S
enviable th o u and unaccused
Th o u wh o wast a rt and par t in all I dar e d
O
,
!
UND
P RO M ET H E U S
BO
181
And now let be make thi s n o care o f th i ne
F o r Zeus i s past persuasi o n —urge him not
L oo k to thyself lest th i n e emprise thou rue
,
,
,
.
O C EAN U S
Th o u hast more skill t o scho o l thy neighb our s faul t
Than t o amend thine o wn ti s pro ved and plain
B y fact n o t hea r say that I read th is well
Yet am I fi x ed t o g o —withhold m e n o t
’
’
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,
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Assured I am assured th at Zeus wil l grant
The boon I crave the lo o sening o f thy b o nd s
,
,
,
.
PROM ET H E U S
In
part I prai se thee to th e end will prai se ;
Go odwill thou lackest n o t bu t yet fo rbear
Thy fu rther trouble
If thy h eart be fain
B ethink thee that thy t o i l avails m e not
N ay rest thee well aloof from danger s brink
I will n o t ease my w o e by base relief
I n knowing others too i nv o lved therein
Away the thought fo r deeply d o I ru e
M y brother Atlas d oo m
Far o ff h e stan ds
I n sunset land and on hi s sh o ulder bears
The pillar d m o un tain mass whose base i s earth
Whose top is h eaven and its p o nder o us load
T o o great fo r any g r asp
With pi ty t o o
I saw Earth s child the monstrou s thing o f war
That i n C i lic i a s holl o w places dwelt
Typho I saw h i s h undred -headed form
C ru shed and constrained ; yet once h i s stride was fierce
H i s jaws gaped horror and thei r h i ss was death
And al l heaven s h o st h e challenged to th e fray,
Wh ile , as one vowed to storm the power of Zeus ,
Forth from h is eyes he shot a demon glare
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P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
82
It
skilled not : the u n sleep ing bolt o f Zeus
Th e down ward levin wi th its rush of flame
Smote on h im and made d umb for evermore
The clamour o f hi s vaunting to the h ea rt
Stri cken h e lay an d a llth at m o uld of strength
S ank th under-shattered to a smoulde ring ash
And helpless now and laid i n ru in huge
H e li eth by the n a rrow strai t o f s ea,
C rushed at the root of Etna s mountain -pile
H igh on the pinnacles where o f the re sits
H ephaestus swelteri ng at t he fo rge ; and th ence
O n some he reaft er day shall burst and stream
The l ava -fl o o ds that sh al l wi t h r vening fangs
G naw th y sm ooth lowlands ferti le S icily !
S uch i re shall Typh o fro m h i s living grave
Send see th ing up , such j ets o f fiery su rge
H ot and unslaked al tho him self h e laid
I n quaking ash es by Zeus th underbolt
But th o u dost know here of nor needest me
To sch ool thy sense thou kn o west safety s road
Walk then thereon ! I to the dregs wi ll d r ain
Till Zeus relent from wrath , my present wo e
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Oc e a n u s
N ay bu t P rome t h eus k h ow st t hou not the saw
Wo r ds a m a ppea se th e a ng r y so u ls di sea se
’
,
,
,
’
PROM ET H E U S
—i f i n
season o ne apply thei r salve
N o t scorching wra t h s p roud fl esh wi th causti c
t o ngu e
O C EAN U S
Ay
,
’
.
But in wise t hough t and venturou s essay
Perceivest t hou a danger ? prithee tell
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 84
O C EAN U S
Thy w o rd i s said t o me in act to go :
For 10 my h ippo g r i fl wi t h waving wi ngs
Fan s t h e smooth cou rs e of air and fai n i s he
T o rest h i s l imbs wi t hin hi s ocean stal l
'
,
,
.
E
xi t
[
O C EAN U S
.
C HOR U S
F o r th e w o e and the wreck and th e doom Prometheus
l utter my sigh s
O er my ch eek fl o ws the fountain of tea r s from tender
compass ionate eyes
For ste rn and abh o rred i s t he s way of Zeus on h i s
self sough t th rone
And ruthless the spea r of hi s sc o rn to the gods of
the days that are done
And over the lim i tless ea rth goes u p a di scon solate
cry :
,
,
’
,
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-
,
,
.
Ye w er e
a
ll so
fa i r
,
fla w
oy
a nd
yo u r m fg /z ! Ila : g o ne
fa llen ;
so
a t,
r
e
g
a nd
So wails wi th a migh ty lament th e voice of the m ortal s,
who dwell
I n the Eas tland t he home of the h oly for th ee and
th e fate that be fc l
And they of the Colch i a n land , th e maidens whose
arm i s fo r war ;
And the Scyt h i an bo wm en who roam by the lake o f
M a e o t is afar ;
And the blossom of battl ing h ordes , that flowers
u pon Cau casus h eigh t
Wi th clash ing of lances that pierce and wi t h clam our
of sword s that sm ite
S tr a nge i s t hy sorrow ! one only I know who has
su ff ered thy pai n
,
,
,
’
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UND
P RO M ET H E U S
BO
1
85
Atlas the Ti tan the g o d i n a ruth less i nvincible
chai n !
H e beareth fo r ev e r and ever the burden and poise o f
the sky
The vault o f th e r o lling heaven a n d earth t e ech o es
h is c r y
The depth s o f the sea are tr ou bled they m o urn
fro m thei r cav e rn s p ro fo und
And the da rkest and innerm o st hell m o ans d e ep with
a s o rr o wful s ou nd
And th e rivers Of waters that flo w fro m the fo untain s
that spring with o u t stain
Are as o ne i n the great lamentati o n a n d moan fo r
th y piteous pain
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P ROM ET H E U S
D eem n o t that I i n pride o r wilful scorn
R estrain my speech ti s wi stfu l m emor y
That rends my heart when I beh o ld myself
Abased t o wretch edness
T o these new gods
I and n o ne o ther gave thei r l o ts o f p o wer
I n fu ll attainment no m o re words hereof
l speak—the tale ye kn o w
B ut li sten n o w
U nt o the rede o f mortals and thei r w o es
And h o w th e ir ch ildi sh and u nreasoning state
Was changed by m e to consci o u sness and thou g ht
Yet not in blame of mortals wi ll I speak
B ut as i n proof of servi ce wrough t t o them
F o r in th e o utset eyes they had an d saw not
And ears th e y had but h eard not age o n age
Like unsubstantial sh apes in vi si o n s e en
They gr o ped at rand o m i n th e w or ld o f sense
N or knew to li nk thei r bui lding bri ck wi th brick
N o r how to turn i ts aspect to the sun
N o r h o w t o j o in the beams by carpentry
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P R O M ET H E U S B O U N D
I 8O
I n h o llowed caves they dwelt as emmets dwell
\Ve a k feathers for each blast , i n sunless caves
N or had they ce rtai n forecas t of the cold
N or o f the adven t o f t he fl o wery spring
N or of the fru itfu l summer
Al l t hey w rough t
U nreason ing they wro u gh t till I made clear
The laws of ri sing stars and inference d im
M ore hard to learn of what th ei r setting showed
I taught to them wi thal that art o f arts
The lo r e o f number and the written word
That giveth sense to sound the tool whe rewith
Th e gi ft of memory was wrought in all
An d s o cam e art and song
I too was first
To harness neath the yoke strong an i mals
O bedient made to c o llar and to weigh t
That they migh t bear whate er o f heavies t toil
M o rta ls endured before F or chariots too
I t rained and docile service o f the rein
Steeds t he d e ligh t of weal t h and pomp and pride
I too none o t her for seafarers wro u gh t
Thei r ocean -roam ing canvas-wing ed cars
Such a rts of c raft di d I unhappy I
C ontrive for mortals : now no fein t l have
Whereby I may elude my present woe
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C HORU S
A rueful doom i s t h ine ! distraugh t of soul
And all as t ray and like some sorry lee ch
Art thou repining a t thine o wn di sease
U n skilled unknowi ng of the needful cure
,
,
,
,
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,
PRO
M ET H EU S
M ore wilt thou wonder when the rest thou h earest
arts for them what meth od s I devise d
Foremost was t h is : if an y man fell sick
\Vh a t
.
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
I 8S
C HORU S
N ay aid n o t mortal men beyond th eir due
H o l ding too ligh t a reck o ni ng o f thyself
And of thine own d i stress : good hope have I
T o see thee once again from fetters free
And matched wi th Ze us i n pari ty of power
,
,
.
P ROM ET H E U S
N o t yet nor thus h a t h Fat e ordain ed the end
N o t un t il age -l o ng pains and c o un tless w o es
H ave bent a n d bowed me sha llmy shackles fa ll
Art s t ri ves too feebly against destiny
,
.
C HORU S
But wh at han d rules th e hel m of destiny
?
PRO M ET H E U S
The
t r i fo m t
Fa t es
,
and
Furi es unforgiving
.
C HORU S
Then i s th e power
of
Zeus more weak than thei rs
PROM ET H EU S
H e may not shun t he fate ordained for h i m
.
C HORU S
What i s ordained for h im save endless rule
,
?
PRO M ET H E U S
S eek not for an swer
:
’
this th ou may st not learn
.
?
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1
89
C HORU S
Surely thy silen ce h ides s o me s o l e mn th i ng
.
P ROM ET H E U S
Th ink on s o me o ther them e ti s not the hou r,
Th i s secret t o u nveil i n deepest da rk
B e i t c o ncealed by gua r ding i t shall I
Escape at last fro m bonds and sc o rn and pai n
’
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,
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C HOR U S
O n ever may my weak and faint desi re
St r iv e again st G od most h igh
N ever be slack i n se r vice n ev e r ti re
O f sacred loyalty
N o r fail t o wend unt o the altar side
Where with th e bl oo d o f kine
Steams up the o ff ering by th e quenchl es s t i d e
O f O cean , Sire divine !
B e th is wi thi n my heart indelible
Ofl en a n o t w i ll
: My t o n g u e
Sweet sweet i t i s i n cheering h o pes t o dw e ll
I mmortal ever young
In maiden gladness fo stering eve r m o re
A soft c o ntent of sou l !
B ut ah I shudder at th ine angui sh s o re
Thy d o om th r o years th at r o ll
Thou could st not cower t o Zeus a love too great
Thou unt o man hast given
T oo h igh o f heart thou wert —ah t hankless fat e
What aid gain st wrath Of H eaven
C o uld mortal man a flo r d ? in vain thy gift
To th ings so p o werless
C o uld st th o u n o t se e the y a r e as dreams that dr i ft
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P RO M ET H E U S
1 90
UND
BO
Th ei r strength i s feebleness
A purblind rac e i n h o peless fetters b o und
They have no craft or skill
Th at c o uld o e rr e a c h the o rdinance profound
O f th e eternal will
Alas Prometheus ! on thy w o e condign
I looked and l earn ed thi s l o re
And a n ew s t rain fl o a t s t o these lips o f m ine
N ot the glad s o ng of y o re
When by the lustral wave I sa ng t o see
M y sister made thy brid e
D ecked with thy gift s t hy l o ved H esi o ne
And clasped un to t hy sid e
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E
I
h
o r n ed l
i
k
e
n
t
er
O
,
[
a
co w
.
lo
Alack ! wha t lan d what folk are he re ?
Wh om see I clenched in rocky fetters d rea r
U nto th e stormy crag ? fo r what th ing done
D ost th ou in ag o ny atone
Ah tell me wh i t her well -a -day !
M y fe e t have roamed t hei r w eary way ?
A h bu t i t maddens t he s t ing ! i t bu rn s in my pi teou s
side 3
Ah bu t th e vision th e spectre th e ea rth b o rn the
myri ad -eyed
Avoid thee ! Ea rt h hide h im th ine o fl spr i n g l he
c o meth O aspect o f i ll
G h ostly and crafty of face and dead but pu rsuing
m e sti ll
Ah woe U pon me woe i n e fla b le !
H e steals U pon my track, a hound of h ell
\Vh e r e e r l s t ray al o ng the sands and brine
\Yeary and foo dless com e h i s c r eeping ey n e !
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1
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
92
N o t one t here i s n o t one that i s unblest as I
B u t thou —tell me the rest
U tt er the rede of w oe s t o c o me for m e
U tte r th e aid the cure if ai d o r cure there be
.
,
,
,
,
P ROM ET H E U S
L o clearly w ill I sh o w forth all thy quest
N o t i n da r k speech b u t wi th such simple ph rase
As d o th be h t t he ut terance o f a friend
I am P rometheus wh o gave fi re to m e n
,
,
.
,
.
IO
daring pro ven champi o n of man s race
Wha t sin P ro me t heus dost thou thus at o ne
0
’
,
,
,
,
?
PROM ET H E U S
O ne moment s i nce I to ld my woes and ceased
,
.
IO
Then should I plead my su it t o t h ee i n vain
?
P R OM ET H E U S
N ay speak thy n eed
,
n o ugh t
w ould
I h ide fro m thee
IO
Pronounce who nailed thee to the ro cky cleft
PRO M ET H E U S
Zeus by inten t
,
H ephaestu s by h i s hand
,
.
.
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 93
IO
F o r what wr o ngd o ing d o these pain s atone ?
PROM ET H E U S
What I have said i s said
,
su ffice i t thee
IO
Yet s o mewhat add fo rewa r n m e i n my wo e
What time shall bring my wande r ing t o its g o al
P ROM ET H E U S
F o re knowledge i s fore s o rrow
ask i t n o t
-
-
.
10
N ay h ide n o t fr o m me desti ny s decree
’
,
.
PROM ET H E U S
I grudge thee not the gift which I withhold
.
10
Then wherefore tarry ere th o u tell me all ?
PROM E
T H EU S
N othin g I grudg e bu t would n o t rack thy s ou l
,
.
10
B e n o t compassi o nat e b e y o nd my wish
PR OM E
TH EUS
Well thou art fai n and I w ill speak
,
,
.
.
Attend
O
!
?
P RO M ET H E U S
1 94
UND
BO
C HORU S
Nay—e re th o u speak hear me best o w on m e
A p o rtion Of t he grace o f gran t ed prayers
F i rst le t us learn h o w I o s frenzy came
She
telling
her
d
isasters
man
ifold
(
)
Then o f their se q uel let her know from thee
,
,
.
’
.
P ROM ET H E U S
Well were i t, 1 0 thus t o d o their will
R ight well they are the si ste rs o f thy si re
Ti s wort h the waste an d e fflu e n c e o f time
T o t ell wi t h tears of pe rfect m o an the doom
O f sorrows that h ave fallen when ti s su re
Th e li s t eners w ill greet the tale with tears
,
.
’
,
,
,
’
,
.
lo
I know not how I should mistrust your prayer ;
Therefore th e wh o le that ye desi re of me
Ye n o w shall lea rn i n o ne straigh tforward tale
Yet as i t leaves my lips I blush wi t h shame
To tell that tem pe st of the spi t e of H eaven
And all the wreck and ru in of my form
And wh ence they swooped upon me woe i s me
Long long in visions o f the n ight th ere came
V o ices and fo rms i nt o my maiden bower
All uri ng me wi t h smoothly glozing words
0 ma i de n l
a g /21y fa v o u r ed o
l
a ! : Hea t / en
f g
W/zy che r i s/z t/zy vi rg i n i ty so lo n g i?
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
TIt i n e i s i t to w i n w edlo ck s n o olest c r o w n
’
’
K n o w t/z a t Ze n s fie a r t t/z r o t/ze e i s a l
lafla me,
Pi er ced w i t/z de si r e a s w i ll
: a da r t , a n d l
o ng s
To jo i n i n u tmo st r i te of lo v e w i t h t fie e
T/i er eyor e, 0 ma i de n , sl
u m n o t w i t/t di sda i n
’
.
’
!
P RO M ET H E U S
1 96
BO
UND
With myriad eyes where er my feet w o uld roam
B ut on h im in a m o ment , u nfor eseen
Came Fate and su nd e red hi m fr o m life b u t I
S t ill maddened by the g a dfly s s t ing the sc o urge
O f Go d s in fl i cti o n ro am t h e weary w or ld
H ow I have fared th o u hearest : be the r e aught
O f what remains t o bear that th o u canst tell
S peak o n bu t let n o t thy compassi o n wa rm
Thy words t o cheering falsehood
Wors t of woes
Are words that break thei r p r om ise to our hope
’
,
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,
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,
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,
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C H ORU S
woe 2 avaunt—thou and thy tale of bane
0 never never da r ed I drea m
Such h o rror of s t range sounds sh o uld pi erce m ine ear
Such l oathly sights such tortures hard t o bear
O u t rage poll uti o n agony supreme
W a sting m y hea rt w i th d o uble edge of pain
Ah Fate ah Fate ! I gaze on 1 0 s dole
And sh udder to my s o ul
Woe
!
,
,
,
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,
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’
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S
Thou wa i le st all t o o s oo n fulfilled o f fear
Tarry awh ile till thou have l e arned the whole
,
,
C HORU S
Say o n reveal i t ! s u ffe ring s o ul s are fa in
T o know ari gh t wha t yet remains t o bear
,
.
P ROM ET H E U S
Lightly wi th h elp o f m ine did ye ach ieve
Tha t wh ich ye fi rst desi red : fr o m 1 0 s m o uth
,
,
’
.
,
UND
P RO M ET H E U S
BO
1 97
Ye craved to hear, rec o unted b y h ers e lf
The st o ry o f her stri vings
Li sten n o w
T o what shall fo ll o w t o what w o efu lness
Th e wrath o f H era must c o mpel thi s mai d
( To 1 0 )
And th ou O chi ld of I nach u s with in
Th ine i nmost heart st o re u p th ese words o f m ine
That thou may st learn thy wanderi ngs and their goal
Fi rst fro m th i s spot toward the sunrise turn
And cross th e steppe that kn o weth not the pl o ugh :
Th us to the n o mad S cyth ian s shal t th o u c o me
Wh o dwell in wattled h o mes n o t bui lt on earth
B ut b o rne along o n wains o f sturdy wheel
Equ ippe d th e mselves wi th bows o f m ighty reach
Pass them a vo i di n g ly a n d leave thei r land ,
And skirt t h e beaches where the tides make m o an
Ti ll 10 ! u pon t h e left h and th ou shalt find
The Chal y bes st ou t c r aftsm e n o f the steel
B e ware o f them n o gen tleness i s th e i rs
NO ki ndl y welcome t o a st r ang e r s foo t
Th e nce t o the Stre am o f V i o lence S halt thou c o me
Like nam e like natu r e see t h o u cross i t n o t
f
o r de r
Ti
s
fatal
t
o
th
e
till
th
o
u
c
o
m
e
(
R igh t t o the v e r y Caucas u s th e p e ak
That o vert o ps th e w or ld and fro m i ts br o ws
The river pants i n spray its wrathfu l stream
Thence o er the pinnacles that c ou rt th e stars
O nward and sou th ward th o u m u st take thy way,
And reach the warlike h o rde o f Amaz o ns
M aidens th r o ugh hate o f man and gladly they
Will guide thy maiden feet
That host i n da y s
That are n o t yet shall fi x th e i r h o me and dwell
At Themi scyra o n Th e r m o do n s bank
N i g h whe r eunt o the g r i m pr ojecting fang
O f Salmydessus cape a fl r o n t s th e main
,
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P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
1 98
The seaman s cu rse to sh ips a stepm o ther !
Then at the j u tti ng land C immerian styled
That screens the narrowing portal o f th e mere
Thou shalt arri ve pass o er i t brave at heart
And fe rry thee acr o ss M a e o t i s ford
S o sh all th ere be grea t rum o u r evermore
I n ears Of mo rtals o f t h y pas sage s trange ;
And Bo spo r o s shall be t hat chann el s nam e
Because the o x-horned thing did pas s thereby
S o from th e wilds of Europe wa n de r d o er
To Asia s conti nent thou c o m st at last
T
o
h
e
H
R
t
C
O
U
s
)
(
And ye what th ink ye ? Seems h e n o t, that l o rd
And tyran t o f the g o ds as tyrannous
U nto all other live s ? A high god s lus t
C o nstra ined th i s mortal maid to roam t he world !
T
1
0
o
(
)
Po o r maid a bru tal wooer su re was th ine
For know that all whi ch I have told thee now
I s scarce the prelude o f th y woes to come
’
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’
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’
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IO
Alas fo r me alas
!
,
PRO M ET H E U S
Agai n thou cri e st wi th a hei fe r s low
What wilt th o u d o learn ing t h y fu t ure woes
’
,
.
,
C HORU S
\Vh a t,
hast th o u fu rther s o rr o ws fo r her ear
PROM ET H E U S
'
Yea a vex t o cean o f pred estined pain
,
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
z oo
P RO M ET H E U S
By h i s own min dless counsels sh all he fall
.
IO
And how ? u nl e ss
telling harm say o n
th e
,
P ROM ET H E U S
Wooing a bri de hi s ruin he shall
,
wi n
.
10
G oddes s or mortal ? tell m e i f thou may st
’
,
,
.
P ROM ET H E U S
N o matter wh ich —mo r e mu s t n o t be revealed
.
IO
D oth then a consort th rus t h im fr o m hi s th r one
PRO M ET H E U S
Th e ch i ld she
he a r s
him shall
o e r c o me
’
h is
s i re .
10
An d hath h e no avoidance of th is doom
?
P ROM ET H E U S
N one, surely—t ill tha t I releas ed from bond s
,
IO
W h o can release th ee but by will of Zeu s ?
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
20 1
P ROM ET H E U S
F ate gives th is duty t o a ch ild of thi n e
10
H ow ?
Shall a ch ild o f m i ne und o thy w o es
?
PROM ET H E U S
Yea of thy lineage thirteen times removed
,
,
.
10
D ark beyond guessing gr o ws th ine or acle
.
PROM ET H E U S
Yea —se e k n o t there fore t o fo rekn o w th y w o es
.
IO
As th o u didst pr o ffer h o pe withdraw i t n o t
,
.
PROM ET H E U S
Tw o tales I h ave—ch oo se
fo r I gran t thee one
!
.
10
And wh ich be they
reveal and leave m e ch o ice
,
P ROM ET H E U S
I grant i t : shall I i n all clearness S h o w
Thy future woes o r my del iverance ?
,
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
20 2
C HORU S
N ay ! o f the two vouchsafe her wish t o h er
An d m i ne t o me deigning a tr uth to each
To h er reveal her fu t u re wande r ings
TO me thy future saviour as I crave !
,
,
,
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S
I will n ot set myself to thwart your will
Withholdi ng augh t of what ye crave to know
F i rst to thee, I o w ill I tell and trace
Thy sca r ed ci rcui t o us wandering—mark it well
D eep i n reten t ive tablets of th e soul
When thou hast Ove rpast the ferry s flow
That sunders continent fro m continent
Straigh t to the eas twa r d and the flaming face
O f da wn , and h igh ways trodden by the sun
Pass till thou c o me unto the windy land
O f daugh te r s born t o Borea s : beware
Lest the strong spi ri t of t he stormy blast
S natch thee al o ft and swee p thee to th e void
O n w ings of raving wi ntry hu rricane !
Wend by th e noi sy tumult of the wave
U ntil thou reach the G orgon haunted plains
Beside C i sthene
In that s o l itude
D wel l Phorcys daugh ters beldames wo rn with time
Th ree each swan -shapen si ngle -toothed and all
Peeri ng t hro shared endowment of one eye
N ever on t hem do t h the sun shed h i s rays
N ever falls radiance of the midn ight moon
But hard by the se thei r siste rs clad wi th w ings ,
Se rpen t ine -curled dwell l o athed of mortal men
The G orgons —h e of men wh o l ooks o n t hem
Shall gasp away h i s li fe
O f su ch fell guard
I bid th ee to be ware N ow, mark my wo rd s
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20
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
4
I wi ll rec o unt her hi story of toil
E re she came h i th er let it s tand fo r proof
O f what I t o ld m y fo recast o f th e end
So th e n —to sum i n bri ef t h e wear y tale
I tu rn me t o th ine earlier e x ile s cl o se
When t o M o lo ssia s lowland thou hadst c o me
N ig h t o D o do n a s cl i ff and ri dge sublime
Wh
ere
i
s
th
e
sh
ri
ne
oracular
and
sea
t
(
O f Zeus Th e spr o t ia n styl ed and tha t stran ge thing
And ma rvel past belief the pr o ph et oaks
That s y llable h is speech ) thou by t hei r tongues
Wi th cl ear acclaim and uneq u iv o cal
\Vert th us saluted —Ha i l 0 br i de of Ze u s
Tfia t a r t to oe —h ast memory thereof ?
Thence stung anew wi th fr enzy th o u didst h ie
Al o ng the sh o reward track t o R hea s lap
The m ighty mai n then storm ily d i stra u g ht
Backward again and eastward
To all time
Be well ass ured t hat i nle t o f the sea
All mortal men shall call I onian
I n mem o ry t ha t IO fared th ereby
Take thi s fo r pro o f and wi tness that my m ind
H ath more in ken than ever sense hath shown
re C HOR u s)
T
o
t
i
(
That wh ich remains to you and her al ike
I will rela t e and t o m y fo rmer words
R eve rting add th i s final pro phecy
T
I
O
o
(
)
There lie t h at th e verge of land and sea
Where N i lu s issues th ro the s ilted sand
A town Canopus called : an d there at leng t h
Shall Zeu s renew th e reason in th y brai n
\Vi t h the mere t o uch and contact of hi s hand
F raugh t now wi th fe ar no more : and tho u shalt bear
A ch ild dark Epaphus hi s very nam e
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P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
20
M emorial o f Zeus t o uch that gav e h im life
And hi s shall be th e fo i s o n and th e fr ui t
O f all the land enriched b y spre ading N ile
Thence the fifth gen erati o n o f hi s seed
Back unt o A rg o s yet u nwilli ngl y
Shall fl ee fo r refuge —fi ft y maidens they
L o athing a wedl o ck wi t h th e i r ne x t in bl oo d
M o re kin than kind fro m t h e ir sire s br o th er sprung
And o n thei r t r ack asti r with wild desire
Like falc o ns fierce closing o n d o ves th at fl ee
Shall speed the suit o rs craving t o achieve
A prey fo rb idden a rel uctant bride
Yet power divine shall fo il them and forbi d
P o ssessi o n o f th e maids whom Argive land
Shall h o ld p r otected wh en unsleeping hate
H or ro r and watchfu l ambush o f th e n ight
H ave laid the s u it o rs dead by female hands
F o r ever y m aid shall sm i te a man t o death
D yeing a dagg e r s edges in h i s thr o at
S u ch bed o f l o ve b e fa l m in e enem ies
Yet i n o n e brid e shall y e arn ing conquer hat e
B iddin g her spare the bridegr o om at her S ide
B lunting the keen edge o f her set resolve
Thus Of two scorn s the fo rm er shall she choose
The nam e of c o ward n o t o f murderess
I n Arg o s shall sh e bear i n aft er time
A royal Offspring
Long it we r e to tell
I n clear su ccessi o n all tha t th ence shall be
Take thi s fo r s oo th —i n lineage fr o m her
A her o shall arise an archer great
And he shall be my savi o ur fr o m these w o es
Such kn o wl edge Of the future Them is gave
Th e ancient T itaness t o m e h er s o n
Bu t h o w and by what ski ll twere long t o say
And no wh it will th e knowledg e pro fi t thee
5
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20
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
6
10
O woe O rending and convulsive pain
Frenzy and ag o n y again agai n
,
,
,
,
Seari ng m y heart and brain
O dagger o f th e sting un fo rged with fire
Yet burn ing burn i n g ever ! 0 my hea rt
Pulsing wi t h horror h ea t in g at my b reas t !
O ro lling maddened eyes ! away , apa rt
R aving wi th angui sh d ire
I sp ring by frenzy fi e n ds po sse st
0 wild and wh i rling words that sweep in gloom
D own to dark waves o f doom
,
,
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,
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,
I
t
O
E
x
i
[
.
C HORU S
0
well and sagely was i t said
Yea wise o f hea rt was he who fi rst
G ave fo rth in speech the though t he nu rsed
,
ln
Mi n e o w n
o r der se e
M o re w ed
Let not the humble heart aspi re
T o the gross home of weal t h and pri de
N or be i t to a h earth alli ed
That vaunts of many a noble si r e
.
O Fates of awf ul
,
e m pe r y
l
N ever may I by Zeus be wooed
N ever gi ve o er my maidenhood
T o any g o d that dwells on h igh
’
.
A shudder to m y soul i s sen t
Beholding I o s d oom fo r lo m
By H era s malice put t o scorn
R oaming i n mateless ban ishment
,
’
’
,
.
20
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
8
O nce on th i s rock he speedily shall learn
H o w far th e fall fro m power to slave ry
,
C HO RU S
Beware
!
thy wish d ot h challenge Zeu s h i msel f
.
P ROM ET H E U S
I voice my wi sh and i ts fulfil m ent too
.
C HORU S
Wh at , da r e we look for one to c on q uer Zeus ?
P RO M ET H E U S
—Zeus sh all wea r more pai nful bonds than m ine
Ay
C HORU S
D a re st
th o u speak such ta u nts and t remble not
PROM ETHEU S
Why should
I
fear wh o am imm o rtal too
,
C HORU S
Ye t h e might do o m thee to w o rse agony
PROM ET H E U S
O u t on h i s doom ing ! I forekn ow i t all
C HORU S
Yet do th e wi se reve r e N ecessi ty
.
.
.
?
.
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
—do r
20 9
P ROM ET H E U S
verence cringe and cro uch t o p o wer
Whene er where er th o u see i t ! B u t fo r me
I reck o f Z e us as s o me t h ing l e ss than n o u g ht
Let h im pu t fo rth h i s power attest h is sway
H o we er he wi ll —a m o mentary show
A l ittle brief a u th o rit y i n heaven
Aha I see o ut y o nder o ne wh o c o mes
A bidden c o urier tru ckli n g at Z e u s nod
A lac q u e y in h is new l o rd s l iver y
Surely on some fantasti c errand sped
[E n ter H E R M E S
H E R M ES
Ay,
ay
e
’
,
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’
,
Thou double dyed i n gall o f bi tterness
Tri ckster an d sinner again st g o ds by giving
The st o len fire to peri shable men !
Attend —the S ire supreme d o th bid thee tel l
What i s the wedl o ck wh ich th o u va u n t e st n o w
Whereby he falleth fr o m supremacy
Speak fo rth th e wh o le make all thin e u tteran ce clear
H ave d o ne with w o rds i nscrutable nor cause
TO m e P r o metheus any further t o i l
O r tw o fo ld j o u rneyi ng G O t o —thou se est
Zeus doth n o t s o ften at such w o rds as th ine
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P R OM ET H E U S
Pompous i n so o th thy word and sw o ln with pride
As doth b e fi t th e lacquey o f thy l o rds
h o w in your y o uthful s way,
0 ye y o ung g o ds
Ye deem secu re your citadels o f sky
Bey o nd the reach Of sorrow o r o f fall
Have I n o t se e n tw o d yn asties o f g o ds
,
,
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,
,
P R O M ET H E U S B O U N D
210
Already flung therefr o m ? and soon shall see
A th ird t hat now i n tyranny e x ul t s
S hamed ru ined i n an h o ur
What sayest thou
Cr o uch I and tremble at these stri pling powers ?
Small homage unto s u ch from m e o r n o ne !
B etake thee h ence sweat back along thy road
Look for no answer from me get th ee gone
,
,
,
,
?
,
,
,
H E R M ES
Th ink —i t was such audaci ti es o f will
That d rove thee e rst to ancho rage i n woe
P RO M ET H E U S
—bu t mark th i s
m i ne he ri tage o f pai n
would n ot ba rt er fo r th y servi tude
Ay
I
.
H E RM ES
Be tt er fo rsoo t h be bond slave t o a crag
Than tru e-bo m herald unto Zeus t h e S i re
-
,
,
,
P ROM ET H E U S
Take th ine own coin
—taunts fo r a t
au
n ting slave
H E R M ES
Proud art thou i n thy circum stance methinks
,
PROM ET H E U S
P roud ? in s u ch pride then be my foemen set
And I t o see and o f such foes art thou !
—
H E RM ES
Wh at
bl
a m st
’
,
th ou me too for thy su fferi n g s
,
!
P R O M ET H E U S B O U N D
212
PR OM ETHEU S
As though I owed h im augh t and should repay
!
H E R M ES
Scornful thy word , as though
—
y
I
were a ch ild
P RO M ET H E U S
Child a
o r whatsoe er hath less of b rai n
Th o u deem ing th o u canst w ri ng my secret out !
N o mangling t o rture n o n o r sleight o f power
Th ere is by wh ich he shall compel my s peech
U ntil these shaming b o nds be l o osed from me
So le t h im fl ing h i s blaz ing levin bolt
Let h im wi th white and wi ng ed flakes o f snow
And rumbling ea rthquakes whelm and shake the
world
For n o ugh t of th i s shall bend me to reveal
The power ordained t o hurl h i m from hi s th rone
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
,
,
.
H E R M ES
Beth ink t h e e if such word s can mend thy l o t
PRO M ET H E U S
All have I long foreseen , and all resolved
.
H E R M ES
Perve rse of will constrain c o n strai n th y s o ul
T o th i nk more wi sely in the grasp of doom
,
PROM ET H E U S
T ru ce to vai n word s ! as wi sely wouldst th o u stri ve
To warn a s well ing wave imagi ne not
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
213
That ever I befo re th y l o rd s resolv e
Will shrink in w o mani sh terr o r an d entreat
As with s o ft suppl iance of female hands
The Power I sc o rn unt o the u tterance
T o l oo se me fro m th e chains that bind me here
A world s divi sion twixt that thought and me !
’
,
,
,
,
’
’
H E R M ES
S o I shall speak whate er I speak i n vain !
N o prayer can melt o r soft en thy resolv e ;
B ut as a c o lt new harn essed champs th e bit
Thou str i ve st and art resti ve t o the rein
B ut all to o feeble i s the stratagem
for kn o w
In wh ich th o u art s o confid e nt
That str o ng self-will i s weak and less than nought
B ethi nk thee now
In one more pr o ud than wi s e
I f these my w o rds th ou sh ou ldest disregard
What storm what might as o f a g reat th ird wave
Shall dash thy d o o m up o n t hee past escape
F irst sha l
l th e Si r e wi th thund e r and the flame
O f lightn ing r end the crags o f th is ravine
And i n the shattered mass o e r wh e lm thy fo rm
I mmured and mort iced in a clasping rock
Thence aft er age o n age of durance done
Back t o the dayligh t shalt th o u come and there
The eagle -h ound o f Zeus red raven ing fell
Wi th greed shall tatter piecemeal all thy flesh
TO shreds and ragged vestiges of fo rm
Yea an unbidden guest a day l o ng bane
That feeds , and fe eds yea he shall g o rge h is fill
O n blackened fragments from thy Vitals gnawed
L oo k fo r n o respite fro m that a gony
U ntil s o me o th e r deity be found
R eady to bear for thee th e brunt o f doom
’
,
,
,
-
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
—
-
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
P RO M ET H E U S B O U N D
214
Choosing to pass into the l a mpless world
O f H ades and th e m urky dep th s of h ell
H ereat advise thee ! tis n o feign ed th reat
Where o f I warn thee b u t a n o e r true tal e
The li ps of Zeu s kn o w nought o f lyi ng speech,
But wreak i n action a ll t hei r word s foretell
Therefore do thou look wari ly and deem
P rudence a better saviour th an se lf-will
.
’
,
’
-
,
.
.
,
.
C HORU S
M eseem s that H e rmes speaketh not am i ss
B idd ing t h ee lea ve th y wilfu lnes s an d seek
Th e war y walking o f a counse lled m ind
G ive heed t o e rr t hrough anger shames the wi se
,
.
PRO M ET H E U S
all I knew whate er h i s tongue
I n idle arro gance hath flung
Tis th e w o rld s way th e com mon lot
Foe tort ures foe and pi t ies n ot
Therefore I challenge h i m to dash
H i s bolt o n me hi s zigzag flas h
O f piercing rending flame
N ow be t he welkin stirred am ai n
With thunder-peal and hurri cane
And let the wild winds now di splace
From i ts fi rm poi se and rooted ba se
The stubborn earthly frame !
The raging sea wi t h s tormy surge
R ise u p and ravin a n d submerge
Each high sta r-trodden way !
M e let him l ift and dash t o glo o m
O f nether hell in wh irls o f doom
l
Al
,
’
,
.
’
’
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
P R O M ET H E U S B O U N D
216
Waru d an d foreknowi ng sh a ll ye go
Th rough your own fo lly trapped and ta en
I nto the net th e Fates ordain
The vast, i llim i table pain
i h tn i n
h
T
u n der a n d l
g
g
[
’
,
’
,
.
P ROM ET H E U S
H ark ! for no more i n empt y word
,
But i n sheer sooth th e world i s sti rred !
Th e massy ea rth doth heave and sway
And thr o thei r dark and secre t way
Th e c a ve m d thunde rs boom
See h ow they gleam ath wa rt the sky
Th e ligh t nings th ro ugh t h e glo o m
An d wh i rlwinds r o ll the dus t on high
And ri g ht and left t he storm -cl o uds leap
T o ba t t le i n t he sky e y deep
I n wildest u pro ar unconfined
An un ive rse o f warring wind
An d falling sky and h eaving sea
Are blen t in one ! on me o n me
N eare r and ever yet more near
Flaunting i ts pagean try o f fear
D ri ves down in m igh t i ts desti ned road
The tem pest of t he wrath of Go d !
0 holy Earth 0 m o ther mi ne !
0 Sky that b i dde s t speed along
Th y vault the common Ligh t divi ne
B e witness o f my wron g
T
h
e r o ch s a r e r en t w i th fi r e a n d e a r thq u a ke
[
a nd f a l
l bu ry i ng P RO M ET H E U S i n th e r u i n s
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
P r i n ted by R
.
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l
i n t h e En g i sh La n g u a g e
E P LG
by
C S
Se
FR A N I T U R N R A R A
.
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l
Lyr i c a lPo ems
an d
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i n th e En g i sh La n g u a g e
S e e c t e d a n d a r r a n e d, w th
LG VE S e c o n d S e r e s
by
C S
’ 3
2 Th e Tw o S e r e s , i n c o t h bo x 5 5 n e t
FR A N I T U R N E R PA R A
.
L yr i c Lo ve
Poet
W a lk
’
s
An
g d by M
a n d a rra n
.
e
Th e Ch i l dr e n
a rr a n
g
e
t
I n tr
y
du c ti
A n An h o l o g
.
’
.
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.
it e d b y W WATS ON
E g l i h Po e try
Ch
to
on
M ORR I S
.
n
s
.
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s
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Tr e a su r y o f
.
o se n
.
Ga r l a n d fr o m t h e b e st Poe t s
TM O E
C OV E N T Y
R PA
o te s ,
.
.
Ed
.
o ws RA Y
s
d by
Th e Ch i l dr e n
o
i
l
i
o t e s,
.
Th e Go l den Tr ea sur y o f t h e b e st S o n g s
l
a rr a n
.
S e l e c te d a n d
.
L y ri c a l
Po e t r
y S e l ec t ed a
nd
g d by F T P A L R A E
f th
B a lla d B o o k A S l ti
h i t B riti h
Th
B ll d E di d b y W I LL I
A LL I N H A
fr m th b t P t
dT
d
Th S o g B o o k \V d
d
M i i
d
g d by J H N HU LLA H
S l
Th
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t A dt
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d
d
g d by M A R L E N
S l
S l t d
Th e F i r y B o k t h b t P p l r F i ry S t r i
d
d
d
w by h A h
f J h H l if
G l m
B y S i H EN RY ATTW E LL
A B o k o f Go l de Th o g h t
f h O d
f h O k C w
K i gh
d
De d o f All Ti m
d All L
A B o o k o f Go ld
d
By h
G h d d
A h f Th H i f
R d lyff
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a rr a n
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o
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an t
cool
A Bo o k
% 2tl25
t
ro m
Wo rt hi es
of
a nd no w
measure
i
wr t t e n
Th e S un da y
A LE
C F
.
.
X
Bo o k o f
AN ER
D
Go l
den Tr e a su r
N
by th e
a n ew
y
Po e tr
u
S e l ec te d
.
H i
Th e
th o r o f
H i stori e
Old
e r of
R e dc l
yfl e
'
y
o
e ec te
Psa lt er
s
an
’
.
rra n g ed
by
it i o n w ith Bri
r
and a
C h ro n o
s
Bi g
l gi lly
an
e n
.
o
ca
a rr a n
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g
es
e
.
t
e
a rr a n
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n
s
OP
e
e fe
By F O U R FR IE NOS
e d.
B o o k f Pr a i e From th b t E g l i h Hy m
d
g d by h E A R L S EL R N E
d
S l
Th e
s
.
Psa l m
ote s o f th e
A
.
th e
G a h er e d f
.
Co n ti n u ed
.
BO
Wr i t e rs
.
.
La Lyr e Pr a n ca i se S e l e c t ed a n d a rr a n g ed w ith Not e s
G U S T AV E MA SSON
.
.
,
,
by
.
Tra n sl a t e d from
Th eo log l
a Ge r ma n i ca
S U S N N W I NK W ORT H
A A
Ba l
l
a den
G
.
W i th a
.
t1n d
Ro ma n z e n
B U C H HE I M
Deu t sc h e Lyr i k
Ly ica l Po e ms
.
by C H
Go l d n Tr
Th e
B a lla ds a n d Ro ma n c e s
e r ma n
P re fa ce
Se
.
l
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G e rma n
th e
A
L S
K I R G S IJ W
ry
f th e
R E
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by
.
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B t
es
g d by D
e
r
.
.
I
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r
n t ro duc t i o n
of
Essa ys
,
.
A
.
Aph o ri sms
'
Poe tr y
of
L
O D
an
d Co l o u r s
e
of
T
.
G DA R VM
.
S e l e c t i on s f ro m C o wp er
M rs OL
.
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.
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.
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Wi t h
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A L D Is
W RIG HT M A
.
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by
'
s
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W B EN H A M B
.
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en
S e l ec
.
t ed
.
.
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D W A RD
by I I
F
.
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of
Se l ec t e d a n d a rra n g ed
by
Hu g h C l o u g h
Wit h I n tro du c tion
by
Art h u r
Po e ms
.
.
der e d
i
r
.
RS
.
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.
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t ed wi th
,
,
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n
sh
F I TZG
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LD
.
,
.
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n to
I n tro duc t i o n
Ve r se
Astro n o me r - Po e t
o
f
.
Mi sc ella n les (i n c l u di n g Bu phr a n o r , Po l o ni u s ,
E
R
.
.
Ru bai yat o f Oma r
P i
.
r
C A M PB E L L
b y Re v
by J
Wo rk s o f T H Hu xl ey
a n d a r a n ed
g
.
of
it ed
a n d ed
Go od
.
B r o wn
E
.
S e l ec ti o n s fr o m t h e Po ems
'
W
Th o ma s Ca mpb e ll
.
y
.
of
Le t t e r s
of
By
.
.
.
LEW I S
er a r
.
H U XL EY
.
n
Lyr i ca l Po e ms
B ROW N a n d H
Poe ms
Lit
.
R
ys
o es a n d
an
.
G lo ssa r ia l I d x
Byr o n Chose n
o te s a n d
AR N
'
Es sa
s
e
es
M a t t h e w Ar n o l d
of
E
B t G rm
f th e
t
,
a n d Re fl e ct i o n s fr o m t h e
ec e
’
e
Chose n
.
l t d by H N I E T T A A
Ba c o n
N
B UCH H EI M
.
o
g d wi h N t
ec ted a n d a rr a n
LL D
,
S e l e ct e d Poe ms
'
l
J ose ph Addi so n
G R EE N M
Se
Se
.
by Dr
,
Gol de n Tre a sury
Th e
.
By
—
C
Dol
m
en Treasury S er i es
o n ti n u ed
.
ory o f the Chr i ti ans d M oo rs i n S p ain By
C M Y N G E A t h r f Th H i r f R d lyfl
S i r Th o mas Bro wne s Rel ig i o M ed i ci
L tt er t
Fri e d
d C h r i s tia
M ral s E d it d by W A G R EN HI LL
MD O
S i r T h o mas Brow e s Hy dri o taphia and the Garden o f
E d i t d by W A G R EEN HI LL M D O
Cyr
The P il g r im Prog re s from thi s W or ld t o t h at whi ch is
B y J HN B N A N
t C me
The Ad vent u res o f Robi ns on Cru s oe Ed it ed ft e r t h
O ri gi a l E d i i b y J W C A R M A
The S pee ch es and Tab le Talk o f th e
M ohammed
P
h e t Ch s d T ra slat d wit h I t r d cti
d N t s
The
St
s
O
.
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.
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n
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L
.
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.
.
ro
o en an
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n
n
o
o e
on a n
u
POO
by N L
Th e Cava li er a n d h i s Lad y S elec ti ons f o m th e W o rks f
h Fi rst D k
W ith I t r d ct ry
d D ch ss f N w cast l
E ssay b y E W A J m m A t h r f Gi Baby
The Hou se o f Ath ens b ei ng t h e Ag amemn o n l ati on
lu s
T ra slat d i t E gl i sh
B ea rers a n d Fu i es of B sc
.
TA
LBY
as s
,
LE.
r
.
t
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RD
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.
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nx s
o
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o
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e t c.
,
,
hf
The 8 n p l i an t Ma i de
Th e P e r s ians The S e ven ag a i n t
h l
Th
Th Pr me t h e
B nd f A
T ra slat d i t
E g l sh
by E D A M m m M
Tr l t ed fr m
Two Essays on Old Age and Pr i en dshi
f C ic r
t h I t r d c t i by S S
h La t
d
hg d
Tr n l t ed
Go ld en S ay i ng s o f Bpi ot e tu s
by ll m C
M A Li tt D
An E g li h
M arcu s Au re li s An to ni nu s to Hi m elf
f h W rks f M a c s A r l i s
By R
Dr G E R L
V rs i
H N
R N
H ad M ast r f C ha rt rh s
Th e Re p b li c o f Pla t o Tr n l t ed in t Eng l i h wi th
M A d D J VA G HA N M A
N t s by J L D
The Tri al
d Dea th o f S ocra tes
B i the E th yph r on
f Pla t
d Pha d
Ap l y C i
T ra s at d i t E gl i sh by
rse by
ve
E
,
D
.
r
A M ORS HE A D , l A
.
.
n
.
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e s,
n
verse
i
.
.
s
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o
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s a
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on o
t
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B
s
o
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D A LL,
o
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a vr ss ,
L.
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F J
.
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.
Ph aedru s
,
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a n
an
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A
D
o u e.
s
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.
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a rr
.
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an
o o
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.
,
n u c xn u n a n
.
a
.
o
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.
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u
e
n o
,
n
HU RC H
.
Ly si
s and
Pr o t a g o n
s
of
P la to
A Ne w
it ra l T ra sla t by J W R I G H
R ende r ed int o Eng l i h
Th eo or i t u s B i on and M o sch u s
a nd
L
,
e
.
n
,
,
io n ,
.
T
.
.
s
.
A
.
CO
. .
Lr n
.
,
L OND ON
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Roll :Qh,Thou Deep and Dark Blue Ocean

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World

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Marksheet collection of BE Sem 4,5,6 winter 2012 and 8th sem Summer 2013

Aquauno Video 2 Plus

Lallegro, IL Penseroso and Lycidas Ivith Life of iilton, Introduction

the Monroe Doctrine

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Romeo + Juliet - 1996Romeo + Juliet

http://przyrbwn.icm.edu.pl/APP/PDF/101/A101Z307.pdf

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PART VIII THE DISEASES OF THE SKELETAL MUSCLES

AldrichJames1972

section five - Government of New Brunswick