About this book

The Agamemnon of Aeschylus

Aeschylus

And was cherished and grew strong; Now by a River of Wailing, by shores of Pain, Soon shall I make my song. LEADER. How sayst thou? All too clear, This ill word thou hast laid upon thy mouth! A babe could read thee plain. It stabs within me like a serpent’s tooth, The bitter thrilling music of her pain: I marvel as I hear. CASSANDRA. Alas for the toil, the toil of a City, worn unto death! Alas for my father’s worship before the citadel, The flocks that bled and the tumult of their breath! But no help from them came To save Troy Towers from falling as they fell!… And I on the earth shall writhe, my heart aflame. SECOND ELDER. Dark upon dark, new ominous words of ill! Sure there hath swept on thee some Evil Thing, Crushing, which makes thee bleed And in the torment of thy vision sing These plaining death-fraught oracles … Yet still, still, Their end I cannot read! CASSANDRA. [_By an effort she regains mastery of herself, and speaks directly to the Leader_.] ’Fore God, mine oracle shall no more hide With veils his visage, like a new-wed bride! A shining wind out of this dark shall blow, Piercing the dawn, growing as great waves grow, To burst in the heart of sunrise … stronger far Than this poor pain of mine. I will not mar With mists my wisdom. Be near me as I go, Tracking the evil things of long ago, And bear me witness. For this roof, there clings Music about it, like a choir which sings One-voiced, but not well-sounding, for not good The words are. Drunken, drunken, and with blood, To make them dare the more, a revelling rout Is in the rooms, which no man shall cast out, Of sister Furies. And they weave to song, Haunting the House, its first blind deed of wrong, Spurning in turn that King’s bed desecrate, Defiled, which paid a brother’s sin with hate…. Hath it missed or struck, mine arrow? Am I a poor Dreamer, that begs and babbles at the door? Give first thine oath in witness, that I know Of this great dome the sins wrought long ago. ELDER. And how should oath of mine, though bravely sworn, Appease thee? Yet I marvel that one born Far over seas, of alien speech, should fall So apt, as though she had lived here and seen all. CASSANDRA. The Seer Apollo made me too to see. ELDER (_in a low voice_). Was the God’s heart pierced with desire for thee? CASSANDRA. Time was, I held it shame hereof to speak. ELDER. Ah, shame is for the mighty, not the weak. CASSANDRA. We wrestled, and his breath to me was sweet. ELDER. Ye came to the getting of children, as is meet? CASSANDRA. I swore to Loxias, and I swore a lie. ELDER. Already thine the gift of prophecy? CASSANDRA. Already I showed my people all their path. ELDER. And Loxias did not smite thee in his wrath? CASSANDRA. After that sin … no man believed me more. ELDER. Nay, then, to us thy wisdom seemeth sure. CASSANDRA. Oh, oh! Agony, agony! Again the awful pains of prophecy Are on me, maddening as they fall…. Ye see them there … beating against the wall? So young … like shapes that gather in a dream … Slain by a hand they loved. Children they seem, Murdered … and in their hands they bear baked meat: I think it is themselves. Yea, flesh; I see it; And inward parts…. Oh, what a horrible load To carry! And their father drank their blood. From these, I warn ye, vengeance broodeth still, A lion’s rage, which goes not forth to kill But lurketh in his lair, watching the high Hall of my war-gone master … Master? Aye; Mine, mine! The yoke is nailed about my neck…. Oh, lord of ships and trampler on the wreck Of Ilion, knows he not this she-wolf’s tongue, Which licks and fawns, and laughs with ear up-sprung, To bite in the end like secret death?—And can The woman? Slay a strong and armèd man? … What fangèd reptile like to her doth creep? Some serpent amphisbene, some Skylla, deep Housed in the rock, where sailors shriek and die, Mother of Hell blood-raging, which doth cry On her own flesh war, war without alloy … God! And she shouted in his face her joy, Like men in battle when the foe doth break. And feigns thanksgiving for his safety’s sake! What if no man believe me? ’Tis all one. The thing which must be shall be; aye, and soon Thou too shalt sorrow for these things, and here Standing confess me all too true a seer. LEADER. The Thyestean feast of children slain I understood, and tremble. Aye, my brain Reels at these visions, beyond guesswork true. But after, though I heard, I had lost the clue. CASSANDRA. Man, thou shalt look on Agamemnon dead. LEADER. Peace, Mouth of Evil! Be those words unsaid! CASSANDRA. No god of peace hath watch upon that hour. LEADER. If it must come. Forefend it, Heavenly Power! CASSANDRA. They do not think of prayer; they think of death. LEADER. They? Say, what man this foul deed compasseth? CASSANDRA. Alas, thou art indeed fallen far astray! LEADER. How could such deed be done? I see no way. CASSANDRA. Yet know I not the Greek tongue all too well? LEADER. Greek are the Delphic dooms, but hard to spell. CASSANDRA. Ah! Ah! There! What a strange fire! It moves … It comes at me. O Wolf Apollo, mercy! O agony! … Why lies she with a wolf, this lioness lone, Two-handed, when the royal lion is gone? God, she will kill me! Like to them that brew Poison, I see her mingle for me too A separate vial in her wrath, and swear, Whetting her blade for him, that I must share His death … because, because he hath dragged me here! Oh, why these mockers at my throat? This gear Of wreathèd bands, this staff of prophecy? I mean to kill you first, before I die. Begone! [_She tears off her prophetic habiliments; and presently throws them on the ground, and stamps on them._] Down to perdition! … Lie ye so? So I requite you! Now make rich in woe Some other Bird of Evil, me no more! [_Coming to herself._] Ah, see! It is Apollo’s self, hath tore His crown from me! Who watched me long ago In this same prophet’s robe, by friend, by foe, All with one voice, all blinded, mocked to scorn: “A thing of dreams,” “a beggar-maid outworn,” Poor, starving and reviled, I endured all; And now the Seer, who called me till my call Was perfect, leads me to this last dismay…. ’Tis not the altar-stone where men did slay My father; ’tis a block, a block with gore Yet hot, that waits me, of one slain before. Yet not of God unheeded shall we lie. There cometh after, one who lifteth high The downfallen; a branch where blossometh A sire’s avenging and a mother’s death. Exiled and wandering, from this land outcast, One day He shall return, and set the last Crown on these sins that have his house downtrod. For, lo, there is a great oath sworn of God, His father’s upturned face shall guide him home. Why should I grieve? Why pity these men’s doom? I who have seen the City of Ilion Pass as she passed; and they who cast her down Have thus their end, as God gives judgement sure…. I go to drink my cup. I will endure To die. O Gates, Death-Gates, all hail to you! Only, pray God the blow be stricken true! Pray God, unagonized, with blood that flows Quick unto friendly death, these eyes may close! LEADER. O full of sorrows, full of wisdom great, Woman, thy speech is a long anguish; yet, Knowing thy doom, why walkst thou with clear eyes, Like some god-blinded beast, to sacrifice? CASSANDRA. There is no escape, friends; only vain delay. LEADER. Is not the later still the sweeter day? CASSANDRA. The day is come. Small profit now to fly. LEADER. Through all thy griefs, Woman, thy heart is high. CASSANDRA. Alas! None that is happy hears that praise. LEADER. Are not the brave dead blest in after days? CASSANDRA. O Father! O my brethren brave, I come! [_She moves towards the House, but recoils shuddering._] LEADER. What frights thee? What is that thou startest from? CASSANDRA. Ah, faugh! Faugh! LEADER. What turns thee in that blind Horror? Unless some loathing of the mind … CASSANDRA. Death drifting from the doors, and blood like rain! LEADER. ’Tis but the dumb beasts at the altar slain. CASSANDRA. And vapours from a charnel-house … See there! LEADER. ’Tis Tyrian incense clouding in the air. CASSANDRA (_recovering herself again_). So be it!—I will go, in yonder room To weep mine own and Agamemnon’s doom. May death be all! Strangers, I am no bird That pipeth trembling at a thicket stirred By the empty wind. Bear witness on that day When woman for this woman’s life shall pay, And man for man ill-mated low shall lie: I ask this boon, as being about to die. LEADER. Alas, I pity thee thy mystic fate! CASSANDRA. One word, one dirge-song would I utter yet O’er mine own corpse. To this last shining Sun I pray that, when the Avenger’s work is done, His enemies may remember this thing too, This little thing, the woman slave they slew! O world of men, farewell! A painted show Is all thy glory; and when life is low The touch of a wet sponge out-blotteth all. Oh, sadder this than any proud man’s fall! [_She goes into the House._] CHORUS. Great Fortune is an hungry thing, And filleth no heart anywhere, Though men with fingers menacing Point at the great house, none will dare, When Fortune knocks, to bar the door Proclaiming: “Come thou here no more!” Lo, to this man the Gods have given Great Ilion in the dust to tread And home return, emblazed of heaven; If it is writ, he too shall go Through blood for blood spilt long ago; If he too, dying for the dead, Should crown the deaths of alien years, What mortal afar off, who hears, Shall boast him Fortune’s Child, and led Above the eternal tide of tears? [_A sudden Cry from within._] VOICE. Ho! Treason in the house! I am wounded: slain. LEADER. Hush! In the castle! ’Twas a cry Of some man wounded mortally. VOICE. Ah God, another! I am stricken again. LEADER. I think the deed is done. It was the King Who groaned…. Stand close, and think if anything…. [_The Old Men gather together under the shock, and debate confusedly._] ELDER B. I give you straight my judgement. Summon all The citizens to rescue. Sound a call! ELDER C. No, no! Burst in at once without a word! In, and convict them by their dripping sword! ELDER D. Yes; that or something like it. Quick, I say, Be doing! ’Tis a time for no delay. ELDER E. We have time to think. This opening … They have planned Some scheme to make enslavement of the land. ELDER F. Yes, while we linger here! They take no thought Of lingering, and their sword-arm sleepeth not! ELDER G. I have no counsel. I can speak not. Oh, Let him give counsel who can strike a blow! ELDER H. I say as this man says. I have no trust In words to raise a dead man from the dust. ELDER I. How mean you? Drag out our poor lives, and stand Cowering to these defilers of the land? ELDER J. Nay, ’tis too much! Better to strive and die! Death is an easier doom than slavery. ELDER K. We heard a sound of groaning, nothing plain, How know we—are we seers?—that one is slain? ELDER L. Oh, let us find the truth out, ere we grow Thus passionate! To surmise is not to know. LEADER. Break in, then! ’Tis the counsel ye all bring, And learn for sure, how is it with the King. [_They cluster up towards the Palace Door, as though to force an entrance, when the great Door swings open, revealing_ CLYTEMNESTRA, _who stands, axe in hand, over the dead bodies of_ AGAMEMNON _and_ CASSANDRA. _The body of_ AGAMEMNON _is wrapped in a rich crimson web. There is blood on_ CLYTEMNESTRA’S _brow, and she speaks in wild triumph._] CLYTEMNESTRA. Oh, lies enough and more have I this day Spoken, which now I shame not to unsay. How should a woman work, to the utter end, Hate on a damnèd hater, feigned a friend;