Agamemnon

Aeschylus

Aeschylus, Volume 2. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1926.

  1. and with her virgin voice would lovingly honor her dear father’s prayer for blessing at the third libation[*](At the end of a banquet, libations were offered 1. to Zeus and Hera, or to the Olympian gods in general, 2. to the Heroes, 3. to Zeus, the Saviour; then came the paean, or song, after which the symposium began.)—
Chorus
  1. What happened next I did not see and do not tell. The art of Calchas was not unfulfilled.
  2. Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. But the future, that you shall know when it occurs; till then, leave it be—it is just as someone weeping ahead of time. Clear it will come, together with the light of dawn. Enter Clytaemestra
  3. But as for what shall follow, may the issue be happy, even as she wishes, our sole guardian here, the bulwark of the Apian land, who stands nearest to our lord.
Chorus
  1. I have come, Clytaemestra, in obedience to your royal authority; for it is fitting to do homage to the consort of a sovereign prince
  2. when her husband’s throne is empty. Now whether the news you have heard is good or ill, and you do make sacrifice with hopes that herald gladness, I wish to hear; yet, if you would keep silence, I make no complaint.
Clytaemestra
  1. As herald of gladness, with the proverb,
  2. may Dawn be born from her mother Night! You shall hear joyful news surpassing all your hopes—the Argives have taken Priam’s town!
Chorus
  1. What have you said? The meaning of your words has escaped me, so incredible they seemed.
Clytaemestra
  1. I said that Troy is in the hands of the Achaeans. Is my meaning clear?
Chorus
  1. Joy steals over me, and it challenges my tears.
Clytaemestra
  1. Sure enough, for your eye betrays your loyal heart.
Chorus
  1. What then is the proof? Have you evidence of this?
Clytaemestra
  1. I have, indeed; unless some god has played me false.
Chorus
  1. Do you believe the persuasive visions of dreams?
Clytaemestra
  1. I would not heed the fancies of a slumbering brain.
Chorus
  1. But can it be some pleasing rumor that has fed your hopes?
Clytaemestra
  1. Truly you scorn my understanding as if it were a child’s.
Chorus
  1. But at what time was the city destroyed?
Clytaemestra
  1. In the night, I say, that has but now given birth to this day here.