Agamemnon
Aeschylus
Aeschylus. The poetical works of Robert Browning, Volume 13. Browning, Robert, translator; Berdoe, Edward, editor. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1889.
- But ancient Arrogance delights to generate
- Arrogance, young and strong mid mortals’ sorrow,
- Or now, or then, when comes the appointed morrow.
- And she bears young Satiety;
- And, fiend with whom nor fight nor war can be,
- Unholy Daring — twin black Curses
- Within the household, children like their nurses.
- But Justice shines in smoke-grimed habitations,
- And honours the well-omened life;
- While, — gold-besprinkled stations
- Where the hands’ filth is rife,
- With backward-turning eyes
- Leaving, — to holy seats she hies,
- Not worshipping the power of wealth
- Stamped with applause by stealth:
- And to its end directs each thing begun.
- Approach then, my monarch, of Troia the sacker, of Atreus the son!
- How ought I address thee, how ought I revere thee, — nor yet overhitting
- Nor yet underbending the grace that is fitting?
- Many of mortals hasten to honour the seeming-to-be —