Agamemnon

Aeschylus

Aeschylus. The poetical works of Robert Browning, Volume 13. Browning, Robert, translator; Berdoe, Edward, editor. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1889.

  1. Zeus, Zeus Perfecter, these my prayers perfect thou!
  2. Thy care be — yea — of things thou mayst make perfect!
CHOROS.
  1. Wherefore to me, this fear —
  2. Groundedly stationed here
  3. Fronting my heart, the portent-watcher — flits she?
  4. Wherefore should prophet-play
  5. The uncalled and unpaid lay,
  6. Nor — having spat forth fear, like bad dreams — sits she
  7. On the mind’s throne beloved — well-suasive Boldness?
  8. For time, since, by a throw of all the hands,
  9. The boat’s stern-cables touched the sands,
  10. Has past from youth to oldness, —
  11. When under Ilion rushed the ship-borne bands.
  1. And from my eyes I learn —
  2. Being myself my witness — their return.
  3. Yet, all the same, without a lyre, my soul,
  4. Itself its teacher too, chants from within
  5. Erinus’ dirge, not having now the whole
  6. Of Hope’s dear boldness: nor my inwards sin —
  7. The heart that’s rolled in whirls against the mind