Aeschylus
The Eumenides
[The Kindly Ones]
458 BC
[This translation, which has been prepared
by Ian Johnston of Malaspina University-College,
Nanaimo, BC, Canada, is in the public
domain
and may be used by anyone, in whole
or in
part, for any purpose, without permission
and without charge, provided the source
is
acknowledged. Last revised May 2003]
[For a short introductory lecture on the
Agamemnon and the Oresteia click here. For a summary of the legend of the House
of Atreus, the immediate mythological
background
to the play, click here. For links to the Agamemnon and the
Libation Bearers click on Oresteia page ]
For information about purchasing printed
copies of this text please consult
Prideaux Street Publishing
[Note that in the following text the numbers
in square brackets refer to the Greek
text]
Dramatis Personae
Priestess: prophetic priestess (the Pythia)
of Apollo at Delphi
Apollo: divine son of Zeus, god of
prophecy
Orestes: son of Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra,
brother of Electra
Clytaemnestra: mother of Orestes, appearing
as a ghost after her murder
Chorus: Furies, goddesses of blood
revenge
Athena: divine daughter of Zeus who
was born
fully grown from his head (without
a mother)
Athenian citizens
Scene: The play opens just in front of the
temple of Apollo at Delphi
[Enter the Pythia, the Priestess of Apollo]
PRIESTESS
In my
prayer,
I hold Earth in highest honour,
as the
first
of prophets among all gods.
Then,
after
her came Themis. That goddess,
so the
legend
goes, followed her mother
at this
seat
of prophecy. Third in line,
another
Titan,
Phoebe, child of Earth,
was
then assigned
to occupy this throne.
There
was
no force—Themis approved the change.
Phoebe then gave it as a birthday gift
to the god who takes his name from her,
10
Phoebus
Apollo.
He left the island Delos,
moving
from
his lake and ridge to Pallas,
[10]
to those
shores
where ships sail in to trade.
Then
he came
to live on Mount Parnassus.
A reverential
escort came with him—
children of the fire god, Hephaestus,
highway
builders
who tame the wilderness
and
civilize
the land. As he marched here,
people
came
out in droves to worship him,
including
their king and helmsman, Delphus.
20
Then
Zeus
inspired in him prophetic skills,
and
set him
on this throne as fourth in line.
Here
Apollo
speaks for Zeus, his father.
My prayers
begin with preludes to these gods.
[20]
My words also
give special prominence
to the
goddess
who stands outside the shrine,
Pallas
Athena.
I revere those nymphs
inhabiting
Corycia's rocky caves,
where
flocks
of birds delight to congregate,
where
holy
spirits roam. I don't forget
30
how Dionysus,
ruler of this land,
divine
commander
of those Bacchic women,
ripped
Pentheus
apart, as if he were
a cornered
rabbit. I also call upon
the
streams
of Pleistus and Poseidon's power,
and
Zeus most
high, who fulfills all things.
I'll
take
my seat now on the prophet's throne.
May
I be fortunate,
above the rest,
[30]
to see far
more than previous attempts.
If any
Greeks
are in attendance here,
40
let them draw
lots and enter, each in turn,
as is
our
custom. I will prophesy,
following
directions from the god.
[The Priestess enters the temple, only to
return immediately, very agitated.
She collapses
onto her hands and knees]
It's horrible!
Too
horrible
to say . . . awful to see.
It drives
me back . . . out of Apollo's shrine.
My strength
is gone . . . I can't stand up.
I have
to
crawl on hands and knees—my legs
just buckle under me . . . An old woman
overcome with fear is nothing, a child.
No more . . .
[The Priestess gathers herself together and
stands with great difficulty, holding
onto
the temple doors for support]
As I was entering the inner shrine—
50
the part covered
up with wreaths—I saw him,
[40]
right on the
central navel stone, a man
the
gods despise,
sitting there, in the seat
reserved
for
suppliants, hands dripping blood.
He'd
drawn
his sword, but held an olive branch.
It had
a tuft
of wool on top, a mark
of reverence—a
large one, really white.
I saw all that distinctly. But then I saw
in front of him something astonishing,
on the benches groups of women sleeping—
60
well,
they
weren't exactly women,
I'd
say more
like Gorgons—then again,
not much like Gorgons either. Years ago
I once saw a picture of some monsters
snatching a feast away from Phineas.
[50]
But the ones
inside here have no wings—
I checked. They're black and totally repulsive,
with
loud
rasping snorts that terrify me.
Disgusting
pus comes oozing from their eyes.
As for
their
clothing—quite inappropriate
70
to wear before
the statues of the gods,
or even
in
men's homes. I've never seen
a tribe
which
could produce this company,
a country
which would admit with pride
that
it had
raised them without paying a price,
without
regretting
all the pain they cost.
Where
does
this end? That is Apollo's work.
[60]
Let that be
his concern. His force is strong—
what he reveals has healing power.
He reads
the
omens and can purify
80
the
home,
his own and other men's.
[The scene changes to reveal the inside of
the temple, with Orestes clutching
the central
stone (the navel stone) and the Furies
asleep
in front of him. Apollo enters from
the back
of the temple (the inner shrine). Apollo
moves to stand near Orestes]
APOLLO
I'll
not leave
you—no, I'll stand beside you,
your protector till the end. Close at hand
or far away, I'll show no gentleness
towards your enemies. Right now you see
these frenzied creatures overcome with sleep,
just lying there, these loathsome maidens,
ancient children, hags. No god or man
[70]
or animal
has intercourse with them.
They're
born
for evil. That's why they live
90
within the
blackest gloom of Tartarus,
under
the
earth. Olympian gods and men
despise
them.
But you should still keep going.
Do not
give
up. They'll chase you everywhere,
as you
move
along well-traveled ground,
across
wide
continents, beyond the seas,
through
cities
with the ocean all around.
Don't
grow
weary brooding on your pain.
And
then,
once you reach Athena's city,
sit
down,
and wrap your arms around her,
100 [80]
embrace her
image. With people there
to judge
your
cause and with the force of speech,
the
spell-binding
power in words, we'll find
a way
to free
you from misfortune.
For
I was
the one who urged you on
to kill
your
mother.
ORESTES
My lord Apollo,
you
have no
knowledge how to be unjust.
That
being
the case, now learn compassion, too.
Your
power
to do good is strong enough.
APOLLO
Remember
this—don't
let fear defeat you
110
by conquering
your spirit. And you, Hermes,
[90]
my own blood
brother from a common father,
protect
this
man. Live up to that name of yours,
and
be his
guide. Since he's my suppliant,
lead
him as
if you were his shepherd—
remember Zeus respects an outcast's rights—
with you to show the way, he'll get better,
and
quickly
come among men once again.
[Exit Orestes. Apollo moves back into the
inner sanctuary. Enter the Ghost of
Clytaemnestra]
GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA [addressing the sleeping chorus]
Ah, you may be fast asleep, but now
what use is sleeping? On account of you,
120
I alone among the dead lack honour.
The ghosts of those I killed revile me—
they never stop. I wander in disgrace.
They charge me with the most horrific crimes.
But I, too, suffered cruelty from those
[100]
most dear to me. And yet, although I died
at the hands of one who killed his mother,
no spirit is enraged on my behalf.
Look here—you see these slashes on my heart?
How did they get there? While it's asleep
130
the mind can see, but in the light of day
we have no vision of men's destiny.
You've licked up many of my offerings,
soothing milk and honey without wine.
I've given many sacrificial gifts
with fire in my hearth at solemn banquets,
in that night hour no god will ever share.
I see all that being trampled underfoot.
[110]
He's gone, eluded you—just like a fawn,
he's jumped the centre of your nets with
ease.
140
He mocks your efforts as he moves away.
Listen to me. I'm speaking of my soul.
So rouse yourselves! Wake up, you goddesses
from underground. While you dream on I call—
now Clytaemnestra summons you!
[The members of the Chorus begin to make
strange sounds and to mutter in their
sleep]
You may well moan—the man's escaped. He's
gone.
[120]
He's flown a long way off. The friends he
has
are stronger than my own. You sleep on there
so heavily, no sense of my distress.
Orestes, the man who killed his mother,
150
has run off! You mutter, but keep sleeping.
On your feet!. Why won't you get up? What
work
has fate assigned you if not causing pain?
Sleep and hard work, two apt confederates,
have made these fearsome dragons impotent,
draining all their rage.
CHORUS MEMBER [muttering in her sleep]
Seize him!
Seize him! Seize him! Seize that man! Look
out!
[130]
GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA
You hunt your prey, but only in your dreams,
whimpering like hounds who never lose
their keenness for the hunt. But you don't
act!
160
Get up! Don't let exhaustion beat you down.
Sleep makes you soft—you overlook my pain.
Let my reproaches justly prick your hearts,
a spur for those who act with righteousness.
Blow your blood-filled breath all over him.
Let those fires in your bodies shrivel him.
Go on! Drive him to a fresh pursuit. Go!
[The Furies begin to wake up slowly, one
after the other. As they start to get
up,
the Ghost of Clytaemnestra exits]
CHORUS LEADER [waking up and rousing the other Furies]
Wake up! Come on, I'll wake you up.
[140]
Now do the same for her. Still sleeping?
Stand up. Wipe that sleep out of your eyes.
170
Let's chant our prelude—that should take
effect.
[The Furies, now awake, gather as a group,
moving around trying to find Orestes
or smell
his track. They speak these lines as
individual
members of the larger group]
-Ah ha, what this? Dear sisters, something's
wrong.
-I've been through a lot, and all for nothing.
-We're being made to suffer something bad,
alas, an evil we cannot endure.
-Our quarry's slipped our nets. He's gone!
Once sleep came over us, we lost our prey.
-You're disgraceful, Hermes, a child of Zeus
who loves to steal.
-For a god you're young—
[150]
but still you trample on more ancient spirits.
180
-You showed that suppliant respect,
a godless man, so vicious to his parent.
-You may be a god, but you're a thief.
You filched a man who killed his mother.
-Who can say there's justice in such theft?
-In my dreams shame struck—
it came on like a charioteer
who gripped his cruel whip so tight,
then hit under my heart,
deep in my gut.
190
-I feel the executioner's scourge,
[160]
the one who wields a heavy lash,
weighed down with pain.
-Younger gods are doing this—
they push their ruling power
beyond what's theirs by right.
Their throne drips blood
around its foot,
around its head.
-I see Earth's central navel stone
200
defiled with blood, corrupted,
stained with guilt.
-The prophet soils the hearth,
pollutes the shrine himself,
[170]
acting on his own behalf.
against divine tradition,
he honours human things.
-He sets aside decrees of fate
established long ago.
-Though he inflict his pain on me,
210
he'll never free that man.
Let him flee underground,
he'll find no liberty below.
-As he seeks to cleanse himself
he'll meet the next avenger—
a family member coming for his head.
[Enter Apollo from the inner part of the
shrine]
APOLLO
Get out! I'm ordering you to leave this house.
Move on! Out of my prophet's sanctuary!
[180]
Go now, or else you'll feel my arrows bite,
glittering winged snakes shot from a golden
string.
220
Then, your agonies will make you choke,
spit out black froth you suck from men,
and vomit up the clotted blood you've drunk
from murder. This shrine's no place for you.
No, you belong where heads are sliced away,
eyes gouged out—where justice equals slaughter—
where youthful men are ruined by castration,
where others suffer mutilation, stoning,
where men impaled on spikes below the spine
scream all the time. That's the feast you
love.
230 [190]
You hear me? And that's why gods detest you.
The way you look, your shape, says what you
are—
some blood-soaked lion's den might be your
home.
You must not infect those near this temple
with your pollution. So leave this place,
you flock without a shepherd, you herd
the gods despise.
CHORUS LEADER
Lord Apollo,
listen to what we say. It's our turn to speak.
You're no mere accomplice in this crime—
you did it all yourself. You bear the guilt.
240 [200]
APOLLO
What does that mean? Go on. Keep talking.
CHORUS LEADER
You told that stranger to kill his mother.
APOLLO
To avenge his father is what I said.
What's wrong with that?
CHORUS LEADER
Then you supported him.
You helped a man who'd just committed murder.
APOLLO
And I instructed him to come back here
to expiate his crime.
CHORUS LEADER
Then why insult us,
the ones who chased him here?
APOLLO
It's not right
for you to come inside my shrine.
CHORUS LEADER
We've been assigned to do this.
APOLLO
Assigned?
250
What's that? Proclaim your fine authority.
CHORUS LEADER
We chase out of their homes those criminals
[210]
who slaughter their own mothers.
APOLLO
What about a wife who kills her husband?
CHORUS LEADER
That's not blood murder in the family.
APOLLO
What?
What about Zeus and his queen Hera—
your actions bring disgrace on them.
You ignore the strongest bonds between them.
Your claim dishonours Aphrodite, too,
goddess of love, from whom all men derive
260
their greatest joys. With man and woman
a marriage sealed by fate is stronger
than any oath, and justice guards it.
Now, if one partner kills the other one,
and you're not interested in punishment,
[220]
if you feel no urge to act, then I say
the way you chase Orestes is unjust.
I don't see why in one case you're so harsh
when you don't really care about the other.
However, goddess Athena will take charge—
270
she'll organize a trial.
CHORUS LEADER
But that fugitive—
he'll never be free of me, never.
APOLLO
Then go after him. Bring yourself more trouble.
CHORUS LEADER
Don't try to curb my powers with your words.
APOLLO
Your powers? Those I wouldn't take,
not even as a gift.
CHORUS LEADER
Of course not.
You're already great, by all accounts—
right by Zeus' throne. But for my part,
since I'm called onward by a mother's blood,
[230]
I'll chase this man with justice of my own.
280
I scent the trail!
APOLLO
I'll help my suppliant
and bring him safely home. With gods and
men
the anger of a man who seeks redemption
will be dreadful, if, of my own free will,
I abandon him.
[Apollo exits into the inner shrine. The
scene now changes to Athens, just outside
the Temple of Athena. Orestes enters
and
move up to the large statue of Athena]
ORESTES
Queen
Athena,
I've come here on Apollo's orders.
I beg your kindness. Please let me enter,
a man accursed, an outcast. I don't seek
ritual purification—my hands are clean—
but my avenging zeal has lost its edge,
290
worn down, blunted by other people's homes,
by all well-beaten pathways known to men.
I've stayed true to what Apollo told me
at his oracle. Crossing land and sea,
[240]
I've reached this statue by your shrine at
last.
Here I take up my position, goddess.
I await the outcome of my trial.
[Enter the Furies, like hunting dogs, still
tracking Orestes by his scent. They
do not
see him at first]
CHORUS LEADER
Ah ha! Here we have that man's clear scent,
a silent witness, but firm evidence.
After him! Like hounds chasing a wounded
fawn, 300
we track him by the drops of blood he sheds.
Man-killing work—the effort wearies me.
My lungs are bursting. We've roamed everywhere,
exploring all the regions of the earth,
crossing seas in wingless flight, moving
on
[250]
faster than any ship, always in pursuit.
Now he's cornered here, cowering somewhere.
I smell human blood—I could laugh for joy!
Start looking for him! Seek him out again!
Check everywhere. Don't let him escape.
310
That man killed his mother—he must pay!
[The Chorus of Furies catch sight of Orestes
and crowd around him]
CHORUS [different individuals]
-He's over there! Claiming sanctuary,
at that statue of the eternal goddess,
embracing it. He must want a trial,
a judgment on his murderous violence.
[260]
-Impossible! A mother's blood, once shed,
soaks in the earth and can't come back again—
the flowing stream moves through the ground,
then disappears forever.
-No. You must pay me back.
I'll suck your blood.
320
Drinking your living bones sustains me—
I feed upon your pain.
-Though it wears me out, I'll drag you down,
still living, to the world below. And there
you'll pay for murdering your mother.
-You'll see there other human criminals
who've failed to honour gods and strangers,
[270]
who've abused the parents they should love.
They all receive the justice they deserve.
-Hades, mighty god of all the dead,
330
judges mortal men below the ground.
His perceptive mind records all things.
ORESTES
My misery
has been my teacher—
I know that
men are cleansed in many ways,
that
sometimes
it's appropriate to speak,
sometimes
to stay silent. And in this case
a wise
master
has ordered me to speak.
Blood
on my
hands is dormant now, fading—
[280]
polluting
stains from my mother's murder
have
been
washed away. When they were fresh,
340
Apollo
in
his temple cleansed my guilt—
slaughtering pigs to make me pure again.
It's
a long
story to describe for you,
right
from
the start, all the men I've seen,
ones
I've
stayed with, then left unharmed.
Time
destroys
all things which age with time.
Now,
with
full reverence and holy speech,
I invoke
Athena,
this country' s queen.
I beg
her
help. Let her appear unarmed.
She'll
win
true allies in me, my land,
350
[290]
the Argive
people. We'll trust her forever.
No matter
where she is—in Libya,
in some region by the springs of Triton,
her birthplace, with her covered feet at
rest
or on the move, assisting those she loves,
or whether, like some bold commander
in the Phelegraean plain, battle site
of gods and giants, she surveys the field—
I pray she'll come, for she's a goddess
and
hears
me, even though she's far away.
360
May she come
here. May she deliver me.
CHORUS LEADER
But
Apollo's
power will not save you—
nor will Athena's. You're slated to die
[300]
abandoned
and alone, without a sense
of heartfelt
joy, a bloodless criminal
sucked
dry
by demons, just a shade—no more.
[Orestes makes no answer]
What? You
ignore my words and won't reply,
you,
a victim
fattened up for me,
my consecrated
gift? You'll not perish
on any
altar—no,
I'll eat you alive.
370
[Orestes continues to remain silent]
All right
then, hear our song, a spell to chain
you.
CHORUS
Come,
let's
link our arms and dance—
Furies determined to display
our
fearful
art, to demonstrate
collective
power we possess
[310]
to guide all
mortals' lives.
We claim we
represent true justice.
Our
anger
never works against
a man
whose
hands are clean—
all his life he stays unharmed.
380
But those
men guilty of some crime,
as this
one
is, who hide away,
concealing
blood-stained hands—
we harass them as testament
to those
they've
murdered.
Blood
avengers,
always in pursuit,
we chase
them
to the end.
[320]
Hear me, Mother
Night,
mother
who
gave birth to me
so I
could
avenge
390
the living
and the dead.
Leto's
child,
Apollo,
dishonours
me—he tears
that man out of my hands,
the hare who cowers there,
who by rights must expiate
his mother's blood.
Let this frenzied song of ours
fall upon our victim's head,
our sacrifice—our frenzy
400
driving him
to madness—
obliterate his mind.
[330]
This is our
Furies' chant
It chains
up the soul,
destroys
its
harmony,
and
withers
mortal men.
Remorseless
Fate gave us this work
to carry
on
forever, a destiny
spun
out for
us alone,
to attach
ourselves to those
410
who,
overcome
with passion,
slaughter
blood relatives.
We chase
after
them until the end,
until
they
go beneath the ground.
In death
they
find small freedom.
[340]
Let this frenzied
song of ours
fall
upon
our victim's head,
our
sacrifice—our
frenzy
driving him to madness—
obliterate his mind.
420
This is our
Furies' chant.
It chains
up the soul,
destroys
its
harmony,
and
withers
mortal men.
These rights
are ours from birth—
even the immortal gods
[350]
may not lay
hands on us.
We share
no
feasts with them,
no fellowship—their
pure white robes
are no part of our destiny.
430
The task I take upon myself is mine,
to overthrow whole families,
when strife inside the home
kills someone near and dear.
We chase that murderer down,
the one who's spilled fresh blood.
For all his strength, we wear him down.
That's why
we're now here,
eager
to contest
the charge,
to challenge
other gods,
440 [360]
to make sure
none of them
ends
up controlling
what is ours.
There
will
be no trial—
for Zeus despises us,
considers
us unworthy,
refusing
to
converse with us
because
we
deal in blood.
The task I
take upon myself is mine,
to overthrow
whole families,
when
strife
inside the home
450
kills someone
near and dear.
We chase
that
murderer down,
the
one who's
spilled fresh blood.
For
all his
strength, we wear him down.
Those proud
opinions people have,
who
raise
themselves so high,
who
puff themselves
to heaven,
will
melt
away, dissolving
in dishonour
underground,
when
we, in
our black robes,
460
beat out our
vengeful dance—
[370]
when we launch
our attack.
Leaping from
the heights,
we pound
them
with our feet—
our force trips up the runner
as he
sprints
for home,
a fate
he
cannot bear.
His mind is
so confused
he does
not
sense his fall.
Dark
clouds
of his defilement
470
hover all
around the man.
Murky
shadows
fall,
enveloping
his home—
and Rumour spreads
a tale
of
sorrow.
[380]
Leaping from
the heights,
we pound
them
with our feet—
our force trips up the runner
as he
sprints
for home,
a fate
he
cannot bear.
480
So things
remain.
We have
our
skills—
our powers we fulfill,
keeping
human
evil in our minds.
Our
awesome
powers
cannot
be
appeased by men.
Dishonoured
and despised,
we see
our
work gets done.
Split
off
from gods,
with
no light
from the sun,
490
we make
the
path more arduous
for
those
who still can see
and
for the
blind.
What man is
not in awe
or stands
there unafraid
[390]
to hear
me
state my rights,
those
powers
allowed by Fate
and
ratified
by all the gods,
mine
to hold
forever?
Those old
prerogatives
500
I still
retain—they're
mine.
I have my honour, too,
though my appointed place
is underneath the ground
in sunless darkness.
[Enter Athena]
ATHENA
I heard
someone
summon me from far away.
I was
in Troy,
by the Scamander's banks,
taking
ownership
of new property,
a gift
from
ruling leaders of Achaea,
a major
part
of what their spears had won,
510 [400]
assigned to
me entirely and forever,
a splendid
gift for Theseus' sons.
I've
come
from there at my untiring pace,
not
flying
on wings, but on this whirling cape,
a chariot
yoked to horses in their prime.
Here
I see
an unfamiliar crowd,
strangers
to this place, nothing I fear,
but
astonishing
to see. Who are you?
I'm
talking
to all those assembled here—
the
stranger
crouching there beside my statue,
520
and those
of you like no one ever born,
[410]
creatures
no god has seen in goddesses,
in form
a
thing unknown to mortal men.
But
to say
such things about one's neighbour
who's
done
no wrong is far from just
and
contravenes
our customs.
CHORUS LEADER
Daughter of Zeus,
you'll
find
out everything—and briefly, too.
We are
immortal
children of the Night.
Below
ground,
where we have our homes,
we're
called
the Curses.
ATHENA
Now I know your race
530
I know what
people call you.
CHORUS LEADER
But our powers—
these
you'll
quickly ascertain as well.
ATHENA
Those
I'd
like to learn. Please state them clearly.
[420]
CHORUS LEADER
We hound
out
of their homes all those who kill.
ATHENA
Once
the killer
flees, where does he finally go?
CHORUS LEADER
Where
no one
thinks of joy, for there is none.
ATHENA
Your
screams
would drive this man to such a flight?
CHORUS LEADER
Yes—he
thought
it right to kill his mother.
ATHENA
Why?
Was he
forced to do it? Did he fear
another
person's
anger?
CHORUS LEADER
Where's the urge
540
so strong
to force a man to kill his mother?
ATHENA
There
are
two sides to this dispute. I've heard
only
one half
the argument.
CHORUS LEADER
What about the oath?
He won't
deny
he did it or accept
the
guilt
we charge him with.
ATHENA
Where do you stand?
You
wish to
be considered righteous,
[430]
but not to
act with justice.
CHORUS LEADER
How? Teach me.
You
clearly
have a mind for subtleties.
ATHENA
I assert
that
no one should use oaths
to let
injustice
triumph.
CHORUS LEADER
Question him.
550
Then make
a righteous judgment.
ATHENA
Are you prepared
that
I should
be the one to do this,
to produce
a final verdict?
CHORUS LEADER
Why not?
We respect
your worth, as you do ours.
ATHENA
Stranger,
do you have anything to say
by way
of
a response? State your country,
lineage,
and
circumstance. And then,
defend
yourself
against their accusations,
if you
really
trust the justice of your case,
as you
sit
here clinging to my statue,
560
a sacred suppliant
beside my hearth,
[440]
doing what
Ixion did so long ago.
Speak
to me.
Address all this directly.
ORESTES
Queen
Athena,
your last words express
important
doubts which I must first remove.
I'm
not a
suppliant in need of cleansing.
Nor
have I
fallen at your statue's feet
with
my hands
defiled. On these two points
I'll
offer
weighty proof. Our laws assert
a criminal
polluted with blood guilt
570
will be denied
all speech until he's cleansed
by someone
authorized to purify
a man
for
murder, who sprinkles him
with
suckling
victim's blood. Some time ago,
[450]
in homes of
other men, I underwent
such
purification
rites with slaughtered beasts,
at flowing
streams, as well. So, as I say,
there
are
no grounds for your misgivings here.
As for
my
family, you'll know that soon enough—
I'm
an Argive,
son of Agamemnon.
580
You may well
ask his story—he's the man
who
put that
naval force together.
You
worked
with him to see that Ilion,
Troy's
city,
ceased to be. When he came home,
he died
in
a disgraceful way, butchered
by my
mother,
whose black heart snagged him
[460]
in devious
hunting nets—these still exist,
attesting
to that slaughter in his bath.
I was
in exile
at the time. I came back.
I killed
my
mother—that I don't deny—
590
to avenge
the murder of my father,
whom
I truly
loved. For this murder
Apollo
bears
responsibility,
along
with
me. He urged me to it,
pointing
out
the cruel reprisals I would face
if I
failed
to act against the murderers.
Was
what I
did a righteous act or not?
That
you must
decide. I'll be satisfied,
no matter
how you render judgment.
ATHENA
This
is a
serious matter, too complex
600
[470]
for any mortal
man to think of judging.
It's
not right
even for me to adjudicate
such
cases,
where murder done in passion
merits
passionate
swift punishment.
Above
all,
you come here a suppliant
who's
gone
through all cleansing rituals,
who's
pure
and hence no danger to my shrine.
You
thus have
my respect, for in my view,
where
my city
is concerned, you're innocent.
But
these
Furies also have their function.
610
That's something
we just cannot set aside.
So if
they
fail to triumph in this case,
they'll
spread
their poisonous resentment—
it will seep underground, infecting us,
bring perpetual disease upon our land,
something we can't bear. So stands the case.
[480]
Two options,
each of them disastrous.
Allow
one
to remain, expel the other?
No,
I see
no way of resolving this.
But
since
the judgment now devolves on me,
620
I'll appoint
human judges of this murder,
a tribunal
bound by oath—I'll set it up
to last forever. So you two parties,
summon your witnesses, set out your proofs,
with sworn evidence to back your stories.
Once I've picked the finest men in Athens,
I'll return. They'll rule fairly in this
case,
bound by a sworn oath to act with justice.
[Exit Athena]
CHORUS
If his
legal
action triumphs,
[490]
if now this
matricide prevails,
630
then newly
set divine decrees
will
overthrow
all order.
Mortals
will
at once believe
that
everything's
permitted.
From
now on
parents can expect
repeated
blows
of suffering
inflicted
by their children—
now and in time yet to come.
For Furies
who keep watch on men
will
bring
no anger down
640 [500]
on human crimes—so
then
we loose death everywhere,
all forms of killing known to man.
So one, seeing
his neighbour's pain,
will ask another, "Where's this end?
When does our suffering diminish?"
But the poor wretch can offer nothing—
his remedies are vain, without effect.
So when a
terrible disaster strikes
let
no one
make the old appeal,
650 [510]
"Justice,
you Furies—hear me,
you powers on your thrones!"
It may well happen soon—
a father in despair, a mother
in some new catastrophe,
may scream out for pity,
now the house of justice falls.
Sometimes
what's terrible can work
to bring
about
what's good.
Such
terror
needs to sit on guard,
660
to check the
passionate heart.
There
is a
benefit for men
[520]
to learn control
through suffering.
For
where
is there a man or city—
both alike in this regard—
who still respects what's just
without a heart attuned to fear?
It's not right
that men revere
a life
without
controls
or one
enslaved
by tyrants.
670
Those who
practise moderation
in everything
they do
acquire
strength
from god,
[530]
though he
hands down
his
other
gifts in other ways.
Our words
stress self-control,
for
arrogance,
we know,
is surely
born from sacrilege.
From
a healthy
heart and mind
comes
the
happiness men love,
680
the joy they
ask for in their prayers.
To sum up
everything about this case,
I'll
tell
you this—Justice has an altar.
Give
that
full human reverence.
Don't
trample
it profanely underfoot
[540]
because self-interest
sees advantages.
Remember
punishment
will come—
that
outcome's
fixed and permanent.
So each
of
you, above all else,
should
honour
parents,
690
pay them the
deference you owe,
respect
all
guests and strangers
you
welcome
in your home.
For happiness
will never fail
[550]
the man who
follows justice,
freely
and
without constraint.
He'll
never
be destroyed.
But
the reckless
man who goes too far,
who
piles
up riches for himself
in any
way
he can and disregards
700
all justice—I
tell you this—
in time
he'll
have to strike his sail,
as storming
torments break his ship,
as his
yardarm
shatters.
He screams
for help.
But
no one
listens.
In the
middle
of the seas
he fights—but
all in vain.
Whirlpools
suck him down,
while
heaven
roars with laughter
710 [560]
at the sight
of this hot-tempered man
who
used to
boast with pride
he'd
never
come to grief
now
helpless,
panic stricken,
unable
to
ride out the waves.
He always
lived for wealth—
now
that,
too, smashes on the reef,
the
rock of
Justice—he drowns,
unseen
and
unlamented.
[The scene shifts to the Areopagus, the high
court of Athens. Athena enters with
a herald
and ten citizens, the jury she has
selected.
A crowd of citizens enters with her.
Orestes
moves to the place where the accused
stands]
ATHENA
Herald,
blow
the call for order in this court.
720
Raise that
Etruscan trumpet, fill your lungs,
let
these
people hear an ear-piercing blast.
As they
crowd
into this court of judgment
[570]
it's better
to have silence. The whole city
can
listen
to my laws, which are eternal.
So can
these
litigants. Then all will see
the
justice
in our verdict for themselves.
[Enter Apollo. He moves to stand behind Orestes]
Lord Apollo,
you have your own domain.
What's
your
role here? Announce that to us.
APOLLO
I've
come
here as a witness. That man,
730
the
accused,
according to our customs,
came
a suppliant
to my shrine, my hearth.
I purified
him of the blood he spilled.
As his
advocate,
I share the blame
arising
from
his mother's murder.
[580]
Start the
trial. You understand procedure.
Confirm
that
with a just decision.
ATHENA [addressing the Furies]
Then I'll
begin the trial. You speak up first.
The
plaintiff
opens our proceedings.
Tell
us the
facts. Begin at the beginning—
740
inform
us
clearly of the issues here.
CHORUS LEADER
There
are
many of us, but we'll keep
our
speeches
brief.
[Turning to interrogate Orestes]
Answer our questions,
as we
put
them one by one. First, tell us—
did
you kill
your mother?
ORESTES
Yes, I killed her.
I don't
deny
the fact.
CHORUS LEADER
We take first fall.
Three
falls
wins the match.
ORESTES
You gloat,
[590]
but your opponent
isn't pinned down yet.
CHORUS LEADER
Now
you must
describe the murder for us.
How
did you
kill her?
ORESTES
I'll tell you— 750
I drew my
sword and slit her throat.
CHORUS LEADER
Who
persuaded
you to do this? Whose advice?
ORESTES
The
orders
of this god. He is my witness.
CHORUS LEADER
The
prophet
ordered you to kill your mother?
ORESTES
He did.
And
to this moment I have no regrets.
CHORUS LEADER
But
if the
verdict lays its hands on you,
you'll
change
your story soon enough.
ORESTES
I'm
confident.
My father from his grave
will
send
the help I need.
CHORUS LEADER
So you trust the dead,
and
yet you
killed your mother?
760
ORESTES
I do,
for
she was guilty of two crimes.
[600]
CHORUS LEADER
How
so? Inform
the judges on this point.
ORESTES
She
killed
her husband and my father.
CHORUS LEADER
But
her death
evens out the score for her.
You're
still
living.
ORESTES
When she was still alive
you
didn't
hound her into exile. Why?
CHORUS LEADER
She
and her
victim shared no common blood.
ORESTES
And
my mother
and me? Are we blood linked?
CHORUS LEADER
How
else could
she sustain you in her womb,
you
murderer?
Do you now reject
770
the closest
bond there is, a mother's blood?
ORESTES [turning to Apollo]
You must give
evidence, Apollo.
[610]
Take the lead
for me. Did I kill her justly?
For
I don't
deny I did the murder.
But
whether
that act of shedding blood
was
just or
not, as you perceive the facts,
you
must decide,
so I can tell the court.
APOLLO
Let
me address
this high court of Athena.
Tribunal
members,
what I have to say
will
proceed
from justice. I'm a prophet.
780
I cannot tell
a lie. And never yet,
when
I've
been seated in my oracle,
have
I said
anything in prophecy
concerning
woman, man, or city state,
that
Olympian
father Zeus did not command.
Make
sure
you understand how powerful
his
justice
is. That's why I urge you now—
[620]
obey the will
of Zeus, our father.
No oath
has
greater strength than Zeus.
CHORUS LEADER
Then,
Zeus,
according to your reasoning,
790
told your
oracle to give the order—
Orestes
must
avenge his father's death,
ignoring
any
rights his mother had.
APOLLO
Yes.
For these
two things are not the same—
he died
a
noble man, a special king
who
bears
a sceptre given by the gods,
an honoured
king who dies by murder,
and
at a woman's
hand, not in a fight
where
arrows
fly in from a distance,
as with
the
Amazons, but in a way
800
which we'll
describe for you, Athena,
and
those
here ready to decide this case
when
you cast
your votes. He'd just come home,
[630]
returning
from a long and harsh campaign,
where
in the
eyes of loyal citizens
he'd
won success
beyond all expectation.
She
welcomed
him. Then, he took his bath.
As he
stepped
out—still on the outer rim—
she
threw
the cloak, his shroud, around him,
just
like
a tent. She caught him in those robes,
810
whose endless
folds enclosed him like a net.
Then
she hacked
him down. I'm telling you,
that's
how
the splendid leader of the ships
went
to his
death. As for that woman,
I speak
of
her to rouse a sense of shame
in those
men
chosen here to judge this case.
CHORUS
So your
claim
is Zeus thinks a father's death
[640]
is more significant?
But on his own
he chained
up his old father, Cronos.
Does
that
not contradict what you've just said?
820
I ask you
judges to take note of this.
APOLLO
You
monsters—how
all the gods detest you!
Zeus
has power
to smash those chains apart.
For
that he
has a remedy, many ways
to set
us
free. But once a mortal's blood
has
drained
into the dust, the man is dead.
And
then there's
no return. My father Zeus
has
made no
charms for that, though he can change
[650]
all other
things without a pause for breath.
CHORUS LEADER
You
plead
to set him free. But think of this—
830
will this
man, who shed his mother's blood,
who
spilled
it on the ground, return back home,
to live
in
Argos in his father's house?
Where
are
the public altars he can use,
the
family
cleansing rites he can attend?
APOLLO
I'll
speak
to that, as well. Make sure you note
how
right
my answer is. That word mother—
we give
it
to the one who bears the child.
However,
she's
no parent, just a nurse
to that
new
life embedded in her.
840
The parent
is the one who plants the seed,
the
father.
Like a stranger for a stranger,
[660]
she preserves
the growing life, unless
god
injures
it. And I can offer proof
for
what I
say—a man can have a child
without
a
mother. Here's our witness,
here—Athena,
child of Olympian Zeus.
[Apollo points to Athena]
No dark womb
nursed her—no goddess bears
a child
with
ancestry like hers. Athena,
since
I know
so many other things,
850
I'll make
your city and your people great.
That's
why
I sent this man a suppliant
to your
own
shrine, so he might prove himself,
then
place
eternal trust in you, dear goddess,
[670]
and you could win a new ally in him,
in his
descendants,
too, and thus create
an everlasting
bond with his posterity.
ATHENA
Has
each side
said enough? Shall I now
instruct
the
judges to cast their votes,
acting
on
their judgment of what's just? 860
CHORUS LEADER
Though
we've
already shot our final arrow,
we'll
stay
to hear this contest to the end.
ATHENA
Why
not? Now,
as for you defendants,
what
can I
do to avoid your censure?
APOLLO
You
have heard
what you have heard.
[To jurors]
My friends,
as you
cast
your ballots, make sure your hearts
[680]
respect that oath you made.
ATHENA
You
citizens
of Athens, you judges
at the
first
trial ever held for murder,
hear
what
I decree. Now and forever 870
this court of judges will be set up here
to serve
Aegeus'
people. This place,
this
Mount
of Ares, is where Amazons,
once
marched
in force, enraged at Theseus.
Here
they
pitched their tents. Then they built
a new
city
on the heights, with lofty walls
to match
his
own, making a sacrifice
to Ares,
god
of war, from whom this rock
derives
its
name, the Mount of Ares.
[690]
From this hill Reverence and Terror,
880
two
kindred
rulers of my citizens,
will
guarantee
they don't commit injustice,
by day
or
night, unless the citizens
pollute
the
laws with evil innovations.
Once
limpid
waters are stained with mud,
you'll
never
find a drink. My people,
avoid
both
anarchy and tyranny.
I urge
you
to uphold this principle.
Show
it due
reverence. As for terror,
don't
banish
it completely from the city. 890
What
mortal
man is truly righteous
without
being
afraid? Those who sense the fear
[700]
revere what's right. With citizens like these
your
country
and your city will be safe,
stronger
than
anything possessed by men
in Pelops'
country or in Scythia.
So here
I
now establish this tribunal,
incorruptible,
magnificent,
swift
in punishment—it
stands above you,
your
country's
guardian as you lie asleep.
900
I've gone through this at length to urge
you on,
my citizens,
today and in the future.
But
now you
must get up, cast your ballots,
decide
this
case, while honouring your oath.
[710]
I'm finished—that's all I have to say.
[The members of the tribunal begin to step
forward and cast their votes into the
urns]
CHORUS LEADER
Watch
out.
Don't ever show us disrespect.
For
our united
power can crush your land.
APOLLO
Let
me remind
you—fear the oracles,
not
just mine,
but those of Zeus the Father.
Don't
make
them barren.
CHORUS LEADER [to Apollo]
You
interfere
910
in blood work that's not your proper business.
Your
oracles
remain no longer pure.
APOLLO
When
the first
man-killer Ixion
went
a suppliant
to Zeus for cleansing,
was
Zeus wrong
to treat him as he did?
CHORUS LEADER
Argue
all
you want. But in this judgment
if I
don't
prevail, I'll be back again [720]
to bring this country to its knees.
APOLLO
Among
all
gods, old and new alike,
you
have no
honour. I will triumph here.
920
CHORUS LEADER
Just
as you
triumphed in the house of Pheres,
persuading
Fate to free all men from death.
APOLLO
Surely
it's
right to help a worshipper,
especially
when his need is desperate?
CHORUS LEADER
You
made those
ancient goddesses, the Fates,
drunk
on wine,
then got them to suspend
the
oldest
rule of order we possess.
APOLLO
Well,
you'll
soon lose this case. Then you can spew
your
poison
and not hurt your enemies.
[730]
CHORUS
You're
young.
You'd ride roughshod over me
930
because I'm old. I'll await the verdict,
see
where
this trial ends. I have my doubts
about
my anger
at this city.
ATHENA
It's
now my
task to give my final verdict.
And
I award
my ballot to Orestes.
No mother
gave me birth—that's why
in everything
but marriage I support
the
man with
all my heart, a true child
of my
father
Zeus. Thus, that woman's death
I won't
consider
more significant.
940
She killed her husband, guardian of their
home.
[740]
If the votes are equal, Orestes wins.
Now,
members
of the jury, do your job.
Shake
the
ballots from the urns—and quickly.
[The urns are emptied and the ballots counted]
ORESTES
O
Phoebus
Apollo, how did they vote?
CHORUS
O
black
mother Night, are you watching this?
ORESTES
Now
for
the result. Either I hang
or live
on
to see the light of day.
CHORUS
Either
we're finished or our honour thrives.
APOLLO
Shake
out all ballots, friends. Count them
fairly.
950
Divide them with due care. Make no mistakes.
Errors
in
judgment now can mean disaster.
[750]
A single ballot cast can save this house.
[The ballots are shown to Athena]
ATHENA
The
numbers
of the votes are equal—thus,
this
man's
acquitted of the murder charge.
ORESTES
O Pallas
Athena,
you've saved my house.
I'd
lost my
homeland—now you give it back,
and
anyone
in Greece can say, "This man
is once
again
an Argive, occupying
his
father's
property, thanks to Pallas,
960
thanks to
Apollo, and thanks to Zeus,
third
god
and all-fulfilling saviour."
[760]
Faced with these pleaders for my mother's
cause,
Zeus
chose
to honour my father's death.
Now
I'll go
home. But first I make this oath
to your
land
and people for all time to come—
never
will
an Argive leader march in here
with
spears
arrayed against you. If he does,
in violation
of this oath of mine,
from
the grave
we'll see his effort fails.
970
We'll bring him bad luck, trouble on the
march,
[770]
send birds of evil omen over him.
He'll
regret
the pains his campaign brings him.
But
all those
who keep this oath, who honour
for
all time
Athena's city, allies
who
fight
on its behalf, such citizens
we'll
treat
with greater favour and good will.
And
so farewell
to you, Athena,
farewell
to
those who guard your city.
In struggles
with your enemies, I hope
980
you
catch
them in a stranglehold, win out,
and
gain the
spear denoting victory.
[Apollo and Orestes leave. The Furies move
to surround Athena]
CHORUS
You
younger
gods, you've wrenched our ancient laws
out
of my
grasp, then stamped them underfoot.
You
heap on
us dishonourable contempt.
[780]
Now my anger turns against this land
I'll
spread my poisons—how it's going to
pay,
when
I release
this venom in my heart
to ease
my
grief. I'll saturate this ground.
It won't
survive.
From it disease will grow,
990
infecting leaves and children—that's justice.
Sterility
will spread across the land,
contaminate
the soil, destroy mankind.
What
can I
do now but scream out in pain?
The
citizens
make fun of us, the Furies.
[790]
How
can we
put up with such indignity,
daughters
of Night disgracefully abused,
dishonoured,
shamed, our powers cast aside?
ATHENA
Let
me persuade
you not to spurn this trial.
You've
not
been beaten—the votes were fair,
1000
the numbers equal, no disgrace to you.
But
we received
clear evidence from Zeus.
The
one
who spoke the oracle declared
Orestes
should
not suffer for his act.
So don't
be
vengeful, breathing anger
[800]
on this land and drenching it with showers,
whose
drops,
like spears, will kill the seeds,
and
blast
its fruitfulness. I promise you
in all
righteousness
you'll have your place,
a subterranean
cavern, yours by right.
1010
Beside the
hearth you'll sit on glittering thrones,
worshipped
with reverence by my citizens.
CHORUS
You
younger
gods, you've wrenched our ancient laws
out
of my
grasp, then stamped them underfoot.
You
heap on
us dishonourable contempt.
[810]
Now my anger
turns against this land
I'll
spread
my poisons—how it's going to pay,
when
I release
this venom in my heart
to ease
my
grief. I'll saturate this ground.
It won't
survive.
From it disease will grow,
1020
infecting
leaves and children—that's justice.
Sterility
will spread across the land,
contaminate
the soil, destroy mankind.
What
can I
do now but scream out in pain?
The
citizens
make fun of us, the Furies.
How
can we
put up with such indignity,
[820]
daughters
of Night disgracefully abused,
shamed,
dishonoured,
our powers cast aside?
ATHENA
But
you've
not lost honour—you're goddesses.
Don't
let
your anger lead you to excess,
1030
to blast this
land of men past remedy.
I have
faith
in Zeus. Why must I mention that?
Well,
I'm
the only god who knows the keys
to Zeus'
arsenal
where he keeps sealed
his
lightning
bolt. But there's no need for that.
Accept
my
argument. Don't let rash tongues
[830]
hurl threats
against this land, condemning it
to sterile
fruitlessness. Ease your anger.
Let
your fury's
black and bitter waves recede.
You
can live
with me, receive full honours.
1040
The first
fruits of this fertile land are yours,
forever,
all
those offerings for heirs,
for
marriages—from
now on they're yours.
With
all this,
you'll praise what I'm advising.
CHORUS
Such
suffering
for me.
My ancient
wisdom
driven
underground,
despised,
dishonoured.
The
shame,
my shame.
This
pure
rage I breathe
1050 [840]
consumes
me
utterly.
What
sinks
under my ribs
and
pains
my heart?
O Night, my
mother,
the
cunning
of those gods,
too
hard to
overcome,
takes
all
my ancient powers,
and
leaves
me nothing.
ATHENA
I'll
bear
with your rage, for you are older,
and
thus your
wisdom far exceeds my own.
1060
But Zeus gave
me a fine intelligence as well.
[850]
So let me
tell you this—if you leave here,
for
this land
you'll feel a lover's yearning.
As time
goes
on, my citizens will win
increasing
honour, and you, on your thrones,
seated
outside
the house of Erechtheus,
a place
of
honour, will win more respect
from
lines
of men and women filing past
than
you could
find in all the world beyond.
So cast
no
stones for bloodshed on this land,
1070
my realm.
Do not corrupt our youthful hearts,
intoxicating
them with rage, like wine,
[860]
or rip the
heart out of a fighting cock
to set
it
in my people, giving them
a thirst
for
reckless internecine war.
Let
them fight
wars abroad, without restraint
in those
men
driven by a lust for fame.
I want
no
birds who fight their wars at home.
That's
what
I offer you. It's yours to take.
Do good
things,
receive good things in honour.
1080
Take your
place in a land the gods all love.
CHORUS
Such
suffering
for me—
[870]
my ancient
wisdom
driven
underground,
despised,
dishonoured.
The
shame,
my shame.
This
pure
rage I breathe
consumes
me
utterly.
What
sinks
under my ribs
and
pains
my heart?
1090
O Night, my
mother,
the
cunning
of those gods,
too
hard to
overcome,
takes
all
my ancient powers,
and
leaves
me nothing.
[880]
.ATHENA
I'll
not tire
of telling you your gifts,
so you
can
never lodge complaints that I,
a newer
god,
or men who guard this land
failed
to
revere such ancient goddesses
and
cast you
out in exile from our city.
1100
No. But if
you respect Persuasion,
holding
in
reverence that sacred power
whose
soothing
spell sits on my tongue,
then
you should
stay. If that's not your wish,
it would
be
unjust to vent your anger
on this
city,
injuring its people,
enraged
at
them from spite. It's up to you—
take
your
allotted portion of this land,
[890]
justly entitled
to your share of honour.
CHORUS LEADER
Queen
Athena,
this place you say is ours,
1110
what exactly
is it?
ATHENA
One
free of pain,
without
anxieties.
Why not accept?
CHORUS LEADER
If I
do, what
honours would I get?
ATHENA
Without
you
no house can thrive.
CHORUS LEADER
You'd
do this?
You'd grant me that much power?
ATHENA
I will.
Together
we'll enrich the lives
of all
who
worship us.
CHORUS LEADER
This
promise you make—
you'll
hold
to it forever?
ATHENA
Yes.
I don't
say anything I don't fulfill.
1120
CHORUS LEADER
Your
magic's
doing its work, it seems— [900]
I feel my
rage diminish.
ATHENA
Then
stay.
In this
land
you'll win more friends.
CHORUS LEADER
Let
me speak
out a blessing on the land.
Tell
me what
I might say.
ATHENA
Speak nothing
of
brutal
victories—only blessings
stemming
from the earth, the ocean depths,
the
heavens.
Let gusting winds caress the land
in
glorious
sunlight, our herds and harvests
overflow
with plenty, so they never fail 1130
our citizens
in time to come, whose seed
will
last forever. Let their prosperity
[910]
match
how well they worship you. I love
these
righteous men, the way a gardener loves
his
growing
plants, this race now free of grief.
These
things are yours to give. For my part,
I'll
see this city wins triumphal fame
in
deadly
wars where men seek glory,
so
all
men celebrate victorious Athens.
CHORUS
Then
we'll accept this home
1140
and live
here with Athena.
We'll
never harm a place
which
she and Ares
and
all-powerful
Zeus
hold
as a fortress of the gods,
this
glorious altar, the shield
for
all
the gods of Greece.
[920]
I make
this prayer for Athens,
prophesying
fine things for her—
bounteous
happy harvests
1150
bursting
from the earth,
beneath
a radiant sun.
ATHENA
To
all
my citizens I'll act with kindness,
setting
in place these goddesses among them—
powerful
divinities, implacable—
whose
office is to guide all mortals' lives
[930]
in everything
they do. If there's a man
who's
never felt their weight, he's ignorant
of where
life's
blows arise. His father's crimes
drag
him before
these goddesses, and there,
1160
for all his
boasting, his destruction comes—
dread
silent
anger crushing him to dust.
CHORUS
Hear
me speak
my blessing—
let
no winds
destroy the trees
nor
scorching
desert heat move in
[940]
to shrivel
budding plants,
no festering
blight kill off the fruit.
May
Pan foster
fertility
and
make the
flocks increase,
to every
ewe
twin lambs,
1170
all born in
season, and in Athens
may
the earth
be rich in treasure,
paying
fine
gifts to Hermes,
god
of unexpected
luck.
ATHENA
Do you
hear
that, you guardians of my city?
The
blessings
they will bring? They're powerful,
the
sacred
Furies, among immortal gods,
[950]
among the
dead below. With mortal men
it's
clear
they work their wills decisively,
for
some a
life of song, for others lives of tears.
1180
CHORUS
I forbid
those
deadly accidents
which
cut
men down before their time.
And
all you
gods with rightful powers,
let
our lovely
girls all live
[960]
to find
a
husband. Hear our prayers,
you
sacred
Fates, our sisters,
you
children
of the Night,
who
apportion
all things justly,
who
have a
place in every home,
whose
righteous
visitations
1190
at all times
carry weight, everywhere
most
honoured
of the gods.
ATHENA
I rejoice
to hear these love-filled blessings
conferred
upon this land. It pleases me
[970]
Persuasion
kept watch on my tongue and lips,
when
I met
their fierce refusal. But Zeus,
the
patron
god of our assemblies,
has
triumphed.
Our struggle here for justice
has
left us
victorious forever.
CHORUS
I pray
man-killing
civil strife
1200
may never
roar aloud
within
the
city—may its dust
[980]
not drink
our citizen's dark blood,
nor
passions
for revenge incite
those
wars
which kill the state.
Let
men give
joy for joy,
united
by
their common love,
united
in
their enmities—
for
that cures
all human ills.
ATHENA
You
see now
how these Furies seek their way
1210
with
well
intentioned words? I can predict
these
terrifying
faces will provide
[990]
my citizens
all sorts of benefits.
So treat
them
kindly, just as they are kind.
Worship
them
forever. Then you'll keep
your
land
and city on the path of justice,
in everything
you do attaining glory.
CHORUS
Rejoice,
rejoice
amid
the riches
you deserve
rejoice,
you
citizens,
1220
who
dwell
with Zeus,
who
love that
virgin girl,
Athena—and
she loves you.
You
manifest
your wisdom
[1000]
at the
proper
time, nestling
underneath
Athena's wings,
while
Zeus
looks on in awe.
[Enter a group citizens to lead Athena's
procession, some bearing unlit torches,
some
robes, and some leading animals for
sacrifice]
ATHENA
And
you too
rejoice. I must lead the way,
show
you to
your rooms, by sacred torchlight
carried
by
your escort. Now you can go—
1230
move
with
speed under the earth, and there
with
sacred
sacrificial blood hold down
what
would
destroy my land and send above
what
brings
prosperity, so that our city
may
prove
victorious. And now you citizens,
you children of Cranaus, king of this rock,
[1010]
lead our new
residents for life away.
May
all citizens
look on with favour
at those
who
bring such favours to them.
CHORUS
Farewell,
once more farewell,
1240
all
those
who live in Athens,
gods
and men,
inhabitants
of Pallas'
city. Pay us respect,
while
we live
here among you—
you'll
have
cause to celebrate
the
fortunes
of your lives.
[1020]
ATHENA
My thanks
to you for these words of blessing.
Now
I'll send
you down by blazing torchlight
to your
homes
beneath the earth, with this escort
of those
duty-bound
to guard my statue.
1250
That
seems
right. For the most precious part
of all
the
land of Theseus will come out,
a splendid
throng of girls and mothers,
groups
of
older women.
[From the processional company some women
bearing scarlet robes move forward
to place
the robes on the Furies. Athena speaks
directly
to them]
Invest these Furies
with
their
special crimson robes. Honour them.
Then,
move
on with the torches, so this group,
[1030]
our fellow
residents, can show the love
they
bear
this land, and for all time to come
bring
our
city strength and great good fortune.
[The women dress the Furies in the scarlet
robes and sing the final song of joy
and
thanks, as the entire procession of
Athena,
Furies, and citizens moves off stage]
THE WOMEN OF ATHENS
Move
on with
your loyal escort,
1260
you
mighty
children of the Night,
children
without
children, no longer young,
yet
glorious
in your honours.
You
citizens,
nothing but blessings in your songs.
Deep in those
primeval caverns
far
underground,
our sacrifices,
the
sacred
honours we bestow on you
will
maintain
our city's reverence.
All
of you,
nothing but blessings in your songs.
Come forward,
sacred goddesses,
1270 [1040]
benevolent
and gracious to our land,
come
forward
with the flaming torches,
rejoicing
as we move along our way.
Now
raise
triumphal cries to crown our song!
Peace now
reigns forevermore
between
Athena's
people and their guests.
For
all-seeing
Zeus and Fate herself
have
worked
together for this ending.
Now
raise
triumphal cries to crown our song!
[The entire group moves off singing and dancing]
|
Evans Experientialism 
