andromache-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
my friends and I should have control of his； for friends； if they be
really friends； keep nothing to themselves； but have all in common。 So
if I wait for the absent instead of making the best arrangement I
can at once of my affairs； I show weakness； not wisdom。 Arise then；
leave the goddess's shrine； for by thy death this child escapeth
his； whereas； if thou refuse to die； I will slay him； for one of you
twain must perish。
ANDROMACHE
Ah me！ 'tis a bitter lot thou art offering about my life；
whether I take it or not I am equally unfortunate。 Attend to me；
thou who for a trifling cause art committing an awful crime。 Why art
thou bent on slaying me？ What reason hast thou？ What city have I
betrayed？ Which of thy children was ever slain by me？ What house
have I fired？ I was forced to be my master's concubine； and spite of
that wilt thou slay me； not him who is to blame； passing by the
cause and hurrying to the inevitable result？ Ah me！ my sorrows！ Woe
for my hapless country！ How cruel my fate！ Why had I to be a mother
too and take upon me a double load of suffering？ Yet why do I mourn
the past； and o'er the present never shed a tear or compute its
griefs？ I that saw Hector butchered and dragged behind the chariot；
and Ilium； piteous sight！ one sheet of flame； while I was baled away
by the hair of my head to the Argive ships in slavery； and on my
arrival in Phthia was given to Hector's murderer as his mistress。 What
pleasure then has life for me？ Whither am I to turn my gaze？ to the
present or the past？ My babe alone was left me； the light of my
life； and him these ministers of death would slay。 No！ they shall not；
if my poor life can save him； for if he be saved； hope in him lives
on； while to me 'twere shame to refuse to die for my son。 Lo！ here I
leave the altar and give myself into your hands； to cut or stab； to
bind or hang。 Ah！ my child； to Hades now thy mother passes to save thy
dear life。 Yet if thou escape thy doom； remember me； my sufferings and
my death； and tell thy father how I fared； with fond caress and
streaming eye and arms thrown round his neck。 Ah！ yes； his children
are to every man as his own soul； and whoso sneers at this through
inexperience； though he suffers less anguish； yet tastes the bitter in
his cup of bliss。
LEADER
Thy tale with pity fills me； for every man alike； stranger
though he be； feels pity for another's distress。 Menelaus； 'tis thy
duty to reconcile thy daughter and this captive； giving her a
respite from sorrow。
MENELAUS
Ho！ sirrahs； seize this woman （His attendants swiftly carry out
the order。）； hold her fast； for 'tis no welcome story she will have to
hear。 It was to make thee leave the holy altar of the goddess that I
held thy child's death before thy eyes； and so induced thee to give
thyself up to me to die。 So stands thy case； be well assured； but as
for this child； my daughter shall decide whether she will slay him
or no。 Get thee hence into the house； and there learn to bridle thy
insolence in speaking to the free； slave that thou art。
ANDROMACHE
Alas！ thou hast by treachery beguiled me； I was deceived。
MENELAUS
Proclaim it to the world； I do not deny it。
ANDROMACHE
Is this counted cleverness amongst you who dwell by the Eurotas？
MENELAUS
Yes； and amongst Trojans too； that those who suffer should
retaliate。
ANDROMACHE
Thinkest thou God's hand is shortened； and that thou wilt not be
punished？
MENELAUS
Whene'er that comes； I am ready to bear it。 But thy life will I
have。
ANDROMACHE
Wilt likewise slay this tender chick； whom thou hast snatched from
'neath my wing？
MENELAUS
Not I； but I will give him to my daughter to slay if she will。
ANDROMACHE
Ah me！ why not begin my mourning then for thee； my child？
MENELAUS
Of a truth 'tis no very sure hope that he has left。
ANDROMACHE
O citizens of Sparta； the bane of all the race of men； schemers of
guile； and masters in lying； devisers of evil plots； with crooked
minds and tortuous methods and ne'er one honest thought； 'tis wrong
that ye should thrive in Hellas。 What crime is wanting in your list？
How rife is murder with you！ How covetous ye are！ One word upon your
lips； another in your heart； this is what men always find with you。
Perdition catch ye！ Still death is not so grievous； as thou
thinkest； to me。 No！ for my life ended in the day that hapless Troy
was destroyed with my lord； that glorious warrior； whose spear oft
made a coward like thee quit the field and seek thy ship。 But now
against a woman hast thou displayed the terrors of thy panoply； my
would…be murderer。 Strike then！ for this my tongue shall never flatter
thee or that daughter of thine。 For though thou wert of great
account in Sparta； why so was I in Troy。 And if I am now in sorry
plight； presume not thou on this； thou too mayst be so yet。
（MENELAUS and his guards lead ANDROMACHE out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Never； oh！ never will I commend rival wives or sons of different
mothers； a cause of strife； of bitterness； and grief in every house。
would have a husband content with one wife whose rights he shareth
with no other。
antistrophe 1
Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than
undivided rule； it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the
citizens。 Often too will the Muse sow strife 'twixt rivals in the
art of minstrelsy。
strophe 2
Again； when strong winds are drifting mariners； the divided
counsel of the wise does not best avail for steering； and their
collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior mind of the single
man who has sole authority； for this is the essence of power alike
in house and state； whene'er men care to find the proper moment。
antistrophe 2
This Spartan； the daughter of the great chief Menelaus； proves
this； for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival； and is bent on
slaying the hapless Trojan maid and her child to further her bitter
quarrel。 'Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid。 Ah！
lady； retribution for this deed will yet visit thee。
But lo！ before the house I see those two united souls； condemned
to die。 Alas！ for thee； poor lady； and for thee； unhappy child； who
art dying on account of thy mother's marriage； though thou hast no
share therein and canst not be blamed by the royal house。
（ANDROMACHE enters； her arms bound。 Her son clings
to her。 MENELAUS and the guards follow； intent
on accomplishing the murder。 The following
lines are chanted responsively。）
ANDROMACHE
Behold me journeying on the downward path； my hands so tightly
bound with cords that they bleed。
MOLOSSUS
O mother； mother mine！ I too share thy downward path； nestling
'neath thy wing。
ANDROMACHE
A cruel sacrifice！ ye rulers of Phthia！
MOLOSSUS
Come； father！ succour those thou lovest。
ANDROMACHE
Rest there； my babe； my darling！ on thy mother's bosom； e'en in
death and in the grave。
MOLOSSUS
Ah； woe is me！ what will become of me and thee too； mother mine？
MENELAUS
Away； to the world below！ from hostile towers ye came； the pair of
you； two different causes necessitate your deaths； my sentence takes
away thy life； and my daughter Hermione's requires his； for it would
be the height of folly to leave our foemen's sons； when we might
kill them and remove the danger from our house。
ANDROMACHE
O husband mine！ I would I had thy strong arm and spear to aid
me； son of Priam。
MOLOSSUS
Ah； woe is me！ what spell can I now find to turn death's stroke
aside？
ANDROMACHE
Embrace thy master's knees； my child； and pray to him。
MOLOSSUS
Spare； O spare my life； kind master！
ANDROMACHE
Mine eyes are wet with tears； which trickle down my cheeks； as
doth a sunless spring from a smooth rock。 Ah me！
MOLOSSUS
What remedy； alas！ can I provide me 'gainst my ills？
MENELAUS
Why fall at my knees in supplication？ hard as the rock and deaf as
the wave am I。 My own friends have I helped； but for thee have no
tie of affection； for verily it cost me a great part of my life to
capture Troy and thy mother； so thou shalt reap the fruit thereof
and into Hades' halls descend。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Behold！ I see Peleus drawing nigh； with aged step he hasteth
hither。
（PELEUS enters with an attendant。）
PELEUS （calling out as he comes in sight）
What means this？ I ask you and your executioner； why is the palace
in an uproar？ give a reason； what mean your lawless machinations？
Menelaus； hold thy hand。 Seek not to outrun justice。 （To his
attendant） Forward！ faster； faster！ for this matter； methinks；
admits of no delay； now if ever would I fain resume the vigour of my
youth。 First however will breathe new life into this captive； being to
her as the breeze that blows a ship before the wind。 Tell me； by
what right have they pinioned thine arms and are dragging thee and thy
child away？ Like a ewe with her lamb art thou led to the slaughter；
while I and thy lord were far away。
ANDROMACHE
Behold them that are haling me and my child to death； e'en as thou
seest； aged prince。 Why should I tell thee？ For not by one urgent
summons alone but by countless messengers have I sent for thee。 No
doubt thou knowest by hearsay of the strife in this house with this
man's daughter； and the reason of my ruin。 So now they have torn and
are dragging me from the altar of Thetis； the goddess of thy
chiefest adoration and the mother of thy gallant son； without any
proper trial； yea； and without waiting for my absent master；
because； forsooth； they knew my defencelessness and my child's； whom
they mean to slay with me his hapless mother； though he has done no
harm。 But to thee； O sire； I make my supplication； prostrate at thy
knees； though my hand cannot touch thy friendly beard； save me； I
adjure thee； reverend sir； or to thy shame and my sorrow shall we be
slain。
PELEUS
Loose her bonds； I say； ere some one rue it； untie her folded
hands。
MENELAUS
I forbid it； for besides being a match for thee； I have a far
better right to her。
PELEUS
What！ art thou come hither to set my house in order？ Art not
content with ruling thy Spartans？
MENELAUS
She is my captive； I took her from Troy。
PELEUS
Aye； but my son's son received her as his prize。
MENELAUS
Is not all I have his； and all his mine？
PELEUS
For good； but not evil ends； and
