andromache-第5章
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authority beyond what is right either in the marriage…chamber or in
the state。
epode
O aged son of Aeacus！ now am I sure that thou wert with the
Lapithae； wielding thy famous spear； when they fought the Centaurs；
and on Argo's deck didst pass the cheerless strait beyond the sea…beat
Symplegades on her voyage famed； and when in days long gone the son of
Zeus spread slaughter round Troy's famous town； thou too didst share
his triumphant return to Europe。
（The NURSE OF HERMIONE enters。）
NURSE
Alas！ good friends； what a succession of troubles is to…day
provided us！ My mistress Hermione within the house； deserted by her
father and in remorse for her monstrous deed in plotting the death
of Andromache and her child； is bent on dying； for she is afraid her
husband will in requital for this expel her with dishonour from his
house or put her to death； because she tried to slay the innocent。 And
the servants that watch her can scarce restrain her efforts to hang
herself； scarce catch the sword and wrest it from her hand。 So
bitter is her anguish； and she hath recognized the villainy of her
former deeds。 As for me； friends； I am weary of keeping my mistress
from the fatal noose； do ye go in and try to save her life； for if
strangers come； they prove more persuasive than the friends of every
day。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah yes！ I hear an outcry in the house amongst the servants；
confirming the news thou hast brought。 Poor sufferer！ she seems
about to show lively grief for her grave crimes； for she has escaped
her servants' hands and is rushing from the house； eager to end her
life。
（HERMIONE enters； in agitation。 She is carrying
a sword which the NURSE wrests from her。）
HERMIONE （chanting）
Woe； woe is me！ I will rend my hair and tear cruel furrows in my
cheeks。
NURSE
My child； what wilt thou do？ Wilt thou disfigure thyself？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Ah me！ ah me！ Begone； thou fine…spun veil！ float from my head
away！
NURSE
Daughter； cover up thy bosom； fasten thy robe。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Why should I cover it？ My crimes against my lord are manifest
and clear； they cannot be hidden。
NURSE
Art so grieved at having devised thy rival's death？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Yea； I deeply mourn my fatal deeds of daring； alas！ I am now
accursed in all men's eyes！
NURSE
Thy husband will pardon thee this error。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Oh！ why didst thou hunt me to snatch away my sword？ Give； oh！ give
it back； dear nurse； that I may thrust it through my heart Why dost
thou prevent me hanging myself？
NURSE
What！ was I to let thy madness lead thee on to death？
HERMIONE （chanting）
Ah me； my destiny！ Where can I find some friendly fire？ To what
rocky height can I climb above the sea or 'mid some wooded mountain
glen； there to die and trouble but the dead？
NURSE
Why vex thyself thus？ on all of us sooner or later heaven's
visitation comes。
HERMIONE （chanting）
Thou hast left me； O my father； left me like a stranded bark；
all alone； without an oar。 My lord will surely slay me； no home is
mine henceforth beneath my husband's roof。 What god is there to
whose statue I can as a suppliant haste？ or shall I throw myself in
slavish wise at slavish knees？ Would I could speed away from
Phthia's land on bird's dark pinion； or like that pine…built ship； the
first that ever sailed betwixt the rocks Cyanean！
NURSE
My child； I can as little praise thy previous sinful excesses；
committed against the Trojan captive； as thy present exaggerated
terror。 Thy husband will never listen to a barbarian's weak pleading
and reject his marriage with thee for this。 For thou wast no captive
from Troy whom he wedded； but the daughter of a gallant sire； with a
rich dower； from a city too of no mean prosperity。 Nor will thy father
forsake thee； as thou dreadest； and allow thee to be cast out from
this house。 Nay； enter now； nor show thyself before the palace； lest
the sight of thee there bring reproach upon thee； my daughter。
（The NURSE departs as ORESTES and his attendants enter。）
LEADER
Lo！ a stranger of foreign appearance from some other land comes
hurrying towards us。
ORESTES
Women of this foreign land！ is this the home； the palace of
Achilles' son？
LEADER
Thou hast it； but who art thou to ask such a question？
ORESTES
The son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra； by name Orestes； on ply way
to the oracle of Zeus at Dodona。 But now that I am come to Phthia； I
am resolved to inquire about my kinswoman； Hermione of Sparta； is
she alive and well？ for though she dwells in a land far from my own； I
love her none the less。
HERMIONE
Son of Agamemnon； thy appearing is as a haven from the storm to
sailors； by thy knees I pray； have pity on me in my distress； on me of
whose fortunes thou art inquiring。 About thy knees I twine my arms
with all the force of sacred fillets。
ORESTES
Ha！ what is this？ Am I mistaken or do I really see before me the
queen of this palace； the daughter of Menelaus？
HERMIONE
The same； that only child whom Helen； daughter of Tyndareus；
bore my father in his halls； never doubt that。
ORESTES
O saviour Phoebus； grant us respite from our woe！ But what is
the matter？ art thou afflicted by gods or men？
HERMIONE
Partly by myself； partly by the man who wedded me； and partly by
some god。 On every side I see ruin。
ORESTES
Why； what misfortune could happen to a woman as yet childless；
unless her honour is concerned？
HERMIONE
My very ill！ Thou hast hit my case exactly。
ORESTES
On whom has thy husband set his affections in thy stead？
HERMIONE
On his captive； Hector's wife。
ORESTES
An evil case indeed； for a man to have two wives！
HERMIONE
'Tis even thus。 So I resented it。
ORESTES
Didst thou with woman's craft devise a plot against thy rival？
HERMIONE
Yes； to slay her and her bastard child。
ORESTES
And didst thou slay them； or did something happen to rescue them
from thee？
HERMIONE
It was old Peleus； who showed regard to the weaker side。
ORESTES
Hadst thou any accomplice in this attempted murder？
HERMIONE
My father came from Sparta for this very purpose。
ORESTES
And was he after all defeated by that old man's prowess？
HERMIONE
Oh no！ but by shame； and he hath gone and left me all alone。
ORESTES
I understand； thou art afraid of thy husband for what thou hast
done。
HERMIONE
Thou hast guessed it； for he will have a right to slay me。 What
can say for myself？ Yet I beseech thee by Zeus the god of our
family； send me to a land as far as possible from this； or to my
father's house； for these very walls seem to cry out 〃Begone！〃 and all
the land of Phthia hates me。 But if my lord return ere that from the
oracle of Phoebus； he will put me to death on a shameful charge； or
enslave me to his mistress； whom ruled before。 Maybe some one will
say； 〃How was it thou didst go thus astray？〃 I was ruined by evil
women who came to me and puffed me up with words like these： 〃Wait！
wilt thou suffer that vile captive； a mere bondmaid； to dwell within
thy house and share thy wedded rights？ By Heaven's queen！ if it were
my house she should not live to reap my marriage…harvest！〃 And I
listened to the words of these Sirens； the cunning； knavish； subtle
praters； and was filled with silly thoughts。 What need had I to care
about my lord？ I had all I wanted； wealth in plenty； a house in
which I was mistress； and as for children； mine would be born in
wedlock； while hers would be bastards； half…slaves to mine。 Oh！ never；
never；…this truth will I repeat；…should men of sense； who have
wives； allow women…folk to visit them in their homes； for they teach
them evil； one； to gain some private end； helps to corrupt their
honour； another； having made a slip herself； wants a companion in
misfortune； while many are wantons； and hence it is men's houses are
tainted。 Wherefore keep strict guard upon the portals of your houses
with bolts and bars； for these visits of strange women lead to no good
result； but a world of ill。
LEADER
Thou hast given thy tongue too free a rein regarding thy own
sex。 I can pardon thee in this case； but still women ought to smooth
over their sisters' weaknesses。
ORESTES
'Twas sage counsel he gave who taught men to hear the arguments on
both sides。 I； for instance； though aware of the confusion in this
house； the quarrel between thee and Hector's wife； waited awhile and
watched to see whether thou wouldst stay here or from fear of that
captive art minded to quit these halls。 Now it was not so much
regard for thy message that brought me thither； as the intention of
carrying thee away from this house； if； as now； thou shouldst grant me
a chance of saying so。 For thou wert mine formerly； but art now living
with thy present husband through thy father's baseness； since he；
before invading Troy's domains； betrothed thee to me； and then
afterwards promised thee to thy present lord； provided he captured the
city of Troy。
So； as soon as Achilles' son returned hither； I forgave thy
father； but entreated the bridegroom to forego his marriage with thee；
telling him all I had endured and my present misfortune； I might get a
wife； I said； from amongst friends； but outside their circle 'twas
no easy task for one exiled like myself from home。 Thereat he grew
abusive； taunting me with my mother's murder and those
blood…boltered fiends。 And I was humbled by the fortunes of my
house； and though 'tis true； I grieved； yet did I bear my sorrow；
and reluctantly departed； robbed of thy promised hand。 Now
therefore； since thou findest thy fortune so abruptly changed and
art fallen thus on evil days and hast no help； I will take thee
hence and place thee in thy father's hands。 For kinship hath strong
claims； and in adversity there is naught better than a kinsman's
kindly aid。
HERMIONE
As for my marriage； my father must look to it； 'tis not for me
to decide。 Yes； take me hence as soon as may be； lest my husband
come back to his house before I am gone； or Peleus hear that I am
deserting his son's abode and pursue me with his swift steeds。
ORESTES
Rest easy about the old man's power； and； as for Achilles' son
with all his insolence to me； never fear him； such a crafty net this
hand hath woven and set for his death with knots that none can
loose； whereof I will not speak before the time； but； when my plot
begins to work； Delphi's rock will witness it。 If but my allies in the
Pythian land abide by their oaths； this sa
