andromache-第6章
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begins to work； Delphi's rock will witness it。 If but my allies in the
Pythian land abide by their oaths； this same murderer of his mother
will show that no one else shall marry thee my rightful bride。 To
his cost will he demand satisfaction of King Phoebus for his
father's blood； nor shall his repentance avail him though he is now
submitting to the god。 No！ he shall perish miserably by Apollo's
hand and my false accusations； so shall he find out my enmity。 For the
deity upsets the fortune of them that hate him； and suffers them not
to be high…minded。
（ORESTES and HERMIONE depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
O Phoebus！ who didst fence the hill of Ilium with a fair coronal
of towers； and thou； ocean…god！ coursing o'er the main with thy dark
steeds； wherefore did ye hand over in dishonour your own handiwork
to the war…god； master of the spear； abandoning Troy to wretchedness？
antistrophe 1
Many a well…horsed car ye yoked on the banks of Simois； and many a
bloody tournament did ye ordain with never a prize to win； and Ilium's
princes are dead and gone； no longer in Troy is seen the blaze of fire
on altars of the gods with the smoke of incense。
strophe 2
The son of Atreus is no more； slain by the hand of his wife； and
she herself hath paid the debt of blood by death； and from her
children's hands received her doom。 The god's own bidding from his
oracle was levelled against her； in the day that Agamemnon's son set
forth from Argos and visited his shrine； so he slew her； aye； spilt
his own mother's blood。 O Phoebus； O thou power divine； how can I
believe the story？
antistrophe 2
Anon wherever Hellenes gather； was heard the voice of lamentation；
mothers weeping o'er their children's fate； as they left their homes
to mate with strangers。 Ah！ thou art not the only one； nor thy dear
ones either； on whom the cloud of grief hath fallen。 Hellas had to
bear the visitation； and thence the scourge crossed to Phrygia's
fruitful fields； raining the bloody drops the death…god loves。
（PELEUS enters in haste。）
PELEUS
Ye dames of Phthia； answer my questions。 I heard a vague rumour
that the daughter of Menelaus had left these halls and fled； so now
I am come in hot haste to learn if this be true； for it is the duty of
those who are at home to labour in the interests of their absent
friends。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Thou hast heard aright； O Peleus； ill would it become me to hide
the evil case in which I now find myself； our queen has fled and
left these halls。
PELEUS
What did she fear？ explain that to me。
LEADER
She was afraid her lord would cast her out。
PELEUS
In return for plotting his child's death？ surely not？
LEADER
Yea； and she was afraid of yon captive。
PELEUS
With whom did she leave the house？ with her father？
LEADER
The son of Agamemnon came and took her hence。
PELEUS
What view hath he to further thereby？ Will he marry her？
LEADER
Yes； and he is plotting thy grandson's death。
PELEUS
From an ambuscade； or meeting him fairly face to face？
LEADER
In the holy place of Loxias； leagued with Delphians。
PELEUS
God help us。 This is a present danger。 Hasten one of you with
all speed to the Pythian altar and tell our friends there what has
happened here； ere Achilles' son be slain by his enemies。
（A MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Woe worth the day！ what evil tidings have I brought for thee；
old sire； and for all who love my master！ woe is me！
PELEUS
Alas！ my prophetic soul hath a presentiment。
MESSENGER
Aged Peleus； hearken！ Thy grandson is no more； so grievously is he
smitten by the men of Delphi and the stranger from Mycenae。
LEADER
Ah！ what wilt thou do； old man？ Fall not； uplift thyself。
PELEUS
I am a thing of naught； death is come upon me。 My voice is choked；
my limbs droop beneath me。
MESSENGER
Hearken； if thou art eager also to avenge thy friends； lift up
thyself and hear what happened。
PELEUS
Ah； destiny！ how tightly hast thou caught me in thy toils； a
poor old man at life's extremest verge！ But tell me how he was taken
from me； my one son's only child； unwelcome as such news is； I fain
would hear it。
MESSENGER
As soon as we reached the famous soil of Phoebus； for three
whole days were we feasting our eyes with the sight。 And this； it
seems； caused suspicion； for the folk； who dwell near the god's
shrine； began to collect in groups； while Agamemnon's son； going to
and fro through the town； would whisper in each man's ear malignant
hints： 〃Do ye see yon fellow； going in and out of the god's
treasure…chambers； which are full of the gold stored there by all
mankind？ He is come hither a second time on the same mission as
before； eager to sack the temple of Phoebus。〃 Thereon there ran an
angry murmur through the city； and the magistrates flocked to their
council…chamber； while those； who have charge of the god's
treasures； had a guard privately placed amongst the colonnades。 But
we； knowing naught as yet of this； took sheep fed in the pastures of
Parnassus； and went our way and stationed ourselves at the altars with
vouchers and Pythian seers。 And one said： 〃What prayer； young warrior；
wouldst thou have us offer to the god？ Wherefore art thou come？〃 And
he answered： 〃I wish to make atonement to Phoebus for my past
transgression； for once I claimed from him satisfaction for my
father's blood。〃 Thereupon the rumour； spread by Orestes； proved to
have great weight； suggesting that my master was lying and had come on
a shameful errand。 But he crosses the threshold of the temple to
pray to Phoebus before his oracle； and was busy with his
burnt…offering； when a body of men armed with swords set themselves in
ambush against him in the cover of the bay…trees； and Clytemnestra's
son； that had contrived the whole plot was one of them。 There stood
the young man praying to the god in sight of all； when lo！ with
their sharp swords they stabbed Achilles' unprotected son from behind。
But he stepped back； for it was not a mortal wound he had received；
and drew his sword； and snatching armour from the pegs where it hung
on a pillar； took his stand upon the altar…steps； the picture of a
warrior grim； then cried he to the sons of Delphi； and asked them：
〃Why seek to slay me when I am come on a holy mission？ What cause is
there why I should die？ But of all that throng of bystanders； no man
answered him a word； but they set to hurling stones。 Then he； though
bruised and battered by the showers of missiles from all sides；
covered himself behind his mail and tried to ward off the attack；
holding his shield first here； then there； at arm's length； but all of
no avail； for a storm of darts； arrows and javelins； hurtling spits
with double points； and butchers' knives for slaying steers； came
flying at his feet； and terrible was the war…dance thou hadst then
seen thy grandson dance to avoid their marksmanship。 At last； when
they were hemming him in on all sides； allowing him no breathing
space； he left the shelter of the altar； the hearth where victims
are placed； and with one bound was on them as on the Trojans of
yore； and they turned and fled like doves when they see the hawk。 Many
fell in the confusion： some wounded； and others trodden down by one
another along the narrow passages； and in that hushed holy house
uprose unholy din and echoed back from the rocks。 Calm and still my
master stood there in his gleaming harness like a flash of light； till
from the inmost shrine there came a voice of thrilling horror；
stirring the crowd to make a stand。 Then fell Achilles' son； smitten
through the flank by some Delphian's biting blade； some fellow that
slew him with a host to help； and as he fell； there was not one that
did not stab him； or cast a rock and batter his corpse。 So his whole
body； once so fair； was marred with savage wounds。 At last they cast
the lifeless clay； Iying near the altar； forth from the fragrant fane。
And we gathered up his remains forthwith and are bringing them to
thee； old prince； to mourn and weep and honour with a deep…dug tomb。
This is how that prince who vouchsafeth oracles to others； that
judge of what is right for all the world； hath revenged himself on
Achilles' son； remembering his ancient quarrel as a wicked man
would。 How then can he be wise？
（The MESSENGER withdraws as the body of Neoptolemus
is carried in on a bier。 The following lines
between PELEUS and the CHORUS are
chanted responsively。）
CHORUS
Lo！ e'en now our prince is being carried on a bier from Delphi's
land unto his home。 Woe for him and his sad fate； and woe for thee；
old sire！ for this is not the welcome thou wouldst give Achilles' son；
the lion's whelp； thyself too by this sad mischance dost share his
evil lot。
PELEUS
Ah！ woe is me！ here is a sad sight for me to see and take unto
my halls！ Ah me！ ah me！ I am undone； thou city of Thessaly！ My line
now ends； I have no children left me in my home。 Oh！ the sorrows
seem born to endure！ What friend can I look to for relief？ Ah； dear
lips； and cheeks； and hands！ Would thy destiny had slain the 'neath
Ilium's walls beside the banks of Simois！
CHORUS
Had he so died； my aged lord； he had won him honour thereby； and
thine had been the happier lot。
PELEUS
O marriage； marriage； woe to thee！ thou bane of my home； thou
destroyer of my city！ Ah my child； my boy； would that the honour of
wedding thee； fraught with evil as it was to my children and house；
had not thrown o'er thee； my son； Hermione's deadly net！ that the
thunderbolt had slain her sooner！ and that thou； rash mortal； hadst
never charged the great god Phoebus with aiming that murderous shaft
that spilt thy hero…father's blood！
CHORUS
Woe！ woe！ alas！ With due observance of funeral rites will I
begin the mourning for my dead master。
PELEUS
Alack and well…a…day！ I take up the tearful dirge； ah me！ old
and wretched as I am。
CHORUS
'Tis Heaven's decree； God willed this heavy stroke。
PELEUS
O darling child； thou hast left me all alone in my halls； old
and childless by thy loss。
CHORUS
Thou shouldst have died； old sire； before thy children。
PELEUS
Shall I not tear my hair； and smite upon my head with grievous
blows？ O city！ of both my children hath Phoebus robbed me。
