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第10章

iphigenia in tauris-第10章

小说: iphigenia in tauris 字数: 每页4000字

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    Pure to the gods thy hands; or nuptial rites

    Dost thou prepare; or pregnant matron; hence;

    Begone; that this defilement none may touch。

    Thou; daughter of Latona and high Jove;

    O royal virgin; if I cleanse the stain

    Of these; and where I ought with holy rites

    Address thee; thou shalt hold thy residence

    In a pure mansion; we too shall be bless'd。

    More though I speak not; goddess; unexpress'd;

    All things to thee and to the gods are known。



    (IPHIGENIA; carrying the statue; joins the procession as is goes

    out。 THOAS and his retinue enter the temple。)



  CHORUS (singing)



                                                              strophe



  Latona's glorious offspring claims the song;

    Born the hallow'd shades among;

  Where fruitful Delos winds her valleys low;

    Bright…hair'd Phoebus; skill'd to inspire

    Raptures; as he sweeps the lyre;

  And she that glories in the unerring bow。

    From the rocky ridges steep;

    At whose feet the hush'd waves sleep;

    Left their far…famed native shore;

    Them the exulting mother bore

    To Parnassus; on whose heights

    Bacchus shouting holds his rites;

    Glittering in the burnish'd shade;

    By the laurel's branches made;

    Where the enormous dragon lies;

    Brass his scales; and flame his eyes;

    Earth…born monster; that around

    Rolling guards the oracular ground;

    Him; while yet a sportive child;

    In his mother's arms that smiled;

    Phoebus slew; and seized the shrine

    Whence proceeds the voice divine:

    On the golden tripod placed;

    Throne by falsehood ne'er disgraced;

    Where Castalia's pure stream flows;

    He the fates to mortal shows。



                                                          antistrophe



    But when Themis; whom of yore

    Earth; her fruitful mother; bore;

    From her hallow'd seat he drove;

    Earth to avenge her daughter strove;

    Forming visions of the night;

    Which; in rapt dreams hovering light;

    All that Time's dark volumes hold

    Might to mortal sense unfold;

    When in midnight's sable shades

    Sleep the silent couch invades:

    Thus did Earth her vengeance boast。

    His prophetic honours lost;

    Royal Phoebus speeds his flight

    To Olympus; on whose height

    At the throne of Jove he stands;

    Stretching forth his little hands;

    Suppliant that the Pythian shrine

    Feel no more the wrath divine;

    That the goddess he appease;

    That her nightly visions cease。

    Jove with smiles beheld his son

    Early thus address his throne;

    Suing with ambitious pride

    O'er the rich shrine to preside;

    He; assenting; bow'd his head。

    Straight the nightly visions fled;

    And prophetic dreams no more

    Hover'd slumbering mortals o'er:

    Now to Phoebus given again;

    All his honours pure remain;

    Votaries distant regions send

    His frequented throne to attend:

    And the firm decrees of fate

    On his faithful voice await。

                                                (A MESSENGER enters。)

  MESSENGER

    Say you; that keep the temple; and attend

    The altar; where is Thoas; Scythia's king?

    Open these strong…compacted gates; and cal

    Forth from the shrine the monarch of the land。

  LEADER OF THE CHORUS

    Wherefore? at thy command if I must speak。

  MESSENGER

    The two young men are gone; through the device

    Of Agamemnon's daughter: from this land

    They fly; and; in their Grecian galley placed;

    The sacred image of the goddess bear。

  LEADER

    Incredible thy tale: but whom thou seek'st;

    The monarch; from the temple went in haste。

  MESSENGER

    Whither? for what is doing he should know。

  LEADER

    We know not: but go thou; and seek for him:

    Where'er thou find him; thou wilt tell him this。

  MESSENGER

    See; what a faithless race you women are!

    In all that hath been done you have a part。

  LEADER

    Sure thou art mad! what with the strangers' flight

    Have we to do? But wilt thou not; with all

    The speed thou mayst; go to the monarch's house?

  MESSENGER

    Not till I first am well inform'd; if here

    Within the temple be the king; or not。

                                                           (Shouting)

    Unbar the gates (to you within I speak);

    And tell your lord that at the portal here

    I stand; and bring him tidings of fresh ills。



    (THOAS and his attendants enter from the temple。)



  THOAS

    Who at the temple of the goddess dares

    This clamour raise; and; thundering at the gates;

    Strikes terror through the ample space within?

  MESSENGER

    With falsehoods would these women drive me hence;

    Without to seek thee: thou wast in the shrine。

  THOAS

    With what intent? or what advantage sought?

  MESSENGER

    Of these hereafter; what more urgent now

    Imports thee; hear: the virgin; in this place

    Presiding at the altars; from this land

    Is with the strangers fled; and bears with her

    The sacred image of the goddess; all

    Of her ablutions but a false pretence。

  THOAS

    How say'st thou? What is her accursed design?

  MESSENGER

    To save Orestes: this too will amaze thee。

  THOAS

    Whom? What Orestes? Clytemnestra's son?

  MESSENGER

    Him at the altar hallow'd now to bleed。

  THOAS

    Portentous! for what less can it be call'd?

  MESSENGER

    Think not on that; but hear me; with deep thought

    Reflect: weigh well what thou shalt hear; devise

    By what pursuit to reach and seize the strangers。

  THOAS

    Speak: thou advisest well: the sea though nigh;

    They fly not so as to escape my spear。

  MESSENGER

    When to the shore we came; where station'd rode

    The galley of Orestes; by the rocks

    Conceal'd to us; whom thou hadst sent with her

    To hold the strangers' chains; the royal maid

    Made signs that we retire; and stand aloof;

    As if with secret rites she would perform

    The purposed expiation: on she went;

    In her own hands holding the strangers' chains

    Behind them: not without suspicion…this;

    Yet by thy servants; king; allow'd。 At length;

    That we might deem her in some purpose high

    Employ'd; she raised her voice; and chanted loud

    Barbaric strains; as if with mystic rites

    She cleansed the stain of blood。 When we had sat

    A tedious while; it came into our thought;

    That from their chains unloosed; the stranger youths

    Might kill her; and escape by flight: yet fear

    Of seeing what we ought not; kept us still

    In silence; but at length we all resolved

    To go; though not permitted; where they were。

    There we behold the Grecian bark with oars

    Well furnish'd; wing'd for flight; and at their seats;

    Grasping their oars; were fifty rowers; free

    From chains beside the stern the two youths stood

    Some from the prow relieved the keel with poles;

    Some weigh'd the anchors up; the climbing ropes

    Some hasten'd; through their hands the cables drew;

    Launch'd the light bark; and gave her to the main。

    But when we saw their treacherous wiles; we rush'd

    Heedless of danger; seized the priestess; seized

    The halsers; hung upon the helm; and strove

    To rend the rudder…bands away。 Debate

    Now rose:…〃What mean you; sailing o'er the seas;

    The statue and the priestess from the land

    By stealth conveying? Whence art thou; and who;

    That bear'st her; like a purchased slave; away?〃

    He said; 〃I am her brother; be of this

    Inform'd; Orestes; son of Agamemnon:

    My sister; so long lost; I bear away;

    Recover'd here。〃 But naught the less for that

    Held we the priestess; and by force would lead

    Again to thee: hence dreadful on our cheeks

    T

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