electra-第5章
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voice； for I shall say no more。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Raise then； my handmaid； the offerings of many fruits； that I
may uplift my prayers to this our king； for deliverance from my
present fears。 Lend now a gracious ear； O Phoebus our defender； to
my words； though they be dark； for I speak not among friends； nor is
it meet to unfold my whole thought to the light； while she stands near
me； lest with her malice and her garrulous cry she spread some rash
rumour throughout the town： but hear me thus； since on this wise I
must speak。
That vision which I saw last night in doubtful dreams… if it
hath come for my good； grant； Lycean king； that it be fulfilled； but
if for harm； then let it recoil upon my foes。 And if any are
plotting to hurl me by treachery from the high estate which now is
mine； permit them not； rather vouch。 safe that； still living thus
unscathed； I may bear sway over the house of the Atreidae and this
realm； sharing prosperous days with the friends who share them now；
and with those of my children from whom no enmity or bitterness
pursues me。
O Lycean Apollo； graciously hear these prayers； and grant them
to us all； even as we ask！ For the rest； though I be silent； I deem
that thou； a god； must know it； all things； surely； are seen by the
sons of Zeus。
（The PAEDAGOGUS enters。）
PAEDAGOGUS
Ladies； might a stranger crave to know if this be the palace of
the king Aegisthus？
LEADER
It is； sir； thou thyself hast guessed aright。
PAEDAGOGUS
And am I right in surmising that this lady is his consort？ She
is of queenly aspect。
LEADER
Assuredly； thou art in the presence of the queen。
PAEDAGOGUS
Hail； royal lady！ I bring glad tidings to thee and to Aegisthus；
from friend。
CLYTEMNESTRA
I welcome the omen； but I would fain know from thee； first； who
may have sent thee。
PAEDAGOGUS
Phanoteus the Phocian； on a weighty mission。
CLYTEMNESTRA
What is it； sir？ Tell me： coming from a friend； thou wilt bring； I
know； a kindly message。
PAEDAGOGUS
Orestes is dead； that is the sum。
ELECTRA
Oh； miserable that I am！ I am lost this day！
CLYTEMNESTRA
What sayest thou； friend； what sayest thou？… listen not to her！
PAEDAGOGUS
I said； and say again… Orestes is dead。
ELECTRA
I am lost； hapless one； I am undone！
CLYTEMNESTRA （to ELECTRA）
See thou to thine own concerns。… But do thou； sir； tell me
exactly；…how did he perish？
PAEDAGOGUS
I was sent for that purpose； and will tell thee all。 Having gone
to the renowned festival； the pride of Greece； for the Delphian games；
when he heard the loud summons to the foot…race which was first to
be decided； he entered the lists； a brilliant form； a wonder in the
eyes of all there； and； having finished his course at the point
where it began； he went out with the glorious meed of victory。 To
speak briefly； where there is much to tell； I know not the man whose
deeds and triumphs have matched his； but one thing thou must know；
in all the contests that the judges announced； he bore away the prize；
and men deemed him happy； as oft as the herald proclaimed him an
Argive； by name Orestes； son of Agamemnon； who once gathered the
famous armament of Greece。
Thus far； 'twas well； but； when a god sends harm； not even the
strong man can escape。 For； on another day； when chariots were to
try their speed at sunrise； he entered； with many charioteers。 One was
an Achaean； one from Sparta； two masters of yoked cars were Libyans；
Orestes； driving Thessalian mares； came fifth among them； the sixth
from Aetolia； with chestnut colts； a Magnesian was the seventh； the
eighth； with white horses； was of Aenian stock； the ninth； from
Athens； built of gods； there was a Boeotian too； making the tenth
chariot。
They took their stations where the appointed umpires placed them
by lot and ranged the cars； then； at the sound of the brazen trump；
they started。 All shouted to their horses； and shook the reins in
their hands； the whole course was filled with the noise of rattling
chariots； the dust flew upward； and all； in a confused throng； plied
their goads unsparingly； each of them striving to pass the wheels
and the snorting steeds of his rivals； for alike at their backs and at
their rolling wheels the breath of the horses foamed and smote。
Orestes； driving close to the pillar at either end of the
course； almost grazed it with his wheel each time； and； giving rein to
the trace…horse on the right； checked the horse on the inner side。
Hitherto； all the chariots had escaped overthrow； but presently the
Aenian's hard…mouthed colts ran away； and； swerving； as they passed
from the sixth into the seventh round； dashed their foreheads
against the team of the Barcaean。 Other mishaps followed the first；
shock on shock and crash on crash； till the whole race…ground of Crisa
was strewn with the wreck of the chariots。
Seeing this； the wary charioteer from Athens drew aside and
paused； allowing the billow of chariots； surging in mid course； to
go by。 Orestes was driving last； keeping his horses behind；… for his
trust was in the end； but when he saw that the Athenian was alone left
in； he sent a shrill cry ringing through the ears of his swift
colts； and gave chase。 Team was brought level with team； and so they
raced；…first one man； then the other。 showing his head in front of the
chariots。
Hitherto the ill…fated Orestes had passed safely through every
round； steadfast in his steadfast car； at last； slackening his left
rein while the horse was turning； unawares he struck the edge of the
pillar； he broke the axle…box in twain； he was thrown over the
chariot…rail； he was caught in the shapely reins； and； as he fell on
the ground； his colts were scattered into the middle of the course。
But when the people saw him fallen from the car； a cry of pity
went up for the youth； who had done such deeds and was meeting such
a doom；… now dashed to earth； now tossed feet uppermost to the sky；…
till the charioteers； with difficulty checking the career of his
horses； loosed him； so covered with blood that no friend who saw it
would have known the hapless corpse。 Straightway they burned it on a
pyre； and chosen men of Phocis are bringing in a small urn of bronze
the sad dust of that mighty form； to find due burial in his
fatherland。
Such is my story；… grievous to hear； if words can grieve； but
for us； who beheld； the greatest of sorrows that these eyes have seen。
LEADER
Alas； alas Now； methinks； the stock of our ancient masters hath
utterly perished； root and branch。
CLYTEMNESTRA
O Zeus； what shall I call these tidings；… glad tidings？ Or dire；
but gainful？ 'Tis a bitter lot； when mine own calamities make the
safety of my life。
PAEDAGOGUS
Why art thou so downcast； lady； at this news？
CLYTEMNESTRA
There is a strange power in motherhood； a mother may be wronged；
but she never learns to hate her child。
PAEDAGOGUS
Then it seems that we have come in vain。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Nay； not in vain； how canst thou say 'in vain；' when thou hast
brought an sure proofs of his death？… His； who sprang from mine own
life； yet； forsaking me who had suckled and reared him； became an
exile and an alien； and； after he went out of this land； he saw me
no more； but； charging me with the murder of his sire； he uttered
dread threats against me； so that neither by night nor by day could
sweet sleep cover mine eyes； but from moment to moment I lived in fear
of death。 Now； however…since this day I am rid of terror from him； and
from this girl；… that worse plague who shared my home； while still she
drained my very life…blood；…now； methinks； for aught that she can
threaten； I shall pass my days in peace。
ELECTRA
Ah； woe is me！ Now； indeed； Orestes； thy fortune may be
lamented； w
