andromache-第5章
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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 surely not for murderous
violence。
MENELAUS
Never shalt thou wrest her from my grasp。
PELEUS
With this good staff I'll stain thy head with blood！
MENELAUS
Just touch me and see！ Approach one step！
PELEUS
What！ shalt thou rank with men？ chief of cowards； son of
cowards！ What right hast thou to any place 'mongst men？ Thou who didst
let Phrygian rob thee of thy wife； leaving thy home without bolt or
guard； as if forsooth the cursed woman thou hadst there was a model of
virtue。 No！ a Spartan maid could not be chaste； e'en if she would； who
leaves her home and bares her limbs and lets her robe float free； to
share with youths their races and their sports；…customs I cannot
away with。 Is it any wonder then that ye fail to educate your women in
virtue？ Helen might have asked thee this； seeing that she said goodbye
to thy affection and tripped off with her young gallant to a foreign
land。 And yet for her sake thou didst marshal all the hosts of
Hellas and lead them to Ilium； whereas thou shouldst have shown thy
loathing for her by refusing to stir a spear； once thou hadst found
her false； yea； thou shouldst have let her stay there； and even paid a
price to save ever having her back again。 But that was not at all
the way thy thoughts were turned； wherefore many a brave life hast
thou ended； and many an aged mother hast thou left childless in her
home； and grey…haired sires of gallant sons hast reft。 Of that sad
band am I member； seeing in thee Achilles' murderer like a malignant
fiend； for thou and thou alone hast returned from Troy without a
scratch； bringing back thy splendid weapons in their splendid cases
just as they went。 As for me； I ever told that amorous boy to form
no alliance with thee nor take unto his home an evil mother's child；
for daughters bear the marks of their mothers' ill…repute into their
new homes。 Wherefore； ye wooers； take heed to this my warning： 〃Choose
the daughter of a good mother。〃 And more than this； with what wanton
insult didst thou treat thy brother； bidding him sacrifice his
daughter in his simpleness！ So fearful wast thou of losing thy
worthless wife。 Then after capturing Troy；…for thither too will I
accompany thee；…thou didst not slay that woman； when she was in thy
power； but as soon as thine eyes caught sight of her breast； thy sword
was dropped and thou didst take her kisses； fondling the shameless
traitress； too weak to stem thy hot desire； thou caitiff wretch！ Yet
spite of all thou art the man to come and work havoc in my
grandson's halls when he is absent； seeking to slay with all indignity
a poor weak woman and her babe： but that babe shall one day make
thee and thy daughter in thy home rue it； e'en though his birth be
trebly base。 Yea； for oft ere now hath seed； sown on barren soil；
prevailed o'er rich deep tilth； and many bastard has proved a better
man than children better born。 Take thy daughter hence with thee！
Far better is it for mortals to have a poor honest man either as
married kin or friend than a wealthy knave； but as for thee； thou
art a thing of naught。
LEADER
The tongue from trifling causes contrives to breed great strife
'mongst men； wherefore are the wise most careful not to bring about
a quarrel with their friends。
MENELAUS
Why； pray； should one call these old men wise； or those who once
had a reputation in Hellas for being so？ when thou； the great
Peleus； son of famous father； kin to me through marriage； employest
language disgraceful to thyself and abusive of me because of a
barbarian woman； though thou shouldst have banished her far beyond the
streams of Nile or Phasis； and ever encouraged me； seeing that she
comes from Asia's continent where fell so many of the sons of
Hellas； victims to the spear； and likewise because she shared in the
spilling of thy son's blood； for Paris who slew thy son Achilles；
was brother to Hector； whose wife she was。 And dost thou enter the
same abode with her； and deign to let her share thy board； and
suffer her to rear her brood of vipers in thy house？ But I； after
all this foresight for thee； old man； and myself； am to have her
torn from my clutches for wishing to slay her。 Yet come now； for
'tis no disgrace to argue； suppose my daughter has no child； while
this woman's sons grow up； wilt thou set them up to rule the land of
Phthia； barbarians born and bred to lord it over Hellenes？ Am I then
so void of sense because I hate injustice； and thou so full of
cleverness？ Consider yet another point； say thou hadst given a
daughter of thine to some citizen； and hadst then seen her thus
treated； wouldst thou have sat looking on in silence？ I trow not。 Dost
thou then for a foreigner rail thus at thy nearest friends？ Again；
thou mayst say； husband and wife have an equally strong case if she is
wronged by him； and similarly if he find her guilty of indiscretion in
his house； yet while he has ample powers in his own hands； she depends
on parents and friends for her case。 Surely then I am right in helping
my own kin！ Thou art in thy dotage； for thou wilt do me more good by
speaking of my generalship than by concealing it。 Helen's trouble
was not of her own choosing； but sent by heaven； and it proved a great
benefit to Hellas； her sons； till then untried in war or arms；
turned to deeds of prowess； and it is experience which teaches man all
he knows。 I showed my wisdom in refraining from slaying my wife；
directly I caught sight of her。 Would that thou too hadst ne'er
slain Phocus！ All this I bring before thee in pure good…will； not from
anger。 But if thou resent it； thy tongue may wag till it ache； yet
shall I gain by prudent forethought。
LEADER
Cease now from idle words； 'twere better far； for fear ye both
alike go wrong。
PELEUS
Alas！ what evil customs now prevail in Hellas！ Whene'er the host
sets up a trophy o'er the foe； men no more consider this the work of
those who really toiled； but the general gets the credit for it。 Now
he was but one among ten thousand others to brandish his spear； he
only did the work of one； but yet he wins more praise than they。
Again； as magistrates in all the grandeur of office they scorn the
common folk； though they are naught themselves； whereas those others
are ten thousand times more wise than they； if daring combine with
judgment。 Even so thou and thy brother； exalted by the toilsome
efforts of others； now take your seats in all the swollen pride of
Trojan fame and Trojan generalship。 But I will teach thee henceforth
to consider Idaean Paris a foe less terrible than Peleus； unless
forthwith thou pack from this roof； thou and thy childless daughter
too； whom my own true son will hale through his halls by the hair of
her head； for her barrenness will not let her endure fruitfulness in
others； because she has no children herself。 Still if misfortune
prev
