andromache-第7章
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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 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 th
