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第5章

ajax-第5章

小说: ajax 字数: 每页4000字

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    Utter no proud words。

  AJAX

    Speak to those who listen。

  TECMESSA

    Wilt thou not heed?

  AJAX

    Too much thou hast spoken already。

  TECMESSA

    Yes; through my fears; O king。

  AJAX

    Close the doors quickly。

  TECMESSA

    For the gods' love; relent。

  AJAX

    'Tis a foolish hope;

    If thou shouldst now propose to school my mood。



  (The doors are closed upon AJAX。 TECMESSA goes out with EURYSACES。)



  CHORUS (singing)



                                                            strophe 1



    O famed Salamis; thou amidst

    Breaking surges abidest ever

    Blissful; a joy to the eyes of all men。

    But I the while long and wearily tarrying

    Through countless months still encamped on the fields of Ida

    In misery here have made my couch;

    By time broken and worn;

    In dread waiting the hour

    When I shall enter at last the terrible shadow abode of Hades。



                                                        antistrophe 1



    Now dismays me a new despair;

    This incurable frenzy (woe; ah

    Woe's me!) cast by the gods on Ajax;

    Whom thou of old sentest forth from thy shores; a strong

    And valiant chief; but now; to his friends a sore grief;

    Devouring his lonely heart he sits。

    His once glorious deeds

    Are now fallen and scorned;

    Fallen to death without love from the loveless and pitiless sons

      of Atreus。



                                                            strophe 2



    His mother; 'tis most like; burdened with many days;

    And whitened with old age; when she shall hear how frenzy

    Has smitten his soul to ruin;

    Ailinon! ailinon!

    Will break forth her despair; not as the nightingale's

    Plaintive; tender lament; no; but in passion's wailing

    Shrill…toned cries; and with fierce strokes

    Wildly smiting her bosom;

    In grief's anguish her hands will rend her grey locks。



                                                        antistrophe 2



    Yea; better Hell should hide one who is sick in soul;

    Though there be none than he sprung from a nobler lineage

    Of the war…weary Greeks; yet

    Strayed from his inbred mood

    Now amidst alien thoughts dwells he a stranger。

    Hapless father! alas; bitter the tale that waits thee;

    Thy son's grievous affliction。

    No life save his alone

    Of Aeacid kings such a curse has ever haunted。



  (AJAX enters; carrying a sword。 As he speaks; TECMESSA also enters。)



  AJAX

    All things the long and countless lapse of time

    Brings forth。 displays; then hides once more in gloom。

    Nought is too strange to look for; but the event

    May mock the sternest oath; the firmest will。

    Thus I; who late so strong; so stubborn seemed

    Like iron dipped; yet now grow soft with pity

    Before this woman; whom I am loath to leave

    Midst foes a widow with this orphaned child。

    But I will seek the meadows by the shore:

    There will I wash and purge these stains; if so

    I may appease Athena's heavy wrath。

    Then will I find some lonely place; where I

    May hide this sword; beyond all others cursed;

    Buried where none may see it; deep in earth。

    May night and Hades keep it there below。

    For from that hour my hand accepted it;

    The gift of Hector; deadliest of my foes;

    Nought from the Greeks towards me hath sped well。

    So now I find that ancient proverb true;

    Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none。

    Therefore henceforth I study to obey

    The Gods; and reverence the sons of Atreus。

    Our rulers are they: we must yield。 How else?

    For to authority yield all things most dread

    And mighty。 Thus must Winter's snowy feet

    Give place to Summer with her wealth of fruits;

    And from her weary round doth Night withdraw;

    That Day's white steeds may kindle heaven with light。

    After fierce tempest calm will ever lull

    The moaning sea; and Sleep; that masters all;

    Binds life awhile; yet loosens soon the bond。

    And who am I that I should not learn wisdom?

    Of all men I; whom proof hath taught of late

    How so far only should we hate our foes

    As though we soon might love them; and so far

    Do a friend service; as to one most like

    Some day to prove our foe; since oftenest men

    In friendship but a faithless haven find。

    Thus well am I resolved。 (To TECMESSA) Thou; woman; pass

    Within; and pray the gods that all things so

    May be accomplished as my heart desires。

    And you; friends; heed my wishes as she doth;

    And when he comes; bid Teucer he must guard

    My rights at need; and withal stand your friend。

    For now I go whither I needs must pass。

    Do as I bid。 Soon haply you shall hear;

    With me; for all this misery; 'tis most well。

                         (AJAX departs。 TECMESSA goes into the tent。)

  CHORUS (singing)



                                                              strophe



    I thrill with rapture; flutter on wings of ecstasy。

    Io; Io; Pan; Pan!

    O Pan; Pan! from the stony ridge;

    Snow…bestrewn of Cyllene's height

    Appear roving across the waters;

    O dance…ordering king of gods;

    That thou mayst join me in flinging free

    Fancy measures of Nysa and of Cnossus。

    Yea for the dance I now am eager。

    And over the far Icarian billows come; O king Apollo;

    From Delos in haste; come thou;

    Thy kindly power here in our midst revealing。



                                                          antistrophe



    Ares hath lifted horror and anguish from our eyes。

    Io; Io! Now again;

    Now; O Zeus; can the bright and blithe

    Glory of happier days return

    To our swift…voyaging ships; for now

    Hath Ajax wholly forgot his grief;

    And all rites due to the gods he now

    Fain would meetly perform with loyal worship。

    Mighty is time to dwindle all things。

    Nought would I call too strange for belief; when Ajax thus beyond

      hope

    Hath learnt to repent his proud feuds;

    And lay aside anger against the Atreidae。

                                                (A MESSENGER enters。)

  MESSENGER

    My friends; these tiding I would tell you first:

    Teucer is present; from the Mysian heights

    But now returned; and in the central camp

    By all the Greeks at once is being reviled。

    As he drew near they knew him from afar;

    Then gathering around him one and all

    With taunts assailed him from this side and that;

    Calling him kinsman of that maniac;

    That plotter against the host; saying that nought

    Should save him; stoned and mangled he must die。

    And so they had come to such a pitch that swords

    Plucked from their sheaths stood naked in men's hands。

    Yet when the strife ran highest; it was stayed

    By words from the elders and so reconciled。

    But where is Ajax? I must speak with him。

    He whom it most concerns must be told all。

  LEADER OF THE CHORUS

    He is not within; but has just now gone forth

    With a new purpose yoked to a new mood。

  MESSENGER

    Alas! Alas!

    Then too late on this errand was I sped

    By him who sent me; or I have proved too slow。

  LEADER

    What urgent need has been neglected here?

  MESSENGER

    Teucer forbade that Ajax should go forth

    Outside his hut; till he himself should come。

  LEADER

    Well; he is gone。 To wisest purpose now

    His mind is turned; to appease heaven's wrath。

  MESSENGER

    These words of thine are filled with utter folly;

    If there was truth in Calchas' prophecy。

  LEADER

    What prophecy? And what know you of this thing?

  MESSENGER

    Thus much I know; for by chance I was present。

    Leaving the circle of consulting chiefs

    Where sat the Atreidae; Ca

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