ajax-第5章
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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