The House of Atreus Part 32

CHORUS

I, I dishonoured in this earth to dwell,-- Ancient of days and wisdom! I breathe forth Poison and breath of frenzied ire. O Earth, Woe, woe, for thee, for me!

From side to side what pains be these that thrill?

Hearken, O mother Night, my wrath, mine agony!

Whom from mine ancient rights the G.o.ds have thrust And brought me to the dust-- Woe, woe is me!--with craft invincible.

ATHENA

Older art thou than I, and I will bear With this thy fury. Know, although thou be More wise in ancient wisdom, yet have I From Zeus no scanted measure of the same, Wherefore take heed unto this prophecy-- If to another land of alien men Ye go, too late shall ye feel longing deep For mine. The rolling tides of time bring round A day of brighter glory for this town; And thou, enshrined in honour by the halls Where dwelt Erechtheus, shalt a wors.h.i.+p win From men and from the train of womankind, Greater than any tribe elsewhere shall pay.

Cast thou not therefore on this soil of mine Whetstones that sharpen souls to bloodshedding.

The burning goads of youthful hearts, made hot With frenzy of the spirit, not of wine.

Nor pluck as 'twere the heart from c.o.c.ks that strive, To set it in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of citizens Of mine, a war-G.o.d's spirit, keen for fight, Made stern against their country and their kin.

The man who grievously doth l.u.s.t for fame, War, full, immitigable, let him wage Against the stranger; but of kindred birds I hold the challenge hateful. Such the boon I proffer thee--within this land of lands, Most loved of G.o.ds, with me to show and share Fair mercy, grat.i.tude and grace as fair.

CHORUS

I, I dishonoured in this earth to dwell,-- Ancient of days and wisdom! I breathe forth Poison and breath of frenzied ire. O Earth, Woe, woe for thee, for me!

From side to side what pains be these that thrill?

Hearken, O mother Night, my wrath, mine agony!

Whom from mine ancient rights the G.o.ds have thrust, And brought me to the dust-- Woe, woe is me!--with craft invincible.

ATHENA

I will not weary of soft words to thee, That never mayst thou say, _Behold me spurned, An elder by a younger deity, And from this land rejected and forlorn, Unhonoured by the men who dwell therein_.

But, if Persuasion's grace be sacred to thee, Soft in the soothing accents of my tongue, Tarry, I pray thee; yet, if go thou wilt, Not rightfully wilt thou on this my town Sway down the scale that beareth wrath and teen Or wasting plague upon this folk. 'Tis thine, If so thou wilt, inheritress to be Of this my land, its utmost grace to win.

CHORUS

O queen, what refuge dost thou promise me?

ATHENA

Refuge untouched by bale: take thou my boon.

CHORUS

What, if I take it, shall mine honour be?

ATHENA

No house shall prosper without grace of thine.

CHORUS

Canst thou achieve and grant such power to me?

ATHENA

Yea, for my hand shall bless thy wors.h.i.+ppers.

CHORUS

And wilt thou pledge me this for time eterne?

ATHENA

Yea: none can bid me pledge beyond my power.

CHORUS

Lo, I desist from wrath, appeased by thee.

ATHENA

Then in the land's heart shalt thou win thee friends.

CHORUS

What chant dost bid me raise, to greet the land?

ATHENA

Such as aspires towards a victory Unrued by any: chants from breast of earth, From wave, from sky; and let the wild winds' breath Pa.s.s with soft sunlight o'er the lap of land,-- Strong wax the fruits of earth, fair teem the kine, Unfailing, for my town's prosperity, And constant be the growth of mortal seed.

But more and more root out the impious, For as a gardener fosters what he sows, So foster I this race, whom righteousness Doth fend from sorrow. Such the proffered boon.

But I, if wars must be, and their loud clash And carnage, for my town, will ne'er endure That aught but victory shall crown her fame.

CHORUS

Lo, I accept it; at her very side Doth Pallas bid me dwell: I will not wrong the city of her pride, Which even Almighty Zeus and Ares hold Heaven's earthly citadel, Loved home of Grecian G.o.ds, the young, the old, The sanctuary divine, The s.h.i.+eld of every shrine!

For Athens I say forth a gracious prophecy,-- The glory of the sunlight and the skies Shall bid from earth arise Warm wavelets of new life and glad prosperity.

ATHENA

Behold, with gracious heart well pleased I for my citizens do grant Fulfilment of this covenant: And here, their wrath at length appeased, These mighty deities shall stay, For theirs it is by right to sway The lot that rules our mortal day, And he who hath not inly felt Their stern decree, ere long on him, Not knowing why and whence, the grim Life-crus.h.i.+ng blow is dealt.

The father's sin upon the child Descends, and sin is silent death, And leads him on the downward path, By stealth beguiled, Unto the Furies: though his state On earth were high, and loud his boast, Victim of silent ire and hate He dwells among the Lost.

CHORUS

To my blessing now give ear.-- Scorching blight nor singed air Never blast thine olives fair!

Drouth, that wasteth bud and plant, Keep to thine own place. Avaunt, Famine fell, and come not hither Stealthily to waste and wither!

Let the land, in season due, Twice her waxing fruits renew; Teem the kine in double measure; Rich in new G.o.d-given treasure; Here let men the powers adore For sudden gifts unhoped before!

ATHENA

O hearken, warders of the wall That guards mine Athens, what a dower Is unto her ordained and given!

For mighty is the Furies' power, And deep-revered in courts of heaven And realms of h.e.l.l; and clear to all They weave thy doom, mortality!

And some in joy and peace shall sing; But unto other some they bring Sad life and tear-dimmed eye.

CHORUS