Story of Orestes | Page 6

oft I groaned in gloom of heart. Her. Whence came these
bodings that an army hates? Chor. Silence I've held long since a charm
for ill. Her. How, when your lords were absent, feared ye any? Chor.
To use thy words, death now would welcome be. {533} The Herald,
not understanding the source of the Chorus' misgiving, goes on to say
of course their success is mixed: so fare all but the Gods. They have
had their tossings on the sea, their exposure to the night dews till their
hair is shaggy as beasts'; but why remember these now? our toil is

past--so he suddenly recollects is that of the dead they have left
behind--but he will shake off these feelings: Troy is captured. The
Chorus feel youthful with such happy tidings. {569}
Enter Clytaemnestra from the Palace.
Clyt. Now they will believe me, who were saying just now that women
believed too soon. What joy for a wife equal to that of a husband's
return? and I have kept my trust as stainless as bronze. [Exit into
Palace.] The Foreman goes on to enquire as to Menelaus: the Herald
would fain not answer, and brings out the Greek dread of mingling bad
news with good--at last he is forced to acknowledge Menelaus has
disappeared, his ship sundered from the fleet by a terrible storm in
which
They a compact swore who erst were foes, Ocean and Fire, {634}
and the sea 'blossomed with wrecks of ships and dead Achaeans:' the
fleet itself barely escaped. [Thus: foreboding indirectly assisted by its
appearing that one of the two sons of Atreus has already been
overtaken by Nemesis.] {663}
CHORAL INTERLUDE II
[Positions, etc., as before.]
Strophe I: to the Right.
Who could foresee so well and give her the name Helen--a Hell[3] to
men and ships and towers? She came out of bowers of gorgeous
curtains, she sailed with breezes soft as Zephyrs yet strong as Titans,
and unseen reached the leafy banks of the Simois; but bloodshed was in
her train, and on her track followed hosts of hunters that carried shields.
{680}
Antistrophe I: back to Altar.
So there is a wrath that works vengeance after long waiting: to the Ilion

that received her she was a dear bride: then there was a shout of 'Paris,
Paris,' in the Bridal Song: now his city has celebrated a Wedding of
Death, and called on Paris' name in other tones. {695}
Strophe II: Altar to Left.
So once a lion's cub, A mischief in his house, As foster child one reared,
While still it loved the teats; In life's preluding dawn Tame, by the
children loved, And fondled by the old, Oft in his arms 'twas held, Like
infant newly born, With eyes that brightened to the hand that stroked,
And fawning at the hest of hunger keen. {704}
Antistrophe II: back to Altar.
But when full-grown, it showed The nature of its sires; For it unbidden
made A feast in recompense Of all their fostering care, By banquet of
slain sheep; With blood the house was stained, A curse no slaves could
check, Great mischief murderous: By God's decree a priest of Ate thus
Was reared, and grew within the man's own house. {715}
Strophe III: Altar to Right.
So I would tell that thus to Ilion came Mood as of calm when all the air
is still, The gentle pride and joy of kingly state, A tender glance of eye,
The full-blown blossom of a passionate love, Thrilling the very soul;
And yet she turned aside, And wrought a bitter end of marriage feast,
Coming to Priam's race, Ill sojourner, ill friend, Sent by great Zeus, the
God of host and guest-- Erinnys, for whom wives weep many tears.
{726}
Antistrophe III: back to Altar.
The time-honored saying is that Prosperity grown big will not die
childless, its offspring will be a Woe insatiable. I say no, it is not the
Prosperity, it is an Impious deed that breeds Impious deeds like the
parent stock. {737}
Strophe IV: from Altar to Left.

Recklessness begets Recklessness, this begets full-flushed Lust and
Godforgetting Daring, two black curses to a household. {746}
Antistrophe IV: back to Altar.
Justice will dwell in houses blackened with smoke where life is ruled
by law, but averts her eyes from gold-decked mansions conjoined with
hands denied: and it is this Justice that is directing the course of things
to its appointed goal. {755}
At this point, a grand Procession of the returning Warriors from Troy
enters Stage and Orchestra by the Left Side-Door (signifying distance):
Agamemnon in his chariot, followed in another chariot by Cassandra
as captive, but still in the garb of prophetess: then a train of Soldiers
laden with trophies and leading a train of Troïan captive