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of Leda; if I showed excessive grief at the thought of resigning my

daughter to Achilles; for though we are sending her to taste of bliss;

still it wrings a parent's heart; when he; the father who has toiled

so hard for them; commits his children to the homes of strangers。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    I am not so void of sense; bethink thee; I shall go through this

as well; when I lead the maiden from the chamber to the sound of the

marriage…hymn; wherefore I chide thee not; but custom will combine

with time to make the smart grow less。

    As touching him; to whom thou hast betrothed our daughter; I

know his name; 'tis true; but would fain learn his lineage and the

land of his birth。

  AGAMEMNON

    There was one Aegina; the daughter of Asopus。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Who wedded her? some mortal or a god?

  AGAMEMNON

    Zeus; and she bare Aeacus; the prince of Cenone。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    What son of Aeacus secured his father's halls?

  AGAMEMNON

    Peleus; who wedded the daughter of Nereus。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    With the god's consent; or when he had taken her in spite of gods?

  AGAMEMNON

    Zeus betrothed her; and her guardian gave consent。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Where did he marry her? amid the billows of the sea?

  AGAMEMNON

    In Chiron's home; at sacred Pelion's foot。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    What! the abode ascribed to the race of Centaurs?

  AGAMEMNON

    It was there the gods celebrated the marriage feast of Peleus。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Did Thetis or his father train Achilles?

  AGAMEMNON

    Chiron brought him up; to prevent his learning the ways of the

wicked。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Ah wise the teacher; still wiser the father; who intrusted his son

to such hands。

  AGAMEMNON

    Such is the future husband of thy daughter。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    A blameless lord; but what city in Hellas is his?

  AGAMEMNON

    He dwells on the banks of the river Apidanus; in the borders of

Phthia。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Wilt thou convey our daughter thither?

  AGAMEMNON

    He who takes her to himself will see to that。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Happiness attend the pair! Which day will he marry her?

  AGAMEMNON

    As soon as the full moon comes to give its blessing。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Hast thou already offered the goddess a sacrifice to usher in

the maiden's marriage?

  AGAMEMNON

    I am about to do so; that is the very thing I was engaged in。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Wilt thou celebrate the marriage…feast thereafter?

  AGAMEMNON

    Yes; when I have offered a sacrifice required by Heaven of me。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    But where am I to make ready the feast for the women?

  AGAMEMNON

    Here beside our gallant Argive ships。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Finely here! but still I must; good come of it for all that!

  AGAMEMNON

    I will tell thee; lady; what to do; so obey me now。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Wherein? for I was ever wont to yield thee obedience。

  AGAMEMNON

    Here; where the bridegroom is; will!

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Which of my duties will ye perform in the mother's absence?

  AGAMEMNON

    Give thy child away with help of Danai。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    And where am I to be the while?

  AGAMEMNON

    Get thee to Argos; and take care of thy unwedded daughters。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    And leave my child? Then who will raise her bridal torch?

  AGAMEMNON

    I will provide the proper wedding torch。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    That is not the custom; but thou thinkest lightly of these things。

  AGAMEMNON

    It is not good thou shouldst be alone among a soldier…crowd。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    It is good that a mother should give her own child away。

  AGAMEMNON

    Aye; and that those maidens at home should not be left alone。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    They are in safe keeping; pent in their maiden…bowers。

  AGAMEMNON

    Obey。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Nay; by the goddess…queen of Argos! go; manage matters out of

doors; but in the house it is my place to decide what is proper for

maidens at their wedding。 Exit。

  AGAMEMNON

    Woe is me! my efforts are baffled; I am disappointed in my hope;

anxious as I was to get my wife out of sight; foiled at every point; I

form my plots and subtle schemes against my best…beloved。 But I will

go; in spite of all; with Calchas the priest; to inquire the goddess's

good pleasure; fraught with ill…luck as it is to me; and with

trouble to Hellas。 He who is wise should keep in his house a good

and useful wife or none at all。

                                                                Exit。



  CHORUS

    They say the Hellenes' gathered host will come in arms aboard

their ships to Simois with its silver eddies; even to Ilium; the plain

of Troy beloved by Phoebus; where famed Cassandra; I am told; whene'er

the god's resistless prophecies inspire her; wildly tosses her

golden tresses; wreathed with crown of verdant bay。 And on the

towers of Troy and round her walls shall Trojans stand; when sea…borne

troops with brazen shields row in on shapely ships to the channels

of the Simois; eager to take Helen; the sister of that heavenly pair

whom Zeus begat; from Priam; and bear her back to Hellas by toil of

Achaea's shields and spears; encircling Pergamus; the Phrygians' town;

with murderous war around her stone…built towers; dragging men's heads

backward to cut their throats; and sacking the citadel of Troy from

roof to base; a cause of many tears to maids and Priam's wife; and

Helen; the daughter of Zeus; shall weep in bitter grief; because she

left her lord。

    Oh! ne'er may there appear to me or to my children's children

the prospect which the wealthy Lydian dames and Phrygia's brides

will have; as at their looms they hold converse: 〃Say who will pluck

this fair blossom from her ruined country; tightening his grasp on

lovely tresses till the tears flow? 'Tis all through thee; the

offspring of the long…necked swan; if indeed it be a true report

that Leda bare thee to a winged bird; when Zeus transformed himself

thereto; or whether; in the pages of the poets; fables have carried

these tales to men's ears idly; out of season。〃



                           Enter ACHILLES。



  ACHILLES

    Where in these tents is Achaea's general? Which of his servants

will announce to him that Achilles; the son of Peleus; is at his gates

seeking him? For this delay at the Euripus is not the same for all

of us; there be some; for instance; who; though still unwed; have left

their houses desolate and are idling here upon the beach; while others

are married and have children; so strange the longing for this

expedition that has fallen on their hearts by Heaven's will。 My own

just plea must I declare; and whoso else hath any wish will speak

for himself。 Though I have left Pharsalia and Peleus; still I linger

here by reason of these light breezes at the Euripus; restraining my

Myrmidons; while they are ever instant with me saying; 〃Why do we

tarry; Achilles? how much longer must we count the days to the start

for Ilium? do something; if thou art so minded; else lead home thy

men; and wait not for the tardy action of these Atridae。〃



                        Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA。



  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Hail to thee; son of the Nereid goddess! I heard thy voice from

within the tent and therefore came forth。

  ACHILLES

    O modesty revered! who can this lady be whom I behold; so richly

dowered with beauty's gifts?

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    No wonder thou knowest me not; seeing I am one thou hast never

before set eyes on; I praise thy reverent address to modesty。

  ACHILLES

    Who art thou; and wherefore art thou come to the mustering of

the Danai…thou; a woman; to a fenced camp of men?

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    The daughter of Leda I; my name Clytaemnestra; and my husband king

Agamemnon。

  ACHILLES

    Well and shortly answered on all important points! but it ill

befits that I should stand talking to women。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    Stay; why seek to fly? Give me thy hand; a prelude to a happy

marriage。

  ACHILLES

    What is it thou sayest? I give thee my hand? Were I to lay a

finger where I have no right; I could ne'er meet Agamemnon's eye。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    The best of rights hast thou; seeing it is my child thou wilt wed;

O son of the sea…goddess; whom Nereus begat。

  ACHILLES

    What wedding dost thou speak of? words fail me; lady; can thy wits

have gone astray and art thou inventing this?

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    All men are naturally shy in the presence of new relations; when

these remind them of their wedding。

  ACHILLES

    Lady; I have never wooed daughter of thine; nor have the sons of

Atreus ever mentioned marriage to me。

  CLYTAEMNESTRA

    What can it mean? thy turn now to marvel at my words; for thine

are passing strange to me。

  ACHILLES

    Hazard a guess; that we can both do in this matter; for it may

be we are both correct in our 

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