the choephori-第6节
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Beyond the doors？ Where goest thou？ Methinks
Some grief unbidden walketh at thy side。
NURSE
My mistress bids me； with what speed I may；
Call in Aegisthus to the stranger guests；
That he may come； and stinding face to face；
A man with men； way thus more clearly learn
This rumour new。 Thus speaking； to her slaves
Laughter for what is wrought…to her desire
Too well； but ill； ill； ill besets the house；
Brought by the tale these guests have told so clear。
And he； God wot； will gladden all his heart
Hearing this rumour。 Woe and well…a…day！
The bitter mingled cup of ancient woes；
Hard to be borne； that here in Atreus' house
Befell； was grievous to mine inmost heart；
But never yet did I endure such pain。
All else I bore with set soul patiently；
But now…alack； alack！Orestes dear；
The day and night…long travail of my soul
Whom from his mother's womb； a new…born child；
I clasped and cherished！ Many a time and oft
Toilsome and profitless my service was；
When his shrill outcry called me from my couch！
For the young child； before the sense is born；
Hath but a dumb thing's life； must needs be nursed
As its own nature bids。 The swaddled thing
Hath nought of speech； whate'er discomfort come；…
Hunger or thirst or lower weakling need；…
For the babe's stomach works its own relief。
Which knowing well before； yet oft surprised；
'Twas mine to cleanse the swaddling clothes…poor
Was nurse to tend and fuller to make white：
Two works in one； two handicrafts I took；
When in mine arms the father laid the boy。
And now he's dead…alack and well…a…day！
Yet must I go to him whose wrongful power
Pollutes this house…fair tidings these to him！
LEADER
Say then； with what array she bids him come？
NURSE
What say'st thou！ Speak。 more clearly for mine ear。
LEADER
Bids she bring henchmen； or to come alone？
NURSE
She bids him bring a spear…armed body…guard。
Nay； tell not that unto our loathed lord；
But speed to him； put on the mien of joy；
Say； Come alone； fear nought； the news is good：
A bearer can tell straight a twisted tale。
NURSE
Does then thy mind in this new tale find joy？
LEADER
What if Zeus bid our ill wind veer to fair？
NURSE
And how？ the home's hope with Orestes dies。
LEADER
Not yet…a seer； though feeble； this might see。
NURSE
What say'st thou？ Know'st thou aught； this tale belying？
LEADER
Go； tell the news to him； perform thine hest；…
What the gods will； themselves can well provide。
NURSE
Well； I will go； herein obeying thee；
And luck fall fair； with favour sent from heaven。
（She goes out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Zeus； sire of them who on Olympus dwell；
Hear thou； O hear my prayer！
Grant to my rightful lords to prosper well
Even as their zeal is fair！
For right； for right goes up aloud my cry…
Zeus； aid him； stand anigh！
refrain 1
Into his father's hall he goes
To smite his father's foes。
Bid him prevail by thee on throne of triumph set；
Twice； yea and thrice with joy shall he acquit the debt。
antistrophe 1
Bethink thee； the young steed； the orphan foal
Of sire beloved by thee； unto the car
Of doom is harnessed fast。
Guide him aright； plant firm a lasting goal；
Speed thou his pace；…O that no chance may mar
The homeward course； the last！
strophe 2
And ye who dwell within the inner chamber
Where shines the stored joy of gold…
Gods of one heart； O hear ye； and remember；
Up and avenge the blood shed forth of old；
With sudden rightful blow；
Then let the old curse die； nor be renewed
With progeny of blood；…
Once more； and not again； be latter guilt laid low！
refrain 2
O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave；
Grant us to see this home once more restored
Unto its rightful lord！
Let it look forth； from veils of death； with joyous eye
Unto the dawning light of liberty；
antistrophe 2
And Hermes； Maia's child； lend hand to save；
Willing the right； and guide
Our state with Fortune's breeze adown the favouring tide。
Whate'er in darkness hidden lies；
He utters at his will；
He at his will throws darkness on our eyes；
By night and eke by day inscrutable。
strophe 3
Then； then shall wealth atone
The ills that here were done。
Then； then will we unbind；
Fling free on wafting wind
Of joy； the woman's voice that waileth now
In piercing accents for a chief laid low；
refrain 3
And this our song shall be…
Hail to the commonwealth restored！
Hail to the freedom won to me！
All hail！ for doom hath passed from him； my well…loved lord！
antistrophe 3
And thou； O child； when Time and Chance agree；
Up to the deed that for thy sire is done！
And if she wail unto thee； Spare； O son…
Cry； Aid； O father…and achieve the deed；
The horror of man's tongue； the gods' great need！
Hold in thy breast such heart as Perseus had；
The bitter woe work forth；
Appease the summons of the dead；
The wrath of friends on earth；
Yea； set within a sign of blood and doom；
And do to utter death him that polilites thy home。
（AEGISTHUS enters alone。）
AEGISTHUS
Hither and not unsummoned have I come；
For a new rumour； borne by stranger men
Arriving hither； hath attained mine ears；
Of hap unwished…for； even Orestes' death。
This were new sorrow； a blood…bolter'd load
Laid on the house that doth already bow
Beneath a former wound that festers deep。
Dare I opine these words have truth and life？
Or are they tales； of woman's terror born；
That fly in the void air； and die disproved？
Canst thou tell aught； and prove it to my soul？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What we have heard； we heard； go thou within
Thyself to ask the strangers of their tale。
Strengthless are tidings； thro' another heard；
Question is his； to whom the tale is brought。
AEGISTHUS
I too will meet and test the messenger；
Whether himself stood witness of the death；
Or tells it merely from dim rumour learnt：
None shall cheat me； whose soul hath watchful eyes。
（He goes into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
Zeus； Zeus！ what word to me is given？
What cry or prayer； invoking heaven；
Shall first by me be uttered？
What speech of craft…nor all revealing；
Nor all too warily concealing…
Ending my speech； shall aid the deed？
For lo！ in readiness is laid
The dark emprise； the rending blade；
Blood…dropping daggers shall achieve
The dateless doom of Atreus' name；
Or…kindling torch and joyful flame
In sign of new…won liberty…
Once more Orestes shall retrieve
His father's wealth； and； throned on high；
Shall hold the city's fealty。
So mighty is the grasp whereby；
Heaven…holpen； he shall trip and throw；
Unseconded； a double foe。
Ho for the victory！
（A loud cry is heard within。）
VOICE OF AEGISTHUS
Help； help； alas！
CHORUS
Ho there； ho I how is't within？
Is't done？ is't over？ Stand we here aloof
While it is wrought； that guiltless we may seem
Of this dark deed； with death is strife fulfilled。
（An ATTENDANT enters from the palace。）
ATTENDANT
O woe； O woe； my lord is done to death！
Woe； woe； and woe again； Aegisthus gone！
Hasten； fling wide the doors； unloose the bolts
Of the queen's chamber。 O for some young strength
To match the need！ but aid availeth nought
To him laid low for ever。 Help
