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Introduction to The Oresteian Trilogy
by translator Philip Vellacott Copyright © Philip Vellacott, 1956, 1959 | ||
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The Translation |
The highest ideal of a translation from Greek is achieved when the reader flings it impatiently into the fire, and begins patiently to learn the language for himself. | Topic: |
text checked (see note) Jan 2005 |
Agamemnon
translated by Philip Vellacott Copyright © Philip Vellacott, 1956, 1959 | ||
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Chorus: Zeus, whose will has marked for man The sole way where wisdom lies; Ordered one eternal plan: Man must suffer to be wise. Head-winds heavy with past ill Stray his course and cloud his heart: Sorrow takes the blind souls part Man grows wise against his will. For powers who rule from thrones above By ruthlessness commend their love. | Topics: | |
Chorus: [...] They sent forth men to battle, But no such men return; And home, to claim their welcome, Come ashes in an urn. For Wars a banker, flesh his gold. There by the furnace of Troys field, Where thrust meets thrust, he sits to hold His scale, and watch the spear-point sway; And back to waiting homes he sends Slag from the ore, a little dust To drain hot tears from hearts of friends; Good measure, safely stored and sealed In a convenient jar the just Price for the man they sent away. | Topic: | |
Herald: Well, its no time for moaning; all thats over now. And those who died out there its over for them too; No need to jump to orders; they can take their rest. Why call the roll of those who were expendable, And make the living wince from old wounds probed again? Nor much hurrahing either, if were sensible. For us whove come safe home the good weighs heaviest, And what weve suffered counts for less. | ||
Chorus: Well, I was wrong, I own it. Old and ready to learn Is always young. | Topic: | |
Chorus: Telling a fair tale falsely cannot hide the truth; When truth and good news part, the rift shows plain enough. | Topic: | |
Chorus: When Earth and Time were young, A simple ancient saw Phrased on the common tongue Declared that mans good fortune, once mature, Does not die childless, but begets its heir; That from lifes goodness grows, by Natures law, Calamity past cure And ultimate despair. I think alone; my mind Rejects this general belief. Sin, not prosperity, engenders grief; For impious acts breed their own kind, And evils nature is to multiply. The house whose ways are just in word and deed Still as the years go by Sees lasting wealth and noble sons succeed. | ||
Chorus: But Justice with her shining eyes Lights the smoke-begrimed and mean Dwelling; honours those who prize Honour; searches far to find All whose hearts and hands are clean; Passes with averted gaze Golden palaces which hide Evil armed in insolence; Power and riches close combined, Falsely stamped with all mens praise, Win from her no reverence. | Topic: | |
text checked (see note) Jan 2005 |
The Coephori (The Libation-Bearers) translated by Philip Vellacott Copyright © Philip Vellacott, 1956, 1959 | ||
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Chorus: Pray simply, Let one come to shed blood for blood shed. Electra:Would not a prayer like that seem impious to the gods? Chorus:Why? Evil for evil is no impiety. | Topic: | |
Electra: Children preserve alive a dead mans name and fame. They are like corks that hold the fishermans net, and keep His knotted lines from sinking to the ocean bed. | Topic: | |
Chorus: [...] A wise messenger makes a crooked message straight. | Topic: | |
text checked (see note) Jan 2005 |
The Eumenides
translated by Philip Vellacott Copyright © Philip Vellacott, 1956, 1959 | ||
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Chorus: For fear, enforcing goodness, Must somewhere reign enthroned, And watch mens ways, and teach them, Through self-inflicted sorrow, That sin is not condoned. What man, no longer nursing Fear at his heart what city, Once fear is cast away, Will bow the knee to Justice As in an earlier day? | Topic: | |
Apollo: [...] Chains may be loosed, with little harm, And many ways to mend it. But when blood of man Sinks in the thirsty dust, the life once lost can live No more. For death alone my father has ordained No healing spell; all other things his effortless And sovereign power casts down or raises up at will. | Topic: | |
Athene: [...] If you befoul a shining spring with an impure And muddy dribble, you will come in vain to drink. [ So, do not taint pure laws with new expediency. ] * Guard well and reverence that form of government Which will eschew alike licence and slavery; And from your polity do not wholly banish fear, For what man living, freed from fear, will still be just? * Note (Hals): end note | Topic: | |
text checked (see note) Jan 2005 |