the suppliants-第1章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE SUPPLIANTS
by Aeschylus
translated by E。D。A。 Morshead
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
DANAUS
THE KING OF ARGOS
HERALD OF AEGYPTUS
CHORUS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS
Attendants
SUPPLIANTS
（SCENE：…A sacred precinct near the shore in Argos。 Several statues
of the gods can be seen； as well as a large altar。 As the play
opens； DANAUS； and his fifty daughters； the maidens who compose
the CHORUS； enter。 Their costumes have an oriental richness about
them not characteristic of the strictly Greek。 They carry also the
wands of suppliants。 The CHORUS is singing。）
CHORUS
Zeus！ Lord and guard of suppliant hands
Look down benign on us who crave
Thine aid…whom winds and waters drave
From where； through drifting shifting sands；
Pours Nilus to the wave。
From where the green land； god…possest；
Closes and fronts the Syrian waste；
We flee as exiles； yet unbanned
By murder's sentence from our land；
But…since Aegyptus had decreed
His sons should wed his brother's seed；…
Ourselves we tore from bonds abhorred；
From wedlock not of heart but hand；
Nor brooked to call a kinsman lord！
And Danaus； our sire and guide；
The king of counsel； pond'ring well
The dice of fortune as they fell；
Out of two griefs the kindlier chose；
And bade us fly； with him beside；
Heedless what winds or waves arose；
And o'er the wide sea waters haste；
Until to Argos' shore at last
Our wandering pinnace came…
Argos； the immemorial home
Of her from whom we boast to come…
Io； the ox…horned maiden； whom；
After long wandering； woe； and scathe；
Zeus with a touch； a mystic breath；
Made mother of our name。
Therefore； of all the lands of earth；
On this most gladly step we forth；
And in our hands aloft we bear…
Sole weapon for a suppliant's wear…
The olive…shoot； with wool enwound！
City； and land； and waters wan
Of Inachus； and gods most high；
And ye who； deep beneath the ground；
Bring vengeance weird on mortal man；
Powers of the grave； on you we cry！
And unto Zeus the Saviour； guard
Of mortals' holy purity！
Receive ye us…keep watch and ward
Above the suppliant maiden band！
Chaste be the heart of this your land
Towards the weak！ but； ere the throng；
The wanton swarm； from Egypt sprung；
Leap forth upon the silted shore；
Thrust back their swift…rowed bark again；
Repel them； urge them to the main！
And there； 'mid storm and lightning's shine；
And scudding drift and thunder's roar；
Deep death be theirs； in stormy brine！
Before they foully grasp and win
Us； maiden…children of their kin；
And climb the couch by law denied；
And wrong each weak reluctant bride。
strophe 1
And now on her I call；
Mine ancestress； who far on Egypt's shore
A young cow's semblance wore；…
A maiden once； by Hera's malice changed！
And then on him withal；
Who； as amid the flowers the grazing creature ranged；
Was in her by a breath of Zeus conceived；
And； as the hour of birth drew nigh；
By fate fulfilled； unto the light he came；…
And Epaphus for name；
Born from the touch of Zeus； the child received
antistrophe 1
On him； on him I cry；
And him for patron hold…
While in this grassy vale I stand；
Where lo roamed of old！
And here； recounting all her toil and pain；
Signs will I show to those who rule the land
That I am child of hers； and all shall understand；
Hearing the doubtful tale of the dim past made plain。
strophe 2
And； ere the end shall be；
Each man the truth of what I tell shall see。
And if there dwell hard by
One skilled to read from bird…notes augury；
That man； when through his ears shall thrill our tearful wail；
Shall deem he hears the voice； the plaintive tale
Of her； the piteous spouse of Tereus； lord of guile…
Whom the hawk harries yet； the mourning nightingale。
antistrophe 2
She； from her happy home and fair streams scared away；
Wails wild and sad for haunts beloved erewhile。
Yea； and for Itylus…ah； well…a…day！
Slain by her own； his mother's hand；
Maddened by lustful wrong； the deed by Tereus planned！
strophe 3
Like her I wail and wail； in soft lonian tones；
And as she wastes； even so
Wastes my soft cheek； once ripe with Nilus' suns；
And all my heart dissolves in utter woe。
Sad flowers of grief I cull；
Fleeing from kinsmen's love unmerciful…
Yea； from the clutching hands； the wanton crowd；
I sped across the waves； from Egypt's land of cloud。
antistrophe 3
Gods of the ancient cradle of my race；
Hear me； just gods！ With righteous grace
On me； on me look down！
Grant not to youth its heart's unchaste desire；
But； swiftly spurning lust's unholy fire；
Bless only love and willing wedlock's crown！
The war…worn fliers from the battle's wrack
Find refuge at the hallowed altar…side；
The sanctuary divine；…
Ye gods！ such refuge unto me provide…
Such sanctuary be mine！
strophe 4
Though the deep will of Zeus be hard to track；
Yet doth it flame and glance；
A beacon in the dark； 'mid clouds of chance
That wrap mankind。
antistrophe 4
Yea； though the counsel fall； undone it shall not lie；
Whate'er be shaped and fixed within Zeus' ruling mind…
Dark as a solemn grove； with sombre leafage shaded；
His paths of purpose wind；
A marvel to man's eye。
strophe 5
Smitten by him； from towering hopes degraded；
Mortals lie low and still。…
Tireless and effortless； works forth its will
The arm divine！
God from His holy seat； in calm of unarmed power；
Brings forth the deed； at its appointed hour！
antistrophe 5
Let Him look down on mortal wantonness！
Lo！ how the youthful stock of Belus' line
Craves for me； uncontrolled…
With greed and madness bold…
Urged on by passion's shunless stress…
And； cheated； learns too late the prey has 'scaped their hold！
strophe 6
Ah； listen； listen to my grievous tale；
My sorrow's words； my shrill and tearful cries！
Ah woe； ah woe！
Loud with lament the accents rise；
And from my living lips my own sad dirges flow！
refrain 1
O Apian land of hill and dale；
Thou kennest yet； O land； this faltered foreign wail…
Have mercy； hear my prayer！
Lo； how again； again； rend and tear
My woven raiment； and from off my hair
Cast the Sidonian veil！
antistrophe 6
Ah； but if fortune smile； if death be driven away；
Vowed rites； with eager haste； we to the gods will pay！
Alas； alas again！
O whither drift the waves？ and who shall loose the pain？
refrain 1
