eumendides-第5章
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Now are they all undone； the ancient laws；
If here the slayer's cause
Prevail； new wrong for ancient right shall be
If matricide go free。
Henceforth a deed like his by all shall stand；
Too ready to the hand：
Too oft shall parents in the aftertime
Rue and lament this crime；…
Taught； not in false imagining； to feel
Their children's thrusting steel：
No more the wrath； that erst on murder fell
From us； the queens of Hell；
Shall fall； no more our watching gaze impend…
Death shall smite unrestrained。
antistrophe 1
Henceforth shall one unto another cry
Lo； they are stricken； lo； they fall and die
Around me！ and that other answers him；
O thou that lookest that thy woes should cease；
Behold； with dark increase
They throng and press upon thee； yea； and dim
Is all the cure； and every comfort vain！
strophe 2
Let none henceforth cry out； when falls the blow
Of sudden…smiting woe；
Cry out in sad reiterated strain
O Justice； aid！ aid； O ye thrones of Hell！
So though a father or a mother wail
New…smitten by a son； it shall no more avail；
Since； overthrown by wrong； the fane of justice fell！
antistrophe 2
Know； that a throne there is that may not pass away；
And one that sitteth on it…even Fear；
Searching with steadfast eyes man's inner soul：
Wisdom is child of pain； and born with many a tear；
But who henceforth；
What man of mortal men； what nation upon earth；
That holdeth nought in awe nor in the light
Of inner reverence； shall worship Right
As in the older day？
strophe 3
Praise not； O man； the life beyond control；
Nor that which bows unto a tyrant's sway。
Know that the middle way
Is dearest unto God； and they thereon who wend；
They shall achieve the end；
But they who wander or to left or right
Are sinners in his sight。
Take to thy heart this one； this soothfast word…
Of wantonness impiety is sire；
Only from calm control and sanity unstirred
Cometh true weal； the goal of every man's desire。
antistrophe 3
Yea； whatsoe'er befall； hold thou this word of mine：
Bow down at Justice' shrine；
Turn thou thine eyes away from earthly lure；
Nor witk a godless foot that altar spurn。
For as thou dost shall Fate do in return；
And the great doom is sure。
Therefore let each adore a parent's trust；
And each with loyalty revere the guest
That in his halls doth rest。
strophe 4
For whoso uncompelled doth follow what is just；
He ne'er shall be unblest；
Yea； never to the gulf of doom
That man shall come。
But he whose will is set against the gods；
Who treads beyond the law with foot impure；
Till o'er the wreck of Right confusion broods；…
Know that for him； though now he sail secure；
The day of storm shall be； then shall he strive and fail
Down from the shivered yard to furl the sail；
antistrophe 4
And call on Powers； that heed him nought； to save；
And vainly wrestle with the whirling wave。
Hot was his heart with pride…
I shall not fall； he cried。
But him with watching scorn
The god beholds； forlorn；
Tangled in toils of Fate beyond escape；
Hopeless of haven safe beyond the cape…
Till all his wealth and bliss of bygone day
Upon the reef of Rightful Doom is hurled；
And he is rapt away
Unwept； for ever； to the dead forgotten world。
（ATHENA enters； with TWELVE ATHENIAN CITIZENS。 A large
crowd follows。）
ATHENA
O herald； make proclaim； bid all men come。
Then let the shrill blast of the Tyrrhene trump；
Fulfilled with mortal breath； thro' the wide air
Peal a loud summons； bidding all men heed。
For； till my judges fill this judgment…seat；
Silence behoves；…that this whole city learn；
What for all time mine ordinance commands；
And these men； that the cause be judged aright。
（APOLLO enters。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
O king Apollo； rule what is thine own；
But in this thing what share pertains to thee？
APOLLO
First； as a witness come I； for this man
Is suppliant of mine by sacred right；
Guest of my holy hearth and cleansed by me
Of blood…guilt： then； to set me at his side
And in his cause bear part； as part I bore
Erst in his deed； whereby his mother fell。
Let whoso knoweth now announce the cause。
ATHENA （to the CHORUS）
'Tis I announce the cause…first speech be yours；
For rightfully shall they whose plaint is tried
Tell the tale first and set the matter clear。
LEADER
Though we be many； brief shall be our tale。
（To ORESTES）
Answer thou； setting word to match with word；
And first avow…hast thou thy mother slain？
ORESTES
I slew her。 I deny no word hereof。
LEADER
Three falls decide the wrestle…this is one。
ORESTES
Thou vauntest thee…but o'er no final fall。
LEADER
Yet must thou tell the manner of thy deed。
ORESTES
Drawn sword in hand； I gashed her neck。 'Tis told。
LEADER
But by whose word； whose craft； wert thou impelled？
ORESTES
By oracles of him who here attests me。
LEADER
The prophet…god bade thee thy mother slay？
ORESTES
Yea； and thro' him less ill I fared； till now。
LEADER
If the vote grip thee； thou shalt change that word。
ORESTES
Strong is my hope； my buried sire shall aid。
LEADER
Go to now； trust the dead； a matricide！
ORESTES
Yea； for in her combined two stains of sin。
LEADER
How？ speak this clearly to the judges' mind。
ORESTES
Slaying her husband； she did slay my sire。
LEADER
Therefore thou livest； death assoils her deed。
ORESTES
Then while she lived why didst thou hunt her not？
LEADER
She was not kin by blood to him she slew。
ORESTES
And I； am I by blood my mother's kin？
LEADER
O cursed with murder's guilt； how else wert thou
The burden of her womb？ Dost thou forswear
Thy mother's kinship； closest bond of love？
ORESTES
It is thine hour； Apollo…speak the law；
Averring if this deed were justly done；
For done it is； and clear and undenied。
But if to thee this murder's cause seem right
Or wrongful； speak…that I to these may tell。
APOLLO
To you； Athena's mighty council…court；
Justly for justice will I plead； even I；
The prophet…god； nor cheat you by one word。
For never spake I from my prophet…seat
One word； of man； of woman； or of state；
Save what the Father of Olympian gods
Commanded unto me。 I rede you then；
Bethink you of my plea； how strong it stands；
And follow the decree of Zeus our sire；…
For oaths prevail not over Zeus' command。
LEADER
Go to； thou sayest that from Zeus befell
The oracle that this Orestes bade
With vengeance quit the slaying of his sire；
And hold as nought his mother's right of kin！
APOLLO
