the persians-第5章
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Free from the golden curb of power；
For on the rocks； wash'd by the beating flood；
His awe commanding nobles lie in blood。
（ATOSSA returns； clad in the garb of mourning； she carries
offerings for the tomb of Darius。）
ATOSSA
Whoe'er； my friends； in the rough stream of life
Hath struggled with affliction； thence is taught
That； when the flood begins to swell； the heart
Fondly fears all things； when the fav'ring gale
Of Fortune smooths the current； it expands
With unsuspecting confidence； and deems
That gale shall always breathe。 So to my eyes
All things now wear a formidable shape；
And threaten from the gods： my ears are pierced
With sounds far other than of song。 Such ills
Dismay my sick'ning soul： hence from my house
Nor glitt'ring car attends me； nor the train
Of wonted state； while I return； and bear
Libations soothing to the father's shade
In the son's cause； delicious milk； that foams
White from the sacred heifer； liquid honey；
Extract of flowers； and from its virgin fount
The running crystal； this pure draught； that flow'd
From the ancient vine； of power to bathe the spirits
In joy； the yellow olive's fragrant fruit；
That glories in its leaves' unfading verdure；
With flowers of various hues； earth's fairest offspring
Inwreathed。 But you； my friends； amid these rites
Raise high your solemn warblings； and invoke
Your lord； divine Darius； I meanwhile
Will pour these off'rings to the infernal gods。
CHORUS （chanting）
Yes； royal lady； Persia's honour'd grace；
To earth's dark chambers pour thy off'rings： we
With choral hymns will supplicate the powers
That guide the dead； to be propitious to us。
And you； that o'er the realms of night extend
Your sacred sway； thee mighty earth； and the
Hermes； thee chief； tremendous king； whose throne
Awes with supreme dominion； I adjure：
Send； from your gloomy regions； send his shade
Once more to visit this ethereal light；
That he alone； if aught of dread event
He sees yet threat'ning Persia； may disclose
To us poor mortals Fate's extreme decree。
Hears the honour'd godlike king？
These barbaric notes of wo；
Taught in descant sad to ring；
Hears he in the shades below？
Thou； O Earth； and you； that lead
Through your sable realms the dead；
Guide him as he takes his way；
And give him to the ethereal light of day！
Let the illustrious shade arise
Glorious in his radiant state；
More than blazed before our eyes；
Ere sad Susa mourn'd his fate。
Dear he lived； his tomb is dear；
Shrining virtues we revere：
Send then； monarch of the dead；
Such as Darius was； Darius' shade。
He in realm…unpeopling war
Wasted not his subjects' blood；
Godlike in his will to spare；
In his councils wise and good。
Rise then； sovereign lord； to light；
On this mound's sepulchral height
Lift thy sock in saffron died；
And rear thy rich tiara's regal pride！
Great and good； Darius； rise：
Lord of Persia's lord； appear：
Thus involved with thrilling cries
Come； our tale of sorrow hear！
War her Stygian pennons spreads；
Brooding darkness o'er our heads；
For stretch'd along the dreary shore
The flow'r of Asia lies distain'd with gore。
Rise； Darius； awful power；
Long for thee our tears shall flow。
Why thy ruin'd empire o'er
Swells this double flood of wo？
Sweeping o'er the azure tide
Rode thy navy's gallant pride：
Navy now no more； for all
Beneath the whelming wave…
（While the CHORUS Sings； ATOSSA performs her ritual by the tomb。
As the song concludes the GHOST OF DARIUS appears from the tomb。）
GHOST OF DARIUS
Ye faithful Persians； honour'd now in age；
Once the companions of my youth； what ills
Afflict the state？ The firm earth groans； it opes；
Disclosing its vast deeps； and near my tomb
I see my wife： this shakes my troubled soul
With fearful apprehensions； yet her off'rings
Pleased I receive。 And you around my tomb
Chanting the lofty strain； whose solemn air
Draws forth the dead； with grief…attemper'd notes
Mournfully call me： not with ease the way
Leads to this upper air； and the stern gods；
Prompt to admit； yield not a passage back
But with reluctance： much with them my power
Availing； with no tardy step I come。
Say then； with what new ill doth Persia groan？
CHORUS （chanting）
My wonted awe o'ercomes me； in thy presence
I dare not raise my eyes； I dare not speak。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Since from the realms below； by thy sad strains
Adjured； I come； speak； let thy words be brief；
Say whence thy grief； tell me unawed by fear。
I dread to forge a flattering tale； I dread
To grieve thee with a harsh offensive truth。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Since fear hath chained his tongue； high…honour'd dame；
Once my imperial consort； check thy tears；
Thy griefs； and speak distinctly。 Mortal man
Must bear his lot of wo； afflictions rise
Many from sea； many from land； if life
Be haply measured through a lengthen'd course。
ATOSSA
O thou that graced with Fortune's choicest gifts
Surpassing mortals； while thine eye beheld
Yon sun's ethereal rays； lived'st like a god
Bless'd amid thy Persians； bless'd I deem thee now
In death； ere sunk in this abyss of ills；
Darius； hear at once our sum of wo；
Ruin through all her states hath crush'd thy Persia。
GHOST OF DARIUS
By pestilence； or faction's furious storms？
ATOSSA
Not so： near Athens perish'd all our troops。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Say； of my sons； which led the forces thither？
ATOSSA
The impetuous Xerxes； thinning all the land。
GHOST OF DARIUS
By sea or land dared he this rash attempt？
ATOSSA
By both： a double front the war presented。
GHOST OF DARIUS
A host so vast what march conducted o'er？
ATOSSA
From shore to shore he bridged the Hellespont。
GHOST OF DARIUS
What！ could he chain the mighty Bosphorus？
ATOSSA
Ev'n so； some god assisting his design。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Some god of power to cloud his better sense。
ATOSSA
The event now shows what mischiefs he achieved。
GHOST OF DARIUS
What suffer'd they； for whom your sorrows flow？
ATOSSA
His navy sunk spreads ruin through the camp。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Fell all his host beneath the slaught'ring spear？
ATOSSA
Susa； through all her streets； mourns her lost sons。
GHOST OF DARIUS
How vain the succour； the defence of arms？
ATOSSA
In Bactra age and grief are only left。
GHOST OF DARIUS
Ah； what a train of warlike youth is lost！
ATOSSA
Xerxes； astonished； desolate； alone…
GHOST OF DARIUS
How will this end？ Nay； pause not。 Is he safe？
ATOSSA
Fled o'er the bridge； that join'd the adverse strands。
GHOST OF DARIUS
And reach'd this shore in safety？ Is this true？
ATOSSA
True are thy words； and not to be gainsay'd。
GHOST OF DARIUS
With what a winged course the oracles
Haste their completion！ With the lightning's speed
Jove on my son hath hurled his threaten'd vengeance：
Yet I implored the gods that it might fall
In time's late process： but when rashness drives
Impetuous on； the scourge of Heaven upraised
Lashes the Fury forward； hence these ills
Pour headlong on my friends。 Not weighing this；
My son； with all the fiery pride of youth；
Hath quickened their arrival； while he hoped
To bind the sacred Hellespont； to hold
The raging Bosphorus； like a slave； in chains；
And dared the adven
