iphigenia at aulis-第4部分
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！
strife brought Hellas with her chivalry and ships to the towers of
Troy。
Oh！ great is the bliss the great enjoy。 Behold Iphigenia； the
king's royal child； and Clytaemnestra； the daughter of Tyndareus；
how proud their lineage！ how high their pinnacle of fortune！ These
mighty ones； whom wealth attends； are very gods in the eyes of less
favoured folk。
Halt we here； maidens of Chalcis； and lift the queen from her
chariot to the ground without stumbling； supporting her gently in
our arms； with kind intent； that the renowned daughter of Agamemnon
but just arrived may feel no fear； strangers ourselves； avoid we aught
that may disturb or frighten the strangers from Argos。
Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA and IPHIGENIA。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I take this as a lucky omen； thy kindness and auspicious greeting；
and have good hope that it is to a happy marriage I conduct the bride。
（To Attendants） Take from the chariot the dowry I am bringing for my
daughter and convey it within with careful heed。
My daughter； leave the horse…drawn car； planting thy faltering
footstep delicately。 （To the CHORUS） Maidens； take her in your arms
and lift her from the chariot； and let one of you give me the
support of her hand； that I may quit my seat in the carriage with
fitting grace。
Some or you stand at the horses' heads； for the horse has a
timid eye； easily frightened； here take this child Orestes； son of
Agamemnon； babe as he still is。
What！ sleeping； little one； tired out by thy ride in the
chariot？ Awake to bless thy sister's wedding； for thou； my gallant
boy； shalt get by this marriage a kinsman gallant as thyself； the
Nereid's godlike offspring。 Come hither to thy mother； my daughter；
Iphigenia； and seat thyself beside me； and stationed near show my
happiness to these strangers； yes； come hither and welcome the sire
thou lovest so dearly。
Hail！ my honoured lord； king Agamemnon！ we have obeyed thy
commands and are come。
Enter AGAMEMNON。
IPHIGENIA （Throwing herself into AGAMEMNON'S arms）
Be not wroth with me； mother； if I run from thy side and throw
myself on my father's breast。
O my father！ I long to outrun others and embrace thee after this
long while； for I yearn to see thy face； be not wroth with me。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Thou mayst do so； daughter； for of all the children I have born；
thou hast ever loved thy father best。
IPHIGENIA
I see thee； father； joyfully after a long season。
AGAMEMNON
And I thy father thee； thy words do equal duty for both of us。
IPHIGENIA
All hail； father！ thou didst well in bringing me hither to thee。
AGAMEMNON
I know not how I am to say yes or no to that； my child。
IPHIGENIA
Ha！ how wildly thou art looking； spite of thy joy at seeing me。
AGAMEMNON
A man has many cares when he is king and general too。
IPHIGENIA
Be mine； all mine to…day； turn not unto moody thoughts。
AGAMEMNON
Why so I am； all thine to…day； I have no other thought。
IPHIGENIA
Then smooth thy knitted brow； unbend and smile。
AGAMEMNON
Lo！ my child； my joy at seeing thee is even as it is。
IPHIGENIA
And hast thou then the tear…drop streaming from thy eyes？
AGAMEMNON
Ave； for long is the absence from each other； that awalts us。
IPHIGENIA
I know not； dear father mine； I know not of what thou art
speaking。
AGAMEMNON
Thou art moving my pity all the more by speaking so sensibly。
IPHIGENIA
My words shall turn to senselessness； if that will cheer thee
more。
AGAMEMNON （Aside）
Ah； woe is me！ this silence is too much。 （To IPHIGENIA） Thou
hast my thanks。
IPHIGENIA
Stay with thy children at home； father。
AGAMEMNON
My own wish！ but to my sorrow I may not humour it。
IPHIGENIA
Ruin seize their warring and the woes of Menelaus！
AGAMEMNON
First will that； which has been my life…long ruin； bring ruin unto
others。
IPHIGENIA
How long thou wert absent in the bays of Aulis！
AGAMEMNON
Aye； and there is still a hindrance to my sending the army
forward。
IPHIGENIA
Where do men say the Phrygians live； father？
AGAMEMNON
In a land where I would Paris； the son of Priam； ne'er had dwelt。
IPHIGENIA
'Tis a long voyage thou art bound on； father； after thou leavest
me。
AGAMEMNON
Thou wilt meet thy father again； my daughter。
IPHIGENIA
Ah！ would it were seemly that thou shouldst take me as a
fellow…voyager！
AGAMEMNON
Thou too hast a voyage to make to a haven where thou wilt remember
thy father。
IPHIGENIA
Shall I sail thither with my mother or alone？
AGAMEMNON
All alone； without father or mother。
IPHIGENIA
What！ hast thou found me a new home； father！
AGAMEMNON
Enough of this！ 'tis not for girls to know such things。
IPHIGENIA
Speed home from Troy； I pray thee； father； as soon as thou hast
triumphed there。
AGAMEMNON
There is a sacrifice have first to offer here。
IPHIGENIA
Yea； 'tis thy duty to heed religion with aid of holy rites。
AGAMEMNON
Thou wilt witness it； for thou wilt be standing near the laver。
IPHIGENIA
Am I to lead the dance then round the altar； father？
AGAMEMNON （Aside）
I count thee happier than myself because thou knowest nothing。 （To
IPHIGENIA） Go within into the presence of maidens； after thou hast
given me thy hand and one sad kiss； on the eve of thy lengthy
sojourn far from thy father's side。
Bosom； cheek； and golden hair！ ah； how grievous ye have found
Helen and the Phrygians' city！ I can no more； the tears come welling
to my eyes； the moment I touch thee。
Exit IPHIGENIA。
（Turning to CLYTAEMNESTRA） Herein I crave thy pardon； daughter
of Leda； if I showed excessive grief at the thought of resigning my
daughter to Achilles； for though we are sending her to taste of bliss；
still it wrings a parent's heart； when he； the father who has toiled
so hard for them； commits his children to the homes of strangers。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
I am not so void of sense； bethink thee； I shall go through this
as well； when I lead the maiden from the chamber to the sound of the
marriage…hymn； wherefore I chide thee not； but custom will combine
with time to make the smart grow less。
As touching him； to whom thou hast betrothed our daughter； I
know his name； 'tis true； but would fain learn his lineage and the
land of his birth。
AGAMEMNON
There was one Aegina； the daughter of Asopus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Who wedded her？ some mortal or a god？
AGAMEMNON
Zeus； and she bare Aeacus； the prince of Cenone。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What son of Aeacus secured his father's halls？
AGAMEMNON
Peleus； who wedded the daughter of Nereus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
With the god's consent； or when he had taken her in spite of gods？
AGAMEMNON
Zeus betrothed her； and her guardian gave consent。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Where did he marry her？ amid the billows of the sea？
AGAMEMNON
In Chiron's home； at sacred Pelion's foot。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
What！ the abode ascribed to the race of Centaurs？
AGAMEMNON
It was there the gods celebrated the marriage feast of Peleus。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Did Thetis or his father train Achilles？
AGAMEMNON
Chiron brought him up； to prevent his learning the ways of the
wicked。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Ah wise the teacher； still wiser the father； who intrusted his son
to such hands。
AGAMEMNON
Such is the future husband of thy daughter。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
A blameless lord； but what city in Hellas is his？
AGAMEMNON
He dwells on the banks of the river Apidanus； in the borders of
Phthia。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou convey our daughter thither？
AGAMEMNON
He who takes her to himself will see to that。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Happiness attend the pair！ Which day will he marry her？
AGAMEMNON
As soon as the full moon comes to give its blessing。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Hast thou already offered the goddess a sacrifice to usher in
the maiden's marriage？
AGAMEMNON
I am about to do so； that is the very thing I was engaged in。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wilt thou celebrate the marriage…feast thereafter？
AGAMEMNON
Yes； when I have offered a sacrifice required by Heaven of me。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
But where am I to make ready the feast for the women？
AGAMEMNON
Here beside our gallant Argive ships。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Finely here！ but still I must； good come of it for all that！
AGAMEMNON
I will tell thee； lady； what to do； so obey me now。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Wherein？ for I was ever wont to yield thee obedience。
AGAMEMNON
Here； where the bridegroom is； will！
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Which of my duties will ye perform in the mother's absence？
AGAMEMNON
Give thy child away with help of Danai。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And where am I to be the while？
AGAMEMNON
Get thee to Argos； and take care of thy unwedded daughters。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
And leave my child？ Then who will raise her bridal torch？
AGAMEMNON
I will provide the proper wedding torch。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
That is not the custom； but thou thinkest lightly of these things。
AGAMEMNON
It is not good thou shouldst be alone among a soldier…crowd。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
It is good that a mother should give her own child away。
AGAMEMNON
Aye； and that those maidens at home should not be left alone。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
They are in safe keeping； pent in their maiden…bowers。
AGAMEMNON
Obey。
CLYTAEMNESTRA
Nay； by the goddess…queen of Argos！ go； manage matters out of
doors； but in the house it is my place to decide what is prop
