Agamemnon 266-–316
Aeschylos

translated Richmond Lattimore

Clytaemnestra

  • ...
  • 266 You shall know joy beyond all you ever hoped to hear.
  • 267 The men of Argos have taken Priam's citadel.

    Chorus

  • 268 What have you said? Your words escaped my unbelief.

    Clytaemnestra

  • 269 The Achaeans are in Troy. Is that not clear enough?

    Chorus

  • 270 This slow delight steals over me to bring forth tears.

    Clytaemnestra

  • 271 Yes, for your eyes betray the loyal heart within.

    Chorus

  • 272 Yet how can I be certain? Is there some evidence?

    Clytaemnestra

  • 273 There is, there must be; unless a god has lied to me.

    Chorus

  • 274 Is it dream visions, easy to believe, you credit?

    Clytaemnestra

  • 275 I accept nothing from a brain that is dull with sleep.

    Chorus

  • 276 The charm, then, of some rumor, that made rich your hope?

    Clytaemnestra

  • 277 Am I some young girl, that you find my thoughts so silly?

    Chorus

  • 278 How long, then, is it since the citadel was stormed?

    Clytaemnestra

  • 279 It is the night, the mother of this dawn I hailed.

    Chorus

  • 280 What kind of messenger could come in speed like this?

    Clytaemnestra

  • 281 Hephaestus, who cast forth the shining blaze from Ida.
  • 282 And beacon after beacon picking up the flare
  • 283 carried it here; Ida to the Hermaean horn
  • 284 of Lemnos, where it shone above the isle, and next
  • 285 the sheer rock face of Zeus on Athos caught it up;
  • 286 and plunging skyward to arch the shoulders of the sea
  • 287 the strength of the running flare in exultation,
  • 288 pine timbers flaming into gold, like the sunrise,
  • 289 brought the bright message to Macistus' sentinel cliffs,
  • 290 who, never slow nor in the carelessness of sleep
  • 291 caught up, sent on his relay in the courier chain,
  • 292 and far across Euripus' streams the beacon flare
  • 293 carried to signal watchmen on Messapion.
  • 294 These took it again in turn, and heaping high a pile
  • 295 of silvery brush flamed it to throw the message on.
  • 296 And the flare sickened never, but grown stronger yet
  • 297 outleapt the river valley of Asopus like
  • 298 the very moon for shining, to Cithaeron's scaur
  • 299 to waken the next station of the flaming post.
  • 300 These watchers, not contemptuous of the far-thrown blaze,
  • 301 kindled another beacon vaster than commanded.
  • 302 The light leaned high above Gorgopis' staring marsh,
  • 303 and striking Aegyplanctus' mountain top, drove on
  • 304 yet one more relay, lest the flare die down in speed.
  • 305 Kindled once more with stintless heaping force, they send
  • 306 the beard of flame to hugeness, passing far beyond
  • 307 the promontory that gazes on the Saronic strait
  • 308 and flaming far, until it plunged at last to strike
  • 309 the steep rock of Arachnus near at hand, our watchtower.
  • 310 And thence there fell upon this house of Atreus' sons
  • 311 the flare whose fathers mount to the Idaean beacon.
  • 312 These are the changes on my torchlight messengers,
  • 313 one from another running out the laps assigned.
  • 314 The first and the last sprinters have the victory.
  • 315 By such proof and such symbol I announce to you
  • 316 my lord at Troy has sent his messengers to me.

    Text and its relevance identified by Joost W.M. Kok, Amsterdam: see his "Facta and Verba" home page.