Delphi Complete Works of Aeschylus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics)

by Aeschylus

  [696] Neither anarchy nor tyranny — this I counsel my citizens to support and respect, and not to drive fear wholly out of the city. For who among mortals, if he fears nothing, is righteous? Stand in just awe of such majesty, and you will have a defense for your land and salvation of your city, such as no man has, either among the Scythians or in Pelops’ realm. I establish this tribunal, untouched by greed, worthy of reverence, quick to anger, awake on behalf of those who sleep, a guardian of the land.

  [707] I have prolonged this advice to my citizens for the future; but now you must rise and take a ballot, and decide the case under the sacred obligation of your oath. My word has been spoken.

  [The judges rise from their seats and cast their ballots one by one during the following altercation.]

  CHORUS

  [711] And I counsel you not to dishonor us in any way, since our company can be a burden to your land.

  APOLLO

  [713] And I, for my part, command you to stand in fear of the oracles, both mine and Zeus’, and not cause them to be unfulfilled.

  CHORUS

  [715] Although it is not your office, you have respect for deeds of bloodshed. You will prophesy, dispensing prophecies that are no longer pure.

  APOLLO

  [716] Then was my father mistaken in any way in his purposes when Ixion, who first shed blood, was a suppliant?

  CHORUS

  [719] You do argue! But if I fail to win the case, I will once more inflict my company on this land as a burden.

  APOLLO

  [721] But you have no honor, among both the younger and the older gods. I will win.

  CHORUS

  [723] You did such things also in the house of Pheres, when you persuaded the Fates to make mortals free from death.

  APOLLO

  [725] Is it not right, then, to do good for a worshipper, especially when he is in need?

  CHORUS

  [727] It was you who destroyed the old dispensations when you beguiled the ancient goddesses with wine.

  APOLLO

  [729] Soon, when you have lost the case, you will spit out your venom — no great burden to your enemies.

  [The balloting is now ended.]

  CHORUS

  [731] Since you, a youth, would ride me down, an old woman, I am waiting to hear the verdict in the case, since I have not decided whether to be angry at the city.

  ATHENA

  [734] It is my duty to give the final judgment and I shall cast my vote for Orestes. For there was no mother who gave me birth; and in all things, except for marriage, whole-heartedly I am for the male and entirely on the father’s side. Therefore, I will not award greater honor to the death of a woman who killed her husband, the master of the house. Orestes wins, even if the vote comes out equal. Cast the ballots out of the urns, as quickly as possible, you jurors who have been assigned this task.

  [The ballots are turned out and separated.]

  ORESTES

  [744] O Phoebus Apollo! How will the trial be decided?

  CHORUS

  [745] O Night, our dark Mother, do you see this?

  ORESTES

  [746] Now I will meet my end by hanging, or I will live.

  CHORUS

  [747] Yes, and we will be ruined, or maintain our honors further.

  APOLLO

  [748] Correctly count the ballots cast forth, friends, and be in awe of doing wrong in the division of the votes. Error of judgment is the source of much distress, and the cast of a single ballot has set upright a house.

  [The ballots are shown to Athena.]

  ATHENA

  [752] This man is acquitted on the charge of murder, for the numbers of the casts are equal.

  [Apollo disappears.]

  ORESTES

  [753] Pallas, savior of my house! I was deprived of a fatherland, and it is you who have given me a home there again. The Hellenes will say, “The man is an Argive once again, and lives in his father’s heritage, by the grace of Pallas and of Loxias and of that third god, the one who accomplishes everything, the savior” — the one who, having respect for my father’s death, saves me, seeing those advocates of my mother.

  [762] I will return to my home now, after I swear an oath to this land and to your people for the future and for all time to come, that no captain of my land will ever come here and bring a well-equipped spear against them. For I myself, then in my grave, will accomplish it by failure without remedy, making their marches spiritless and their journeys ill-omened, so that those who violate my present oath will repent their enterprise. But while the straight course is preserved, and they hold in everlasting honor this city of Pallas with their allied spears, I will be the more well-disposed to them.

  [775] And so farewell — you and the people who guard your city. May your struggle with your enemies let none escape, bringing you safety and victory with the spear!

  [Exit.]

  CHORUS

  [777] Younger gods, you have ridden down the ancient laws and have taken them from my hands! And I — dishonored, unhappy, deeply angry — on this land, alas, I will release venom from my heart, venom in return for my grief, drops that the land cannot endure. From it, a blight that destroys leaves, destroys children — a just return — speeding over the plain, will cast infection on the land to ruin mortals. I groan aloud. What shall I do? I am mocked by the people. What I have suffered is unbearable. Ah, cruel indeed are the wrongs of the daughters of Night, mourning over dishonor!

  ATHENA

  [794] Be persuaded by me not to bear it with heavy lament. For you have not been defeated; the trial resulted fairly in an equal vote, without disgrace to you; but clear testimony from Zeus was present, and he himself who spoke the oracle himself gave witness that Orestes should not suffer harm for his deed. Do not be angry, do not hurl your heavy rage on this land, or cause barrenness, letting loose drops whose savage spirit will devour the seed. For I promise you most sacredly that you will have a cavernous sanctuary in a righteous land, where you will sit on shining thrones at your hearths, worshipped with honor by my citizens here.

  CHORUS

  [808] Younger gods, you have ridden down the ancient laws and have taken them from my hands! And I — dishonored, unhappy, deeply angry — on this land, alas, I will release venom from my heart, venom in return for my grief, drops that the land cannot endure. From it a blight that destroys leaves, destroys children — a just return — speeding over the plain, will cast infection on the land to ruin mortals. I groan aloud. What shall I do? I am mocked by the people. What I have suffered is unbearable. Ah, cruel indeed are the wrongs of the daughters of Night, mourning over dishonor!

  ATHENA

  [824] You are not dishonored; so, although you are goddesses, do not, in excessive rage, blight past all cure a land of mortals. I also rely on Zeus — what need is there to mention that? — and I alone of the gods know the keys to the house where his thunderbolt is sealed. But there is no need of that. So yield to my persuasion and do not hurl the words of a reckless tongue against the land, that all things bearing fruit will not prosper. Calm the black wave’s bitter anger, since you will receive proud honors and will live with me. And when you have the first-fruits of this great land forever, offerings on behalf of children and of marriage rites, you will praise my counsel.

  CHORUS

  [837] For me to suffer this, alas! For me, with ancient wisdom, to live beneath the earth, alas, without honor, unclean! I am breathing fury and utter rage. Oh, oh, the shame of it! What anguish steals into my breast! Hear my anger, mother Night; for the deceptions of the gods, hard to fight, have deprived me of my ancient honors, bringing me to nothing.

  ATHENA

  [848] I will endure your anger, for you are older, and in that respect you are surely wiser than I; yet Zeus has given me, too, no mean understanding. But as for you, if you go to a foreign land, you will come to love this land — I forewarn you. For time, flowing on, will bring greater honor to these citizens. And you, having a seat of
honor at the house of Erechtheus, will obtain from hosts of men and women more than you could ever win from other mortals. So do not cast on my realm keen incentives to bloodshed, harmful to young hearts, maddening them with a fury not of wine; and do not, as if taking the heart out of fighting cocks, plant in my people the spirit of tribal war and boldness against each other. Let their war be with foreign enemies, and without stint for one in whom there will be a terrible passion for glory; but I say there will be no battling of birds within the home.

  [867] It is possible for you to choose such things from me: bestowing good, receiving good, well honored in this land that is most beloved to the gods.

  CHORUS

  [870] For me to suffer this, alas! For me, with ancient wisdom, to live beneath the earth, alas, without honor, unclean! I am breathing fury and utter rage. Oh, oh the shame of it! What anguish steals into my breast! Hear my anger, mother Night; for the deceptions of the gods, hard to fight, have deprived me of my ancient honors, bringing me to nothing.

  ATHENA

  [880] No, I will not grow tired of telling you about these good things, so you will never be able to say that you, an ancient goddess, were cast out, dishonored and banished, from this land by me, a younger goddess, and by the mortal guardians of my city. But if you give holy reverence to Persuasion, the sweetness and charm of my tongue, then you might remain. But if you are not willing to stay, then surely it would be unjust for you to inflict on this city any wrath or rage or harm to the people. For it is possible for you to have a share of the land justly, with full honors.

  CHORUS

  [892] Lady Athena, what place do you say I will have?

  ATHENA

  [893] One free from all pain and distress; accept it.

  CHORUS

  [894] Say that I have accepted it, what honor awaits me?

  ATHENA

  [895] That no house will flourish without you.

  CHORUS

  [896] Will you gain for me the possession of such power?

  ATHENA

  [897] Yes, for we will set straight the fortunes of those who worship.

  CHORUS

  [898] And will you give me a pledge for all time?

  ATHENA

  [899] Yes, for I have no need to say what I will not accomplish.

  CHORUS

  [900] It seems you will win me by your spells; I am letting go my anger.

  ATHENA

  [901] Then stay in the land and you will gain other friends.

  CHORUS

  [902] What blessings then do you advise me to invoke on this land?

  ATHENA

  [903] Blessings that aim at a victory not evil; blessings from the earth and from the waters of the sea and from the heavens: that the breathing gales of wind may approach the land in radiant sunshine, and that the fruit of the earth and offspring of grazing beasts, flourishing in overflow, may not fail my citizens in the course of time, and that the seed of mortals will be kept safe. May you make more prosperous the offspring of godly men; for I, like a gardener, cherish the race of these just men, free of sorrow.

  [913] [Pointing to the audience.] Such blessings are yours to give. I, for my part, will not allow this city to be without honor among mortals, this city victorious in the glorious contests of deadly war.

  CHORUS

  [916] I will accept a home with Pallas, and I will not dishonor a city which she, with Zeus the omnipotent and Ares, holds as a fortress of the gods, the bright ornament that guards the altars of the gods of Hellas. I pray for the city, with favorable prophecy, that the bright gleam of the sun may cause blessings that give happiness to life to spring from the earth, in plenty.

  ATHENA

  [927] I act zealously for these citizens in this way, installing here among them divinities great and hard to please. For they have been appointed to arrange everything among mortals. Yet the one who has not found them grievous does not know where the blows of life come from. For the sins of his fathers drag him before them; destruction, in silence and hateful wrath, levels him to the dust, for all his loud boasting.

  CHORUS

  [938] May no hurtful wind blow to harm the trees — I declare my favor — and may no burning heat, stealing the buds from plants, pass the border of its proper place; may no deadly plague draw near to kill the fruit; may the earth nurture the thriving flocks with twin offspring at the appointed time; and may the rich produce of the earth always pay the gods’ gift of lucky gain.

  ATHENA

  [949] Do you hear, guards of my city, the things she will accomplish? For the lady Erinys is very powerful, both with the deathless gods and with those below the earth; and in their dealings with mankind, they accomplish matters visibly, perfectly; to some giving songs, to others a life made dim by tears.

  CHORUS

  [956] I forbid deadly and untimely fate for men; grant to lovely maidens life with a husband, you that have the rightful power; you, divine Fates, our sisters by one mother, divinities who distribute justly, who have a share in every home, and whose righteous visitations press heavily at every season, most honored everywhere among the gods!

  ATHENA

  [968] I am glad that they are zealously accomplishing these things for my land; and I am grateful to Persuasion, that her glance kept watch over my tongue and mouth, when I encountered their fierce refusal. But Zeus of the assembly has prevailed. Our rivalry in doing good is victorious forever.

  CHORUS

  [976] I pray that discord, greedy for evil, may never clamor in this city, and may the dust not drink the black blood of its people and through passion cause ruinous murder for vengeance to the destruction of the state. But may they return joy for joy in a spirit of common love, and may they hate with one mind; for this is the cure of many an evil in the world.

  ATHENA

  [988] Do they not then intend to find the path of good speech? From these terrible faces I see great profit for these citizens; for, if you always greatly honor with kindness the kindly ones, you will surely be pre-eminent, keeping your land and city in the straight path of justice.

  CHORUS

  [996] Farewell, farewell, in the wealth allotted to you by fate. Farewell, people of the city, seated near to Zeus, the beloved of the beloved maiden, learning at last the way of wisdom. The Father stands in awe of you, since you are under Pallas’ wings.

  ATHENA

  [1003] Farewell to you also; but I must lead the way to show you your dwellings by the sacred light of these, your escorts. Go, and, speeding beneath the earth with these solemn sacrifices, hold back what is ruinous to the land, but send what is profitable for the city to win her victory. You who hold the city, children of Cranaus, lead on their way these new dwellers here. May there be good will in the citizens in return for good done to them!

  CHORUS

  [1014] Farewell, farewell, again, I repeat, all you in the city, both gods and mortals, living in Pallas’ city; if you duly revere my residence among you, you will not blame the chances of life.

  ATHENA

  [1021] I approve the words of your invocation, and will escort you by the light of gleaming torches to the places below and beneath the earth, with the attendant women who guard my image in duty bound. [For the eye of the whole land of Theseus will come forth, a glorious troop of children, matrons and a band of old women. Dress them honorably in robes dyed scarlet, and let the torches’ light move on, so that this kindly company of visitors to our land may show itself afterwards in blessings that bring prosperity to men.

  CHORUS OF THE PROCESSIONAL ESCORT

  [1032] Go on your way to your home, children of Night: mighty, lovers of honor, children, yet aged, under kindly escort — you who dwell in the land, refrain from inauspicious speech! Under the primeval caverns of the earth, gaining the high honor of worship and sacrifice — all you people, refrain from inauspicious speech! Gracious and favorable to the land, [come here, venerable goddesses, with flame-fed torch, rejoicing as you go — cry aloud now in echo to our song
! Peace endures for all time between Pallas’ citizens and these new dwellers here. Zeus who sees all and Fate have come down to lend aid — cry aloud now in echo to our song!

  [Exeunt omnes.]

  PROMETHEUS BOUND

  Translated by Herbert Weir Smyth

  Since the late nineteenth century, many scholars have doubted whether this play was in fact written by Aeschylus, chiefly due to stylistic grounds. Its production date is also in dispute, with theories ranging from 480 BC to as late as 410 BC. The drama consists mostly of static dialogue, as throughout the play Prometheus is bound to a rock as punishment from Zeus for providing fire to humans. The god Hephaestus, the Titan Oceanus and the chorus of Oceanids all express sympathy for Prometheus’ plight. Prometheus meets Io, a fellow victim of Zeus’ cruelty and prophesies her future travels, revealing that one of her descendants will free Prometheus. The play closes with Zeus sending Prometheus into the abyss because he refuses to divulge the secret of a potential marriage that could be Zeus’ downfall.

  Prometheus Bound appears to have been the first play in a trilogy called the Prometheia. Though the other two plays are now lost, a rough outline of their events has survived. In the second play, Prometheus Unbound, Heracles frees Prometheus from his chains and kills the eagle that had been sent daily to eat Prometheus’ perpetually regenerating liver. Perhaps foreshadowing his eventual reconciliation with Prometheus, we learn that Zeus has released the other Titans that he imprisoned at the conclusion of the Titanomachy.

  In the trilogy’s conclusion, Prometheus the Fire-Bringer, it appears that the Titan finally warns Zeus not to sleep with the sea nymph Thetis, for she is fated to give birth to a son greater than the father. Not wishing to be overthrown, Zeus marries Thetis off to the mortal Peleus; the product of that union is Achilles, Greek hero of the Trojan War. After reconciling with Prometheus, Zeus probably inaugurates a festival in his honor at Athens.