Delphi Complete Works of Aeschylus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) (27 page)

[
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.
]

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.