Agamemnon (245-317)

and with her virgin voice would lovingly honor her dear father’s prayer for blessing at the third libation[*]—

What happened next I did not see and do not tell. The art of Calchas was not unfulfilled.

Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. But the future, that you shall know when it occurs; till then, leave it be—it is just as someone weeping ahead of time. Clear it will come, together with the light of dawn. Enter Clytaemestra

But as for what shall follow, may the issue be happy, even as she wishes, our sole guardian here, the bulwark of the Apian land, who stands nearest to our lord.

I have come, Clytaemestra, in obedience to your royal authority; for it is fitting to do homage to the consort of a sovereign prince

when her husband’s throne is empty. Now whether the news you have heard is good or ill, and you do make sacrifice with hopes that herald gladness, I wish to hear; yet, if you would keep silence, I make no complaint.

As herald of gladness, with the proverb,

may Dawn be born from her mother Night! You shall hear joyful news surpassing all your hopes—the Argives have taken Priam’s town!

What have you said? The meaning of your words has escaped me, so incredible they seemed.

I said that Troy is in the hands of the Achaeans. Is my meaning clear?

Joy steals over me, and it challenges my tears.

Sure enough, for your eye betrays your loyal heart.

What then is the proof? Have you evidence of this?

I have, indeed; unless some god has played me false.

Do you believe the persuasive visions of dreams?

I would not heed the fancies of a slumbering brain.

But can it be some pleasing rumor that has fed your hopes?

Truly you scorn my understanding as if it were a child’s.

But at what time was the city destroyed?

In the night, I say, that has but now given birth to this day here.

And what messenger could reach here with such speed?

Hephaestus, from Ida speeding forth his brilliant blaze. Beacon passed beacon on to us by courier-flame: Ida, to the Hermaean crag in Lemnos; to the mighty blaze upon the island succeeded, third,

the summit of Athos sacred to Zeus; and, soaring high aloft so as to leap across the sea, the flame, travelling joyously onward in its strength ⋯ the pinewood torch, its golden-beamed light, as another sun, passing the message on to the watchtowers of Macistus.

He, delaying not nor carelessly overcome by sleep, did not neglect his part as messenger. Far over Euripus’ stream came the beacon-light and signalled to the watchmen on Messapion. They, kindling a heap of

withered heather, lit up their answering blaze and sped the message on. The flame, now gathering strength and in no way dimmed, like a radiant moon overleaped the plain of Asopus to Cithaeron’s ridges, and roused another relay of missive fire.

Nor did the warders there disdain the far-flung light, but made a blaze higher than their commands. Across Gorgopus’ water shot the light, reached the mount of Aegiplanctus, and urged the ordinance of fire to make no delay.

Kindling high with unstinted force a mighty beard of flame, they sped it forward so that, as it blazed, it passed even the headland that looks upon the Saronic gulf; until it swooped down when it reached the lookout, near to our city, upon the peak of Arachnaeus; and

next upon this roof of the Atreidae it leapt, this very fire not undescended from the Idaean flame. Such are the torch-bearers I have arranged, completing the course in succession one to the other; and the victor is he who ran both first and last.[*]

This is the kind of proof and token I give you, the message of my husband from Troy to me.

Lady, my prayers of thanksgiving to the gods I will offer soon. But as I would like to hear and satisfy my wonder at your tale straight through to the end, so may you tell it yet again.