House of Tantalus (Simplified) Tantalus Further excellent background on the Oresteia: Libation BearersEuripides' Electra makes fun of Aeschylus with Enlightenment skepticism (translation by Ian Johnston of Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC)
That's right— 600 it didn't help us. But still, there's one thing I could not endure. So I went to his tomb, a detour on the road. I was alone, [510] so I fell down and wept, then opened up the bag of wine I'm bringing for the guests, poured a libation, and spread out there some myrtle sprigs around the monument. But then I saw an offering on the altar, a black-fleeced sheep—there was blood as well, shed not long before, and some sliced off curls, 610 locks of yellow hair. My child, I wondered what man would ever dare approach that tomb. It surely wasn't any man from Argos. Perhaps you brother has come back somehow, in secret, and as he came, paid tribute to his father's tomb. You should go inspect [520] the lock of hair, set it against your own— see if the colour of the severed hair matches yours. Those sharing common blood from the same father will by nature have 620 many features which are very similar. What you've just said, old man, is not worth much. You've no sense at all, if you think my brother, a brave man, would sneak into this country in secret, because he fears Aegisthus. And how can two locks of hair look alike, when one comes from a well-bred man and grew in wrestling schools, whereas the other one was shaped by woman's combing? That's useless. Old man, with many people you could find 630 [530] hair which looked alike, although by birth they're not the same. Then stand in the footprint, my child, and see if the impression there is the same size as your foot. How could a foot make any imprint on such stony ground? And even if it could, a brother's print would not match his sister's foot in size. The man's is bigger. If your brother's come, isn't there a piece of weaving from your loom by which you might know his identity? 640 What about the weaving he was wrapped in when I rescued him from death? [540] Don't you know at the time Orestes left this country I was still young? And if I'd made his clothes when he was just a child, how could he have the same ones now, unless the robes he wore increased in size as his body grew? No. Either some stranger, pitying the grave, cut his hair, or someone slipped past the guard.* Where are your guests? I'd like to see them 650 and ask about your brother. Here they are— coming outside in a hurry. They're well born, [550] but that may be misleading. Many men of noble parentage are a bad lot. But still I'll say welcome to these strangers. Welcome to you, old man. So, Electra, this ancient remnant of a man—to whom among your friends does he belong? Stranger, this man is the one who raised my father. What are you saying? Is this the man 660 who stole away your brother? He's the one who rescued him, if he's still alive. Wait! Why's he inspecting me, as if checking some clear mark stamped on a piece of silver? Is he comparing me with someone? It could be he's happy looking at you [560] as someone who's a comrade of Orestes. Well, yes, Orestes is a friend of mine, but why's he going in circles round me? Stranger, as I watch him, I'm surprised as well. 670 O my daughter Electra, my lady— pray to the gods. What should I pray for, something here or something far away? To get yourself a treasure which you love, something the god is making manifest. Watch this then. I'm summoning the gods. Is that what you mean, old man? Now, my child, look at this man, the one you love the most. I've been observing for a long time now to see if your mind is working as it should. 680 I'm not thinking straight if I see your brother? What are you talking about, old man, [570] making such an unexpected claim? I'm looking at Orestes, Agamemnon's son. What mark do you see which will convince me? A scar along his eyebrow. He fell one day and drew blood. He was in his father's house chasing down a fawn with you. What are you saying? I do see the mark of that fall. . . . Then why delay embracing the one you love the most? 690 No. I'll no longer hesitate—my heart has been won over by that sign of yours. You've appeared at last. I'm holding you . . . beyond my hopes. After all this time, I'm embracing you. I never expected this. [580] This was something I, too, could not hope for. Are you really him? Yes. Your sole ally. If in my net I can catch the prey I'm after . . . But I'm confident. For if wrongful acts overpower justice, then no longer 700 should we put any faith in gods. You've come, ah, you've come, this day we've waited for so long. You've shone out and lit a beacon for the city, the man who long ago went out in exile from his father's house to roam around in misery. Now a god, my friend, some god [590] brings victory. Lift up your hands, lift up your words, send prayers 710 up to the gods for your success, good fortune for your brother as he goes in the city. |
Aeschylus |
