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Lay stark and stiff； so stern was Ida's snow？
Or summer's scorch； what time the stirless wave
Sank to its sleep beneath the noon…day sun？
Why mourn old woes？ their pain has passed away；
And passed away； from those who fell； all care；
For evermore； to rise and live again。
Why sum the count of death； and render thanks
For life by moaning over fate malign？
Farewell； a long farewell to all our woes！
To us； the remnant of the host of Greece；
Comes weal beyond all counterpoise of woe；
Thus boast we rightfully to yonder sun；
Like him far…fleeted over sea and land。
The Argive host prevailed to conquer Troy；
And in the temples of the gods of Greece
Hung up these spoils； a shining sign to Time。
Let those who learn this legend bless aright
The city and its chieftains； and repay
The meed of gratitude to Zeus who willed
And wrought the deed。 So stands the tale fulfilled。
LEADER
Thy words o'erbear my doubt： for news of good；
The ear of age hath ever youth enow：
But those within and Clytemnestra's self
Would fain hear all； glad thou their ears and mine。
（CLYTEMNESTRA enters from the palace。）
CLYTEMNESTRA
That night； when first the fiery courier came；
In sign that Troy is ta'en and razed to earth；
So wild a cry of joy my lips gave out；
That I was chidden…Hath the beacon watch
Made sure unto thy soul the sack of Troy？
A very woman thou； whose heart leaps light
At wandering rumours！…and with words like these
They showed me how I strayed； misled of hope。
Yet on each shrine I set the sacrifice；
And； in the strain they held for feminine；
Went heralds thro' the city； to and fro；
With voice of loud proclaim； announcing joy；
And in each fane they lit and quenched with wine
The spicy perfumes fading in the flame。
All is fulfilled： I spare your longer tale…
The king himself anon shall tell me all。
Remains to think what honour best may greet
My lord； the majesty of Argos； home。
What day beams fairer on a woman's eyes
Than this； whereon she flings the portal wide；
To hail her lord； heaven…shielded； home from war？
This to my husband； that he tarry not；
But turn the city's longing into joy！
Yea； let him come； and coming may he find
A wife no other than he left her； true
And faithful as a watch…dog to his home；
His foemen's foe； in all her duties leal；
Trusty to keep for ten long years unmarred
The store whereon he set his master…seal。
Be steel deep…dyed； before ye look to see
Ill joy； ill fame； from other wight； in me！
HERALD
'Tis fairly said： thus speaks a noble dame；
Nor speaks amiss； when truth informs the boast。
（CLYTEMNESTRA withdraws again into the palace。）
LEADER
So has she spoken…be it yours to learn
By clear interpreters her specious word。
Turn to me； herald…tell me if anon
The second well…loved lord of Argos comes？
Hath Menelaus safely sped with you？
HERALD
Alas…brief boon unto my friends it were；
To flatter them； for truth； with falsehoods fair！
LEADER
Speak joy； if truth be joy； but truth； at worst…
Too plainly； truth and joy are here divorced。
HERALD
The hero and his bark were rapt away
Far from the Grecian fleet； 'tis truth I say。
LEADER
Whether in all men's sight from Ilion borne；
Or from the fleet by stress of weather torn？
HERALD
Full on the mark thy shaft of speech doth light；
And one short word hath told long woes aright。
LEADER
But say； what now of him each comrade saith？
What their forebodings； of his life or death？
HERALD
Ask me no more： the truth is known to none；
Save the earth…fostering； all…surveying Sun。
LEADER
Say； by what doom the fleet of Greece was driven？
How rose； how sank the storm； the wrath of heaven？
HERALD
Nay； ill it were to mar with sorrow's tale
The day of blissful news。 The gods demand
Thanksgiving sundered from solicitude。
If one as herald came with rueful face
To say； The curse has fallen； and the host
Gone down to death； and one wide wound has reached
The city's heart； and out of many homes
Many are cast and consecrate to death；
Beneath the double scourge； that Ares loves；
The bloody pair； the fire and sword of doom…
If such sore burden weighed upon my tongue；
'Twere fit to speak such words as gladden fiends。
But…coming as he comes who bringeth news
Of safe return from toil； and issues fair；
To men rejoicing in a weal restored…
Dare I to dash good words with ill； and say
For fire and sea； that erst held bitter feud；
Now swore conspiracy and pledged their faith；
Wasting the Argives worn with toil and war。
Night and great horror of the rising wave
Came o'er us； and the blasts that blow from Thrace
Clashed ship with ship； and some with plunging prow
Thro' scudding drifts of spray and raving storm
Vanished； as strays by some ill shepherd driven。
And when at length the sun rose bright； we saw
Th' Aegaean sea…field flecked with flowers of death；
Corpses of Grecian men and shattered hulls。
For us indeed； some god； as well I deem；
No human power； laid hand upon our helm；
Snatched us or prayed us from the powers of air；
And brought our bark thro'all； unharmed in hull：
And saving Fortune sat and steered us fair；
So that no surge should gulf us deep in brine；
Nor grind our keel upon a rocky shore。
So 'scaped we death that lurks beneath the sea；
But； under day's white light； mistrustful all
Of fortune's smile； we sat and brooded deep；
Shepherds forlorn of thoughts that wandered wild
O'er this new woe； for smitten was our host；
And lost as ashes scattered from the pyre。
Of whom if any draw his life…breath yet；
Be well assured； he deems of us as dead；
As we of him no other fate forebode。
But heaven save all！ If Menelaus live；
He will not tarry； but will surely come：
Therefore if anywhere the high sun's ray
Descries him upon earth； preserved by Zeus；
Who wills not yet to wipe his race away；
Hope still there is that homeward he may wend。
Enough…thou hast the truth unto the end。
（The HERALD departs。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Say； from whose lips the presage fell？
Who read the future all too well；
And named her； in her natal hour；
Helen； the bride with war for dower
'Twas one of the Invisible；
Guiding his tongue with prescient power。
On fleet； and host； and citade