Agamemnon

Perseus Greek · Perseus Greek · 1,735 sections

99
Which, now, stands plainly forth of evil mood,
100
And, then . . . but from oblations, hope, to-day
101
Gracious appearing, wards away
102
From soul the insatiate care,
103
The sorrow at my breast, devouring there!
104
Empowered am I to sing
105
The omens, what their force which, journeying,
106
Rejoiced the potentates:
107
(For still, from God, inflates
108
My breast song-suasion: age,
109
Born to the business, still such war can wage)
110
— How the fierce bird against the Teukris land
111
Despatched, with spear and executing hand,
112
The Achaian’s two-throned empery—o’er Hellas’ youth
113
Two rulers with one mind:
114
The birds’ king to these kings of ships, on high,
115
— The black sort, and the sort that’s white behind, —
116
Appearing by the palace, on the spear-throw side,
117
In right sky-regions, visible far and wide, —
118
Devouring a hare-creature, great with young,
119
Baulked of more racings they, as she from whom they sprung!
120
Ah, Linos, say — ah, Linos, song of wail!
121
But may the good prevail!
122
The prudent army-prophet seeing two
123
The Atreidai, two their tempers, knew
123a
Those feasting on the hare
124
The armament-conductors were;
125
And thus he spoke, explaining signs in view.
126
In time, this outset takes the town of Priamos:
127
But all before its towers, — the people’s wealth that was,
128
Of flocks and herds, — as sure, shall booty-sharing thence
129
Drain to the dregs away, by battle violence.
130
Only, have care lest grudge of any god disturb
131
With cloud the unsullied shine of that great force, the curb
132
Of Troia, struck with damp
133
Beforehand in the camp!
134
For envyingly is
135
The virgin Artemis
136
Toward — her father’s flying hounds — this House —
137
The sacrificers of the piteous
137a
And cowering beast,
138
Brood and all, ere the birth: she hates the eagles’ feast.
139
Ah, Linos, say — ah, Linos, song of wail!
139a
But may the good prevail!
140
Thus ready is the beauteous one with help
141
To those small dewdrop-things fierce lions whelp,
142
And udder-loving litter of each brute
143
That roams the mead; and therefore makes she suit,
144
The fair one, for fulfilment to the end
145
Of things these signs portend —
145a
Which partly smile, indeed, but partly scowl —
146
The phantasms of the fowl.
147
I call Ieïos Paian to avert
148
She work the Danaoi hurt
149
By any thwarting waftures, long and fast
150
Holdings from sail of ships:
151
And sacrifice, another than the last,
151a
She for herself precipitate —
151b
Something unlawful, feast for no man’s lips,
152
Builder of quarrels, with the House cognate —
153
Having in awe no husband: for remains
154
A frightful, backward-darting in the path,
155
Wily house-keeping chronicler of wrath,
155a
That has to punish that old children’s fate!
156
Such things did Kalchas, — with abundant gains
156a
As well, — vociferate,
157
Predictions from the birds, in journeying,
157a
Above the abode of either king.
158
With these, symphonious, sing —
159
Ah, Linos, say — ah, Linos, song of wail!
159a
But may the good prevail!
160
Zeus, whosoe’er he be, — if that express
161
Aught dear to him on whom I call —
162
So do I him address.
163
I cannot liken out, by all
164
Admeasurement of powers,
165
Any but Zeus for refuge at such hours,
165a
If veritably needs I must
166
From off my soul its vague care-burthen thrust.
167
Not — whosoever was the great of yore,
168
Bursting to bloom with bravery all round —
169
Is in our mouths: he was, but is no more.
170
And who it was that after came to be,
171
Met the thrice-throwing wrestler, — he
172
Is also gone to ground.
173
But Zeus — if any, heart and soul, that name —
174
Shouting the triumph-praise — proclaim,
175
Complete in judgment shall that man be found.
176
Zeus, who leads onward mortals to be wise,
177
Appoints that suffering masterfully teach.
178
In sleep, before the heart of each,
179
A woe-remembering travail sheds in dew
180
Discretion, — ay, and melts the unwilling too
181
By what, perchance, may be a graciousness
182
Of gods, enforced no less, —
183
As they, commanders of the crew,
183a
Assume the awful seat.
184
And then the old leader of the Achaian fleet,
185
Disparaging no seer —
186
With bated breath to suit misfortune’s inrush here

Perseus Greek. CTS URN tlg0085.tlg005.perseus-eng4. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.