? Far out of sight. Fallacious I devise Schemes to impose upon my dearest friends, But now with Calchas, holy Seer, I go CHORUS.: [Exit AGAMEMNON. O D E. I. Where Simois' limpid current glides, The fleet of Greece shall spread war's loud alarms, Adorning her dishevel'd hair With a verdant laurel wreath, In strains prophetic, am I told, Doth dark futurity's events unfold, As o'er her soul the powers of inspiration breathe. Each Phrygian youth shall take his stand, On turrets which o'erlook th' embattled field, As he draws near to their devoted shore, Shall brandish oft the dashing oar, Resolv'd from Priam's realms to bear That Helen, who betray'd her plighted love, Hence Grecian chiefs the targe and vengeful lance prepare. III. The rampir'd fortresses of Troy, Shall War's stern God, wide o'er the plain The virgin choi: shall wail around, Old Priam's Queen shed deluges of tears, Ne'er may As shall the pallid face Of Lydia's wealthy dames o'erspread, Who with the Phrygian matrons in accord Shall utter o'er their looms this lay; "From the wretched captive's head, "Who comes to shear my braided locks away, "While I bewail in plaintive strains "The ruin that o'erwhelms my native plains, "Thro' her who from that bird did spring, (27) This inhuman custom of cutting off the heads of slain enemies in order to bear them on spears as trophies, is frequently mentioned both by the antient Poets and Historians. In Virgil when the detachment which had been commanded by Volscens joins the rest of the Latians in their attack on the Trojan camp, they march up to the trenches with loud shouts, displaying the heads of Nisus and Euryalus: and in Nonnus's Dionysiaca, the God Bacchus drawing up his forces previous to their engagement with the Indians, orders the heads of the foes they had slain to be brought forth and planted on the summit of mount Tmolus, as omens of victory, Δυσμενέων και να κομίσαε συμβολα νικης Τμώλον ε; ηνεμονία πεπαρμένα μαρτυρι θυραμ L. 27. p. 272. Ed. Lubini, La Cerda, in his note on the former of these passages, has collected a multitude of other instances, which it would be surperfluous to recite. For the substitution of wav, instead of wow in the next line, we are indebted to Barnes, who is followed by Reiskius, Mr. Markland, and Dr. Musgrave: Euripides is supposed to refer to the former destruction of Troy by Hercules. "Graceful with towering neck, if fame "That Jove transform'd became "From whom these amorous tales began, "Such shameful legend forg'd, with impious views "T" impose on the credulity of man." ACHILLES, CHORUS. ACHILLES. Where is the leader of the Grecian host? (28) Who yet are childless; not without the will (28) Here the printed text seems by no means to stand in need of Dr. Musgrave's proferred assistance: nor can there be any room to doubt that the circumstance of men newly married, leaving their Wives by whom they had not yet any children, is mentioned as an instance of their extraordinary zeal for the cause of their country. Thus, Iphidamas, son of Antenor, is recorded by Homer in the most honourable terms for leaving his Bride in Thrace, and returning home immediately, on hearing, at the very time of his marriage, that the Greeks had invaded Troy; on his being slain by Agamemnon, the Poet thus celebrates his death: Ως ο μεν αύθι Πεσων Κοιμησαίο χαλκεον υπνον Οικλέος, από μνησης αποχες αποισιν αρηγών, Which is thus beautifully paraphrased by Pope; II. L. xi. v. 241. "Stretch'd in the dust th' unhappy warrior lies With firmness, is my province: for themselves I from the region of Pharsalia come, 66 Why loiter?" and "How long e'er thou direct "Thy sails for Troy? Or instantly attempt "Some martial feat, or lead thy squadrons home "Nor stay for Atreus' dilatory sons?" CLYTEMNESTRA, ACHILLES, CHORUS. CLYTEMNESTRA. Son of that Goddess who derives her birth ACHILLES. O sacred modesty! what female,form Endued with every captivating grace Do I behold? CLYTEMNESTRA. No wonder if you know not For modesty. ACHILLES. Inform me, who art thou? Or why to the assembled host of Greece "Oh worthy better fate! Oh early slain! "At once a Virgin, and at once a Bride. It is well known from Deuteronomy, Chap. 24. v. 5, which we find farther illustrated by Selden, in his Uxor Heb. L. 3. c. 3. that the Jewish laws exempted a man from all employments, both military and civil, for one year after his marriage. Dost thou a woman come, and mix with troops CLYTEMNESTRA. I am the Daughter Of Leda, Clytemnestra is my name, ACHILLES. All that was needful, well hast thou express'd, And with a due conciseness: yet in me Unseemly 'twere to parly with a woman. CLYTEMNESTRA. Strange! wherefore do you fly? with mine unite Your hand, blest omen of the future nuptials. ACHILLES. What mean'st thou? Join our hands! I fear the wrath Of Agamemnon, with unlicenc'd touch Should I profane his Queen. CLYTEMNESTRA. 'Tis sure allow'd; Because, O son of the immortal Thetis, ACHILLES. Of what espousals talk'st thou? with surprise All stupified I stand. Thy reason sure Must wander, when this tale thou could'st devise. CLYTEMNESTRA. How natural at the sight of our new kindred, To feel confusion when they mention marriage! ACHILLES. 亨 I never sought thy Daughter for my Bride, Nor yet by either of the sons of Atreus To me was such alliance e'er propos'd. CLYTEMNESTRA. What can this mean? while you with wonder start At what I say; your words in me create The same amazement. |