Epeisodion 2
HERALD.
And awful seats, and deities sun-fronting —
Receive with pomp your monarch, long time absent!
For he comes bringing light in night-time to you,
520
In common with all these — king Agamemnon.
But kindly greet him — for clear shows your duty —
Who has dug under Troia with the mattock
Of Zeus the Avenger, whereby plains are out-ploughed,
Altars unrecognizable, and gods’ shrines,
525
And the whole land’s seed thoroughly has perished.
And such a yoke-strap having cast round Troia,
The elder king Atreides, happy man — he
Comes to be honoured, worthiest of what mortals
Now are. Nor Paris nor the accomplice-city
530
Outvaunts their deed as more than they are done-by:
For, in a suit for rape and theft found guilty,
He missed of plunder and, in one destruction,
Fatherland, house and home has mowed to atoms:
Debts the Priamidai have paid twice over.
535
CHOROS.
Hail, herald from the army of Achaians!
HERALD.
I hail: — to die, will gainsay gods no longer!
CHOROS.
Love of this fatherland did exercise thee?
540
HERALD.
So that I weep, at least, with joy, my eyes full.
CHOROS.
What, of this gracious sickness were ye gainers?
HERALD.
How now? instructed, I this speech shall master.
CHOROS.
For those who loved you back, with longing stricken.
HERALD.
This land yearned for the yearning army, say’st thou?
545
CHOROS.
So as to set me oft, from dark mind, groaning.
HERALD.
Whence came this ill mind — hatred to the army?
CHOROS.
Of old, I use, for mischiefs physic, silence.
HERALD.
And how, the chiefs away, did you fear any?
