Stasimon 5
[Choral 1]
Woe is thee! Where is now the toil I spent upon my sons? what thank have I for nightly watch? Where the mother’s nursing care? the sleepless vigils mine eyes have kept? the loving kiss upon my children’s brow?
1135
[Choral 2]
Thy sons are dead and gone. Poor mother!
Children
dead and gone; the boundless air now wraps them round.The second half of this line is assigned to the Chorus in the Greek.
1140
Chorus
Turned to ashes by the flame, they have winged their flight to Hades.These lines are assigned to the Chorus in the Greek.
Children
Father, thou hearest thy children’s lamentation; say, shall I e’er, as warrior dight, avenge thy slaughter?
Chorus
God grant it, O my child!
1145
Children
Some day, if god so will, shall the avenging of my father be my task; not yet this sorrow sleeps.
Chorus
Alas! Fortune’s sorrows are enough for me, I have troubles and to spare already.
Children
Shall Asopus’ laughing tide ever reflect my brazen arms as I lead on my Argive troops?
1150
Chorus
To avenge thy fallen sire.
[Choral 3]
Methinks I see thee still before my eyes, my father—
Chorus
Printing a loving kiss upon thy cheek.
Children
But thy words of exhortation are borne on the winds away.
1155
Chorus
Two mourners hath he left behind, thy mother and thee, bequeathing to thee an endless legacy of grief for thy father.
Children
The weight of grief I have to bear hath crushed me utterly.
Chorus
Come, let me clasp the ashes of my son to my bosom.
1160
Children
I weep to hear that piteous word; it stabs me to the heart.
Chorus
My child, thou art undone; no more shall I behold thee, thy own fond mother’s treasure.
