_breaking, as regularly in the Choral Odes, into highly Lyrical rhythms
accompanied with Music and Gesture-dance, the evolutions of which lead
them alternately to Right and Left of Orchestra and back to Altar._
_Strophe I: evolutions from Altar to Right._
Yes: it is the hand of Zeus we may trace in all this! Now what will they
say who contend that the Gods care not when mortal men trample under foot
the inviolable? Troy knows better now, that once relied on its abounding
wealth: ah! moderate fortune is best for the seeker after Wisdom; Wealth
is no bulwark to those who in wantonness have spurned the altar of the
Right and Just. {375}
_Antistrophe I: evolutions front Right back to Altar, rhythm as in
Strophe._
Such a man is urged on by Impulse, offspring of Infatuation, till his
mischief stands out clear, as worthless bronze stripped of its varnish.
So Paris sees now his light-hearted crime has brought his city low. He
came to the house of the Sons of Atreus, and stole a Queen away, leaving
Shame where he had sat as Guest. {392}
_Strophe II: change of rhythm, evolutions from Altar to Left._
She, leaving to her countrymen at home
Wild din of spear and shield and ships of war,
And bringing, as her dower,
To Ilion doom of death,
Passed very swiftly through the palace gates,
Daring what none should dare;
And many a wailing cry
They raised, the minstrel prophets of the house,
"Woe for that kingly home!
Woe for that kingly home and for its chiefs!
Woe for the marriage-bed and traces left
Of wife who loved her lord!"
There stands he silent; foully wronged and yet
Uttering no word of scorn,
In deepest woe perceiving she is gone;
And in his yearning love
For one beyond the sea,
A ghost shall seem to queen it o'er the house;
The grace of sculptured forms
Is loathéd by her lord,
And in the penury of life's bright eyes
All Aphrodite's charm
To utter wreck has gone. {409}
_Antistrophe II: back to Altar._
And phantom shades that hover round in dreams
Come full of sorrow, bringing vain delight;
For vain it is, when one
Sees seeming shows of good,
And gliding through his hands the dream is gone,
After a moment's space,
On wings that follow still
Upon the path where sleep goes to and fro.
Such are the woes at home
Upon the altar hearth, and worse than these.
But on a wider scale for those who went
From Hellas' ancient shore,
A sore distress that causeth pain of heart
Is seen in every house.
Yea, many things there are that touch the quick:
For those whom each did send
He knoweth; but, instead
Of living men, there come to each man's home
Funereal urns alone,
And ashes of the dead. {425}
_Strophe III: change of rhythm, evolutions from Altar to Right._
War is a trafficker; in the rush of battle he holds scales, and for the
golden coin you spend on him he sends you back lifeless shapes of men;
they sent out men, the loving friends receive back well-smoothed ashes
from the funeral pyre. They sing the heroic fall of some--all for
another's wife; and some murmur discontent against the sons of Atreus,
and some have won a grave in the land they had conquered. {441}
_Antistrophe III: evolutions repeated, but from Right back to Altar._
So sullen discontent has been doing the work of a people's curse:
therefore it is that I am awaiting with dim forebodings the full news.
The Gods do not forget those who have shed much blood, and sooner or
later the dark-robed Deities of the Curse consign the evil-doer to
impassable, hopeless gloom. Away with the dazzling success that attracts
the thunderbolt! be mine the moderate lot that neither causes nor suffers
captivity. {458}
_Epode: change of rhythm and Chorus not moving from the Altar._
The courier flame has brought good news--but who knows whether it be
true?--Yet it is childish when the heart is all aglow with the message of
the flame to be turned round by everchanging rumour.--Yet it is the
nature of a woman to believe too soon. [Observe how the Chorus, setting
out on an ode of triumph, have come back to their persistent
forebodings.] {471}
_Suddenly at the Side-door on the extreme Left of the Stage (signifying
distance) appears a Herald, covered with dust, crowned with olive in
token of victory. The Chorus immediately fall into their Episode
position to receive him, the Foreman expressing their anticipations as
the Herald traverses the long stage to the point opposite the Chorus._