第 2 节
作者:孤悟      更新:2022-04-21 11:07      字数:9321
  HERMIONE
  With a crown of golden workmanship upon my head and about my
  body this embroidered robe am I come hither; no presents these I
  wear from the palace of Achilles or Peleus; but gifts my father
  Menelaus gave me together with a sumptuous dower from Sparta in
  Laconia; to insure me freedom of speech。 Such is my answer to you
  (to the CHORUS); but as for thee; slave and captive; thou wouldst fain
  oust me and secure this palace for thyself; and thanks to thy
  enchantment I am hated by my husband; thou it is that hast made my
  womb barren and cheated my hopes; for Asia's daughters have clever
  heads for such villainy; yet will I check thee therefrom; nor shall
  this temple of the Nereid avail thee aught; no! neither its altar or
  shrine; but thou shalt die。 But if or god or man should haply wish
  to save thee; thou must atone for thy proud thoughts of happier days
  now past by humbling thyself and crouching prostrate at my knees; by
  sweeping out my halls; and by learning; as thou sprinklest water
  from a golden ewer; where thou now art。 Here is no Hector; no Priam
  with his gold; but a city of Hellas。 Yet thou; miserable woman; hast
  gone so far in wantonness that thou canst lay thee down with the son
  of the very man that slew thy husband; and bear children to the
  murderer。 Such is all the race of barbarians; father and daughter;
  mother and son; sister and brother mate together; the nearest and
  dearest stain their path with each other's blood; and no law restrains
  such horrors。 Bring not these crimes amongst us; for here we count
  it shame that one man should have the control of two wives; and men
  are content to turn to one lawful love; that is; all who care to
  live an honourable life。
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
  Women are by nature somewhat jealous; and do ever show the keenest
  hate to rivals in their love。
  ANDROMACHE
  Ah! well…a…day! Youth is a bane to mortals; in every case; that
  is; where a man embraces injustice in his early days。 Now I am
  afraid that my being a slave will prevent thee listening to me in
  spite of many a just plea; or if I win my case; I fear I may be
  damaged on this very ground; for the high and mighty cannot brook
  refuting arguments from their inferiors; still I will not be convicted
  of betraying my own cause。 Tell me; proud young wife; what assurance
  can make me confident of wresting from thee thy lawful lord? Is it
  that Laconia's capital yields to Phrygia? is it that my fortune
  outstrips thine? or that in me thou seest a free woman? Am I so elated
  by my youth; my full healthy figure; the extent of my city; the number
  of my friends that I wish to supplant thee in thy home? Is my
  purpose to take thy place and rear myself a race of slaves; mere
  appendages to my misery? or; supposing thou bear no children; will any
  one endure that sons of mine should rule o'er Phthia? Ah no! there
  is the love that Hellas bears me; both for Hector's sake and for my
  own humble rank forsooth; that never knew a queen's estate in Troy。
  'Tis not my sorcery that makes thy husband hate thee; nay; but thy own
  failure to prove thyself his help…meet。 Herein lies love's only charm;
  'tis not beauty; lady; but virtuous acts that win our husbands'
  hearts。 And though it gall thee to be told so; albeit thy city in
  Laconia is no doubt mighty fact; yet thou findest no place for his
  Scyros; displaying wealth 'midst poverty and setting Menelaus above
  Achilles: and that is what alienates thy lord。 Take heed; for a woman;
  though bestowed upon worthless husband; must be with him content;
  and ne'er advance presumptuous claims。 Suppose thou hadst wedded a
  prince of Thrace; the land of flood and melting snow; where one lord
  shares his affections with a host of wives; wouldst thou have slain
  them? If so; thou wouldst have set a stigma of insatiate lust on all
  our sex。 A shameful charge! And yet herein we suffer more than men;
  though we make a good stand against it。 Ah! my dear lord Hector; for
  thy sake would I e'en brook a rival; if ever Cypris led thee astray;
  and oft in days gone by I held thy bastard babes to my own breast;
  to spare thee any cause for grief。 By this course I bound my husband
  to me by virtue's chains; whereas thou wilt never so much as let the
  drops of dew from heaven above settle on thy lord; in thy jealous
  fear。 Oh! seek not to surpass thy mother in hankering after men; for
  'tis well that all wise children should avoid the habits of such
  evil mothers。
  LEADER
  Mistress mine; be persuaded to come to terms with her; as far as
  readily comes within thy power。
  HERMIONE
  Why this haughty tone; this bandying of words; as if; forsooth;
  thou; not I; wert the virtuous wife?
  ANDROMACHE
  Thy present claims at any rate give thee small title thereto。
  HERMIONE
  Woman; may my bosom never harbour such ideas as thine!
  ANDROMACHE
  Thou art young to speak on such a theme as this。
  HERMIONE
  As for thee; thou dost not speak thereof; but; as thou canst; dost
  put it into action against me。
  ANDROMACHE
  Canst thou not conceal thy pangs of jealousy?
  HERMIONE
  What! doth not every woman put this first of all?
  ANDROMACHE
  Yes; if her experiences are happy; otherwise; there is no honour
  in speaking of them。
  HERMIONE
  Barbarians' laws are not a standard for our city。
  ANDROMACHE
  Alike in Asia and in Hellas infamy attends base actions。
  HERMIONE
  Clever; clever quibbler! yet die thou must and shalt。
  ANDROMACHE
  Dost see the image of Thetis with her eye upon thee?
  HERMIONE
  A bitter foe to thy country because of the death of Achilles。
  ANDROMACHE
  'Twas not I that slew him; but Helen that mother of thine。
  HERMIONE
  Pray; is it thy intention to probe my wounds yet deeper?
  ANDROMACHE
  Behold; I am dumb; my lips are closed。
  HERMIONE
  Tell me that which was my only reason for coming hither。
  ANDROMACHE
  No! all I tell thee is; thou hast less wisdom than thou needest。
  HERMIONE
  Wilt thou leave these hallowed precincts of the sea…goddess?
  ANDROMACHE
  Yes; if I am not to die for it; otherwise; I never will。
  HERMIONE
  Since that is thy resolve; I shall not even wait my lord's return。
  ANDROMACHE
  Nor yet will I; at any rate ere that; surrender to thee。
  HERMIONE
  I will bring fire to bear on thee; and pay no heed to thy
  entreaties。
  ANDROMACHE
  Kindle thy blaze then; the gods will witness it。
  HERMIONE
  And make thy flesh to writhe by cruel wounds。
  ANDROMACHE
  Begin thy butchery; stain the altar of the goddess with blood; for
  she will visit thy iniquity。
  HERMIONE
  Barbarian creature; hardened in impudence; wilt thou brave death
  itself? Still will I find speedy means to make these quit this seat of
  thy free will; such a bait have I to lure thee with。 But I will hide
  my meaning; which the event itself shall soon declare。 Yes; keep thy
  seat; for I will make thee rise; though molten lead is holding thee
  there; before Achilles' son; thy trusted champion; arrive。
  (HERMIONE departs。)
  ANDROMACHE
  My trusted champion; yes! how strange it is; that though some
  god hath devised cures for mortals against the venom of reptiles; no
  man ever yet hath discovered aught to cure a woman's venom; which is
  far worse than viper's sting or scorching flame; so terrible a curse
  are we to mankind。
  CHORUS (singing)
  strophe 1
  Ah! what sorrows did the son of Zeus and Maia herald; in the day
  he came to Ida's glen; guiding that fair young trio of goddesses;
  all girded for the fray in bitter rivalry about their beauty; to the
  shepherd's fold where dwelt the youthful herdsman all alone by the
  hearth of his lonely hut。
  antistrophe 1
  Soon as they reached the wooded glen; in gushing mountain
  springs they bathed their dazzling skin; then sought the son of Priam;
  comparing their rival charms in more than rancorous phrase。 But Cypris
  won the day by her deceitful promises; sweet…sounding words; but
  fraught with ruthless overthrow to Phrygia's hapless town and
  Ilium's towers。
  strophe 2
  Would God his mother had smitten him a cruel death…blow on the
  head before he made his home on Ida's slopes; in the hour Cassandra;
  standing by the holy bay…tree; cried out; 〃Slay him; for he will bring
  most grievous bane on Priam's town。〃 To every prince she went; to
  every elder sued for the babe's destruction。
  antistrophe 2
  Ah! had they listened; Ilium's daughters neer had felt the yoke of
  slavery; and thou; lady; hadst been established in the royal palace;
  and Hellas had been freed