第 3 节
作者:
孤悟 更新:2022-04-21 11:07 字数:9322
slavery; and thou; lady; hadst been established in the royal palace;
and Hellas had been freed of all the anguish she suffered during those
ten long years her sons went wandering; spear in hand; around the
walls of Troy; brides had never been left desolate; nor hoary
fathers childless。
(MENELAUS and his retinue enter。 He is leading MOLOSSUS by the hand。)
MENELAUS
Behold I bring thy son with me; whom thou didst steal away to a
neighbour's house without my daughter's knowledge。 Thou wert so sure
this image of the goddess would protect thee and those who hid him;
but thou hast not proved clever enough for Menelaus。 And so if thou
refuse to leave thy station here; he shall be slain instead of thee。
Wherefore weigh it well: wilt die thyself; or see him slain for the
sin whereof thou art guilty against me and my daughter?
ANDROMACHE
O fame; fame! full many a man ere now of no account hast thou to
high estate exalted。 Those; indeed; who truly have a fair repute; I
count blest; but those who get it by false pretences; I will never
allow have aught but the accidental appearance of wisdom。 Thou for
instance; caitiff that thou art; didst thou ever wrest Troy from Priam
with thy picked troops of Hellenes? thou that hast raised such a
storm; at the word of thy daughter; a mere child; and hast entered the
lists with a poor captive; unworthy I count thee of Troy's capture;
and Troy still more disgraced by thy victory。 Those who only in
appearance are men of sense make an outward show; but inwardly
resemble the common herd; save it be in wealth; which is their
chiefest strength。
Come now; Menelaus; let us carry through this argument。 Suppose
I am slain by thy daughter; and she work her will on me; yet can she
never escape the pollution of murder; and public opinion will make
thee too an accomplice in this deed of blood; for thy share in the
business must needs implicate thee。 But even supposing I escape
death myself; will ye kill my child? Even then; how will his father
brook the murder of his child? Troy has no such coward's tale to
tell of him; nay; he will follow duty's call; his actions will prove
him a worthy scion of Peleus and Achilles。 Thy daughter will be thrust
forth from his house; and what wilt thou say when seeking to betroth
her to another? wilt say her virtue made her leave a worthless lord?
Nay; that will be false。 Who then will wed her? wilt thou keep her
without a husband in thy halls; grown grey in widowhood? Unhappy
wretch! dost not see the flood…gates of trouble opening wide for thee?
How many a wrong against a wife wouldst thou prefer thy daughter to
have found to suffering what I now describe? We ought not on
trifling grounds to promote great ills; nor should men; if we women
are so deadly a curse; bring their nature down to our level。 No! if;
as thy daughter asserts; I am practising sorcery against her and
making her barren; right willingly will I; without any crouching at
altars; submit in my own person to the penalty that lies in her
husband's hands; seeing that I am no less chargeable with injuring him
if I make him childless。 This is my case; but for thee; there is one
thing I fear in thy disposition; it was a quarrel for a woman that
really induced thee to destroy poor Ilium's town。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Thou hast said too much for a woman speaking to men; that
discretion hath shot away its last shaft from thy soul's quiver。
MENELAUS
Women; these are petty matters; unworthy; as thou sayest; of my
despotic sway; unworthy too of Hellas。 Yet mark this well; his special
fancy of the hour is of more moment to a man than Troy's capture。 I
then have set myself to help my daughter because I consider her loss
of wife's rights most grave; for whatever else a woman suffers is
second to this; if she loses her husband's love she loses her life
therewith。 Now; as it is right Neoptolemus should rule my slaves; so
my friends and I should have control of his; for friends; if they be
really friends; keep nothing to themselves; but have all in common。 So
if I wait for the absent instead of making the best arrangement I
can at once of my affairs; I show weakness; not wisdom。 Arise then;
leave the goddess's shrine; for by thy death this child escapeth
his; whereas; if thou refuse to die; I will slay him; for one of you
twain must perish。
ANDROMACHE
Ah me! 'tis a bitter lot thou art offering about my life;
whether I take it or not I am equally unfortunate。 Attend to me;
thou who for a trifling cause art committing an awful crime。 Why art
thou bent on slaying me? What reason hast thou? What city have I
betrayed? Which of thy children was ever slain by me? What house
have I fired? I was forced to be my master's concubine; and spite of
that wilt thou slay me; not him who is to blame; passing by the
cause and hurrying to the inevitable result? Ah me! my sorrows! Woe
for my hapless country! How cruel my fate! Why had I to be a mother
too and take upon me a double load of suffering? Yet why do I mourn
the past; and o'er the present never shed a tear or compute its
griefs? I that saw Hector butchered and dragged behind the chariot;
and Ilium; piteous sight! one sheet of flame; while I was baled away
by the hair of my head to the Argive ships in slavery; and on my
arrival in Phthia was given to Hector's murderer as his mistress。 What
pleasure then has life for me? Whither am I to turn my gaze? to the
present or the past? My babe alone was left me; the light of my
life; and him these ministers of death would slay。 No! they shall not;
if my poor life can save him; for if he be saved; hope in him lives
on; while to me 'twere shame to refuse to die for my son。 Lo! here I
leave the altar and give myself into your hands; to cut or stab; to
bind or hang。 Ah! my child; to Hades now thy mother passes to save thy
dear life。 Yet if thou escape thy doom; remember me; my sufferings and
my death; and tell thy father how I fared; with fond caress and
streaming eye and arms thrown round his neck。 Ah! yes; his children
are to every man as his own soul; and whoso sneers at this through
inexperience; though he suffers less anguish; yet tastes the bitter in
his cup of bliss。
LEADER
Thy tale with pity fills me; for every man alike; stranger
though he be; feels pity for another's distress。 Menelaus; 'tis thy
duty to reconcile thy daughter and this captive; giving her a
respite from sorrow。
MENELAUS
Ho! sirrahs; seize this woman (His attendants swiftly carry out
the order。); hold her fast; for 'tis no welcome story she will have to
hear。 It was to make thee leave the holy altar of the goddess that I
held thy child's death before thy eyes; and so induced thee to give
thyself up to me to die。 So stands thy case; be well assured; but as
for this child; my daughter shall decide whether she will slay him
or no。 Get thee hence into the house; and there learn to bridle thy
insolence in speaking to the free; slave that thou art。
ANDROMACHE
Alas! thou hast by treachery beguiled me; I was deceived。
MENELAUS
Proclaim it to the world; I do not deny it。
ANDROMACHE
Is this counted cleverness amongst you who dwell by the Eurotas?
MENELAUS
Yes; and amongst Trojans too; that those who suffer should
retaliate。
ANDROMACHE
Thinkest thou God's hand is shortened; and that thou wilt not be
punished?
MENELAUS
Whene'er that comes; I am ready to bear it。 But thy life will I
have。
ANDROMACHE
Wilt likewise slay this tender chick; whom thou hast snatched from
'neath my wing?
MENELAUS
Not I; but I will give him to my daughter to slay if she will。
ANDROMACHE
Ah me! why not begin my mourning then for thee; my child?
MENELAUS
Of a truth 'tis no very sure hope that he has left。
ANDROMACHE
O citizens of Sparta; the bane of all the race of men; schemers of
guile; and masters in lying; devisers of evil plots; with crooked
minds and tortuous methods and ne'er one honest thought; 'tis wrong
that ye should thrive in Hellas。 What crime is wanting in your list?
How rife is murder with you! How covetous ye are! One word upon your
lips; another in your heart; this is what men always find with you。
Perdition catch ye! Still death is not so grievous; as thou
thinkest; to me。 No! for my life ended in the day that hapless Troy
was destroyed with my lord; that glorious warrior; whose spear oft
made a coward like thee quit the field and seek thy ship。 But now
against a woman hast thou displayed the terrors of thy panoply; my
would…be murderer。 Strike then! for this my tongue shall never flatter
thee or that daughter of thine。 For though thou wert of great
account in Sparta; why so was I in Troy。 And if I am now in sorry
plight; presume not thou on this; thou too mayst be so yet。
(MENELAUS and his guards lead ANDROMACHE out。)
CHORU