The Vision Of Cassandra
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) CASSANDRA Phoebus Apollo! CHORUS Hark! The lips at last unlocking. CASSANDRA Phoebus! Phoebus! CHORUS Well, what of Phoebus, maiden? though a name ‘Tis but disparagement to call upon In misery. CASSANDRA Apollo! Apollo! Again! Oh, the burning arrow through the brain! Phoebus […]
The Sacrifice Of Iphigenia
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now long and long from wintry Strymon blew The weary, hungry, anchor-straining blasts, The winds that wandering seamen dearly rue, Nor spared the cables worn and groaning masts; And, lingering on, in indolent delay, Slow wasted all the strength of Greece away. […]
The Lament Of The Old Nurse
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) NURSE Our mistress bids me with all speed to call Aegisthus to the strangers, that he come And hear more clearly, as a man from man, This newly brought report. Before her slaves, Under set eyes of melancholy cast, She hid her […]
The Defiance Of Eteocles
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) MESSENGER Now at the Seventh Gate the seventh chief, Thy proper mother’s son, I will announce, What fortune for this city, for himself, With curses he invoketh:–on the walls Ascending, heralded as king, to stand, With paeans for their capture; then with […]
The Decree Of Athena
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Hear ye my statute, men of Attica– Ye who of bloodshed judge this primal cause; Yea, and in future age shall Aegeus’s host Revere this court of jurors. This the hill Of Ares, seat of Amazons, their tent, What time ‘gainst Theseus, […]
The Complaint Of Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
The Beacon Fires
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) A GLEAM – a gleam – from Ida’s height, By the Fire-god sent, it came; From watch to watch it leapt, that light, As a rider rode the flame! It shot through the startled sky, And the torch of that blazing glory […]
The Battle Of Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
Song Of The Furies
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Up and lead the dance of Fate! Lift the song that mortals hate! Tell what rights are ours on earth, Over all of human birth. Swift of foot to avenge are we! He whose hands are clean and pure, Naught our wrath to […]
Prometheus Amid Hurricane And Earthquake
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Earth is rocking in space! And the thunders crash up with a roar upon roar, And the eddying lightnings flash fire in my face, And the whirlwinds are whirling the dust round and round- And the blasts of the winds universal leap […]
Prayer Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]
Lament Two Brothers Slain Each Other039s Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Lament For The Two Brothers Slain By Each Others Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Fragment From Aeschylus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The man who rightly acts without coercion Will not be grieved, can never wholly sink in wretchedness; While the lawless criminal is forcibly dragged under In the current of time when from the shattered mast The elements rip down his sails. He […]
Complaint Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
Battle Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
A Prayer For Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]