Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt:... are the heaven-blest kings Throned erstwhile in their might O'er Argos? Trouble out of trouble springs In ceaseless arrowy flight. CHORUS O day when from his place The Sun his winged steeds wheeled, Turning the splendour of his holy face From horrors there revealed! That golden lamb 1 hath brought Woe added unto woe, Pang upon pang, murder on murder wrought: All these thy line must know. Vengeance thine house must feel For sons thereof long dead: 200 Their sins Fate, zealous with an evil zeal, Visiteth on thine head. IPHIGENEIA From the beginning was to me accurst My mother's spousal-fate: The Queens of Birth with hardship from the first Crushed down my childhood-state. I, the first blossom of the bridal-bower Of Leda's hapless daughter 210 By princes wooed, was nursed for that dark hour Of sacrificial slaughter, For vows that stained with sin my father's hands When I was chariot-borne Unto the Nereid's son on Aulis' sands--Ah me, a bride forlorn! Lone by a stern sea's desert shores I live Loveless, no children clinging To me; the homeless, friendless, cannot give 220 To Hera praise of singing In Argos; nor to music of my loom Shall Pallas' image grow Splendid in strife Titanic:--in my doom 1 See note to Electra, 1. 699. Blood-streams mid groanings flow, The ghastly music made of strangers laid On altars, piteous-weeping!.... Yet from these horrors now my thoughts have strayed, Afar to Argos leaping 230 To wail Orestes dead--a kingdom's heir! Ah, hands of my lost mother Clasped thee; her breast, at my departing, bare Thy babe-face, O my brother! CHORUS Lo, yonder from the sea-shore one hath come, A herdman bearing tidings unto thee. Enter Herdman. HERDMAN Agamemnon's daughter, Clytemnestra's child, Hear the strange story that I bring to thee! IPHIGENEIA Wh...