登陆注册
5452300000012

第12章

With toil I searched it out and am bringing it myself.

AGAVE

Is it all fitted limb to limb in seemly wise?

CADMUS [*]

[* One line, or maybe more, is missing]

AGAVE

But what had Pentheus to do with folly of mine?

CADMUS

He was like you in refusing homage to the god, who, therefore, hath involved you all in one common ruin, you and him alike, to destroy this house and me, forasmuch as I, that had no sons, behold this youth, the fruit of thy womb, unhappy mother! foully and most shamefully slain.To thee, my child, our house looked up, to thee my daughter's son, the stay of my palace, inspiring the city with awe;none caring to flout the old king when he saw thee by, for he would get his deserts.But now shall I be cast out dishonoured from my halls, Cadmus the great, who sowed the crop of Theban seed and reaped that goodly harvest.O beloved child! dead though thou art, thou still shalt be counted by me amongst my own dear children; no more wilt thou lay thy hand upon my chin in fond embrace, my child, and calling on thy mother's sire demand, "Who wrongs thee or dishonours thee, old sire? who vexes thy heart, a thorn within thy side? Speak, that I may punish thy oppressor, father mine!"But now am I in sorrow plunged, and woe is thee, and woe thy mother and her suffering sisters too! Ah! if there be any man that scorns the gods, let him well mark this prince's death and then believe in them.

CHORUS

Cadmus, I am sorry for thy fate; for though thy daughter's child hath met but his deserts, 'tis bitter grief to thee.

AGAVE

O father, thou seest how sadly my fortune is changed.[*]

[* After this a very large lacuna occurs in the MS.]

DIONYSUS

Thou shalt be changed into a serpent; and thy wife Harmonia, Ares'

child, whom thou in thy human life didst wed, shall change her nature for a snake's, and take its form.With her shalt thou, as leader of barbarian tribes, drive thy team of steers, so saith an oracle of Zeus; and many a city shalt thou sack with an army numberless; but in the day they plunder the oracle of Loxias, shall they rue their homeward march; but thee and Harmonia will Ares rescue, and set thee to live henceforth in the land of the blessed.This do I declare, I Dionysus, son of no mortal father but of Zeus.Had ye learnt wisdom when ye would not, ye would now be happy with the son of Zeus for your ally.

AGAVE

O Dionysus! we have sinned; thy pardon we implore.

DIONYSUS

Too late have ye learnt to know me; ye knew me not at the proper time.

AGAVE

We recognize our error; but thou art too revengeful.

DIONYSUS

Yea, for I, though a god, was slighted by you.

AGAVE

Gods should not let their passion sink to man's level.

DIONYSUS

Long ago my father Zeus ordained it thus.

AGAVE

Alas! my aged sire, our doom is fixed; 'tis woful exile.

DIONYSUS

Why then delay the inevitable? Exit.

CADMUS

Daughter, to what an awful pass are we now come, thou too, poor child, and thy sisters, while I alas! in my old age must seek barbarian shores, to sojourn there; but the oracle declares that Ishall yet lead an army, half-barbarian, half-Hellene, to Hellas; and in serpent's shape shall I carry my wife Harmonia, the daughter of Ares, transformed like me to a savage snake, against the altars and tombs of Hellas at the head of my troops; nor shall I ever cease from my woes, ah me! nor ever cross the downward stream of Acheron and be at rest.

AGAVE

Father, I shall be parted from thee and exiled.

CADMUS

Alas! my child, why fling thy arms around me, as a snowy cygnet folds its wings about the frail old swan?

AGAVE

Whither can I turn, an exile from my country?

CADMUS

I know not, my daughter; small help is thy father now.

AGAVE

Farewell, my home! farewell, my native city! with sorrow I am leaving thee, an exile from my bridal bower.

CADMUS

Go, daughter, to the house of Aristaeus,[*]

[* Another large lacuna follows.]

AGAVE

Father, I mourn for thee.

CADMUS

And I for thee, my child; for thy sisters too I shed a tear.

AGAVE

Ah! terribly was king Dionysus bringing this outrage on thy house.

CADMUS

Yea, for he suffered insults dire from you, his name receiving no meed of honour in Thebes.

AGAVE

Farewell, father mine!

CADMUS

Farewell, my hapless daughter and yet thou scarce canst reach that bourn.

AGAVE

Oh! lead me, guide me to the place where I shall find my sisters, sharers in my exile to their sorrow! Oh! to reach a spot where cursed Cithaeron ne'er shall see me more nor I Cithaeron with mine eyes; where no memorial of the thyrsus is set up! Be they to other Bacchantes dear!

CHORUS

Many are the forms the heavenly will assumes, and many a thing the gods fulfil contrary to all hope; that which was expected is not brought to pass, while for the unlooked-for Heaven finds out a way.

E'en such hath been the issue here.

Exeunt OMNES.

THE END

.

同类推荐
  • The Deliverance

    The Deliverance

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 陆清献公莅嘉遗迹

    陆清献公莅嘉遗迹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 和韩郎中扬子津玩雪

    和韩郎中扬子津玩雪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说金光王童子经

    佛说金光王童子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Worldly Ways and Byways

    Worldly Ways and Byways

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 婚前契约:三嫁恶魔总裁

    婚前契约:三嫁恶魔总裁

    【全文已完结】她父母双亡为了救治瘫痪的弟弟,只得和年长她四十岁的人订婚成亲,谁知订婚前夜却遇到了心仪的他……婚后才发现那个他竟然和自己在同一屋檐下。一次次的爱恨纠葛,两个人如同宿敌一般的你争我斗却是埋下情根……但是她也深刻的认识到,若是要主宰自己的命运,最后依靠的必定是自己!什么老公?什么盟友?麻烦请滚远好么?这个男人的商战天下,她许小诺也要分得三分!
  • 爆笑尸姐之惹佛成魔

    爆笑尸姐之惹佛成魔

    当你一觉醒来发现自己躺在一顶黑乎乎的棺材内,叫天天不灵,叫地地不应,你会如何反应?当你辛辛苦苦用爪子刨土钻出地面,看见墓地中的群尸乱舞,你会如何反应?当你兴高采烈正欲重操旧业跳起热情的桑巴,却被一道惊雷劈中成了光头,你会如何反应?本文女主灵妃,因地震丧命,灵魂穿越至一具深埋已久的女尸内,面对种种不幸,她指天怒骂,却不料引来各路神仙鬼魔齐齐降临。这个要抓她,那个要除她,还有冥界来人想拿她当炉鼎?尼玛,本尸姐打不过还逃不过么!却不想原先雷击竟因祸得福,猥琐尸姐从此开始一段惊天地泣鬼神的尸修之路,从此祸害人间,翱翔六界。可谁来告诉她,这个不知打哪来,披着袈裟留着光头的妖孽和尚为啥一直缠着她不放,见面就欲传授佛法与她?她是猥琐尸姐,不想成佛啊!!!★片段一★:黑云涌动的夜间,人界偏僻的乱葬坟岗中,一位身穿黑衣的女子正拿着铲子慢悠悠的为自己挖坑,这时一道伟岸身影慢慢接近。“施主,需要帮忙吗?”嗓音带着一丝性感。灵妃回头看着面前的妖孽和尚,不禁瞪眸,“怎又是你?说了我不信佛!”“施主,贫僧只是来帮你!”渡情狭长的凤眸里划过一丝暗光。“帮忙?那好给你,替本尸姐挖个好坑!”灵妃顿时喜笑颜开将手中铲子递出。渡情错愕,双手合十:“阿弥陀佛,贫僧不会挖坑!”“不会你说帮忙个妹!”灵妃立马变脸。渡情妖孽一笑,“施主,贫僧那有块雅地聚集天地灵气,正好适合施主修炼参悟佛法!”灵妃一张脸霎时铁青,“滚开,和尚!”-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------吼吼~老佛新文,走过路过千万表错过!错过绕坑的一律无循环压倒哦~本文走轻松搞笑路线,结局一对一,喜欢的亲还望多多支持,同文文一起步入一个新奇的玄幻之路吧!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • 妖孽仙医

    妖孽仙医

    【免费精品】意外获得最强仙医传承的吴良,回到故土。曾被夺走的一切,如今他要百倍讨回。财富,美女,权势,一个不少。他是一个妖孽,一个妖孽般的神话传说。
  • 诡三国

    诡三国

    没有系统,没有老爷爷,没有推土机,没有集邮癖,只有一个小职员,无财无权无势,一步步的在三国各路牛人间披荆斩棘!枭雄还是英雄,美女还是江山,阴谋还是阳谋,王道还是霸道?慢慢一路走三国,你会发现其实曹操没做献刀,刘备不光会哭,孙权平衡有术,一起来会一会吕布关羽的武艺,顺便看看大小乔的呆萌……
  • 嚣张王妃异世风云

    嚣张王妃异世风云

    她,二十三世纪佣兵之王-King,一朝意外,穿越异世,美男环绕,玩转天下,称王称霸,谁与争锋
  • 和严揆省中宿斋遇令

    和严揆省中宿斋遇令

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仙君请留步

    仙君请留步

    前世,她是国破家亡的帝女凤凰,他是所向披靡的仙界主将。今生,她是自唱挽歌的亡国贵女,他是隐居世外的孤高谪仙。当命运让他们再次相遇,仰慕仙人的凡人女子,宁愿放下一身矜持高傲拾起杀人刀。纵然生死相隔,也不能阻止我追逐你的脚步。
  • 尼尔斯骑鹅旅行记

    尼尔斯骑鹅旅行记

    这是一套献给孩子们的书。一如它的名字“阅读一小步·成长一大步”,在孩子们开始求知的成长旅程时,一套适合他们课外阅读的好书无疑为他们的人生……
  • 重生之终于等到你

    重生之终于等到你

    上辈子赵媚儿执迷不悟,没能珍惜眼前人,撒手人寰之际,她告诉自己如果上天再给她一次机会,她一定掌握幸福。纳尼……她真的重生了。老天一定是舍不得让她红颜薄命,舍不得秦盛楠这么好的男人落到小三手里,才让她生后复生!重生后,她弥补前世过错,潜心做人,夺回老公,惩治小三……
  • LITTLE NOVELS

    LITTLE NOVELS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。