Choephori Or The Libation Bearers Essay Paper Example For Students

Choephori Or The Libation Bearers Essay Paper A monologue from the play by Aeschylus NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Dramas of Aeschylus. Trans. Anna Swanwick. London: George Bell and Sons, 1907. NURSE: My mistress bade me summon with all speedgisthos to the strangers, that he mayMore clearly learn, as man from man, this taleNewly announced. Before the menial train,She, at the tidings by these strangers brought,Neath mournful eyes a lurking smile hath veiled,Exulting in events joyous for her,But to this house with direst issue fraught;But he no doubt will in his soul rejoice,Hearing the tale. Alas! unhappy me!How did the ancient troubles, hard to bear,Whose blended horror darkened Atreus house,With anguish pierce my heart! But neer before,Have I a sorrow like to this endured.All other ills I patiently have borne,But dear Orestes, darling of my soul,Whom from his mothers womb I fondly reared,Whose piercing summons waked me up at night,And for whose sake full many a fruitless toilI bore ungrudging;for like lamb unweaned,The witless infant we perforce must rearAccording to its mood;how otherwise!For while in swathing-clothes no voice it hath,When pressed by hunger, thirst, or na tures call,But wilful is each tender organs play.Such wants presaging, ay, and oft deceived,As cleanser of his swaddling bands, I ween,Fuller and nurse had common duty there.I thus installed in double handicraft,The young Orestes for his father reared.Oh wretched me to hear that he is dead;But now I go, the spoiler of this houseTo seek;right gladly will he learn the tale.