Parodos
[Choral]
for that they presume to wrong me thus unprovoked. O my father, my country, that I have left to my shame, after slaying my own brother.
165
Nurse
Do ye hear her words, how loudly she adjures Themis, oft invoked, and Zeus, whom
men regard as keeper of their oaths? On no mere trifle surely will our mistress spend her rage.
170
[Choral 1]
Would that she would come forth for us to see, and
Chorus
listen to the words of counsel we might give, if haply she might lay aside the fierce fury of her wrath, and her temper stern. Never be my zeal at any rate denied my friends!
175
But go thou and bring her hither outside the house, and tell her this our friendly thought; haste thee ere she do some mischief to those inside the house, for this sorrow of hers is mounting high.
180
[Choral]
This will I do; but I have my doubts whether I shall persuade
Nurse
my mistress; still willingly will I undertake this trouble for you; albeit, she glares upon her servants with the look of a lioness with cubs, whenso anyone draws nigh to speak to her.
185
Wert thou to call the men of old time rude uncultured boors thou wouldst not err, seeing that they devised their hymns for festive occasions, for banquets, and to grace the board, a pleasure to catch the ear, shed o’er our life,
190
but no man hath found a way to allay hated grief by music and the minstrel’s varied strain, whence arise slaughters and fell strokes of fate to o’erthrow the homes of men. And yet this were surely a gain,
195
to heal men’s wounds by music’s spell, but why tune they their idle song where rich banquets are spread? for of itself doth the rich banquet, set before them, afford to men delight.
200
Chorus
I heard a bitter cry of lamentation!
loudly, bitterly she calls on the traitor of her marriage bed, her perfidious spouse; by grievous wrongs oppressed she invokes Themis, bride of Zeus, witness of oaths, who brought her
205
unto Hellas, the land that fronts the strand of Asia, o’er the sea by night through ocean’s boundless gate.
210
