Stasimon 5
[Episode]
I heard your voice and have come
Clytemnestra
in sad dismay and fearful dread, not sure but what you have arrived with tidings of some fresh trouble for me besides the present woe.
1535
Messenger
No, rather I want to unfold to you a strange and marvellous story about your child.
Clytemnestra
Do not delay, then, but speak at once.
Messenger
Dear mistress, you shall learn all clearly; from the outset will I tell it, unless my memory fails me somewhat and confuses my tongue in its account. As soon as we reached the grove of Artemis, the child of Zeus, and the flowery meadows,
1540
where the Achaean troops were gathered, bringing your daughter with us, at once the Argive army began assembling; but when king Agamemnon saw the maiden on her way to the grove to be sacrificed, he gave one groan, and, turning away his face, let the tears burst
1545
from his eyes, as he held his robe before them. But the maid, standing close by her father, spoke thus: O my father, here I am; willingly I offer my body for my country and all Hellas,
1550
that you may lead me to the altar of the goddess and sacrifice me, since this is Heaven’s ordinance. May good luck be yours for any help that I afford! and may you obtain the victor’s gift and come again to the land of your fathers. So then let none of the Argives lay hands on me,
1555
for I will bravely yield my neck without a word.
1560
She spoke; and each man marvelled, as he heard the maiden’s brave speech. But in the midst Talthybius stood up, for this was his duty, and bade the army refrain from word or deed;
and Calchas, the seer, drawing a sharp sword from its scabbard laid it in a basket of beaten gold, and crowned the maiden’s head. Then the son of Peleus, taking the basket and with it lustral water in his hand, ran round the altar of the goddess
1565
uttering these words: O Artemis, you child of Zeus, slayer of wild beasts, that wheel your dazzling light amid the gloom, accept this sacrifice which we, the army of the Achaeans and Agamemnon with us, offer to you, pure blood from a beautiful maiden’s neck;
1570
and grant us safe sailing for our ships and the sack of Troy’s towers by our spears.
1575
Meanwhile the sons of Atreus and all the army stood looking on the ground.
[But the priest, seizing his knife, offered up a prayer and was closely scanning the maiden’s throat to see where he should strike.
It was no slight sorrow filled my heart, as I stood by with bowed head; when there was a sudden miracle! Each one of us distinctly heard the sound of a blow,Reading πληγῆς σαφῶς γὰρ πᾶς τις ᾔσθετο κτύπον (Weil). but none saw the spot where the maiden vanished. The priest cried out, and all the army took up the cry
1580
at the sight of a marvel all unlooked for, due to some god’s agency, and passing all belief, although it was seen; for there upon the ground lay a deer of immense size, magnificent to see, gasping out her life, with whose blood the altar of the goddess was thoroughly bedewed.
1585
Then spoke Calchas thus—his joy you can imagine—You captains of this leagued Achaean army, do you see this victim, which the goddess has set before her altar, a mountain-roaming deer? This is more welcome to her by far than the maid,
1590
that she may not defile her altar by shedding noble blood. Gladly she has accepted it, and is granting us a prosperous voyage forReading Ἰλίου πρὸς for Ἰλίου τ᾽ with Hermann. our attack on Ilium. Therefore take heart, sailors, each man of you, and away to your ships, for today
1595
we must leave the hollow bays of Aulis and cross the Aegean main.
1600
