Book of illustrations : Ancient Tragedy

Adm. Though dead, if I betray her, may I die!
Herc. Well, take this noble lady to thy house. {1170}
Adm. No, by thy father Jove, let me entreat thee.
Herc. Not to do this would be the greatest wrong.
Adm. To do it would with anguish rend my heart.
Herc. Let me prevail; this grace may find its meed.
Adm. O that thou never had'st receiv'd this prize!
Herc. Yet in my victory thou art victor with me.
Adm. 'Tis nobly said: yet let this woman go.
Herc. If she must go, she shall! but must she go?
Adm. She must, if I incur not thy displeasure.
Herc. There is a cause that prompts my earnestness. {1180}
Adm. Thou hast prevailed, but much against my will.
Herc. The time will come when thou wilt thank me for it.
Adm. Well, if I must receive her, lead her in.
Herc. Charge servants with her! No, that must not be.
Adm. Lead her thyself, then, if thy will incline thee.
Herc. No, to thy hand alone will I commit her.
Adm. I touch her not; but she hath leave to enter.
Herc. I shall entrust her only to thy hand.
Adm. Thou dost constrain me, king, against my will.
Herc. Venture to stretch thy hand, and touch the stranger's. {1190}
Adm. I touch her, as I would the headless Gorgon.
Herc. Hast thou her hand?
Adm. I have.
Herc. (lifting the veil) Then hold her safe.
Hereafter thou wilt say the son of Jove
Hath been a generous guest; view now her face,
See if she bears resemblance to thy wife,
And thus made happy bid farewell to grief.
Adm. O, Gods, what shall I say? 'Tis marvelous,
Exceeding hope. See I my wife indeed?
Or doth some god distract me with false joy?
Herc. In very deed dost thou behold thy wife. {1200}
Adm. See that it be no phantom from beneath.
Herc. Make not thy friend one that evokes the shades.
Adm. And do I see my wife, whom I entomb'd?
Herc. I marvel not that thou art diffident.
Adm. I touch her; may I speak to her as living?
Herc. Speak to her: thou hast all thy heart could wish.
Adm. Dearest of women, do I see again
That face, that person? This exceeds all hope;
I never thought that I should see thee more.
Herc. Thou hast her; may no God be envious of thee. {1210}
Adm. O be thou blest, thou generous son of Jove!
Thy father's might protect thee! Thou alone
Hast rais'd her to me; from the realms below
How hast thou brought her to the light of life?
Herc. I fought with him that lords it o'er the shades.
Adm. Where with the gloomy tyrant didst thou fight?
Herc. I lay in wait and seized him at the tomb.
Adm. But wherefore doth my wife thus speechless stand?
Herc. It is not yet permitted[9 - The fact was that the Alcestis was represented in place of a 'Satyric Drama,' which only allowed two (speaking) personages on the Stage at the same time.] that thou hear
Her voice addressing thee, till from the Gods {1220}
That rule beneath she be unsanctified
With hallow'd rites, and the third morn return.
But lead her in; and as thou'rt just in all
Besides, Admetus, see thou reverence strangers.
Farewell: I go t' achieve the destined toil
For the imperial son of Sthenelus.
Adm. Abide with us, and share my friendly hearth.
Herc. That time will come again; this demands speed.
Adm. Success attend thee: safe may'st thou return.
Now to my citizens I give in charge, {1230}
And to each chief, that for this blest event
They institute the dance; let the steer bleed,
And the rich altars, as they pay their vows,
Breathe incense to the gods; for now I rise
To better life, and grateful own the blessing.

THE CHORUS, RETIRING:

Our fates the Gods in various shapes dispose: {1236}
Heaven sets the crown on many a hopeless cause:
That which is looked for
Fails in the issue.
To goals unexpected
Heav'n points out a passage.
And this is the end of the matter.

THE CYCLOPS OF EURIPIDES

A SPECIMEN OF THE SATYRIC DRAMA

Scene: Sicily, in front of cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus.

Prologue by Silenus, the rural demi-god, who recounts his faithful service to Bacchus, and yet the ungrateful god has let himself and his children fall into this slavery to the horrid Cyclops Polyphemus, where, worst of their many woes, they are debarred from the wine they worship.

Parode: The Chorus of Satyrs driving their goats and lamenting how different this from the merry service of Bacchus.

Episode I. Silenus hurries back with the news that a ship is approaching to water in the island: fresh victims for the monster. Enter Ulysses and crew: mutual explanations, all couched in 'burlesque' tone. The mariners have had no food except flesh, and gladly partake milk and fruits of the Satyrs, affording in return to Silenus the long-lost luxury of wine: the scene then going on to paint [with the utmost coarseness] the oncoming of drunkenness.

Suddenly enter Polyphemus: Ulysses and the crew hide. After some rough bandying between the Monster and the Chorus, the strangers are discovered: and Silenus, to save himself, turns traitor, and tells Polyphemus how they have beaten him because he would not let them steal, also what dire woes they were going to work upon Polyphemus. In spite of their protests Silenus is believed: Ulysses promises, if set free, to erect shrines in Greece for the Cyclops, besides dwelling upon the impiety of attacking innocent strangers: Polyphemus replies that he does not care for shrines, and as for impiety he is independent of Zeus; which gives occasion for a glorification of the life of nature. They are driven into the cave to be fed on at leisure.

Choral Ode: General disgust at the monster.

Episode II. Ulysses [apparently standing at the mouth of the cave] describes Polyphemus gorging – then details his plan of deliverance by aid of the wine.

Choral Ode: Lyric delight of Chorus at prospect of deliverance.