Aeschylus Persians An open square in Susa, capital of Persia. In the background, a building reached by steps. Nearer to the spectator, and probably in the center of the Translated by Janet Lembke & C.J. Herington dancing-floor, a mound representing the tomb of Darius. Originally performed in 472 BC, Enter the CHORUS right, marching slowly and delivering produced by Pericles anapestic (marching) chant. seven years after the Battle of Salamis, which is reported during the play. Parodos (lines 1-158 in Greek = 1-200 in this translation) CHARACTERS CHORUS We the old men while Persia's young strength has gone CHORUS of old men, regents of Persia onto Greek soil stay at home appointed their Faithful, ATOSSA the Queen, the lavish and goldwinning throne's (widow of the last king Darius, mother of current king Xerxes) loyal regents whose age and experience he MESSENGER a Persian reporting from the war in Greece Lord Xerxes King son of Darius chose himself GHOST of DARIUS to safeguard his country. 10 previous king of Persia King royal army blazoned in gold XERXES King of Persia, son of Darius WILL THEY COME HOME? Summary of meters used in this play: My heart's ragged beat prophesies doom: Iambic: built around the beat ba-BOOM, all Asia's strong sons this is the default meter for dialogue. are gone gone and now rumors bruit Trochaic: this meter is the inverse of the iambic (BOOM-ba), the young King's name used mostly for excited scenes of dialogue. but not one runner and not one rider bring word to Persia's capital. 20 Sung: the songs are all unique but none of the music survives, only the lyrics. They rallied, they marched leaving Susa's defenses and Ekbatana's Line numbers in the right-hand margin of the text refer to the English and safe ancient stones that barricade Kissa translation only, while designations of sections also indicate the line some mounted on horses, others on ships numbers of the original Greek. foot soldiers, too, stepping it steady eager for combat man packed on man. You, Amistres and you, Artaphrenes you, Megabates 30 2 and you, Astaspes Persian commanders And pressing on them kings in your own right under the Great King Lydia's neighbors leaders who hurl on the battling horde who live in eyes' reach of her godswept peak you bowtamers, horsebreakers Mardon, Tharybis, lance-breaking anvils chilling to watch Mysians, too, masters of javelins— deadly in war all, all have vowed 70 because endurance gleams hard in your souls. to throw slavery's yoke firm on the Greeks. You, Artembares, war-joyful horseman you, Masistres 40 And Babylon the gold-proud you, the bowtamer shining Imaios fields motley troops in long horizon-crowding lines you, Pharandakes some for a ship's bench you, too, stallion-driver Sosthanes. others who trust bowtugging rage and scimitars from every fort in Asia And you surge behind whose command fertile Nile outpoured obeying the King's Sousiskanes born in Persia deadly orders to march. 80 Pegastagon sundark Egyptian and godbelov'd Memphis' lord, towering Arsames The CHORUS come to a halt. and satrap at Old Thebes, Ariomardos with swampskippers, rowers 50 This oars dipping silent is the flower of Persian earth dangerous men, too many to number. the men now gone and Asia's land that held their roots And following close throng groans out loud, the Lydian thousands aflame with yearning. who relish the rich life Parents, wives in cold beds and lord it over every last man count the days. of the Asia-born race whom Time stretches thin. Mitrogathes They wait and shiver. 90 and valiant Arkteus kingsent commanders 60 The CHORUS begin to sing and dance the invasion of Greece. and goldladen Sardis made to wheel out, chariots clanging The army HAS won through! Persians, three horses, four, each Breakers-of-cities, the King's men a fear-breeding sight. sweep countries lying on the far shore 3 They've crossed the strait Wage tower-splitting war that honors Hell ê Hurl forward horse-drawn battle glee by binding their ships Lay cities waste and clamping a bolt-studded road— a yoke And they have learnt 130 hard on the Sea's neck! when galewinds lash the saltroad white to look unshaken And teeming Asia's headstrong 100 at the Sea's deep shrine: lord has shepherded his flocks entrusting life to slender godsped against the world on two fronts ropes and man-supporting tricks land and sea they stride the waves and trusts his leaders stern rocks among men But how crafty As heir to a gold-showered line the scheme of God! he gleams What mere man outleaps it? casting a god's light What human foot jumps fast enough 140 to tear loose But the heart of his eye darkens, from its sudden grip? the death-dealing stare of a snake 110 Countless its hands! For with gestures Countless the ships! of kindness as bait And he while his chariot sings Blind Folly fawns a man has targeted War's taut bow into her net, nor can he hope on spearmen trained for close combat to work loose and escape unhurt And not one has proved he can stand up to men in a ceaseless stream The CHORUS begin a lament, ominous in its prematurity. nor ever build a sure seawall My thoughts to stay the unstoppable waves 120 scratched raw by fear 150 Resistless, Persia's armed flood wear black and the war-joy that crests in her sons Shall we wail WAAAAW! For gods decree for the wide-ranging Persians? Fate's age-old power here and she What word for our people? has long charged Persians That Susa's great heart is with a holy task: bled empty of men? 4 for need presses close. And will Kissa's old walls How does he fare din back Xerxes our King son of Darius? that death caw WAAAAW! 160 Where lies the victory? 190 and the thump of the womanhorde howling and croaking Taut bow ripping fine linen and or lance's spearing force— pummeling breasts? which one has conquered? For horseback troops With her retinue ATOSSA enters right in a chariot. and troops on foot all, all of them Look up! have left home Dazzling as gods' eyes, in a stinging swarm behind their chief a light moves toward us. and all have crossed 170 Mother of the Great King, the Sea-dividing span My Queen. that juts from two shores yoking two lands Prostrate yourselves! Salute her as adorns her dignity. 200 Here double beds bereft of men Episode 1 (159-255 in Greek = 201-425) are filled with tears and each wife The CHORUS prostrate themselves. (ATOSSA and the CHORUS speak in who has rushed to war a headstrong spear unaccompanied trochaic verse from here through line 269.) is left to spend her gentle elegance CHORUSLEADER My lady, all honor. bereft of love, one 180 My lady most blest yoked but alone among sonbearing women, grey mother of Xerxes, At ode's end the CHORUS are scattered, each member Darius' wife standing alone to give visual emphasis to the last line. born to share CHORUSLEADER (chanting) Persians! Assemble. our god's bed Gather on the steps below this ancient roof. and born also We should discuss to mother a god unless— our carefullest, most deep-debated thoughts, unless the age-old 210 5 Lust for Winning has no matter what their bodies' strength. taken itself from our men. Surely our wealth is beyond reproach! ATOSSA descends from her chariot. The CHORUS rise. My fear centers on the Eye, ATOSSA Yes, there's for in my mind 250 the reason urging me the house's Eye to leave the gold-wrapt is its master's presence. shadow of my house There and room where once my thoughts rest. Darius slept beside me. Persians, Sharpest care is old faithful confidants, clawing at my heart. 220 advise me. It's you, good friends, All, to whom I'd speak out all my hopes lie in you. unvoiced thoughts. Guide me. 260 Nothing guards my inmost self CHORUS Our country's Queen, against the fear no need that vast Wealth, to ask twice. kicking up dust A word, an act— as it pelts headlong, 230 we'll help if we can may overturn when you continued joy command our counsel. in the prosperity We do intend Darius to serve you well. by some god's grace lifted high. ATOSSA (in unaccompanied iambic verse) Night after night 270 There's the reason since my son left with the army he mustered an unspeakable, two-pronged I am joined with many dreams. anxiety sits at my core: He's gone, not to bow low 240 gone to Greece, honoring bent on making it Persian and his. a manless treasure-hoard But never has a vision showed more clear nor does a light shine than what I saw last night on the treasureless, in the kind-hearted dark. 6 I'll tell you: he shreds around his body It seemed to me 280 the clothes that a king wears. two well-dressed women— one robed with Persian luxury, I tell you the other in a plain Greek tunic— I did see these things last night. came into view, both taller far than any woman now living, Today, when I'd risen and flawless in beauty, and dipped both hands in a clear-rippling spring 320 and sisters from the one same to cleanse me of bad dreams, parentage.