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 Hellê 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. hands busy with offerings,
And for a fatherland, a home, I stood by Phoibos' altar
one was allotted Greek soil, 290 wanting to give mixed honey and wine,
the other, the great world beyond. their expected due,
to the undying Powers that turn away evil.
Then I saw And I see
the two of them build bitter quarrels, an eagle
one against the other, fleeing toward the altar's godbright flame.
and when my son learned this,
he tried to curb and gentle them: Frightened, mute, my friends, I 330
under his chariot just stood there,
he yokes the two, and on their necks and soon I see a hawk in downstoop
he straps broad leather collars. raising wings to break the fall and working
And the one towered herself 300 talons in the eagle's head, and the eagle did
proud in this harness nothing,
and she kept her mouth only cringed and offered up
well-governed by the reins. its flesh.
But the other bucked stubborn
and with both hands Terrors! I saw them!
she wrenches harness from the chariot fittings Now you've heard them.
and drags it by sheer force, And you surely know 340
bridle flung off, and she that if my son succeeds, he'll be marveled at,
shatters the yoke mid-span but if he fails,
and he falls, 310 his people cannot call him to account.
my son falls, When he is safely home,
and his father is standing beside him— he'll rule the country as he always has.
Darius, pitying him,
and when Xerxes sees that,
 7

(From here through line 416 ATOSSA and the CHORUS speak in trochaic everything
verse.) shall 380
turn out well.
CHORUS Mother,
here's advice ATOSSA Yes, you
meant neither to alarm the first
nor overgladden you. to read my dream,
Gods abide: 350 with goodwill toward my son and house,
turn toward them suppliant, have found
if anything you saw stirs faintest doubt, its true interpretation.
praying them Would that the omens
to turn it away and bring turn out well!
goodness to its peak I'll do all you say 390
for you and for gods and old friends under earth
children in your line, when I go home.
for Persia, too, But first
and those you love. I'd like to know, dear friends,
Afterward, pour out 360 where
the drink due Earth Athens is.
and give the thirsty dead their sip
and pray, appeasing him, CHORUSLEADER Far west where the Lord Sun fades out.
your husband Darius-
you say you saw him ATOSSA My son really wanted to hunt down this city?
in the kind-hearted night-
asking him to send up CHORUSLEADER Yes, so all Greece would bend beneath a Shah.
from his depth into our light
blessings for you and your son ATOSSA Does it field a manhorde of an army? 400
and hold the reverse back 370
earth-coffined CHORUSLEADER Such that it has worked evils on the Medes.
till it molders in that dark.
ATOSSA Then bowtugging arrows glint in their hands?
For this advice
I have consulted CHORUSLEADER No. Spears held steady, and heavy shields.
my prophetic heart.
Be appeased, ATOSSA What else? Wealth in their houses?
for as we
read the signs, CHORUSLEADER Treasure, a fountain of silver, lies in their soil.
 8

Ode 1 (lines 256-289 in Greek = 426-469)

ATOSSA But who herds the manflock? Who lords the army?
CHORUS (singing from here through line 469)
CHORUSLEADER They're not anyone's slaves or subjects. Cruel cruelest evil
newmade, consuming Oh
ATOSSA Then how can they resist invaders? weep, Persians, who hear
this pain
CHORUSLEADER
So well that they crushed Darius' huge and shining army. MESSENGER Everything over there has ended. And I— 430
against all hope, I'm here, seeing this light.
ATOSSA 410
Terrible words! You make the parents of those gone shudder. CHORUS Life stretches long
CHORUS (severally) too long for grey old men
But I think you will soon hear the whole story. who hear of all hope
Someone's coming! undone

He's ours— MESSENGER I was there. I can tell you, no hearsay,

a Persian clearly by the way he runs. the evils that sprang up hurtling against us.

Something's happened. Good or bad, CHORUS No nonono

he brings the plain truth. That bright storm
of arrows showing Asia's massed colors 440
The MESSENGER enters left. advanced
all for NOTHING
into hostile Greece?
MESSENGER (in unaccompanied iambic verse throughout this episode)
Listen! cities that people vast Asia. MESSENGER They met hard deaths. The corpses
Listen Persian earth, great harbor of wealth. pile on Salamis and every nearby shore.
One stroke, one single stroke has smashed
great prosperity, 420 CHORUS No nonono
and Persia's flower is cut down.
Bitter, being first to tell you bitter news, You're saying
but need presses me to unroll the full disaster. those we love are floating, foundering
Persians, awash
our whole expedition is lost. DEAD MEN shrouded 450
in sea-drowned cloaks?
 9

MESSENGER Our arrows didn't help. The whole force when gods send it down.
went down, broken, when ship rammed ship. You must 480
compose yourself: speak out,
CHORUS Rage unrolling all the suffering,
for the Persians killed though you groan at our losses.
Wail the death howl Who is not dead?
All that began well And whom shall we mourn?
comes to the worst end CRY! Of all the leaders
CRY OUT whose hands grip authority
for the army slaughtered! 460 which one
left his post unmanned, deserted
MESSENGER Salamis, I hate that hissing name. when he died? 490
And Athens, remembering makes me groan.
MESSENGER Xerxes—he lives and sees light—
CHORUS Athens
bears Persia's hate ATOSSA You speak: light blazes in my house,
We will recall and white day after a black-storming night!
wives she has widowed
mothers with no sons NO! MESSENGER —but Artembares,
and all commander of ten thousand horse,
ALL FOR NOTHING! is hammered along Sileniai's raw coast
and thousand-leader Dadakes,
Episode 2 (290-531 in Greek = 470-867) spearstuck,
danced back without any effort I could see
(ALL speak in iambic verse from here through line 867.) overboard 500
and Tenagon,
ATOSSA Silence has held me till now 470 pureblooded Bactrian and chief,
heartsore, scrapes against Ajax' sea-pelted island.
struck by the blows of loss,
for this disaster so exceeds all bounds Lilaios,
that one can neither tell, Arsames,
nor ask, and a third, Argestes,
wave-tumbled around that dove-broody island,
about the suffering. kept butting resistant stones
and so did Phamoukhos
Yet there is terrible need whose home was Egypt, by Nile's fresh flow, 510
for people to bear pain
 10

and so did they

who plunged from one same ship, The CHORUS cry out sharply.
Arkteus,
Adeues, ATOSSA Noooo !
and a third, Pheresseues. These words I hear
And Matallos from a golden city, lift evil to its height.
leader of ten thousand, O the shame cast on Persians,
dying, stained his full beard's tawny brush and the piercing laments!
changing its color with sea-purple dye.
But tell me, 550
And the Arab, Magos, 520 turn back again,
with Artabes the Bactrian, was the count of Greek ships so great
who led thirty thousand black horse, they dared launch their rams
took up land as an immigrant against Persia's fleet?
by dying there
on that harsh ground. MESSENGER If numbers were all, believe me,
Asia's navy would have won,
Amistris for Greek ships counted out
and Amphistreus, at only ten times thirty
whose spear delighted in trouble, and ten selected to lead out that line.
and bright-souled Ariomardos, But Xerxes, this I know, 560
whose loss brings Sardis down grieving, 530 commanded a full thousand,
and Seisames the Mysian, two hundred and seven
Tharybis, too, the fastest ever built.
sealord of five times fifty ships, That is our count. Perhaps you thought
Lymaian by descent, a hard-bodied man, we were outnumbered?
lies dead, No.
a wretch whose luck went soft, It was some Power—
and Syennesis, Something not human—
first in courage, the Cilicians' chief, whose weight tipped the scales of luck
one man who made most trouble for the enemy, and cut our forces down. 570
died with glory. 540 Gods keep Athens safe for her goddess.

These are the leaders ATOSSA You're saying that Athens is not yet sacked?
of whom I bring my memories.
But we suffered many losses there. MESSENGER Long as her men live, her stronghold can't be shaken.
I report a mere few.
 11

ATOSSA But at the beginning, when ship met ship, There was no disorder. Obediently
tell me, who started the clash? the crews prepared their suppers,
Greeks? and each sailor, taking a thong, 610
Or my son made his oar snug to the tholepin.
who exulted in his thousand ships? And when Sun's glow faded and Night
was coming on,
MESSENGER My lady, each oarlord,
the first sign of the disaster came 580 each expert man-at-arms
when Something vengeful— boarded his ship.
or evil and not human— Squadron on squadron, cheers for the warships
appeared from somewhere out there. roared from the decks,
and they sailed,
For a Greek, each captain maintaining his position. 620
who came in stealth from the Athenian fleet, And all night long the lords of the fleet
whispered this to your son Xerxes: kept fully manned vessels plying the channel.
As soon as black night brought its darkness on, And night was wearing on.
Greeks would not maintain their stations, no, The Greek forces never
but springing on the rowing benches, tried sailing out secretly.
scattering here, there in secret flight, Not once.
would try to save their own skins. But when Day rode her white colt
And at once, dazzling the whole world,
for he had listened not understanding the first thing we heard
the man's treachery nor the gods' high jealousy, was a roar, a windhowl, Greeks 630
he gave all his captains this command: singing together, shouting for joy,
As soon as Sun's hot eye let go of Earth and Echo at once hurled back
and darkness seized the holy vault of Sky, then that warcry
they should deploy ships loud and clear from island rocks.
in three tight-packed ranks Fear churned in every Persian.
to bar outsailings and the salt-hammered path, 600 We'd been led off the mark:
while others circled Ajax' island. the Greeks
And if the Greeks should somehow slip the trap weren't running, no,
by setting sail, finding a hidden route, but sang that eerie triumph-chant
Xerxes stated flatly as men 640
that every last captain would lose his head. racing toward a fight
So he commanded in great good spirits. and sure of winning.
He could not know the outcome set by gods.
Then the trumpet-shriek blazed
 12

through everything over there. whole oarbanks shattered.

A signal: Then the Greek ships, seizing their chance,
instantly swept in circling and struck and overturned
their oars struck salt. our hulls,
We heard and saltwater vanished before our eyes—
that rhythmic rattle-slap. shipwrecks filled it, and drifting corpses.
It seemed no time till they 650 Shores and reefs filled up with our dead
all stood in sight. and every able ship under Persia's command
We saw them sharp. broke order,
First the right wing, scrambling to escape. 690
close-drawn, strictly ordered, We might have been tuna or netted fish,
led out, and next we saw for they kept on, spearing and gutting us
the whole fleet bearing down, we heard with splintered oars and bits of wreckage,
a huge voice while moaning and screams drowned out
Sons of Greece, go! the sea noise till
Free fatherland, Night's black face closed it all in.
free children, wives, 660
shrines of our fathers' gods, Losses by thousands!
tombs where our forefathers lie. Even if I told
Fight for all we have! the catalogue for ten full days I
Now! could not complete it for you. 700
Then on our side shouts in Persian But this is sure:
rose to a crest. never before in one day
We didn't hold back. have so many thousands died.
That instant, ship rammed
bronzeclad beak on ship. ATOSSA It's true, then, true.
It was 670 Wild seas of loss have come crashing down,
a Greek ship started the attack down over Persians and all Asia's tribes.
shearing off a whole Phoenician
stern. Each captain steered his craft MESSENGER You must understand:
straight on one other. disaster—
At first the wave of Persia's fleet I've told you less than half.
rolled firm, but next, as our ships The next load of suffering 710
jammed into the narrows and outweighed the first twice over.
no one could help any other and
our own bronze teeth bit into ATOSSA What more hateful Luck
our own strakes, 680 could still beset our men?
 13

Answer me! hit home killing them.

What fresh disaster, what It ended
new losses weighted them down? when the Greeks gave one great howl
and charged, chopping meat 750
MESSENGER Persians at the peak of life, till every living man was butchered.
best in soul, brightest in lineage,
first always to give the King loyalty— Then Xerxed moaned out loud
they're dead without glory, 720 to see how deep disaster cut.
and shamed by that fate. Throned on a headland above the sea, he'd
kept his whole army clear in sight.
ATOSSA (to the CHORUS) Cruel chance! And he ripped his clothes
O my friends, it hurts me. and screamed
(to the MESSENGER) and gave shrill hasty shouts to his whole land force
How did they die? Can you say? dismissing them.
They fled in disorder. 760
MESSENGER An island fronts the coast of Salamis—
tiny, harborless, Here is disaster greater than the first
where dance-wild to make you groan.
Pan likes stepping it light through the breakers.
There ATOSSA (looking up into the sky) You!
Xerxes posted these chosen men, 730 Hateful, nameless, not human Power,
planning that when the shipwrecked enemy how You cheated Persians of their senses!
swam ashore desperate for safety, How bitter the vengeance
they'd kill that Greek force easily meant for this talked-of Athens
and rescue friends caught in the narrows. that found its way to my son!
How badly he misread the future, Marathon killed men. Weren't they
for after some god had enough? 770
handed Greeks the glory in the seafight, It was for them
that same day my son cast retribution
they fenced their bodies in bronze armor and hauled in countless cruelties
and leapt from their ships 740 upon himself and us.
and cordoned off
the island so completely that our men milled But the ships that outran doom—
helpless, where did you leave them?
not knowing where to turn Do you know what happened?
while stones battered at them
and arrows twanging from the bowstrings
 14

MESSENGER The captains of the ships left but when the fireball of Sun came up,
ran in no order before the wind. blazing light and heat,
And the army left 780 its flame melted the iceroad midstream
kept dropping off, first on Boiotian ground, and men kept falling,
some of thirst, falling one on another, and he is lucky, yes,
though water flowed beside them whose life breath was quickest cut. 820
out of exhaustion's reach,
while some of us, And those of us left to gain safety,
empty from panting, working through Thrace against hard odds,
drove through to the Phokians' land have slipped away,
and Doris' fields not many,
and the Melian Gulf where and come back to our homefires,
Sperkheios quenches the plain with earthkindly drink, 790 to this earth of home.
and after that Akhaian soil
and the cities of Thessaly took us in Reason enough, chief city of Persians,
when we were starving. to cry out
There the most died. longing for your best beloved youth.
Thirst and hunger, True reasons, though there's much
both of them stalked us. I've left untold of horrors
And slogging north that a god hurled
on to Magnesia and on to Macedon, crackling down on Persians.
we reached the Axios' ford
and Bolbe's reed-choked marsh 800 The MESSENGER exits right.
and Mt. Pangaios where Edonians live.
It was that night CHORUS (looking skyward) You! Troublebringer!
some god nameless and not human,
blew down winter out of season and froze how hard .
holy Strymon bank to bank. You've jumped both feet into Persia's people!
Then any man
who'd once thought gods were nothing ATOSSA I am heartsick. The army slaughtered!
sought them out, praying, begging O vision in the night
as he lay face down before Earth and Sky. that roiled through dreams, 840
When the army finished its godcalls, 810 the cruelties you clearly promised me
it started to cross the icelocked water, came true.
and those of us who step out quick
before the god can shed his rays (to the CHORUS) And you,
find ourselves safe, you read them much too lightly.
 15

Even so, there's only your advice and mothers

to seize and act on. whose gentle hands savage their veils
whose eyes rain tears on breasts already drenched
I will give tongue to sorrow
first of all pray to the gods,
then bring gifts from my royal house— and wives, Persian brides
wine poured out with honey— 850 wailing softly
to soothe the appetites of Earth and ghosts. longing to see the men who were yokemates
When these are done, I shall stripping the soft beds where bursting youth reveled 880
return to you. wail, wail out the hungriest grief
There's no regaining
what is gone, I understand that, And I, too,
but I act so that something better raise a griefswollen voice
may happen in days to come. at the fate of men gone
dead and gone
And you, (singing and dancing)
with due regard for what has happened, Listen To the outmost ends
must, as my Faithful, 860 Asia's earth groans now
give advice worthy of my faith. emptied of sons
Xerxes convoyed them
My son— He CONVOYED THEM 890
if he comes back before I can return, Xerxes destroyed them
comfort him, He DESTROYED THEM
escort him home
so that he heaps on existing evils Xerxes the hothead brought on the whole rout
no self-inflicted evil. he and his riverdhows rigged for the sea

ATOSSA remounts her chariot and exits right with her attendants. Once
we knew Darius' rule
Ode 2 (532-597 in Greek = 868-960) a bowchief who
never volleyed such hurt
CHORUS (chanting) God, greatest King! and Susa's men loved him
The Persians' proud and manswollen army, now WHY HAVE TIMES CHANGED? 900
You've destroyed it, 870
You've hidden Soldiers and seamen lost!
Susa and Ekbatana in lowering grief Sailwings unfurled, bluedark
eyes on the sea
 16

warships convoyed them Grieve

Ships CONVOYED THEM you houses robbed of your men
warships destroyed them Wail, childless parents, wail
Ships DESTROYED THEM inhuman anguish
warships
brought every one of them down and learn in your grey years
rammed them and left them to Greeks' hacking 910 the whole reach of pain
hands
And those who live on Asia's broad earth
Now will not long be ruled
we learn the King himself by Persian law
by slender chance nor longer pay tribute
runs for life down snowblocked under empire's commanding grip
roads in sweeping Thrace nor fling themselves earthward 950
HOW CAN THIS BE? in awe of kingship
whose strength now lies dead
Those doomed to die first
DOOMED No longer will tongues in vassal mouths
are left be kept under guard
there was no choice 920 for people are freed,
LEFT set loose to bark freedom
to wash on Salamis' wavebroken rocks now that dominion's yoke is snapped
THEY ARE GONE The bloodsodden beaches
Groan of Ajax's sea-bruised island
Bite lips till the blood shows now hold Persia's heart 960
Howl, griefweighted voices, howl
anguish at heaven Episode/Ode 3 (598-702 in Greek = 961-1134)
Hold sorrow's burden
till breath sobs and breaks 930 ATOSSA, on foot and dressed in mourning, enters right with her ladies, who
carry the jars and garlands needed for making libations.
Flesh torn in the surge
TORN ATOSSA (speaking in iambic verse) Good friends,
is stripped whoever lives leans by experience
clean off the bone that when a wave of evils crests
STRIPPED and breaks, it's natural for humankind
by voiceless young of the unsoilable Sea to be afraid of everything,
THEY ARE GONE but when the deathless Power flows calm,
 17

to trust to beg kindness from those who marshal

that Fortune's wind will always blow fair. 1000
But now, for me, men's shadows through Earth.
everything is packed with fear, 970
before my eyes the gods' hostility shows plain, ATOSSA and her ladies make their ceremonies of libation, while the
and the roar in my ears is battle din, CHORUS look on with increasing anxiety. When she has finished, they
not a healing song: begin the ghostraising. ATOSSA, weeping, muffled, sits at the tomb's base.
Evils attack so fiercely panic storms my heart.
CHORUS (chanting) Help us, You Powers undying and holy
That's the reason I've returned that thrive beneath graves.
without a chariot or queenly luxury You, Earth and the Soul-Guide
to bring my son's father the appeasing drinks and You who are King of the dead below us,
that serve as sweeteners to dead men: send him out of his utter darkness,
(pointing to the jars her ladies carry) send his spirit up into light.
an unblemished Cow's white freshtasting milk
and the Flowerworker's droplets, lightsteeped honey, 980 Disasters keep stalking us,
with moisture poured sparkling from a virgin Spring and if
and unwatered drink from a wild country mother— he knows of any cure 1010
this, the ancient Vine's new brightness, more powerful than offerings and prayer,
and the fresh-scented harvest of one who blooms life only risen near us into light
always in her leaves, the sundrenched Olive Tree— can he reveal it.
here it is, (singing and dancing)
and woven flowers, children of Allbearing Earth. Can he hear me?
Blest in death
But, O my friends, and potent as a deathless Force
these libations to the ones below can my King hear these broken words
need solemn hymns. 990 earthmuffled
Chant them tumbling from my lips and touching
and call his spirit, call up Darius every note of pain in 1020
while I send down ceaseless sorrow-roughened breath?
these Earthdrunk honors to the gods below. Or must I shout
so that my anguish reaches him?
CHORUSLEADER (chanting) Our Queen, our lady, Can he heed me in his buried dark?
whom Persians revere,
yes, Wake and hear me
send your libations to Earth's hidden rooms Earth and You
while we, chanting, calling, pour out our breath Who rule that world where dead men go
 18

Give complete consent to prayer: Go to the high prow of your tomb

set free Make yourself known
his proud and deathless glory 1030 showing signs of your kingship
Let Persia's god, born a man in Susa crocus-dyed shoe 1060
rise now from his funeral house turban's upright crest
Now, speed him up Make yourself seen
whose peer does not nor ever shall Break free
rest hidden in this Persian earth Father who brought us no evil
Darius
Man I loved, yes break free
tomb I love, for
everything I love lies covered there Wake and hear loud suffering
Hand of Death Hear strange
Yours alone the power to open graves 1040 new pain
and lead him lightward Lord of our lord, find daylight form 1070
Hand of Death The deathmist
free our hallowed lord Darius
Free him that grows on the eyes of the dying
opens dark wings:
Never once the young men, our sons
did he kill men with are all of them gone
Folly's blind and life-devouring haste Wake now
He was Father who brought us no evil
called the Persians' godbright counselor Darius
and godbright counselor 1050 awake
he was The CHORUS, moaning, slowly stand.
who steered the army on a true course. Why, why 1080
Free him must friends who deeply mourned your death
[now mourn again—
The CHORUS fall to their knees and begin to hammer and claw at the earth sorrows twice borne, new grief exciting old?]
as if to help free the GHOST OF DARIUS. Where have we erred?
The fleet all Asia built
In their next words they invoke him directly. is smashed and sunk,
the three-tiered
Shah once and Shah forever ships
come close ghostships ghostships.
break through The GHOST OF DARIUS rises, spectral, from his tomb.
 19

DARIUS (speaking in iambic verse) (speaking in trochaic verse)

Most Faithful of the faithful, 1090 DARIUS Because you chanted spells 1120
comrades of my youth, persuading me to leave the buried world,
Persians grown honorably grey, I come.
what trouble oppresses my people? Tell everything, not rambling on,
The earth ceiling groans— but make the story brief.
hammered, scratched open. Speak and be done.
(to ATOSSA) I frighten you?
And seeing you, who shared my bed, here Then reverence exceeds its bounds.
huddled now beside my tomb, Let reverence go.
I sense fear.
Yes, (singing) I dread you
I drank the sweetenings that you poured down. 1100 and would not displease
(to the CHORUS) 1130
And you who stand before my tomb I dread you
wail dirges but cannot find speech
and dolefully chant out soulraising spells to tell those I love
to summon me. news better left untold
There is no easy exit:
Gods in the underrealms have always been Episode 4 (703-851 in Greek = 1135-1398)
better at taking than letting go.
Yet, now that I am one of them and powerful, ATOSSA laments. (DARIUS and ATOSSA speak in trochaic verse
I come. from here through line 1254.)
Be quick, for I would have 1110
no blame for moments spent beneath the sun. DARIUS Because you feel the old dread
What new strange evils pounding in your hearts,
weigh down my Persians? restraining you,
then let the one
ATOSSA sobs. The CHORUS prostrate themselves. who shared my bed,
my aged lady wife, 1140
CHORUS (singing) I praise you cease her lamenting
and awe blinds my eyes to give me
I praise you plain account.
but awe binds my tongue Mankind is
Your nearness fills me bound to suffer
with death's age-old chill the hurts of being human.
 20

Many the evils spawned in the sea

and many on land DARIUS But how could footsoldiers cross the sea?
for you who must die.
And the longer you live, 1150 ATOSSA He made a path by yoking the Hellespont.
the greater
your pain. DARIUS What? He closed mighty Bosporos?

ATOSSA My husband, you ATOSSA Yes. I think Something divine gave him help. 1180
above all other men were destined
to a wealth of happiness. DARIUS Something so monstrous it twisted his good sense!
How fortunate you were!
While your living eyes ATOSSA And we see his achievement— disaster.
beheld the sun,
Persians, DARIUS What happened? Why do you groan?
filled with praise and envy, 1160
called you a god. ATOSSA Because the ships sank, the army was lost.
Now do I envy you
because you died DARIUS You mean the whole army fell to the spear?
before you looked in the depths of loss.
Listen, Darius ATOSSA And Susa's man-empty streets are groaning.
I need few words
to tell you everything: DARIUS Lost, a great army! Our defense, lost!
Persia's power,
her prosperity ATOSSA And Bactria's men, even the old ones, are all dead.
are completely crushed. 1170
DARIUS Wretched man! He killed his allies' young sons.
DARIUS How? Thunderbolts of plague? Civil war?
ATOSSA But Xerxes —it's said that he and a few others— 1190
ATOSSA Neither. Near Athens the whole expedition was lost.
DARIUS Is he safe?
DARIUS Which of my sons invaded Greece?
ATOSSA —happily did reach the bridge yoking two shores.
ATOSSA Headstrong Xerxes. He emptied Asia.
DARIUS And arrived safe in Asia? You're sure?
DARIUS Stubborn child! Did he go by land or sea?
ATOSSA Yes, it's been clearly reported. There is no doubt.
ATOSSA Both. With a double front of two contingents.
 21

DARIUS Too swiftly then The wealth

the Oracles came true, I earned by my own hard work
and on my son may be overturned,
Zeus hurled down becoming nothing more than
prophecy completed, spoils to the first looting hand.
and I had somehow 1200
hoped that gods ATOSSA Consort with evil-minded men
would take a longer time taught headstrong Xerxes
to work their plan. what to think:
But when a man they told him 1240
speeds toward his own ruin, that the vast wealth
a god gives him help. you handed on
Now a fountain of defeats was won at spearpoint
has been struck while he,
for everyone I love. not half the man,
And my son in his ignorance, 1210 secretly played toy spears at home
his reckless youth, and added nothing
brought on its spurt: to inherited prosperity.
he hoped to dam Hearing such taunts
the flow of holy Hellespont— over and again 1250
the Bosporos from evil-minded men,
that streams from god— he planned
by locking it his expedition
in shackles like a slave and the invasion of Greece.
and he altered the strait (ALL speak in iambic verse from here till the end of the episode.)
and, casting over it 1220
hammered chains, DARIUS And so did his work,
made a footpath the greatest ever,
broad enough to be remembered always,
for his broad array of troops. such work as never before fell
Mere man that he is, and emptied out Susa
he thought but not on good advice, since the Lord Zeus granted this honor: 1260
he'd overrule all gods, that one man
Poseidon most of all. should rule vast sheepbreeding Asia,
How can this not be his scepter held
a sickness of mind 1230 as a steersman holds the rudder.
that held my son? The Mede himself was the army's first leader,

and another, his son, gained the succession
because reason stood at his passions' helm,
and third after him Cyrus ruled,
Heaven's favorite,
who gave peace to everyone he loved
and made subject Lydia's people and Phrygia's
and rounded up all Asian Greeks by force
nor did the god despise him,
for his heart was righteous,
and Cyrus' son, fourth, piloted the army,
and fifth Mardos led, a disgrace to fatherland
and long-established throne,
but there was plotting
and Artaphrenes, potent in virtue,
helped by friends whose duty it was,
cut him down inside the palace.
Then I ruled.
Chosen by lot, I gained what I wished for
and fought a thousand times with my fighting thousands
but never
threw evil like this on the nation.
But Xerxes my son, green in years,
thinks green
and forgets what I taught him.
(to the CHORUS)
But you, men of my own generation,
plainly understand
that everyone of us who has held power
cannot be shown
to have worked such devastation.
CHORUS What next, lord Darius?
Where will your prophecy attain
its end? How, after the worst,
may we, Persia's people, win through to the best?
22
DARIUS Beware: mount no soldiers against Greek holdings.
Beware: not even if Medes count more soldiers. 1300
Know: Earth Herself is their ally.
1270 CHORUS What do you mean? How, their ally?
DARIUS She starves a manglutted enemy.
CHORUS But you must know
we shall select choice, action-ready troops.
DARIUS But you must learn
the army still remaining on Greek soil
shall not see a day of safe return.
1280
CHORUS What are you saying?
That not all the forces left 1310
will cross the Hellespont from Europe?
DARIUS Few out of thousands,
if one can trust godspoken oracles.
But when you look at those that have come true,
you know they are fulfilled—
complete, not just in part.
And if this be so, then
1290 empty hopes have persuaded him
to leave behind a force selected from the army,
and there they linger 1320
where Asopos pours kind floods on Boiotia's soil:
for them the height of evil waits implacable
to pay them back in suffering
for pride and godlessness
who came to Greek earth lacking the reverence
to stay their hands
from desecrating gods' images
and putting temples to the torch,
and altars are vanished
 23

and shrines dedicated to the undying 1330 aged mother whom Xerxes loves,
Dead are torn, root and branch, from their bases after you have gone to your house
and shattered. and found him splendor that suits a king,
It is sure go out to face your son
that having done evil, no less whose anguish at the fullness of disaster
do they suffer and more in the future has torn his bright embroideries 1370
and not yet has evil's wellspring run dry to shredded rags around his body.
but still spurts unchecked: But speak kind words in a calming voice.
so great shall be new He will listen only to you
sacrifices of clotting blood and only you can comfort him.
poured out 1340
on Plataia's battleground by Dorian spears, DARIUS begins to descend into the tomb, his voice fading.
so great the piles of bones,
even to the third generation they shall be I go, I must,
seen by human eyes as speechless warnings down below earth to the shadowworld.
that those who must die Goodbye, wise old friends.
not overreach themselves: Though evil surrounds you,
when stubborn pride has flowered, it give joy to your souls
ripens to self-deception all the days that you live 1380
and the only harvest is a glut of tears. for wealth is
(directly to the CHORUS) useless to
These are the punishments 1350 the dead
and as you behold them,
remember Athens and remember Greece DARIUS vanishes.
lest someone
scorning the immediate blessings Heaven grants, CHORUSLEADER
lusting for others, Disasters present and disasters coming on—
pour away his worldly goods and happiness. I listened with anguish
Zeus the Pruning Shear of arrogance run wild to the Asians' fate.
is set over you, a grim accountant.
Because events have prophesied ATOSSA (looking skyward) You! Nameless, inhuman!
that my son learn to know himself, 1360 How cruel the anguish
teach him in gentle admonitions invading me! And one disaster
to stop most of all bites deep— 1390
wounding gods with young reckless pride. to hear that shame's clothing
(to ATOSSA) hangs in ragged shreds around my son's body.
And you, (to the CHORUS)
 24

But I'm going home, and when I've taken piled on the floodplain near Strymon's gulf
kingly splendor from my house, and hillguarded cattletowns in Thrace
I'll try to face him.
Though evil surrounds us, and cities east of the coastal marshes—
I shall not forsake my best beloved son. tower-enclosed mainland cities
bowed to him as lord,
With her ladies ATOSSA exits right. and boastful cities
by Helle's broad current
Ode 4/Exodus (852-1076 in Greek = 1399-1714) and strung on the shores of the Inland Sea 1430
and cities clustered at the Black Sea's mouth
CHORUS (singing and dancing) GOD, PITY US And wave-caressed islands
for once we knew held in the Sea's arm
the life of grandeur and virtue 1400 close off our homeshores:
under stable rule Lesbos
when he whose years and dignity we honored— and olive-silvery Samos
the All-Enabler, the Evil-Shunner, Khios
the Battle-Winner— and Paros
when King Naxos
Darius cast a god's light Mykonos 1440
and governed us wholly Tenos, too
that rises out of the deep near
AND PITY US Andros
for once we showed and salt-embraced islands
an armed force whose praises rang sharp 1410 set in the Sea's midst—
through the chastened world he mastered them, too:
The laws that steered us stood bold on towers Lemnos
and days of return led men safely home and Ikaros' settling place
Unwearied, unwounded, Rhodes, Knidos
the men and Cypriote cities— 1450
of Persia came back from war Paphos
to houses that prospered and Soloi
Salamis, too
How many cities he captured whose mother-city now causes
without once crossing the Halys river our groans
nor leaving his hearth: 1420
city on city— And more,
the Rivergod's cities that rich estate Ionia
 25

teeming with Greeks— the sweeping primacy of Persia's rule,

he bent it to his will and the straight rows of men
and drew on strength that never failed: 1460 some deathless Power cut flat.
fighters under heavy arms
allies from a thousand tribes CHORUS (rising from chant into full song)
And Earth herself 1490
But now mourns. Listen! She cries out
beyond a doubt wailing her own young slaughtered by Xerxes
we must endure who crammed them into the huge maw of Death,
being god-overturned in war, for those now dead
for we are tamed were thousands of men
greatly tamed the country's flower
by seastruck blows tamers of great bows thickets of men
all wasted and withered
XERXES enters left hidden from view in a curtained carriage drawn by by tens of thousands.
ragged men. A few other survivors straggle in, pulling worn equipment Cry! Can you cry? 1500
carts. Their courage kept us safe.
And Asia
XERXES (chanting) No! whose mountains and plains you rule
Nonono! is forced forced in blood
Heartsick have I confronted hateful doom. down on her knees.
No warning signs, not one, foretold me
some undying Lust for human flesh XERXES, dressed in rags, climbs from the carriage. Both he and the
would stamp savagely on Persia's clans. CHORUS sing from this point until the end.
What now?
I am helpless, XERXES Look at me
my body's last current of strength runs out and weep
and I must I am
face townfathers, fathers of sons. 1480 your sorrow, a sad hollow
son to Earth and my fathers 1510
Dear God! born to bring home woe
Would that I were with the men
now gone. I wish CHORUS There are greetings for your safe return:
the doom of death had curtained me. bleak howls of woe
bleak melodies of woe
CHORUSLEADER (chanting) My King, torn from the throats of
devote your sorrow to the skillful thousands, dirge-keening men
 26

I promise you Where, Pharandakes?

promise you Where are Sousas, Pelagon, Dotamas? 1550
tear-darkened notes Where, Agdabatas, Psammis, too
and where Sousiskanes
XERXES Let every breath 1520 who left Ekbatana?
you draw
sound out WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
a din of endless lamenting
Divine wind has shifted XERXES Past all help
Heaven I had to leave them
blows against me now They fell
from a Tyrian ship
CHORUS Every breath drawn shall din a lament and washed on
sounding your pain Salamis 1560
and sea-battered sorrows rocks and there they died
But listen! a nation on that wave-broken shore
howls for her children 1530
And I ring CHORUS Thousands
I ring out the thousands!
a tear-spilling change Where are the others?
Where, your Pharnoukhos
XERXES It was Greeks and Ariomardos?
who stole our victory! Where is his brave heart?
Yes, Greeks And where, lord Seualkes
for whom ship-armored War or highborn Lilaios? 1570
decided Where are Memphis, Tharybis, Masistras?
to harvest Where, Artembares, Hystaikhmas, too?
the black as night plain We ask you, keep asking you
and that Luck-hated shore over and over

CHORUS Thousands WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

the thousands!
Anguish puts questions: XERXES Sorrow
Where are the friends sorrow
who marched legion behind you? is mine, mine
Where, the men Looking with one same look at
who stood proud beside you? Athens old as time, anciently hated 1580
 27

all of them now at one same sweeping stroke ten thousand nomads
are cast on the dry land and war-hungry Ankhares, too
to lie there Diaixis with another, Arsakes
lie there horselords both of them
gasping for breath and Egdadatas and more, Lythimnas
Tolmos, too, whose spear always thirsted
CHORUS Then it's true? I am stunned 1620
Your most faithful Persian stunned
your very own Eye They'll not march again
whose rollcall counted those thousands beside these men, these few
TEN thousands— 1590 who came home
Batanokhos' son Alpistos following your carriage wheels
[you left HIM there]
with the son of Sesames, Megabates' son? XERXES Gone, the leaders who set my army's pace
Parthos, too, and brawny Oibares?
You left them all CHORUS Gone, gone, their names become dust
left them
slaughtered or drowned? XERXES Ache aching sorrow
To Persia's old men you
call out a roll CHORUS Sorrow sorrow
of grief, unbounded grief 1600 Undying Powers 1630
You willed this hopeless loss
XERXES Sorrow wide and chilling as Blind Folly's gaze
sorrow
If only I XERXES Struck, we are struck lifelong by Luck's blows
could charm back the souls of
CHORUS Struck, struck down, I know it to the bone
brave men comrades you make me remember
as you call the roll of boundless grief XERXES By new strange new anguish
hateful, unforgettable grief
My heart howls CHORUS From the moment
howls Greek sailors
from its bony cage loomed on fortune's horizon
War-broken no, not Persia's sons!
CHORUS And I ache
with longing for others:
Xanthes who led out
 28

XERXES How not? 1640

Thousands lost— XERXES Far more than despair
struck through my army I suffer
CHORUS Disasters by twos, disasters by threes
CHORUS Great fool!
What is NOT XERXES In my shame I give joy to our enemies
ruined that made Persia proud?
CHORUS And strength is wholly destroyed
XERXES (fingering his rags)
Do you see the remnant left as my cover? XERXES My bodyguard's gone, I am naked

CHORUS I see, I do see! CHORUS Stripped of friends, tricked at sea

XERXES (holding up his quiver) XERXES Wail tearsongs, wail pain, wail me home
And see this arrow-concealing—
CHORUS Gone, gone, they are gone, dead and gone
CHORUS You're telling us something is saved!
XERXES Din back my howling, my thumping 1670
XERXES —this storehouse where shafts were crowded? 1650
CHORUS Sad voices sadly moan sadness
CHORUS Few left of many, too few
XERXES Cry doomsongs, tune them to mine
XERXES Defenders are few, we are helpless
CHORUS Gone gone
CHORUS Greeks never ran from the spear & dead and gone
XERXES gone
XERXES War-mad,
they made me CHORUS How brutal the losses on land and sea
see shame I never expected— How helpless my grief

CHORUS You speak XERXES Strike deathnotes, drum breasts, drum me home
of DEFEAT!
Ship-armored thousands went down CHORUS Dead, dead, they are dead and I weep

XERXES —and I tore my clothes when I saw them drowning 1660 XERXES Din back my howling, my thumping 1680

CHORUS Despair despair CHORUS Lead and I follow, my lord

 29

XERXES Lift voices, beat out the dirge XERXES Lament as you go to your houses

CHORUS Gone gone CHORUS Sorrow the sorrow

& dead and gone Hard now to tread Persia's downtrodden Earth
XERXES gone
XERXES Wail as you step through the city
CHORUS And black-bruising hands and voice bruised black
now mingle in grief CHORUS Wailing wails, weeping

XERXES And keep striking breasts and keep crooning wails XERXES Tread soft as you sob out your dirges

CHORUS Wail thousands the thousands CHORUS Sorrow our sorrow

Hard now to tread Persia's downtrodden Earth
XERXES And tug, pull out white hair from your beards 1690
XERXES Mourn mourn 1710
CHORUS With tearing, tearing nails and a dirge the men in the ships three-tiered ships
Mourn mourn
XERXES And rake air with cries your sons dead and gone dead and gone

CHORUS Hear my cries CHORUS To slowdinning dirges we shall lead you home

XERXES And rip heavy robes with fingers hooked
CHORUS Mourn thousands the thousands
XERXES And strip out your hair, lament an army lost
The CHORUS surround XERXES. Together, lamenting and making all the
gestures of mourning, they circ1e the stage as if wa1king through the city.
Exeunt ALL right.

CHORUS With tearing, tearing nails and a dirge

XERXES And eyes rain down tears

CHORUS See my tears

XERXES Din back my howling, my thumping 1700

CHORUS Thousands the thousands