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Aeschylus
Persians
CHARACTERS
Chorus of Persian elders. Atossa. Messenger. Shadow of Darius. Xerxes.
The square in front of the palace in Susa. The tomb of Darius is visible.
The entire Persian army left for Hellas.
And we, the old people, stand on guard
Golden palaces, expensive houses
Native land. The king himself ordered
Son of Darius, Xerxes,
To your oldest, proven servants
It is sacred to take care of this land.
But the soul is confused by things,
He senses evil. Will the king return home 10 With victory, will the army return,
Shining with power?
All Asia's color is in a foreign country
He's fighting. A wife cries for her husband.
But the army does not send any messengers on foot,
No horsemen to the Persian capital.
From everywhere - from Susa, Ecbatana, from the gates
Towers of the ancient Kissi
Both in the naval formation and in the horse formation,
And in the ranks of the infantry, in a continuous stream, 20 soldiers left for battle.
They were led on the campaign by Amister, Artaphrene,
Megabat and Astasp - four kings
Under the greatest king,
The glorious leaders of the Persians, the commanders of the troops,
Strong shooters on fast horses,
Severe in appearance, hot in battle,
Unyielding in soul, full of courage
And they are famous for their menacing prowess.
Then Artembar, on horseback, 30 Masist and the well-aimed archer Have,
Glorious fighter, then Farandak
And the horseman Sostan followed them.
The fruitful Nile sent others,
Mighty stream. Susiskan went
The Egyptian Pegastagon has gone,
The king of sacred Memphis has gone,
Great Arsam, and Ariomard,
Lord and leader of the eternal Thebes,
And the rowers who live in the swamps of the Delta, 40 went in a countless crowd.
Behind them are the Lydians, pampered people,
They have the entire continent under their thumb.
And the Lydian army was led on a campaign
Mitrogates and Arkteus, leaders and kings.
And from Sardis the golden ones by the will of the lords
Chariots with fighters rushed into the distance,
Either four horses, then six horses,
You look and you freeze with fear.
And Tmol, the sacred mountain, the sons of 50 wished to put a yoke on Hellas
Mardon, Taribid, spear-throwing army
Misiytsev. And Babylon itself is golden,
Gathering his army from everywhere,
Sent to war - and on foot
Shooters, and ships, one after another.
So all of Asia is at the king’s call
She took up her weapon and took off from her place,
And she moved menacingly to Greece.
So the power and beauty of the Persian land 60 The war took away.
All Mother Asia is about those who left,
He grieves in tears, languishing with anxiety.
Parents and wives are counting the days.
And time drags on and on.
Stanza 1 The king’s army invaded the country of its neighbors,
What's on the other side of the Strait of Hell
The Athamantids, tying the rafts with a rope, 70 slung the sea on their necks
A heavily built bridge with a heavy yoke.
Antistrophe 1 Drives the army over land and water,
Full of rage, ruler of Asia,
Dotted with people. Believes in his leaders
Strong, stern, steadfast, 80 Scion of Danae, equal to the gods.
Stanza 2 He looks blue-black
With the gaze of a predatory dragon,
From the Assyrian chariot
Ships and fighters
Driving and towards
He sends arrows to the enemy's spears.
Antistrophe 2 There is no barrier to hold back
The onslaught of crowded hordes, 90 There is no dam for the storm
I resisted the sea.
The army of the Persians is unyielding,
It is impossible to defeat him. Stanza 3 But what is a mortal capable of
Unravel the deceit of God?
Which of us is easy and simple
Will he escape from the trap?
Antistrophe 3 God lures into the net
Man's cunning caress, 100 And no longer in the strength of a mortal
Leave the web of fate.
Stanza 4 So it was decided by the gods and fate,
This is what was commanded to the Persians from ancient times:
Fight, sweeping away walls,
Reveling in horse fighting,
Taking over from the city's raid.
Antistrophe 4 And the people got used to looking without fear 110 At the gray-haired woman, furious with the wind
The distance of the sea, I learned
Weave mooring ropes,
Build bridges over the abysses.
Stanza 5 That's why there's black fear
And my chest aches, alas!
Fear that, having lost our army,
Susa will suddenly be empty
And the capital will scream in pain.
Antistrophe 5 And the Kissians will cry out Susa 120 They will echo, and - alas!
Crowds of women, crying and screaming,
They will be in tatters on themselves
To tear a thin woven dress.
Stanza 6 Some on horseback, some on foot
I set out on the road after the leader,
All the people abandoned the house like a swarm of bees, 130 So that, with one team
Linking shore to shore,
Move across the strait, where the capes are
The two lands are separated by waves.
Antistrophe 6 A in pillows for now
The Persian wives shed tears,
Yearning for dear husbands,
They cry quietly for those
Who went to mortal combat
And left his poor wife
To yearn for an empty bed.
EPISODE ONE
Leader of the choir
140 Well, Persians, it's time! We'll sit by the walls
These old ones
And let’s strain our minds: the need has come
In difficult and important decisions.
What about Xerxes the king? Where is Darius's son?
Whose ancestor, Perseus,
Did he give our tribe a name?
Has the drawn bow struck down the enemy?
Or an enemy spear
The edge won the victory?
Atossa appears accompanied by her maids
150 But behold, like the radiance of the eyes of a deity,
Queen, mother of the great king,
Appears to us. Rather fall on your face
And all, as one, their queen
Honor with a welcoming speech!
Oh, hello to you, queen of the Persians, Darius's wife,
Mother of Xerxes, girded low, mistress!
You were the wife of God, you are the mother of the God of Persia,
If happiness the ancient demon did not leave our troops.
That’s why I went out, leaving the golden house 160 And the peace that served as a bedroom for me and Darius.
And anxiety gnaws at me. Frankly, friends,
I say: I am no stranger to apprehension and fear.
I'm afraid all the wealth I collected is in the dust of the campaign.
Darius, with the help of the immortals, will turn to dust.
Therefore, I am unspeakably punished with double concern:
After all, wealth is dishonorable if there is no power behind it,
But there is little glory in strength if you live in poverty.
Yes, we have complete prosperity, but fear takes us for an eye
I call the owner with the eye of home and prosperity. 170 You now, O elders of the Persians, my faithful servants,
Help me with advice, decide what to do here.
All my hope is in you, I expect encouragement from you.
Oh, believe me, queen, you won’t have to ask us twice,
So that in word or deed, to the best of your ability,
We helped: we are truly your good servants.
I've been having dreams all the time at night since then,
How my son, having equipped an army, set off
Devastate and plunder the Ionian region.
But there has never been such a clear 180 Dream as last night. I'll tell you about it.
I dreamed of two elegant women:
One is in a Persian dress, the other is wearing a headdress
Dorian was, and both of these are current
And his height and his wonderful beauty
Superior, two half-blooded
Sisters. Live alone in Hellas forever
He appointed a lot, in a barbarian country - another.
Having learned, as I dreamed, that some
They started discord, son, so that those arguing 190 could be calmed down and calmed down, harnessed to a chariot
Both and put it on both women
Yoke around the neck. Rejoicing in this harness,
One of them obediently took the bit,
But another, soaring, horse harness
I tore it with my hands, threw off the reins
And she immediately broke the yoke in half.
My son fell here, and stands grieving over him
His parent is Darius. Seeing his father, 200 Xerxes tears his clothes furiously.
This is what I dreamed about last night.
Then I stood up, with my spring hands
She rinsed it with water and, carrying it in her hands,
A flatbread, a sacrifice to the lapel demons,
As custom requires, she came to the altar.
I see an eagle at the altar of Phoebus
Looking for salvation. Numb with horror
I stand and see: a hawk on an eagle, whistling
With wings, it falls from the air and into your head
The claws dig into him. And the eagle drooped 210 And gave up. If you were afraid to listen,
That's what it's like for me to see! You know:
If the son wins, everyone will be delighted,
If he doesn’t win, the city has no demand
From the king: he remains, if alive, the king.
Neither to frighten you too much nor to encourage you too much,
Our mother, we will not. If you are a bad sign
I saw that misfortune was averted by the prayers of the gods
And ask yourself, and your son, and your power, and your friends
To bestow only one good. Libation then 220 Create for the earth and the dead and humbly ask,
So that your husband Darius - at night you saw him
From the depths of the underground I sent good things to my son and you,
And he hid the evil in the black darkness of the depths of the valley.
Here is some advice from a humble and insightful mind.
But we will hope for a happy fate.
With this kind speech, the first interpreter of my
Dreams, you have done me and the house a favor.
May everything work out for good! And the gods, as you command,
And we will honor our beloved shadows with rituals, 230 Returning to the house. But first I want to know, friends,
Where is Athens, how far is this region?
Far away in the land of sunset, where the sun god fades.
Why does my son want to capture this city?
Because all of Hellas would submit to the king.
Is the army of the city of Athens really that huge?
This army caused a lot of trouble to the army of the Medes.
What else is that city famous for? Is it not the wealth of houses?
There is a silver vein in that region, a great treasure.
Are these people throwing arrows, straining the bowstring?
240 No, they go into battle with a very long spear and a shield.
Who is their leader and shepherd, who is the lord over the army?
They serve no one, are not subject to anyone.
How can the onslaught of a foreign enemy be held back?
So that the army even managed to destroy Dariev.
Your speech is terrible for the ears of those whose children have gone to battle.
Soon, however, you will know for sure about everything:
Judging by his hasty gait, the Persian is coming here
And it brings us reliable news - for joy or misfortune.
A messenger enters.
O cities of all Asia, O Persia, 250 the center of great wealth,
With one blow our life is happy
Broken. The color of the native land is fading.
Although it is bitter for me to be a herald,
I must tell you the terrible truth,
O Persians: the barbarian army perished all.
Stanza 1 The news is terrible! Woe, pain!
Cry, Persians! Let the rivers of tears
What will be your answer.
260 Yes, it's all over there, it's all over,
And I no longer believed that I would return home.
Antistrophe 1 It is too long, my long life,
If I, an old man, had to
It's a shame to know this.
I saw everything with my own eyes. Not from the words of strangers
I will tell you, Persians, how the disaster happened.
Stanza 2 Woe! Not at a good time
Armed to the teeth, 270 Asia moved towards Hellas,
She has invaded a terrible land!
The bodies of those who suffered a deplorable death,
Now the seaside of Salamis is completely covered.
Antistrophe 2 Woe! By the will of the waves
Among the coastal rocks, you say,
The corpses of our loved ones are rushing about,
Dressed in white foam!
What use were the arrows? We were rammed
The ship battle destroyed our entire army.
Stanza 3 280 Cry, cry sorrowfully,
I curse my fate!
The Persians got an evil lot,
The gods sent the army to their destruction.
O Salamis, O hated name!
As soon as I remember Athens, I’m ready to scream.
Antistrophe 3 Athens will be remembered
Living with eternal damnation:
So much in Persia now
Husbandless wives, childless mothers!
290 I have been silent for a long time, stunned
With this blow. The trouble is too big
To say a word or ask a question.
However, the grief that was sent by the gods
We the people must bear it. Tell us everything
Overcoming the groans, controlling himself.
Tell me who is still alive and for whom to cry
Of the commanders? Which of those who carry a staff
Did he fall killed in battle, leaving his squad exposed?
Xerxes himself remained alive and sees the light of the sun,
300 Your words are like the sun to our home,
Like a radiant day after the darkness of night.
But Artembara - ten thousand horsemen
He led - the surf rocked at the Silenian rocks.
And from the ship Dedak, chief of a thousand,
It flew off like a feather, yielding to the force of the spear.
And brave Tenagon, inhabitant of Bactria,
I have now found a home on the island of Ayanta.
Lilei, Arsam, Argest had their heads smashed
Against the stones of the rocky shore 310 Of that island land that feeds pigeons.
From the Egyptians who grew up on the upper Nile,
Arcteus, Adey and the third shield-bearing leader,
Farnukh, everyone on the same ship died. 314 Matallus, who ruled the many-thousand-strong 316 Chrysian army, perished - with scarlet paint on his beard
He poured his thick one, giving up the ghost. 318 The Magician Arab and Artam from Bactria, 315 That thirty thousand black horsemen 319 led into battle, lay down forever in that land. 320 And Amphistreus, our proven spearman,
With Amestre, and Ariomard the daredevil (about him
They will cry in Sardis), and Sisam from Mysia,
And the leader of two and a half hundred ships, Tarib,
A Lyrnessian by birth - oh, what a handsome man he was!
All the poor people died, death overtook them all.
And Sieness, the bravest of the brave,
The leader of the Cilicians - he is alone and then a thunderstorm
He was great for the enemy, but he died a glorious death.
That's how many generals I named for you. 330 There were many troubles, but my report was short.
Oh, woe, woe! I learned the worst.
Shame on us Persians! It’s time to cry and howl!
But tell me, returning to the old way,
Are there really so many ships?
The Greeks had that in the battle with the Persians
Did they decide to go for a sea ram?
Oh no, in number - there is no doubt - barbarians
They were stronger. About three hundred in total
The Greeks had ships, and they had 340 Selected ten. And Xerxes has a thousand
There were ships - this is not counting those
Two hundred seven, special speed,
Which he also led. This is the balance of power.
No, we were not weaker in this battle,
But some god of ours destroyed the troops 346 By dividing the luck unequally.
348 The Athenian city, then, is still intact?
349 They have people. This is the most reliable shield.
347 Pallas's fortress is strong with the power of the gods. 350 But how, tell me, did the naval battle play out?
Who started the battle - the Hellenes themselves
Or is my son proud of the number of his ships?
The beginning of all these troubles, O mistress,
There was a certain demon, really, a certain evil spirit.
Some Greek from the Athenian army
He came and said to Xerxes your son,
That the Greeks, as soon as the darkness of the night sets in,
They will no longer sit, but will crumble
On ships and, steering in every direction, secretly 360 They will go away just to save lives.
The cunning of the Greek as well as envy
Not sensing the gods, the king, as soon as he finished speaking,
He gives the order to his shipmasters:
As soon as the sun stops burning the earth
And the darkness of the night will cover the sky,
Build ships in three squads,
To cut off all the ways for those sailing away,
Ayantov island is surrounded with a dense ring.
And if the Greeks suddenly escape death 370 And their ships find a secret exit,
The heads of the screen should not lose their heads.
So he ordered, overcome with pride,
I didn’t yet know that the gods had predetermined everything.
The order was obeyed as expected.
Dinner was prepared, and by the oarlocks
Each rower hurried to adjust the oars,
Then, when the last ray of sunshine went out
And the night came, all the rowers and warriors
With weapons, as one, they boarded the ships, 380 And the ships, having lined up, called to each other.
And so, adhering to the order that was indicated,
Goes out to sea and sleeplessly swims
The ship's people perform their service regularly.
And the night passed. But they didn’t do it anywhere
Attempts by the Greeks to secretly bypass the barrier.
When will the earth be white again?
The luminary of the day filled with bright radiance,
The noise of rejoicing was heard in the camp of the Greeks,
Similar to a song. And they answered him 390 With the thundering echo of the island rock,
And immediately the fear of the confused barbarians
It failed. The Greeks did not think about escape,
Singing a solemn song,
And they went to battle with selfless courage,
And the roar of the trumpet set hearts on fire with courage.
The salty abyss was foamed together
The consonant strokes of the Greek oars,
And soon we saw everyone with our own eyes.
The right 400 Wing walked ahead, in excellent formation, and then proudly followed
The entire fleet. And from everywhere at the same time
A mighty cry rang out: “Children of the Hellenes,
To fight for the freedom of the motherland! Children and wives
Free the native gods at home,
And great-grandfathers' graves! The fight is on for everything!"
The Persian speech of our many-mouthed hum
He answered the call. There was no time to hesitate here.
The ship's copper-clad bow immediately
It hit the ship. The Greeks began the attack, 410 breaking through the stern of the Phoenician with a ram,
And then the ships started attacking each other.
At first the Persians managed to hold back
Pressure When in a narrow place there are many
The ships have accumulated, no one can help
Couldn't, and the beaks directed the copper
Their own in their own, the oars and rowers are destroyed.
And the Greeks used ships, as they planned,
We were surrounded. The sea was not visible
Because of the wreckage, because of the overturned 420 Vessels and lifeless bodies, and corpses
The shallows and the coast were completely covered.
Find salvation in a disorderly flight
The entire surviving barbarian fleet tried.
But the Greeks of the Persians are like tuna fishermen,
Anything, boards, debris
The ships and oars were beaten. Screams of horror
And the screams filled the salty distance,
Until the eye of night hid us.
All the troubles, even for ten days in a row, 430 It’s a sad story, I can’t list it, no.
I'll tell you one thing: never before
So many people on earth have never died in one day.
Alas! On the Persians and on everyone who is barbarian
Born into the world, a sea of evil has surged!
But you don’t know half of the troubles yet.
Another misfortune befell us,
Which is twice as heavy as the other losses.
What grief could be more terrible?
What kind of trouble, answer me, 440 happened to the army so that the evil doubled?
All the Persians, shining with youthful strength,
Impeccable courage, noble family,
The most faithful of the ruler's faithful servants,
They died an inglorious death - a disgrace to themselves.
Oh, evil fate! Woe is me, my friends!
What fate befell them, tell me.
There is a small island near Salamis,
It is difficult to approach it. There along the shore
Pan often leads round dances for Krutoy. 450 It was there that the king sent them, so that if the enemy
Escaping from shipwrecks to the island
Swimming forward, hitting the Greeks without missing a beat
And help your people get to land.
The king was a bad seer! On the same day when
God sent victory to the Greeks in a naval battle,
They, in copper armor, disembarked from the ships,
The whole island was surrounded, so there was nowhere
The Persians were about to give in and they didn’t know
What to do. Stones hail in the attacking 460 Arrows flew from their hands, from a taut bowstring
As they flew off, they killed the fighters on the spot.
But the Greeks still invaded with a friendly onslaught
To this island - and they went to chop, stab,
Until everyone was completely destroyed.
Xerxes burst into tears when he saw the depth of the trouble:
He's on a high hill near the shore
I sat where I could see the whole army.
And, tearing clothes and a lingering groan
Having issued, he ordered the infantry to immediately 470 take flight. Here's another one for you
Trouble to boot, to shed tears again.
O evil demon, how did you manage to disgrace
Hopes of the Persians! I found bitter revenge
My son to Athens, glorious. Are there not enough barbarians?
Have you already ruined a marathon fight before?
The son hoped to take revenge for the murdered
And only brought a darkness of misfortune upon himself!
But tell me, the ships survived
Where did you leave it? I'm waiting for a clear answer.
480 Surrendering to the will of the wind, randomly
The leaders of the surviving ships fled.
And the rest of the army is all in Boeotia
Died, near the key, life-giving
Suffering from thirst for water. We are barely breathing,
We came to Phocaea, made our way, tired,
To Dorida, reached Melian
The bay, where the Sperkhey River waters the fields,
From there we moved on again without eating.
Seek shelter in the cities of Thessaly, 490 In the Achaean lands. Most died there
Some were thirsty; hunger killed others.
We then headed to the Magnesian region
And to the land of the Macedonians, and the Axian ford
Having passed through the swamps of pain, we went to Edonida,
We went out to Mount Pangea. God is not on time
Sent frost that night, and was frozen in ice
Stream sacred Strymon. And those who did not honor
The gods are here with earnest prayer until now
They began to cry out to the earth and sky in fear. 500 We prayed for a long time. And when it finished
The army prayed and crossed the river on the ice.
Who crossed before God scattered
The rays of the day, one of us was saved there.
After all, soon the sun will have a radiant flame
The scorching heat melted the fragile bridge.
People were falling on top of each other. Happy
Those who, without suffering for a long time, gave up the ghost.
And the rest, everyone who survived then,
They passed with great difficulty through Thrace 510 And returned to their native hearths
An insignificant handful. Shed tears, mourn,
The capital of the Persians, the young flower of the fatherland!
It's all true. But more about the multitude
I kept silent about the trouble that God brought upon us.
Leader of the choir
O hated demon, you are heavy
Our entire Persian people were trampled underfoot.
Oh, woe to me, unfortunate one! There are no more troops.
Oh, the prophetic dream of this night,
How unambiguous was its evil meaning 520 And how incorrect is your interpretation of the dream!
And yet, obeying your word,
First I'll go to the gods to pray,
And after praying, I’ll leave the house again
And I will bring bread as a gift to the earth and to the dead.
I know that sacrifice cannot correct the past,
But the future may become brighter.
Do you have any advice in these circumstances?
I, as before, must help the good ones,
And if my son appears here earlier, 530 than I do, comfort him and guide him to the house,
So that new pain does not multiply the old pain.
Atossa and her servants and the messenger leave.
STASIM THE FIRST
You are the Persians, O Zeus, a huge army,
Which is strong in strength and proud of glory
Was, destroyed,
You are the night of trouble, you are the darkness of melancholy
Covered Ecbatana and Susa.
And mothers tear with a trembling hand
your clothes,
And tears flow in a stream onto the chests of 540 Exhausted women.
And young wives, having lost their husbands,
They grieve for those with whom love lies,
The joy and happiness of blooming years,
We shared on soft, basking carpets,
And they cry in inescapable anguish.
I also mourn the fallen soldiers,
I cry about their sad fate.
Stanza 1 All Asia is groaning now,
Orphaned land: 550 "Xerxes led them with him,
Their death was the fault of Xerxes,
All this grief foolish Xerxes
Prepared for the ships.
Why, without knowing troubles,
Ruled by Darius, ancient Susa
Dear Lord,
Chief of the glorious archers?"
Antistrophe 1 The sailors are with the infantry
They sailed on dark-breasted ships, 560 They sailed on swift-winged ships,
Towards death - on ships,
Towards the enemy, straight to the blade
Ionian sword.
The king and he, we are told,
Miraculously escaped and escaped
According to Thracian, field,
Cold-bound roads.
Stanza 2 Poor are those who are evil by will
The Rocks were the first to die there, 570 Off the shores of Kirchei! Yell,
Cry uncontrollably, scream, sob,
Raise a piercing moan to the sky
Pain and sorrow, pour out melancholy
With a long click, torment hearts
A pitiful howl!
Antistrophe 2 Carries the body of the sea like a wave,
Greedily dumb children of the abyss
Corpses are torn into pieces with teeth!
The empty house is full of melancholy, 580 Mother and father are heartbroken,
Son-breadwinner for old people
Took it away. So I got to them
Terrible news.
Stanza 3 Asia will be no more
Live according to the Persian instructions.
There will be no more nations
Bring tribute to the autocrats,
People will not be afraid
Fall to the ground. There is no 590 Tsarist power today.
Antistrophe 3 People keep their mouths shut
They will stop holding you immediately:
The one who is free from the yoke,
Also free in speech.
Ayanta Island, with blood
Flooded, became a grave
Happiness to the proud Persians.
EPISODE TWO Atossa comes out of the palace, accompanied by servants who carry sacrificial gifts.
Those who have been in misfortune, from experience,
Friends, it is known that when 600 Misfortunes roll in, everything already frightens us,
And if life is calm, then we hope
So, with a fair wind, we will live forever.
And today everything fills me with fear.
The eyes see God's hostility everywhere.
It’s not the song of victory in your ears – it’s a loud cry ringing.
So shocked by the blow was the timid spirit.
I'm not in a carriage, not in the usual luxury
I came back here, no, I came from the palace
On foot, so that the one by whom my son was conceived, 610 Honored with a funeral sacrifice. I'm bringing milk
I am from an immaculate white cow,
And transparent honey, a gift from hardworking bees,
And this spring water, clean,
And this noble, undiluted,
From the vine, once wild, the sap is generated.
And golden, ripe, fragrant
Evergreen oil trees fruits,
And weaving from sheets, children of the earth.
In honor of this sacrifice you are now dead, friends, 620 Sing a song and to the aid of Darius
Summon the shadow! I'm a libation
I will hasten to create for the underground gods.
O queen, O mistress of Persia,
You gifts went to the underground peace,
We will sing a song and ask,
So that the counselors shower
They showed mercy in the underworld.
Sacred deities of the deep depths,
Gaia and Hermes, and the king above the shadows, 630 Release the spirit from the dark depths.
He's the only one who can help
Trouble with many-tearful advice.
Stanza 1 Do you hear, equal to the gods,
Our king is dead, my groans,
Barbaric cries?
I scream loudly, I call mournfully,
I cry, I complain, I scream,
I hysterically beg, howl.
Can you hear in the underworld?
Antistrophe 1 Gaia and you, all the others 640 Leaders of Darkness, gods of the depths!
Release into the light
The proud shadow of the god-king,
Pet Suz. Let him come out!
The Persians have not yet buried
Equal to him, the lord.
Stanza 2 Dear King! Dear hill,
Where the dear heart is hidden!
Aidoneus, into the daylight 650 Bring you out, Aidoneus,
Daria only from the kingdom of night!
Antistrophe 2 He did not destroy people in wars,
Didn't send them to their death
He, reputed to be a godly king,
He was wise because he knew how
It is reasonable to rule the Persian army.
Verse 3 Baal, O ancient Baal, come, come,
Climb this high mound, 660 shining with your shining tiara,
Walking in the saffron eumarides,
Antistrophe 3 To hear about new grief, about trouble,
Lord of lords, come today.
The Stygian night hung over us: 670 All our young shoots perished.
Kindly king, Darius the father, appear!
Epodes King, your death
An eternal wound for your loved ones.
If only you were a power today
Rules, we wouldn't have to
Nowadays the pain is double sobbing.
After all, no more than 680 ships sail, my ships.
Darius' Shadow Appears
Shadow of Darius
The most faithful of the faithful, my young years
Grey-haired comrades! What happened in the country?
She breaks into sobs and the earth cracks.
With fear I see my wife nearby
Graves, - however, he accepted the gift graciously,
And you, crowded around the tombstone, cry
And mournfully, with spells and cries,
You're calling me. Come out into the daylight
Not so simple: the gods of the underworld 690 Prefer to take than to give back.
But I’m held in high esteem there too, and that’s why
I went out. Hurry up so as not to disturb me.
What new sadness oppresses the Persians?
Stanza I'm scared to see you,
I'm afraid to say a word,
I tremble before you, as before.
Shadow of Darius
If, having heeded your spells, I emerged from the kingdom of darkness,
Without long digressions, briefly about everything
Tell me, throwing away shyness in front of my person.
Antistrophe 700 No, I can’t obey,
No, I can't make up my mind
Say the unsaid to a friend.
Shadow of Darius
Well, when, as before, timidity fetters your mind,
You, venerable friend, my bedmate,
Stop sobbing and crying and say a word to me
Really! Such is the fate of mortals - to endure sorrows.
After all, a lot of troubles are destined on land and sea
Anyone can test it if it heals on earth.
O happiest of mortals, chosen by good fate, 710 If on the days when you looked at the sun, you were worthy
Only envy is your lot, godlike king of the Persians,
Your death is also enviable: you did not live to see the disaster.
I will cover everything that happened, Darius, in a short speech.
And I will say without hesitation: the power of the Persians is non-existent.
Shadow of Darius
What's wrong? Was it a rebellion or a pestilence that destroyed the state?
Not a riot, not a pestilence. In Athens our army was killed.
Shadow of Darius
Who; one of my sons went there to fight, say.
Xerxes is furious to devastate an entire continent.
Shadow of Darius
Did he embark on a land or sea voyage, fool?
720 Both at sea and on land. He went down two paths.
Shadow of Darius
How was such a crowd of infantry able to cross?
The bridge was built to cross the waves of Gella on dry land.
Shadow of Darius
Did the powerful Bosporus really manage to lock up?
Managed it. The demon, apparently, helped get the job done.
Shadow of Darius
And how powerful is this demon if he drove the king crazy!
The outcome shows how much evil he can do.
Shadow of Darius
What happened to them? Why are you all in tears?
The defeat of the naval forces brought death to the infantry.
Shadow of Darius
So, the enemy spears destroyed all the fighters?
730 That is why Susa groans: the glorious city is deserted.
Shadow of Darius
I feel sorry for the valiant army, I feel sorry for our militias.
And the unfortunate Bactrians died, all young people.
Shadow of Darius
O madman, he destroyed the very flower of the allied troops!
Xerxes, left, as they said, with a small number of fighters...
Shadow of Darius
Where and how did you disappear? Is there hope that you will be saved?
Luckily, he walked to a bridge that connected the two lands.
Shadow of Darius
And this means that the mainland came out onto this. Is the news true?
Yes, it is quite. There can be no doubt about this.
Shadow of Darius
Oh, how quickly the predictions were confirmed! The son of Zeus 740 was punished by the foretold fate. And I thought
That it will not be long before the gods fulfill their will.
But the one who himself strives for the pit will be pushed by God.
Zev opened the well of troubles before my loved ones,
My son, without seeing it, flashed with youthful audacity:
The Hellespont is a sacred stream, God's Bosporus stream,
He decided to tie him up in chains, like an obstinate slave,
And, with the yoke of iron shackles blocking the path of the current,
He paved a wide path for a large army.
In the blindness of vanity, a mortal, he decided to argue with the gods and 750 Poseidon himself! Isn't this a disease of madness?
Hit him? I'm afraid that the fruits of my labors
That our wealth can be seized by the first person we meet.
Xerxes, having mistakenly heeded the advice of evil instigators,
I did it. They insisted that wealth is for the sons
You got it with a spear, but he, they say, is only brave while sitting at home
And he did not at all multiply what his father had acquired.
And, these reproaches are often heard from unkind lips,
He finally decided to go with the army to Greece.
Shadow of Darius
This is how it happened, it’s a terrible thing! 760 He will be remembered forever. Never before
There was no such devastation in Susa,
Since Zeus the lord sent down the law,
So that all the land of the herd of growing Asia
The wand-bearing leader always ruled.
Mead was our first military leader,
Then Meade's son came to this position,
He knew how to subordinate his heart to his mind.
And the third was Cyrus, the happiest of mortals.
Having achieved power, he gave peace to his friends. 770 He conquered Lydia and Phrygia
And he conquered the Ionian region by force.
He was very smart, the gods did not quarrel with him,
And our fourth son, Kira, became our leader.
And the fifth was ruled by Mardis, who disgraced
Your ancient throne and homeland. This
Worthy Artaphrenes with his faithful friends
Cunningly they killed him in the palace, as duty dictated.
Marathes was sixth, and Artaphrenes seventh.
And I, I, too, have achieved the desired 780 and went on campaigns with the army,
But I did not bring such troubles to the country.
And Xerxes, my young son, out of frivolity,
Usually among the young, I forgot my covenant.
To whom, and to you, my peers,
It is known that none of us, the rulers
This power has not caused so many troubles.
Leader of the choir
To what purpose, Lord Darius, is your speech
Are you keeping track? Like the people of Persia
Is it better to get out of such trouble?
Shadow of Darius
790 Do not go to war against the Greeks in the future,
No matter how strong our army is:
Their very land is at one with them in battle.
Leader of the choir
But how can the earth itself fight?
Shadow of Darius
Execution of darkness and darkness by starvation.
Leader of the choir
We will equip selected fighters better.
Shadow of Darius
What's the use? Even those fighters in Greece
Now they remain, they will not return to their father’s land.
Leader of the choir
How? This means they won’t return from Europe,
Will the barbarians not cross the Straits of Gella?
Shadow of Darius
800 Only a handful will return. God's prophecies
We must believe, judging by the events:
Once something is confirmed, everything will be confirmed.
And this means a chosen army,
Believing in empty hope, my son left there.
It is on the plain where Asopus flows,
Good drinker of Boeotian pastures,
And where is the retribution for godless dreams?
And for pride, grief awaits those
Who, having come to Greece, allowed himself 810 Idols to steal saints or burn temples.
The altars were destroyed to the ground,
Statues were knocked down and broken from their bases.
So, no less evil was repaid for this
Now there will be villains. Not exhausted
Cup of suffering. There are still plenty of troubles.
And they will pour out a bloody libation
With a Dorian spear the Greeks near Plataea,
And the chain of graves will remain until the third
The knees are a silent admonition: 820 Do not be arrogant, they say, mortal, it does not suit you.
The square in front of the palace in Susa. The tomb of Darius is visible.
The entire Persian army left for Hellas.
And we, the old people, stand on guard
Golden palaces, expensive houses
Native land. The king himself ordered
Son of Darius, Xerxes,
To your oldest, proven servants
It is sacred to take care of this land.
But the soul is confused by things,
He senses evil. Will he return home
10 With victory, the king, will the army return,
Shining with power?
All Asia's color is in a foreign country
He's fighting. A wife cries for her husband.
But the army does not send any messengers on foot,
No horsemen to the Persian capital.
From everywhere - from Susa, Ecbatana, from the gates
Towers of the ancient Kissi -
Both in the naval formation and in the horse formation,
And in the ranks of the infantrymen, in a continuous stream,
20 The fighters were leaving for battle.
They were led on the campaign by Amister, Artaphrene,
Megabat and Astasp - four kings
Under the greatest king,
The glorious leaders of the Persians, the commanders of the troops,
Strong shooters on fast horses,
Severe in appearance, hot in battle,
Unyielding in soul, full of courage
And they are famous for their menacing prowess.
Then Artembar, on horseback,
30 Have a maestro and a well-aimed archer,
Glorious fighter, then Farandak
And the horseman Sostan followed them.
The fruitful Nile sent others,
Mighty stream. Susiskan went
The Egyptian Pegastagon has gone,
The king of sacred Memphis has gone,
Great Arsam, and Ariomard,
Lord and leader of the eternal Thebes,
And the rowers who live in the swamps of the Delta,
40 They went in a countless crowd.
Behind them are the Lydians, pampered people,
They have the entire continent under their thumb.
And the Lydian army was led on a campaign
Mitrogates and Arkteus, leaders and kings.
And from Sardis the golden ones by the will of the lords
Chariots with fighters rushed into the distance,
Either four horses, then six horses,
You look and you freeze with fear.
And Tmol, the sacred mountain, sons
50 They wanted to put a yoke on Hellas -
Mardon, Taribid, spear-throwing army
Misiytsev. And Babylon itself is golden,
Gathering his army from everywhere,
Sent to war - and on foot
Shooters, and ships, one after another.
So all of Asia is at the king’s call
She took up her weapon and took off from her place,
And she moved menacingly to Greece.
So the power and beauty of the Persian land
60 The war took away.
All Mother Asia is about those who left,
He grieves in tears, languishing with anxiety.
Parents and wives are counting the days.
And time drags on and on.
Stanza 1 The king’s army invaded the country of its neighbors,
What's on the other side of the Strait of Hell
Athamantids, tying the rafts with a rope,
70 I put the sea on my neck
A heavily built bridge with a heavy yoke.
Antistrophe 1 Drives the army over land and water,
Full of rage, ruler of Asia,
Dotted with people. Believes in his leaders
Strong, harsh, persistent,
80 Scion of Danae, equal to the gods.
Stanza 2 He looks blue-black
With the gaze of a predatory dragon,
From the Assyrian chariot
Ships and fighters
Driving and towards
He sends arrows to the enemy's spears.
Antistrophe 2 There is no barrier to hold back
The onslaught of crowded hordes,
90 There is no dam so that in a storm
I resisted the sea.
The army of the Persians is unyielding,
It is impossible to defeat him.
Stanza 3 But what is a mortal capable of
Unravel the deceit of God?
Which of us is easy and simple
Will he escape from the trap?
Antistrophe 3 God lures into the net
A man with cunning caress,
100 And a mortal can no longer
Leave the web of fate.
Stanza 4 So it was decided by the gods and fate,
This is what was commanded to the Persians from ancient times:
Fight, sweeping away walls,
Reveling in horse fighting,
Taking over from the city's raid.
Antistrophe 4 And the people got used to looking without fear
110 To a gray-haired woman, furious with the wind
The distance of the sea, I learned
Weave mooring ropes,
Build bridges over the abysses.
Stanza 5 That's why there's black fear
And my chest aches, alas! -
Fear that, having lost our army,
Susa will suddenly be empty
And the capital will scream in pain.
Antistrophe 5 And the Kissians cry out Susa
120 They will echo, and - alas! -
Crowds of women, crying and screaming,
They will be in tatters on themselves
To tear a thin woven dress.
Stanza 6 Some on horseback, some on foot
I set out on the road after the leader,
All the people abandoned the house like a swarm of bees,
130 So that, with one team
Linking shore to shore,
Move across the strait, where the capes are
The two lands are separated by waves.
Antistrophe 6 A in pillows for now
The Persian wives shed tears,
Yearning for dear husbands,
They cry quietly for those
Who went to mortal combat
And left his poor wife
To yearn for an empty bed.
EPISODE ONE
Leader of the choir
140 Well, Persians, it's time! We'll sit by the walls
These old ones
And let’s strain our minds: the need has come
In difficult and important decisions.
What about Xerxes the king? Where is Darius's son?
Whose ancestor, Perseus,
Did he give our tribe a name?
Has the drawn bow struck down the enemy?
Or an enemy spear
The edge won the victory?
Atossa appears accompanied by her maids
150 But behold, like the radiance of the eyes of a deity,
Queen, mother of the great king,
Appears to us. Rather fall on your face
And all, as one, their queen
Honor with a welcoming speech!
Oh, hello to you, queen of the Persians, Darius's wife,
Mother of Xerxes, girded low, mistress!
You were the wife of God, you are the mother of the God of Persia,
If happiness the ancient demon did not leave our troops.
That's why I went out, leaving the golden house
160 And the peace that served as a bedroom for me and Darius.
And anxiety gnaws at me. Frankly, friends,
I say: I am no stranger to apprehension and fear.
I'm afraid all the wealth I collected is in the dust of the campaign.
Darius, with the help of the immortals, will turn to dust.
Therefore, I am unspeakably punished with double concern:
After all, wealth is dishonorable if there is no power behind it,
But there is little glory in strength if you live in poverty.
Yes, we have complete prosperity, but fear takes us for an Eye -
I call the owner with the eye of home and prosperity.
170 You now, O elders of the Persians, my faithful servants,
Help me with advice, decide what to do here.
All my hope is in you, I expect encouragement from you.
Oh, believe me, queen, you won’t have to ask us twice,
So that in word or deed, to the best of your ability,
We helped: we are truly your good servants.
I've been having dreams all the time at night since then,
How my son, having equipped an army, set off
Devastate and plunder the Ionian region.
But it was never so clear
180 Sleep like last night. I'll tell you about it.
I dreamed of two elegant women:
One is in a Persian dress, the other is wearing a headdress
Dorian was, and both of these are current
And his height and his wonderful beauty
Superior, two half-blooded
Sisters. Live alone in Hellas forever
He appointed a lot, in a barbarian country - another.
Having learned, as I dreamed, that some
They have discord, son, so that those who argue
190 Calm and calm, harnessed to the chariot
Both and put it on both women
Yoke around the neck. Rejoicing in this harness,
One of them obediently took the bit,
But another, soaring, horse harness
I tore it with my hands, threw off the reins
And she immediately broke the yoke in half.
My son fell here, and stands grieving over him
His parent is Darius. Seeing my father
200 Xerxes tears his clothes furiously.
This is what I dreamed about last night.
Then I stood up, with my spring hands
She rinsed it with water and, carrying it in her hands,
A flatbread, a sacrifice to the lapel demons,
As custom requires, she came to the altar.
I see an eagle at the altar of Phoebus
Looking for salvation. Numb with horror
I stand and see: a hawk on an eagle, whistling
With wings, it falls from the air and into your head
The claws dig into him. And the eagle drooped
210 And he gave up. If you were afraid to listen,
That's what it's like for me to see! You know:
If the son wins, everyone will be delighted,
If he doesn’t win, the city has no demand
From the king: he remains, if alive, the king.
Neither to frighten you too much nor to encourage you too much,
Our mother, we will not. If you are a bad sign
I saw that misfortune was averted by the prayers of the gods
And ask yourself, and your son, and your power, and your friends
To bestow only one good. Libation then
220 Create for the earth and the dead and humbly ask,
So that your husband Darius - at night you saw him -
From the depths of the underground I sent good things to my son and you,
And he hid the evil in the black darkness of the depths of the valley.
Here is some advice from a humble and insightful mind.
But we will hope for a happy fate.
With this kind speech, the first interpreter of my
Dreams, you have done me and the house a favor.
May everything work out for good! And the gods, as you command,
And we will honor our beloved shadows with rituals,
230 Returning to the house. But first I want to know, friends,
Where is Athens, how far is this region?
Far away in the land of sunset, where the sun god fades.
Why does my son want to capture this city?
Because all of Hellas would submit to the king.
Is the army of the city of Athens really that huge?
This army caused a lot of trouble to the army of the Medes.
What else is that city famous for? Is it not the wealth of houses?
There is a silver vein in that region, a great treasure.
Are these people throwing arrows, straining the bowstring?
240 No, they go into battle with a very long spear and a shield.
Who is their leader and shepherd, who is the lord over the army?
They serve no one, are not subject to anyone.
How can the onslaught of a foreign enemy be held back?
So that the army even managed to destroy Dariev.
Your speech is terrible for the ears of those whose children have gone to battle.
Soon, however, you will know for sure about everything:
Judging by his hasty gait, the Persian is coming here
And it brings us reliable news - for joy or misfortune.
A messenger enters.
O cities of all Asia, O Persia,
250 The center of great wealth,
With one blow our life is happy
Broken. The color of the native land is fading.
Although it is bitter for me to be a herald,
I must tell you the terrible truth,
O Persians: the barbarian army perished all.
Stanza 1 The news is terrible! Woe, pain!
Cry, Persians! Let the rivers of tears
What will be your answer.
260 Yes, it's all over there, it's all over,
And I no longer believed that I would return home.
Antistrophe 1 It is too long, my long life,
If I, an old man, had to
It's a shame to know this.
I saw everything with my own eyes. Not from the words of strangers
I will tell you, Persians, how the disaster happened.
Stanza 2 Woe! Not at a good time
Armed to the teeth
270 Asia moved to Hellas,
She has invaded a terrible land!
The bodies of those who suffered a deplorable death,
Now the seaside of Salamis is completely covered.
Antistrophe 2 Woe! By the will of the waves
Among the coastal rocks, you say,
The corpses of our loved ones are rushing about,
Dressed in white foam!
What use were the arrows? We were rammed
The ship battle destroyed our entire army.
Stanza 3
280 Cry, cry sorrowfully,
I curse my fate!
The Persians got an evil lot,
The gods sent the army to their destruction.
O Salamis, O hated name!
As soon as I remember Athens, I’m ready to scream.
Antistrophe 3 Athens will be remembered
Living with eternal damnation:
So much in Persia now
Husbandless wives, childless mothers!
290 I have been silent for a long time, stunned
With this blow. The trouble is too big
To say a word or ask a question.
However, the grief that was sent by the gods
We the people must bear it. Tell us everything
Overcoming the groans, controlling himself.
Tell me who is still alive and for whom to cry
Of the commanders? Which of those who carry a staff
Did he fall killed in battle, leaving his squad exposed?
Xerxes himself remained alive and sees the light of the sun,
300 Your words are like the sun to our home,
Like a radiant day after the darkness of night.
But Artembara - ten thousand horsemen
He drove - the surf rocked at the Silenian rocks.
And from the ship Dedak, chief of a thousand,
It flew off like a feather, yielding to the force of the spear.
And brave Tenagon, inhabitant of Bactria,
I have now found a home on the island of Ayanta.
Lilei, Arsam, Argest had their heads smashed
To yourself about the stones of the rocky shore
310 That island land that feeds the pigeons.
From the Egyptians who grew up on the upper Nile,
Arcteus, Adey and the third shield-bearing leader,
Farnukh, everyone on the ship died.
314 Matallus, who ruled many thousands, died
316 Chrysian army, - scarlet paint beard
He poured his thick one, giving up the ghost.
318 Arab-Magic and Artam from Bactria,
315 That thirty thousand black horsemen
319 He led into battle and lay down in that land forever.
320 And Amphistreus, our proven spearman,
With Amestre, and Ariomard the daredevil (about him
They will cry in Sardis), and Sisam from Mysia,
And the leader of two and a half hundred ships, Tarib,
A Lyrnessian by birth - oh, what a handsome man he was! -
All the poor people died, death overtook them all.
And Sieness, the bravest of the brave,
The leader of the Cilicians - he is alone and then a thunderstorm
He was great for the enemy - he died a glorious death.
That's how many generals I named for you.
330 There were many troubles, but my report was short.
Oh, woe, woe! I learned the worst.
Shame on us Persians! It’s time to cry and howl!
But tell me, returning to the old way,
Are there really so many ships?
The Greeks had that in the battle with the Persians
Did they decide to go for a sea ram?
Oh no, in number - there is no doubt - barbarians
They were stronger. About three hundred in total
The Greeks had ships, and to them
340 Selected ten. And Xerxes has a thousand
There were ships - this is not counting those
Two hundred seven, special speed,
Which he also led. This is the balance of power.
No, we were not weaker in this battle,
But some god of ours destroyed the troops
346 Because he did not share his luck equally.
348 The Athenian city, then, is still intact?
349 They have people. This is the most reliable shield.
347 Pallas's fortress is strong with the power of the gods.
350 But how, tell me, did the naval battle play out?
Who started the battle - the Hellenes themselves
Or is my son proud of the number of his ships?
The beginning of all these troubles, O mistress,
There was a certain demon, really, a certain evil spirit.
Some Greek from the Athenian army
He came and said to Xerxes your son,
That the Greeks, as soon as the darkness of the night sets in,
They will no longer sit, but will crumble
On ships and, steering in all directions, secretly
360 They will go far away just to save lives.
The cunning of the Greek as well as envy
Not sensing the gods, the king, as soon as he finished speaking,
He gives the order to his shipmasters:
As soon as the sun stops burning the earth
And the darkness of the night will cover the sky,
Build ships in three squads,
To cut off all the ways for those sailing away,
Ayantov island is surrounded with a dense ring.
What if the Greeks suddenly escape death?
370 And their ships will find a secret exit,
The heads of the screen should not lose their heads.
So he ordered, overcome with pride,
I didn’t yet know that the gods had predetermined everything.
The order was obeyed as expected.
Dinner was prepared, and by the oarlocks
Each rower hurried to adjust the oars,
Then, when the last ray of sunshine went out
And the night came, all the rowers and warriors
With weapons, as one, they boarded the ships,
380 And the ships, having lined up, called to each other.
And so, adhering to the order that was indicated,
Goes out to sea and sleeplessly swims
The ship's people perform their service regularly.
And the night passed. But they didn’t do it anywhere
Attempts by the Greeks to secretly bypass the barrier.
When will the earth be white again?
The luminary of the day filled with bright radiance,
The noise of rejoicing was heard in the camp of the Greeks,
Similar to a song. And they answered him
390 With the thundering echo of the rock of the island,
And immediately the fear of the confused barbarians
It failed. The Greeks did not think about escape,
Singing a solemn song,
And they went to battle with selfless courage,
And the roar of the trumpet set hearts on fire with courage.
The salty abyss was foamed together
The consonant strokes of the Greek oars,
And soon we saw everyone with our own eyes.
Went ahead, in excellent formation, right
400 Wing, and then proudly followed
The entire fleet. And from everywhere at the same time
A mighty cry rang out: “Children of the Hellenes,
To fight for the freedom of the motherland! Children and wives
Free the native gods at home,
And great-grandfathers' graves! The fight is on for everything!"
The Persian speech of our many-mouthed hum
He answered the call. There was no time to hesitate here.
The ship's copper-clad bow immediately
It hit the ship. The Greeks began the attack,
410 Having broken the stern of the Phoenician with a ram,
And then the ships started attacking each other.
At first the Persians managed to hold back
Pressure When in a narrow place there are many
The ships have accumulated, no one can help
Couldn't, and the beaks directed the copper
Their own in their own, the oars and rowers are destroyed.
And the Greeks used ships, as they planned,
We were surrounded. The sea was not visible
Because of the wreckage, because of the overturned
420 Ships and lifeless bodies and corpses
The shallows and the coast were completely covered.
Find salvation in a disorderly flight
The entire surviving barbarian fleet tried.
But the Greeks of the Persians are like tuna fishermen,
Anything, boards, debris
The ships and oars were beaten. Screams of horror
And the screams filled the salty distance,
Until the eye of night hid us.
All troubles, even if I lead ten days in a row
430 It’s a sad story, I can’t list it, no.
I'll tell you one thing: never before
So many people on earth have never died in one day.
Alas! On the Persians and on everyone who is barbarian
Born into the world, a sea of evil has surged!
But you don’t know half of the troubles yet.
Another misfortune befell us,
Which is twice as heavy as the other losses.
What grief could be more terrible?
What kind of trouble is this, answer me?
440 Happened to the army so that the evil doubled?
All the Persians, shining with youthful strength,
Impeccable courage, noble family,
The most faithful of the ruler's faithful servants,
They died an inglorious death - a disgrace to themselves.
Oh, evil fate! Woe is me, my friends!
What fate befell them, tell me.
There is a small island near Salamis,
It is difficult to approach it. There along the shore
Pan often leads round dances for Krutoy.
450 It was there that the king sent them, so that if the enemy
Escaping from shipwrecks to the island
Swimming forward, hitting the Greeks without missing a beat
And help your people get to land.
The king was a bad seer! On the same day when
God sent victory to the Greeks in a naval battle,
They, in copper armor, disembarked from the ships,
The whole island was surrounded, so there was nowhere
The Persians were about to give in and they didn’t know
What to do. Stones hail in the attacking
460 Arrows flew from my hands, from a tight bowstring
As they flew off, they killed the fighters on the spot.
But the Greeks still invaded with a friendly onslaught
To this island - and they went to chop, stab,
Until everyone was completely destroyed.
Xerxes burst into tears when he saw the depth of the trouble:
He's on a high hill near the shore
I sat where I could see the whole army.
And, tearing clothes and a lingering groan
Having published, he immediately ordered the infantry
470 Take flight. Here's another one for you
Trouble to boot, to shed tears again.
O evil demon, how did you manage to disgrace
Hopes of the Persians! I found bitter revenge
My son to Athens, glorious. Are there not enough barbarians?
Have you already ruined a marathon fight before?
The son hoped to take revenge for the murdered
And only brought a darkness of misfortune upon himself!
But tell me, the ships survived
Where did you leave it? I'm waiting for a clear answer.
480 Surrendering to the will of the wind, randomly
The leaders of the surviving ships fled.
And the rest of the army is all in Boeotia
Died, near the key, life-giving
Suffering from thirst for water. We are barely breathing,
We came to Phocaea, made our way, tired,
To Dorida, reached Melian
The bay, where the Sperkhey River waters the fields,
From there we moved on again without eating.
Seek refuge in the cities of Thessaly,
490 In the Achaean lands. Most died there
Some were thirsty; hunger killed others.
We then headed to the Magnesian region
And to the land of the Macedonians, and the Axian ford
Having passed through the swamps of pain, we went to Edonida,
We went out to Mount Pangea. God is not on time
Sent frost that night, and was frozen in ice
Stream sacred Strymon. And those who did not honor
The gods are here with earnest prayer until now
They began to cry out to the earth and sky in fear.
500 We prayed for a long time. And when it finished
The army prayed and crossed the river on the ice.
Who crossed before God scattered
The rays of the day, one of us was saved there.
After all, soon the sun will have a radiant flame
The scorching heat melted the fragile bridge.
People were falling on top of each other. Happy
Those who, without suffering for a long time, gave up the ghost.
And the rest, everyone who survived then,
We passed with great difficulty through Thrace
510 And they return to their native hearths
The action begins in the square in front of the palace in Susa, from where the tomb of Darius is visible, in chorus. The chorus tells that the Persian army went to Hellas, they were followed by the great kings Amister, Artaphrene, Megabat, Astasp, in a word, all of Asia took up arms and moved to Greece. It is sung about the strength, invincibility, fearlessness of the army and the fear that the army will be destroyed. In the first episode, Atossa, the mother of Xerxes, appears and asks the chorus to tell her what the dreams she has had mean. She dreamed of two elegant women: one in
Persian dress, and the other in Dorian dress. both sisters. One supposedly lives in Hellas, the other in a barbarian country. One day they quarreled and Xerxes, deciding to calm them down, harnessed them to a chariot and put a yoke around the necks of both women. Here Xerxes fell, and Darius, his father, stood nearby, grieving. Seeing his father, Xerxes tears his clothes. The chorus explains this dream in this way: if you dreamed of an evil sign, then pray to the gods, they advise Atossa, so that they grant themselves, their son, the state and their friends good things; to ask Darius to send good things to his son and her, and “to hide the bad things in the black darkness of the depths of the valley.” Then, having consoled himself a little, Atossa asks about the distant land of Hellas. The Messenger enters the stage. He talks about trouble, about the defeat of the Persians, about the death of the great and strong kings Artembar, Lileus, Arsam, Argest, Arcteus, Areus, etc. The Greeks had 300 ships, compared to 1000 for Xerxes. some Greek comes to Xerxes and says that as soon as night falls, the Greeks will go far away on ships, saving their lives. Xerxes believed the Greek’s treachery and ordered the army to surround Ayants Island. The corral stood all night and only when the sun was shining. Xerxes heard the noise and screams of the Greeks. The Greeks surrounded them and the Persians were defeated. Xerxes had to flee from the island of Salamis, seeing how the Greek invaded this island, until he completely destroyed everyone. Yes, on the way to their homeland they lost people, some died from thirst, some from hunger. who is from the frost. Only a considerable part of the army remained with Xerxes. This is what the Messenger says. Having listened to him, Atossa, stunned and saddened by his news, leaves along with the servants, and the Messenger leaves with her.
In the second episode, Atossa, accompanied by her maidens, carries sacrificial gifts and asks the choir to summon the shadow of Darius. Darius' shadow appears. He is frightened by the fear of his wife standing at the grave, and by the grief and sadness of those present. Therefore, he asks: “What new sadness oppresses the Persians?” Atossa talks about what happened. The chorus asks Darius how best to get the Persian people out of such trouble. Darius advises not to go to war against the Greeks anymore, since “the land itself is at one with them in battle.” Then, ordering his wife to bring out clothes for his son, who is about to appear all in rags, Darius’ shadow disappears.
Xerxes appears in the exodus with a small number of warriors. He is wearing torn clothes that he tore himself. The chorus takes pity on him and asks where the rest of the soldiers are, where he left them. He left them on enemy soil and saved only the quiver. Mournful procession home.
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It was first staged on stage in 472 BC and was part of a tetralogy that has not reached us and about which only vague guesses are possible.
Aeschylus depicts in this drama the state of Persia immediately after the defeat Xerxes at Salamis. In the Persian capital of Susa, a choir of elders is agitated by gloomy forebodings due to the long absence of Xerxes, who went to war with Greece. This depressed state is aggravated by the arrival of Xerxes’ mother, Atossa, who tells the chorus about a bad dream she had seen and is also worried by terrible forebodings. And indeed, a herald immediately appears with a detailed story about the death of the Persian fleet at Salamis and about the terrible losses suffered by the Persian army, which causes groans and tears from the chorus and Atossa.
The Battle of Salamis is the basis of the plot of Aeschylus's The Persians. Painting by W. von Kaulbach, 1868
The shadow of Xerxes' father, Darius, appearing from the afterlife, blames his son for everything and predicts a new misfortune for Persia. Then Xerxes himself finally appears, testifying with his appearance to the defeat of the Persians, and together with the choir he pours out his grief in a grandiose lament.
The historical basis of the tragedy is the famous Greco-Persian wars, in which Aeschylus himself was a participant. With the exception of isolated and minor inaccuracies, the Persians give a correct picture of the condition of both contending parties and are largely the primary source for the history of this period of Greece. But Aeschylus did not want to be a dispassionate contemplator of these great events; they had previously been deeply experienced by himself, as well as by the Greek people.
First of all, here we have ardent patriotism. This patriotism is justified by Aeschylus by a special philosophy of history, according to which fate and God itself destined the Persians to rule in Asia, and the Greeks to rule in Europe. The Persians had no right to cross the borders of Asia; and if they overstepped, it was their tragic insolence (hybris), dark and criminal, and the Greeks defended their independence thanks to their wise “reason” (sophrosyne), bright and noble.
The contrast between Greece and Persia is further aggravated in Aeschylus by the contrast between a free people freely charting their destiny and an eastern people lying prostrate before a despot and slavishly carrying out the will of the latter and all his criminal plans. Aeschylus does not limit himself in “Persians” to general patriotic and popular ideas. In the struggle of the democrat and supporter of maritime expansion, Themistocles, with the leader of the land war-preferring agrarians, Aristides, Aeschylus undoubtedly supported the latter. This explains, for example, the fact that in “Persians” the ground operation on Psittaleia led by Aristides was highlighted.
Finally, this whole philosophical-historical, political and patriotic concept of Aeschylus is complemented by a religious-moral concept, according to which Xerxes, among other things, also turns out to be a destroyer of Greek temples, mocking the Greek gods and heroes, not recognizing anything sacred.
The genre of "Persians" is not much different from another drama by Aeschylus - "Petitioners" ("Entreaties"). This is also a tragedy of the oratorical type, where it is not the events themselves that are given (they take place behind the scenes), but only the thoughts and experiences associated with these events, either in the memory of them, or in their anticipation and anticipation.
The characters in Aeschylus's Persians continue to be motionless and monolithic. Atossa, the mother of Xerxes, only awaits the catastrophe, and then gives herself over to experiencing it. The messenger acts only as a moralist in relation to Xerxes, and Xerxes himself only sobs over his defeat. Thus, the drama of the characters is not represented here in any way.
In terms of development, The Persians is much simpler than The Petitioners. The action here is developed by Aeschylus in a completely straightforward manner. The scheme of this development is extremely simple, and it boils down only to a gradual deepening of the situation that was already given from the very beginning.
From the very beginning, Aeschylus introduces into The Persians a premonition of disaster, expressed by a chorus of elders from the people. This premonition deepens with the appearance of Atossa, who talks about her bad dream. The foreboding then turns to shock at the arrival of the messenger and his tales of Salamis. The shock is deepened by the devastating moral assessment of Xerxes' policies by his father Darius. And finally, the shock, deeply justified by the real catastrophe and deepened by the moral authority of Darius, turns with the arrival of Xerxes into continuous sobbing, into endless wild screams.
The completed idea of the “Persians,” which contains a grandiose philosophical and historical concept of East and West, is given in Aeschylus’ tragedy in an unusually original way: not by directly describing the Greek victory, but by depicting the suffering and horror of the Persians over their defeat.
This phrenetic style of “The Persians” also sharpens their main idea in the sense that Aeschylus here not only glorifies the victory of the Greeks over the Persians, who have already been sufficiently punished for their aggressiveness, but also preaches the need to stop further persecution of the Persians. This was more consistent with the policy of Aristides than of Themistocles.
Here I am patching up gaps in the field of ancient literature. This time I read a tragedy "Persians" by Aeschylus translated by Apt. The play by the great Greek tragedian was staged in 472 and, as far as I know, is the only one that have come down to us an example of an ancient tragedy based on a historical plot(the rest of the Greek tragedies are written on mythological subjects). Another noteworthy tragedy is that first in the history of world drama it is used reception of the appearance of the shadow of the deceased(hello to Hamlet's father!).
Plot. In the capital of Persia, Susa, they learn that their king Xerxes(hello to the “Three Hundred Spartans”!) suffered a crushing defeat from the Greeks. Therefore, Xerxes’ mother and the Persians grieve fiercely. Then the surviving Xerxes comes running and they grieve fiercely together. The final: the Persians are hysterical for two and a half pages. They do this under the leadership of Xerxes, who constantly makes remarks that they do not scream hard enough, are executed and tear out their hair... This is not a joke! =)
Main pathos. The Greeks are brave, strong and well done, not like these disgraceful Persians. Xerxes did not respect the gods, for which he paid. Xerxes destroyed religious buildings in Greece and, most disgustingly, built pontoon bridge over the Hellespont, that is, he connected the sea with a bridge like a slave. Scoundrel! Could the gods tolerate this?! It’s clear that it’s not.
By the way, about the bridge. This is the same bridge over the abysses that According to the legend first the storm swept away and for which Xerxes ordered the sea to be carved out. But this historical anecdote is not mentioned in the play, that is, according to the tragedy, the sea gods punish Xerxes for the very arrogant idea of the bridge and the accomplished fact of its construction, and not for the legendary flogging! =)
The plot is indeed historical, but elements of mythology are also woven. The play contains references to all sorts of deities, description prophetic dream about two women and the Omen with birds of prey at the altar. There's a scene sacrifices to the spirit of the deceased and the already briefly mentioned phenomenon shadows of the deceased king Darius. There is a humorous moment here. When the royal corpse appeared, his wife Atossa began to cry out of fear like a woman, and he immediately hinted to her: stop chattering, they were released for a short time, tell me briefly!
Quotes I liked:
“But the one who himself strives for the pit will be pushed by God.”
“Their very land is at one with them in battle.”
“Even among sorrows / Give your soul daily joy, / After all, after death there is no happiness in wealth.”
“Wine ears are the fruits of arrogance, / Blooming magnificently. Such a bitter harvest.”
"Here is a bitter gift to the bitter ones!" (I wonder if the Russian translation conveys the format of the phrase in the original?)
