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Aeschylus - The Vision Of Cassandra
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CASSANDRA

     Phoebus Apollo!

          CHORUS

     Hark!
     The lips at last unlocking.

          CASSANDRA

     Phoebus! Phoebus!

          CHORUS

     Well, what of Phoebus, maiden? though a name
     `Tis but disparagement to call upon
     In misery.

          CASSANDRA

     Apollo! Apollo! Again!
     Oh, the burning arrow through the brain!
     Phoebus Apollo! Apollo!

          CHORUS

     Seemingly
     Possessed indeed--whether by--

          CASSANDRA

     Phoebus! Phoebus!
     Through trampled ashes, blood, and fiery rain,
     Over water seething, and behind the breathing
     War-horse in the darkness--till you rose again,
     Took the helm--took the rein--

          CHORUS

     As one that half asleep at dawn recalls
     A night of Horror!

          CASSANDRA

     Hither, whither, Phoebus? And with whom,
     Leading me, lighting me--

          CHORUS

     I can answer that--

          CASSANDRA

     Down to what slaughter-house!
     Foh! the smell of carnage through the door
     Scares me from it--drags me toward it--
       Phoebus Apollo! Apollo!

          CHORUS

     One of the dismal prophet-pack, it seems,
     That hunt the trail of blood. But here at fault--
     This is no den of slaughter, but the house
     Of Agamemnon.

          CASSANDRA

       Down upon the towers,
     Phantoms of two mangled children hover--and a famished man,
     At an empty table glaring, seizes and devours!

          CHORUS

     Thyestes and his children! Strange enough
     For any maiden from abroad to know,
     Or, knowing--

          CASSANDRA

       And look! in the chamber below
     The terrible Woman, listening, watching,
     Under a mask, preparing the blow
     In the fold of her robe--

          CHORUS

       Nay, but again at fault:
     For in the tragic story of this House--
     Unless, indeed the fatal Helen--No
     woman--

          CASSANDRA

                  No Woman--Tisiphone! Daughter
     Of Tartarus--love-grinning Woman above,
     Dragon-tailed under--honey-tongued, Harpy-clawed,
     Into the glittering meshes of slaughter
       She wheedles, entices him into the poisonous
     Fold of the serpent--

          CHORUS

                           Peace, mad woman, peace!
     Whose stony lips once open vomit out
     Such uncouth horrors.

          CASSANDRA

                           I tell you the lioness
     Slaughters the Lion asleep; and lifting
     Her blood-dripping fangs buried deep in his mane,
     Glaring about her insatiable, bellowing,
     Bounds hither--Phoebus Apollo, Apollo, Apollo!
     Whither have you led me, under night alive with fire,
     Through the trampled ashes of the city of my sire,
     From my slaughtered kinsmen, fallen throne, insulted shrine,
     Slave-like to be butchered, the daughter of a royal line!
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