§645habet sub ictu; fulget hic turbae capax §646immane. tectum-, cuius auratas trabes §647variis columnae nobiles maculis ferunt, §648post ista vulgo nota, quae populi colunt, §649in multa dives spatia discedit domus; §650arcana in imo regio secessu iacet, §651alta vetustum valle compescens nemus, §652penetrale regni, nulla qua laetos solet §653praebere ramos arbor aut ferro coli, §654sed taxus et cupressus et nigra ilice §655obscura natat silva, quam supra eminens §656despectat alte quercus et vincit nemus.
It holds the city under its control; here shines, capable of holding a crowd, a huge hall, whose gilded beams noble columns with various speckles support, behind these commonly known places, which the crowds frequent, the rich house branches out into many vast spaces; a mysterious region lies in the deepest hidden retreat, enclosing an ancient grove in a deep valley, the innermost sanctuary of the kingdom, where no tree is accustomed to offer joyful branches or to be cultivated with iron, but with yew and cypress and dark holm-oak a dark forest hovers, which, towering above, a giant oak looks down from on high and surpasses the grove.
hence the descendants of Tantalus are accustomed to consult the fates of their kingdoms, hence to seek help when their affairs are weary and doubtful.
§659affixa inhaerent dona: vocales tubae §661victaeque falsis axibus pendent rotae §660fractique currus", spolia Myrtoi maris §662et omne gentis facinus; hoc Phrygius loco §663fixus tiaras Pelopis, hic praeda hostium §664et de triumpho picta barbarico chlamys.
Fixed gifts cling there: vocal trumpets, and wheels defeated by false axles hang there, and broken chariots, spoils of the Myrtoan sea, and every crime of the race; in this place the Phrygian tiara of Pelops is fixed, here is the booty of enemies and the embroidered cloak from a barbaric triumph.
§665fons stat sub umbra tristis et nigra piger §666haeret palude: talis est dirae Stygis §667deformis unda quae facit caelo fidem.
A gloomy spring stands under the shade, and sluggish in its black swamp it lingers: such is the deformed wave of hideous water which binds the oath of heaven.
Hence in the blind night the gods of death groan, so rumor goes; the grove resounds with shaken-off chains, and the ghosts howl.
§670ululantque manes, quicquid - audire est metus §671illic videtur: errat antiquis vetus §672emissa bustis turba et insultent loco §673maiora notis monstra;
Whatever is a terror to hear is seen there: the ancient crowd released from old tombs wanders, and monsters greater than the known ones leap about the place.
Nay, the covered forest is accustomed to flash with flame, and the lofty beams burn without fire.
saepe latratu nemus §676trino remugit, saepe simulacris domus §677attonita magnis, nec dies sedat metum: §678nox propria luco est et superstitio inferum
Often the grove bellows back with threefold barking; often the house is astonished by huge phantoms, nor does the day calm the fear: night belongs specifically to the grove, and the horror of the underworld reigns in the midst of light.
§679in luce media regnat, hinc orantibus §680responsa dantur certa, cum ingenti sono §681laxantur adyto fata et inmugit specus §682vocem deo solvente.
From here, to those who pray, sure answers are given, when with a huge sound the fates are released from the sanctuary, and the cave bellows as the god releases his voice.
quo postquam furens §683intravit Atreus liberos fratris trahens, §684ornantur arae— quis queat digne eloqui?
After the raging Atreus entered here, dragging the children of his brother, the altars are adorned—who could worthily speak of it?
§685post terga iuvenum nobiles religat manus §686et maesta vitta capita purpurea ligat; §687non tura desunt, non sacer Bacchi liquor §688tangensque salsa victimam culter mola.
Behind the backs of the youths he binds their noble hands, and binds their heads with sad, purple headbands; incense is not lacking, nor the sacred liquor of Bacchus, and the knife touching the victim with salted meal.
Every order is observed, lest so great a crime should not be performed ritely.
§690bQuis manum ferro admovet?
Chorus: Who lays hand upon the steel?
§691Ipse est sacerdos, ipse funesta prece §692letale carmen ore violento canit, §693stat ipse ad aras, ipse devotos neci §694contrectat et componit et † ferro admovet; §695attendit ipse: nulla pars sacri perit
Messenger: He himself is the priest; he himself with fatal prayer sings a death-bringing song with violent mouth, he himself stands at the altars; he himself touches those doomed to death, arranges them, and brings them to the steel; he himself attends: no part of the sacred rite is lost.
§696lucus tremescit, tota succusso solo §697nutavit aula, dubia quo pondus daret §698ac fluctuanti similis; e laevo aethere §699atrum cucurrit limitem sidus trahens.
The grove trembles, and with the shaken ground the whole palace tottered, doubtful where to fling its weight, and like a fluctuating wave; from the left region of the sky a star ran, drawing a black trail.
§700libata in ignes vina mutato fluunt §701cruenta Baccho. , regium capiti decus §702bis terque lapsum est, flevit in templis ebur.
The wine poured onto the fires flows with its character changed, bloody instead of Bacchus; the royal ornament of his head fell twice and thrice, and the ivory wept in the temples.
§703movere cunctos monstra, sed solus sibi §704immotus Atreus constat atque ultro deos §705terret minantes, iamque dimissa mora §706adsistit aris, torvum et obliquum intuens.
The portents moved everyone, but Atreus alone stood unmoved, consistent with himself, and even terrifies the gods who threaten him; and now, putting aside delay, he stands by the altars, looking grimly and askance.
§707ieiuna silvis qualis in Gangeticis §708inter iuvencos tigris erravit duos, §709utriusque praedae cupida quo primum ferat §710incerta morsus (flectit hoc rictus suos, §711illo reflectit et famem dubiam tenet), §712sic dirus Atreus capita devota impiae §713speculatur irae: quem prius mactet sibi §714dubitat, secunda deinde quem caede immolet.
Just as in the Gangetic forests a hungry tigress has wandered between two young bulls, eager for both prey, uncertain where first to bring her bite (she turns her jaws this way, turns them back that way, and keeps her hunger in suspense), so dire Atreus surveys the heads devoted to his impious anger: he doubts whom first to slaughter for himself, and whom to sacrifice next with a second slaughter.
It makes no difference, but he doubts and rejoices to arrange his cruel crime.
§716bQuem tamen ferro occupat?
Chorus: Which of them, however, does he attack with the steel first?
Messenger: The first place (lest you think filial piety is lacking) is dedicated to the grandfather: Tantalus is the first victim.
§719Quo iuvenis animo, quo tulit vultu necem?
Chorus: With what mind, with what countenance did the youth bear his death?
§720Stetit sui securus et non est preces §721perire frustra passus; ast illi ferus §722in vulnere ensem abscondit et penitus premens §723iugulo manum commisit: educto stetit
Messenger: He stood firm, secure in himself, and did not allow his prayers to be lost in vain; but that ferocious man hid the sword in his wound, and pushing it deep, placed his hand on the throat.
Once the steel was drawn out, the corpse stood; and although it hesitated long, whether it should fall on this side or that, it fell upon the uncle.
§726tunc ille ad aras Plisthenem saevus trahit §727adicitque fratri; colla percussa amputat; §728cervice caesa truncus in pronum ruit, §729querulum cucurrit murmure incerto caput.
Then that savage man drags Plisthenes to the altars and adds him to his brother; he cuts off the struck neck; once the neck was severed, the trunk fell forward, and the complaining head rolled with an uncertain murmur.
§730Quid deinde gemina caede perfunctus facit?
Chorus: What does he do next, having completed the double slaughter?