Work Text:
In Greece, a long time after the destruction of Troy. The house of Agamemnon, king of Argos, in Mycenae is lavishly adorned with flowers from the outside, the path from the door to the gate is covered with purple fabric.
A thundercloud in the sky. Lightning strikes from time to time, but no rain.
The queen Clytemnestra with the king's official Aegisthus supervise slave men and women who are finishing the decoration of the house.
Clytemnestra
(to Aegisthus)
No king has ever had a welcome such as this.
Aegisthus
True, Clytemnestra.
(Meaningfully, looking her in the eyes)
Wouldn't you spare the purple?
Clytemnestra
No, no! I will spare nothing... and no one!
Aegisthus
Why did you shiver, then?
Clytemnestra
Why, you can see how this lightning blinds!
Messenger
(runs in, breathless)
The king is coming! The king!
Clytemnestra
(to the slaves)
Come, open the gate wider! Slave girls,
be ready to throw flowers under his feet!
The rumble of a chariot is heard. The slaves open the gate completely. In a minute, Agamemnon comes through the gate, leading Cassandra by the hand. The slave women throw flowers under their feet. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus meet Agamemnon in the gate.
Clytemnestra
My king! Dear husband! Oh, I can't believe
my own happiness!
(Embraces Agamemnon)
Aegisthus
Beloved brother!
(Kisses Agamemnon)
Clytemnestra
(points at Cassandra)
Who's this with you?
Agamemnon
This is a daughter of Priam,
the prophetess Cassandra.
Aegisthus
Then Helenus,
who came from Troy and now in the Delphic temple
pronounces god's will, would be her brother?
Cassandra
Ah!
Agamemnon
Yes, just so. And it is my will
that she be well-respected in our house,
as it befits a priestess and a princess.
To us, she is no captive.
Clytemnestra
As you wish,
king. I am accustomed to obeying.
Though I don't know this woman...
Cassandra
And yet I know you: you are the mother
of Iphigenia.
Clytemnestra covers her face with a veil.
Agamemnon
(to Cassandra)
Why did you now remind her?
Cassandra
And why did you forget this very thing
when giving your daughter as a sacrifice
to the enraged goddess? You forgot
who's Iphigenia’s mother, who's her father.
Remembered only one thing - that you need
a sacrifice to ruin our Troy.
Agamemnon
You still show enmity to me, I see.
Cassandra
King, you have a more powerful enemy -
what is Cassandra to you?
Agamemnon
Tell me who my enemy is.
Say what awaits me! I’m no doubtful Trojan.
Sincerely I will listen to your words
and hide them in my heart. Speak now, speak!
Your words will make a hallowed decree
for this house of mine. Whatever you advise,
I'll heed it and obey it.
Cassandra
I? To you? Should give advice?
Why, are we in Troy? Is this the house of Priam?
Agamemnon
(slightly vexed)
Surely no,
or else you would not be believed so much.
Cassandra
I should not be believed.
Agamemnon
Have I offended you, princess?
Cassandra
King, you are too late.
You should have asked it back in Ilion.
Now there is no place on earth for talks like this.
It's better we keep quiet.
Clytemnestra
A Hellene woman
would never dare address the king this way.
Aegisthus
(in a low voice)
The Trojan attitude, impertinent from birth.
Andromache, so I've heard them say,
bosses her husband around so much,
a marvel that he bears it.
Cassandra
Andromache?
She never was a Trojan. First, she was
a Trojan's wife, now a Hellene's wife, that's all.
She is no Hellene, and she is no Trojan.
(to Clytemnestra)
Alike to you. But you are no wife, either.
Clytemnestra
My king! Is it your wish for me, your spouse,
to be despised like this?
Agamemnon
(worried, sad)
If only it were nothing but disdain!
But something worse could be concealed in this...
(to Clytemnestra)
Wife, is everything well in our house?
Clytemnestra
Yes, all is well. What ill could ever happen?
Cassandra
So asks Iphigenia's mother.
Clytemnestra covers her face again.
Aegisthus
I would have silenced the captive long ago.
Cassandra
So speaks a man who's used to be king here,
one who cannot give up this kingly habit -
though for two kings, Mycenae are too small.
Agamemnon
Come to the house, princess, be my guest.
(to Clytemnestra)
Lead the way, wife.
Cassandra
(grabs his hand)
Wait! Is it time so soon
for us to tread the bloody path?
Agamemnon
(to Clytemnestra and Aegisthus)
What's this?
How do you understand this prophecy?
Aegisthus
She dares not to step on royal purple:
she knows it does not befit a slave.
Clytemnestra
She's mad, don't listen to her.
Agamemnon
(anxious, pleading)
Princess!
Explain, what have you prophesied? This house's fate
is now tied with yours.
Cassandra
(with strange calm)
I know, king…
But don't believe me, listen to the queen,
mind what your kinsman said, and give
no weight to a slave woman's words.
There was once the prophetess Cassandra -
she died in the fire of Troy, prophetic words
were turned to ash, and the wind carried them
far and wide over the sea. A single spark
fell here into the heart of a simple slave,
burned for a moment, and then faded out.
(looks at the priestess' staff in her hand)
How strange? Where did this staff come from?
Whose is it? What is this diadem for?
(Takes the diadem off her head and throws it at Clytemnestra's feet. Then breaks her staff and throws it to the ground too.)
Now there is nothing left of Cassandra.
Queen, give me work to do -
I can do anything, except for prophesying.
Agamemnon
(takes her hand and leads her into the house)
You are a princess, and will always be one.
Clytemnestra
(to Aegisthus)
We need two swords, you ready them and sharpen.
You strike at him, and I will aim at her.
A powerful strike of lightning and a sudden downpour. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus go hurriedly into the house.