Aeschylus(525 BC - 456 BC) - an ancient Greek playwright, poet of the era of the formation of the Athenian state and the Greco-Persian wars, is the founder of ancient tragedy in its established forms, the true "father of tragedy."
The material for Aeschylus are heroic tales. However, borrowing plots from the epic, Aeschylus not only dramatizes the legends, but also rethinks them, permeates them with his own problems. In the light of this problem, the direction of Aeschylus's dramatic innovations becomes clear. Aristotle, in the already cited 4th chapter of the Poetics, summarizes them as follows: "Aeschylus was the first to increase the number of actors from one to two, reduce the parts of the choir and give primacy to dialogue."
Of the Prometheus trilogy, only the second (according to Westphal, the first) tragedy has survived: Chained Prometheus. The perspicacious titan, knowing that Zeus can only find a savior in a person from the death that threatens his kingdom, wants to raise the human race and for this gives him ethereal fire, stealing him from heavenly heights; Zeus, seeing in this abduction a violation of the world agreement and not knowing the decisions of fate, chains him to the rocks of the Caucasus as punishment; Prometheus endures all the torment and does not prematurely reveal his secret, knowing that Zeus will eventually appreciate his service. This is the only divine tragedy that has been preserved for us from antiquity: in terms of the grandeur of its concept, it surpasses all other tragedies of our poet and greatly interested the thinkers and poets of new Europe. Not everything, however, is clear to us in it - mainly because its sequel, Prometheus Unbound, containing the solution of riddles, has not reached us.
In the tragedy, the central image of the hero appears, characterized by several main features, the dialogue gets more developed, prologues are created, and the images of episodic figures become clearer.
Greek tragedy. World Poetry Library. - Rostov-on-Don: Phoenix, 1997.
Translation by A.I. Piotrovsky
"Prometheus is chained in Scythia for the theft of fire. The wandering Io learns that she will come to Egypt and give birth to Epaphus from the touch of Zeus, Hermes comes and threatens Prometheus, and at the end there is thunder and Prometheus disappears. The scene is in Scythia near the Caucasus Mountains. Chorus - from the Oceanid Nymphs.
CHARACTERS
Prometheus, Titan. Hephaestus, blacksmith god.
Power and Violence, demons, servants of Zeus. Ocean, titan.
Io, daughter of Inachus, in the form of a cow. Hermes, herald of Zeus.
Horus of the Oceanids, daughters of the Ocean.
Power
Hephaestus, now the duty is yours - an order
Parental performer and criminal
Nailed to the rocky steeps, shackled
Damask, shackled fetters.
After all, he is your fire, a color that wonderfully shines,
Stole and gave to people.
Hephaestus
The reward is for humanity!
God himself, heavy gods despising anger,
You were sympathetic to people beyond measure.
Power
Hey hey, what are you waiting for? Are you complaining for no reason?
Do not hate God, all the gods of the enemy?
Power (Prometheus)
Well, spit it out! Steal the treasures of the gods
For one-day frail! Let's see now
How people scoop out the boat of your troubles.
Prometheus (chained to a rock)
... I suffer evil
For giving people treasures.
In the trunk of a dry reed, a spring of fire
I thieves hid. fire for people
Art of all became a teacher,
The great way of life. For this sin
Under the heat of the sun on chains I am crucified here.
A piercing horror passes through the soul,
Your fate is terrible to me.
What if the sea of sorrows
Do not swim forever you? Merciless, evil,
The indestructible cruel heart of the son of Kron.
EPISODIUM ONE
Elder Oceanis
Reveal to us everything and teach in more detail,
What guilt did Zeus find in you? For what
Will he execute you so bitterly and monstrously?
Tell us everything! Is the story so painful?
Prometheus
You asked why it's so shameful
It cripples me. Clear ladies, direct answer.
As soon as he sat on the throne of his parents,
To distribute among the deities began about
Lots, powers, honors: one - one,
Others are others. About human bitterness
I forgot the tribe. uproot the genus
Ludskoy conceived in order to grow a new one.
No one stood up for the unfortunate.
Only I dared! And saved mortals!
Ocean
Tell me how I can serve you
And confess: more true than the old man Ocean,
You have no friends in the universe.
Ocean
Do you want to take me home? It is so?
Prometheus
So that you do not sip grief, taking pity on me.
EPISODY TWO
Prometheus (after silence)
I am silent, I am silent! You don't need to tell.
Everyone knows. I'll tell you about the maya of people.
They were unintelligent like children.
I have put into them thought and consciousness a sharp gift.
I remembered this, people are not in submission, not in shame,
But in order to appreciate the strength of my gifts.
…invented for them
The science of numbers, the most important of the sciences.
I taught them how to add letters: here it is,
… I opened them ways
Mixtures of healing potions,
To reflect the evil rage of all diseases.
... And if you want to hug everything with a short word:
From Prometheus, people of art have everything.
EPISODIUM THREE
Prometheus
How not to hear the gadfly stung
Inaha dear daughter? Gorgeous
Zeus's heart burned with love,
And wanders, tormented, Hounded by the Hero.
My pain would be unbearable for you.
After all, I was not given to die by fate.
And death is peace, liberation from evils.
There is no end to my torment,
Until the omnipotence of Zeus collapses.
Will Zeus' power ever collapse?
Prometheus
Then you would rejoice, perhaps?
Prometheus
Then find out and enjoy! Zeus will die!
By himself, contemplating the reckless.
He will marry and repent heavily.
And what: will his wife take the throne from him?
Prometheus
Yes, she will give birth to a son in the world, a stronger father.
And Zeus cannot avert his fate?
Prometheus
Not if I don't throw off the shackle chain.
Who, against the will of Zeus, will unchain you?
Prometheus
My Savior from your generation will come.
Prometheus
Now I'll finish the story for her, for you,
Returning to the trail of my old speeches
There is a city on the edge of the land of Egypt
Kanob, in the sediments of the Nile, in the mouths of the muddy.
There, a clear mind again Zeus will return to you
And, touching with a gentle hand, he will give a son.
Epaphus, the child of touch, is so called
It will be, in memory of Zeus's conception.
Prometheus
Let Zeus be haughty now and proud of happiness, -
Reconcile soon! He wants to celebrate the wedding ...
How to avoid death, none of the gods
Zeus can't tell. Only I am alone.
... He will give birth to an opponent on the mountain,
The most invincible fighter, wonderful!
Hermes
Father orders everything he talked about the wedding here,
To his dominion threatening, - to tell,
No omissions, no riddles, clean!
Prometheus
Can't bend me! I won't tell him.
Whose hands will wrest dominion from him!
Hermes
I spoke pretty. I'm wasting my words.
Such a heart cannot be touched by requests.
... And many long, long, long years will pass,
Until you come out into the world. Become Zeusova
Winged dog, covered in blood, eagle
Flap a huge pecking body of yours.
An uninvited guest, an everyday guest.
And tear the liver, gnawed, black!
Elder Oceanis
In our opinion, reasonable, timely
Hermes speech. Obstinacy he commands you
Leave, tread the path carefully.
To persist in error is a shame for the wise.
Prometheus
O holy, mighty mother of mine,
O Ether, pouring light over the earth!
Look, I suffer innocently!
Sophocles "Oedipus Rex"
Sophocles(495 BC - 405 BC) - the second great tragic poet of Athens in the 5th century, together with Aeschylus and Euripides, forms a triad of the most famous ancient tragedians.
The middle place that Sophocles occupied in the three-star Attic tragedians is marked by an old story that compares the three poets by correlating their biography with the Battle of Salamis (480): the forty-five-year-old Aeschylus took a personal part in the decisive battle with the Persians, which established the sea power of Athens, Sophocles celebrated this victory in the boys' choir, and Euripides was born that year.
The tragedies of Sophocles are characterized by dialogues rare in skill, dynamic action, naturalness in untying complex dramatic knots.
Depicting the greatness of man, the richness of his mental and moral powers, Sophocles at the same time draws his impotence, the limitations of human capabilities. This problem is most vividly developed in the tragedy Oedipus Rex, which has always been recognized, along with Antigone, as a masterpiece of Sophocles' dramatic skill. The myth of Oedipus at one time already served as material for the Theban trilogy of Aeschylus, built on the "ancestral curse". Sophocles, as usual, abandoned the idea of hereditary guilt; his interest is centered on the personal fate of Oedipus.
In Sophocles, the measures that Oedipus takes in order to avoid the fate predicted for him, in reality, lead only to the realization of this fate. This contradiction between the subjective design of human words and actions and their objective meaning permeates the entire tragedy of Sophocles. Its immediate theme is not the hero's crimes, but his subsequent self-disclosure. The artistic action of the tragedy is largely based on the fact that the truth, which is only gradually revealed to Oedipus himself, is already known in advance to the Greek viewer, who is familiar with the myth.
The play of Sophocles played a huge role in the history of ancient drama. Her hero was a man who realized his guilt and executed himself for it. The tragic ending in Sophocles' play is not connected with the passions and vices of the protagonist himself, but is predetermined from above by fate.
Translation by S.V. Shervinsky
Actors Oedipus, Theban king Corinthian messenger Jocasta, wife of Oedipus Shepherd Laya Creon, brother of Jocasta Household of Oedipus Tiresias, blind soothsayer Chorus of the Theban elders Without words: Antigone and Ismene, daughters of Oedipus Priest of Zeus
Priest
Ruler of our land, Oedipus!
Deadly pestilence - comprehended and torments the city.
By coming to Thebes, you delivered us
From a tribute to that ruthless prophetess.
O best of men, Oedipus,
We are now resorting to you with a prayer: Find us a defense by heeding the Divine verb or by asking people.
Oedipus
On reflection, I found only one remedy
So I did: the son of Menekey, Creon, the brother of the wife, I sent to Phoebus, from the oracle to find out What kind of prayer and service to save the city.
Creon
Apollo commands us clearly:
"The filth that has grown in the Theban land,
Banish her, lest she become incurable."
Oedipus
What kind of cleansing? How can I help you?
Creon"By exile or shedding blood for blood, -
Then, that the hail is burdened with murder."
Oedipus
But whose fate does God understand?
Creon
O king, once owned our land
Lai - before you began to rule in Thebes.
Oedipus
I heard it, but I didn't see it myself.
Creon
He was killed and God commands
Whoever they are, take revenge on the killers.
EPISODIUM ONE
Oedipus
Who knows the man by whose hand
Lai was once put to death, to
I command you to tell me everything...
I curse the secret assassin...
So, start looking!
Tiresias the Elder is just as perspicacious,
Like the sovereign Apollo, - from him
Most clearly, O king, you will know the truth.
Tiresias
I will not torture myself, nor you.
Why reproach? I won't say a word.
Oedipus
The wicked of the wretched! You and the stone
Angry! Will you speak or not?
Or will you persist again heartlessly?
Tiresias
I won't add a sound. You are free
Blaze now at least with the most ardent anger.
Oedipus
I get angry - and I will speak openly,
What do I think. Find out: I guess
That you are involved in the case, you are a participant,
Although I didn’t put my hands on it, but if you were sighted, I would say that you are the killer.
Tiresias
Here's how? And I command you
To execute your sentence - on yourself,
And don't touch me or them, because
Godless defiler of the country - you!
Oedipus
Do you expect punishment for this speech?
Tiresias
No, if there is even a grain of truth in the world.
Oedipus
Yes, in the world, not in you, you are a stranger to the truth:
Your hearing, eyesight, and mind have faded away.
Tiresias
Unfortunate, how do you reproach me,
By that, everyone will soon reproach you.
Oedipus
Is that the intention of Creon or yours?
Tiresias
No, not Creon, but you are your own enemy.
Oedipus
And you want to kick me out
To get closer to Creon's throne?
You will both repent - you and he,
Zealot of purification! .. I would vomit
You have recognition, don't be old!
Tiresias
You reproach my blindness, but you yourself
Though you are vigilant, you do not see your troubles -
Where do you live and who do you live with?
Do you know your kind? I don't know you
That here and under the earth you are an enemy to your relatives
And what is doubly - for mother and for father -
You will be punished with bitter exile
Now you see the light - but you will see the darkness.
You do not feel many other disasters either:
That you are both a son, and a husband, and a brother to children! ..
This day will give birth and death to you.
EPISODY TWO
Creon
To make sure, you ask yourself in Delphi,
Did I correctly convey the verb to you?
Gods? Kohl make sure that you entered
I am in a conspiracy with a fortuneteller - executions: And I will sentence myself to death.
Oedipus
No: you could not inspire confidence in me.
Creon
Sister, Oedipus threatens me with terrible punishment:
I am sentenced to one of two -
To exile or shameful execution.
Oedipus
It's all right, wife: I caught him, - He plotted to ruin me insidiously.
Jocasta
For immortals believe him, Oedipus,
Pious for the sake of the oath, for the sake of
Me and all who stand before you.
Jocasta
Open, if you can, what is the reason for the quarrel?
Oedipus
He says that I killed the king.
Jocasta
Did he think of it himself or learned?
Oedipus
He sent a wicked prophet And claims to be innocent himself.
Jocasta
Oh, stop thinking about it, king! Listen to me: no one among people has mastered the art of divination. I’ll give you a brief argument: God’s voice came to Lai, I don’t know myself, Whether it’s from Phoebus, but through his priests, That fate will happen - and Lai will die From our son with him, and meanwhile, According to rumor, from unknown robbers, He fell at the crossroads of three roads. From birth on the third day, the Father tied the ankles and ordered to throw them on an inaccessible rock. not from his son, but he was afraid all his life! Meanwhile, the prophecies spoke about that. Oedipus Oh Zeus! What did you judge to do with me? I'm afraid the blind seer was sighted!
Jocasta
Let him come here - but he has the right
I will also know what makes you sad, king.
Oedipus
So, find out: my father was Polybus, a native of Corinth, And my mother was Merope, a native of the Dorians. And I was the first in Corinth, but an incident occurred worthy of surprise, But not worthy of my anger: He called me names. And, offended, I could hardly restrain myself That day and only in the morning I told my parents. And both were inflamed At the impudence of the one who offended me. Their anger made me happy, - but still Doubts gnawed: rumors spread. And, without telling my mother and father, I went to Delphi. But Apollo didn’t honor me with an answer, only predicted a lot of troubles, and horror, and grief: What is destined for me to get along with my mother, Give birth to children that will be disgusting to people, And become a murderer of my father. - and I fled Where I would not have to see How my shameful fate will be accomplished. I set off - and now I came to the place Where, according to you, the king was killed. meeting of three roads, The herald and the old man, as you said, In a cart drawn by horses, I met. The driver and the old man I was driven off the road by force. Then the driver that pushed me, I hit in the hearts. Meanwhile, the old man, As soon as I caught up with the wagon, He struck me in the crown with a goad. I repaid them with interest. At that very moment, the old man, struck by my club, Fell, falling to the ground, from the cart. in the world for the gods? "Whom should neither one's own nor a stranger Greet and receive as a guest, But drive out of the house." And it's me Who cursed myself! I desecrate the dead man's bed With bloody hands. Am I not a monster? Am I not an atheist? I could run away ... But I can’t return to my parents, To my native land: I will have to enter there Marry my mother and kill my father, Polyba, by whom I was born and raised. But in the fact that strength is higher than man, Sends me everything, - there is no doubt! No, formidable and righteous gods, May I not see that day, but perish from the face of the earth without a trace! If only such a stain does not defile yourself! One thing remains for me to hope - Wait for the shepherd to come here.
Jocasta
What will his coming bring you?
Oedipus
Robbers ... So if he confirms that there were many of them, it was not I who killed. After all, one cannot be equal to many. And if he says that one, then the crime clearly falls on me ...
EPISODIUM THREE
Herald
The Corinthians want to make Oedipus Ruler. That is their verdict.
Jocasta
Maid, quickly run to the house, Call the king ... Where are you, the gods of broadcasting? King Oedipus was afraid to kill him - And he fled away; Polybus himself died, As fate ordered, not by his hand.
Oedipus
I will never return to my father's house.
Herald
Are you running from your parents? Are you afraid of filth?
To tell the truth, your fear is in vain.
Oedipus
But what if I was born of them?
Herald
Then, that Polybus is not related to you.
From my hands he accepted you as a gift.
Because he himself was childless.
I was your savior, my son.
I untied my pierced legs.
Another shepherd handed you over to me.
He, I remember, called himself Lay's servant.
Oedipus
Wife, the shepherd mentioned by the messenger - Isn't it the one we sent for?
Jocasta
Isn't it all the same? Oh, that's enough, don't worry And don't listen to empty words... forget...
Oedipus
Don't convince me. I know everything.
Jocasta
Unhappy! Oh don't know who you are!
EPISODIUM FOUR
Oedipus
Did you give him the baby?
Shepherd
He passed on ... I would die that day! ..
Oedipus
And from what house? From whom?
Shepherd
Don't ask any more, for God's sake!
Oedipus
You will die if I repeat the question!
Shepherd
He was revered as a child of Lai ...
But your wife will explain better.
Oedipus
So she gave you the baby?
Shepherd
She ordered to kill. Evil was afraid of predictions. There was a voice that he would kill his father.
Oedipus
Alas for me! Clearly, everything is heading towards a denouement. O light! I see you for the last time! I was born in a curse, cursed in marriage, And I criminally shed blood!
There are no worse troubles already known ... But what else happened, say!
household
Alas, it will not take long to say and listen: The divine Jocasta is no more.
Unfortunate! But what is the reason for this?
household As soon as she entered the house, seized with a frenzy, She rushed to the wedding bed, And tore her hair with both hands. And, slamming the door, she began to call Lai, who had long since died; She mentioned the first-born by whom Her husband was killed; and how her son got a mother for terrible births. I stopped. I looked at the king - how he rushed about. He demanded a sword, was looking for a wife, Who he could not call a wife, - No, his mother and the mother of his children! Suddenly, with a wild cry, as if after someone, He rushed to the double doors And , breaking the bolts, invaded the bedroom. And we see: the queen hanged herself - Swinging in a twisted noose. He, seeing her suddenly, howled with grief, He untwisted the rope - and the ill-fated fell. Then - terrible to say! Having torn off the golden shoulder clasp from her regal clothes, He began to stick a needle into the eye sockets, shouting that the eyes should not ripen ... Truly, their former happiness Was an enviable happiness. And now Moaning, death, death, disgrace - all the troubles, What are, gathered in their house.What's wrong with him now? Did you come to your senses unhappy?
household
He shouts for the door to be opened and for the Cadmeians to be shown the Father-killer, Whom the mother ... but I will not defile my lips ... That he will expel himself, so that he, the damned one, will not bring curses on his house.
Whether I should praise your deed - I don’t know. But it’s better not to be born than to go blind ...
Oedipus
Don't tell me what I chose Not the best way out. Throw advice. Having descended into Hades, with what eyes would I begin to look the parent in the face Or the unfortunate mother? I am so guilty in front of them that even the loop is not enough for me! Or maybe it would be sweet for me to see
My children, alas, born of her?
With a spot like this how could I now
Look calmly at fellow citizens?
Creon
I did not come to mock, Oedipus, Not to reproach the past for insult. But if there is no shame in front of people, Even though the Sun, which gives life to everyone, We need to honor ... Is it possible to show Such a shame? heavenly light. Rather, take Oedipus to the house, - Then, that the grief of close relatives Only relatives should listen and see.
Oedipus
Allow me to leave for my Kiferon, which my mother and father have appointed me - alive - a legal grave. About my older children, my sons, You do not worry: they have grown up, They will not lack anything. But about my unfortunate, poor daughters, who will never the device for dinner was not placed separately from my father, with whom I shared a piece, take care of them ... And now let me touch them, cry out all the grief. To you, oh children, if you were mature in mind, I would give a lot of advice ... I wish you to live as fate allows ... but so that fate
You got happier than your father.
Sophocles "Antigone"
A typical example of Sophocles' dramaturgy is his tragedy Antigone (circa 442). The plot of "Antigone" refers to the Theban cycle and is a direct continuation of the legend about the war of the "Seven against Thebes" and about the fight between Eteocles and Polyneices. In Antigone, the action of the tragedy begins from the moment when the royal prohibition to bury Polynices was announced to the Thebans through a herald, and Antigone irrevocably decided to violate this prohibition. In tragedy, the viewer follows the development of the motives outlined at the very beginning of the drama, and the external denouement of this or that drama could be easily predicted by the viewer. The author does not introduce any surprises, intricate complications into the tragedy. But at the same time, S. does not give us abstract incarnations of one or another passion or inclination; his heroes are living people with weaknesses inherent in human nature, with feelings familiar to everyone, hence the inevitable hesitation, mistakes, crimes, etc. Other persons participating in the action are each endowed with individual features.
Sophocles confronts heroes with different life principles (Creon and Antigone), opposes each other people with the same views, but with different characters - to emphasize the strength of the character of one when it collides with another, weak character (Antigone and Ismene).
The chorus does not play any significant part in Antigone; his songs, however, do not break away from the course of the action and more or less adjoin the situations of the drama.
Translation by S. Shervinsky and N. Poznyakov
CHARACTERS
Antigone, Ismene - daughters of Oedipus Creon, Theban king
Eurydice, wife of Creon Haemon, their son
Tiresias, the blind soothsayer Chorus of the Theban elders
Guardian Herald 1st, Herald 2nd
Without speeches: Boy, guide Tiresias
The action takes place in front of the royal palace in Thebes.
Ismena
Oh poor sister! But what should I do?
Can I help or hinder?
Antigone
Will you raise the dead with me?
Ismena
Bury? But it's forbidden...
Antigone
And for myself and for you for my brother
I will do everything, I will remain faithful to him
Ismena
Alas, sister, think: our father
Perished, rejected, despised by all,
Exposing your crimes
And tearing out his eyes himself, with his own hand.
And mother-wife - two names of one! -
She ended her life in disgrace.
And both of our unfortunate brothers,
Brotherly shedding blood with his hand,
They killed each other at the same time.
Now - think - how, left alone
We will die calamitously, and you and I,
Breaking the law and the king's command?
Antigone
Whatever you want to do, I'll bury him.
It is sweet for me to die, fulfilling my duty.
Ismena
I will not go against the will of the citizens.
EPISODIUM ONE
Creon
About those two brothers, about the sons of Oedipus:
I am Eteocles, in the battle for the city
Fell, overcoming everything with his spear,
He ordered to betray the earth and commit
Above him is a rite worthy of the noble.
About Eteocles' brother, Polynices,
Which is its own land and the gods of the homeland,
Returning from exile, I wanted to burn
To ashes and brotherly drink blood
And take all the citizens as slaves, -
About him we proclaim to all: his
Do not bury, and do not weep over him ...
Guardian
Now I will say: recently the body of someone
Buried and then he left,
Dry sprinkled with dust according to the rite.
Creon
What you said? Of the citizens who dared?
Guardian
I don't know: no ax marks,
… everything was done cleanly.
The corpse is not visible, although it is not buried: from filth
It is covered only with a thin layer of dust.
EPISODY TWO
Guardian
That was the case. Scary threats
Having heard yours, we returned there,
Ashes were brushed off the deceased, - the body,
Half rotten, opened
Everything is quiet, we see: the girl is coming ...
Just saw the naked body
Howled suddenly and began to curse loudly
The culprits. And now, dry sand
Bringing in handfuls, lifting high
Your copper, tightly bound vessel,
Honors the dead with three libations.
We rushed and grabbed the girl.
She didn't freak out. We convict
Her in past and new crimes, -
Worth not denying anything.
Creon
And you answer me, but not at length,
Without further ado, did you know my order?
Antigone
Yes... How not to know? He was announced everywhere.
Creon
And yet you dared to transgress him?
Antigone
Not Zeus announced it to me, not True,
Living with the underground gods
And prescribes laws to people.
Creon
She already showed obstinacy
That brazenly broke the law.
The second audacity - having accomplished the first,
Laugh in my face and brag about her.
Ismena
Are you going to execute your son's bride?
Creon
I do not want an evil wife for my son.
Antigone
Oh, dear Haemon, how humiliated you are!
Creon
I am ashamed of you and this marriage.
Will you take it from your son?
Creon
Hades will put an end to their marriage.
EPISODIUM THREE
Creon
My son, our sentence for your bride
Didn't he provoke your father's anger in you?
Haemon
Father, I am yours. Your good thoughts
They lead me, I follow them.
Any marriage is more desirable to me than you,
Guiding me so beautifully.
Creon
We should uphold the laws
And a woman should not give in.
Haemon
But I listen everywhere - and I hear
How the whole city pities this maiden,
All less worthy to die
For your feat with a shameful death ...
So give in and temper your anger.
Creon
So really to face me, the old man,
Have a young mind to learn?
Haemon
Only justice. Let me be young
You need to look at the case, not at the age.
Creon
O rascal! Are you following your father?
Haemon
I see you're violating justice.
Creon
Let it go! He's painfully proud!
And these virgins will not be saved from death.
Are you thinking of executing both?
Creon
Oh no - you're right - not the one that is innocent.
What kind of death do you execute another?
Creon
I'll send it to where people can't go,
I'll hide the living in a stone cave,
Leaving a little food, as much as necessary,
So as not to desecrate the hail.
EPISODIUM FOUR
Antigone
O criminal mother's bed,
Shared with my own son!
Oh, their unfortunate marriage, from which
I was born, ill-fated!
And to the parents now, cursed,
I'm in the underground abode
I'm leaving forever.
Creon
So take her away and hide her
In a vaulted cave, as I ordered,
And leave one there: let him die
Or in that cave he will play a wedding.
We are clean before the maiden, but she
Doomed not to live in this world.
Antigone
Although in the eyes of a reasonable act
Mine is righteous. When I would be a mother
Or the wife saw decayed
The ashes of my husband, I am against the citizens
Wouldn't go. Why do I argue like this?
I would find myself another husband
He would bring me a new child;
But if mother and father hid in Hades,
Brother will never be born.
... I'm leaving alive for the abode of the dead.
Look at me, rulers of Thebes,
On the last in the kind of Theban kings,
How I endure, from whom I endure - just because
That honored the gods with reverence! ..
EPISODIUM FIVE
Tiresias
Oh, sovereigns of Thebes! Two of us came
Only one who sees - for we, the blind,
The guide points the way.
Creon
What do you say new, Tiresias the Elder?
Tiresias
I will say; but you listen to the broadcaster.
You are once again standing on the edge of fate.
Creon
What's the matter? Your news disturbs me.
Tiresias
You will understand, having learned the advice of my science.
Your sentence has brought sickness to the hail;
Desecrated all the altars in the country
And in the city itself by birds and dogs,
That the corpse of Oedipus was tormented by his son.
No, respect death, don't touch the dead.
Or valiantly finish off the dead?
For your benefit I say: useful
Learn from a good advisor.
Creon
Well? Will you announce the walking truth?
Tiresias
How much the mind is higher than all riches...
Creon
So madness is our great enemy!
Tiresias
And you are already touched by this disease.
Creon
I will not boldly answer the fortuneteller!
Tiresias
Daring, considering the prophecy a lie!
Creon
The prophets have always loved money.
Tiresias
Tyrants are all selfish, as you know.
Creon
You seem to have forgotten that I am the ruler?
Tiresias
You force a terrible secret to be revealed!
Creon
Know that you won't change my decisions.
Tiresias
Then learn and remember that a little
The horses of the Sun will ride,
How are you a child born to you
From your loins, you will give - for the corpses of the corpse;
For this, the goddesses of vengeance are waiting for you,
Erinyes Hades and the gods,
So that you suffer the same troubles.
You will see for yourself: it will be heard soon, soon 1090
The cry of women and men in your house.
Cities raise anger at you,
For whose sons the rites were performed
Dogs, animals, birds; their unclean food
All altars in the city are defiled.
You need advice, son of Menekey.
Creon
What should be done? I will take advice.
Go, lead the bride out of the cave
And bury the desecrated ashes.
Creon
Alas, it's hard for me, but my decision
I'll cancel: you can't fight fate.
I understood: to honor until death should
From the century the established law.
Herald 1st
Gemon fell, and not by the hand of a stranger.
Was he killed by his father's hand or by his own?
Herald 1st
His own, in anger at the father for the maiden.
Eurydice
I want to hear about the misfortune to know.
Herald 1st
We looked - and in the crypt, in the depths,
They saw a girl hanged
On a tightly twisted canvas;
And next to him, hugging her corpse,
Shed tears about the death of the bride,
Father's deeds and unhappy love.
Father, seeing him, with a wild groan
Runs down and calls like that, yelling:
"Unfortunate, what have you done? What have you planned?
But then the young man, looking wildly,
Didn't say a word, drew his sword
Two-edged. In horror, the father recoiled -
And he missed. Then, in anger
On himself, with his whole body he is on the sword
Leaned - and planted in the side up to half,
And the corpse lies on the corpse, the secrets of marriage
Having learned not here - in the House of Hades, -
Showing people what's crazy
For a mortal there is the worst of evils.
Creon
My lesson is hard. A god, alas
Burdened me with a great deal of grief,
He sent me cruel disasters,
Alas, having destroyed all my joy!
Oh, the evil torment of evil human suffering!
Herald 2nd
O lord, from troubles to new troubles
You go and you will see them soon:
Some came, others are waiting in the house.
Creon
What worse trouble could there be?
Herald 2nd
Loving the deceased, your wife
The unfortunate woman died from fresh wounds.
Creon
But how did she take her own life?
Herald 1st
She pierced her own heart
I learned about my son's sad fate.
Wisdom is the highest good for us,
And to anger the deity is not allowed.
proud speech
Revenges them with a formidable blow,
smitten themselves,
And in their old age teaches their wisdom.
Euripides "Medea"
Euripides(also Euripides, 480-406 BC) - an ancient Greek playwright, a representative of the new Attic tragedy, in which psychology prevails over the idea of \u200b\u200bdivine fate.
"Medea" (431) is one of the most powerful tragedies of Euripides. Medea is a mythological figure from the cycle of legends about the Argonauts who went to Colchis for the Golden Fleece: she is the daughter of the Colchis king Eeta, the granddaughter of Helios, a sorceress capable of the most terrible crimes. Already in 455 Euripides made this "barbarian" with her unbridled passions the heroine of his first (not preserved) drama "Peliades"; in 431 he returned to the image of Medea and gave the tragedy to a passionately loving but deceived woman.
Translation by A. I. Piotrovsky
"Prometheus is chained in Scythia for stealing fire. Wandering
Io learns that she will come to Egypt and from the touch of Zeus
will give birth to Epaphus, Hermes comes and threatens Prometheus, and at the end
there is thunder and Prometheus disappears. Location - in Scythia
Caucasian mountain. Horus - from the Nymphs-Oceanids".
CHARACTERS
Prometheus, Titan.
Hephaestus, blacksmith god.
Power and Violence, demons, servants of Zeus.
Ocean, titan.
Io, daughter of Inachus, in the form of a cow.
Hermes, herald of Zeus.
Horus of the Oceanids, daughters of the Ocean.
Mountain wilderness. Blacksmith God Hephaestus, Power and Violence -
the demons of Zeus - introduce the chained Prometheus.
PROLOGUE
Power
Here we come to the distant borders of the earth,
In the space of the Scythians, in the wild empty jungle.
Hephaestus, now the duty is yours - an order
Parental performer and criminal
Nailed to the rocky steeps, shackled
Damask, shackled fetters.
After all, he is your fire, a color that wonderfully shines,
Stole and gave to people. For gross sin
Will suffer punishment at the hands of the gods,
To learn the tyranny of Zeus
Love, forgetting humanity.
You, Power, and you, Violence, the will of Zeus
You've made it to the end. It is done.
And I dare God, blood close,
Nailed to a rock open to hurricanes?
But you must dare. Necessity rules!
It's hard to joke with a strict father's will.
(to Prometheus)
The super-wise son of Themis right-thinking
For evil to you, for evil to yourself with glands
I will chain you to a deserted cliff,
Where you can't hear speeches and people's faces
You won't see. The sun's flame is blazing
Scabs the skin. And you will wait
So that the day is closed by the colorfully dressed night.
And again the sun will burn the early dew,
And forever the flour will gnaw and gnaw the pain,
Day after day. Your Savior was not born.
The reward is for humanity!
God himself, heavy gods despising anger,
You were sympathetic to people beyond measure.
For this, stand as a desert watchman,
Without sleep, without bending your knees, stand like a pillar.
You will scream in vain, in the air of complaints
Throw without counting. Zeus's chest is merciless.
New rulers are always cruel.
Hey hey, what are you waiting for? Are you complaining for no reason?
Do not hate God, all the gods of the enemy?
After all, he betrayed your treasure to people.
Native blood and old friendship power are terrible.
You are right, of course. Still like a father's command
Don't execute? A little scarier isn't it?
You are always harsh and callous, with a heart of stone.
Shedding tears is not a cure, useless work.
Leave! Enemy in vain do not mourn!
Oh, how I hate my trade!
You are really murmuring. Simply thinking,
Your craft here is innocent at all.
Let someone else own it, not me.
Each god has his own hard work.
Only Zeus is free, master of all.
I know it, I can't argue with you.
Then live! Hammer into the shackles of the enemy.
So that the parent does not see you idle.
Handcuffs, you see, I grabbed it already.
Put your hands on them! Hit with a hammer!
Hit the! Hit the! Nail the villain to the rock!
Everything is ready. Job well done.
Hit again! Do not mind it! Do not mind it! Jam!
And in off-road, he is a master of finding ways.
Shoulder here is tightly riveted.
Now fasten the other firmly! Let
The wise guy finds out that Zeus is smarter than him.
He will only judge me. The other one is nobody!
Tooth pointed iron crutch
Now drive it through your chest and nail it!
Ay-ay, I'm crying, Prometheus, from your torment!
Soft! Wept over the enemy Kronidov?
Be careful not to shed a tear over yourself.
You see what you cannot see with your eyes.
I see the enemy gets what he deserves.
Now the chains of the ribs shackled him!
I know everything myself. In vain do not incite!
I will incite and order.
Get down now and shackle your feet!
Everything is in harmony. The work is uncomplicated.
Pin the crutches on the rings now!
Before a cruel judge you will give an account.
Be soft-hearted! And my determination
And do not you dare blame me for the coolness of anger!
Let's go! He is bound by an iron chain.
Power
(to Prometheus)
Well, spit it out! Steal the treasures of the gods
For one-day frail! Let's see now
How people scoop out the boat of your troubles.
In vain Prometheus, the providence,
You are heard among the immortals. So do it.
How to emerge from the network of pain yourself.
(Hephaestus, Power and Violence are removed.)
Prometheus
(chained to a rock)
Holy ether and swift-winged winds,
Sources of flowing rivers, sparkling laughter
Innumerable waves of the sea and mother earth,
The circle of the All-seeing Sun - I complain to you!
Look what I endure, God, from God's hands.
Look, I'm standing, crippled
Fanaticism! I rot for centuries and centuries,
Myriad centuries! This pain, this shame
He overturned the blessed gods on me
New Prince.
Ah ah ah! I cry about today's torment
And about tomorrow's torments. When is the end
Dawn these hard labor pains?
But no? What am I saying? I foresaw everything.
In advance. Unexpected no evil
It won't fall on my shoulders. Should be easy
Carry your lot, knowing for sure
That power is invincible Inevitability.
And yet be silent and not be silent about the fate
Mine, and this and that is sickening! I suffer evil
For giving people treasures.
In the trunk of a dry reed, a spring of fire
I thieves hid. fire for people
Art of all became a teacher,
The great way of life. For this sin
Under the heat of the sun on chains I am crucified here.
Oh oh! Oh oh!
But huh? The ringing arose vyav.
It smelled like a whirlwind in my face.
That people? Is that the gods?
Or something else?
We went into the wilderness and the wilds,
In the crevice of the snowy mountains
Admire my pain? What else?
Look, here I am, a god in chains, a bitter god,
Zeus' hated enemy, plague and attack
For the gods bending their necks at Zeus in the house,
All because I loved people beyond measure.
Oh oh oh! Again I hear whistling and noise
Flying birds. Swinging and ringing
Distant air from the fluttering wings.
No matter what is coming, everything is terrible for me!
Chorus appears on the orchestra in a winged wagon
Nymph-Oceanid.
Stanza I
Fear not, our friend!
We fly to you with love
On the ringing sharp wings.
We rushed to these black rocks,
Bowing his heart with a tear of his father.
The winds whistled in my ears.
Iron ringing, hammer roar burst into us
Into the silence of the sea caves.
Shame we forgot modest.
We fly barefoot in a winged cart.
Prometheus
Ai-ai-ai-ai!
Tethys with many children chicks and father
The ocean that surrounds the whole earth
It flows around a rattling, sleepless river.
Oh my friends!
Look, look, in shackled chains
I am crucified on the rocky breaks of the ridges.
Over the ruptures of the mountains,
Here I stand on guard shameful.
Antistrophe I
Prometheus! Prometheus!
Darkness fell over our eyes.
Moisture of tears blinded the eyes,
We see, we see, here you are, huge!
You are nailed to the ledges of rocks
An iron chain to rot and wither!
Yes, the new prince again owns the oar of Olympus.
Giving the new law to the world,
Zeus reigns lawlessly.
What was great has decayed into nothing.
Prometheus
Oh, let it be underground, in bottom Hades,
Accepting the dead, he dropped me
In the Tartary night!
Let him bind with an iron chain, like an executioner,
So that neither God nor anyone could admire
To my torment!
And now I am the toy of the wandering winds,
I'm writhing in agony, the enemies are having fun!
Stanza II
Whose heart is stone, copper and ice?
Which of the gods will laugh at you?
Who will not shed tears with you?
Only one Zeus. He is stubborn and mad
Eradicates in a frenzy
Old tribe of Uranus.
There is no rest for him, until the heart is sated,
Or in a duel they will not be torn out of the hands of his black power.
Prometheus
I have, I have, even in deaf shackles
I hung, mutilated, crucified, broken,
He will ask me, blessed leader,
To reveal a new conspiracy before him,
Threatening the scepter and its glory.
But in vain! Honey speeches chatter
Don't melt my heart! Threats boasting
Will not break! What I know, I won't tell!
I won't open my mouth! Let the iron first
Merciless will take off! For shame and execution
May he wish to reward me!
Antistrophe II
Yes, yes, you are strong. to bridle you
Bitterness and pain will never be able to.
But your mouth is too free.
A piercing horror passes through the soul,
Your fate is terrible to me.
What if the sea of sorrows
Do not swim forever you? Merciless, evil,
The indestructible cruel heart of the son of Kron.
Prometheus
I know he is callous and harsh. And your arbitrariness
Respects the law. But the time will come
Will become affectionate and sweet, broken and crumpled
Under the hoof of fate.
This loud and ardent will extinguish his anger.
Will friendship with me and seek an alliance ...
Hurry up, and I'll go out to meet you.
EPISODIUM ONE
Elder Oceanis
Reveal to us everything and teach in more detail,
What guilt did Zeus find in you? For what
Will he execute you so bitterly and monstrously?
Tell us everything! Is the story so painful?
Prometheus
It's painful to tell, it's painful
And keep silent. And that and that shame and pain.
When strife among the immortals is fierce,
Discord cruel broke out and strife,
When some were eager to overthrow Kron
From the throne, so that Zeus reigns, others,
On the contrary, they raged, so that Zeus would not rule, -
At that time I was a good adviser
To the ancient titans, to the sons of heaven and earth.
But he couldn't convince them. Flattery and trickery
They arrogantly despised. by force
Directly achieve dominance;
But my mother, Themis-Gaia (there is a lot
She has one name), going days on the way
She has predicted to me many times. mother taught,
What is not cool strength and not courage,
And cunning will create new power in the world.
I explained all this to the Titans. They are
They were stingy even with a glance to give me.
By the most faithful, best, I thought then,
Connected with the mother, to the side
Get up Zeus. The union was voluntary for us.
According to my plans, it happened that the night
Deadly Tartarus on a black bottom
The old one was buried by Krona with the faithful
Adherents. But for the strong help
Lord of the gods with furious torture
He avenged me with a monstrous reward.
After all, such is the disease of autocracy:
Do not trust friends, despise allies.
You asked why it's so shameful
It cripples me. Clear ladies, direct answer.
As soon as he sat on the throne of his parents,
He began to distribute among the deities
Lots, powers, honors: one - one,
Others are others. About human bitterness
I forgot the tribe. uproot the genus
Ludskoy conceived in order to grow a new one.
No one stood up for the unfortunate.
Only I dared! And saved mortals!
And they did not collapse into hell, they were crushed.
For this I shudder in furious pains, -
They are sickening to see, and now - monstrous!
I was merciful to people, but I myself
Didn't get mercy. Ruthlessly
Calm down. Eyes - fear, and Zeus - shame!
Elder Oceanis
Breast of stone and soul of iron
Those who are over trouble, Prometheus, your
Doesn't cry. I'd rather not see at all
Your sorrows The heart is crushed by fear and pain.
Prometheus
Yes, I have become pathetic for my friends, I guess.
Elder Oceanis
Did he do more than he said?
Prometheus
Yes, I have delivered mortals from foresight.
Elder Oceanis
How did you find a cure for this ulcer?
Prometheus
He placed the blind in the hearts of hope.
Elder Oceanis
A great relief to the mortal race.
Prometheus
Not all! I gave people fire.
Elder Oceanis
Do one-day-olds have a sultry flame?
Prometheus
Fire will teach them all kinds of arts.
Elder Oceanis
And for such guilt Zeus executes you?
Prometheus
Went to torture. It hurts relentlessly.
Elder Oceanis
And there is no deadline for execution, the end of butchery?
Prometheus
There is no time limit, not until Zeus wishes.
Elder Oceanis
How do you wish? Where is the hope? Did you understand?
What was wrong? In what? About something not sweet to us
Remind you to hear. Of the past
Don't remember. Think how to escape from evil!
Prometheus
Until the foot in traps is stuck in trouble,
It is easy for the fortunate to teach the unfortunate.
But I foresaw all this in advance.
Consciously, consciously, I will not deny
He did everything, to help people and to execute himself.
I did not expect such tortures in any way:
On a hot stone to perish, dry up, rot
In the expanses of evil, deserted, inhospitable.
So stop crying about today!
Come down to earth and about the fate of the future
Check it out. Find out how it all ends
Listen, listen! With me that's so
Suffer, suffer! After all, vagrant
Misfortune wanders from one to another.
Elder Oceanis
No offense to us your speeches, Prometheus!
We are obedient, look!
We leave barefoot, flying feet
Airplane carpet and ringing ether
The blue trail of shy birds;
They entered the flinty earth, a story
Hear about your troubles.
(Chorus Oceanid descends from the wagons.
Old man Ocean appears on a winged horse.)
From distant, distant lands, Prometheus,
I come to you on a difficult road.
The swift-winged bird brought me
Without a bit, only bridled by my will.
Know that your misfortune is sad and bitter to me.
You are my relative, firstly, and close blood
Most sacred to me. And besides kinship,
There is no one in the world who would be like you,
I appreciated and loved.
And what a sincere word - you know. Nausea
To me feigned, flattering speeches. Veli,
Tell me how I can serve you
And confess: more true than the old man Ocean,
You have no friends in the universe.
Prometheus
Oh wow, that's a wonder! look at my pain
And are you coming? How dare you
To you the ocean-stream of the same name
Leave the primordial caves,
Rocky, and into the country, iron mother,
come? Shed tears with me, suffer with me?
Look, what a beautiful sight! Here is Zeus's friend,
He helped the throne to obtain and power,
Look: Zeus cripples him mercilessly.
Friend Prometheus! I see everything and give advice
I want you good. Even if you are cunning.
Understand the limits of your strength, humble your rights.
Be new. The gods have a new leader today.
And you are rude, throwing wild speeches,
Shaggy. Zeus would sit much higher,
And then I would have heard. And then all the former
Your misfortunes are a child's toy
They will show up. Poor fellow, forget your anger!
Take care of only one thing: how to get away from torment!
Perhaps you will call obsolete
Words such, but arrogant speeches
Now you yourself have learned the price, Prometheus.
And yet he did not tame himself, did not bend himself.
You want to call for trouble doubly trouble,
Listen to the hospitable teacher:
Against gossip not with! Open your eyes: reigns
A ferocious king who is not subordinate to anyone.
And I'll go. Perhaps I will succeed
Deliver you from the torment of the furious.
And you humble yourself, hunch over, hold your tongue!
After all, he is smart and experienced. So you should know:
With a double whip they whip the idle talker.
Prometheus
I envy. You feel innocent
Although you were my companion, you rebelled with me,
Now leave! It's not your concern anymore.
Don't talk to God. Zeus is not easygoing.
Look, you will bring evil upon yourself by caring!
You know how to give advice to your neighbor
Much better than myself. That's why
And not words of bail. Don't hold me
I hope, yes, I hope, to the old god
Pardon for you will give Zeus.
Prometheus
Thank you And I will be grateful, you know.
You always. The effort is great in you
But don't work in vain. In vain and to no avail
You will work if you accept the truth.
Step away and stand aside calmly.
It's too painful for me. I just don't want to
For others to suffer because of it.
It is enough that my heart breaks
The fate of Atlanta brother. In Western countries
A strong man stands, propping up a pole with his shoulders
Earth and sky, the weight is exorbitant.
Still I remember bitterly the Cilician mountains
Nomad, outlandish monster, -
Typhon hundred-headed, born
Earth. He rose bravely against all the gods.
Flaming, terribly gnashing jaws.
Arrows of lightning rained from the eyes of the gorgonians.
He threatened to squander the throne with the power of Zeus.
But sleepless thunder threw Zeus into the dust,
Fallen from the sky, burst into flames,
He humbled the arrogant boast.
He hit the heart, and the brother fell,
Incinerated into ashes, burned to the smut.
Helpless gigantic carcass
Prostrated heavily by the narrow strait,
Crushed by the roots of Etna. Day and night
Hephaestus forges ore on a steeper slope.
But the hour will come, and they will break out of the black bowels
Fire streams. Jaws greedy
The arable lands of ripe Sicily are swallowing up.
Molten, fiery rage,
All-devouring rage will vomit
Typhon, even though Zeus is charred by lightning.
But you are not blind. be your teacher
I don't need to. Save yourself the best you can!
I will exhaust my fate to the end,
Until Zeus frees the heart from anger.
But don't you know, Prometheus the wise man,
Sick soul doctors - good advice?
Prometheus
Yes, if the hearts soften the abscess in time,
Do not stir up a festering tumor.
But in my worries and determination
What kind of guilt do you see? - Tell me everything.
Prometheus
Kindness is empty, idle labor.
Let me get sick of this disease. Calculation -
Reasonable - sometimes reckless to be known.
Prometheus
This sin will also be recorded in my guilt.
Do you want to take me home? It is so?
Prometheus
So that you do not sip grief, taking pity on me.
So that he would not be angry, the new, strong king?
Prometheus
Exactly! Beware of teasing him!
Your trouble is a lesson to me, Prometheus! Goodbye!
Prometheus
Go! Go! And keep your mind sober!
I was about to leave without your advice.
The wide air scratches with wings already
My four-legged bird. He yearned.
In his native stall, he is in a hurry to rest.
(The ocean is removed.)
STASIM I
Stanza I
We pour tears, we pour, friend Prometheus, over a bitter life.
Springs of tears rolled down
Drops freeze,
Tears keys flow salty
On the plains of girlish cheeks.
Ferocious Zeus, Zeus shepherds the world,
Arbitrariness by law.
Zeus shepherds with an iron spear
Ancient demons and honored.
Antistrophe I
The buzzing is buzzing, the earth is groaning with a long groan.
About past ages groans, about ancient glory,
About your ancient kingdom
About giant titans.
Who lives in the steppes of Asia.
Primordial, groans with a groan.
Crying over your pain
Compassionate people cry.
Stanza II
Tribe of rider girls
Trampling herbs in Colchis,
Cries. Hordes cry Scythians,
Who roam at the end of the earth
At the Meotian shoals.
Antistrophe II
And the Aryans are the color of Ares, -
Above the Caucasian steepness
City carved into the rocks -
The army cries, and echoes the clang
Sharply ringing spears.
Stanza III
Once, once we saw only God in chains.
He was devoted to torment, yes, torment,
Titan Atlant.
Strongman, exorbitant weight
Earth and sky axes
He lifted him onto his shoulders and wept.
Antistrophe III
Rumbles, murmurs the sea surf oncoming
And falls into the abyss and groans,
Buzzing in response
Earth's hidden cracks,
Failures, pits of hell,
Jets of transparent streams are crying.
EPISODY TWO
Prometheus
(after silence)
I have no arrogance, no arrogance
They are told to be silent. I gnaw my heart with pity,
Seeing yourself like this, ruined, abandoned.
But is there another who, and not me, honor
Got it for all these present deities?
I am silent, I am silent! You don't need to tell.
Everyone knows. I'll tell you about the maya of people.
They were unintelligent like children.
I have put into them thought and consciousness a sharp gift.
I remembered this, people are not in submission, not in shame,
But in order to appreciate the strength of my gifts.
People looked before and did not see,
And they heard without hearing. Like shadows of dreams
Foggy, vague, long and dark
Dragged life. Not built with bricks
Houses warmed by the sun. And log
They did not know the log cabins. Bursting into the ground, in mold
Caves without sun, ants infested -
Huddled. Will not accept the chilled winter
They did not know, nor spring, smelling of flowers,
Not a fruitful summer, And to no avail
We worked hard. I showed them the rising stars
And hidden sunsets. Invented for them
The science of numbers, the most important of the sciences.
I taught them how to add letters: here it is,
All-memory, nurse of reason, mother of muses!
I am the first violent creatures harnessed to the yoke,
Having enslaved the plow and packs. gravity
I laid down the unbearable from the shoulders of people.
He put the horses in the cart, with the reins
Playing - the fun of tight wallets.
And who else invented flaxwings,
Shipmen running across the sea
Wagons? So many tricks and tricks
Art I invented for mortals, and myself
I don't know how to break out of the loop of pain.
Elder Oceanis
Poisoned with flour, your mind staggered.
You look like a bad doctor. Came
Sickness and despond and find yourself
You can't have a healing drug.
Prometheus
Listen further, you will be surprised how much I
Arts, dexterity and crafts invented.
Here are the main ones: diseases burned the bodies of people,
They did not know medicines, healing herbs,
And ointments, and tinctures. Withered, melted
Without a doctor. I opened them ways
Mixtures of healing potions,
To reflect the evil rage of all diseases.
Established the science of divination,
Discovered the nature of dreams, what to count
In them things are true. Dark words meaning
I revealed to people and will take on the meaning of the road.
Feathered, crooked-clawed, birds of prey flight
I explained who to consider happy,
Whom - stupid. Bird all customs
Explained what they feed on and love how,
And how they fight, how they swarm in flocks.
I taught what kind of gut
There must be sacrifices to please the deity.
The color of the spleen, spots of variegated liver.
The rump is thick and the shoulder blade is greasy
I burned with my own hands and became for mortals
A teacher in the arts difficult. From fiery
Blind before the signs of blindness I removed.
All this is so! And the ores hidden in the bowels,
Iron, copper and silver and gold!
Who will say that it was not me, but he mined the ore
For the benefit of people? No, no one will say that
Or boast of shameless boasting.
And if you want to embrace everything with a short word:
From Prometheus, people of art have everything.
Elder Oceanis
For mortals, you were a helper beyond your strength.
So save yourself in misfortune.
And I hope firmly, you will throw off the chains of troubles
And with Zeus again you will be equal in strength.
Prometheus
Not so fate accomplishing, terrible
I decided in my heart. Thousands of black torments
And broken by pain, I will leave the shackles.
Weaker is the mind than the power of Necessity.
Elder Oceanis
Who is at the helm of Necessity?
Prometheus
Three Moiras, Eumenides with a long memory.
Elder Oceanis
So, Zeus is inferior to them in strength?
Prometheus
What is destined, Zeus will not escape it.
Elder Oceanis
And what about Zeus? Power forever?
Prometheus
Don't ask about it, don't torture me!
Elder Oceanis
Have you hidden a great secret in your chest?
Prometheus
Talk about something else. And this
Neither the term nor the time is ripe. Hide the secret
As deep as possible owes me. Then I'll be saved
From torture and shameful chains.
STASIM II
Stanza I
May never, never
Zeus in my heart
Evil will not invest perseverance!
Early in the morning let me not forget
Feed the gods with beef
Bull fat.
Rising above the deluge of the thundering father of the Ocean.
May I never grumble!
Let me stay in these thoughts now and forever.
Antistrophe I
Joyfully long life
Peacefully lengthen the days
In sweet and modest hopes,
Bask in the sun and fill your heart with fun. Terrible
See you
In severe torment, hanging, nailed,
Proud, self-willed, stubborn,
Zeus is not afraid, you love people too much.
Stanza II
Where is love for love, beloved friend, tell me
Where is the power of mortals?
Where is the spade, tell me! Can't you see
All the impotence of people, ugliness, frailty,
Waking a dream? Chained
On the hands, on the feet of the human race.
Their life is a day!
The will of the people never
Do not break the state of Zeus!
Antistrophe II
Prometheus, Prometheus, taught me
Your suffering!
Ah, the other one flew completely - do you remember the song:
The bride went to the bath with the dawn.
You - the groom - to the wedding bed
On the wedding day of a young wife, -
The redemption was great
Our dear sister
Morevna led Hesiona.
EPISODIUM THREE
Mad Io runs in. She has cow horns on her forehead.
What kind of region, what kind of tribe and who is standing here,
Under the blows of the winds, in iron chains.
Over a steep cliff?
He pays for what guilt?
Tell me where
I went, on a wide wandering land?
Oh oh!
Again, again, the gadfly stung me!
Earth-born Argos, ghost, away, away!
Terrible shepherd, thousand-eyed enemy!
Here he glides after me with a slanting and angry look.
Him, and the corpse, there is no peace in the land.
girl bitter
He, jumping from the coffin, scared, chases the dog,
Drives the hungry along the sea sands!
Stanza I
The pipe in the ears is blowing! The reed is fastened with wax.
The song is ringing. I would like to sleep, sleep!
Oh oh! Where to go again? Run where?
Where far away?
What is my sin, son of Kronos, what is my sin?
To torment me so as to break my heart like that?
Poor me, oh-oh!
The gadfly burns, it burns. And chest crazy fear
Quilting! I'm all over the place!
Better burn it with fire! Better to bury in the ground! Better
Sea creatures for food!
Laugh at prayer
Sir, don't you dare!
Quite a wandering wanderer
They wrecked it. But I know where from horror
I will find peace and tranquility.
Hear! All sick, the cow-girl is crying.
Prometheus
How not to hear the gadfly stung
Inaha dear daughter? Gorgeous
Zeus's heart burned with love,
And wanders, tormented, Hounded by the Hero.
Antistrophe I
Father's name, tell me who you learned from.
Bitter me, beggar me, tell me!
And who are you? Martyr himself, called me,
Taking pity on the name.
He called mine God's disease by its name.
Dries the pain! Whip beats! Chest bites! Gnawing, oh!
Chasing drives, oh-oh!
Hungry, staggering jumps,
I rushed off. Hera
Anger drove me. Hera was crippled with anger. Who, ah-ah
Of the damned who
So, like me, will they leave?
Reveal the truth!
Tell me what else to attack
Threats, where is the light and the healing potion?
Tell me if you know!
Answer open! The runaway girl asks.
Prometheus
What you want to hear, I'll tell you about everything,
Without wrapping yourself in riddles, directly, simply,
How to talk to friends.
I am Prometheus, I gave fire to people.
Defender and protector of man.
Unfortunate friend, Prometheus! Why are you here?
Prometheus
As soon as I finished mourning my pain.
Will you refuse me mercy and affection?
Prometheus
Which one, tell me? I will reveal the whole truth.
Who crucified you over the flinty steepness?
Prometheus
Zeus gave the order, and Hephaestus forged the shackles.
And for what sins do you endure hard labor?
Prometheus
That is enough for you, what is told.
One more thing: my wanderings, my pain,
Tell me will they ever end?
Prometheus
Not knowing about it is better for you than knowing.
Don't hide what I'm destined to endure!
Prometheus
Do you want a gift? I don't have to skimp.
Why do you hesitate? Would you like to know everything?
Prometheus
Say no regrets. Sorry to scare your soul.
Friend, more than myself, do not spare me.
Prometheus
You demand - I will open everything. So listen!
Elder Oceanis
No, wait. For my sake, listen to me.
First, we recognize this girl's illness.
Let him tell his disastrous life!
And from you he will hear about the end of adversity,
Prometheus
You must, Io, fulfill their desire.
They are also your father's sisters.
And mourn and mourn your life
It is sweet if the one who listens
Sheds tears of compassion, regret.
I don't know how I could refuse you.
Whatever you want to know, hear everything
In understandable words. I'm ashamed and sad
Talk about God's storm, crushed into dust
Me and trampled on my beauty.
Long, long time in my girl's bedroom
Sliding night dreams, sweet whisper
They whispered: "The girl is happy!
Why do you keep girlhood? After all, you could
Find love high. Terrible Zeus
Arrow of desire. He wants to hug you.
Do not reject the bed of Zeus, girl!
No, come to Lernean floodplain meadow.
Where are the barns and the cattle of the father.
Let the love of Zeus fill your eyes!"
Such dreams I languished, poor,
All nights. And I decided to tell my father
About seductive night visions.
And father sent many prayers
And in Delphi and in Dodona. I wanted to know everything
How to appease the gods in word or deed.
But vague prophecies came,
Indistinct, mysterious, dark.
And finally the broadcast was received by Inah
Distinct: it was strictly ordered,
To drive me out of my home from my native places,
So that I wander, God's creature, from end to end,
One. And no, it will strike with blue lightning
In us, Zeus will trample down the Inach family with the root.
The father believed the prophecies of Loxius,
Chased me away. My home was locked behind me.
I cried and he cried. forced
The bridle of the monstrous Zeus to expel his daughter.
And immediately my clear mind, my beauty
Broke down. There are horns on the forehead - you see!
The stinging gadfly chased, and naughty
I ran jumping to the waterhole
Kerkhney and to the Lernean stream. Shepherd,
Earth-born Argos, furious, mad,
Chased me, following innumerable
Eyes. The lot, quick and unexpected,
He took a violent life. But I wander
From end to end. The gadfly is burning. God's whip is chasing.
You heard everything. If you know my troubles
End, say! But don't spare me!
Do not sweeten words with flattery. All the more painful
In my opinion, insincere listening to speech.
Ay-ay! Stop, shut up!
Did I think, did I think that
Pierce my ears
Is your speech strange?
I did not think that pitiful, furious
Bitterness and sickness and your pallor
The heart will be cold.
Oh fate! Oh fate!
I tremble, seeing the grief of poor Io.
Prometheus
You got scared early! Tears shed early.
Hold on until you know about the troubles of all!
Elder Oceanis
Say open! The sick are happy
Know about the pains of the upcoming ones in advance.
Prometheus
I fulfilled your first wish.
Did you first want a girl
She herself told her sad path to you.
Now find out about what's in the future
She will have to endure at the wrath of Hera.
And you, child of Inah, deep in your chest
Hide my speech in order to know the end of your roads.
From here you are confused to the sunrise
You will direct a step across the virgin lands unplowed
And you will come to the nomadic Scythians. They live
Under the free sun on carts, in boxes
Wicker, behind the shoulders - a well-aimed bow.
Don't get close to them! Take the shortcut
Steep flinty seashore, muffled groaning,
They live on the left side of these places
Iron forgers Khaliba. Fear them!
They are fierce and unkind to guests.
You will come to the river Gromotukha. Her name
Given to your liking. Do not look for a ford in the river!
No ford! Rise to the roots! Caucasus
You will see a terrible mountain. From her horns
The snowy stream is gushing. Jump the ridges
Neighboring stars, and by noon step
Send! There the Amazon army will meet,
Hostile to men. Live in Themyscira
They will be at Fermodont's. Shoal there
The most dangerous, Jaw of Salmides,
Fear of ships, swimmers trembling stepmother.
They will show you the way there in a friendly way.
You will come later to the Cimmerian East,
To the gates of the narrow sea. There, daring
You must cross the strait of Meotida.
And a glorious memory will remain in people
about this crossing. There will be a name for her -
"Cow Ford" - Bosphorus. You will throw Europe
Plains, you will come to the Asian mainland.
But isn't the tyrant of the gods ruthless
To a living creature? With this mortal girl
He wished to sleep and drove him on a wandering.
You got a bitter groom, girl,
Bad wedding! All the words that I heard
Your suffering is only a preface.
Oh, I'm sick of it, oh!
Prometheus
Did you moan, poor thing, and scream?
What will you do, having learned the whole truth, to the bottom?
Elder Oceanis
She foretells new suffering!
Prometheus
The sadness of the black sea is bad.
What is the profit for me to live? Why soon
Do not throw yourself head down from the steepness?
Hit the ground and find peace
From trouble? Isn't it better to die one day?
Why languish in torment day after day?
Prometheus
My pain would be unbearable for you.
After all, I was not given to die by fate.
And death is peace, liberation from evils.
There is no end to my torment,
Until the omnipotence of Zeus collapses.
Will Zeus' power ever collapse?
Prometheus
Then you would rejoice, perhaps?
Well, yes! Well, yes! From Zeus my shame and pain.
Prometheus
Then find out and enjoy! Zeus will die!
Who will take away the scepter of dominion from him?
Prometheus
By himself, contemplating the reckless.
But how, tell me, if without harm the answer?
Prometheus
He will marry and repent heavily.
With a goddess? Or with a mortal? Or say a ban?
Prometheus
Questions again? I am forbidden to speak.
And what: will his wife take the throne from him?
Prometheus
Yes, she will give birth to a son in the world, a stronger father.
And Zeus cannot avert his fate?
Prometheus
Not if I don't throw off the shackle chain.
Who, against the will of Zeus, will unchain you?
Prometheus
My Savior from your generation will come.
What you said? Will my son save you from evil?
Prometheus
In the third knee, after ten knees.
Dark and incomprehensible prediction.
Prometheus
And do not try to know about your torment.
What you promised me, don't take back!
Prometheus
I will give you a secret out of two.
What a secret, name it and let me choose!
Prometheus
So choose! About your troubles
Tell me about who will save me?
Elder Oceanis
And I'll forgive her, do me a favor!
Don't hesitate to ask! Let her know
Where the paths of wandering will lead, but to me
Tell me, who will be your deliverer?
Prometheus
You ask, I will not answer you with a refusal.
As you demand, so it will be done,
I will open to you, Io, the wandering path,
Inscribe it on the tablets of bitter memory,
Having passed the stream that cut the continents,
To the sunny, scorching turn east!
Surf bypass the seething sea! Sultry
The fields of Kisthena you will meet the Gorgonins,
And three Forkid, gray-haired girls,
Similar to swans. They have one eye
And one tooth. The beam has not penetrated to them yet
daytime sun and nighttime moon.
And next door are three winged sisters
Live. Gorgons, snakes in braids, poison in the heart.
Whoever looks into their eyes, life will cool down in that!
I'm telling you to warn you.
Sad listen to the path of wandering!
Fear sharp-clawed vultures, Zeus
Silent dogs! Troops of the one-eyed
Beware of the Arimasp horsemen,
At the gold-flowing nomads
Pluto flow! At the edge of the earth
You will find a black people living
At the solar springs, where the Ethiopian river is.
Direct your steps along the shore! From the Byblos mountains
There the Nile brings down waterfalls
A fruitful and sweet wave.
He will show the way to the triangular land,
To Ust-Nil. There is given a distant settlement
You and the children, Io, lay yours.
When it is dark, my speech is tongue-tied,
Ask again, try everything diligently.
I have more leisure than I want to.
Elder Oceanis
Didn't cum if or did you miss that
From the story of her woeful ways,
Tell me! But no, then for the sake of us,
What you asked for, explain, remember everything.
Prometheus
She learned about the end of wandering.
And as a sign that it was not in vain that you listened to me,
I will add that she had to experience before,
And I will give her the testimony of the truth of my words.
I will miss a big part of the story.
I will approach her recent wandering.
You wandered into the Molossian basin,
Dodona rises on the steep hill there
And the house of Thesprot-Zeus is prophetic.
There are wonderful talking oaks
They praised you openly, without riddles, -
The darling of the brilliant Zeus,
The wife of the king of the gods. Sweet? Does it flatter you?
Stung by the rolling rage,
You ran along the seaside road
To the wide bay of Rhea. Furious
The step turned again. It will be called, you know
This sea lip is Ionian
In memory of people about your wanderings.
Here is a sign to you that I have been given the gift of foresight,
What my mind sees further than is revealed to all.
Now I'll finish the story for her, for you,
Returning to the trail of my old speeches.
There is a city on the edge of the land of Egypt
Kanob, in the sediments of the Nile, in the mouths of the muddy.
There, a clear mind again Zeus will return to you
And, touching with a gentle hand, he will give a son.
Epaphus, the child of touch, is so called
It will be, in memory of Zeus's conception.
Born black and populate the Nile
Poemnaya valley. Five knees will pass
And fifty sisters will return to Argos. Fear
Chase them before blood marriage with brothers
Cousins. Passion-possessed,
Kites will chase the doves,
Hunting for prey unobtrusive.
But God will not saturate them with the body of girls,
The land of Pelasg will accept corpses as wives
Slaughtered, killed on a sleepless night.
The wife cuts her husband's throat,
A knife with a two-edged blade dipped in blood.
Let Cyprida take revenge on my enemies in this way.
Only one will attract the desire of a girl.
And do not raise a knife to her on the one with whom she sleeps.
Her heart sank. Her weak will
It is easier to pass for a coward than to become a murderer.
The kings of Argos will grow from her.
It takes a lot of words to describe everything.
From this seeding strong, furious
A great-grandson will be born, the most famous archer.
He will save me. This wisdom is ancient
Themis, mother of the Titans, told me.
And how everything will be, you need a lot of words for that,
And if you knew, it would be of no use to you.
Eleley-elely!
It rolled up again! Reduces convulsions.
The mind is clouded by fury. The gadfly got drunk!
The sting burns without fire!
In the heart of mad horror knocks and knocks.
Blurred in the eyes, spun around.
Obsession with a dark monstrous whirlwind
Shot off the road. Tongue babbles incoherently.
Stumble, words get stuck. Everything is sinking
In the surging scum of delirium.
(Io runs away in a frenzy.)
STASIM III
Stanza I
Wise, yes, he was wise
Who conceived first in a deep chest,
Who first gave the commandment to people:
Let everyone take his wife on an equal footing! And he will be happy.
No, don't marry luxury and wealth
Do not marry nobility and breed,
A beggar who lives by the labor of his hands!
Antistrophe I
May never, never
Do not be me, Moira mistress, passionate Zeus,
night friend!
I don't want a stranger from heaven to lie in bed with me.
I tremble all over, looking at the cripple Io,
On a child who ran away from affection:
Bitter Hera's wandering executes her.
It's not scary to get married - equal to equal to me.
If only the love of the gods
She didn't look with an inexorable eye.
Unbeatable victory, hopeless captivity!
How to live and how to breathe
How can I get away from you
Zeus, voluptuous will?
Prometheus
Let Zeus be haughty now and proud of happiness, -
Reconcile soon! He wants to celebrate the wedding
Deadly. Will wrest power from hands and into dust
The wedding will throw off the throne. So it will be
Curse of Kron. Falling down from the original
He cursed the throne, his son forever and ever.
How to avoid death, none of the gods
Zeus can't tell. Only I am alone.
I know where salvation is. So let it reign
Proud of the thunders of the mountains! Let it reign
In his hand, shaking a fiery arrow!
No, lightning will not help. He will crumble to dust
A shameful and monstrous crash.
He will give birth to a rival on the mountain,
The most invincible fighter, wonderful!
He will find fire more deadly than lightning,
And the roar is more deafening than the thunder of thunderstorms.
Bridling the sea, stunning the earth,
The trident of Poseidon will crush into chips.
And Zeus will shudder in fear. And will know
That becoming a slave is not the same as being a master.
Elder Oceanis
Whatever you wish, you prophesy to Zeus.
Prometheus
I say what will happen and what I want.
Elder Oceanis
How to believe? Or will the new king overpower Zeus?
Prometheus
And in torture he will moan harder than I do.
Elder Oceanis
Are you afraid of throwing such speeches?
Prometheus
Why be afraid? I am destined for death.
Elder Oceanis
The wise bow before the inevitable.
Prometheus
Pray, humble yourself, flatter the one who rules.
I care less than nothing about Zeus.
Let it act, let it rule for a short time,
As he wants. He will not be king of the gods for long.
But now I see Zeus the runner,
An obedient servant of a new tyrant.
Comes, right, with important news.
(Hermes enters)
With you, sly, overly mocking mocker,
With you, who betrayed the gods, made happy
Man, I say. Thief of fire, with you!
Father orders everything he talked about the wedding here,
To his dominion threatening, - to tell,
No omissions, no riddles, clean!
Everyone say what you know, Prometheus! And way
Don't force the secondary to commit me!
Do not soften the heart of Zeus with stubbornness!
Prometheus
Boastful as, swaggering and pompous
These are the speeches of the hanger-on of the gods.
Reign again, upstarts, and believe
What a century to you in the house of gold to bliss.
I survived two tyrants fell to dust
I will see, like the third, now ruling,
It will fall, a quick and shameful fall.
Do you think before the new gods
I'm afraid, I bend my neck? There's a lot and everything
Missing. Knead the dust of the road again,
You didn't convince me with your speech.
Such obstinacy and self-will
You have driven your ship already on the stones of troubles.
Prometheus
My suffering, you hear, I do not change
To your groveling. It won't be like that!
Well, grovel in shackles on the edges of rocks
More honorable than being Zeus' faithful messenger?
Prometheus
Resentment must take revenge on the offenders.
Do you revel in your anguish?
Prometheus
Oh, I'm drunk! And I want my enemies
Such drunkenness! And you, Hermes!
Do you blame me for your unfortunate fate?
Prometheus
I will say openly: I hate all the gods.
They rewarded me with tortures for goodness,
Rave! You are stricken with a cruel disease.
Prometheus
I'm sick if hatred of the enemy is a disease
If you were lucky, you would be terrible!
Prometheus
Zeus was not trained in such a word.
Prometheus
His everything, decrepit, time will learn!
As you can see, you have not yet acquired the mind?
Prometheus
Yes! I'm talking to you, servant of the gods.
Father to answer, apparently, do not you want to?
Prometheus
And you should! Repay him for kindness!
Are you mocking me like a boy?
Prometheus
Are you smarter than a boy?
Do you really believe that I will give you an answer?
No execution, know there is no trick, so that Zeus me
Forced the fatal secret to blurt out,
While I am bound with shameful chains.
So let the flaming lightning throw,
Rattles with underground thunder, circles the vault of the sky
White-winged blizzard, let it destroy everything, -
Can't bend me! I won't tell him.
Whose hands will wrest the dominion from him!
See if insubordination will save you!
Prometheus
I weighed everything, foresaw everything and decided everything!
Make up your mind, fool, make up your mind to be reasonable.
Let torture pain teach you reason!
Prometheus
In vain you nudish: a deaf shaft hits the shore.
Let it not cross your mind that I will become
Out of fear of Zeus, a timid woman
And I will cry in front of the hated me,
And wring your hands, like a woman, -
Let only the chains, remove! Do not be that!
I spoke pretty. I'm wasting my words.
Such a heart cannot be touched by requests.
You, like an unbroken stallion, bridle
Biting, he reared, resisting the reins.
Tricks are powerless, you rush about in vain!
Fool and foolish self-will
More powerless, more insignificant than nothingness.
When you don't listen to my order,
Look, what a blizzard, unrest
What torment will fall on you! Rock
This flinty one will be crushed by the father
Thunderclap and flying lightning.
Your body will be buried by the hands of black rocks.
And many long, long, long years will pass,
Until you come out into the world. Become Zeusova
Winged dog, covered in blood, eagle
Flap a huge pecking body of yours.
An uninvited guest, an everyday guest.
And tear the liver, gnawed, black!
And do not wait for the end of these terrible tortures;
Let some god voluntarily
Yours will intercede as a changer, and into a dull hell
Tartar will also descend into the gloomy abyss.
Therefore, think! Not empty here
Boasting is a hard and harsh sentence.
Immortal Zeus cannot lie
Mouth. Zeus keeps his word. So think it over!
Weigh! Look around! Obstinacy masterful
Do not take reasonable precautions.
Elder Oceanis
In our opinion, reasonable, timely
Hermes speech. Obstinacy he commands you
Leave, tread the path carefully.
To persist in error is a shame for the wise.
Prometheus
Everything that he announced to me, everything in advance
And I foresaw, and I knew .. To the enemy from enemies
To endure execution and torment - there is no shame in that.
Well, let the two-bladed curls of fire
They will rush into my chest, let them tear to shreds
The air is thunder and the dope of crazy winds.
Let the heavy earth to the very bottom,
A hurricane will shake to flinty roots.
Let the abysses of the seas boil and furious
Intertwined with the roads of the stars.
Let them throw my body into a bottomless pit
Black-winged dull Tartarus, let
The whirlwind of copper fate will swirl me, -
They still can't kill me!
Here, listen to the nonsense, demon-possessed speech.
Crazy thoughts! What more do you need
To call obsessed, crazy, stupid
Chatterbox and braggart. He broke the bridle!
You - there is a lot of pity in you for his pains -
Get away from these deadly places
Run away quickly! Not that shock
Stun the lion's heavy thunders with tetanus
Crushing rumble!
Elder Oceanis
Tell me something else. Tips come on
I am different. I will obey. Word said
You are now unbearable. No never
Do not move me to vile baseness.
Together with a friend, I will endure fate to the end.
I learned to hate traitors.
There are no ulcers on earth
For me, treachery is shameful.
Well, remember! In time I was careful.
When the pain rushes down on you,
Do not scold fate and do not dare to grumble,
As if Zeus suddenly in the abyss of evil
Knocked you over. Kill yourself!
All you know. You were not caught in a snare,
They didn’t take you by surprise, they didn’t weave nets for you.
No! Themselves in a monstrous net of trouble
You are confused by foolishness.
(Hermes leaves)
Prometheus
In fact, not in boastful words
The earth shook
Thunder buzzed with a dull rumble.
Dazzling, fiery lightning, snaking,
Sparks flicker. Pillars of wind
Rolling roadside dust. Whirlwinds roar
And they collide in a rattle, in a whistle. Rises
Whirlwind on whirlwind! The winds have risen against each other!
The abyss of the sea and the sky are mixed into one!
This storm, overturned it, furious,
Zeus on my chest to break my heart with horror.
O holy, mighty mother of mine,
O Ether, pouring light over the earth!
Look, I suffer innocently!
The play of the outstanding ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus "Prometheus Chained" is one of the most famous ancient tragedies, which took its rightful place among the masterpieces of world literature and influenced the poetry and dramaturgy of subsequent eras. The image of the protagonist became a household name, he was addressed and inspired by such great figures of world culture as Goethe, Schiller, Byron, Maxim Gorky, Karl Marx and many others. And today, thousands of years after its creation, "Prometheus Chained" does not lose its relevance.
The history of the creation of Aeschylus' play is shrouded in mystery. The tragedy was written presumably in 444-443. BC, but nothing is known about the first production.
“Prometheus Chained” is the only part of the tetralogy of the great ancient Greek playwright that has come down to us in its entirety, which also included “Prometheus the Firebearer”, “Freed Prometheus” and a work whose name has not been preserved. Chronologically, "Chained Prometheus" is probably preceded by the tragedy "Prometheus the Firebearer", in which, according to researchers, the abduction of divine fire by Prometheus was depicted, and "Freed Prometheus" touches on the events that occurred after the exile of Prometheus to Tartarus.
essence
Aeschylus' work is based on a common ancient myth about a rebellious titan who wanted to help people. As you know, Prometheus, going against the will of Zeus, taught a person to extract and use fire. Also, his students were able to tame animals, master the seas, find underground gifts and treasures. In addition, he advised them to start writing and counting. So he shook the power of the gods and greatly annoyed the thunderer, who wanted to see his subjects in a primitive state and eternal fear of the ruler. Ignorance and slavish dependence were the basis of the power of the king of Olympus.
The supreme god decided to punish the impudent titan by chaining him to a rock. Prometheus was chained in Scythia. For Aeschylus, as well as for other great ancient Greek tragedians, what he told about is only a conditional means by which he reveals deep philosophical themes and problems.
Genre
Aeschylus' work is written in the "serious" genre of tragedy, typical of ancient drama. However, in Prometheus Chained, unlike other books by Aeschylus (for example, the Oresteia trilogy), Chorus's remarks, which in the plays of ancient authors play a key role in conveying the author's intention, are much less important. This deprives the tragedy of sublime oratorical power and helps the reader to focus on the image of the protagonist.
Main characters and their characteristics
- The protagonist of the tragedy, Prometheus, whose name is included in the title, occupies a central place in the book. His main features are the desire for independence, loyalty to his own principles and heroic courage. He knows that for the help rendered to people, cruel punishments from the gods await him, but, nevertheless, he still does good for humanity. “Voluntarily, voluntarily, I did this,” he says. The independence of the hero is shown by the scene of his dialogue with the Oceanides, when Prometheus, despite persuasion to reconcile and submit to Zeus, refuses to change his ideals. The character of the hero is also deeply revealed by his remark from the dialogue with Hermes: "I will never exchange my misfortune for your slavish servanthood." Prometheus remains true to his word until his death: when the tyrant casts him underground, he dies unconquered, "unbroken."
- Zeus is the hero-antagonist of Prometheus, a cruel despot and routine. His main servants bear "talking" names - Power and Violence, and are a "reflection" of the personality of their master. “You are always ruthless and full of anger,” is how Power is characterized in the play. The image of Zeus is also revealed with the help of other characters.
- Secondary characters are gods serving the supreme ruler, with the help of which Aeschylus shows how detrimental and terrible the influence of tyranny is. Hephaestus appears to the reader as a kind, but cowardly and broken god under the rule of a despot, the Ocean is a vile renegade who cares only about his own well-being, and Hermes is a low slave, unquestioningly, like a dog, fulfilling any will of his master.
Issues
The central conflict in Aeschylus's play is the clash between two generations of gods: the titans, to which Prometheus belongs, and the inhabitants of Olympus, led by Zeus. Once upon a time, the titans fell victim to their own father, Kronos, who devoured them out of fear of a possible conspiracy. Their mother bitterly regretted the loss, so she saved the life of her next offspring - Zeus, and he freed everyone else from the parent's womb. Then a war broke out between the titans and the gods, in which the team of the Thunderer won. Few titans survived, and those with the condition that they accept the power of a victorious relative. Thus, the conflict of these ancient and wayward creatures is very ancient and dates back to the time when this world was just created. That is why the anger of a celestial can be justified, because, according to an old family tradition, he was afraid of a rebellion of people and his own overthrow. The confrontation between the heroes can be considered at the socio-political and philosophical levels.
At the socio-political level, the conflict between the characters is closely connected with the social aspirations of the time of Aeschylus, who showed the victory of progress (Prometheus) in the development of society, in the state system, over archaic and despotism (Zeus).
On a philosophical level, the confrontation between the characters can be defined as a universal conflict between the "old" and the "new". Prometheus personifies the struggle for striving forward, and Zeus - routine, stagnation, which opposes progress.
What is the meaning of tragedy?
The literature of ancient Greece is relevant even today, for example, the main idea of the tragedy of Aeschylus is that it is necessary to fight against the cruel and unjust government, which only suppresses subjects, but stimulates the country to develop. Even then, the idea of freedom, equality and fraternity haunted the creative intelligentsia. It is obvious that Prometheus is the image of a revolutionary of his time, a rebel capable of overthrowing tyranny, albeit at the cost of his own life. His sacrifice was not in vain, he contributed to the development of mankind, that is, he inspired the oppressed to fight the oppressor.
According to the author, sometimes in order to achieve this lofty goal, you need to go through painful suffering, but in the end, progress always wins. Aeschylus's main idea is that Zeus, who outwardly "defeated" Prometheus and overthrew him in Tartarus, ideologically loses to the unconquered Titan, true to his ideals.
Interesting? Save it on your wall!"Chained Prometheus" is the work of the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus (5th century BC), who is rightly called the "father of tragedy." The plot of the work is based on the Greek myth about the titan Prometheus, who entered into combat with Zeus and stole fire for people.
- Aeschylus and his tragedy "Chained Prometheus"
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Chained Prometheus (Aeschylus) by the LitRes company.
© Publishing House "Children's Literature". Design of the series, 2001
© O. V. Osipova. Introductory article, 2001
© A. A. Takho-Godi. Comments, 2001
© V. G. Britvin. Illustrations, 2001
Aeschylus and his tragedy "Chained Prometheus"
Aeschylus. 525–456 BC e.
More than two and a half thousand years separate us from the era when the ancient Greek playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides lived and worked in Athens, but even today interest in their work has not been lost. Until now, the depth of thought and the beauty of the form of works written in the 5th century are admired. BC e., in a critical and controversial era in the history of Greece. This turning point was also reflected in the work of the eldest of the three great Greek tragedians, Aeschylus.
The flourishing of the tragedy in Athens did not coincide by chance with the flourishing of democracy, with the strengthening of the power of the Athenian state. The establishment of a new form of state power - democracy ("democracy"), the victory over the powerful Persian state allowed Athens, the hometown of Aeschylus, to become the political and cultural center of the entire Greek world. The city restored and increased its fortune. All Athenian citizens were given the opportunity to participate in the life of their state, to discuss matters and make decisions, they all had the right to hold various positions and were equally equal before the law. Along with equal rights, a citizen assumed equal duties, he was aware of his significance and independence, his responsibility in decision-making. On these foundations, democracy was built, creating all the conditions for free creativity, the highest result of which in that distant era was, above all, tragedy.
About Aeschylus, as, indeed, about many other ancient writers, we do not know much. The Greeks rather late began to show interest in the private life of their great predecessors and contemporaries, and we can draw information about it only from archaeological and some literary monuments. From epitaphs (inscriptions on tombstones) we can find out the name of the father, the place of birth and death of the person to whom the tombstone is dedicated; from the documents of the state archive, which have partially survived to this day, it becomes known what positions this or that person held in his state. If he was a dramatic poet, then the records that tell about the course and results of dramatic competitions make it possible to determine what works he wrote and when. In more detail, the activities of prominent people of antiquity, primarily, of course, politicians, were covered in the historical writings of that era. The source of our knowledge can also be works of art in which the authors left evidence of their lives. It is clear that for later biographers this information was not enough, and many legends were added to the few reliable facts. But, despite the scarcity of information, we still have some idea of the life and work of Aeschylus.
He was born in 525 BC. e. in Eleusis, a suburb of Athens, and came from a noble family. As an Athenian citizen, he could not stay away from the life of his native city. Aeschylus defended Athens with weapons in his hands during the Greco-Persian wars, participating in the battles of Marathon, Salamis and Plataea. He wrote about 80 tragedies. However, later, when interest in the work of Aeschylus was not as great as in the works of other tragedians, Sophocles and Euripides, seven tragedies were selected (perhaps for the needs of schooling) that have come down to us in full: “The Petitioners”, “Persians”, "Seven against Thebes", "Agamemnon", "Choephors" ("Weepers"), "Eumenides", "Chained Prometheus". We have an idea of the rest from the surviving fragments.
Aeschylus's work was highly appreciated during his lifetime: he won first place in dramatic competitions thirteen times, and after his death, his works competed on equal terms with the dramas of living poets and repeatedly won. It is noteworthy that in the epitaph quoted in his biography, Aeschylus is glorified only as a defender of the fatherland, and not a word is said about his works:
Euphorion son of Aeschylus of Athens bones
Covers the land of Gela rich in grain;
Courage is remembered by his Marathon grove and tribe
Long-haired Medes who recognized him in battle.
(Translated by L. Blumenau)Despite his patriotism and services to Athens, Aeschylus spent the last years of his life on the island of Sicily. The reasons for his departure are not exactly known. In the Sicilian city of Gela, he died in 456 BC. e.
Aeschylus is rightly called the "father of tragedy." He created Greek tragedy as we know it now, in his work it first appeared in its classical form. However, starting to read the works of Aeschylus, we immediately notice that they bear little resemblance to the dramatic works of modern times that are familiar to us. Therefore, before proceeding to the consideration of the tragedy of Aeschylus "Chained Prometheus", let's turn to history.
Our knowledge of the origins of Greek tragedy, as well as of the lives of its authors, is scarce and contradictory. The main source is the treatise "Poetics" of the philosopher of the 4th century. BC e. Aristotle. How the tragedies were staged can be judged by archaeological finds. Many theatrical buildings of that time have survived to this day almost entirely; frescoes and paintings on ancient Greek vases often represent scenes from performances. Finally, the texts of the tragedies themselves make it possible to draw a conclusion about the peculiarities of their staging.
Greek dramatic performances have their origins in festivals associated with Dionysus, the god of winemaking. There were many of these holidays, they were celebrated at different times of the year, and they were associated with rural work: growing grapes or making wine. The largest and brightest festival was the Great Dionysia (March - April), which became from the middle of the 6th century. BC e. official holiday throughout Attica. It lasted six days. On the first day, a goat was sacrificed to Dionysus, accompanying the sacrifice with the singing of hymns in honor of the god of winemaking - praises. The dithyramb was sung by a choir dressed in costumes satyrs, companions of Dionysus, who had goat features in their appearance. The members of the choir not only sang, but also danced, reproducing the content of the song with their movements. It is the dithyramb that is considered the forerunner of Greek tragedy: the word itself tragedy literally translated means "goat song" or "goat song".
During the Great Dionysius, competitions of poets were held for three days and tragedies were performed. Each of the three competitors had to submit tetralogy that is, four works: three tragedies and one satyr drama - a cheerful stage performance, the participants of which portrayed satyrs.
Dionysus
Theatrical performances associated with a religious cult were considered in Athens a matter of national importance. One of the archons, the highest officials, was responsible for their conduct. The author approached him with a request to "appoint a choir", that is, to allow the staging of his plays. It depended on the archon whether this playwright would be among the three admitted to participate in the festival. The costs of staging the dramas of each author were assigned by the authorities to some wealthy citizen - chorega("bringing out the choir"). He needed to recruit a choir, pay for the production of costumes and scenery, rent a room for rehearsals - in a word, provide money for everything that is needed for the performance. Choregia (acting as a choreg) was considered, although burdensome, but an honorable state duty, no less honorable than equipping a warship. Anyone who thus participated in the staging of dramas enjoyed the respect of fellow citizens.
Greek dramatic performances combined recitation with singing and dancing. The poet composed not only the text, but was also the director, sometimes he taught the participants in the performance the melodies of choral parts and dances.
At the end of the holiday, a special commission, consisting of representatives of all the Athenian districts, distributed awards. Choreg, playwright and main actor were awarded (protagonist) they were crowned with ivy (this plant was twined with thyrsus - the rod of Dionysus). Information about performances and prizes (didaskalia) were kept in the state archives and were published by Aristotle in the 4th century. BC e. Each tragedy was staged only once. Only for the works of Aeschylus was an exception made.
Tragedy rehearsal
Theater in the city of Segesta
The theater was not entertainment, but was the center of the political, religious and cultural life of the Athenian people. Athenian democracy sought to introduce all citizens to culture. The theater was seen as a place of public religious celebrations, so when they introduced an entrance fee, the poorest citizens were given money from the state treasury so that they too could attend the theater. Political events resonated in dramatic works, and the theater played the role of a public educator for the broadest masses of citizens. In the comedy of Aristophanes "The Frogs" (5th century BC), Aeschylus, as one of the characters, says:
This is what we, poets, should think about and care about.
from the very first song
To be useful, so that wisdom and honor among
sow obedient citizens.
(Translated by A. Piotrovsky)As Aristotle points out, in its development, tragedy underwent many changes and did not immediately acquire the harsh and majestic appearance familiar to us. Ancient Greek tragedy is distinguished from the later one by the obligatory presence of hora, consisting of twelve, later, starting with Sophocles, fifteen people; the leader of the choir was called luminary. The chorus was a necessary element of the tragedy, its parts alternated with the dialogues of the actors. Here is how the Roman poet Horace (I century BC) wrote about the appointment of the choir:
The chorus is sometimes assigned a role, like an actor:
Let him not stray from her and sing between actions
That which goes to the cause and is directed towards a common goal.
(“On the Art of Poetry”. Translated by M. Gasparov)Ancient Greek tragedies are written in verse: dialogues are written in iambic trimeter (that is, a verse consisting of three two-foot iambic combinations), and choral songs are written in more complex poetic meters, which are very difficult to convey in Russian translation. Different from the spoken, especially in the choral parts, the language of tragedies, their high, solemn style - all this emphasized the festive atmosphere that reigned during dramatic performances. In the already mentioned comedy of Aristophanes "The Frogs" Aeschylus owns the following words:
...inevitability itself
We are commanded for lofty thoughts and deeds to find
grand speeches.
Befits heroes and marvelous gods to speak the language
excellent.
(Translated by A. Piotrovsky)Initially, only one actor participated in the performance. It is assumed that he only answered the questions of the luminary: according to one version, the word that denoted the actor in Greek is translated as "answering." Then Aeschylus introduces a second actor, and Sophocles a third. One actor played several roles. There were also extras - actors who did not utter a single word. In Chained Prometheus, such a character without words is Strength. Over time, the role of the choir gradually decreased and more place was occupied by dialogues. In Aeschylus's later work Chained Prometheus, the songs of the choir make up only a quarter of the volume of the entire tragedy.
Scene from a tragedy
The tragedy begins with the acting parts that make up prologue("foreword"). The prologue names the setting, sometimes the characters, and explains what happened to those characters before the action begins. The beginning of the tragedy can also be the arrival of the choir and its song - Parod. Subsequently, there is an alternation episodic(“appearances”), during which some characters disappear and new ones appear, and stasimov(“standings”), that is, the songs of the choir. The choral parts are built symmetrically and consist of stanza("turns") and antistrophe(“turns in the opposite direction”), therefore, the choir accompanied its singing with various movements. Epode- a choral part, different in structure from the stanza and antistrophe. Follows the last stasim exodus("exit") - the final part of the tragedy, at the end of which the actors and the choir leave the place of the game. In episodies and exodes, a dialogue between the actor and the luminary is possible, as well as commos. Translated, this word means "blows": a beating in the chest served as an expression of grief. Kommos is the joint part of the actor and the choir in the most pathetic parts of the tragedy.
Scene from a tragedy
Theatrical performances were played right in the open air, in Athens, on the southern slope of the Acropolis. One of the main parts of the theater was orchestra("platform for dancing"), which had a different shape, but more often it was a circle with a diameter of about twenty meters, on which a performance was held. In the center of it was the altar of Dionysus. It remains unclear where the actors played. It is believed that in the V century. BC e. and the actors and the choir were located on the orchestra. Behind the orchestra was skena- a building with dressing rooms for actors, originally wooden, then stone. It had three doors through which the actors went to the orchestra and left it.
Plan of the theater in the city of Epidaurus
With the development of the theater, its architecture also changed. Subsequently, a special elevation appeared for the actors in front of the skene - proscenium. Two-thirds of the orchestra was surrounded by seats for spectators - theatron("spectacle"). The wooden, later stone theatron ledges up the hill. These three elements - the orchestra for the choir, the skene with a proskenium for the actors and the theatron for the audience - are the main ones for both ancient and modern theater.
Theatrical performances occupied an important place in the public life of the city, and visiting the theater was mandatory for all its citizens, so there were a lot of places for spectators: theaters were preserved, where several thousand spectators could be at the same time. Ancient theaters had excellent acoustics, and in our time performances are sometimes staged in the surviving theaters.
Mechanical devices were also used in the theater, although their set was limited. When it was necessary to show what was happening in the course of action inside the house, a wagon on wooden wheels rolled out of the doors of the skene - with the actors. With the help of the so-called crane- a long pole that serves as a lever (remember village wells), - they lifted actors into the air who portrayed winged creatures. That is how, they suggest, in the tragedy "Chained Prometheus" the Ocean appeared on a griffin. It must be said that ancient tragedy generally avoided showing action. For example, the murder never happened in front of the public, one of his witnesses told about it. The poets counted on the imagination of the audience, who themselves conjectured what could not be depicted in a theatrical production.
tragic masks
The actors performed in special long clothes, on their feet were koturny(shoes with high soles). Their faces were covered with masks made of canvas covered with plaster, with a wide opening for the mouth to amplify the sound. The mask indicated the gender, age, social status, moral qualities and state of mind of the represented person. Images of various masks on vases have been preserved, and their list in one of the ancient dictionaries has also come down to us: twenty-eight names of tragic masks. They were made for the most part not for each individual role, but for a certain type of character. Male and female masks differed (female roles were played by men), masks of gods and other mythological characters. Who exactly the mask represents could be recognized by some characteristic features.
Tragedies were written on historical and mythological subjects. The only Greek tragedy that has completely come down to us, the plot of which was historical events, is Aeschylus's Persians. This tragedy speaks of the campaign of the Persian king Xerxes against Greece in 480 BC. e. and the victory of the Greeks, who were patronized by the gods. However, most often the plot is based on mythological motifs.
Word myth Greek and literally means "word", "story". Usually, myths mean stories about gods, about heroes associated with the gods by their origin, who participated directly or indirectly in the creation of the world itself, natural phenomena and cultural achievements. For a primitive society, mythology is the main way of understanding the world. Without separating himself from nature, man animated it and transferred human properties, external and internal, to natural objects. The story about the events of the past that took place at the very beginning of time serves in myth as a means of describing the structure of the world, a way of explaining it. However, myths are not fairy tales. In a fairy tale, unlike a myth, events are perceived as fantastic, as fiction.
The most numerous and late group are myths. etiological(explanatory), telling about the origin of any objects, natural phenomena, and finally, the people themselves and their customs. The protagonists of such myths are often cultural heroes. These are mythological characters who procure or for the first time create for people various devices that make life easier, for example, tools; they teach people certain skills: hunting, farming, introduce customs and holidays. The story about this later becomes the basis of the plot of ancient works of art, which are the source of our knowledge of ancient mythology.
One of the etiological myths is the myth of the theft of fire, which exists among the peoples of the whole world. Fire played a huge role in people's lives and was perceived as the property of the gods, which they hid from people. The Greeks acted as a fire stealer Prometheus, the myth of which was widespread in ancient literature. Writers freely reworked mythological material in accordance with their artistic goals, and it is not surprising that the myth of Prometheus is presented differently in the work of various authors.
Zeus
The first literary treatment of this myth that has come down to us is the poems of Hesiod (VIII-VII centuries BC) “Theogony” (“The Origin of the Gods”) and “Works and Days”. Hesiod lists successive generations of gods and comes to titans, gods of the second generation, children of Heaven - Uranus and Earth - Gaia. The son of one of the titans, Iapetus, was Prometheus. Hesiod tells how Prometheus deceived the gods when sacrificing: the gods got the inedible parts of animals (fat and bones), and the people got the meat. Having revealed the deceit, Zeus, the supreme god, decided not to give people fire, but Prometheus stole him, hiding him in the stem of a narthex - a reed, the core of which slowly smolders and thereby preserves the fire. For this, Zeus sent misfortune on people, and Prometheus was chained to a rock at the end of the earth. Every day the eagle pecked out his liver, which grew back overnight. Subsequently, the eagle was killed by Hercules - and Prometheus was spared from torment.
Hesiod expounds this myth to glorify Zeus, to show his wisdom and the futility of any attempt to resist her or surpass the supreme god in cunning. The actions of Prometheus cause disasters for people, and an attempt to benefit humanity turns both against them and against itself. Hesiod does not explain why Prometheus decides to help people. In his poems, Prometheus is a cunning deceiver of Zeus, who was justly punished for his actions.
End of introductory segment.
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The following excerpt from the book Chained Prometheus (Aeschylus) provided by our book partner -
According to the oldest version of the myth that formed the basis of the tragedy, Prometheus, the cousin of Zeus, the titan Prometheus (literally translated - “thinking before”, “foreseeing”) stole fire from the gods from Olympus and handed it over to people, for which Zeus ordered him to be chained to the Caucasian ridge . The eagle regularly arriving every other day pecked at the chained liver, which - to increase suffering - grew again ... These torments were interrupted by Hercules, who killed the eagle and freed Prometheus ...
Before Aeschylus, this legend was told Hesiod
The tragedy of Aeschylus "Bound Prometheus" (in other translations - "Bound Prometheus"), which is the middle part of his trilogy, the exact date of creation of which is unknown. The first part of this trilogy has been lost, only fragments of the last part, Prometheus Unbound, have survived. The second, surviving part begins with Prometheus being chained to a rock. Prometheus, according to Aeschylus, knew well what was destined for him and went to self-sacrifice consciously:
Know well that I would not change
Of their sorrows for slavish service:
I'd rather be chained to a rock
Than faithful to be a servant of Zeus.
Prometheus endures torment without complaining, without dropping his dignity, and only after the removal of his executioners does he complain to all of nature about the injustice of Zeus ...
Unlike the original myth, in the presentation of Aeschylus, Prometheus, in addition to making fire, made people reasonable, taught them crafts, building dwellings, navigation, writing, mantic (interpretation of dreams and fortune-telling), counting and literacy, gave them memory, etc.
According to the testimonies that have come down to us, at the end Zeus, "taught by suffering", frees Prometheus.
Later, it was Aeschylus' Prometheus who became a symbol of heroic behavior. Prometheus was repeatedly dedicated to his works by poets, composers, artists ...
