Oresteia

Critique • Quotes

Notable lines

WATCHMAN:
Gods! Free me from these labors!
I've spent a whole year up here, watching,
propped up on my elbows, on the roof
of this house of Atreus, like some dog.
How well I've come to know night's congregation of stars
the blazing monarchs of the sky, those that bring winter
and those that bring summer to us mortals
I know just when they rise and when they set.
So I watch, watch for the signal pyre,
the burning flame that will tell us, Troy is taken!

First lines, Agamemnon, trans. Peter Meineck

There are not many who can admire a man
for his success and not feel envy.

 

What good word
ever comes to men from prophecies?

 

We can all have principles when things go well.

 

I would rather die than be ruled by tyrants.

 

CLYTEMNESTRA:
Hermes of the underworld, guardian of my father's power,
be my saviour, stand with me in the pursuit of my claim.

Last lines, Agamemnon

ORESTES:
Hermes of the underworld, guardian of my father's power,
be my saviour, stand with me in the pursuit of my claim.

First lines, The Libation Bearers, trans. Peter Meineck

When will it end? When will it be calm?
When will it sleep, this fury, this Ruin?

Last lines, Agamemnon

PYTHIA:
First of the gods, foremost in my prayer,
I honor Gaia, the Earth Mother, the first seer....

First lines, The Furies, trans. Peter Meineck

Freely embrace Justice
and you will surely prosper,
you will never know destruction.

 

The peace for both citizen and settler
will last forevermore. All-seeing Zeus
and destiny unite to seal our truce.
Raise the hallowed cry, join our blessing song!

Last lines, The Furies, trans. Peter Meineck

 

Critique • Quotes

See also:

Iliad

Oedipus Rex

The Odyssey

Macbeth

Buy the book:

The Oresteia, Robert Fagles translation

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