The Lyrical Dramas of Aeschylus Translated into English VerseAeschylus
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The Lyrical Dramas of Aeschylus Translated into English Verse
Aeschylus
Aeschylus -- Translations into English; Mythology, Greek -- Drama
Strange as this doctrine may seem to our modern physiologists, it seems
founded on a very natural notion; and to the Greeks, who had such a low
estimate of women, must have appeared perfectly orthodox. The same
doctrine is enunciated by the poet in the Suppliants, v. 279, when he
says, "the male artist has imprinted a Cyprian character on your female
features"--the image being borrowed from the art of coining. And this,
like many fancies cherished by the Greeks, seems to have had its home
originally in {384} Egypt. STAN. quotes from Diodorus I. 80, who
says--"The Egyptians count none of their sons bastards, not even the
sons of a bought slave. For they are of opinion that the father is the
only author of generation; the mother but supplieth space and
nourishment to the fœtus." In the play of Euripides, Orestes uses the
same argument (Orest. 543).
Note 47 (p. 162).
"Now, hear my ordinance, Athenians!"
This address of the goddess, of practical wisdom, in constituting the
Court of the Areopagus, was pointed by the poet directly against the
democratic spirit, in his day beginning to become rampant in Athens; and
is applicable not less to all times in which great and, perhaps,
necessary social changes take place. The poet states, with the most
solemn distinctness, that the mere love of liberty will never protect
liberty from degenerating into licentiousness; but that a religious
reverence for law is as essential to society as a religious jealousy of
despotism. Only he who profoundly fears God can dispense with the fear
of man; and he who fears both God and man is the only good citizen.
Note 48 (p. 162).
". . . Here, on this hill,
The embattled Amazons pitched their tents of yore."
The Amazons, "as strong as men" (αντιάνειραι, Il. III. 189),
are famous in the history of the Trojan war; and their expedition
against Athens, mentioned here, was familiar to every Athenian eye, from
the painting in the _Stoa Pœcile_, described by Pausanias (I. 15). As
to the historical reality of these hardy females, the sober Arrian (VII.
13) is by no means inclined (after the modern German fashion) to brush
them, with a stroke of his pen, out of the world of realities; and,
considering what a strange and strangely adaptable creature man is, I
see no reason why we should be sceptical as to their historical
existence.
Note 49 (p. 163).
"Thou say'st."
"This is an ancient way of replying to a captious question, as we see
in the Gospel (Matth. xxvii.), where, when Pilate asks, 'art thou the
king of the Jews,' our Lord, Jesus Christ, answers in these very words
Συ λέγεις--'_Thou say'st._'"--STAN.
Note 50 (p. 163).
"Such were thy deeds in Pheres' house."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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