The Vision Of Cassandra

CASSANDRA

    Phoebus Apollo!

          CHORUS

    Hark!

    The lips at last unlocking.

          CASSANDRA

    Phoebus! Phoebus!

          CHORUS

    Well, what of Phoebus, maiden? though a name

    'Tis but disparagement to call upon

    In misery.

          CASSANDRA

    Apollo! Apollo! Again!

    Oh, the burning arrow through the brain!

    Phoebus Apollo! Apollo!

          CHORUS

    Seemingly

    Possessed indeed--whether by--

          CASSANDRA

    Phoebus! Phoebus!

    Through trampled ashes, blood, and fiery rain,

    Over water seething, and behind the breathing

    War-horse in the darkness--till you rose again,

    Took the helm--took the rein--

          CHORUS

    As one that half asleep at dawn recalls

    A night of Horror!

          CASSANDRA

    Hither, whither, Phoebus? And with whom,

    Leading me, lighting me--

          CHORUS

    I can answer that--

          CASSANDRA

    Down to what slaughter-house!

    Foh! the smell of carnage through the door

    Scares me from it--drags me toward it--

      Phoebus Apollo! Apollo!

          CHORUS

    One of the dismal prophet-pack, it seems,

    That hunt the trail of blood. But here at fault--

    This is no den of slaughter, but the house

    Of Agamemnon.

          CASSANDRA

      Down upon the towers,

    Phantoms of two mangled children hover--and a famished man,

    At an empty table glaring, seizes and devours!

          CHORUS

    Thyestes and his children! Strange enough

    For any maiden from abroad to know,

    Or, knowing--

          CASSANDRA

      And look! in the chamber below

    The terrible Woman, listening, watching,

    Under a mask, preparing the blow

    In the fold of her robe--

          CHORUS

      Nay, but again at fault:

    For in the tragic story of this House--

    Unless, indeed the fatal Helen--No

    woman--

          CASSANDRA

                  No Woman--Tisiphone! Daughter

    Of Tartarus--love-grinning Woman above,

    Dragon-tailed under--honey-tongued, Harpy-clawed,

    Into the glittering meshes of slaughter

      She wheedles, entices him into the poisonous

    Fold of the serpent--

          CHORUS

                          Peace, mad woman, peace!

    Whose stony lips once open vomit out

    Such uncouth horrors.

          CASSANDRA

                          I tell you the lioness

    Slaughters the Lion asleep; and lifting

    Her blood-dripping fangs buried deep in his mane,

    Glaring about her insatiable, bellowing,

    Bounds hither--Phoebus Apollo, Apollo, Apollo!

    Whither have you led me, under night alive with fire,

    Through the trampled ashes of the city of my sire,

    From my slaughtered kinsmen, fallen throne, insulted shrine,

    Slave-like to be butchered, the daughter of a royal line!