Soldiers and sailors, after years spent overseas, at war, express their feelings of homesickness -- and patriotism, in song, and dance.
classical
opera
orchestra
tragedy
ajax
ballet
sophocles
Story behind the song
With the death of their commander, and trouble brewing from the Atreidae, the Salaminians express the increased feelings of frustration over a long war, and of ever returning home.
Lyrics
20. The Third Stasimon
Chorus
Strophe 1
Ah, after years of bitter suffering, does the light of rescue and salvation brighten? Is the end of eternally cursed service at hand?...To finally relinquish the fields of Troy, the shame and grief of native Illiad.
Antistrophe 1
Even though the ether of immeasurable Hell, first filled with the Torment of cruel war, it will be among the sons of Illiad first cited! Evil breeds evil, trouble brings trouble! and From it today we perish.
Strophe 2
Because of it, tender wreaths are not for us, the happiness of deep cups of wine we have forgotten, and unhappily, The sweet song of flutes ringing in our ears, has been taken away.
Love, love, and night dreams of joy! On our curls hang drops of night dew....We lie without caresses, alone, deprived of love, O grief!;
O, to never remember ill-starred Troy!
Antistrophe 2
Here by my side, lies Ajax, courageous, brave. A true shield , from the foea019s javelin, from all fears of the night. Ajax was our stronghold, and Our stronghold Fell; Not for us, his life sent away from the world brought to sacrifice by a dark demon.
O, to see again Suniuma019s shores, where on the sands the azure waves crest and falla026 to look at the forested verdure of your promontory, and to be able yet once more to send greetings to you, holy Athens!
(Dance)
