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Opera in English, in two acts. Based on the original tragedy by Sophocles, and following the structural scenic form of the ancient Greek Drama.
Song Info
Track Files
MP3
MP3 5.8 MB • 128 kbps • 6:18
Story behind the song
Tekmessa, the war-won bride of Ajax, a foreigner, but respected and honored among the Salaminians, comes out of the tent of Ajax, and describes the horrific events of slaughter and butchery, committed by Ajax that night.
Lyrics
The First Episode
Tekmessa
Shipmates of reigning Ajax, descendants of the Erechthid natives!...Alas! Bitter sorrow!...Here on the foreign land, endeavoring as one to guard the heart of Telemon. Mighty Ajax, is in his tent, mentally obscured and deranged in a storm.
Chorus
But what sorrow has brought itself the Day replacing night? Daughter of Phrygian Teleutas, tell all: With battle taken marriage the valiant Ajax cherishes you. You know all and can tell.
Tekmessa
A bitter misfortune has happened -- what is Death before it?
At night, embraced by unexpected madness,
Fame and glory was dishonored by Ajax himself.
Look, and you will see under the canopy of a tent heaps filled in by blood of the victims torn to pieces, -- ink fallen from the hand of Ajax.
Chorus
STROPHE
O, Day of sorrow! The sword blackened with blood by his own hand, bulls and riding shepherds insanely struck and killed. There is no doubt: His fame and renown will be destroyed.
Tekmessa
Alas!...Then...Then he himself led the captive herds. One of the animals he suffocated, others he tore in two having ripped up the belly. Two white rams were seized -- one was decapitated, with the tongue cut out, flung away.
Another in the tent to a column was bound. And, taking leather horse reins he braided them into a leather lash. Swearing fiercely, as he worked -- God inspired those speeches to the madman.
Chorus
ANTISTROPHE
It is time to cover our heads and slip away unnoticed
To run from here, or, on a ship bench to sit down and,
having seized for fast oars, to drive the vessel to the open space of the wide sea....
Punishment threatens us from the dual power of the Atreidae--
They will stone us with him, and make us accept his undefended fate together!
Tekmessa
It has passed, ...He has calmed down, like the gusty wind...There are no more lightnings...Now begins the agony of burdensome grief.
Chorus
I agree and fear it was a god that certainly struck him, -- when needed rest brings no respite, what is more malicious?
Tekmessa
You judge truly: and so it is.
Learn and share his sorrow...
At the midnight hour,
when already expired the Evening fires,
having taken a sword two-edge sharp,
he set to go out, without any purpose.
What are you thinking, Ajax? Where do you rush off to at night?
The messenger did not call, there were no sounds of Military trumpets, all of the army now sleeps....
Quiet, my wife! Silence is your grace!....and he runs outside alone.
What happened outside I do not know,
but he comes back, driving cows, shepherd-dogs -- all tied together!
He binds and ties them together, as if the animals were people,
and he beats the cattle!....
Then through the door he leaves, and there, outside, having started talking to a hidden shadow, he begins to make a fuss over the Atreidae, and Odysseus -- and with loud laughter triumphs his revenge -- returns to the tent, where gradually reason returns to him.
Chorus
Punishment threatens us.
Tekmessa
He gazes at all the terrible work he has done, sitting on the remains of the chopped corpses.
In despair deep he is now. .
Chorus
They will stone us with him and make us accept his undefended fate together!
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