P. 41, l. 964, The cry.]—­i.e. the cry of the possessed prophetess which rang from the inner sanctuary at Delphi and was interpreted by the priests.—­The last two lines of the speech are plain in their meaning but hard to translate.  Literally:  “when the full, or fulfilled, man walketh his home,—­O Zeus the Fulfiller, fulfil my prayers.”

P. 42, l. 976.]—­The victim has been drawn into the house; the Chorus sing a low boding song:  every audience at a Greek tragedy would expect next to hear a death cry from within, or to see a horrified messenger rush out.  Instead of which the door opens and there is Clytemnestra:  what does she want?  “Come thou also!” One victim is not enough.—­In the next scene we must understand the cause of Clytemnestra’s impatience.  If she stays too long outside, some one will warn Agamemnon; if she leaves Cassandra, she with her second sight will warn the Chorus.  If Cassandra could only be got inside all would be safe!

P. 44, l. 1022, “One there was of old."]—­Asklepios, the physician, restored Hippolytus to life, and Zeus blasted him for so oversetting the laws of nature.

P. 45, l. 1040, Alcmena’s son.]—­Heracles was made a slave to Omphale, Queen of Lydia.  His grumbles at his insufficient food were a theme of comedy.

P. 45, l. 1049, Belike thou canst not yet.]—­Cf. below, ll. 1066 ff.  The Elder speaks in sympathy.  “Very likely you cannot yet bring yourself to submit.”

P. 46, l. 1061, Thou show her.]—­It seems odd to think that this passage has for centuries been translated as if it was all addressed to Cassandra:  “But if you do not understand what I say, please indicate the same with your barbarous hand!”—­What makes Cassandra at last speak?  I think that the Elder probably touches her, and the touch as it were breaks the spell.

P. 47, l. 1072, Cassandra.]—­“Otototoi” really takes the place of a stage direction:  she utters a long low sob.—­The exclamation which I have translated “Dreams!” seems to occur when people see ghosts or visions. Alcestis, 261; Prometheus, 567.  Cf. Phoenissae 1296.—­“Mine enemy!” The name “Apollon” suggested “apollyon," Destroying ... the form which is actually used in the Book of Revelation (Rev. ix. 11).

Observe how, during the lyric scene, Cassandra’s vision grows steadily more definite:  First vague horror of the House:  then the sobbing of children, slain long ago:  then, a new deed of blood coming; a woman in it:  a wife:  then, with a great effort, an attempt to describe the actual slaying in the bath.  Lastly, the sight of herself among the slain. (This last point is greatly developed by Euripides, Trojan Women, ll. 445 ff., pp. 33 f.).

The story of the Children of Thyestes is given below, ll. 1590 ff., p. 73.  Procne (or Philomela) was an Attic princess who, in fury against her Thracian husband, Tereus, killed their child Itys, or Itylus, and was changed into a nightingale, to weep for him for ever.