Cast of Characters
Eponymous Archon
Watchman of Argos, who saw the signal fires after the fall of Troy
Herdsman of Thebes, who gave away the infant Oedipus
First Child, slain by Medea
Second Child, slain by Medea
Aristotle
Chorus of Greek Playwrights
Citizens of Athens and Elsewhere, silent parts
The Theater of Dionysus at Athens, during the Great Dionysia Festival. A soldier, shepherd, and two children stand at the rear of the stage. The citizens in the Theater are filled with fear and attempt to leave their seats. The Eponymous Archon stands center stage and speaks.
Archon
My good citizens! People of Athens and many other lands, I implore you! Please remain where you are and see what is to pass.The crowd returns to their seats. The Chorus of Greek Playwrights enters and moves slowly around those on stage, keeping their distance.
I was as shocked as the weakest of you when the storm clouds suddenly appeared. Did I not also cry out as the thunder rolled and the very earth seemed to open? My fears joined all of yours as the commotion ceased and I saw our "guests" standing here before us all. Yet I will not run from the unknown and neither should you. Without a doubt, the gods are working here. The power we have witnessed is undeniable. We must stay and see what wisdom will be revealed, whether we laugh or cry.
Chorus
Without warning you cameThe Watchman advances towards the Chorus and speaks.
In a tumultuous roar of quaking earth and thunder.
You four, without name,
Who have torn our competition asunder.
Why, in such a specific time,
Have you arrived while we are gathered today?
We, who work in meter and rhyme,
Wonder what you will say.
Watchman, Herdsman, Child and Child,
Will your words be harsh or mild?
A soldier, boldly you stand,
And look upon us with your unblinking eyes of fire.
Argos would seem to be your land.
What could be your just or evil desire?
A simple shepherd, staff by your side,
Your aged energy spent in your intent stare.
What thought within could you hide
As our eyes meet your disturbing glare?
Two children with unblemished flesh,
You should be playing or learning lessons true.
Yet maturity has replaced what was fresh.
We fear what discourse will come from you.
Watchman, Herdsman, Child and Child,
Will your words be harsh or mild?
Though we are unsure if the future is bleak,
We ask you who stand before us, speak.
Watchman
Long have I thought of this time. Long have I wondered what you would look like. You, who have chosen to govern the lives of men as if you were the gods themselves! Let me be the first to tell you, your appearance does not represent the power you hold.Chorus
What power do you speak of? Surely one of power would be able to discern who you are.Watchman
By Olympus! You have designed our very lives and yet do not recognize us?Chorus
We do not.Watchman
O shame! What could be more disgraceful than to be unknown by your creators, even if they are as cold as you who stand before me? I shall tell you who we are and our purpose here, and may you shudder to hear our stories!Herdsman
Tell them now!First Child
Yes, quickly!Watchman
We four are the reality of the tragedies you have written. You poets, for the sake of entertainment and vain honor, have set down our lives in a most sorrowful way. Through many prayers and offerings the gods have seen fit to give us substance and voice that we may demand justice!Chorus
Can this be? We cannot believe such miraculous talk!Watchman
Yes, my makers, we are truly real. And now, since you seem to have forgotten your crimes against us, we will remind you of our suffering!Chorus
We will listen in amazement!Watchman
You have discerned by my armor that I am a soldier of Argos. It was I who stood watch night after night, left only to my dark and despairing thoughts, by command of Queen Clytemnestra. I was to look to the horizon for news from distant Troy, by way of signal fires she herself had designed.Chorus
One evening I stood, wondering if my duty would ever end, when I saw a flame in the distance at long last! My heart leapt for joy! My King Agamemnon was coming home in victory! I longed to tell the Queen immediately, though for some reason I could not fully trust her. I was soon to find out my suspicions were true!
Tragic news travels quickly. Soon I knew that Clytemnestra had killed my King and his Trojan mistress! O, the pain I did feel at that moment! To know that I was the herald that announced his coming! I informed the Queen of his return, only so she could begin her foul plan to end his life! Do you not see how the blame has fallen on me? O, how I wish my suspicions would have led me to somehow warn the King!
I have lived long with this grief. I am a faithful and just soldier, and not deserving of this torment! Yet you have inflicted this pain upon me! You have written this suffering into my very life! Is there justice in what you have done?
Wonder and amazement!Watchman
Your words have pierced into our minds!
This news is so unusual,
So strange and unexpected,
Could we have been so unkind?
Your tale is certainly true.
We now remember the plot well.
But we did not write your feelings or moments
After Agamemnon's knell.
It's so difficult to understand
The authority of our hands!
We do sympathize with you.
We see your wounds are deep.
But surely we did not
Realize our terrible deed!
We have not lost any sleep!
It's so difficult to understand
The authority of our hands!
You deny what you have done?Chorus
We are unsure!Watchman
Have you written my life?Chorus
Only as history has told us.Watchman
But you control history! You have rule over minor events! Could not the dreaded Clytemnestra herself have seen the fires from her chamber window?Chorus
Perhaps.Watchman
And I would be spared this guilt!Chorus
But we had no ill intention! We speak the truth!Watchman
Outrage! What do you who are heartless know of truth! I will hear no more. Listen now to the tears of another.The Watchman steps back as the Herdsman approaches the Chorus.
Herdsman
The withered hand of Time has touched my body with age. Without a doubt, I am old and many years have taken their toll on me. Yet I tell you that the wrinkles in my face are canals carved by tears of grief! My tunic is stained not with dust, but bitter lamentation.Chorus
In my youth, I was raised in the house of King Laius, the most noble of men. His other servants taught me the ways of the flocks, and being one preferring a quiet life, I soon became a shepherd of Cithaeron. I wouldn't say I was better or worse than the King's other men, but Laius did encourage me often and made known his trust in me. I yearn that I might have been thought criminal instead!
Why would you desire dishonor?Herdsman
For this trust extended to the handing over of his newborn son! An oracle was known that this boy would kill King Laius, as I was told by Queen Jocasta as she gave the infant to me. She instructed me to leave the boy to die, and I agreed. Yet, my fragile emotions were soon to have other plans.Chorus
My heart cried out louder than the babe as I pierced his tiny ankles! I could not bear to leave such innocent life on the hillside to die! I sat and wondered what to do.
Soon, another herdsman who I had met many times before passed by. Instantly I begged him to take the child, knowing he could grow and live a full life in other country. As my friend left with the boy, I felt much relieved. But o, what a day of deception that was!
Years later, when I looked as you see me now, I had to confront that infant as a man. I was forced to tell of my betrayal of the Royal Family who loved me. I saw the pain in the Queen's eyes as she she realized what I had done! Yes, I stood before Oedipus, full of anguish, and he knew that I could have prevented his misery! How could you men of dominion, profane though you are, have given such a life to a simple herdsman? What have you involved me in such a dreadful story?
Another familiar tale, that is certain.Herdsman
Many times has it crossed our stage.
Yet let us examine the meaning of guilt
And perhaps calm your rage.
Oedipus, of whom you speak,
Was neither foolish nor extremely weak.
Vile incest and patricide,
Surely crimes from which to hide,
Yet Oedipus had no evil mind.
He never knew he was unkind.
You, who feel you are at fault,
And talk now to us in rash assault,
Must know that you are good at heart.
No sinful motive from the start.
Pity, though its outcome base,
Should not bring remorse to your face.
Lastly we, those you accuse,
Did not purposely our talent use
To shame a single one of you!
It is against our will to do!
Without knowing your reality,
There is no guilt that we can see.
How can you blame us, old man?
Though still we are shocked, we must defend
Ourselves from your judgment.
Our minds will not bend!
What unrighteousness do I hear! How can I listen as your try to justify what you have done to us? My companions, I fear this journey has only brought us more pain!Watchman
The children have not yet spoken. Perhaps they will bring affliction to our designers' minds.Herdsman
Come forth, little ones.The Herdsman steps back as the Children approach the Chorus.
First Child
Why have you been so cruel to us? We lived a happy childhood with games and laughter, and you took that away from us! Youth holds no joy for us now!Second Child
How could you have done this? We, who were capable of no harm, were used as instruments of death by our wicked mother! And after that, you left us with no more days to atone for our deeds!Chorus
What can you mean by this?First Child
By our own flesh and blood we were slain!The Children quickly pull back their tunics to reveal wounds to their hearts.
Chorus
Be merciful, Great Zeus!First Child
We can see from your expressions that you know who we are. Our mother was Medea of Colchis, who deeply loved our father Jason. You should remember how our mother was wronged when he sought to marry the daughter of the King of Corinth.Second Child
So angry was our mother that murder entered her thoughts! Her ways of sorcery enabled her to poison a woven dress and golden diadem, and we were made to deliver them! Weapons of darkness!First Child
The King and his daughter died horrible deaths. Not even our great grandfather Helius could have saved them. But we never had a chance to cry for them!Second Child
Mother, with eyes of fire, cut us down and stole our bodies away! O, the fright of that day!The Children begin to cry.
Chorus
Weep for the children.Watchman
Can you hear their cries?
Weep for those unwept for!
Those who sadly died.
Your torture is so very profound.
What could be more terrifying
Than the hand that calmed your infants sounds
Restoring mournful crying?
Weep for the children.
Truly they have done no wrong.
Yet tears are their instrument!
Tribulation is their song!
You have persuaded us to mourn.
You have persuaded us to grieve.
We have caused great harm to many.
Grant us no reprieve.
You admit your crimes?Chorus
We never fully denied them. We only misunderstood them.Herdsman
You now see our pain?Chorus
Indeed, we also feel it.Watchman
Justice prevails! Listen now to what is required!Herdsman
Hear the decree!Second Child
Yes, listen!Watchman
No longer will you write these tragedies and thus heap sorrows upon innocent men. You will learn new trades, and never again...Suddenly, there is a murmur in the audience, as Aristotle leaves his seat and makes his way to the stage.
Aristotle
You will be silent!Watchman
By whose command?Aristotle
A citizen of Athens, and a man, both of whom benefit from tragedy!Chorus
Speak to them, Aristotle! Have you an answer to this conflict?Aristotle
Indeed I do, for I know the purpose of these plays.The Watchman, Herdsman, and Children slowly disappear as the Chorus gathers around Aristotle center stage.
These tragedies are a form of imitation that men take great pleasure in seeing. Although these are imitations of sorrowful events, this is right, for in viewing pity and fear, written by our playwrights and experienced by you, our characters, man is purged of these harmful emotions that he will not be plagued by them to an extreme.
My sad people, take comfort in knowing that your lives have brought generations of people true favor! You have restored to them peace and reason through your suffering. You will be long remembered.
I call upon you, dear playwrights, to continue to honor the gods and Athens by your work. Let us proceed with the Dionysia! People of our plays, return from whence you came!
Chorus
We are grateful to you, man of wisdom! You have saved our festival, our occupation, and our tradition from a bitter end. May you live in moderation and die content! Now let us thank the gods of high Olympus!Exeunt
Dionysus, you have satisfied
Each man's heart and mind
With this, your festival.
Athena, you have pleased
Each citizen with ease
With this, your city.
Zeus, you have blessed
Each resident and guest
With this, your will.
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Yes, I had the import version of this CD on my 
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