Eyes of The Oracle
This piece features the eyes of Cassandra, the oracle who was cursed by Apollo to always speak the truth and never be believed. She was brought back with Agamemnon after the war and killed by Clytemnestra. The quote featured is from Ann Carson’s An Oresteia, in her translation of The Agamemnon. It is spoken by Cassandra before she is killed, as she is speaking what she knows to be true about the horrible place she has been brought to. This sequence lasts a few pages, but the quote I used is a part of the following monologue.
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Okay. No longer.
No longer now out from veils like some firstblush bride shall my oracle glance but as brightness blows the rising sun open it will rush my oceans forward onto light—a wave of woes far worse than these.
No more riddles.
Bear me witness:
I know that smell. Evils. Evils long ago.
A chorus of singers broods upon this house, they never leave, their tune is bad, they drink cocktails of human blood and party through the rooms.
You will not get them out.
They are kin to the Furies and sing of original evil, marriage beds that stink of life gone wrong.
Do I miss the mark? Am I a prophet of lies?
Just babbling?
Or do you admit I’m a pretty good shot.
Bear me witness:
I see this place I see its ancient sins.
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Fun Facts:
Cassandra references the "ancient sins" of the house. This is likely referencing the (literally) cursed history of the family, which began with Tantalus who had his children served to the gods at a banquet (for those who are concerned, the children were brought back to life and he was tortured for eternity), and did not get much better from there.