The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

22 THE TELEGRAPH.
"WATCHMAN. I pray the gods a deliverance from these toils,
a remedy for my year-long watch, in which, couching on my
elbows on the roofs of the Atreidse, like a dog, I have contem-lated the host of the nightly stars, and the bright potentates
at bear winter and summer to mortals, conspicuous in the
Firmament. And now 1 am watching for the signal of the
beacon, the blaze of fire that brings a voice from Troy, and
tidings of its capture; for thus strong in hope is the woman's
heart, of manly counsel. Meanwhile I have a night-bewildered
and dew-drenched couch, not visited by dreams, for fear, in
place of sleep, stands at my side, so that I cannot. firmly close
my eyelids in slumber. And when I think to sing or whistle,
preparing this the counter-charm of song against sleep, then
do I mourn, sighing over the sad condition of this house, that
is not, as of yore, most excellently administered. But now,
may there be a happy release from my toils as the fire of joyous
tidings appears through the gloom. Oh hail! thou lamp of
night, thou that displayest a light as like the day, and the
marshalling of many dances in Argos on account of this event.
Ho! ho! I will give a signal distinctly to the wife of Agamemnon, that she, having arisen with all speed from her couch,
may raise aloud a joyous shout in welcome to this beacon, if
indeed the city of Ilion is taken, as the beacon light stands
forth announcing; and I myself will dance a prelude. For I
will count the throws of my lord that have fallen well; mine
own, since this kindling of the beacon light, has cast me thrice
six. May it then befall me to grasp with this hand of mine
the friendly hand of the sovereign of this palace on his arrival.
CHORus. But thou, daughter of Tyndarus, Queen Clytoemnestra, what means this? What new event? What is it that
thou hast heard? and on the faith of what tidings art thou
burning incense sent around? And the altars of all our cityguarding gods, of those above and those below, gods of heaven
and gods of the forum, are blazing with offerings; and in
different directions different flames are springing upward, high
as heaven, drugged with the mild, unadulterated cordials of
pure ungent, with the royal cake, brought from the inmost
cells. Concerning these things, tell one both what is possible and lawful for thee to say, and become thou the healer
of this distracting anxiety, which now, one while, is full of
evil thought, but at another time, because of the sacrifices,
hope blandly fawning upon me repels the insatiate care, the
rankling sorrow that is preying upon my heart. X * *
I have come revering thy majesty, Clytemnestra; for right