A Kind of Blindness: Chapter Seven

[fewthistle]

A Kind of Blindness
Fewthistle
Warehouse 13
Myka/H.G.
Disclaimer: Property of Syfy and other foolish souls who squandered the wonder that is Helena and Myka. I would never have been so unwise.
Rating: R to NC-17, dependent on chapter
Chapter 7/?
Words: 5,812

Author’s Note: This is a sequel to By the Pricking of My Thumbs. While

Comments

[fewthistle]

Thank you so much! You are always so amazingly kind and generous in your comments and I am so very grateful to you for the support!

I must admit, I adore Yeats. This is one of my favorite of his poems and it did remind me terribly of Helena, particularly the one of canon, although it does work for mine as well (I can't help thinking of this incarnation as mine). I also love "Adam's Curse", among many others. Perhaps it wasn't Yeats you disliked but the way it was taught *g*.

And the translation I have is a very old copy of Edith Hamilton's translation from the 1930's. It was staged on Broadway and then I believe a film in the 1970's. It may be markedly dissimilar to other translations, as I have found over the years.The book is called The Greek Plays: Prometheus Bound, Agamemnon, and The Trojan Women . I've always liked the quote, for the one small spark of sanity in Cassandra's speeches:
But I will show you. This town now, yes, Mother, is happier than the Greeks. I know that I am mad, but Mother, dearest, now, for this one time
I do not rave.
One woman they came hunting, and one love,
Helen, and men by tens of thousands died.
Their king, so wise, to get what most he hated destroyed what most he loved, his joy at home, his daughter, killing her for a brother's sake, to get him back a woman who had fled because she wished--not forced to go.
And when they came to the banks of the Scamander those thousands died. And why?
No man had moved their landmarks or laid siege to their high-walled towns.
But those whom war took never saw their children.
No wife with gentle hands shrouded them for their grave.
They lie in a strange land. And in their homes are sorrows, too, the very same.
Lonely women who died, old men who waited for sons that never came--no son left to them to make the offering at their graves.

And yes, we should all be so lucky as to find someone to love us like that. I thank you so, so much for the lovely compliments and the generous praise. You are a genuinely kind soul.

Cheers!!

Few

[green78]

Ah, yes, I remember that monologue - Cassandra saying how the Trojans are luckier. My lines were quite violent in comparison, actually. Wow. (Here's me, btw, just 'cause: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21444616@N07/2438914625/)

I don't believe I've read "Adam's Curse." I'll have to check my textbook. And I'm impartial to Yeats 'cause I'm a fan of Blake, and Yeats idolized him. Every time I read Yeats, to me it seems like he's trying to imitate Blake and put his own spin on it, and in my mind it doesn't work. But, to each her own. If you like Yeats, power to ya. I wish I'd known, I'd have asked you for help understanding "Lapis Lazuli." :D

[fewthistle]

Very nice photo! And yes, I've read other translations that are far more vitriolic. I actually like Hamilton's translations. They read far easier to me than some others.

Hmm. Here's a copy. I do love it:http://homepages.wmich.edu/~cooneys/poems/WBY.AdamsCurse.html

And how funny. I honestly can't stand Blake, or any of the Romantics that followed him, but I love Yeats and Eliot. I know, odd duck.

[green78]

Oh, but Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is wonderful! But then, I love the musical. And thank you! *blush* I'll have to look over "Adam's Curse" when I have ten seconds. Thanks for the link! :) And I've read Edith Hamilton's mythology translations. I like them a lot - very comprehensive.

[fewthistle]

I don't know if you're a Sinead fan, but I've loved this song for over 20 yrs. and there is some tangential relationship to this chapter and this fic. I must admit, it was in my head while I wrote this part, and I've been listening to it all day. This is the original video she released for the song. Rather odd, but then, Sinead has never claimed to be normal.

Troy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-zHwkPnr3c
Live Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZLSSnh6q4

[green78]

Morristown, but yes. I'm not there anymore - I only did a year there. Why, you live nearby?

[green78]

I have a friend who goes to Drew! What year is the girl you know? If she's a senior, I might know her ('cause damn that college is small). Did you take part in the CSE/Drew/FDU battle they have every year? I forget what the whole thing is called...

How I used to describe CSE:
Drew = this big: o
FDU = this big: O
Us = this big: .