HKB
vain To slumber ineffectual. What ho! The queen! how fareth Clytemnestra’s self? Her neck too, hers, is close upon the steel, And soon shall sink, hewn thro’ as justice wills.
[Enter Clytemnestra.
CLYTEMNESTRA What ails thee, raising this ado for us?
SLAVE I say the dead are come to slay the living.
CLYTEMNESTRA Alack, I read thy riddles all too clear— We slew by craft and by like craft shall die. Swift, bring the axe that slew my lord of old; I’ll know anon or death or victory— So stands the curse, so I confront it here.
[Enter Orestes, his sword dropping with blood.
ORESTES Thee too I seek: for him what’s done will serve.
CLYTEMNESTRA Woe, woe! Aegisthus, spouse and champion, slain!
ORESTES What lov’st the man? then in his grave lie down, Be his in death, desert him nevermore!
CLYTEMNESTSA Stay, child, and fear to strike. O son, this breast Pillowed thine head full oft, while, drowsed with sleep, Thy toothless mouth drew mother’s milk from me.
ORESTES Can I my mother spare? speak, Pylades,
PYLADES Where then would fall the hest Apollo gave At Delphi, where the solemn compact sworn? Choose thou the hate of all men, not of gods.
ORESTES Thou dost prevail; I hold thy counsel good.
[To Clytemnestra.
Follow; I will slay thee at his side. With him whom in his life thou lovedst more Than Agamemnon, sleep in death, the meed For hate where love, and love where hate was due!
CLYTEMNESTRA I nursed thee young; must I forego mine eld?
ORESTES Thou slew’st my father; shalt thou dwell with me?
CLYTEMNESTRA Fate bore a share in these things, O my child!
ORESTES Fate also doth provide this doom for thee.
CLYTEMNESTRA Beware, O my child, a parent’s dying curse.
ORESTES A parent who did cast me out to ill!
CLYTEMNESTRA Not cast thee out, but to a friendly home.
ORESTES Born free, I was by twofold bargain sold.
CLYTEMNESTRA Where then the price that I received for thee?
ORESTES The price of shame; I taunt thee not more plainly.
CLYTEMNESTRA Nay, but recount thy father’s lewdness too.
ORESTES Home-keeping, chide not him who toils without.
CLYTEMNESTRA ’Tis hard for wives to live as widows, child.
ORESTES The absent husband toils for them at home.
CLYTEMNESTRA Thou growest fain to slay thy mother, child
ORESTES Nay, ’tis thyself wilt slay thyself, not I.
CLYTEMNESTRA Beware thy mother’s vengeful hounds from hell.
ORESTES How shall I ’scape my father’s, sparing thee?
CLYTEMNESTRA Living, I cry as to a tomb, unheard.
ORESTES My father’s fate ordains this doom for thee.
CLYTEMNESTRA Ah, me! this snake it was I bore and nursed.
ORESTES Ay, right prophetic was thy visioned fear. Shameful thy deed was—die the death of shame!
[Exit, driving Clytemnestra before him.
CHORUS Lo, even for these I mourn, a double death: Yet since Orestes, driven on by doom, Thus crowns the height of murders manifold, I say, ’tis well—that not in night and death Should sink the eye and light of this our home.
There came on Priam’s race and name A vengeance; though it tarried long, With heavy doom it came. Came, too, on Agamemnon’s hall A lion-pair, twin swordsmen strong. And last, the heritage doth fall To him, to whom from Pythian cave The god his deepest counsel gave. Cry out, rejoice! our kingly hall Hath ’scaped from ruin—ne’er again Its ancient wealth be wasted all By two usurpers, sin-defiled— An evil path of woe and bane! On him who dealt the dastard blow Comes Craft, Revenge’s scheming child. And hand in hand with him doth go, Eager for fight, The child of Zeus, whom men below Call Justice, naming her aright. And on her foes her breath Is as the blast of death; For her the god who dwells in deep recess Beneath Parnassus’ brow, Summons with loud acclaim To rise, though late and lame, And come with craft that worketh righteousness.