The House of Atreus Part 16

ELECTRA

Like unto those my father's children wear.

CHORUS

Then is this lock Orestes' secret gift?

ELECTRA

Most like it is unto the curls he wore,

CHORUS

Yet how dared he to come unto his home?

ELECTRA

He hath but sent it, clipt to mourn his sire.

CHORUS

It is a sorrow grievous as his death, That he should live yet never dare return.

ELECTRA

Yea, and my heart o'erflows with gall of grief, And I am pierced as with a cleaving dart; Like to the first drops after drought, my tears Fall down at will, a bitter bursting tide, As on this lock I gaze; I cannot deem That any Argive save Orestes' self Was ever lord thereof; nor, well I wot, Hath she, the murd'ress, shorn and laid this lock To mourn him whom she slew--my mother she, Bearing no mother's heart, but to her race A loathing spirit, loathed itself of heaven!

Yet to affirm, as utterly made sure, That this adornment cometh of the hand Of mine Orestes, brother of my soul, I may not venture, yet hope flatters fair!

Ah well-a-day, that this dumb hair had voice To glad mine ears, as might a messenger, Bidding me sway no more 'twixt fear and hope, Clearly commanding, _Cast me hence away, Clipped was I from some head thou lovest not; Or, I am kin to thee, and here, as thou, I come to weep and deck our father's grave._ Aid me, ye G.o.ds! for well indeed ye know How in the gale and counter-gale of doubt, Like to the seaman's bark, we whirl and stray.

But, if G.o.d will our life, how strong shall spring, From seed how small, the new tree of our home!-- Lo ye, a second sign--these footsteps, look,-- Like to my own, a corresponsive print; And look, another footmark,--this his own, And that the foot of one who walked with him.

Mark, how the heel and tendons' print combine, Measured exact, with mine coincident!

Alas! for doubt and anguish rack my mind.

ORESTES (_approaching suddenly_)

Pray thou, in grat.i.tude for prayers fulfilled, _Fair fall the rest of what I ask of heaven_.

ELECTRA

Wherefore? what win I from the G.o.ds by prayer?

ORESTES

This, that thine eyes behold thy heart's desire.

ELECTRA

On whom of mortals know'st thou that I call?

ORESTES

I know thy yearning for Orestes deep.

ELECTRA

Say then, wherein event hath crowned my prayer?

ORESTES

I, I am he; seek not one more akin.

ELECTRA

Some fraud, O stranger, weavest thou for me?

ORESTES

Against myself I weave it, if I weave.

ELECTRA

Ah thou hast mind to mock me in my woe!

ORESTES

'Tis at mine own I mock then, mocking thine.

ELECTRA

Speak I with thee then as Orestes' self?

ORESTES

My very face thou see'st and know'st me not, And yet but now, when thou didst see the lock Shorn for my father's grave, and when thy quest Was eager on the footprints I had made, Even I, thy brother, shaped and sized as thou, Fluttered thy spirit, as at sight of me!

Lay now this ringlet whence 'twas shorn, and judge, And look upon this robe, thine own hands' work, The shuttle-prints, the creature wrought thereon-- Refrain thyself, nor prudence lose in joy, For well I wot, our kin are less than kind.

ELECTRA

O thou that art unto our father's home Love, grief and hope, for thee the tears ran down, For thee, the son, the saviour that should be; Trust thou thine arm and win thy father's halls!

O aspect sweet of fourfold love to me, Whom upon thee the heart's constraint bids call As on my father, and the claim of love From me unto my mother turns to thee, For she is very hate; to thee too turns What of my heart went out to her who died A ruthless death upon the altar-stone; And for myself I love thee--thee that wast A brother leal, sole stay of love to me.

Now by thy side be strength and right, and Zeus Saviour almighty, stand to aid the twain!

ORESTES

Zeus, Zeus! look down on our estate and us, The orphaned brood of him, our eagle-sire, Whom to his death a fearful serpent brought Enwinding him in coils; and we, bereft And foodless, sink with famine, all too weak To bear unto the eyrie, as he bore, Such quarry as he slew. Lo! I and she, Electra, stand before thee, fatherless, And each alike cast out and homeless made.

ELECTRA

And if thou leave to death the brood of him Whose altar blazed for thee, whose reverence Was thine, all thine,--whence, in the after years, Shall any hand like his adorn thy shrine With sacrifice of flesh? the eaglets slain, Thou wouldst not have a messenger to bear Thine omens, once so clear, to mortal men; So, if this kingly stock be withered all, None on high festivals will fend thy shrine Stoop thou to raise us! strong the race shall show, Though puny now it seem, and fallen low.