The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 40

OR. Let go yon vase, that thou may'st learn the whole.

EL. Nay, by the G.o.ds! be not so cruel, sir!

OR. Obey me and thou shalt not come to harm.

EL. Ah, never rob me of what most I love!

OR. You must not hold it.

EL. O me miserable For thee, Orestes, if I lose thy tomb!

OR. Speak no rash word. Thou hast no right to mourn.

EL. No right to mourn my brother who is gone?

OR. Such utterance belongs not to thy tongue,

EL. Oh, am I thus dishonoured of the dead?

OR. Far from dishonour. But this ne'er was thine.

EL. Is't not Orestes' body that I bear?

OR. Nay, but the idle dressing of a tale.

EL. And where is his poor body's resting-place?

OR. Nowhere. Seek not the living with the dead,

EL. My son, what saidst thou?

OR. Nought but what is true.

EL. Doth he yet live?

OR. If I have life in me.

EL. Art thou Orestes?

OR. Let my signet here, That was our father's, tell thine eyes, I am.

EL. O day of days!

OR. Time hath no happier hour.

EL. Is it thy voice?

OR. Hearken not otherwhere.

EL. Have my arms caught thee?

OR. Hold me so for aye!

EL. O dearest women, Argives of my home!

Ye see Orestes, dead in craft, but now By that same craft delivered and preserved.

CH. We see, dear daughter, and the gladsome tear Steals from our eye to greet the bright event.

EL. Offspring of him I loved beyond all telling! I 1 Ah! thou art come,--hast found me, eye to eye Behold'st the face thou didst desire to see.

OR. True, I am here; but bide in silence still.

EL. Wherefore?

OR. Hus.h.!.+ speak not loud, lest one within should hearken.

EL. By ever-virgin Artemis, ne'er will I Think worthy of my fear This useless ma.s.s of woman-cowardice Burdening the house within, Not peering out of door.

OR. Yet know that women too have might in war.

Of that methinks thou hast feeling evidence.

EL. Ah me! thou hast unveiled And thrust before my gaze That burning load of my distress No time will soothe, no remedy will heal.

OR. I know that too. But when we are face to face With the evildoers,--then let remembrance work.

EL. All times alike are fit with instant pain I 2 Justly to mind me of that dreadful day; Even now but hardly hath my tongue been free.

OR. Yes, that is it. Therefore preserve this boon.

EL. Whereby?

OR. Put limits to unseasonable talk.

EL. Ah! brother, who, when thou art come, Could find it meet to exchange Language for silence, as thou bidst me do?

Since beyond hope or thought Was this thy sight to me.

OR. G.o.d gave me to your sight when so he willed.

EL. O heaven of grace beyond The joy I knew but now!

If G.o.d hath brought thee to our roof, A miracle of bounty then is here.

OR. I hate to curb the gladness of thy spirit, But yet I fear this ecstasy of joy.

EL. Oh! after all these years, II Now thou at length hast sped Thy dearest advent on the wished-for way, Do not, in all this woe Thou seest surrounding me--

OR. What means this prayer?

EL. Forbid me not my joy, Nor make me lose the brightness of thy face!