The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 42

Ah! ah! Woe for the house, Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!

EL. A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?

CH. Would I had not! I heard, and s.h.i.+vered through.

CLY. (_within_). Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?

EL. Hark! yet again that sound!

CLY. (_within_). O son, have pity!

Pity the womb that bare thee.

EL. Thou hadst none For him, nor for his father, in that day.

HALF-CH. Poor city! hapless race! 1 Thy destiny to-day Wears thee away, away.

What morn shall see thy face?

CLY. (_within_).

Oh, I am smitten!

EL. Give a second stroke, If thou hast power.

CLY. (_within_).

Oh me! again, again!

EL. Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!

CH. The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie Are living powers to-day.

Long dead, they drain away The streaming blood of those who made them die.

_Enter_ ORESTES _and_ PYLADES.

Behold, they come, they come!

His red hand dripping as he moves With drops of sacrifice the War-G.o.d loves.

My 'wildered heart is dumb.

EL. How is it with you, brother?

OR. If Apollo Spake rightfully, the state within is well.

EL. Wretched one, is she dead?

OR. No more have fear Thou shalt be slighted by thy mother's will.

CH. Cease, for I see Aegisthus near in view.

EL. In, in again, boys!

OR. Where do ye behold The tyrant?

EL. To our hand from yonder gate He comes with beaming look.

HALF-CH. Haste, with what speed ye may, 2 Stand on the doorway stone, That, having thus much done, Ye may do all to-day.

OR. Fear not: we will perform it.

EL. Speed ye now: Follow your thought.

OR. We are already there.

EL. Leave matters here to me. All shall go well.

[_Exit_ ORESTES _with_ PYLADES

CH. Few words, as if in gentleness, 'twere good To utter in his ear, That, eager and unware, One step may launch him on the field of blood.

_Enter_ AEGISTHUS.

AEGISTHUS. Which of you know where are the Phocian men Who brought the news I hear, Orestes' life Hath suffered s.h.i.+pwreck in a chariot-race?

You, you I question, you in former time So fearless! You methinks most feelingly Can tell us, for it touches you most near.

EL. I know: a.s.sure thee. Else had I not heard The dearest of all fortunes to my heart.

AEG. Where are the strangers then? Enlighten me.

EL. Yonder. Their hostess entertained them well.

AEG. And did they certainly report him dead?

EL. Not only so. They showed him to our sight.

AEG. May this clear evidence be mine to see?

EL. I envy not the sight that waits you there.

AEG. Against their wont thy words have given me joy.

EL. Much joy be thine, if this be joy to thee!

AEG. Silence, I say! Wide let the gates be flung!

For all the Myceneans to behold And all in Argolis, that if but one Hath heretofore been buoyed on empty hopes Fixed in Orestes, seeing him now dead, He may accept my manage, and not wait For our stern chastis.e.m.e.nt to teach him sense.

EL. My lesson is already learnt: at length I am schooled to labour with the stronger will.

[_The body of_ CLYTEMNESTRA _is disclosed under a veil:_ ORESTES _standing by_

AEG. Zeus! Divine envy surely hath laid low The form I here behold. But if the truth Provoke Heaven's wrath, be it unexpressed.--Unveil!

Off with all hindrance, that mine eye may see, And I may mourn my kinsman as I should.

OR. Thyself put forth thy hand. Not mine but thine To look and speak with kindness to this corse.