How thy word and act shall issue thou shalt shortly understand.
CHORUS
Up to action, O my comrades! for the fight is hard at hand,
Swift, your right hands to the sword hilt! bare the weapon as for strife.
AEGISTHUS
Lo! I too am standing ready, hilt to hilt, for death, or life!
CHORUS
'Twas thy word and we accept it! onward to the chance of war!
CLYTEMNESTRA
Nay, enough, enough, my champion! we will smite and slay no more.
Already we have heaped enough the harvest-field of guilt,
Enough of wrong and murder, let no other blood be spilt!
Peace, old men! and pass away into the homes by fate decreed,
Lest ill valor meet our vengeance--'twas a necessary deed.
But enough of toils and troubles--be the end, if ever, now,
Ere the wrath of the Avenger deal another deadly blow.
'Tis a woman's word of warning, and let who will list thereto.
AEGISTHUS
But that these should loose and lavish reckless blossoms of the tongue,
And in hazard of their fortune cast upon me words of wrong,
And forget the law of subjects, and to heed their ruler's word--
CHORUS
Ruler? but 'tis not for Argives, thus to own a dastard lord!
AEGISTHUS
I will follow to chastise thee in my coming days of sway.
CHORUS
Not if Fortune guide Orestes safely on his homeward way.
AEGISTHUS
Ah, well I know how exiles feed on hopes of their return!
CHORUS
Feed and batten on pollution of the right, while 'tis thy turn!
AEGISTHUS
Thou shalt pay, be well assured, heavy quittance for thy pride.
CHORUS
Crow and strut, with her beside thee, like a cock, his mate beside!
CLYTEMNESTRA
Heed not thou too highly of them--let the cur-pack growl and yell--
I and thou will rule the palace and will order all things well?
Conclusion of _Agamemnon_. (Morshead.)
4
_Scene from the 'Hercules Mad' of Euripides_
_Translated by Robert Browning_