Part 19

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.

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!