I pity thee so sore, no wrath nor pride Is in me.--Come, dismount! Bend to the stroke Fate lays on thee, and learn to feel thy yoke.

[_He lays his hand softly on_ Ca.s.sANDRA'S _shoulder_.

Ca.s.sANDRA (_moaning to herself_).

Otototoi ... Dreams. Dreams.

Apollo. O Apollo!

SECOND ELDER.

Why sob'st thou for Apollo? It is writ, He loves not grief nor lendeth ear to it.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Otototoi ... Dreams. Dreams.

Apollo. O Apollo!

LEADER.

Still to that G.o.d she makes her sobbing cry Who hath no place where men are sad, or die.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Apollo, Apollo! Light of the Ways of Men!

Mine enemy!

Hast lighted me to darkness yet again?

SECOND ELDER.

How? Will she prophesy about her own Sorrows? That power abides when all is gone!

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Apollo, Apollo! Light of all that is!

Mine enemy!

Where hast thou led me? ... Ha! What house is this?

LEADER.

The Atreidae's castle. If thou knowest not, I Am here to help thee, and help faithfully.

Ca.s.sANDRA (_whispering_).

Nay, nay. This is the house that G.o.d hateth.

There be many things that know its secret; sore And evil things; murders and strangling death.

'Tis here they slaughter men...A splashing floor.

SECOND ELDER.

Keen-sensed the strange maid seemeth, like a hound For blood.--And what she seeks can sure be found!

Ca.s.sANDRA.

The witnesses ... I follow where they lead.

The crying ... of little children ... near the gate: Crying for wounds that bleed: And the smell of the baked meats their father ate.

SECOND ELDER (_recognizing her vision, and repelled_).

Word of thy mystic power had reached our ear Long since. Howbeit we need no prophets here.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Ah, ah! What would they? A new dreadful thing.

A great great sin plots in the house this day; Too strong for the faithful, beyond medicining ...

And help stands far away.

LEADER.

This warning I can read not, though I knew That other tale. It rings the city through.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

O Woman, thou! The lord who lay with thee!

Wilt lave with water, and then ... How speak the end?

It comes so quick. A hand ... another hand ...

That reach, reach gropingly....

LEADER.

I see not yet. These riddles, pierced with blind Gleams of foreboding, but bemuse my mind.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Ah, ah! What is it? There; it is coming clear.

A net ... some net of h.e.l.l.

Nay, she that lies with him ... is she the snare?

And half of his blood upon it. It holds well....

O Crowd of ravening Voices, be glad, yea, shout And cry for the stoning, cry for the casting out!

SECOND ELDER.

What Fury Voices call'st thou to be hot Against this castle? Such words like me not.

And deep within my breast I felt that sick And saffron drop, which creepeth to the heart To die as the last rays of life depart.

Misfortune comes so quick.

Ca.s.sANDRA.

Ah, look! Look! Keep his mate from the Wild Bull!