LEADER.

I think the deed is done. It was the King Who groaned.... Stand close, and think if anything....

[_The Old Men gather together under the shock, and debate confusedly._

ELDER B.

I give you straight my judgement. Summon all The citizens to rescue. Sound a call!

ELDER C.

No, no! Burst in at once without a word!

In, and convict them by their dripping sword!

ELDER D.

Yes; that or something like it. Quick, I say, Be doing! 'Tis a time for no delay.

ELDER E.

We have time to think. This opening ... They have planned Some scheme to make enslavement of the land.

ELDER F.

Yes, while we linger here! They take no thought Of lingering, and their sword-arm sleepeth not!

ELDER G.

I have no counsel. I can speak not. Oh, Let him give counsel who can strike a blow!

ELDER H.

I say as this man says. I have no trust In words to raise a dead man from the dust.

ELDER I.

How mean you? Drag out our poor lives, and stand Cowering to these defilers of the land?

ELDER J.

Nay, 'tis too much! Better to strive and die!

Death is an easier doom than slavery.

ELDER K.

We heard a sound of groaning, nothing plain, How know we--are we seers?--that one is slain?

ELDER L.

Oh, let us find the truth out, ere we grow Thus pa.s.sionate! To surmise is not to know.

LEADER.

Break in, then! 'Tis the counsel ye all bring, And learn for sure, how is it with the King.

[_They cl.u.s.ter up towards the Palace Door, as though to force an entrance, when the great Door swings open, revealing_ CLYTEMNESTRA, _who stands, axe in hand, over the dead bodies of_ AGAMEMNON _and_ Ca.s.sANDRA.

_The body of_ AGAMEMNON _is wrapped in a rich crimson web. There is blood on_ CLYTEMNESTRA'S_ brow, and she speaks in wild triumph._

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Oh, lies enough and more have I this day Spoken, which now I shame not to unsay.

How should a woman work, to the utter end, Hate on a d.a.m.ned hater, feigned a friend; How pile perdition round him, hunter-wise, Too high for overleaping, save by lies?

To me this hour was dreamed of long ago; A thing of ancient hate. 'Twas very slow In coming, but it came. And here I stand Even where I struck, with all the deed I planned Done! 'Twas so wrought--what boots it to deny?-- The man could neither guard himself nor fly.

An endless web, as by some fisher strung, A deadly plenteousness of robe, I flung All round him, and struck twice; and with two cries His limbs turned water and broke; and as he lies I cast my third stroke in, a prayer well-sped To Zeus of h.e.l.l, who guardeth safe his dead!

So there he gasped his life out as he lay; And, gasping, the blood spouted ... Like dark spray That splashed, it came, a salt and deathly dew; Sweet, sweet as G.o.d's dear rain-drops ever blew O'er a parched field, the day the buds are born! ...

Which things being so, ye Councillors high-born, Depart in joy, if joy ye will. For me, I glory. Oh, if such a thing might be As o'er the dead thank-offering to outpour, On this dead it were just, aye, just and more, Who filled the cup of the House with treacheries Curse-fraught, and here hath drunk it to the lees!

LEADER.

We are astonied at thy speech. To fling, Wild mouth! such vaunt over thy murdered King!

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Wouldst fright me, like a witless woman? Lo, This bosom shakes not. And, though well ye know, I tell you ... Curse me as ye will, or bless, 'Tis all one ... This is Agamemnon; this, My husband, dead by my right hand, a blow Struck by a righteous craftsman. Aye, 'tis so.

CHORUS.

Woman, what evil tree, What poison grown of the ground Or draught of the drifting sea Way to thy lips hath found, Making thee clothe thy heart In rage, yea, in curses burning When thine own people pray?

Thou hast hewn, thou hast cast away; And a thing cast away thou art, A thing of hate and a spurning!

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Aye, now, for me, thou hast thy words of fate; Exile from Argos and the people's hate For ever! Against him no word was cried, When, recking not, as 'twere a beast that died, With flocks abounding o'er his wide domain, He slew his child, my love, my flower of pain, ...

Great G.o.d, as magic for the winds of Thrace!

Why was not he man-hunted from his place, To purge the blood that stained him? ... When the deed Is mine, oh, then thou art a judge indeed!

But threat thy fill. I am ready, and I stand Content; if thy hand beateth down my hand, Thou rulest. If aught else be G.o.d's decree, Thy lesson shall be learned, though late it be.

CHORUS.

Thy thought, it is very proud; Thy breath is the scorner's breath; Is not the madness loud In thy heart, being drunk with death?

Yea, and above thy brow A star of the wet blood burneth!

Oh, doom shall have yet her day, The last friend cast away, When lie doth answer lie And a stab for a stab returneth!

CLYTEMNESTRA.

And heark what Oath-G.o.ds gather to my side!

By my dead child's Revenge, now satisfied, By Mortal Blindness, by all Powers of h.e.l.l Which Hate, to whom in sacrifice he fell, My Hope shall walk not in the house of Fear, While on my hearth one fire yet burneth clear, One lover, one Aigisthos, as of old!

What should I fear, when fallen here I hold This foe, this scorner of his wife, this toy And fool of each Chryseis under Troy; And there withal his soothsayer and slave, His chanting bed-fellow, his leman brave, Who rubbed the galleys' benches at his side.