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Aegisthus
CHRY.
947
It behoves me now no more
Aught to conceal from thee. Thus spiritless
How long wilt thou remain? What honest hope
Is left thee yet? To thee is left to mourn,
Of all thy father's treasured wealth deprived;
To thee is left to sigh, and to grow old
So long neglected, unespoused, cut off
From nuptial rites. And hast thou yet an hope
These ever shall be thine ? With keener eye
Forward Ægisthus looks, nor will permit
One scion e'er from thee or me to rise,
Which must be fatal to him. Then pursue
My plan of vengeance: thine will be the praise
Of pious reverence to thy father's shade,
And to thy brother in the realms below.
Nay more, thou wilt assert thy noble birth;
Thou wast born free, and free thou wilt be call'd
Thenceforth, and to thy bed some generous Youth,
Worthy thy high-born race, will then aspire;
For all with reverence on that virtue gaze,
Which vindicates its honours. Seest thou not
950
What glory thou wilt throw round thee and me,
950
To me assenting? Who, when we appear,
950
Argive or stranger, with this voice of praise
950
Will not salute us? "See these sisters, friends,
950
"These dared to vindicate their father's house;
950
"These on his foes, though seated on his throne,
950
"Of their own lives regardless, greatly led
"The pow'rs of vengeance: these should all men love,
"These all should reverence; on the festal days,
"And in the full assemblies, these deserve
"Honour from all; their noble virtue claim
"Such meed." Thus all the world shall sound our praise,
That while we live, and when we die, our fame
Shall never fade. Then listen to my voice,
My dearest sister; for thy father dare,
• Dare for thy brother in this work engage;
Redeem me from my ills, redeem thyself;
And know thou this, that to the nobly born
To live dishonour'd is the foulest stain.
It behoves me now no more
Aught to conceal from thee. Thus spiritless
How long wilt thou remain? What honest hope
Is left thee yet? To thee is left to mourn,
Of all thy father's treasured wealth deprived;
To thee is left to sigh, and to grow old
So long neglected, unespoused, cut off
From nuptial rites. And hast thou yet an hope
These ever shall be thine ? With keener eye
Forward Ægisthus looks, nor will permit
One scion e'er from thee or me to rise,
Which must be fatal to him. Then pursue
My plan of vengeance: thine will be the praise
Of pious reverence to thy father's shade,
And to thy brother in the realms below.
Nay more, thou wilt assert thy noble birth;
Thou wast born free, and free thou wilt be call'd
Thenceforth, and to thy bed some generous Youth,
Worthy thy high-born race, will then aspire;
For all with reverence on that virtue gaze,
Which vindicates its honours. Seest thou not
950
What glory thou wilt throw round thee and me,
950
To me assenting? Who, when we appear,
950
Argive or stranger, with this voice of praise
950
Will not salute us? "See these sisters, friends,
950
"These dared to vindicate their father's house;
950
"These on his foes, though seated on his throne,
950
"Of their own lives regardless, greatly led
"The pow'rs of vengeance: these should all men love,
"These all should reverence; on the festal days,
"And in the full assemblies, these deserve
"Honour from all; their noble virtue claim
"Such meed." Thus all the world shall sound our praise,
That while we live, and when we die, our fame
Shall never fade. Then listen to my voice,
My dearest sister; for thy father dare,
• Dare for thy brother in this work engage;
Redeem me from my ills, redeem thyself;
And know thou this, that to the nobly born
To live dishonour'd is the foulest stain.
Electra. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.