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AGAMEMNON.
Offspring of Leda, of my household warder,
Suitably to my absence hast thou spoken,
915
For long the speech thou didst outstretch! But aptly
To praise — from others ought to go this favour.
And for the rest, —-not me, in woman’s fashion,
Mollify, nor — as mode of barbarous man is —
To me gape forth a groundward-falling clamour!
920
Nor, strewing it with garments, make my passage
Envied! Gods, sure, with these behoves we honour:
But, for a mortal on these varied beauties
To walk — to me, indeed, is nowise fear-free.
I say — as man, not god, to me do homage!
925
Apart from foot-mats both and varied vestures,
Renown is loud, and — not to lose one’s senses,
God’s greatest gift. Behoves we him call happy
Who has brought life to end in loved well-being.
If all things I might manage thus — brave man, I!
930
Offspring of Leda, of my household warder,
Suitably to my absence hast thou spoken,
915
For long the speech thou didst outstretch! But aptly
To praise — from others ought to go this favour.
And for the rest, —-not me, in woman’s fashion,
Mollify, nor — as mode of barbarous man is —
To me gape forth a groundward-falling clamour!
920
Nor, strewing it with garments, make my passage
Envied! Gods, sure, with these behoves we honour:
But, for a mortal on these varied beauties
To walk — to me, indeed, is nowise fear-free.
I say — as man, not god, to me do homage!
925
Apart from foot-mats both and varied vestures,
Renown is loud, and — not to lose one’s senses,
God’s greatest gift. Behoves we him call happy
Who has brought life to end in loved well-being.
If all things I might manage thus — brave man, I!
930
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Come now, this say, nor feign a feeling to me!
Come now, this say, nor feign a feeling to me!
AGAMEMNON.
With feeling, know indeed, I do not tamper!
With feeling, know indeed, I do not tamper!
KLUTAIMNESTRA
Vowed’st thou to the gods, in fear, to act thus?
Vowed’st thou to the gods, in fear, to act thus?
AGAMEMNON.
If any, I well knew resolve I outspoke.
If any, I well knew resolve I outspoke.
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
What think’st thou Priamos had done, thus victor?
935
What think’st thou Priamos had done, thus victor?
935
AGAMEMNON.
On varied vests — I do think — he had passaged.
On varied vests — I do think — he had passaged.
KLUTAIMNESTRA
Then, do not, struck with awe at human censure ....
Then, do not, struck with awe at human censure ....
AGAMEMNON.
Well, popular mob-outcry much avails too.
Well, popular mob-outcry much avails too.
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Ay, but the unenvied is not the much valued.
Ay, but the unenvied is not the much valued.
AGAMEMNON.
Sure, ’t is no woman’s part to long for battle.
940
Sure, ’t is no woman’s part to long for battle.
940
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Why, to the prosperous, even suits a beating.
Why, to the prosperous, even suits a beating.
AGAMEMNON.
What? thou this beating us in war dost prize too?
What? thou this beating us in war dost prize too?
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Persuade thee! power, for once, grant
me — and willing!
Persuade thee! power, for once, grant
me — and willing!
Agamemnon. Aeschylus. London. 1889.
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