AIGISTHOS.

O light propitious of day justice-bringing!

I may say truly, now, that men’s avengers,

The gods from high, of earth behold the sorrows —

Seeing, as I have, i’ the spun robes of the Erinues,

1580

This man here lying, — sight to me how pleasant! —

His father’s hands’ contrivances repaying.

For Atreus, this land’s lord, of this man father,

Thuestes, my own father — to speak clearly —

His brother too, — being i’ the rule contested, —

1585

Drove forth to exile from both town and household:

And, coming back, to the hearth turned, a suppliant,

Wretched Thuestes found the fate assured him

— Not to die, bloodying his paternal threshold

Just there: but host-wise this man’s impious father

1590

Atreus, soul-keenly more than kindly, — seeming

To joyous hold a flesh-day, — to my father

Served up a meal, the flesh of his own children.

The feet indeed and the hands’ top divisions

He hid, high up and isolated sitting:

1595

But, their unshowing parts in ignorance taking,

He forthwith eats food — as thou seest — perdition

To the race: and then, ’ware of the deed ill-omened,

He shrieked O! — falls back, vomiting, from the carnage,

And fate on the Pelopidai past bearing

1600

He prays down — putting in his curse together

The kicking down o’ the feast — that so might perish

The race of Pleisthenes entire: and thence is

That it is given thee to see this man prostrate.

And I was rightly of this slaughter stitch-man:

Since me, — being third from ten, — with my poor father

1605

He drives out — being then a babe in swathe-bands:

But, grown up, back again has justice brought me:

And of this man I got hold — being without-doors —

Fitting together the whole scheme of ill-will.

So, sweet, in fine, even to die were to me,

1610

Seeing, as I have, this man i’ the toils of justice!

CHOROS.

Aigisthos, arrogance in ills I love not.

Dost thou say — willing, thou didst kill the man here,

And, alone, plot this lamentable slaughter?

I say — thy head in justice will escape not

1615

The people’s throwing — know that! — stones and curses!

AIGISTHOS.

Thou such things soundest — seated at the lower

Oarage to those who rule at the ship’s mid-bench?

Thou shalt know, being old, how heavy is teaching

To one of the like age — bidden be modest!

1620

But chains and old age and the pangs of fasting

Stand out before all else in teaching, — prophets

At souls’-cure! Dost not, seeing aught, see this too?

Against goads kick not, lest tript-up thou suffer!

CHOROS.

Woman, thou, — of him coming new from battle

1625

Houseguard — thy husband’s bed the while disgracing, —

For the Army-leader didst thou plan this fate too?

AIGISTHOS.

These words too are of groans the prime-begetters!

Truly a tongue opposed to Orpheus hast thou:

For he led all things by his voice’s grace-charm,

1630

But thou, upstirring them by these wild yelpings,

Wilt lead them! Forced, thou wilt appear the tamer!

CHOROS.

So — thou shalt be my king then of the Argeians —

Who, not when for this man his fate thou plannedst,

Daredst to do this deed — thyself the slayer!

1635

AIGISTHOS.

For, to deceive him was the wife’s part, certes:

I was looked after — foe, ay, old-begotten!

But out of this man’s wealth will I endeavour

To rule the citizens: and the no-man-minder

— Him will I heavily yoke — by no means trace-horse,

1640

A corned-up colt! but that bad friend in darkness,

Famine its housemate, shall behold him gentle.

CHOROS.

Why then, this man here, from a coward spirit,

Didst not thou slay thyself? But, — helped, — a woman,

The country’s pest, and that of gods o’ the country,

1645

Killed him! Orestes, where may he see light now?

That coming hither back, with gracious fortune,

Of both these he may be the all-conquering slayer?

AIGISTHOS.

But since this to do thou thinkest — and not talk — thou soon shalt know!

Up then, comrades dear! the proper thing to do—not distant this!

1650

CHOROS

Up then! hilt in hold, his sword let everyone aright dispose!

AIGISTHOS.

Ay, but I myself too, hilt in hold, do not refuse to die.

CHOROS.

Thou wilt die, thou say’st, to who accept it. We the chance demand.

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Nowise, O belovedest of men, may we do other ills!

To have reaped away these, even, is a harvest much to me.

1655

Go, both thou and these the old men, to the homes appointed each,

Ere ye suffer! It behoved one do these things just as we did:

And if of these troubles there should be enough — we may assent

— By the Daimon’s heavy heel unfortunately stricken ones!

So a woman’s counsel hath it — if one judge it learning-worth.

1660

AIGISTHOS.

But to think that these at me the idle tongue should thus o’erbloom,

And throw out such words — the Daimon’s power experimenting on —

And, of modest knowledge missing, — me, the ruler, . . .

CHOROS.

Ne’er may this befall Argeians — wicked man to fawn before!

1665

AIGISTHOS.

Anyhow, in after days, will I, yes, I, be at thee yet!

CHOROS.

Not if hither should the Daimon make Orestes straightway come!

AIGISTHOS.

O, I know, myself, that fugitives on hopes are pasture-fed!

CHOROS.

Do thy deed, get fat, defiling justice, since the power is thine!

AIGISTHOS.

Know that thou shalt give me satisfaction for this folly’s sake!

1670

CHOROS.

Boast on, bearing thee audacious, like a cock his females by!

KLUTAIMNESTRA.

Have not thou respect for these same idle yelpings! I and thou

Will arrange it, o’er this household ruling excellently well.

SEMI-CHORUS

And who, pronouncing with tears the funeral panegyric 4

over the godlike man, shall wail in sincerity of soul?

CLYTEMNESTRA

LE CORYPHÉE

Ah ! Terre, Terre, pourquoi n'est-ce pas moi que tu as reçu dans ton sein, avant que j'eusse vu
ce corps allongé dans le fond d'une baignoire d'argent ? Qui l'ensevelira ? qui chantera son thrène ? L'oseras-tu toi ? oseras-tu, après avoir tué ton époux, l'accompagner
de tes lamentations, et, pour rançon d'un atroce forfait, perfidement apporter

CLYTEMNESTRA.

CLITENNESTRA

A te non ispetta addossarti

tal cura: da noi

fu ucciso, abbattuto: da noi

avrà sepoltura: né pianto domestico

l'accompagnerà.

1810

Ma bene Ifigènia, la figlia,

com'è suo dovere, ad accoglierlo,

incontro al suo padre movendo,

al rapido varco del duolo,

le braccia gli cinge

1815

al collo, ed il bacio gli dà.

CORIFEO

3

Rintuzza il nuovo oltraggio

l'antico oltraggio: è giudicar difficile.

Preda risponde a preda, e morte a morte.

Finché Giove lo scettro avrà tra i Superi,

1820

dovrà la pena dar compenso al crimine.

E chi bandir lontani

potrà dalle sue porte

d'Imprecazione i rampollanti germini,

quando Sciagura invesca a sé gli umani?

1825

COREUTA

3

Terra, terra, perché non accogliermi,

avanti che il re mio vedessi

avere giaciglio le argentee

pareti d'un bagno ?

Sepolcro chi mai gli darà ?

1830

Chi lugubri pianti?

Tu forse,

tu questo oseresti? alzar gemiti

funerei su l'uomo sgozzato

da te? render, dopo lo scempio,

1835

all'alma odïoso tributo?

Oh!, qual funebre elogio

per questo sacro re,

con rompere di lagrime,

con veritiero cuor favellerà?

1840

CLITENNESTRA

Chor.

Ach, daß ewigen Schlummer

gleich die Götter mir gönnten,

1450 ohne den Schmerz des Sterbens,

ohne die Qual des Siechtums.

1545

Chor.

Denn mein treuster Beschützer,

der um ein Weib so vieles geduldet,

mußt' auch unter der Hand eines Weibes

sein Leben verlieren.

1455 Wehe,

1550

Helene, verblendete, wie hast du

Clytemnestra.

Klytämnestra.