Woe's me! ay every woe's me, for my slain lord! yet once more woe's me ! in a third exclamation. Aegisthus is no more : but open as quickly as ye may, and unclose, by [re moving] the bars, the doors of the women's apartments ; and need there surely is of a vigorous arm; but not to succour the slain ; what need of that ? What, hoa ! I am shouting to the deaf, and calling in vain to those that are madly sleeping. Where is Clytemnestra ? what is she doing ? It seems now that her neck is soon to fall on the edge of the steel, she being justly smitten
2
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CLYTEMNESTRA
(coming forward).—What is the matter? what meant the outcry thou art raising in the house ?
(coming forward).—What is the matter? what meant the outcry thou art raising in the house ?
DOMESTIC
I tell thee that the dead are slaying the living.
I tell thee that the dead are slaying the living.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Ah me! I apprehend thy meaning from thy dark expressions. By treachery shall we perish exactly as we slew. Some one hand me a deathly axe with all speed. Let us see whether we are to be victors or vanquished; for unto that crisis of this evil am I come.
Ah me! I apprehend thy meaning from thy dark expressions. By treachery shall we perish exactly as we slew. Some one hand me a deathly axe with all speed. Let us see whether we are to be victors or vanquished; for unto that crisis of this evil am I come.
ORESTES
(bursting in.)—Thee too am I seeking-this wretch here has enough.
(bursting in.)—Thee too am I seeking-this wretch here has enough.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Ah me ! thou art dead, dearest Aegisthus.
Ah me ! thou art dead, dearest Aegisthus.
ORESTES
Lovest thou the man ? then shalt thou lie in the same tomb, and thou shalt never desert him in death.
Lovest thou the man ? then shalt thou lie in the same tomb, and thou shalt never desert him in death.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Hold thee, my son! and revere this breast on which thou full often slumbering wast wont at the same time to suck with thy gums the well-nourishing milk.
Hold thee, my son! and revere this breast on which thou full often slumbering wast wont at the same time to suck with thy gums the well-nourishing milk.
ORESTES
Pylades, how am I to act? is reverence to restrain me from slaying my mother ?
Pylades, how am I to act? is reverence to restrain me from slaying my mother ?
PYLADES
Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.
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