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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 B OUHO B Y
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 A TRAGEDY 
 
 BY 
 
 ARNOLD F. GRAVES 
 
 WITH A PREFACE 
 
 BY 
 
 ROBERT Y. TYRRELL, Litt.D., D.C.L. 
 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 
 39, PATERNOSTER ROW LONDON 
 
 NEW YORK AND BOMBAY 
 
 1903 
 
 All rights reserved
 
 Printed by Ponsonhy 8c GlBBS, Dublin University Press.
 
 PR 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 WHEN my friend Mr. Arnold Graves asked me to 
 read the manuscript of Clytcemnestra and told me 
 the nature of the task he had undertaken, I con- 
 fess that I thought he had largely over-estimated 
 his powers ; but upon reading his work I was so 
 much struck with its merits that I urged him to 
 publish. For some time he hesitated, as he had 
 designed his work for the stage and not for 
 publication ; but after consideration he resolved 
 to act on my advice, on condition that I should 
 write a Preface. As I make it a practice not to 
 write unless I believe I have something somewhat 
 new to say (I mean something that I do not know 
 to have been often said before), I at first refused ; 
 but finding that my refusal would have prevented 
 the publication of Clytcemnestra I consented with 
 some reluctance. 
 
 And now, after this apology for my appearance 
 
 b 
 
 ■
 
 vi PREFACE 
 
 on this stage, let me play the part of prologue 
 and introduce ClytcEinnestra. 
 
 In doing so, it is right at the very outset to 
 say that Clytamnestra is not a Greek play in 
 English, like Atalanta in Calydon, but a Greek 
 story treated from the standpoint of the modern 
 dramatist. In selecting his theme Mr. Graves has 
 chosen, perhaps, the one subject in Greek tragic 
 literature which lends itself to such treatment — 
 the Orestea — a story dealing with emotions, pas- 
 sions and situations common to all time, and 
 appealing not only to mature scholars and lovers 
 of poetry but to men young and old, who are 
 interested in dramatic literature and the analysis 
 of human nature. I do not propose to deal at 
 length with the legend here. Those who desire 
 a fuller acquaintance with the subject should 
 consult Professor Jebb's admirable Introduction 
 to the Electro, of Sophocles. For the purpose 
 in hand it will suffice if I give an outline of the 
 story as told with endless variations by Homer, 
 Stasinus, Pindar, Stesichorus, ^Eschylus, Sophocles, 
 Euripides.
 
 PREFACE Vll 
 
 Agamemnon King of Argos led the Greeks 
 against Troy to recover Helen, the wife of his 
 brother Menelaus, who had been carried off by 
 Paris, son of Priam King of Troy. Artemis, 
 enraged at a slight put upon her by Agamemnon, 
 held the Greek fleet becalmed at Aulis until at 
 the bidding of Calchas the Seer Agamemnon 
 sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia; thereby appeas- 
 ing the angry goddess and losing his wife's love. 
 For ten years he remained away from his home 
 waging war against Troy; while Clytaemnestra ruled 
 at Argos, watched over by a minstrel in whose 
 charge Agamemnon had placed her. In spite of 
 the warnings of Hermes, the lonely wife, who had 
 learned to hate her husband, soon fell a victim 
 to the seductive arts of ^Egisthus, an outlawed 
 cousin of Agamemnon. 
 
 Upon the fall of Troy Agamemnon at the 
 head of the Greek fleet set sail for Argos, bring- 
 ing with him Cassandra, daughter of Priam King 
 of Troy, part of the spoils of war which had 
 fallen to his lot. But a great storm arose and 
 scattered the Greek fleet; and Agamemnon's ship
 
 Vlll PREFACE 
 
 arrived alone. News of the fall of Troy, how- 
 ever, had reached his home before him, and 
 Clytaemnestra and iEgisthus had time to prepare 
 their plans ; so that when the king appeared 
 with a mere handful of followers he fell into the 
 trap laid for him and was murdered by his wife 
 and her lover. Orestes, his only son, escaped 
 and took refuge with kinsmen at Phocis ; while 
 Clytaemnestra and ^Egisthus seized the throne of 
 Agamemnon. 
 
 Electra, the sister of Orestes, remained at Argos, 
 hoping for her brother's return in due time to 
 avenge their father's murder, and suffering all 
 manner of persecutions from her mother for her 
 loyalty to her father. On reaching man's estate 
 Orestes consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi 
 and was commanded by the god under the direst 
 penalties to slay his mother. Obedient to this 
 behest, he set out for Argos accompanied by 
 his companion Pylades. Arrived there, and in 
 order to throw Clytaemnestra and ^Egisthus off 
 their guard, Orestes announced his own death. 
 On hearing the news, ^Egisthus rejoiced openly;
 
 PREFACE IX 
 
 Clytaemnestra pretended to grieve, but was glad 
 at heart ; while Electra gave way to despair, 
 which was quickly succeeded by a lively joy 
 when Orestes secretly revealed himself to her 
 and told his mission. She in her turn disclosed 
 to him the persecutions she had suffered, and 
 urged him on to vengeance. Pylades reminds 
 him of the order of the god, and the long 
 delayed retribution falls upon the murderers of 
 Agamemnon, who are slain by the hands of his 
 son. 
 
 I need not go into the last scene of the tragedy, 
 where Orestes is pursued by the Erinyes for the 
 murder of his mother and is finally justified by 
 Apollo and Athen6 in person. 
 
 Mr. Graves follows Sophocles and closes his 
 story with the death of Clytsemnestra and yEgis- 
 thus. In this he has, in my opinion, acted wisely, 
 as the motive of the Eumenides would have been 
 wholly foreign to an English audience; while, from 
 a dramatic point of view, it would have been an 
 anticlimax. 
 
 And now it is high time that I should say
 
 X PREFACE 
 
 something as to the manner in which Mr. Graves 
 treats his subject. I have already pointed to the 
 fact that he deals with the story from the stand- 
 point of the modern dramatist. By this I do not 
 mean to suggest that he has followed the example 
 of Voltaire, Alfieri, or Thompson, and made his 
 characters modern, complex, neurotic, hysterical. 
 On the contrary, he has kept them simple, strong, 
 restrained, archaic. 
 
 It is his general treatment of the subject which 
 is modern. The old Greek tragedy was to a large 
 degree religious (not unlike in its conception to 
 our early English miracle plays) ; in it, religious 
 and moral duties were inculcated, and the denoue- 
 ment was brought about by the gods, who often 
 appeared in person at the critical moment to 
 punish the guilty or reward the innocent. In 
 Mr. Graves' work, on the other hand, the reli- 
 gious interest is subordinated to the human ; the 
 gods do not tread the stage ; and the chorus, with 
 its religious and moral reflections characteristic of 
 the ideal spectator, is omitted. As a result of 
 these changes, the action is so much quickened
 
 PREFACE XI 
 
 that, without undue compression, the Homeric 
 story is told in one five-act play. 
 
 Owing to the arrangements of the stage, quite 
 apart from other considerations, such a feat would 
 have been impossible in a Greek tragedy. With 
 the elementary scenic appliances at command 
 each dramatic representation was practically con- 
 fined to one scene, and therefore to one time and 
 one place. In consequence of these limitations the 
 Greek tragedians in dealing with the Orestea 
 could only deal with one part of the story at a 
 time, and that had to be made complete in itself. 
 The opening scene of necessity explained the 
 situation ; and all the scenes worked up to the par- 
 ticular catastrophe with which the tragedy ended. 
 It was an organized whole, able to stand alone. 
 .^Eschylus wrote three tragedies on this one story ; 
 Euripides, two ; Sophocles dealt with part of it in 
 one. On a careful study it will be seen that, 
 according to the particular episodes chosen in each 
 of these tragedies, the action for the time being 
 centres round different characters. Hence it is 
 that the plays written upon it bear so many
 
 Xll PREFACE 
 
 different names — the Agamemnon, the Electra, the 
 Orestes. But, when it is regarded in its entirety, 
 it will be seen that Clytaemnestra, and not 
 Agamemnon or Electra, or even Orestes, is the 
 central figure round whom the story revolves. 
 She is the curse upon the house of Atreus ; 
 and it is her falseness, her revenge, her retribu- 
 tion, which form the mainsprings of the action of 
 the drama. For these reasons I think Mr. Graves 
 is right in giving her name to his tragedy. 
 
 In dealing with the subject as a dramatic whole 
 other changes are necessary besides a mere altera- 
 tion of name ; from the very commencement, the 
 play must lead up to the final catastrophe ; while 
 for dramatic purposes fresh situations have to be 
 created, so as to give the leading characters their 
 proper predominance throughout. Thus, for ex- 
 ample, Orestes, who next to Clytaemnestra is the 
 leading character in the story, has no part in the 
 Agamemnon ; while Clytaemnestra has only a sub- 
 ordinate part in the Electra and the Choephori. 
 
 If the subject had been historical, or even if 
 the legend had been told without variations, Mr.
 
 PREFACE Xlll 
 
 Graves' hands would have been tied. But, as the 
 Homeric story differs from that told by Pindar, 
 Stesichorus, and Hesiod, and as each of the great 
 tragedians introduces fresh matter, and tells the 
 tale to suit his own main purpose, Mr. Graves 
 has much justification for following the example 
 set by Voltaire, Alfieri, and Thompson, and intro- 
 ducing matter not found in the classics ; and, 
 indeed, he has availed himself of this privilege 
 to such an extent, that his presentation of the 
 legend cannot be regarded as even an adapta- 
 tion of any of the plays upon which it is 
 founded. 
 
 The whole of the first Act, in which he presents 
 Orestes as the loving son of his mother and 
 appalled at the revelation of her guilt, is new. 
 So is the first half of the second Act ; the third, 
 until the murder-scene is reached ; and the whole 
 of the fourth : while the fifth deals with the same 
 subject-matter as the Electro, and the Choephorz, 
 but with complete originality. 
 
 In addition to new scenes, Mr. Graves creates 
 new characters, such as Lysicles a supporter of 
 
 c
 
 XIV PREFACE 
 
 ^Egisthus, and Meleander the bard, in whose 
 charge Clytaemnestra was placed by Agamemnon. 
 New, also, in mode of treatment are the Pythia, 
 Pleisthenes the son of yEgisthus, and Hermione 
 beloved by Orestes ; while acting, doubtless, on a 
 hint in the Cho'ephori he develops the nurse into 
 a comedy part, which helps to lighten the gloom 
 when it is darkest. 
 
 The principal departures from the story, as told 
 by the Greek dramatists, are: (i) the substitution 
 of human motives and human agency for divine ; 
 
 (2) the presentation of Orestes as a youth, instead 
 of a child, at the date of his father's murder ; 
 
 (3) the omission of the meeting between Orestes 
 and Electra at his father's tomb, with the episode 
 of the lock of hair which, to an English audience, 
 would, perhaps, carry ludicrous suggestions ; (4) the 
 putting into the mouth of Orestes the story of the 
 chariot-race. 
 
 Finally, the ending differs widely both from the 
 Cho'ephori and from the Electra. Mr. Graves, 
 following Alfieri, makes Orestes kill his mother 
 by accident. From a literary point of view, I
 
 PREFACE XV 
 
 think he errs. But it must be urged in defence 
 of his point of view, that an English audience 
 would not tolerate intentional matricide at the 
 order of a pagan god. 
 
 Before making my bow, I should like to say a 
 few words about the execution. The play does 
 not hang ; for my own part, I read it through 
 without putting it down. The lines are in terse 
 idiomatic English, easy to deliver and to under- 
 stand — a matter of much importance for stage 
 purposes, which Mr. Graves has ever in his eye. 
 His speeches are cut down as much as possible, 
 so as not to delay the action ; but here and there, 
 when the situation demands it, he has let himself 
 go with great effect. His claims to be considered 
 a dramatic poet must, I think, rest chiefly upon 
 the following passages: — (i) the scene between 
 Clytaemnestra and ^Egisthus (Act L, p. 8) ; 
 
 (2) the reception of Agamemnon (Act II., p. 42); 
 
 (3) Cassandra's lines on taking Hecuba's crown 
 (Act III., p. 54); Agamemnon's vision (Act III., 
 p. 54) ; the murder of Agamemnon, described by 
 Cassandra (Act III., p. 72); the two hymns to
 
 Xvi PREFACE 
 
 Apollo (Act IV., pp. 79-83) ; the Seer's speech 
 (Act V., p. 99) ; Orestes' description of the 
 chariot race (Act V., p. 107) ; the scene between 
 Orestes and Clytaemnestra (Act V., p. 109). 
 
 I will not attempt to foist my opinion of Mr. 
 Graves' work upon the public ; but I may be 
 permitted to say that, if I had thought his 
 treatment unworthy of his subject, I should not 
 have advised him to publish. I can only hope 
 that my long friendship with the author has not 
 misled my judgment as to the merits of his 
 work. 
 
 ROBERT Y. TYRRELL 
 
 Trinity College, Dublin 
 January, igoj
 
 CHARACTERS 
 
 Son of Agamemnon 
 
 King of all Argos, and Lord of the Isles 
 
 A cousin of the King — in love with 
 
 Clytaemnestra 
 Companion of Orestes 
 
 Friends of iEgisthus 
 
 A Bard — Orestes' tutor 
 A supporter of Agamemnon 
 /Egisthus' son 
 A Seer. 
 
 Orestes . 
 Agamemnon 
 
 iEGISTHUS 
 
 Pylades . 
 Lysicles \ 
 Cleophon ) 
 
 Meleander 
 
 Arcas 
 
 Pleisthenes 
 
 TlRESIAS 
 
 Watchman 
 
 Hekald 
 
 Envoys 
 
 Soldiers 
 
 Slaves 
 
 Clyt^mnestra Agamemnon's Queen 
 
 Electra ) 
 
 j Her daughters 
 Chrysothemis ) 
 
 Cassandra . A Trojan Princess 
 
 Hermione . Betrothed to Orestes 
 
 Gorgo . . A slave — Orestes' foster-mother 
 
 Priestess of Apollo 
 
 Female Slaves
 
 SCENES 
 
 ACT I 
 
 The Courtyard of the Palace at Argos 
 
 ACT II 
 
 The same 
 
 ACT III 
 The great Hall of the Palace at Argos 
 
 ACT IV 
 
 The interior of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi 
 
 ACT V 
 The same as Act I
 
 syw> . A/?-- 
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 ACT I 
 
 SCENE. — The Courtyard at the palace of King 
 Agamemnon at A rgos — the palace on one side, 
 the mountains and sea visible in the distance 
 on the other side. 
 
 [Gorgo and Meleander are discovered 
 talking confidentially. 
 
 MEL. If this be true, then Clytaemnestra's false. 
 
 GOR. False as a tradesman's weights. 
 
 Mel. I am destroyed. 
 
 GOR. How so ? 
 
 Mel. When Agamemnon sailed for Troy 
 
 He left her in my charge. Who would have thought 
 She'd barter Agamemnon for ^Egisthus — 
 A lion for a hound ? 
 
 GOR. Why not? Why not ? 
 
 Lions are noble beasts, but lap-dogs please 
 
 The ladies better. 
 
 B
 
 2 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 MEL. % He will take my life. 
 
 I was a fool to undertake the task — 
 To ward a wife against a foe who mocks 
 At bolts and bars. 
 
 GOR. Aye ! aye ! sweet Meleander. 
 
 Mel. I must apprise the King. 
 
 GOR. You simpleton ! 
 
 Take care ! or we shall both be crushed like corn 
 Betwixt the mill-stones. He may thank himself. 
 He lost her love the hour he slew her child. 
 
 Mel. She freely gave her life. 
 
 GOR. Nay ! how you talk ! 
 
 Would not a dappled deer have done as well 
 To sacrifice to Artemis ? And he 
 Takes her young life. 
 
 Mel. Calchas the Seer declared 
 
 Naught else could moderate Diana's rage. 
 
 GOR. If he had served me so, I'd cuckold 
 him. 
 
 Enter ELECTRA [she is weeping]. 
 
 GOR. Hush ! not a word. Who comes ? My 
 sight is weak.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 3 
 
 MEL. The Princess. 
 
 Gor. [Starts.] I must be gone- If I am seen 
 I'll suffer. 
 
 Elec. {Observing heri\ Did I not bid you fetch 
 Orestes ? 
 
 GOR. I'm searching high and low.* 
 
 [Looks about her. 
 
 ELEC. Yes, with your tongue. 
 
 Go, use your eyes. 
 
 [Exit Gorgo hurriedly. 
 
 MEL. Has anybody hurt you ? 
 
 Elec. Yes. 
 
 MEL. Where? 
 
 Elec. [Putting her hand to her heart.] Here. 
 
 Mel. She's wounded to the heart. 
 
 Elec. Yes, to the heart. 
 
 But it was not a blade that wounded me. 
 I would it were, for dagger-pricks may heal. 
 
 Mel. What do you mean ? 
 
 Elec. Nay, do not ask. I'd rather 
 
 Walk in the streets unveiled than speak my 
 thoughts. 
 
 Mel. There is no need. The Queen —
 
 4 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 ELEC. Hush ! not so loud ! 
 
 Tis ten years since the King set sail for Troy — 
 What may not be forgot in such a time ? [Pauses. 
 But how did you discover she was false ? 
 
 Mel. Gorgo — 
 
 Elec. [Angrily.] What ! she spread the scandal ? 
 Ah! 
 If she had her deserts she'd lose her tongue 
 For blabbing — slaves should all be dumb. They 
 
 stand 
 Beside our chairs, and prick their ears to catch 
 Our secrets, which they sell. What shall I do ? 
 
 MEL. Nothing. 
 
 Elec. And must I sit and watch the Queen, 
 
 Her patience wearing out by endless waiting, 
 Her passion swelling fast beyond control, 
 Encouraged by her cringing Court's approval, 
 Until at last believing, like herself, 
 Her people ripe for change, she throws aside 
 The veil of decency, and crowns him King ? 
 
 MEL. Here comes your sister, fair Chrysothemis, 
 And sweet Hermione, your brother's choice. 
 
 [Puts his finger to his lips.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 5 
 
 Enter Chrysothemis and Hermione. 
 
 Chr. ^gisthus has given me a span of horses. 
 
 Her. And me, a brooch of lapis lazuli. 
 
 ELEC. These are not gifts. ^Egisthus is no giver : 
 He barters gold for favours, gives us bribes 
 To shut our mouths. 
 
 Chr. He gives my mother presents. 
 
 Elec. Patience ! Patience ! 
 
 Enter Orestes and Pylades. 
 
 Ores. [Showing Electra a szvord.] 
 See ! what ^Egisthus, my kind cousin, gave, 
 And here, upon the blade, inlaid in gold, 
 Is traced the story of the golden fleece. 
 
 [Turns to Pylades. 
 To-morrow we will both set sail for Troy, 
 Where we shall band with all the best of Greece, 
 Ajax, Achilles, and great Diomede, 
 And flesh our maiden swords in Trojan blood. 
 
 Elec. {Raising Orestes' sword aloft.] 
 Why was I not a man to stake my life 
 In open fight against the foes of Greece ? 
 Instead of sitting powerless and dumb,
 
 6 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 Shutting my eyes to wrongs without redress, 
 Smiling on shamelessness, and hearing words 
 A maiden should not hear. 
 
 Ores. Nay, what is wrong ? 
 
 ELEC. Cannot you guess why kind iEgisthus 
 gives ? 
 
 Ores. Because his voyage has been prosperous, 
 
 Elec. No ; but because he would embark upon 
 A desperate enterprise. 
 
 Ores. I'll go with him. 
 
 I love a hazard. Tell me what he seeks ? 
 
 Elec. The Oueen — 
 
 ORES. The Queen ! What does he seek from her? 
 
 Elec. A jewel which belongs to Agamemnon. 
 
 ORES. What do you mean ? 
 
 Elec. He seeks to gain her love. 
 
 Ores. He'd best beware, or she will strike him 
 dead. 
 
 ELEC. She knows his mind, and has not raised 
 her hand. 
 
 Ores. I cannot grasp it. Nay! you do not mean — 
 That she — I '11 not believe it. Meleander ! 
 
 [He turns to Meleander, who looks away.
 
 CLYT/EMNESTRA 7 
 
 It is impossible, impossible. 
 Have we not always been her heart's desire ? 
 Are we not ever bedded in her thoughts ? 
 We fill her heart so full, there is no room 
 For an intruder. 
 
 Mel. Love is importunate : 
 
 He forces his way in, however full 
 The chamber of the heart ; and once installed 
 Upon his throne, the tyrant brooks no rival. 
 
 Ores. But if she loved I'd hear it in her voice 
 And see it in her eyes. I am not blind. 
 
 Mel. Nay ! Who can tell ? our hearts are like 
 the sea : 
 One day as clear as crystal, and the next 
 Inscrutable as Erebus. Till now 
 She would not part with you at any price. 
 Why does she change her mind, and let you go ? 
 
 [Pauses and zualks about. 
 She wants one witness less to her dishonour. 
 
 Ores. \_H alf drawi?ig his sword.'] Take care ! 
 
 Mel. [Bows his head.] Too late, my life is 
 forfeited. 
 I undertook to guard her honour.
 
 8 CLYT^iMNESTRA 
 
 Ores. Oh ! 
 
 You do not mean that she — not that ! not that ! 
 My darling mother, my own flesh and blood. 
 If this be true, 'twere better she were dead. 
 I'll watch, and, if it's true, I will avenge — 
 
 Mel. Nay, not so fast, my son, for, if you strike, 
 The law will make you justify the deed, 
 And that would blow about your mother's shame. 
 
 [He pauses and reflects. 
 We must consult the oracle at once. 
 There is a ship at Nauplia sails for Delphi 
 By the next tide. 
 
 Chr. Remember, dear, your promise, 
 
 To drive my horses at the games. 
 
 Mel. Hush! hush! 
 
 They come, together. 
 
 ORES. Stand back, let us watch. 
 
 [They retire and conceal themselves. 
 
 Enter Clyt^emnestra and ^Egisthus. [They 
 
 speak low.] 
 
 JEg. It cannot be too soon to suit my taste. 
 Cly. Go softly, or he'll think you push him out.
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 9 
 
 JEg. But not too slow ; for love, when at its height, 
 Brooks not delay, or melts like summer snow. 
 
 Cly. My heart is torn in two — I want you both ; 
 Yet I must take my choice between you. I 
 Am like a wolf deserted by her mate, 
 Whose whelps are taken from her one by one — 
 
 JEG. And do you love this half-licked cub so 
 well? 
 
 Cly. I love and hate him both. I love what's 
 mine 
 And hate what is my husband's part in him. 
 He was my faithful copy ; but alas ! 
 Now that my blossom ripens into fruit, 
 It changes, and becomes his counterpart : 
 His hair, his limbs, his face, his ringing voice. 
 And though he scarce remembers him, each day 
 He broaches some fresh trick that was his father's : 
 His walk, his laugh, the way he kisses me ; 
 And in his sleep he mutters like the king. 
 
 JEg. Last night I dreamt a dream — 
 
 Cly. [Impatiently.] Another dream ! 
 
 JEg. Nay, hear me out; this was no tangled skein 
 
 Of flitting fancies, or elusive shapes, 
 
 c
 
 IO CLYT/EMNESTRA 
 
 Leaving no footprints in our memories 
 
 By which they can be tracked. The forms I saw 
 
 Last night seemed flesh and blood ; each deed they 
 
 did, 
 And every word they spoke, was fraught with 
 purpose. 
 Cly. Tell me this dream, before it is forgot : 
 For sometimes, in the hour 'twixt sleep and waking, 
 Our fancies, freed from earthly trammels, soar 
 T6 heights that sober sense could never reach. 
 
 Mg. 'Twill never be forgot ; methinks 'twas sent 
 To warn us what our love must lead us to. 
 
 [He looks round cautiously, and then 
 proceeds, in a low voice. 
 
 I dreamt that you were Queen of Argos, I 
 your king. 
 Cly. And Agamemnon ? Where was he ? 
 
 JEg. Returned from Troy ; he rested on his couch, 
 And called for wine : you filled his goblet full, 
 And gave it him ; he drained it to the dregs, 
 Then sank back on his couch, and fell asleep, 
 Charmed by your soothing voice ; and while he 
 drowsed
 
 CLYTiEM NESTRA II 
 
 You wrapt a net around his languid limbs, 
 
 And seized an axe — \He pauses. 
 
 Cly. And then ? Go on. What then ? 
 
 ^Eg. We two were King and Queen of Argolis. 
 
 Cly. And afterwards ? 
 
 Mq. The lad, Orestes, came — 
 
 So changed that none would know him; and he 
 
 bore 
 His ashes in an urn : for he was dead — 
 You wept ; but we had words, and drew our swords, 
 And battled, hand to hand, and foot to foot; 
 But drop by drop my courage ebbed away. 
 I strove to raise my war-cry, but my tongue 
 Was tied ; I raised my sword, but could not strike ; 
 For I was frozen stiff with chilling dread, 
 As he tore off the mask that veiled his face, 
 And stood before me, Agamemnon's son. 
 
 Cly. And did he take your life ? 
 
 JEg. Yes, mine, and yours. 
 
 Cly. My boy has not the heart to hurt his mother. 
 But were I certain such would be my fate, 
 If I should cling to thee, sweet heart, I'd choose 
 One summer hour before a wintry age.
 
 12 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 JEg. {After a pause.~] Yet I 'd feel easier were he 
 
 away. 
 Ugh ! that dream ! that dream ! 
 
 Cly. Dreamer, awake ! 
 
 ^EG. I've tried all day to shake it off; it haunts. 
 Cly. Then he shall go. {She claps her hands. 
 
 Re-enter GORGO. 
 
 Seek out Orestes, quick. 
 Tell him to wait us here till we return. 
 GOR. {Looking round."] I left him standing on this 
 
 very spot. 
 He must have taken wing : {Looks up.] or else the 
 
 earth 
 Has oped its monstrous jaws and swallowed him. 
 
 {Exit. 
 
 [CLYTiEMNESTRA and iEGISTHUS go Up. 
 
 Enter Pleisthenes. 
 
 Ple. {To ./Egistiius.] I wish to speak with you. 
 ./Eg. Speak on, my son. 
 
 Ple. I'd speak with you in private, if I may. 
 JEg. I have no secrets from Her Majesty.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 1 3 
 
 Ple. {Turning to Clyt^emnestra.] I hope my 
 
 frankness will not give offence. 
 
 I love your daughter, and would marry her. 
 
 Cly. [Remaining up.~] Certes, he does not beat 
 
 about the bush. 
 
 Well, I will be as blunt. If we agree 
 
 About the dowry, you shall be affianced. 
 
 Come to my closet, and we'll thrash it out. 
 
 Ple. I thank your Majesty, and kiss your hand. 
 
 Cly. [To ^GISTHUS.] How well his courtship 
 
 tallies with our plans : 
 
 For we do thus disarm a dangerous foe. 
 
 [Exeunt iEGiSTHUS and Clyt^emnestra. 
 Exit Pleisthenes at opposite side. 
 
 Re-enter Gorgo. 
 
 GOR. A plague upon it ! Why am I so deaf? 
 Yet if I had the long ears of a hare 
 I should not understand ; for when they plot 
 They talk some foreign tongue. I must be off, 
 To find my boy. He'll give me such a run. 
 
 [Orestes, Pylades, Electra, Hermione, 
 Chrysothemis come down slowly.
 
 14 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 GOR. [Observing Orestes. 1 He's dropped down from 
 
 the clouds, I do declare. 
 Ahem ! Ahem ! May it please your Royal High- 
 ness ! 
 The Queen desires you to await her here. 
 
 [Orestes takes no notice. 
 [Louder.'] The Queen desires you to await her 
 
 here. 
 He's nigh as deaf as I, and he a boy. 
 [Louder. 1 The Queen desires you to await her here. 
 Ores. I am not deaf. 
 
 GOR. Now he's a sword : he thinks 
 
 To treat his foster-mother like a slave. 
 
 ORES. Forgive me, Gorgo. I was in the clouds. 
 [GORGO looks up; then asszunes an ex- 
 pression of wonderment. 
 
 When I was but a boy I called you mother ; 
 And now, though I am heir to Argos' throne, 
 I wish I were, in sooth, my Gorgo's son. 
 
 GOR. Why so, my sonnie pet, my honey sweet ? 
 
 ORES. Because on princes duties oft are set 
 Beyond their powers. A curse is on our house. 
 What desp'rate deed shall I be driv'n to do?
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 1 5 
 
 GOR. If you were born a slave you might be 
 driven 
 To sell the prettiest child to feed the rest, 
 And bless your stars you'd something you could 
 sell. 
 
 \_A voice is heard calling " Gorgo." 
 Anon, anon ; there now, cheer up, my son ; 
 All will come right at last, for you were born 
 Beneath a lucky star. 
 
 \_Exit. 
 Ores. {Covers his face with his hands?^ 
 She's false, she's false. Oh, god ! then who is true? 
 I'll never hold my head up while I live. 
 Are women only true till they are tempted ? 
 
 \He herns alternately to ELECTRA, 
 PYLADES, and Hermione. 
 Ah ! you are true, and you, and Pylades. 
 My only safety is to moor my soul 
 To yours, or it will drift upon the rocks. 
 Oh ! that brute beast ! he must have worked some 
 
 charm 
 To loose her continence : he is not fit to live. 
 
 [Drazvs his sword. 
 Why should I wait ?
 
 16 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 MEL. The quarrel is the king's ; 
 
 And you are but a boy, and might be slain. 
 Ores. The gods would not allow it. 
 Mel. Nay ! who knows ? 
 
 ORES. I am a match for him without their aid. 
 Mel. Hush ! Do not play the braggart. 'Twas 
 a boast 
 That lost Iphigenia's precious life. 
 
 ORES. You '11 make a coward of me. [ Turns away.] 
 
 Traitor ! Wretch ! 
 MEL. {Puts his finger to his lips. Orestes 
 turns a?id sees the QUEEN and ^Egis- 
 THUS. 
 
 Ores. May I not even whip him with my tongue? 
 
 Re-enter Clyt^emnestra and ^Egisthus. 
 
 Cly. Come here, my son. 
 
 [Orestes comes over to her: she puts her 
 arms around him, and he shrinks away. 
 
 Why do you shrink from me ? 
 
 Ores. {After a momenfs hesitation] Because 
 
 I'm not a baby to be kissed. 
 
 Cly. And has he grown a man all in a day ?
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 1 7 
 
 ORES. Yes, in an hour. [Pauses.] Let me go and 
 
 fight. 
 CLY. And so, my soldier boy, now you've a 
 sword, 
 You long to prove your prowess. 
 
 ORES. [Breaks away from her.'] And avenge 
 My father's wrongs upon his enemies. 
 
 [He draws his sword, and presents the -point 
 at .£LGISTHUS, who draws back in 
 alarm. Clyt^emnestra cries out. 
 Then, remembering Meleander'S 
 warning, Orestes drops the point of 
 his sword and laughs awkwardly. 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA and ^EdSTHUS ex- 
 change glances. 
 
 Cly. My boy, you should not play with edged 
 tools. 
 You might have killed him, without meaning it. 
 ORES. {Shakes his head.'] What ? kill him with- 
 out meaning it ! Impossible ! 
 Cly. And can you bear to leave me unprotected ? 
 Ores. There is no need, for all your subjects love 
 you. 
 Don't they, ^Egisthus ? 
 
 D
 
 1 8 CLYT/EMNESTRA 
 
 y^G. What was that you said ? 
 
 ORES. Pylades sails to-day. May I go with him ? 
 Cly. This very day ! No, no ; it cannot be. 
 JEg. The boy is right. Nay, let him go. Fare- 
 wells, 
 If long drawn out, give only greater pain. 
 CLY. What do I care for pain, if he is here ? 
 
 [She puis her arms round Orestes, he 
 draws back. 
 ORES. If I remain at home, now I'm a man, 
 
 I shall be dubbed a coward. Let me go. 
 
 [He breaks loose, she follows him. 
 
 Cly. What means this sudden change ? Speak ! 
 I command. 
 
 Ores. [Hesitates at first, and then speaks rapidly. 
 This is no place to make a man of me. 
 Where I am fondled like a favourite slave, 
 And screened from danger like a puling child. 
 Give me my freedom, and the air of heaven. 
 Why was I given this sword, if not to use it ? 
 There ! Let me go, my place is with the king. 
 
 [He repulses her and sta?ids beside 
 Electra. Clytvemnestra joins 
 ^Egisthus.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 1 9 
 
 Cly. [Aside.~\ He knows. But how did he find 
 
 out? 
 
 [She looks over and observes Orestes and 
 Electra whispering. 
 
 Electra ! 
 
 [Beckons Electra. 
 
 Come here, my child. I wish to speak with you : 
 
 To-day a suitor seeks your hand in marriage. 
 
 [Electra looks at Pylades : he shakes 
 his head. 
 
 Elec. Tell me the worst at once. What is his 
 name ? 
 
 Cly. /Egisthus' only son — young Pleisthenes. 
 And I've consented. 
 
 Elec. Princes may not wed 
 
 Without the king's consent. 
 
 Cly. Till he returns 
 
 I am both king and queen. 
 
 Elec. I will not wed 
 
 j-Egisthus' son without the king's command. 
 
 Cly. We'll see who's mistress here. You will 
 not wed 
 Without the king's command ! 
 
 JEG. [Laughing:] Why, if you wait
 
 20 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 Until the king returns, you'll die a maid. 
 
 [ Voices from outside : " Victory, AGAMEMNON." 
 
 Cly. What does this riot mean ? Go, bid these 
 
 churls 
 
 Show more respect to me their Sovereign Queen. 
 
 [^Egisthus goes up and returns hastily. 
 
 ./Eg. A crowd of citizens, with swords and spears! 
 
 It is a rising. Ho! there ! Guards ! to your posts ! 
 
 Enter Watchman. 
 
 Watch. The beacon ! The beacon ! 
 
 JEg. The man is going mad. 
 
 Watch. The beacon is ablaze. 
 
 ^Eg What does he mean ? 
 
 Watch. The beacon on Arachnse's crest ; — the 
 signal 
 That Troy has fallen, and the king returns. 
 
 Cly. [To ^EGISTHUS.] 'Tis false! Some cun- 
 ning trick to catch the crowd, 
 And work our overthrow. [Aloud.'] Go ! some of 
 you 
 
 And see if he speaks true. 
 
 [All rush out except Orestes, ^Egisthus.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 21 
 
 ORES. So I may stay at home. I am too late. 
 
 \_Exit dejected, 
 
 Cly. He sacrificed my child to speed his going. 
 What can I do to stay his swift return ? 
 
 JEg. We'll sacrifice — 
 
 Cly. A fig for sacrifice ! 
 
 We're masters of our fate, say what they will, 
 
 JEg. And ours are linked together. 
 
 [Takes her hand. 
 
 Cly. Yes ; together 
 
 We'll stand or fall. 
 
 JEG. Why should we stand or fall 
 
 When we can fly ? 
 
 Cly. By Zeus, I will not fly. 
 
 We should be hunted by the whole of Greece, 
 And caught, and carried back again in triumph, 
 The laughing-stock of all this rabble rout. 
 
 JEg. How then could we withstand the victor 
 King, 
 With all the Argive forces at his back ? 
 
 Cly. We too will join our forces at his back. 
 
 JEg. Ah!
 
 22 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 Re-enter ORESTES and the rest, shouting and 
 •waving their swords. 
 
 Elec. The watchman lied not. Arachnaeon's 
 height 
 Is all ablaze. The ten years' war is past — 
 And Agamemnon on his homeward way. 
 
 CLY. \Feig7iing to be overjoyed at the news.~\ 
 The war is o'er, our tale of trouble ended. 
 No longer shall our sons be forced to fight, 
 Or fathers sacrifice their daughters' lives 
 For fav'ring breezes. Peace is now assured. 
 Let those who can, forget their miseries ; 
 And may the thought be balm to hearts bereaved 
 That we have conquered in this weary fight ; 
 And that our sons return to Argolis — [pauses] 
 Such as are still alive, and are not wed 
 To Trojan dames — 
 
 [There ts a dead silence for several seconds. 
 Why are you silent ? Where are now your cheers ? 
 Ores, f Waves his sword.] Victory ! Agamemnon ! 
 
 [Cheers. 
 
 Curtain.
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 23 
 
 ACT II 
 
 Scene. — The exterior front view of the^ Royal 
 Palace at Argos. The city, the mountains y 
 and the sea visible in the distance. Workmen 
 are engaged putting the fnishitig touches to 
 the decorations in honour of the public entry 
 of Agamemnon. 
 
 First Citizen. This is a great day for Argos. 
 Second Citizen. Yes ; but all the honour and 
 
 glory belong to our king. 
 Third Citizen. He is the greatest soldier of 
 
 the age. 
 Sec. C. He's as beautiful as Apollo. 
 THIRD C. He has a voice as loud as thunder. 
 FIRST C. And he can run faster than a deer. 
 Sec. C. And now the war is over, there'll be 
 
 work for everyone in Argos. 
 
 Enter LYSICLES. 
 
 Lys. Why are you not working, idle knaves ? 
 First C. The day is hot.
 
 24 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 LYS. Well! Sweat! 
 
 Sec. C. We are not slaves. 
 
 Lys. I might have guessed that. 
 
 Third C. How so? 
 
 Lys. You are evidently accustomed to be waited 
 
 upon. [Bows.'] 
 First C. You belong to the Court. Eh, mister ? 
 Lys. What if I do? 
 First C. Is it true the king is going to rebuild 
 
 the city? 
 Lys. Like enough — 
 SEC. C. Did you hear that all taxes are to be 
 
 abolished ? 
 LYS. And where 's the money coming from to 
 
 build the city ? 
 Third C. What? Will he build it with our 
 
 money ? 
 Lys. What else ? 
 First C. It's very well as it is. 
 Sec. and Third C. Aye, aye ; it couldn't be 
 
 improved upon. 
 First C. We'll have peace anyhow. 
 Lys. Peace ! [Laughs.]
 
 CLYT/EMNESTRA 2$ 
 
 Sec. C. Why do you laugh ? 
 
 Lys. Ha, ha ! Peace, and Agamemnon king ! 
 
 First C. Well? 
 
 Lys. He's never happy except when he's righting. 
 
 First C. Dear! dear! 
 
 Sec. C. No more war for me. I've lost three 
 
 sons in the war, and have but one left to bury 
 
 me — 
 Lys. What ! Are you not content with glory ? 
 Third Cit. Glory doesn't fill your belly. I've 
 
 not had a full meal for a twelvemonth. Glory 
 
 be damned, say I. 
 Lys. You're not a farmer. 
 Third C. Down with the farmers, and war 
 
 prices ! 
 First and Sec. C. So say we all. 
 THIRD C. Faith ! if the gentleman is right, it 
 
 would have served our purpose better if the 
 
 king had been soundly drubbed, for then he'd 
 
 a' lost his stomach for fighting, and we'd a' had 
 
 our bellies full. 
 Lys. 'Twould have only made him worse. 
 He'd never rest under defeat. 
 
 E
 
 26 CLYT/EMNESTRA 
 
 FIRST C. Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! and I was always 
 taught to take a beating kindly. What is he 
 made of? 
 
 Sec. C. [In a whisper.'] He can't help himself. 
 
 FIRST C. What ! A king, and can't help himself. 
 
 SEC C. [Takes him by the shoulder and shakes 
 him.] The curse ! Stupid ! Those who rest 
 under a curse can't sit still. 
 
 FIRST C. Eh! but why shouldn't I sit quiet? 
 I 've never heard tell of any curse on our house. 
 
 LYS. Yes; but you serve the king, and must 
 suffer for him. 
 
 First C. Is that so ? Well ! I never ! 
 
 SEC C. The gentleman is right. 
 
 FIRST C. I wouldn't mind so much if the curse 
 only hurt him. But, if what you say is right, 
 when the king is curst, every man Jack of us is 
 curst with him. Eh, mister ? 
 
 Omnes. Hear, hear ! 
 
 THIRD C. This must be looked into. 
 
 FIRST C. Let's talk it over in the market-place. 
 
 Sec. C. Aye ! let's ! there's wisdom in a multi- 
 tude. [Exeunt.
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 27 
 
 Lys. A good morning's work. I'll go after them 
 and instil a little more wisdom into the multi- 
 tude. Capital ! 
 
 \Exit laughing. 
 
 Enter ORESTES and HERMIONE, followed by 
 Electra and PYLADES, Meleander and 
 Chrysothemis. 
 
 Ores. The storm is over, and the thirsty sun 
 Is sucking up the mist that veiled his face, 
 And soon will smile his welcome on the king. 
 
 Her. Ah ! how I trembled as the thick walls 
 shook 
 Before the gale. How could a ship survive ? 
 
 Chr. By bending to the blast. 
 
 Elec. I dread far more 
 
 This treacherous calm, which lulls us all to sleep. 
 
 CHR. You always harp upon that single string. 
 
 ORES. Thyestes' son should hate the sons of 
 Atreus : 
 
 ELEC. Yet he pretends to love us, baits his 
 hooks 
 With sugared smiles and costly offerings.
 
 28 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 Chr. What has he ever done thatyou should fear? 
 
 Elec. It is because I cannot see the danger 
 I fear the most. 
 
 ORES. Tis thus a crafty chief 
 
 Lures on his foes. 
 
 ELEC. The king must be forewarned. 
 
 Ores. What shall we tell him, sister ? 
 
 ELEC. Everything. 
 
 ORES. If he knew all, he'd take her life. 
 
 Mel. And mine. 
 
 ORES. Then let me take the quarrel on myself. 
 Say yes ; and I will put it past her power 
 To sin again — The king need never know — 
 
 Mel. The skein is too entangled to unwind 
 Without the help of heaven. 
 
 Watch. {From the roof.] A sail ! 
 
 ELEC. They come ! 
 
 [Cheers are heard from the dista?ice. 
 
 Let's to the roof, where we can see them land, 
 
 And wave a welcome to their hung 'ring eyes. 
 
 [ They alt go out, and prese?itly re-appcar 
 again on the roof, except ORESTES, who 
 follows them slowly.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 29 
 
 \Note. — From this point there are two groups on 
 the stage — one on the roof, the other in 
 the court-yard. 
 
 ORES. Oh, why is it so hard to know the right ? 
 Ought I to tell him all, and leave the rest 
 To fate ? He is the king, and he should judge. 
 Yet, he is hasty. Would it not be well 
 To cover up this stain, and so avert 
 The risk of some rash act we all might rue. 
 
 [Goes up. 
 
 Enter Clytvemnestra. 
 
 [She does not see Orestes. 
 Cly. My vows were vain : he has escaped ^the 
 storm. 
 Within an hour he will be standing here. 
 
 [She walks tip and down, much agitated. 
 Shall I go back to Agamemnon's bed, 
 To which I have been false, and live a lie ? 
 His wife, his plaything, slave ; or shall I be 
 Queen of Mycenae, ruler of the Isles, 
 And mistress of the man I love so well ? [ Pauses. 
 A child might do it while he is asleep.
 
 30 CLYT.EMNESTRA 
 
 {Seeing Orestes.] 
 [Aside.] Yes, I must close his mouth. [Aloud."] 
 Come hither, son. 
 
 Ores. What do you want with me ? 
 
 Cly. Why do you shun me ? 
 
 Or peer at me askance, beneath your brows ? 
 
 Ores. I cannot tell : — it is unspeakable. 
 
 Cly. Some slippery slanderer has been at work. 
 It is not just that I should be condemned, 
 And yet denied a chance to clear myself. 
 Be frank with me : repeat it word for word ; 
 And if it shame you, turn your face away. 
 
 ORES. ^Egisthus. [Pauses.] Mother ! Must I 
 speak the rest ? 
 
 Cly. And what of him ? 
 
 ORES. [Hesitating^ You love him, do you not ! 
 
 Cly. I am but mortal, and if Cypris wills 
 That I should love — 
 
 ORES. [Interrupting.] You are my father's wife, 
 Sworn to be true. 
 
 Cly. And who dares call me false ? 
 
 ORES. Not I ; but oh ! beware ! for love is swift. 
 Fly from it, mother, if you would escape
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 3 1 
 
 Unsullied. Think what misery must spring 
 From such a sowing. Think of us, who love 
 
 you. 
 It would break our hearts. [Kneels.] 
 
 Cly. I do. Be comforted, and hear me swear 
 By heaven, I will be loyal to the king. 
 Ores. Send him away. 
 Cly. [Raises him.] Yes, he shall go to-day. 
 ORES. The sun shines out again. 
 
 [Puts his arm round her. 
 Cly. My own dear heart ! 
 
 And you will keep my secret. Not a word ! 
 ORES. Upon my honour ! 
 Cly. Seal it with a kiss. 
 
 [He kisses her.] 
 ORES. Thank God that danger's past. 
 Cly. ' Now, go! and stand 
 
 Upon the roof, and tell me when he comes. 
 
 ORES. I will ; I will. [Goes.] I thought he came 
 too late ; 
 [Turns.] But he is still in time. 
 
 [Exit, and re-appears presently on the 
 roof.
 
 32 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 Cly. [Looks after //mi.] Sweet innocent ! 
 I 've gone too far upon the road to turn. 
 My only safety lies in pressing on — 
 
 Enter ^gisthus and Pleisthenes hastily. 
 
 ^Eg. [To Pleisthenes.] My horses! 
 
 Cly. Go, and henceforth we are strangers. 
 Or stay, and strike, for me— the victor's prize. 
 
 JEg. What chance have I ? Nay, I were mad 
 indeed 
 To fight against such odds. [Cheers are heard 
 
 from a distance^ They'll follow him : 
 For those deep-chested cheers come from the heart. 
 Since dawn the shore has swarmed with anxious 
 
 crowds, 
 Silently standing staring out to sea. 
 But now they have gone mad ; the women weep, 
 The children clap their hands, the maidens laugh, 
 And join the men in their tumultuous cry — 
 
 VOICES. Hail ! Agamemnon, hail ! 
 
 y£G. I came away 
 
 Lest I should be infected by their joy.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 33 
 
 Cly. How many ships are with him ? 
 
 JEg. Only one. 
 
 Cly. Where are the rest ? 
 
 JEg. All scattered by the storm. 
 
 Cly. But one ! 
 
 JEg. It blew a hurricane last night : 
 
 Buildings were overturned, and trees torn up. 
 Truly it must have been Poseidon's work, 
 And without heavenly aid no mortal man 
 Could e'er have gained the sheltering shore alive. 
 We fight against the gods. 
 
 Cly. Against the gods ! 
 
 They have delivered him into our hands. 
 
 JEg. Would they had drowned him ! 
 
 Cly. O ye gods ! but one 1 
 
 Heaven only helps the man who helps himself, 
 And not the fool who stands, with folded arms, 
 Waiting for fruit to fall into his mouth. 
 If we would grasp the gifts the gods provide 
 We must use both our hands. 
 
 JEG. What would you do ? 
 
 Cly. Cut down the tree. To-morrow I'll be 
 queen, 
 
 F
 
 34 CLYT-ffiMNESTRA 
 
 The first of women, or the last of shades, 
 
 The shadowy ghost of Clytaemnestra's greatness. 
 
 A heavy stake ; — a life against a life : — [Pauses. 
 
 Yes, it shall be, for I would rather die 
 
 Than render up the throne where I have reigned 
 
 So long. 
 
 JEG. And reigned so well. Come, then, to work ! 
 We've prated long enough — where is Orestes? 
 
 CLY. I 've stopped his mouth. 
 
 JEG. And is Electra dumb ? 
 
 Cly. Leave her to me. 
 
 JEG. See ; there she is. [Points. 
 
 Cly. [beckons to Electra.'] 
 
 ELEC. [Coming down sloivly.] I come. 
 
 Cly. [Aside.] But one ship with him ! We must 
 strike to-day. 
 
 ORES. How swift she sails, although the air is light! 
 Some god is speeding her toward the shore. 
 
 Cly. [To ELECTRA, as she arranges her dress .] 
 How well this dress becomes my pretty one ! 
 He'll scarce believe you are the callow child 
 He left behind. 
 
 [ They remain out tf/"ORESTES' sight and hearing.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 35 
 
 Elec. I hope he has not changed. 
 
 Cly. A fruitless'wlsh ; for war is like the plague, 
 And even those it spares it sears with irons. 
 
 Elec. The scars of war become a soldier well. 
 Cly. But not the wounds that warp the warrior's 
 
 soul — 
 The fever-stricken falling off like flies, 
 The wounded writhing in the scorching sun, 
 The bosom friends abandoned to their fate, 
 The children sacrificed, the love betrayed. 
 Elec. Ah ! how his heart must bleed ! 
 Cly. He does not feel 
 
 Compassion mars a soldier ; so he learns 
 To stifle pity, till at last he grows 
 As cold, relentless, cruel as his sword. 
 ELEC. You wrong him, for he loves us — 
 Cly. Well enough 
 
 To sacrifice ; but he will find his wife 
 No willing victim, ready to be slain 
 That he may wed Chryseis or Briseis. 
 
 ELEC. \Hotly turning on her heel.] 
 I will not listen to your slanderous tales, 
 Conceived to cloak your treason.
 
 36 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 Cly. Insolence ! 
 
 Go to your chamber, and remain within. 
 
 Elec. You will not let me see the king's return ? 
 Cly. That is your punishment. 
 Elec. No, no, not that ! 
 
 Beat me with scorpions, but let me see 
 That which I've longed for, dreamt of, all these 
 years. 
 Cly. At last I've found a punishment that hurts. 
 Go ! [Electra goes out sloivly. 
 
 CLY. [To attendant.'] See that a guard is put 
 upon her door, 
 And let none see or speak with her to-day. 
 
 [Exit attendant. 
 
 [A distant cheer from the ship is heard, 
 followed by a cheer from the shore, tn 
 which those on the roof join, waving 
 their hands. 
 
 Ores. [To Clyt^mnestra.] You heard that 
 cheer — 'twas from my father's ship : 
 Voices whose very sound we had forgot. 
 
 Cly. Forgot ! I hear his voice above them all. 
 
 [She is much moved.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 37 
 
 Enter GORGO. 
 
 Cly. Bid Areas, captain of the guard, attend. 
 
 GOR. [Curtseying.'] May I go out and see the 
 
 ships come in ? 
 
 Cly. What, you ! 
 
 GOR. I love a noise, and I've a son 
 
 Was at the war. He was a pretty boy, 
 
 And I would know if he's alive or dead. 
 
 CLY. Yes, you may go. 
 
 GOR. God bless your Majesty ! 
 
 [Runs off in the wrong direction. 
 
 Cly. Send Areas first. 
 
 GOR. Well ! I'm a pretty fool ! 
 
 [ Turns, and walks towards the Palace ; as 
 she goes out she speaks aside. 
 
 If he's alive, he'll give me board and lodging, 
 
 And I may loll as idle as a lady ; 
 
 And if he's dead — I'm saved the funeral. 
 
 Cly. [To one of her attendants] See that the 
 
 bath is ready for the king, 
 
 And fill his beaker full with Samian wine. 
 
 ORES. [Beckoning] Mother ! haste ! haste ! the 
 
 ship is close in shore.
 
 38 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 Cly. [To ORESTES.] A moment more, and all 
 will be prepared 
 To meet the king ! [Kisses her hand to him ; then 
 turning to ^EGISTHUS.] Can Cleophon be 
 trusted ? 
 Mg. Yes, with your life. 
 
 Cly. Then bid him come at once 
 
 To garrison the keep, in place of Areas, 
 Whom we must shift. 
 
 ^ G - There is just time to do it. 
 
 I will this instant bring'Ju'm and his clan. 
 
 [Exit ^GISTIIUS- 
 ORES. [Growing excited.] They furl the sail, at 
 last they touch the shore. 
 They run the creaking gangway overboard, 
 Clamber the bulwarks, press across the plank, 
 And spring ashore, each striving to be first. 
 
 [Cheers. 
 
 Enter Arcas ; he salutes. 
 
 CLY. Take your command, and lead them to the 
 port, 
 And line the road, for fear some fanatic
 
 CLYT/EMNESTRA 39 
 
 Should set upon the king. 
 
 Arc. Tis not unlike — 
 
 For poverty breeds maggots in the brain. 
 I'll start at once ; so't please your Majesty. 
 
 [He salutes ; and goes into palace. 
 
 Re-enter GORGO. [S/ie hurries across the staged] 
 
 Cly. Stop ! Bid the virgins from the temple 
 bring 
 The costly coverings from the holy ward 
 To strew upon the road before the king. 
 
 GOR. [Aside.] Oh dear ! I shall be late to see 
 them land. [Exit. 
 
 [A louder cheer and cries of " Agamemnon " 
 from tvithout. 
 
 Ores. The king ! It is the king. Look ! look 1 
 the crown ! 
 How big he bulks : the image of a god ! 
 See ! how the sun shines on his shimmering mail. 
 They carry him ashore upon their shields, 
 And seat him in his royal chariot.
 
 40 CLYTJEMNESTRA 
 
 Cly. [Who is alternately listening to ORESTES, 
 and looking after her own arrangements^ 
 
 How slow they are, who should outstrip the wind. 
 If this miscarries, everything is lost. 
 
 Re-enter ARCAS and followers : they cross the 
 stage, and exeunt. 
 
 ORES. Zeus ! how they throng ! A happy, happy 
 crowd 
 Of wives and husbands, mothers, sisters, sons, 
 
 Clasping each other's necks, as if resolved 
 Never to let them go ! 
 
 [Another cheer — a trumpet sounds, and 
 distant music is heard."] 
 
 They're off, at last. 
 
 Enter MAIDENS bearing coverings. 
 
 CLY. [As she arranges them in a line from the 
 centre of the stage to the palace door.] 
 
 Stand where I place you ! When the king dismounts, 
 
 Spread out the purple to the palace door, 
 
 And kiss his garment's hem as he goes by.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 4 1 
 
 Re-enter jEgisthuS, followed by Cleophon 
 and his men at the double. They cross the 
 stage and enter the palace, except vEGIS- 
 THUS, who approaches CLYT/EMNESTRA. 
 
 ./Eg. I must not linger or I shall be trapped. 
 Cly. Have you the philtre ? 
 JEg. [Handing it to her.] Yes, here ! Take it, 
 quick ! 
 'Twill make him sleep, and then — 
 
 Cly. Your dream comes true. 
 
 [A trumpet sounds quite close. 
 JEg. You can depend on Lysicles until 
 I come. There ! Let me go. 
 
 Cly. To-night, at dusk. 
 
 [Exit ^Egisthus. 
 
 Enter COURTIERS, who take their places. 
 
 Ores. Mother ! they're close at hand ! Come, 
 
 Pylades, 
 
 Chrysothemis, Hermione, speed ! speed ! 
 
 [ They come down from the roof and take 
 their places beside the QUEEN. 
 
 Enter Herald. 
 Her. Make way for the king.
 
 42 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 Enter the Soldiers of Agamemnon ; they 
 are crowned with garlands ; their wives and 
 children are clinging to them, and they are 
 accompanied by a pushing crowd of Greeks, 
 who cheer and wave their hands. The ad- 
 vance guard enter the palace, leaving their 
 wives and children outside. As the pro- 
 cession files past there is a steady crescendo 
 of cheering from without. 
 
 E?iter AGAMEMNON seated in a chariot, CASSANDRA 
 beside him. On his entry, those on the stage 
 cheer, until Agamemnon puts up his hand, 
 when all are silent on the instant. 
 
 Meleander. 
 *Hail ! Agamemnon, champion, captain, king ; 
 
 Invincible upholder of the right, 
 Swifter to strike than hawk upon the wing, 
 
 More secret in thy counsels than the night. 
 The frowns of fortune, through the ages long, 
 
 Thou didst endure, thy purpose firm as fate, 
 Against the hostile gods upstanding strong, 
 
 Regardless of their menace and their hate ; 
 Until, in spite of fickle fortune's blows, 
 Thou turnest home, triumphant o'er thy foes. 
 
 * This ode may be omitted for dramatic purposes.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 43 
 
 Captain and pilot, who the helm didst hold, 
 Through calm and tempest, shoals and rocky- 
 isles, 
 
 Steering our ships across the watery wold, 
 In spite of Dian's wrath, and Cypris' wiles, 
 
 Guiding them safely to the smooth sea sands, 
 Hauling them high, beyond Poseidon's reach, 
 
 In sight of Helen and her Trojan bands, 
 
 Building a bulwark by the sheltering beach, 
 
 And digging deep a trench in double ring, 
 
 And crouching like a lion for its spring. 
 
 Then swift as fire you flashed upon your foes, 
 
 Struck down their leaders, driving them pell- 
 mell ; 
 While to the skies a mighty wail arose, 
 
 As, like the leaves, the Ilian warriors fell. 
 Yet as they fell, fresh levies filled their place : 
 
 In flocks, like vultures to the fight they fly, 
 From every quarter of the starry space, 
 
 Resolved to rescue Ilium or to die. 
 It seemed madness to oppose such odds : 
 Myriads of men — the mightiest of gods.
 
 44 CLYT-fliMNESTRA 
 
 Rather than turn away in craven fright, 
 
 Undaunted Argos met the world in arms. 
 But brooding fever with its burning blight, 
 
 And fatal panic bred by night alarms, 
 And sword, and spear, and fire, and famine 
 dread, 
 
 And sweltering sun, and winter storm, and rain, 
 Heaped up your trenches with your festering dead ; 
 
 While mutiny made all your councils vain. 
 And yet the more the hostile gods said nay, 
 The more resolved were you to gain the day. 
 
 At length, compelled by your unswerving soul, 
 
 And driven by Hera's importunity, 
 Back from Zeus' brow the rumbling storm-clouds 
 roll; 
 
 He nods his head, and thunders : — " Let it be." 
 Swiftly to earth his envoy Iris flies, 
 
 Bearing the message, Agamemnon seeks, 
 And tells her tale : the king exulting cries, 
 
 Then summons to his side his trusty Greeks, 
 Reveals the news, and, fretting for the fray, 
 Upon the instant marshals his array.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 45 
 
 The word goes round the camp, the trumpets call, 
 
 The sick spring from their beds, who scarce 
 can creep, 
 And, with the wounded and the dying, fall 
 
 Into the ranks, which like the torrents sweep 
 Towards the town, with a tumultuous roar, 
 
 Driving the foe, as tempests lash the scud, 
 And, pressing onwards, burst the gates, and o'er 
 
 The ramparts surge ; the passages run blood ; 
 The flames burst out ; aghast the Trojans flee : 
 And on the morrow Troy has ceased to be. 
 
 Ten weary years have sped since thou thy hearth 
 
 And home and wife and little ones hast seen ; 
 And now, O king ! After an age of dearth, 
 
 Of toil and trial, long drawn out and lean, 
 From the far east thou risest like the sun ; 
 
 And sorrow's night before thy coming flies. 
 High in our sky, until thy course is run, 
 
 Be thou the very light unto our eyes ; 
 Our shield, our sword : protect us by thy might : 
 A tower by day, a flame of fire by night.
 
 46 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 {During the progress of the Ode, AGAMEM- 
 NON stands unmoved in his chariot. At 
 the end, there are more cheers, and at 
 last Agamemnon motions them to be 
 silent. 
 
 Her. Silence! 
 
 Aga. Brave Argives, who for half a score of years 
 
 Have stemmed the tide of battle without murmur, 
 
 Rejoice with me to-day that Troy has fallen, 
 
 [ Cheers. 
 
 That Helen is restored to Menelaus; [Cheers. 
 
 And let us also mourn the gallant dead — 
 
 Ajax, Patroclus, and Achilles dire — 
 
 But noble blood is never shed in vain : 
 
 Falling in fight against a common foe, 
 
 They drew our bickering bands together, bound 
 
 By ties of blood ; till Greece to-day is welded 
 
 In one great commonwealth beneath our rule ; 
 
 And Argos grown the head and heart of Hellas. 
 
 You've paid a passing price; but in return 
 
 You gain the priceless treasure of the East. 
 
 Hereafter dusky slaves shall delve for you, 
 
 And Asia's gold shall flow into your tills. 
 
 What fairer fortune could befall you ? Friends !
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 47 
 
 My tongue is tired; my deeds must speak the rest; 
 And you shall judge if I have done what's best. 
 
 [The crowd cJieer. AGAMEMNON is about 
 to dismount, when Clyt.EMNESTRA 
 stops him by a gesture. 
 
 CLY. [Addressing the maidens.'] 
 Now spread the sacred purple o'er the ground ! 
 Let not the feet that trod the necks of kings 
 Touch common clay. Hath he not overcome 
 Poseidon, Cypris ? Bow the stubborn knee, 
 For surely he must be himself a god. 
 
 [They fall on their faces before him. 
 Agamemnon steps doivn from his 
 chariot, arid raises CLYTJEMNESTRA. 
 
 Aga. Time has dealt tenderly with my true queen ; 
 You are the same, not older by a wrinkle 
 Than when we parted. 
 
 CLY. Would your words were true ! 
 
 [She puts her hand on ORESTES' shoulder. 
 But here is one whom time indeed hath changed 
 Beyond all reckoning. 
 
 Ag. Orestes ! 
 
 Ores. Father! [They embrace]
 
 48 CLYTiEMNKSTRA 
 
 AGA. [Holding him at arms' length] 
 Why, let me see. How old is he? 
 
 Ores. Eighteen. 
 
 AG A. A full-fledged man ! built of the very- 
 stuff 
 Heroes are hammered out of. Heaven be praised 
 For giving Agamemnon such a son 
 To sit upon his throne when he is gone. 
 
 Ores. And you have changed. You were not 
 
 grey before. 
 Aga. No ; black as night. 
 
 [Sighs, and knits his brows. 
 Ores. You did not wear a frown. 
 
 Aga. Helmet and crown will crease the smoothest 
 
 brow. 
 Ores. But tell me, father, who is she that 
 rode 
 Beside you in the chariot ? 
 
 Aga. Cassandra, 
 
 Daughter of aged Priam, King of Troy — 
 The spoils of war. She fell to me by lot. 
 
 Ores. She's beautiful. What will you do with 
 her?
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 49 
 
 Cly. [Sarcastically. .] The king will sacrifice her 
 to the god, 
 As a thank-offering for victory. 
 Aga. It is for me to choose the sacrifice. 
 
 CAS. Then let the king beware, for he and I 
 Will die together. [The soldiers laugh. 
 
 AGA. [Laughing incredulously] Guard her care- 
 fully. 
 
 CAS. Aye, guard yourself against the angry gods. 
 
 Put on your armour, grasp your sword and shield, 
 
 And try your strength against my Loxias. 
 
 Aga. [Addressing Tub Queen , and disregarding 
 Cassandra.] 
 
 Come, take my hand, we must not linger here : 
 
 For it is meet that we should sacrifice 
 
 To Hera and the gods who fought for Greece. 
 
 [The procession moves on. 
 
 CAS. Behold the god who fled from Hector's 
 
 spear. 
 Ores. [To Agamemnon.] I fear that fury: she 
 
 will do you harm. 
 Cly. What could a woman do against such 
 
 might ? 
 
 H
 
 50 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 CAS. He walks as though he were a god. Great 
 powers ! 
 Punish this pride, and spoil the spoiler. Loxias ! 
 Avenge my wrongs on this Prometheus. 
 
 [Clytvemnestra crozvns Agamemnon 
 with a garland ; the maidens kiss the 
 hem of his garment ; the crowd cheer. 
 
 CAS. [Pointing to AGAMEMNON.] 
 Behold the sacrifice ! Crown him with garlands. 
 Lead him to the altar. Cry aloud, 
 And plunge the blade into the victim's breast. 
 
 The Soldiers. \Jeeringly^\ An oracle ! 
 
 \T1ie procession files into the Palace. The 
 crowd make a rush at CLYT/EM- 
 nestra, but the Soldiers keep them 
 off, laughing good-liumouredly at her. 
 
 Curtain,
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 5 1 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 SCENE. — The Great Hall at the King's Palace. The 
 King is seated on his throne, the Queen beside 
 him\ behind him stands CASSANDRA; on the 
 steps of the throne sit ORESTES, CHRYSO- 
 THEMIS, HERMIONE. The rest of the Court 
 are standing. 
 
 Herald. An embassy from Corinth waits with- 
 out. 
 
 Aga. Admit them. 
 
 Cly. What can the message be they bear ? 
 
 Some fresh distinction — 
 
 ORES. Or some greater quest 
 
 To which they call you — take me with you, father ! 
 
 Aga. Yes, my son, if I am called by duty ; 
 But I have earned my rest, and long to live 
 The twilight of my life with those I love. 
 
 Enter CORINTHIAN EMBASSY. 
 
 [They prostrate themselves. 
 Envoy. Most puissant king ! the prince of Corinth 
 lays
 
 52 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 His homage humbly at your Highness' feet, 
 Praying you will avow him as your vassal, 
 Instant at your behest to fight your battles 
 Loyally ; and, as a set-off, stipulates 
 That you shall swear to fend him from his foes. 
 
 Aga. 'Twould ill beseem the leader of the Greeks 
 Should he refuse the fealty you proffer. 
 Tell Corinth I will be his over-king, 
 Upon condition that he entertain 
 No embassy without my sufferance, 
 And wage no war without my warranty. 
 
 [The Embassy bow and retire. 
 
 Cly. [To the king.'] You will not intermeddle in 
 their quarrels ? 
 Aga. The driver and his horses are but one : 
 Corinth is harnessed to my chariot ; 
 And so my foes are hers, and hers are mine. 
 Cly. We have enough already on our hands. 
 Aga. My hands are strong enough to hold them 
 all: 
 Athens and Sparta, Thebes and Megara. 
 
 [Puts his hands out as if he ivere driving 
 a chariot.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 53 
 
 Cly. No man could drive so mutinous a team. 
 AGA. I '11 do it yet. But why do I waste words ? 
 
 [Turns away angrily. 
 CLY. How openly he flouts me ! While he lives 
 I shall be powerless as a chamber-wench. 
 
 Enter Second Embassy. They approach the King, 
 and prostrate themselves. 
 
 Second Envoy. Great king of kings ! we come 
 from Ilium, 
 Commanded to commit into your charge 
 These diadems, which yesterday did grace 
 The brows of Priam and Queen Hecuba. 
 Henceforth by right of conquest they are yours. 
 
 AGA. [ Taking the crown of Priam, and setting it 
 on his headi] 
 Here let it rest, a record of this war ; 
 That when men see it they may fear a foe 
 Who never flinches till the fight is won. 
 
 Cly. Give me the crown of Hecuba. 
 
 AGA. Not so. 
 
 A coronet might cheat the crazy crowd, 
 Making them fancy you their ruler still.
 
 54 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 They 've yet to learn that I am despot here. 
 
 {Hands the crown to CASSANDRA. 
 CAS. Whose crown is this ? {Takes it absently] 
 { With a cry] My mother's ! Where is she ? 
 
 Envoy. Princess ! the queen is dead of broken 
 heart, 
 At loss of all that made her sad life sweet — 
 Husband and children, home and liberty. 
 
 Cas. Dead, not dishonoured ! Better, better so. 
 Why do I live when I could end my life 
 So easily ? O Loxias ! Let me go. 
 
 {She draws her dagger. 
 AGA. {Holds her hand] Nay, play with this 
 instead. {Touches the crown. 
 
 CAS. {Eagerly] You'll give it me. 
 
 [ They converse. 
 Cly. My purpose staggered, now again 'tis fixed. 
 I '11 roll the stone, and care not what it wrecks. 
 
 {Exit. 
 
 CAS. {Holding up the crown, and addressing it as 
 if it were a living person. 
 
 How beautiful she is ! The golden crown 
 Inlaid among her silver locks ; her eyes
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 55 
 
 Shimmering through the trembling tears outshine 
 
 These sapphires set in sparkling diamonds. 
 
 What ails you, mother ? Do not wring your hands, 
 
 For you have other sons. What do you say ? 
 
 I cannot hear your voice, 'tis like a ghost's. 
 
 A ghost ! — \S he puts her hand to her head. 
 
 I had forgotten. She is dead. 
 They all are dead ; but I am left alive, 
 A slave in a strange land, alone, alone. 
 
 [She retires up and weeps ; while she is 
 delivering this speech AGAMEMNON 
 and Orestes converse apart. 
 
 ORES. 'Tis wonderful ! 
 
 Aga. Presently embassies 
 
 From Thebes and Sparta, Athens, Megara, 
 Arrive, making submission to my rule. 
 
 Ores. You will, indeed, be King of all the land, 
 From north to south, from east to western sea. 
 
 Aga. Have I not earned my crown, spilling my 
 blood, 
 Spending my substance, sleeping on the sod 
 Beneath the winter-rain, and munching crusts, 
 When I might easily have slept on silk,
 
 56 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 And fed on flesh, washing it down with wine ? 
 
 {Turns to Courtiers. 
 
 The Court is over. Later on we'll meet 
 
 Our loyal subjects at the festival. 
 
 [Exeunt Courtiers, leaving the family 
 party on the stage. 
 
 [To ORESTES.] And what have you been doing all 
 
 this while [He touches the throne. 
 
 To fit yourself to sit upon this seat ? 
 
 ORES. Nothing. [Looks down. 
 
 Aga. [To Meleander.] How go his studies? 
 
 Mel. Judge for yourself. 
 
 Aga. And have you learnt to stalk the keen-eyed 
 
 stag, 
 
 To wield the sword, and hurl the heavy spear ? 
 
 ORES. Judge for yourself. 
 
 [Imitates Meleander. 
 
 Aga. [To Meleander] We'll put him to the 
 
 proof. 
 
 Ores. May I not fight a bout with Meleander ? 
 
 Aga. Yes, yes.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 57 
 
 ORES. {Rubs his /lands.] I'll make him ache in 
 every limb. 
 
 [MELEANDER takes down the swords and 
 shields from the wall. 
 
 Mel. I 'd rather teach philosophy. 
 
 AGA. Why so ? 
 
 Mel. It breaks no bones. Come, ready ! On 
 
 your guard ! 
 
 [ They fence : Orestes pinks him. 
 
 AGA. A point! 
 
 [Orestes pinks him again. Meleander 
 
 cries out.] 
 
 Another point ! Now, Meleander ! 
 
 [Orestes pinks him again. Meleander 
 throzvs doivn his arms, and walks 
 about rubbing his shoulder. ORESTES 
 and Agamemnon laugh. 
 
 Aga. [To Meleander.] Here, stand aside ! 
 And let me feel how hard the youngster hits. 
 
 [He takes up the sword and shield. 
 Come ! Are you ready ? Stand upon your guard. 
 
 [They fence: AGAMEMNON remains on the 
 defensive. 
 
 Now, shall I show you how to kill your foe ? 
 
 I
 
 58 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 ORES. Yes ; if you don't kill me. 
 
 AGA. The gods forbid ! [Pinks him. 
 
 ORES. Again. [A. pinks him.] Slower! slower! 
 
 Now, I see. [He pinks AGAMEMNON. 
 
 AGA. Well done ! my boy, 'twas worthy of 
 
 Achilles. [He embraces him.~\ 
 
 What is there left in life that I could wish ? 
 
 A loving wife beside me, at my feet 
 
 An empire, and a son like Hercules. 
 
 [Orestes buckles on his sword again. 
 
 What sword is that you wear ? Who gave it you ? 
 
 [ORESTES is about to speak, but is stopped 
 by a gesture from CllRYSOTHEMIS. 
 
 ORES. The queen ! 
 
 AGA. [Angrily.'] The queen ! My sword ! 
 Well, let it pass. I was away so long 
 She had forgot it was my father's blade 
 With which he slew Thyestes' bestial brood. 
 And now 'tis time to robe me for the feast : 
 Come ! will you be my chamberlain to-day ? 
 
 ORES. I will be anything — your slave, your dog, 
 So long as I have leave to lodge with you. 
 
 [Exeunt AGAMEMNON and ORESTES.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 59 
 
 Chr. Oh ! what a man he is ! How proud I 'd 
 be 
 Of such a husband ! Would not you, sweet coz ? 
 Her. Some day Orestes will be such another. 
 
 Enter Electra. 
 
 [She keeps in the background^ trying to con- 
 ceal herself. 
 
 Cas. Come forth ! 
 
 Elec. {Retreating?^ A Trojan woman. 
 
 Cas. Forth ! I say. 
 
 You wish to see the king ? 
 
 Elec. [Coming forward^] How do you know? 
 
 Cas. You seek to step between him and his fate. 
 What next ? You might as well essay to stop 
 The tide from rising, or the night from falling. 
 
 ELEC. You are his enemy, and strive to balk 
 me — 
 
 Cas. Why should I ? Is it not decreed that we 
 Should die together ? 
 
 Elec. Then let me save you both. 
 
 Cas. We cannot fly from fate. 
 
 ELEC. Help me ! Have pity !
 
 60 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 CAS. Pity ! What pity had the Greeks for me ? 
 
 Elec. They spared your life. 
 
 CAS. My life ! Inhuman wretches ! 
 
 Why — why did they not put me out of pain ? 
 
 [Goes up. 
 
 ELEC. [Turns to ClIRYSOTHEMiS.] 
 Will you not tell the king I wish to see him ? 
 
 Chr. What for ? 
 
 ELEC. To give him warning 
 
 CHR. Give him warning ! 
 
 And fill his mind with groundless doubts and fears. 
 Take my advice — don't run your foolish head 
 Against the wall. But how did you escape ? 
 
 [Electra turns to Hermione. 
 
 Her. [Embracing Electra.] 
 Dear sister ! Every woman, man, and child 
 Has seen the king, and he has smiled on all 
 Save you. Yes, I will gladly take your message. 
 
 ELEC. Tell him I crave his pardon for my fault, 
 And that this punishment of parting us 
 Passes endurance. Why should I, who long 
 To nestle in his loving arms, lie chained,
 
 CLYTJEMNESTRA 6 1 
 
 When criminals have been enlarged to swell 
 The cheers that greet the conqueror ? 
 Her. I go. 
 
 ELEC. One instant, stay ! You have a dagger 
 
 with you. 
 
 Lend it to me, they took away my poniard. 
 
 Her. {Gives ELECTRA her dagger.'] 
 
 You will not use it wildly ? 
 
 ELEC. Trust me, no. 
 
 [Exit Hermione. 
 
 [Spoken slowly, and with pauses between 
 each question. 
 
 Am I too late ? Will he believe my tale ? 
 
 Would I believe a word against Orestes ? 
 
 Why was I kept away? There's mischief 
 
 brewing. 
 What shall I tell him ? How shall I begin ? 
 
 Re-enter AGAMEMNON and ORESTES. 
 
 ELEC. Father ! 
 
 [She runs towards him ; he zvaves her back. 
 AGA. I left a daughter whom I prized, 
 
 Submissive to her parents and the gods ;
 
 62 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 But in her place I find a mutineer, 
 Rebellious, undutiful. 
 
 Elec. Believe me — 
 
 Aga. Nay, 
 
 Your mother says I might as well believe 
 A Cretan. 
 
 Elec. That is false. 
 
 Aga. Irreverent child ! 
 
 Elec. Forgive me, Father ! for my temper 's 
 quick, 
 And cannot brook an ill-deserved reproof. 
 
 [S/ie clasps his knees. 
 
 Aga. There ! Let me go ! 
 
 Elec. Not till you 've clasped me close 
 
 To your dear heart. 
 
 Aga. [Harshly.'] Release me ! do you hear ? 
 
 Elec. Nay, do not look so fierce — you frighten 
 
 me. 
 
 [AGAMEMNON having released himseb, 
 walks away from her. 
 
 Yet I must speak, though you should strike me 
 
 dead. 
 
 You are in danger. Oh ! beware ^Egisthus !
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 63 
 
 Aga. iEgisthus ! You are dreaming ! He's an 
 
 outlaw. 
 Elec. He left the palace as you entered it. 
 Aga. You level an impeachment at the queen. 
 Elec. I seek to save your life. 
 AGA. This must be sifted. 
 
 [To LYSICLES.] When did you see /Egisthus last 
 at Argos ? 
 LYS. [ With a shrug7\ I cannot trust my memory. 
 I think 
 It must have been the year before the flood. 
 
 Aga. [To Meleander.] 
 When did you see iEgisthus last, and where ? 
 Take time to answer me, and bear in mind 
 I bade you guard her honour as your life. 
 If you have winked at any treachery, 
 With which you should have made your king 
 
 acquaint, 
 You die the death. 
 
 [Meleander pauses. 
 
 Answer me ! 
 Mel. [S lowly. ~\ Ages ago.
 
 64 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 Enter GORGO. 
 
 Aga. [To her.~] How long is't since ^Egisthus 
 
 was at Argos? 
 GOR. [Looks round. Meleander makes signs 
 to her. 
 I 'faith, not since your darling boy was weaned. 
 
 Aga. [ Turning fiercely on Electra.] 
 Liar ! why did you fabricate this fable ? 
 To sow dissension 'twixt the Queen and me ? 
 I'll teach that double tongue to tell the truth. 
 ELEC. Will no one speak the truth but me ? 
 
 Orestes ! 
 Aga. Tell the truth, my boy ; you need not fear. 
 ORES. [Looking down, and speaking slowly.'] 
 I never saw the man. 
 ELEC. Orestes ! Shame ! 
 
 Enter Clytvemnestra and armed attendants 
 
 hastily. 
 
 Aga. [To Clyt^emnestra.] 
 When did ^Egisthus leave —
 
 CLYT7EMNESTRA 65 
 
 CLY. ^Egisthus ! Why ? 
 
 My lord, you frighten me. [Observing Electra. 
 
 Electra ! 
 [ To her attendants.'] Seize her ! 
 
 [Electra draws her dagger ; but one of 
 the attendants throws a net over her, 
 and secures her. 
 
 Elec. May I not say one word in my defence ? 
 
 [ They gag her. 
 
 Aga. Take her away ; I '11 deal with her to-morrow. 
 
 [Covers his face with his hands. ELECTRA 
 is secured and led away. ORESTES 
 is hardly able to restrain himself. 
 Clyt^emnestra^^ over to him, and 
 whispers to him. 
 
 Ores. [To Clyt/EMNESTRA.] I have forsworn 
 myself to shield your honour. 
 Nay, I will speak ; for I would rather risk 
 My father's wrath myself a thousand times 
 Than subject her to such disparagement. 
 
 Cly. [To Orestes.] If he should learn the truth, 
 my life is lost. 
 Her fault is but a small one : do not fear. 
 His anger cools as quickly as it heats. 
 To-morrow morning all will be forgot. 
 
 K
 
 66 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 Ores. Tell me, where has ^Egisthus gone ? 
 
 Cly. To Delphi. 
 
 Aga. [Shudders^] What makes me tremble like 
 a fluttering flag ? 
 
 Cly. A touch of Trojan fever ; you are worn : 
 Come, drink a stoup of wine, and rest a while. 
 
 Aga. [ Who looks pale and shaken.'] This is no 
 ague fit. A week ago 
 My flesh was shaken with this self-same fear — 
 Wrapped in my cloak, watching the wintry stars, 
 A sudden tremor seized the shuddering sail, 
 And stirred my hair and froze my creeping blood ; 
 And then my heart stood still, for I beheld 
 Walking upon the wave Achilles' wraith. 
 Closer he came, swept up to the ship's side, 
 Mounted the deck, and gazed into my face 
 With dull lack-lustre eye-balls. " Speak ! " I cried 
 In fear and trembling, for his lips were set. 
 " Surely, you bear some message from the dead." 
 He spoke ; these were his words : — " 'Tis not for long 
 You wear my laurels, strip me of my spoils. 
 Before this winter moon hath run her course 
 Your life-blood shall be shed by one you love."
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 67 
 
 And then he vanished like the morning mist. 
 Again his warning words ring in my ear. 
 What can I do to turn aside this blow ? 
 
 Cly. You would not sacrifice another child ? 
 
 Aga. The gods forbid. [Then, after a pause. 
 
 What cause has she for hate ? 
 
 Cly. Her sister's death. 
 
 Aga. [Sighing.] I but obeyed the gods. [Pauses. 
 
 Cly. Despatch a messenger to Delphi straight, 
 To ask the god to guide us through this maze. 
 
 Aga. I '11 go myself: he is a jealous god. 
 
 Cly. Nay, send Orestes. He is young and pure : 
 Just such a one as the immortals love. 
 
 Ores. Yes, let me go ! [Aside.] ^Egisthus is at 
 Delphi. 
 
 AGA. [Walking about.'] I would not care how 
 soon I met my death, 
 If once my work were done — my empire fixed. 
 But falling thus would rob me of my fame, 
 And stir the embers of the dying curse — 
 Heaping in ashes all the house of Atreus. 
 
 Cly. You '11 let him go ? 
 
 Ores. [Eagerly.] Yes ; let me go at once ;
 
 68 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 For from to-day I evermore will dread 
 
 To walk with you, lest by some cruel chance 
 
 I cause your death. It might be in the chase, 
 
 An ill-aimed shaft would pierce you to the heart. 
 
 Oh ! let me go ; for while I am away 
 
 I cannot harm you. 
 
 [Agamemnon embraces him. 
 
 AGA. Have no fear, my son. 
 
 ORES. Perhaps there 's poison on my lips. Take 
 
 care! 
 
 [He draws away from AGAMEMNON. 
 
 My cloak may cling to you like Nessus' shirt. 
 
 Ah ! let me look. Perhaps the blow I struck 
 
 Has wounded. 
 
 [He examines his father' 's arm. 
 
 Not a scratch ! 
 
 [Then, with a sudden change of tone. 
 
 You will not hurt her ? 
 
 Aga. Nay, but she must be kept in durance. 
 
 Come ! 
 
 We' 11 go together to the harbour. 
 
 Ores. No. 
 
 We must remain apart. Good-bye, good-bye. 
 
 [ Walks tip.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 69 
 
 Cly. {Following him.'] You will not leave me 
 
 thus, without one kiss. 
 
 [She throws her arms round him. 
 ORES. {Releasing himself] I love your lips no 
 
 longer. They are tainted. 
 
 Cly. Hush ! Not so loud. 
 
 [ORESTES rushes azvay. 
 
 AGA. What have you ready for the sacrifice ? 
 
 CLY. A Mycenaean ox, with garlands crowned. 
 
 [Agamemnon takes her hand, and kisses 
 it. They walk up. 
 
 Cas. [Aside.] Which licks the hand that leads 
 
 him to the altar. 
 Cly. [Picking up the net which had been used to 
 
 secure Electra.] What 's this ? 
 Aga. [Examines it.] A net to snare the forest- 
 king. 
 Poor creature ! When enmeshed within these folds, 
 A woman's hand could take the monarch's life. 
 
 [Cassandra repeats Agamemnon's 
 words after him, and then goes up. 
 Exeunt all but CASSANDRA, LYSI- 
 CLES, and CLEOPHON. 
 
 CLEO. How goes it in the city, Lysicles ?
 
 70 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 Lys. Famously ! I have had it put about 
 That Troy has not been taken, that this crew 
 Are sole° s survivors of the Trojan war, 
 Which ended in defeat, not victory. 
 
 Cleo. And do they swallow it ? 
 
 Lys. Most greedily. 
 
 Enter City Elders. 
 
 I greet you in the name of Agamemnon. 
 
 City Elder. And in the city's name we greet 
 the king. [They bow. 
 
 Lys. The king will sorrow that he was not here 
 To welcome you. 
 City Elder. How fares his Majesty ? 
 
 Lys. But poorly, for you know he 's not a sailor. 
 CITY ELDER. [Shaking his head solemnly.'] 
 Such qualms are sent to prove that kings are 
 mortal. 
 Lys. Ah ! yes, alas ! Some day the king must 
 
 die. 
 City Elder. Surely his life is not in present 
 
 danger ? 
 Lys. I am no doctor.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 7 1 
 
 City Elder. But- 
 
 Lys. [ With mock solemnity^ Life is uncertain : 
 We 're well to-day, and may be ill to-morrow ; 
 Alive this morning, dead before sundown. 
 
 City Elder. If ill befell him, what would hap- 
 pen Argos ? 
 Lys. A riddle ! What is the answer ? Speak, 
 
 O Sphinx ! 
 City Elder. Nay, I am not a prophet. 
 Lys. So I thought. 
 
 Enter Soldiers of Agamemnon, armed. 
 Not so much noise ! or you '11 disturb the king. 
 Soldier. He likes a noise, and so do I. So, there ! 
 LYS. You 're drunk, you scoundrel ! 
 Soldier. Well ! suppose I am. 
 
 If you'd been sober ten years at a stretch 
 You 'd think it time to break your fast on wine. 
 Lys. Well, say no more. Go ! pile your arms 
 without ; 
 They are not wanted in the banquet-hall. 
 
 [ The soldiers go out, and return without 
 their arms. 
 
 [To Cassandra.] 
 
 Take off that diadem. It is the queen's.
 
 72 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 Cas. She seeks another crown, not Hecuba's. 
 
 Lys. Peace! Slave! 
 
 Soldier. Leave her alone, she 's daft, 
 
 And drones of death and daggers all the day. 
 Besides, the king has said that she shall speak. 
 
 CAS. There 's no escape. The king must die. 
 
 Lys. Silence ! 
 
 SOLDIER. No, let her rant. Of course the king 
 must die, 
 And so must all of us. 
 
 Cas. Spoiler of Troy ! 
 
 You think yourself a god. You soon will know 
 
 That you are mortal. Aye, the time arrives 
 
 For both of us. Come ! let me bare my breast, 
 
 That woos the ardent steel. 
 
 [S/ie tears open the breast of her dress, 
 and then stands for a few moments 
 gazing in the direction of AGAMEM- 
 NON'S room. 
 
 He casts aside 
 
 His coat of mail, and drops his trusty sword. 
 
 She takes a goblet, fills it full with wine. 
 
 He takes it from her hand, and drains the bowl, 
 
 And lays him down to rest. [Pauses.] See how 
 
 his lids
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 73 
 
 Already droop, half closed ; his limbs relax ; 
 
 She wraps a robe around him, croons a stave 
 
 To soothe the slumberer ; then rises soft, 
 
 Seizes a twisted net, and in its toils 
 
 Makes fast the drowsing victim to the altar. 
 
 [Pauses. 
 All is made ready for the sacrifice. 
 
 The axe is raised : now through the yielding air 
 
 The swift steel flashes in its lightning sweep. 
 
 Aga. Help ! I am slain. 
 
 Soldier. What voice is that ? 
 
 CAS. The king's. 
 
 Soldier. He is in danger. To the rescue ! Quick ! 
 
 [The SOLDIERS rush to the room where 
 they left their arms, and find it locked. 
 
 There 's treachery afoot. We have been duped. 
 
 No matter ; with our naked fists we '11 beat 
 
 The murderer to death. 
 
 [They strive to open the door of the 
 king's room, but fail. 
 
 ClTY Elder. [After walking up and down help- 
 lessly^ Let 's rouse the city. 
 
 [The ELDERS make for the entrance-door 
 helter-skelter, but fitid it barred. 
 L
 
 74 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 We are betrayed. Let someone tell the queen 
 That Agamemnon 's slain. 
 
 Enter CLY17EMNESTRA. 
 
 City Elder. The king is slain. 
 
 Cly. Why did you not prevent it ? 
 
 Soldier. We were barred. 
 
 But lead us on, and we will slay his foe. 
 
 Cly. If you would slay his foe, then strike at me. 
 
 'Twas I who killed him. Go, and see my work. 
 
 [They run into the bedroom, and bring 
 in the body in a sheet. 
 
 An hour ago he thought himself a god, 
 
 And now he 's carrion. Have I done it well ? 
 
 Soldier. The Trojan woman told the truth. 
 See here : 
 The hunter's net ; and there the blood-stained axe 
 With which the deed was done : while we, like fools, 
 Stood gaping by. Now, with the self-same blade 
 I will avenge him. [Raises axe to strike.] 
 
 Cly. Hear me before you strike. 
 
 City Elder. Yes, hear the woman, for the law 
 requires 
 That none should suffer death without a trial.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 75 
 
 Cly. Attend ! And you shall judge between us 
 two. 
 He was my husband, father of my children ; 
 But, driven by the curse upon his house, 
 He slew my child 
 
 CITY Elder. Nay, nay ! you wrong him there ; 
 He sacrificed your child to save the State. 
 'Twas not for that stale injury you took 
 His life ; some sharper spur has driven you on. 
 
 Cly. I don't gainsay it. Yes, the man was 
 false — 
 False to his children, falser to his wife. 
 At Ilium Briseis shared his bed ; 
 And now he brings this Trojan baggage back 
 To Argos as his mistress. Look at her ! 
 The crown of Hecuba upon her head. 
 Had I not struck he would have strangled me, 
 And bred up Trojan brats to govern Greece. 
 'Twas fated he should suffer for his crimes. 
 I 'm but the dagger in the grasp of fate. 
 
 City Elder. What is your verdict? 
 
 Soldier. Guilty ! 
 
 City Elder. What punishment ?
 
 76 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 Soldier. Death by the axe with which she slew 
 
 the king. 
 
 [Raises axe. LYSICLES strikes it up. 
 
 LYSICLES. How hard it is to reckon friends 
 
 from foes ! 
 
 [Points to the dead body. 
 
 What have you gained these ten years by his rule ? 
 Has he not sweated you like common slaves ? 
 While all the wealth you won he swallowed up ; 
 And in return what has he brought you back ? 
 A Trojan slave, to be his lady-love. 
 Where is the plunder promised you from Troy ? 
 A brace of crowns : one for his paramour. 
 Where are the thralls to till the Argive fields ? 
 
 [He points to them. 
 Here! If he 'd lived, you would have been his slaves ; 
 For conquerors are tyrants, one and all. 
 See what a lot your queen has saved you from. 
 And shall she suffer ? 
 
 CAS. Not till her time arrives. 
 
 CLY. I had forgot. 
 [She stabs CASSANDRA.] Take that, and that, and 
 that.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 77 
 
 He wants a Trojan slave to wait on him. 
 
 Cas. You 've set me free at last. Oh ! Loxias, 
 Receive me dying in your loving arms. 
 
 [Dies. 
 
 [ The SOLDIER again raises the axe to strike 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA, but at that moment 
 yEGlSTHUS and his armed followers 
 rush on. iEGlSTHUS takes Clyt^m- 
 NESTRA'S hand. 
 Lys. Long live ^Egisthus ! Hail ^Egisthus king ! 
 
 [^Egisthus' followers cheer. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 78 CLYT/EMNESTRA 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE. — The interior of the Temple of Apollo at 
 Delphi. On a tripod sits the PYTHIA {or 
 priestess) of the god. Smoke issues from the 
 ground, so as partially to conceal the PYTHIA. 
 Two Attendants are moving about, one 
 scattering water from a golden ewer, the other 
 sweeping the floor with myrtle boughs. 
 
 First Attendant. Ours is a happy lot, here 
 in the cool, 
 Free from the care and turmoil of the crowd, 
 Beneath the aegis of the guardian god. 
 
 Second Attendant. This peace is perfect joy : 
 I pray my hours 
 May ever pass in this unruffled calm. 
 
 FIRST Att. The future has no fear for us, the past 
 No vain regret. The first fruits of the earth, 
 The earliest pressings of the grapes, are ours. 
 
 Second Att. [Pointing to the Pythia.] < 
 
 The Pythia is waking from her trance, 
 Mayhap the god will visit her to-day ;
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 79 
 
 The tell-tale blood flushes her pallid face, 
 
 Like the warm glow upon Aurora's cheek 
 
 When, waking from her sleep, she greets the sun. 
 
 And now her eyes inflame with ecstasy ; 
 
 Her form grows greater as her spirit soars 
 
 To greet the god descending to his shrine. 
 
 Her bosom heaves as though her beating heart 
 
 Would burst its bonds and leap to meet her lord. 
 
 The quick lips quiver. Now she throws her arm 
 
 Around the unseen form. She is possessed. 
 
 Pythia. The god is in his Temple ; on your 
 
 knees ! 
 
 [The ATTENDANTS prostrate themselves. 
 Distant music ; A CHORUS of invis- 
 ible singers sing the follozving chorus. 
 
 Light of the world ! to whose far-flashing face 
 We dare not raise our eyes, lest it should blind 
 
 Our feeble sight, before whose glowing grace 
 The boisterous billows, and the rough north wind 
 
 Sink silent, while the goddess of the Night, 
 - And all her satellites from near and far, 
 
 In homage to their sovereign hide their light, 
 As they behold the glory of thy car
 
 80 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 Harnessed to flying steeds which never tire, 
 But ever day by day and year by year 
 
 Speed onward to the music of thy lyre 
 Which banishes all weariness. Oh ! hear 
 
 Our prayer, thou lord of Heaven and god of day 
 
 Be merciful ! turn not thy face away ! 
 
 Come, flaming Phcebus ! with thy burning breath 
 
 Suck up the sickly mists, which like a pall 
 Lie on the plains, breeding decay and death. 
 
 Ye filmy fogs, which on the ocean fall, 
 Obscuring from the sailor's searching eyes 
 
 The beacons and the stars which are his guide, 
 Before the god's red spear in tumult rise, 
 
 And take your flight. Ye wood-birds, opening 
 wide 
 Your mellow throats, with myriad voices raise 
 
 Your morning madrigal. Ye bright-eyed flowers, 
 Open your budding lips in silent praise 
 
 Of our great god, who chased the gloomy powers 
 That brooded erst o 'er land and sea and sky. 
 Hide not thy glory, Loxias, or we die. 
 
 Enter ORESTES, ushered in by an attendant. 
 
 Pythia. All hail ! Orestes, King of Argolis !
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 8 1 
 
 Ores. [In alarm.'] The king still lives ! 
 Attendant. [Bowing low.] Youth is omni- 
 scient, 
 And does not need to kneel to Loxias. 
 
 Ores. [Humbly.'] Nay, I have come to ask 
 
 great Loxias' aid. 
 Att. Tis well, my lord : the hour is oppor- 
 tune. 
 The god is even now within his shrine. 
 
 Ores. [Addressing the PYTHIA.] 
 Most reverend priestess of the mighty god ! 
 I come from Argos, sent by Agamemnon, 
 To seek an oracle. 
 
 PYTHIA. Speak on, my son ; 
 
 The God attends. 
 
 Ores. Achilles' shade declares :— 
 
 The king must die, struck down by one most 
 dear — 
 
 What can we do to save him from this fate ? 
 
 [A sound of distant music is heard; a 
 light plays on the smoke. 
 
 ATT. [Drawing Orestes' attention to it.] 
 
 A vision, sent by the god to answer you. 
 
 M
 
 82 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 [ORESTES turns and sees a vision of 
 Agamemnon's room. Agamemnon 
 and Clyt^iMNESTRA enter it. ORES- 
 TES is about to address them, but is 
 stopped by the Attendant. T lie figures 
 rehearse the murder scene in dumb show, 
 ORESTES exhibiting agitation as it 
 proceeds, until, ivhen CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 seizes the axe, unable to control himself, 
 he cries out. 
 ORES. Stop ! Your promise ! Spare him, mother ! 
 
 [The axe falls.'] Help ! [He rushes 
 forward ; the axe falls a second time^ 
 and Agamemnon expires. 
 Too late ! too late ! Slain by the hand he loved. 
 
 [^EGISTHUS' figui'e appears beside 
 Clyt/emnestra. Orestes draws 
 his sword, takes a few steps forward, 
 staggers, and then falls in a faint. 
 The music ceases suddenly, and the 
 vision vanishes. The Attendants re- 
 tire and leave the Temple apparently 
 deserted, except for the Pythia, zuho 
 remains seated on her tripod with 
 closed eyes. After a short space the 
 music strikes up again, and the in- 
 visible chorus sing.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 83 
 
 CHORUS. Oh ! mighty monarch of the sky, without 
 
 Whose lustrous lamp we might for ever dwell 
 In Stygian darkness, stumbling round about, 
 
 Hither and thither, through life's little spell, 
 Like ghosts in Acheron ; to thee, of right, 
 
 The meed for saving us, thy slaves, belongs, 
 From the grim prison-house of ebon night. 
 
 Wherefore we never weary chanting songs 
 Of praise to him who banishes our grief; 
 
 The foe of crime, impurity, deceit, 
 Of midnight murder, and the stealthy thief ; 
 
 Who trod the Titans underneath his feet ; 
 At whose dread name the powers of darkness pale. 
 Be thou our succour, and we shall not fail. 
 
 Enter LYSICLES and PLEISTHENES. 
 
 {A flash of lightning ; music stops suddenly. 
 PLEIS. Let us go back ! See ! The god is angry. 
 Lys. [Advances boldly.'] 'Tis but a juggling trick 
 to cheat our fancies. 
 These priests are versed in every subtle art 
 Which can deceive our unsuspecting senses, 
 Or bind our rebel spirits captive. Voices
 
 84 CLYTvEMNESTRA 
 
 Reverberating through this sombre void 
 
 Sound more than mortal ; and this aisle immense 
 
 Seems ten times vaster in the sunless gloom, 
 
 Made blacker by these blinding clouds of smoke 
 
 Which burst up from the bowels of the earth. 
 
 In yon eclipse imagination riots, 
 
 And conjures up the spirits of the dead. 
 
 [Beckons Attendant, who appears at this 
 moment. 
 
 Here ! take this gem, and help us to an audience. 
 
 [Hands Attendant a jewel. 
 
 Att. Is this an offering ? 
 
 Lys. Call it what you will. 
 
 Att. Beware ! beware ! The god may strike 
 
 you dead. 
 
 Lys. [Showing more jewels.'] See what we've 
 
 brought to turn away his rage. 
 
 Att. These ill-got gains will not assuage his 
 
 wrath. 
 
 PLEIS. Nay, say not so. Takeall that we havegot. 
 
 Att. Empty your wallets out before the shrine, 
 
 That he may gauge the measure of your guilt. 
 
 [ They empty their wallets.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 85 
 
 Pythia. 'Tis not enough. 
 
 PLEIS. Say how much more you want. 
 
 PYTHIA. Not all the diamonds from distant Ind, 
 Nor every ounce of gold from Plutus' store, 
 Nor every pearl the gasping diver drags, 
 At danger of his life, from ocean depths, 
 Will move the gods to budge from their resolve. 
 
 [A flash of lightning. 
 
 ATT. Away ! before the god destroys you both, 
 
 For daring to approach his holy shrine. 
 
 [LYSICLES tffi^PLEISTHENES retreat; 
 the Pythia turns aivay her head. 
 
 Lys. We 're tricked ; they 've stripped us bare, 
 and in return 
 They 've given us naught but insult. 
 
 PLEIS. Ask it back ! 
 
 LYS. Her face is turned away. We'll take it 
 
 back. 
 
 [ They move towards the shrine. 
 
 PLEIS. [Pointing to ORESTES, and raising a warn- 
 ing hand.] Look ! [ They approach ORESTES 
 and recognize him.] Orestes ! 
 
 LYS. Nay, after all, the god is good to us.
 
 86 CLYT^MNESTRA 
 
 PLEIS. [Looking round.~] 
 The coast is clear. [Draiv s his dagger. 
 
 Lys. Gently ! 
 
 PLEIS. Where shall I strike ? 
 
 Lys. Between the shoulder-blades. 
 
 [PLEISTHENES raises the dagger to strike, 
 but at that moment PYLADES rushes 
 forward and stabs PLEISTHENES, who 
 falls mortally wounded; the Atten- 
 dants appear. 
 Pyl. [Turning him over.] Whom have we here? 
 ^gisthus' spawn ! [Gives the body a push with 
 his foot.] Traitor ! Lie there ! 
 
 [He stoops over ORESTES. 
 Lys. Ah ! well! poor lad. I cannot save him now: 
 
 So, each man for himself. [He pockets the jewels. 
 
 [Exit. 
 Pyl. [Recognizing his friend^] Orestes! Death! 
 
 His heart is still — he does not breathe ; his limbs 
 Are lax. Am I too late to save your life, 
 My brother, second self, my comrade, king ? 
 
 ORACLE. What means this rude irreverent up- 
 roar, 
 Where solemn silence evermore should reign ?
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 87 
 
 Att. Blood has been shed, but not in sacrifice. 
 
 Pyl. The only way to parry was to strike. 
 
 [Pleisthenes revives. PYLADES 
 addressing him. 
 
 You dare not lie with your last gasp. Confess ! 
 
 Here, in the holy temple of the god 
 
 Who searches hearts, confess your coward crime ! 
 
 PLEIS. The god knows everything, so why deny? 
 Go, tell my father all. [Pauses.] I cannot see. 
 Say that I did my best to execute 
 His orders — closer! Your ear. I'm sinking fast — 
 How could I gain against the god ? I faint — 
 And if he's bent to found a dynasty, 
 Let him make haste, and get another son, 
 For I am spent. [Dies. 
 
 [They carry away PLEISTHENES' body. 
 
 ORES. [Reviving^ Sweet mother. 
 
 Pyl. Are you hurt ? 
 
 Ores. My Pylades ! 
 
 Where am I ? [Looks about, shudders.~\ Now it 
 
 all comes back to me. 
 I dreamt, oh ! such a dream. [Covers his face. 
 
 Pyl. Will you not tell it ?
 
 88 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 ORES. I dreamt my mother struck my father 
 dead. 
 
 Pyl. It was no dream. I saw it, too. 
 
 Ores. You saw it ! 
 
 [Looks round wildly. 
 Where are we, then ? 
 
 PYL. At Delphi. 
 
 Ores. How could we see ? 
 
 PYL. It was a vision sent us by the god. 
 
 ORES. You don't believe that 
 
 PYL. Nay ; I dare not doubt. 
 
 Ores. Who dares to call my mother murderess ? 
 
 Pythia. The god whose eye sees all 
 
 Ores. The god ! If so, 
 She 's false — falser than any ruttish beast. 
 She swore she would be loyal to the king 
 
 Pyl. {Interrupting] Aye ! And she swore 
 ^Egisthus was at Delphi. 
 
 Pythia. He rests at Argos in your father's 
 bed. 
 
 ORES. Oh ! put a bridle on my tongue, for fear 
 I should say something in my passion's heat 
 To stir the anger of the god. [Pauses.] She swore
 
 CLYTJEMNESTRA 89 
 
 Electra should not suffer. [Gives a cry.] 
 [Turns to go.] Why do we wait ? 
 
 She will be next to die. Come, come ! Away ! 
 Our errand is performed. We must not lag, 
 Or else we shall be late to rescue her. 
 
 Pythia. Ask guidance of the god before you 
 
 go- 
 
 Ores. [Turns back reluctantly^] The god has 
 told me all I feared to know. 
 
 Pythia. But not what you should do. 
 
 Ores. [Much perturbed^ Ah! tell me, quick ! 
 
 Pythia. Down on your knees, and ask the god 
 himself. 
 
 ORES. I know not what to say. 
 
 Pythia. Then breathe the words 
 
 That well up from your heart. 
 
 ORES. [Kneels.] Apollo, Lord ! 
 
 Have pity on my youth. Espouse my cause ; 
 Or, if our house be hateful in thy sight, 
 Then let me die, and close this cruel curse 
 Which goads us on resistlessly to crime. 
 
 Pythia. The god has pity ; you shall expiate 
 The curse, and turn the Heaven's hate to love. 
 
 N
 
 go CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 Ores. O welcome words ! Tell me, what shall 
 I do? 
 I '11 rear a temple to the god, more grand 
 Than ever graced the sacred groves of Greece. 
 Nay, do not spare, but speak. Set me the task, 
 However hard it be ; though I am weak, 
 The god will give me strength like Hercules : 
 I '11 brave a lion with my naked hands. 
 
 PYTHIA. It will not strain your sinews ; but the 
 task 
 Will stretch your quivering heart-strings till they 
 snap. 
 Ores. I '11 do what I am bidden by the god. 
 PYTHIA. Stiffen your spirit, steel your gentle 
 soul, 
 Avenge your sire, and smite his murderess. 
 
 Ores. [Gives a cry.] The heavens would never 
 
 smile on me again. 
 PYTHIA. Have you come hither, boy, to teach 
 
 the god ? 
 Ores. No, no ; she shall be doomed as she 
 deserves. 
 I '11 stab yEgisthus : that will pierce her heart.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 9 1 
 
 I '11 take her crown ; she 'd liefer lose her life. 
 I '11 banish her ; but do not bid me kill. 
 She gave me birth ; she nursed and tended me, 
 And loved me. She was brave and beautiful, 
 And blameless, too, until she was betrayed. 
 He filched her virtue with his drugs and charms. 
 Oh ! spare her. Let her live. If she must die, 
 Set someone else the task, and not her son. 
 My heart rebels. If I should raise my hand 
 To strike my mother, whom I should defend, 
 'Twould drop down palsied at my side. No, no. 
 Here let me die instead. 
 
 Pythia. Pray to the god ! 
 
 Ores. My lips refuse to move. 
 
 Oracle. Unhappy wretch ! 
 If you reject the hand the gods outstretch, 
 Driv'n by Thyestes' curse, the sport of fate, 
 Pursued by Heaven's unalterable hate 
 
 Ores. Nay, let me die while I am innocent. 
 
 Pythia. Your father's furies hounding at your 
 heel, 
 Abhorred by all, an outcast, you will steal 
 Through slimy caverns, creeping out at dusk
 
 92 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 To fill your belly with the root and husk ; 
 Until a loathsome leprosy at last 
 Shall clutch you in its claws, and hold you fast. 
 Ores. [To Pylades.] Save me, save me! 
 
 [He staggers. PYLADES supports him. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 93 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE. — The same as Act I. In the portico of the 
 Palace are placed two thrones. 
 
 Enter ARCAS and Meleander. 
 
 Arcas. [Speaking low.] The tyrant has no 
 stomach to engage 
 His foes, so strikes his countrymen instead. 
 Meleander. Our lives are not our own — 
 Ar. Our goods are forfeited — 
 
 Mel. Our children sold as slaves, against the law. 
 
 [Enter LYSICLES unobserved.'] 
 
 Ar, Usurpers reap the crops that others sow — 
 
 Mel. And fleece a friend to satisfy a foe. 
 
 Ar. And now we're helpless in this vulture's 
 
 claws. 
 Mel. Aye, none may carry arms except his 
 
 feather. 
 LYS. What mutiny is this you 're muttering ? 
 Mel. What brevet do you hold to challenge us ?
 
 94 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 LYS. [Slapping his sword.] This sword, the 
 fountain-head of every right. 
 It ill becomes a bard to tell his tale 
 With bated breath ; come, sing it, sir ! 
 Forte, fortissimo ! 
 
 Mel. I have a cold. 
 
 Lys. And may be colder. Will you walk with 
 
 me ? 
 Mel. Whither? 
 
 Lys. To prison. I am told the rack 
 Restores a stammerer like sorcery. 
 Mel. And what is my offence ? 
 LYS. That is a question 
 
 I cannot answer till I make you speak. 
 
 Mel. [To Arcas.] You hear! I am attached 
 
 without a charge. 
 LYS. And have you too a cold and cannot chant ? 
 I have a famous recipe for throats : 
 One application cures infallibly. 
 
 [He imitates the actio?i of strangling. 
 Enter SOLDIERS. 
 Lys. Come ! will you walk ? [bows'] or shall we 
 drive you there ?
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 95 
 
 Ar. Pray, lead the way ; and we will follow you. 
 LYS. [Laughing.'] Aye, to the death. 
 
 {Exeunt Arcas, Meleander, LYSICLES, 
 and Soldiers. 
 
 Enter Electra, Hermione, and Chrysothemis. 
 
 E£ec. See ! how they hale our friends untried 
 to prison. 
 
 Her. We have no champion left to fight for us. 
 
 Chry. We must lay down our arms and sue for 
 peace. 
 
 Elec. Yield to that villain ! 
 
 Chry. If you strive with him, 
 
 He '11 stab you in the back. 
 
 Elec. I will be first 
 
 And strike before he 's ripe. 
 
 Chry. Nay, you are wrong. 
 
 It is not women's work. The gods will punish. 
 
 Elec. I never knew an evil-doer drowned, 
 Struck by a thunderbolt, or swallowed up 
 By earthquake. We are the weapons which they 
 
 wield ; 
 And we alone can call the reckoning.
 
 96 CLYT^iMNESTRA 
 
 Her. Nay, nay. I '11 not believe Orestes dead. 
 
 ELEC. {Shakes her head.] Were he alive, he 
 would not let this wretch 
 Usurp his throne. No, he was swift to strike ; 
 And when he heard the king was done to death, 
 He hurried to our help, and he was trapped, 
 And buried like a dog. 
 
 Chry. Wait till you 're sure. 
 
 ELEC. Yes, till he 's swollen up with arrogance, 
 And laughs at fate, and then I '11 strike the blow. 
 
 [ They go up. 
 
 Enter CLYT^EMNESTRA in regal dress. 
 
 CLY. {Approaching ELECTRA.] 
 Where have you been ? 
 
 Elec. At Agamemnon's grave. 
 
 CLY. Against my orders. 
 
 ELEC. I but do my duty. 
 
 CLY. Not to the living. 
 
 ELEC. Do yours to the dead. 
 
 CLY. I scorn to wrangle with a peevish girl. 
 
 ELEC. Then let me sacrifice.
 
 CLYTVEMNESTRA 97 
 
 CLY. [Angrily.'] And stir the crowd 
 To insurrection, by reminding them 
 Of what is best forgot. 
 
 ELEC. It cannot be ! 
 
 You killed the king, and think to kill his fame. 
 The task is past your powers. However much 
 You strive to smother it, his name will live 
 Throughout the ages. If you would avert 
 His vengeance, go to his grave ; upon your knees 
 Appeal for pity ; then, perchance, he '11 call 
 His furies off the scent. 
 
 Cly. I do not fear. 
 
 Were he alive I would repeat the blow 
 I dealt, and he deserved ; and if you dare 
 To throw a stone at me I may be tempted 
 To treat you as a traitor. 
 
 ELEC. Take my life ; 
 
 And from my virgin blood armed men will spring. 
 
 Cly. I do not fear the dead. 
 
 Enter ^Egisthus. He comes down to 
 Clyt^emnestra. 
 Cly. Said I not right that dead men have no 
 friends ? 
 
 O
 
 98 CLYT/EMNESTRA 
 
 Had he but lived, he might have marshalled 
 
 Greece ; 
 And now he has not left one satellite. 
 
 JEg. Natheless we must be careful not to slight 
 Corinth, or sturdy Thebes, or Attica, 
 Lest they espouse his cause, to serve their ends — 
 
 Cly. I have no fear. While Agamemnon lived 
 Argos came ever first. If we're content 
 To take a lower place, we may disarm 
 Their jealousy, which is at fever-heat. 
 
 JEg. We'll buy their friendship with our 
 colonies, 
 Which but embroil the state, and bring no profit. 
 In our own fatherland we '11 build a house 
 Which will out-top them all. 
 
 Cly. Whisper ! my love. 
 
 Cypris has heard our prayer, and promises 
 A son to reign at Argos after us. 
 
 Enter Tiresias the Seer. 
 
 JEg. Whom have we here ? 
 
 Cly. The Seer, Tiresias. 
 
 JEg. I hate the canting crew — impostors all, 
 Who traffick on our basest bigotries,
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 99 
 
 And to attain their objects make pretence 
 Their wicked will is Heaven's high decree. 
 On those who dare defy their saucy nod 
 They call down curses, which the credulous 
 Conspire to bring about What does he want ? 
 
 Tiresias. Beware ! 
 
 JEg. I told you so. 
 
 TlR. Beware ! Beware ! 
 
 The stone you started rolling down the hill 
 Will crush you, if you do not change your course. 
 
 Cly. What man is this who dares to chide his 
 queen ? 
 
 TlR. Princes and queens are servants of the 
 god; 
 And I his herald blazon his decrees. 
 
 Cly. [ With a low half-mocking bozvl\ 
 Pardon ! — I did not recognize your rank — 
 And give your mandate to your humble slave. 
 
 TlR. Attend, then, to the thunder-tongue of 
 Zeus : — 
 A king should be the sun of his dominions, 
 High over all men's heads, magnificent, 
 Too dazzling to regard with unveiled lids,
 
 I OO CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 Yet ever in their ken ; regarding all 
 With candid, vigilant, far-seeing eye ; 
 Shining alike upon the rich and poor, 
 And sharing all his store of golden wealth ; 
 Slanting his beams in spring to cool their fire, 
 Lest they should scorch the swelling seeds and 
 
 shoots ; 
 And in the summer, though he dry the spring, 
 Giving it back in drops of healing dew : 
 Destroying only what deserves to die. 
 
 JEG. Come ! to the point ! What do you want 
 
 from me? 
 TlR. Restore what you have ravished, and 
 
 release 
 The innocent. If you've a thirst to kill, 
 Quench it upon the blood of miscreants. 
 
 ^Eg. Such callow counsel never came from 
 
 heaven. 
 You dreamt it, or you did not read it right. 
 When Zeus has any precept for his kings, 
 Swift-winged Hermes is his messenger. 
 
 Tir. Tis waste of words to warn the arrogant, 
 Who, void of reason, scorn the deity.
 
 CLYT^EMNESTR A I O I 
 
 [Turns to Clyt^emnestra.] Yet, hear me now 
 
 disclose your destiny : — 
 From your own loins there leaps a basilisk, 
 Which, having drained its mother's breast, will 
 
 suck 
 Her blood. [Turns to go.] 
 
 Her. [To Electra.] You hear? He lives ! He 
 lives ! 
 
 Elec. Hush! hush! 
 
 JE.G. Stay, stay ! and tell me more. 
 
 Tir. I but obey 
 
 The orders of the god. [Exit. 
 
 JEg. [Perturbed.'] How well it fits my dream ! 
 
 Cly. Have you forgot 
 
 So soon the words you spoke about these seers ? — 
 Making pretence their will is Heaven's decree, 
 And cursing those who dare defy their nod — 
 You are the prophet ! 
 
 ^Eg. Nay ; I am a fool. [Pauses.] 
 
 He 's but a shallow schemer, after all ; 
 And we'll not be his tools to do his work. 
 You've set me on my feet again. [Pauses.] But 
 yet
 
 102 CLYT7EMNESTRA 
 
 We must beware this fearsome basilisk, 
 And crush it ere it grow too great for us. 
 
 Cly. [Approaches him and looks into his eyes.] 
 I cannot read your heart beneath that mask. 
 Is it already done ? 
 
 JEg. Nay, by my troth. 
 
 Cly. Swear that you did not set some other on ! 
 
 JEg. Heaven is my witness ! 
 
 Cly. Can I trust your oath ? 
 
 [Pauses.] I must. I've made my bargain sealed 
 
 and vouched. 
 But oh ! beware how you attempt his life ! 
 
 JEG. There cannot be two kings of the Achaeans. 
 
 Cly. [Walks about in agitation.] I set the boulder 
 rolling. When will it rest ? 
 Have we no power, except to start the stone ? 
 And is the rest but fate ; and will his death 
 Cry out for more ? 
 
 ALG. [Pointing to ELECTRA.] That adder must 
 be scotched. 
 
 Cly. Let there be no more blood ; I'm sick of it. 
 
 JEg. We'll seal her in a cave. 
 
 Cly. Enough ! enough ! 
 
 A
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 1 03 
 
 I leave her in your hands, and look away. 
 
 Let 's speak of something else but death. The sun 
 
 Is in the south. It must be nigh on noon. 
 
 JEg. The hour we fixed to parley with the envoys. 
 Say, shall we summon them ? 
 
 Cly. Yes, yes, do so. 
 
 'Twill drive away these furies which beset me. 
 
 [She claps her hands. 
 
 Enter GORGO. 
 
 Cly. Who is in waiting ? , 
 
 JEg. Cleophon. 
 
 Cly. [To GORGO.] Bid him attend ! 
 
 Have the Athenian envoys yet arrived ? 
 
 GORGO. They 're all in waiting in the vestibule, 
 As sour and stiff as if they 'd swallowed spears, 
 And gaped to spit them out. 
 
 Cly. {Impatiently .] Let them come in. 
 
 GORGO. [Trotting off.] She can't sit still a 
 
 moment ; she 's pursued, 
 
 And we must run if we 'd keep up with her. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 JEg. Which of us shall be spokesman ? 
 
 Cly. Why not you ?
 
 1 04 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 JEg. Nay, women yield more gracefully than 
 men. 
 
 Enter COURTIERS, who take their places. 
 The King and Queen take their seats 
 on the two thrones in the portico, after 
 which the Athenian Envoys are 
 introduced by Cleophon. 
 
 Athenian Envoy. [ Who merely boivs to each 
 in turn, but does not prostrate himself.'] 
 Thyestes' son, yEgisthus : Clytaemnestra — 
 Titular King and Queen of Argolis : 
 A month ago an embassy was sent, 
 Admitting Agamemnon as our lord ; 
 But you have shed his blood, and snatched his 
 
 throne ; 
 And we are come directed to declare 
 We owe allegiance only to the seed 
 Of Agamemnon. 
 
 Cly. We take no umbrage at your speech, 
 accepting 
 Your disavowal, counting it our gain : 
 For too much power becomes a crushing weight, 
 Which we would sooner shift to stronger backs.
 
 CLYTJEMNESTRA 105 
 
 En. Such gentle counsels fit a woman's tongue, 
 And bid us hope that Athens may embrace, 
 In lieu of fighting, Argos. Fare you well ! [Exit. 
 
 THEBAN ENVOY. [ Who remains standing. 
 
 We come from Thebes — the city of seven gates, 
 Bearing this message : — " If Orestes lives, 
 Him will we recognize as our arch-king ; 
 But should another dare assert that right, 
 We '11 meet him sword to sword." 
 
 CLY. Nay, set your minds at rest ; 'tis not our aim 
 To claim a title conquest only gives ; 
 Or fight for phantom empire. Why should we 
 Turn willing allies into sullen subjects ? 
 Here ! take your liberty, and give us love, 
 And we shall both be gainers by th' exchange. 
 
 En. We scarce expected so much statesmanship 
 From such fair lips. 
 
 Cly. Then there is peace between us. 
 
 [ The Envoy bows and retires. 
 
 Enter ORESTES and PYLADES, disguised as Envoys, 
 ORESTES bears a cinerary urn. 
 
 Ores. We come from Phocis, by our sovereign 
 sent,
 
 106 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 Bearer of this sad burthen, which enshrouds 
 The ashes of the dead. [He pauses. 
 
 Cly. The dead ! Who ? who ? 
 
 [ORESTES remains silent. 
 Your silence tortures me. 
 
 Ores. Orestes. 
 
 ELEC. [Rushing forward.'] Ah ! 
 
 [She throws up her arms, and falls in a 
 faint. Orestes is at first about to 
 raise her, but PYLADES motions to 
 him, and he leaves her to HERMIONE 
 and CHRYSOTHEMIS, who minister to 
 her. 
 Cly. My brave, brave boy, the fairest of fair 
 flowers ! 
 Some god has plucked my blossom in full bloom ; 
 And I am left behind, a withered weed, 
 Which he will never gather to his breast. 
 
 [She weeps. 
 JEg. [Aside to Clyt^emnestra.] 
 The pain is great, but life is often saved 
 By cutting off a limb that mortifies. 
 
 [Clyt^EMNESTRA/^j- at him suspiciously, thru 
 repulses him, and approaches ORESTES.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 107 
 
 Cly. Who slew my son ? Let him beware my 
 sword. 
 
 Ores. 'Twas at the Pythian Games he lost his life ; 
 Two chariots, interlocking, overturned : 
 And those behind, unable to control 
 Their savage stallions straining at the traces, 
 Drove furiously against the shattered wreck ; 
 And in an instant reared a living wave — 
 A seething swirl of struggling horse and men, 
 Each dealing death in phrensied fight for life. 
 He and one other turned their teams aside 
 To right and left ; and thundered to the goal 
 He never reached ; for, swerving at the turn, 
 He struck the inner post ; the axle snapped ; 
 And in the dust crashed chariot and rider. 
 Frantic with fright, the horses broke away, 
 And proud Orestes, tangled in the reins, 
 Was dragged like Hector round and round the 
 course. 
 
 [ELECTRA revives, and goes tip with HERMIONE 
 and Chrysothemis, weeping. 
 
 Cly. [Clasping the urn to her heart. ,] 
 Alas ! and is this all that 's left to me ?
 
 108 CLYT^EMNESTRA 
 
 A handful of dry dust to take the place 
 Of his warm heart, so soft and full of sap ? 
 
 ORES. You loved him ? 
 
 Cly. Yes : if Heaven would give him back, 
 
 I 'd barter all my kingdom for the boon. 
 But now I must be gone : I cannot rest [Going up. 
 Till I have poured libations to his dust : — 
 Honey and oil and wine and milk and tears. 
 
 ORES. [Follozving her.~\ There is a sacrifice might 
 please him more. 
 
 Cly. [Reading his meaning, but speaking with 
 averted face.'] 
 Women or water cannot stand alone. 
 
 ORES. They need a wall to hedge them in, or else 
 They fall away. 
 
 Cly. In these rude times they need 
 
 A prop. 
 
 Ores. [Aside.] She felled the oak that held her up, 
 And now she hangs upon this poisonous yew. 
 
 Cly. [Turning to kim.] My friend, accept this 
 gem as a reward 
 For the sad service you have rendered me. 
 Yet do not go ; for I have much to ask.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA IO9 
 
 Await us here a while, till I have done 
 
 My duty to the dead. [To iEGlSTHUS, upon whom 
 
 she now leans.] Your arm ! This loss 
 Of my own blood has robbed me of my strength. 
 
 {Exeunt Clyt^emnestra, ^Egisthus, 
 Cleophon, Courtiers, Envoys, leav- 
 ing Orestes, Electra, Hermione, 
 CHRYSOTHEMIS, on the stage. 
 
 Elec. [To Hermione.] 
 Come, let us speak with him, that we may glean 
 Some straws of solace in our suffering. 
 
 [They approach ORESTES. 
 
 Elec. We are Orestes' sisters, this his bride, 
 Greedy to gather up and store each grain, 
 Each shred that 's reminiscent of the dead, 
 To keep his memory green. 
 
 Her. Sent he no word — 
 
 No dying pledge of his undying love : 
 The ring that kissed his finger, or the brooch 
 That clasped his heart? They did not burn them all 
 Upon the pyre? 
 
 ORES. Not all. He was my bosom friend, 
 And on that fatal day, foreboding death,
 
 HO CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 Between two sighs, he faltered in my ear: 
 " Oh ! Shall I ever see Mycenae more ?" 
 And then he placed this packet in my palm, 
 And cried : — " If I should fall, and lose my life, 
 These tokens bear to Argos to my sisters, 
 And to my loved Hermione this ring." [Gives them.'] 
 HER. [Kissing it.~\ Yes, yes, it is his ring. It 
 
 brings him back : 
 I see him now, as he was wont to stand, 
 His head thrown back, his fingers tightly clenched, 
 Resting upon one foot, the other bent, 
 As though he spurned the earth, and longed to 
 
 spring 
 Upon his heavenly flight. 
 
 Elec. Alas ! he has flown. 
 
 [Changing her tone. 
 
 He had a friend — one Pylades. Where's he? 
 Ores. He feared that you would cast the blame 
 
 on him. 
 Elec. I do. He should have held my brother 
 back : 
 For he was but a lad, and for a day 
 Forgot his father's fate — alas the day !
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA I 1 1 
 
 I had two champions once ; now I have none. 
 
 Ores. What need have you of champions ? 
 
 Elec. To avenge 
 
 My father's death, and to protect my honour. 
 
 Ores. Your honour ! How is it endangered ? 
 Say! 
 
 Elec. He'd make me wed a churl — 
 
 Ores. If you refuse? 
 
 Elec. He'll sell me as a slave. 
 
 Ores. The miscreant ! 
 
 Elec. You read my thoughts. 
 
 Ores. {Half aloud.] If I could read the queen's — 
 
 Elec. You trust her tears ? 
 
 Ores. I cannot but believe 
 
 She shook with sobs. 
 
 Elec. She wept at her misdeeds. 
 
 Women are so. They sin and weep, and weep 
 And sin again. 
 
 Ores. And does she sacrifice 
 
 At Agamemnon's tomb ? 
 
 Elec. No, but to Hera, 
 
 That she may bear a son to him, to reign 
 At Argos in Orestes' place. {Turns away.]
 
 I i 2 CLYTJEMNESTRA 
 
 ORES. [ Turning round suddenly as if addressed] 
 
 I hear ! 
 
 [Shoivs signs of terror, then whispers 
 to PYLADES.] 
 Methought I heard my father crying out : — 
 "Avenge my death!" Avenge his death on whom? 
 The furies ! Now they urge me on again 
 As my faint resolution faltered. Oh ! 
 I 'm torn in two. Again the vision floats 
 Before my eyes [pauses] : this doubt will drive me 
 
 mad. 
 Are dreams enough to prove a culprit's guilt ? 
 PYL. Her guilt ! She gloried in it. 
 Ores. So they say. 
 
 But no man saw it ; and, for aught we know, 
 .#Lgisthus was the murderer ; and she, 
 To save his worthless life, assumed the blame. 
 PYL. Her dress was dripping with the dead 
 
 man's gore. 
 ORES. What easier than dabble in his blood ? 
 PYL. Remember what the oracle foretold 
 
 If you hang back ! 
 
 ORES. [Covering his face with his hands.] 
 
 I know, I know, I know.
 
 CLYT.EMNESTRA 1 1 3 
 
 [They go up. Electra and Chryso- 
 THEMIS, who have been talking 
 earnestly, come dotvn. 
 
 Chr. I could not be mistaken ; they are bent 
 On putting you to death ; lest you should prove 
 The basilisk the seer foretold. 
 
 ELEC. When ? When ? 
 
 Chr. This very day. 
 
 Elec. Ah ! how can I escape ? 
 
 [Pauses.] There is one way. 
 
 Chr. Will you not tell us then ? 
 
 ELEC. It is a secret which must die with me. 
 But now my time is short ; and I must bid 
 Adieu to all before I take my flight. [Goes apart. 
 Good-bye, dear Argos — City of the Kings ; 
 And you, great golden sun, look once again 
 With glowing glance on me, and on my woe ; 
 Or ere I go to everlasting gloom. 
 Good-bye, green fields, blue sea, and bluer sky ! 
 One moment more I listen to the shrill 
 Of birds, the bay of hounds, the lowing herd, 
 Before I pass into the silent land. 
 
 [She turns to HERMIONE and CHRYSOTHEMIS. 
 And you, my best beloved of all that's left 
 
 Q
 
 114 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 How shall I tear myself from your embrace ? 
 
 Her. Let me go with you ! 
 
 Elec. You must stay behind 
 
 To pay the last sad duties to the dead. 
 
 Her. And then I '11 follow you. Show me the 
 
 way. 
 
 [Electra raises the dagger to stab herself. 
 Orestes stays her hand. 
 
 Elec. You stay my hand to offer me a victim 
 
 To him I hate. My curse 
 
 Ores. [Kisses her.] There's good for ill. 
 
 [Electra is about to cry out ; he places 
 his hand over her lips. 
 
 Hush ! Not a word. The dead has come to life. 
 
 Elec. The dead ! [He takes off his disguise. ,] 
 
 Her. [Embracing him.] My love ! I know him 
 by his lips. 
 
 Elec. Oh! let me give you back that kiss again. 
 [Embraces him.] One more ; and yet one more. 
 Speak, speak again, 
 That I may hear the voice I thought was hushed. 
 
 ORES. Then let us sit ; and I will tell you all. 
 
 Elec. No, let me hold you still and weep awhile 
 Why did you stab our hearts with this sad tale ?
 
 CLYT^MNESTRA 1 1 5 
 
 Ores. That we might easier stab the murderer. 
 Pyl. The murderers. Hush ! They are here. 
 Forget 
 She is your mother. She forgot 
 
 Re-enter ^Egisthus and Clyt^mnestra, 
 followed by Cleophon. 
 
 JEg. I '11 ne'er believe in visions, or in seers : 
 Yet how was it the prologue to my dream 
 Came true in every part ? 
 
 Cly. It prompted us 
 
 JEg. But now he's dust, the dread catastrophe 
 Cannot come true. 
 
 Cly. And yet you're ill at ease. 
 
 What is there left to fear ? 
 
 JEG. Only a phantom ; 
 
 For faction perishes without a head. 
 
 Cly. Then let there be a truce, for I am sick 
 Of these proscriptions. There is no one left 
 Whom they could muster round. Send to the jails, 
 And set your prisoners free. 
 
 JEg. [to Cleophon.] Aye, and restore 
 
 What we have taken from them. 
 
 Cleo. This is folly !
 
 Il6 CLYTVEMNESTRA 
 
 Cly. Obey my word. 
 
 Cleo. Take mine you'll suffer for it. 
 
 [Exit. 
 CLY. Is it not monstrous, though my boy is 
 dead. 
 My spirit mounts as if a heavy load 
 Which weighed it down were lifted suddenly ? 
 Now we may sleep secure. But why that frown ? 
 JEG. Tiresias' words still echo in my ears — 
 
 [Looks over at ELECTRA. 
 
 " From your own loins their leaps a basilisk." 
 
 Cly. You will not leave me one? 
 
 JEG. [Taking his seat on the throne^ No, no; 
 
 not one. 
 
 We must dig deep to find a firm foundation, 
 
 If we would raise a house that shall endure. 
 
 Come ! One more wrench, and from the very earth 
 
 We will root out the accursed stock of Atreus. 
 
 Cly. Do it yourself. I '11 have no hand in it. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 JEg. [To Electra.] 
 
 Stand forward, princess ! Know, you are accused 
 
 Of rank rebellion against our rule : 
 
 Stirring the citizens to mutiny.
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA WJ 
 
 By your allegiance, Cleophon, declare 
 
 The charges which you bring against this dame. 
 
 CLEO. I tax her with high treason. See ! This 
 tablet, 
 Stamped with her seal, and trusted to a slave, 
 To be delivered to the Prince Orestes. 
 
 JEg. [ To ELECTRA.] Do you admit this writing ? 
 
 Elec. Why waste words, 
 
 Disputing with a despot ? 
 
 JEg. You confess ! 
 
 ELEC. If it is wrong to rid the earth of tyrants, 
 And to restore my brother to the throne 
 You robbed him of, I do confess my guilt. 
 
 JEg. And sitting on that throne I here condemn 
 you. 
 Take her away, and cast her in a cave, 
 And close it up, and seal it with my seal. 
 
 [Cleophon arrests Electra. 
 
 Ores. Nay, not so fast. Shall I return and say 
 What I have seen ? 
 
 JEg. I care not what you tell. 
 
 'Tis not an envoy's office to report 
 What sentences we pass on mutineers.
 
 1 1 8 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 ORES. Have you forgot how Theseus, Prince of 
 Athens, 
 Made war on Thebes to right a private wrong ? 
 Shall we do less ? I draw my sovereign's sword 
 To save the innocent. {Draws his sword. 
 
 ^Eg. Then you divest 
 
 Your person of the sanctity which clings 
 Around an envoy's person. [T^ CLEOPHON.] Strike 
 him down. 
 Ores. [To CLEOPHON.] Release her. 
 CLEO. [.Drawing- his sword.] Yes, with this. 
 
 [Tries to stab her. ORESTES strikes up 
 his sword, upon which CLEOPHON 
 attacks ORESTES ; but ORESTES 
 presses him hard ; wliereupon ^EGIS- 
 THUS joins in the fray. PYLADES 
 comes to the rescue, and engages 
 Cleophon. Orestes is left to deal 
 with ^EoiSTHUS, whom he drives 
 back step by step. 
 
 Enter LYSICLES. 
 
 Lys. What have we here ? Help ! To the 
 rescue ! 
 
 [He falls on ORESTES ; but at that
 
 CLYT^EMNESTRA 1 1 9 
 
 moment Pylades cuts down CLEO- 
 PHON, and, coming to ORESTES' 
 assistance, draws off LYSICLES. In 
 response to LYSICLES' cry, the Soldiers 
 rush on; but at the same moment the 
 released prisoners enter from the other 
 side. ORESTES, unconscious of his 
 danger, removes his disguise. 
 ORES. Traitor, before I send you down to hell, 
 Look once upon your executioner. 
 
 [ The released prisoners, recognizing him, 
 shout, " ORESTES ! " and cling to the 
 soldiers, whom they hold back. 
 
 Re-enter CLYT^MNESTRA. 
 
 Cly. ^gisthus ! Save him ! Cleophon ! 
 Cleo. Too late. [Dies. 
 
 Cly. [As she rushes between the combatants.'] 
 If he must die, then let me die with him. 
 
 [ORESTES runs her through the body and 
 then drops his sword. 
 JEg. Now is my time. 
 
 [He tries to stab ORESTES, but PYLADES 
 is too quick for him, and stabs him. 
 ^GISTHUS staggers back.
 
 120 CLYTiEMNESTRA 
 
 Lys. Aye. Your time has come, and mine. {Dies. 
 
 /EG. {Looking at CLYT^MNESTRA.] The dream! 
 
 {Falls. 
 
 CLY. {Recognising ORESTES.] Orestes ! {Faints. 
 
 ORES. Say but one word to save my sinking 
 soul, 
 And do not add another cruel curse. 
 
 Pyl. The curse is expiated. You've obeyed 
 The oracle and killed 
 
 ORES. She is not dead ! 
 
 Pyl. Then let me finish what you've left undone. 
 
 Ores. {Holding him back.~\ She breathes again. 
 {Goes down on his knees besides her.] Mother ! 
 
 CLY. My little dragon ! 
 
 We thought that we were stronger than the gods : 
 That we could sail against the stream of fate : 
 But we are caught by its resistless tide 
 And dashed upon its iron rocks, and wrecked. 
 
 Its waves close over us {pauses'] and as I 
 
 sink 
 To my last sleep, my dawning spirit wakes. 
 Already I can see beyond the shroud 
 Which separates the short life from the long 
 And robs us of the light, so that we live
 
 CLYTiEMNESTRA 121 
 
 In twilight dim where men can only see 
 
 A little space in front. [She puts her hand over her 
 
 eyes as if dazzled.] Before my gaze 
 The future stretches out an endless plain. [Pauses. 
 Ores. Then tell us, now, before your voice is 
 hushed, 
 What is in store for us, and for our race. 
 
 Cly. From Agamemnon's spear a towering tree 
 Shall spring, beneath whose branches Argos' sons 
 Shall rest. [She stops exhausted.'] 
 
 Closer ! ^Egisthus ! Where is he ? 
 I cannot see, or hear his voice. yEgisthus ! 
 Pyl. The dead are deaf. 
 
 Cly. 'Tis well ! we go together : 
 
 I '11 overtake him ere he reach the Styx, 
 And hand in hand we'll tread the unknown shores, 
 And side by side suffer our punishment. [Dies. 
 Omnes. Orestes ! Our King ! 
 
 [They form a group behind CLYT^EMNES 
 TRA'S body. Hermione, R. Orestes, 
 R.C. Electra, L.C. Pylades, L. 
 
 Finis. 
 
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