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'Tis said： I fain would fare unvexed by fear。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Nay； but unsay it…thwart not thou my will！
AGAMEMNON
Know； I have said； and will not mar my word。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Was it fear made this meekness to the gods？
AGAMEMNON
If cause be cause； 'tis mine for this resolve。
CLYTEMNESTRA
What； think'st thou； in thy place had Priam done？
AGAMEMNON
He surely would have walked on broidered robes。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Then fear not thou the voice of human blame。
AGAMEMNON
Yet mighty is the murmur of a crowd。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Shrink not from envy； appanage of bliss。
AGAMEMNON
War is not woman's part； nor war of words。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Yet happy victors well may yield therein。
AGAMEMNON
Dost crave for triumph in this petty strife？
CLYTEMNESTRA
Yield； of thy grace permit me to prevail！
AGAMEMNON
Then； if thou wilt； let some one stoop to loose
Swiftly these sandals； slaves beneath my foot；
And stepping thus upon the sea's rich dye；
I pray； Let none among the gods look down
With jealous eye on me…reluctant all；
To trample thus and mar a thing of price；
Wasting the wealth of garments silver…worth。
Enough hereof： and； for the stranger maid；
Lead her within； but gently： God on high
Looks graciously on him whom triumph's hour
Has made not pitiless。 None willingly
Wear the slave's yoke…and she； the prize and flower
Of all we won； comes hither in my train；
Gift of the army to its chief and lord。
…Now； since in this my will bows down to thine；
I will pass in on purples to my home。
（He descends from the chariot； and moves towards the palace。）
CLYTEMNESTRA
A Sea there is…and who shall stay its springs？
And deep within its breast； a mighty store；
Precious as silver； of the purple dye；
Whereby the dipped robe doth its tint renew。
Enough of such； O king； within thy halls
There lies； a store that cannot fail； but I…
I would have gladly vowed unto the gods
Cost of a thousand garments trodden thus；
（Had once the oracle such gift required）
Contriving ransom for thy life preserved。
For while the stock is firm the foliage climbs；
Spreading a shade； what time the dog…star glows；
And thou； returning to thine hearth and home；
Art as a genial warmth in winter hours；
Or as a coolness； when the lord of heaven
Mellows the juice within the bitter grape。
Such boons and more doth bring into a home
The present footstep of its proper lord。
Zeus； Zeus； Fulfilment's lord！ my vows fulfil；
And whatsoe'er it be； work forth thy will！
（She follows AGAMEMNON into the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Wherefore for ever on the wings of fear
Hovers a vision drear
Before my boding heart？ a strain；
Unbidden and unwelcome； thrills mine ear；
Oracular of pain。
Not as of old upon my bosom's throne
Sits Confidence； to spurn
Such fears； like dreams we know not to discern。
Old； old and grey long since the time has grown；
Which saw the linked cables moor
The fleet； when erst it came to Ilion's sandy shore；
antistrophe 1
And now mine eyes and not another's see
Their safe return。
Yet none the less in me
The inner spirit sings a boding song；
Self…prompted； sings the Furies' strain…
And seeks； and seeks in vain；
To hope and to be strong！
Ah！ to some end of Fate； unseen； unguessed；
Are these wild throbbings of my heart and breast…
Yea； of some doom they tell…
Each pulse； a knell。
Lief； lief I were； that all
To unfulfilment's hidden realm might fall。
strophe 2
Too far； too far our mortal spirits strive；
Grasping at utter weal； unsatisfied…
Till the fell curse； that dwelleth hard beside；
Thrust down the sundering wall。 Too fair they blow；
The gales that waft our bark on Fortune's tide！
Swiftly we sail； the sooner an to drive
Upon the hidden rock； the reef of woe。
Then if the hand of caution warily
Sling forth into the sea
Part of the freight； lest all should sink below；
From the deep death it saves the bark： even so；
Doom…laden though it be； once more may rise
His household； who is timely wise。
How oft the famine…stricken field
Is saved by God's large gift； the new year's yield！
antistrophe 2
But blood of man once spilled；
Once at his feet shed forth； and darkening the plain；…
Nor chant nor charm can call it back again。
So Zeus hath willed：
Else had he spared the leech Asclepius； skilled
To bring man from the dead： the hand divine
Did smite himself with death…a warning and a sign…
Ah me！ if Fate； ordained of old；
Held not the will of gods constrained； controlled；
Helpless to us…ward； and apart…
Swifter than speech my heart
Had poured its presage out！
Now； fretting； chafing in the dark of doubt；
'Tis hopeless to unfold
Truth； from fear's tangled skein； and； yearning to proclaim
Its thought； my soul is prophecy and flame。
（CLYTEMNESTRA comes out of the palace and addresses CASSANDRA；
who has remained motionless in her chariot。）
CLYTEMNESTRA
Get thee within thou too； Cassandra； go！
For Zeus to thee in gracious mercy grants
To share the sprinklings of the lustral bowl；
Beside the altar of his guardianship；
Slave among many slaves。 What； haughty still？
Step from the car； Alcmena's son； 'tis said；
Was sold perforce and bore the yoke of old。
Ay； hard it is； but； if such fate befall；
'Tis a fair chance to serve within a home
Of ancient wealth and power。 An upstart lord；
To whom wealth's harvest came beyond his hope；
Is as a lion to his slaves； in all
Exceeding fierce； immoderate in sway。
Pass in： thou hearest what our ways will be。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Clear unto thee； O maid； is her command；
But thou…within the toils of Fate thou art…
If such thy will； I urge thee to obey；
Yet I misdoubt thou dost nor hear nor heed。
CLYTEMNESTRA
I wot…unless like swallows she doth use
Some strange barbarian tongue from oversea…
My words must speak persuasion to her soul。