Part 5 (2/2)

_Cly._ I go to save him or to perish with him.

_El._ Nay, mother, thou shalt never go. Thou ravest--

_Cly._ The penalty is mine. I go--

_El._ O mother!

The monster that but now thy children doomed To death, wouldst thou--

_Cly._ Yes, I would save him--I!

Out of my path! My terrible destiny I must obey. He is my husband. All Too dear he cost me. I will not, can not lose him.

You I abhor, traitors, not children to me!

I go to him. Loose me, thou wicked girl!

At any risk I go, and may I only Reach him in time! {_Exit._

_El_. Go to thy fate, then, go, If thou wilt so, but be thy steps too late!

Why can not I, too, arm me with a dagger, To pierce with stabs a thousand-fold the breast Of infamous Aegisthus! O blind mother, oh, How art thou fettered to his baseness! Yet, And yet, I tremble--If the angry mob Avenge their murdered king on her--O Heaven!

Let me go after her--But who comes here?

Pylades, and my brother not beside him?

_Enter_ PYLADES.

Oh, tell me! Orestes--?

_Pyl._ Compa.s.ses the palace About with swords. And now our prey is safe.

Where lurks Aegisthus! Hast thou seen him?

_El._ Nay, I saw and strove in vain a moment since To stay his maddened wife. She flung herself Out of this door, crying that she would make Herself a s.h.i.+eld unto Aegisthus. He Already had fled the palace.

_Pyl._ Durst he then Show himself in the sight of Argos? Why, Then he is slain ere this! Happy the man That struck him first. Nearer and louder yet I hear their yells.

_El._ ”Orestes!” Ah, were't so!

_Pyl._ Look at him in his fury where he comes!

_Enter_ ORESTES _and his followers_.

_Or._ No man of you attempt to slay Aegisthus: There is no wounding sword here save my own.

Aegisthus, ho! Where art thou, coward! Speak!

Aegisthus, where art thou? Come forth: it is The voice of Death that calls thee! Thou comest not?

Ah, villain, dost thou hide thyself? In vain: The midmost deep of Erebus should not hide thee!

Thou shalt soon see if I be Atrides' son.

_El._ He is not here; he--

_Or._ Traitors! You perchance Have slain him without me?

_Pyl._ Before I came He had fled the palace.

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