PAGE 19
Electra
by
[ELECTRA goes within]
CH.
Lo, where the War-god moves
With soft, sure footstep, on to his design,
Breathing hot slaughter of an evil feud!
Even now the inevitable hounds that track
Dark deeds of hideous crime
Are gone beneath the covert of the domes.
Not long in wavering suspense shall hang
The dreaming presage of my wistful soul.
For lo! within is led
With crafty tread the avenger of the shades,
Even to his father’s throne of ancient power,
And in his hand the bright new-sharpened death!
And Hermes, Maia’s son,
Is leading him, and hath concealed the guile
Even to the fatal end in clouds of night.
His time of weary waiting all is o’er.
[Re-enter ELECTRA.]
EL.
O dearest women! they are even now
About it. Only bide in silence still.
CH.
What is the present scene?
EL.
She decks the vase
For burial, and they both are standing by.
CH.
And wherefore hast thou darted forth?
EL.
To watch
Aegisthus’ coming, that he enter not
At unawares.
CLY.
(within).
Ah! ah! Woe for the house,
Desert of friends, and filled with hands of death!
EL.
A cry within! Did ye not hear it, friends?
CH.
Would I had not! I heard, and shivered through.
CLY.
(within).
Oh me! Alas, Aegisthus! where art thou?
EL.
Hark! yet again that sound!
CLY.
(within).
O son, have pity!
Pity the womb that bare thee.
EL.
Thou hadst none
For him, nor for his father, in that day.
HALF-
CH.
Poor city! hapless race!
Thy destiny to-day
Wears thee away, away.
What morn shall see thy face?
CLY.
(within).
Oh, I am smitten!
EL.
Give a second stroke,
If thou hast power.
CLY.
(within).
Oh me! again, again!
EL.
Would thou wert shrieking for Aegisthus too!
CH.
The curse hath found, and they in earth who lie
Are living powers to-day.
Long dead, they drain away
The streaming blood of those who made them die.
[Enter ORESTES and PYLADES.]
Behold, they come, they come!
His red hand dripping as he moves
With drops of sacrifice the War-god loves.
My ‘wildered heart is dumb.
EL.
How is it with you, brother?
OR.
If Apollo
Spake rightfully, the state within is well.
EL.
Wretched one, is she dead?
OR.
No more have fear
Thou shalt be slighted by thy mother’s will.
CH.
Cease, for I see Aegisthus near in view.
EL.
In, in again, boys!
OR.
Where do ye behold
The tyrant?
EL.
To our hand from yonder gate
He comes with beaming look.
CH.
Haste, with what speed ye may,
Stand on the doorway stone,
That, having thus much done,
Ye may do all to-day.
OR.
Fear not: we will perform it.
EL.
Speed ye now:
Follow your thought.
OR.
We are already there.
EL.
Leave matters here to me. All shall go well.
[Exit ORESTES with PYLADES]
CH.
Few words, as if in gentleness, ’twere good
To utter in his ear,
That, eager and unware,
One step may launch him on the field of blood.