Part 5 (1/2)

_Clytaem._ Dost thou not fear a parent's curse, my son?

_Orest._ Thou, though my mother, did'st to ill chance cast me.

_Clytaem._ No outcast thou so sent to house allied.

_Orest._ I was sold doubly, though of free sire born.

_Clytaem._ Where is the price, then, that I got for thee?

_Orest._ I shrink for shame from pressing that charge home.

_Clytaem._ Nay, tell thy father's wantonness as well.

_Orest._ Blame not the man that toils when thou'rt at ease.

_Clytaem._ 'Tis hard, my son, for wives to miss their husband.

_Orest._ The husband's toil keeps her that sits at home.

_Clytaem._ Thou seem'st, my son, about to slay thy mother.

_Orest._ It is not I that slay thee, but thyself.

_Clytaem._ Take heed, beware a mother's vengeful hounds.

_Orest._ How, slighting this, shall I escape my father's?

_Clytaem._ I seem in life to wail as to a tomb.

_Orest._ My father's fate ordains this doom for thee.

_Clytaem._ Ah me! The snake is here I bare and nursed.

_Orest._ An o'er-true prophet was that dread dream-born.

Thou slewest one thou never should'st have slain, Now suffer fate should never have been thine. {916}

_Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, forcing Clytaemnestra through the Central Door, their attendants remaining to guard the door. Chorus, after a word of pity for even this 'twain mischance,' break into_

CHORAL INTERLUDE III

_in three interwoven Strophes and Antistrophes._

Late came vengeance on Troy, late now has it blest this heaven-sent exile, and our Master's house is freed. On a lover of the war of guile has Revenge come subtle-souled, Vengeance who

Is guileful without guile, Halting of foot and tarrying over-long; The will of G.o.ds is strangely over-ruled, It may not help the vile.

At last we see the light. All-working Time with cleansing rites will purify the house; Fortune's throws shall fall with gladsome cast: at last we see the light. {959}

EXODUS, OR FINALE

_Enter from Main Door Orestes and Pylades, their Attendants bearing the Corpses, and the net in which Agamemnon had been murdered._

_Orestes_ solemnly declares that they have perished as murderers; they swore to live and die together and they have kept the oath. He bids the Attendants stretch out in full light of the Sun, the great Purifier, the fatal net, as pledge that he did his dread deed only as deed of necessary vengeance--he dwells on the cruel device--but _Chorus_ seeing side by side the net and the slaughter by which it has been avenged, can think of nothing but the woe which its avenger by his deed of vengeance must bring on himself. _Orestes_ reiterates the crime of which this deed is the reminder. The _Chorus_ cannot help repeating the unhappy omen. {1009}

At this very moment Orestes changes and begins to feel the oncoming madness--while reason yet stays with him he repeats his innocence and puts on the suppliant's fillet, with which he will go to Delphi, and challenge the G.o.d who sent him on the errand to free him from its dire consequences. Madness increases, and he can see the Furies in bodily shape dark-robed, and all their long tresses entwined with serpents.

In rapid dialogue the _Chorus_ bid him cling to the idea of Apollo, and he _bursts away through Distance-Door on Left_ to commence his long career of wanderings. The Chorus conclude:

Here, then, upon this palace of our kings A third storm blows again; The blast that haunts the race has run its course.

First came the wretched meal of children's flesh; Next what befel our king: Slain in the bath was he who ruled our host, Of all the Achaeans lord; And now a third has come, we know not whence, To save ... or shall I say, To work a doom of death?

Where will it end? Where will it cease at last, The mighty Ate dread, Lulled into slumber deep?

THIRD PLAY: AFTERNOON:

THE GENTLE G.o.dDESSES

EUMENIDES[1]