SCENE III

     AEGISTHUS

          Aegis.  Come forth,
     Thyestes, from profound Avernus; come,
     Now is the time; within this palace now
     Display thy dreadful shade.  A copious banquet
     Of blood is now prepared for thee, enjoy it;
     Already o’er the heart of thy foe’s son
     Hangs the suspended sword; now, now, he feels it: 
     An impious consort grasps it; it was fitting
     That she, not I, did this:  so much more sweet
     To thee will be the vengeance, as the crime
     Is more atrocious....  An attentive ear
     Lend to the dire catastrophe with me;
     Doubt not she will accomplish it:  disdain,
     Love, terror, to the necessary crime
     Compel the impious woman.—­

     AGAMEMNON (within)

          Aga.—­Treason!  Ah! ... 
     My wife?..  O Heavens!..  I die...  O traitorous deed!

          Aegis.—­Die, thou—­yes, die!  And thou redouble, woman. 
     The blows redouble; all the weapon hide
     Within his heart; shed, to the latest drop,
     The blood of that fell miscreant:  in our blood
     He would have bathed his hands.

     SCENE IV

     CLYTEMNESTRA—­AESGISTHUS

          Cly.—­What have I done? 
     Where am I?...

          Aegis.—­Thou hast slain the tyrant:  now
     At length thou’rt worthy of me.

          Cly.—­See, with blood
     The dagger drips;... my hands, my face, my garments,
     All, all are blood...  Oh, for a deed like this,
     What vengeance will be wreaked!...  I see already
     Already to my breast that very steel
     I see hurled back, and by what hand!  I freeze,
     I faint, I shudder, I dissolve with horror. 
     My strength, my utterance, fail me.  Where am I? 
     What have I done?...  Alas!...

          Aegis.—­Tremendous cries
     Resound on every side throughout the palace: 
     ’Tis time to show the Argives what I am,
     And reap the harvest of my long endurance.

     SCENE V

     ELECTRA—­AEGISTHUS

          Elec.—­It still remains for thee to murder me,
     Thou impious, vile assassin of my father ... 
     But what do I behold?  O Heavens! ... my mother? ... 
     Flagitious woman, dost thou grasp the sword? 
     Didst thou commit the murder?

          Aegis.—­Hold thy peace. 
     Stop not my path thus; quickly I return;
     Tremble:  for now that I am king of Argos,
     Far more important is it that I kill
     Orestes than Electra.

     SCENE VI

     CLYTEMNESTRA—­ELECTRA

          Cly.—­Heavens! ...  Orestes? ... 
     Aegisthus, now I know thee....

          Elec.—­Give it me: 
     Give me that steel.