Chapter 3

AEGISTHUS--CLYTEMNESTRA

Aegisthus--To be a banished man, ... to fly, ... to die: ... These are the only means that I have left. Thou, far from me, deprived of every hope Of seeing me again, wilt from thy heart Have quickly chased my image: great Atrides Will wake a far superior passion there; Thou, in his presence, many happy days Wilt thou enjoy--These auspices may Heaven Confirm--I cannot now evince to thee A surer proof of love than by my flight; ... A dreadful, hard, irrevocable proof.

_Clytemnestra_--If there be need of death, we both will die!-- But is there nothing left to try ere this?

_Aegis_.--Another plan, perchance, e'en now remains; ... But little worthy ...

_Cly_.--And it is--

_Aegis._--Too cruel.

_Cly_.--But certain?

_Aegis_. Certain, ah, too much so!

_Cly_.--How Canst thou hide it from me?

_Aegis_.--How canst thou Of me demand it?

_Cly._--What then may it be? ... I know not ... Speak: I am too far advanced; I cannot now retract: perchance already I am suspected by Atrides; maybe He has the right already to despise me: Hence do I feel constrained, e'en now, to hate him; I cannot longer in his presence live; I neither will, nor dare.--Do thou, Aegisthus, Teach me a means, whatever it may be, A means by which I may withdraw myself From him forever.

_Aegis._--Thou withdraw thyself From him? I have already said to thee That now 'tis utterly impossible.

_Cly._--What other step remains for me to take? ...

_Aegis._--None.

_Cly._--Now I understand thee.--What a flash. Oh, what a deadly, instantaneous flash Of criminal conviction rushes through My obtuse mind! What throbbing turbulence In ev'ry vein I feel!--I understand thee: The cruel remedy ... the only one ... Is Agamemnon's life-blood.

_Aegis._--I am silent ...

_Cly._--Yet, by thy silence, thou dost ask that blood.

_Aegis._--Nay, rather I forbid it.--To our love And to thy life (of mine I do not speak) His living is the only obstacle; But yet, thou knowest that his life is sacred: To love, respect, defend it, thou art bound; And I to tremble at it.--Let us cease: The hour advances now; my long discourse Might give occasion to suspicious thoughts.-- At length receive ... Aegisthus's last farewell.

_Cly._--Ah! hear me ... Agamemnon to our love ... And to thy life? ... Ah, yes; there are, besides him, No other obstacles: too certainly His life is death to us!

_Aegis._--Ah! do not heed My words: they spring from too much love.

_Cly._--And love Revealed to me their meaning.

_Aegis._--Hast thou not Thy mind o'erwhelmed with horror?

_Cly_.--Horror? ... yes; ... But then to part from thee! ...

_Aegis_.--Wouldst have the courage? ...

_Cly_.--So vast my love, it puts an end to fear.

_Aegis_.--But the king lives surrounded by his friends: What sword would find a passage to his heart?

_Cly_.--What sword?

_Aegis_.--Here open violence were vain.

_Cly_.--Yet, ... treachery! ...

_Aegis_.--'Tis true, he merits not To be betrayed, Atrides: he who loves His wife so well; he who, enchained from Troy, In semblance of a slave in fetters, brought Cassandra, whom he loves, to whom he is Himself a slave ...

_Cly_.--What do I hear!

_Aegis_.--Meanwhile Expect that when of thee his love is wearied, He will divide with her his throne and bed; Expect that, to thy many other wrongs, Shame will be added: and do thou alone Not be exasperated at a deed That rouses every Argive.

_Cly_.--What said'st thou? ... Cassandra chosen as my rival? ...

_Aegis_.--So Atrides wills.

_Cly_.--Then let Atrides perish.

_Aegis_.--How? By what hand?

_Cly_.--By mine, this very night, Within that bed which he expects to share With this abhorred slave.

_Aegis_.--O Heavens! but think ...

_Cly_.--I am resolved ...

_Aegis_.--Shouldst thou repent? ...

_Cly_.--I do That I so long delayed.

_Aegis_.--And yet ...

_Cly_.--I'll do it; I, e'en if thou wilt not. Shall I let thee, Who only dost deserve my love, be dragged To cruel death? And shall I let him live Who cares not for my love? I swear to thee, To-morrow thou shalt be the king in Argos. Nor shall my hand, nor shall my bosom tremble ... But who approaches?

_Aegis._--'Tis Electra ...

_Cly._--Heavens! Let us avoid her. Do thou trust in me.