It is the hour; and sunk in slumber now Lies Agamemnon. Shall he nevermore Open his eyes to the fair light? My hand, Once pledge to him of stainless love and faith, Is it to be the minister of his death? Did I swear that? Ay, that; and I must keep My oath. Quick, let me go! My foot, heart, hand-- All over I tremble. Oh, what did I promise? Wretch! what do I attempt? How all my courage Hath vanished from me since Aegisthus vanished! I only see the immense atrocity Of this, my horrible deed; I only see The bloody specter of Atrides! Ah, In vain do I accuse thee! No, thou lovest Cassandra not. Me, only me, thou lovest, Unworthy of thy love. Thou hast no blame, Save that thou art my husband, in the world! Of trustful sleep, to death's arms by my hand? And where then shall I hide me? O perfidy! Can I e'er hope for peace? O woful life-- Life of remorse, of madness, and of tears! How shall Aegisthus, even Aegisthus, dare To rest beside the parricidal wife Upon her murder-stained marriage-bed, Nor tremble for himself? Away, away,-- Hence, horrible instrument of all my guilt And harm, thou execrable dagger, hence! I'll lose at once my lover and my life, But never by this hand betrayed shall fall So great a hero! Live, honor of Greece And Asia's terror! Live to glory, live To thy dear children, and a better wife! --But what are these hushed steps? Into these rooms Who is it comes by night? Aegisthus?--Lost, I am lost! _Aegisthus._ Hast thou not done the deed? _Cly._ Aegisthus---- _Aeg._ What, stand'st thou here, wasting thyself in tears? Woman, untimely are thy tears; 't is late, 'T is vain, and it may cost us dear! _Cly._ Thou here? But how--woe's me, what did I promise thee! What wicked counsel-- _Aeg._ Was it not thy counsel? Love gave it thee and fear annuls it--well! Since thou repentest, I am glad; and glad To know thee guiltless shall I be in death. I told thee that the enterprise was hard, But thou, unduly trusting in the heart, That hath not a man's courage in it, chose Thyself thy feeble hands to strike the blow. Now may Heaven grant that the intent of evil Turn not to harm thee! Hither I by stealth And favor of the darkness have returned Unseen, I hope. For I perforce must come Myself to tell thee that irrevocably My life is dedicated to the vengeance Of Agamemnon. He appeals to her pity for him, and her fear for herself; he reminds her of Agamemnon's consent to the sacrifice of Iphigenia, and goads her on to the crime from which she had recoiled. She goes into Agamemnon's chamber, whence his dying outcries are heard:-- O treachery! Thou, wife? O headens, I die! O treachery!