And this I say of him or dead or living. But as for all that touches on the State, Or on the Gods, in full assembly we, Calling our council, will deliberate: 820 For what goes well we should with care provide How longest it may last; and where there needs A healing charm, there we with all good-will, By surgery or cautery will try To turn away the mischief of disease. And now will I to home and household hearth Move on, and first give thanks unto the Gods Who led me forth, and brought me back again. Since Victory follows, long may she remain! _Enter_ CLYTÆMNESTRA, _followed by female attendants carrying purple tapestry_ _Clytæm._ Ye citizens, ye Argive senators, I will not shrink from telling you the tale Of wife's true love. As time wears on one drops 830 All over-shyness. Not learning it from others, I will narrate my own unhappy life, The whole long time my lord at Ilion stayed. For first, that wife should sit at home alone Without her husband is a monstrous grief, Hearing full many an ill report of him, Now one and now another coming still, Bringing news home, worse trouble upon bad. Yea, if my lord had met as many wounds As rumour told of, floating to our house, 840 He had been riddled more than any net; And had he died, as tidings still poured in, Then he, a second Geryon[334] with three lives, Had boasted of a threefold coverlet Of earth above, (I will not say below him,)[335] Dying one death for each of those his forms; And so, because of all these ill reports, Full many a noose around my neck have others Loosed by main force, when I had hung myself. And for this cause no son is with me now, 850 Holding in trust the pledges of our love, As he should be, Orestes. Wonder not; For now a kind ally doth nurture him, Strophios the Phokian, telling me of woes Of twofold aspect, danger on thy side At Ilion, and lest loud-voiced anarchy Should overthrow thy council, since 'tis still The wont of men to kick at those who fall. No trace of guile bears this excuse of mine; As for myself, the fountains of my tears Have flowed till they are dry, no drop remains, 860 And mine eyes suffer from o'er-late repose, Watching with tears the beacons set for thee,[336] Left still unheeded. And in dreams full oft I from my sleep was startled by the gnat With thin wings buzzing, seeing in the night Ills that stretched far beyond the time of sleep.[337] Now, having borne all this, with mind at ease, I hail my lord as watch-dog of the fold, The stay that saves the ship, of lofty roof 870 Main column-prop, a father's only child, Land that beyond all hope the sailor sees, Morn of great brightness following after storm, Clear-flowing fount to thirsty traveller.[338] Yes, it is pleasant to escape all straits: