_Cass._ [_Again going to the door and then shuddering in another burst of frenzy._] Fie on't, fie! _Chor._ Whence comes this “Fie?” unless from mind that loathes? _Cass._ The house is tainted with the scent of death. 1280 _Chor._ How so? This smells of victims on the hearth. _Cass._ Nay, it is like the blast from out a grave. _Chor._ No Syrian ritual tell'st thou for our house.[376] _Cass._ Well then I go, and e'en within will wail My fate and Agamemnon's. And for me, Enough of life. Ah, friends! Ah! not for nought I shrink in fear, as bird shrinks from the brake.[377] When I am dead do ye this witness bear, When in revenge for me, a woman, Death A woman smites, and man shall fall for man 1290 In evil wedlock wed. This friendly office, As one about to die, I pray you do me. _Chor._ Thy doom foretold, poor sufferer, moves my pity. _Cass._ I fain would speak once more, yet not to wail Mine own death-song; but to the Sun I pray, To his last rays, that my avengers wreak Upon my hated murderers judgment due For me, who die a slave's death, easy prey. Ah, life of man! when most it prospereth, *It is but limned in outline;[378] and when brought To low estate, then doth the sponge, full soaked, 1300 Wipe out the picture with its frequent touch: And this I count more piteous e'en than that.[379] [_Passes through the door into the palace_ _Chor._ 'Tis true of all men that they never set A limit to good fortune; none doth say, As bidding it depart, *And warding it from palaces of pride, “Enter thou here no more.” To this our lord the Blest Ones gave to take Priam's city; and he comes Safe to his home and honoured by the Gods; But if he now shall pay The forfeit of blood-guiltiness of old, And, dying, so work out for those who died, By his own death another penalty, 1310 Who then of mortal men, Hearing such things as this, Can boast that he was born With fate from evil free? _Agam._ [_from within._] Ah, me! I am struck down with deadly stroke. _Chor._ Hush! who cries out with deadly stroke sore smitten? _Agam._ Ah me, again! struck down a second time! [_Dies_ _Chor._ By the king's groans I judge the deed is done; But let us now confer for counsels safe.[380] _Chor. a._ I give you my advice to summon here, Here to the palace, all the citizens. 1320 _Chor. b._ I think it best to rush at once on them, And take them in the act with sword yet wet. _Chor. c._ And I too give like counsel, and I vote For deed of some kind. 'Tis no time to pause. _Chor. d._ Who will see, may.—They but the prelude work Of tyranny usurped o'er all the State.