_Chor._ What evil thing, O Queen, or reared on earth, Or draught from salt sea-wave 1380 Hast thou fed on, to bring Such incense on thyself,[385] A people's loud-voiced curse? 'Twas thou did'st sentence him, 'Twas thou did'st strike him down; But thou shall exiled be, Hated with strong hate of the citizens. _Clytæm._ Ha! now on me thou lay'st the exile's doom, My subjects' hate, and people's loud-voiced curse, Though ne'er did'st thou oppose my husband there, Who, with no more regard than had been due To a brute's death, although he called his own Full many a fleecy sheep in pastures bred, Yet sacrificed his child, the dear-loved fruit 1390 Of all my travail-pangs, to be a charm Against the winds of Thrakia. Shouldst thou not Have banished him from out this land of ours, As meed for all his crimes? Yet hearing now My deeds, thou art a judge full stern. But I Tell thee to speak thy threats, as knowing well I am prepared that thou on equal terms Should'st rule, if thou dost conquer. But if God Should otherwise decree, then thou shall learn, Late though it be, the lesson to be wise. ANTISTROPHE _Chor._ Yea, thou art stout of heart, and speak'st big words;1400 And maddened is thy soul As by a murderous hate; And still upon thy brow Is seen, not yet avenged, The stain of blood-spot foul; And yet it needs must be, One day thou, reft of friends, Shall pay the penalty of blow for blow. _Clytæm._ Now hear thou too my oaths of solemn dread: By my accomplished vengeance for my child, By Atè and Erinnys, unto whom I slew him as a victim, I look not That fear should come beneath this roof of mine, So long as on my hearth Ægisthos kindles 1410 The flaming fire, as well disposed to me As he hath been aforetime. He to us Is no slight shield of stoutest confidence. There lies he, [_pointing to the corpse of_ AGAMEMNON,] one who foully wronged his wife, The darling of the Chryseïds at Troïa; And there [_pointing to_ CASSANDRA] this captive slave, this auguress, His concubine, this seeress trustworthy, *Who shared his bed, and yet was as well known To the sailors as their benches!... They have fared Not otherwise than they deserved: for he Lies as you see. And she who, like a swan,[386] Has chanted out her last and dying song, 1420 Lies close to him she loved, and so has brought The zest of a new pleasure to my bed. STROPHE I[387]