CLYTEMNESTRA. Sleeping? All sleeping! Ho! What need of sleepers? While I roam restless, of my fellow-dead Dishonoured and reproached, by fault of you, That when I slew swift vengeance overtook me. But being slain myself, my avengers sleep And leave my cause to drift! Hear me, sleepers! Such taunts I bear, such contumelious gibes, Yet not one god is touched with wrath to avenge {144} My death, who died by matricidal hands. Behold these wounds![n15] look through thy sleep, and see! Read with thy heart; some things the soul may scan More clearly, when the sensuous lid hath dropt, Nor garish day confounds.[n16] Full oft have ye Of my libations sipped the wineless streams, The soothing? of my sober sacrifice, The silent supper from the solemn altar, At midnight hour when only ye are worshipped. But now all this beneath your feet lies trampled. The man is gone; fled like a hind! he snaps The meshes of your toils, and makes--O shame! Your Deity a mark for scoffers' eyes To wink at! Hear me, ye infernal hags, Unhoused from hell! For my soul's peace I plead, Once Clytemnestra famous, now a dream.[n17] [_The_ CHORUS _moans._ Ye moan! the while the man hath fled, and seeks For help from those that are no friends to me.[n18] [_The_ CHORUS _moans again._ Sleep-bound art thou. Hast thou no bowels for me? My Furies sleep, and let my murderer flee. [_The_ CHORUS _groans._ Groaning and sleeping! Up! What work hast thou To do, but thine own work of sorrow? Rouse thee! [_The_ CHORUS _groans again._ Sleep and fatigue have sworn a league to bind The fearful dragon with strong mastery. CHORUS. (_with redoubled groans and shrill cries_) Hold! seize him! seize him! seize there! there! there! hold! CLYTEMNESTRA. Thy dream scents blood; and, like a dog that doth In dreams pursue the chase, even so dost thou At phantasms bark and howl. To work! to work! Let not fatigue o'ermaster thus thy strength, Nor slumber soothe the sense of sharpest wrong. Torture thy liver with reproachful thoughts; Reproaches are the pricks that goad the wise. Up! blow a blast of bloody breath behind him! Dry up his marrow with the fiery vengeance! Follow! give chase! pursue him to the death! [CHORUS,[n19] _starting up in hurry and confusion._ VOICE 1. Awake! awake! rouse her as I rouse thee! {145} VOICE 2. Dost sleep? arise! dash drowsy sleep away! Brave dreams be prelude to brave deed! Ho, sisters! STROPHE I. VOICE 1. Shame, sisters, shame! Insult and injury! Shame, O shame! VOICE 2. Shame on me, too: a bootless, fruitless shame! VOICE 1. Insult and injury, Sorrow and shame! Burden unbearable, Shame! O shame! VOICE 2. The snare hath sprung: flown is the goodly game. VOICE 3. I slept, and when sleeping He sprang from my keeping; Shame, O shame!