_Hecuba:_ Now go, ye Greeks, and seek your homes in peace. 1165 With spreading sails your fleet in safety now May cleave the welcome sea; the maid and boy Are slain, the war is done. Oh, whither now Shall I betake me in my wretchedness? Where spend this hateful remnant of my life? My daughter or my grandson shall I mourn, 1170 My husband, country--or myself alone? O death, my sole desire, for boys and maids Thou com'st with hurried step and savage mien; But me alone of mortals dost thou fear And shun; through all that dreadful night of Troy, I sought thee 'midst the swords and blazing brands, 1175 But all in vain my search. No cruel foe, Nor crumbling wall, nor blazing fire, could give The death I sought. And yet how near I stood To agéd Priam's side when he was slain! _Messenger:_ Ye captives, haste you to the winding shore; The sails are spread, our long delay is o'er. AGAMEMNON AGAMEMNON DRAMATIS PERSONAE _Agamemnon_ King of Argos, and leader of all the Greeks in their war against Troy. _Ghost of Thyestes_ Returned to earth to urge on his son to the vengeance which he was born to accomplish. _Aegisthus_ Son of Thyestes by an incestuous union with his daughter; paramour of Clytemnestra. _Clytemnestra_ Wife of Agamemnon, who has been plotting with Aegisthus against her husband, in his absence at Troy. _Chorus_ Of Argive women. _Eurybates_ Messenger of Agamemnon. _Cassandra_ Daughter of Priam, captive of Agamemnon. _Electra_ Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. _Strophius_ King of Phocis. _Orestes_ Son of Agamemnon (_persona muta_). _Pylades_ Son of Strophius (_persona muta_). _Band_ Of captive Trojan women. THE SCENE is laid partly within and partly without the palace of Agamemnon at Argos or Mycenae, on the day of the return of the king from his long absence at Troy, beginning in the period of darkness just preceding the dawn. _The blood-feud between Atreus and Thyestes was not ended with the terrible vengeance which Atreus wreaked upon his brother. It was yet in fate that Thyestes should live to beget upon his own daughter a son, Aegisthus, who should slay Atreus and bring ruin and death upon the great Atrides, Agamemnon._ _The Trojan war is done. And now the near approach of the victorious king, bringing his captives and treasure home to Argos, has been announced. But little does he dream to what a home he is returning. For Clytemnestra, enraged at Agamemnon because he had sacrificed her daughter Iphigenia at Aulis to appease the winds, and full of jealousy because he brings Cassandra as her rival home, estranged also by the long-continued absence of her lord, but most estranged by her own guilty union with Aegisthus, is now plotting to slay Agamemnon on his return, gaining thus at once revenge and safety from his wrath._ ACT I