University of Virginia Library

SCENE 3d.

—An Apartment in the Palace.
Clytemnestra, Phedra.
PHEDRA.
Vainly I urg'd—Electra still refuses,
(No cause assign'd) from other hand than thine
To take the funeral offerings—Lo! the bowl—
And this the consecrated hair you sent— (presents them.)


CLYTEMNESTRA.
No other hand but hers, may bear the gift:
None left save her alone. 'Twas Calchas spoke it:
I may not disobey—conduct her hither— (Phedra goes.)

Omit whate'er these Prophets have enjoin'd,
All fails, and we, forewarn'd, provoke our doom.

Electra, and Phedra enter.
CLYTEMNESTRA
—(to Electra.)
Thou hast refus'd to bear my funeral offerings!

ELECTRA.
I dar'd not place them on my father's tomb,
'Till I had commun'd with thee—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Say—what cause?—

ELECTRA.
What cause? And dost thou ask? And shall I speak it.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Haply thou deem'dst it base, beneath thy birth,
To take these gifts from other hands than mine?

ELECTRA.
I long have suffer'd base indignities—
Lo these—

(her chains.)
CLYTEMNESTRA.
I bad Ægisthus free thee.

ELECTRA.
Yes,
He proffer'd—I refus'd—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Yet, in that guise,
Offerings were insult—

ELECTRA.
No—not that the insult—
This, this is profanation, when the woman
Who slew her husband, mocks his tomb with gifts.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Daughter—!

ELECTRA.
Oh would that I could answer—Mother!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
My soul is overcharged with horror. Spare me—

ELECTRA.
Therefore I came. 'Tis now the suited time
When words may pierce the soul. Oh! had I found thee
A thoughtless reveller, rob'd in nuptial pomp,
And smiling at the thron'd adulterer's side,
I never had addrest thee—now I view thee
Clad in the garb of woe: and thy pale hue
Marks the deep wound that festers in thy soul.
I see this, yet rejoice not: no, nor feel
The triumph that repays, exalts the opprest
When the oppressor falls. Behold these tears—
They stream for thee— (clasping Clytemnestra's hand.)


CLYTEMNESTRA.
And have I yet a child?

ELECTRA.
Oh pow'r of heav'n! now give me words of force
To change the soul. Turn not away, my mother!
No whisper of reproach shall wound thy ear.
We long have been estrang'd, not known each other:
For ever, at my coming, base Ægisthus
Stood like a fiend between us. Oh my mother,
Year after year has past unheeded o'er thee.
In the brief breathing space, this side the tomb
In mercy left, one moment yet is thine:
The present—Now.
Oh! on the tablet of eternity
Record it by contrition—

CLYTEMNESTRA
—(highly agitated, aside.)
Oh, I cannot!

ELECTRA.
Turn not away—not for myself I plead.
All, I forgive thee, all. I plead for one
Lov'd more than life. I plead for lorn Orestes:
For a lov'd brother; for thy son, I plead.
Recal the wanderer—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Oh!

ELECTRA.
At Argos crown him.
Restore him to the empire of his fathers;
So will I bear the votive gifts, and sooth
Him, him that was thy husband. I will tend
Thy troubled couch: nor leave thee at the hour
When guilt at death's approach shall rise before thee
A Fury arm'd. Repent, and crown Orestes.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Ah, haply at this hour, he too—

PHEDRA
enters.
Dread Queen!
Sent from Ægisthus, at the palace gates
A stranger youth—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
A stranger youth!

PHEDRA.
Who bears
A funeral urn.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
'Tis he—I come, I come—

ELECTRA.
Not yet—oh hear!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
My fate on him depends.

ELECTRA.
Now, on my knees, I pray one moment hear me.
I saw thy big tear tremble. Oh, my mother!
We never, since the day my father died,
Have known one common woe.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
No more detain me.
'Tis he—away—

ELECTRA
—(in anger.)
Dost thou despise my prayer?
I on my bended knee, have clasp'd thy hand.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Say, wilt thou bear these offerings to the dead?

ELECTRA.
Yes: or I ne'er shall view my father's tomb.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Away.— (Exit.)


ELECTRA
to Phedra.
Take thou the offerings—follow me.

(Exeunt.
SCENE changes to the Gates of the Palace, magnificently decorated with trophies.
Phanor and Guards—Arcas, Orestes, Pylades.
PHANOR.
These are the gates with Ilium's trophies grac'd—
Pass not that threshold—here expect the Queen.

ORESTES
—(after a pause of wonder.)
Hail palace! and thou portal! o'er whose arch
The spoils of Troy by Agamemnon plac'd—

PYLADES
—(interrupting him, aside.)
Beware—we are observ'd—the guard yet lingers.

CLYTEMNESTRA
—(heard in entering.)
Where is the stranger? Clytemnestra greets him.

ORESTES
—(hearing her voice, looks up.)
Turn me to stone, or I am lost for ever.
(Clytemnestra, Electra, Phedra enter.)
Art thou the mother of Orestes?

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Yes—

ORESTES.
Whom then behold I there, of royal port?

ELECTRA.
His sister.

ORESTES.
Thou—Electra!

ELECTRA.
What of him?

ORESTES.
Thou, that Electra! thou—Orestes' sister.

ELECTRA.
Long suffering bears the show of length of years.
Be but Orestes safe, and life new-born
Will glow in every vein—thou answer'st not—
Why art thou silent?

CLYTEMNESTRA
—(impatiently.)
Say, what brought thee hither?
Stranger! why thus transfixt in senseless woe?
Why gaze on her? I, I am Clytemnestra.

ORESTES.
I come the bearer of a mournful tale
To thee and to thy race.

ELECTRA.
Hah!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Youth! disclose it.

ORESTES.
Heav'n haply has possest thee with a spirit
That yields not to misfortune—on that brow— (Electra)

I note alas! the lineaments of one
Who will not hear my tale of woe, unmov'd—
Let her depart: and one brief word unfolds
My mournful mission.—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Hear'st thou not, Electra?

ELECTRA.
Speak it.

ORESTES.
I pray thee urge her to retire.

CLYTEMNESTRA
—(to Electra.)
Thou hear'st—

ELECTRA.
I stir not hence—my soul is dead
Alike to joy and grief, save that alone
Which from a brother flows—and if thou bring
Ought of Orestes, 'till thy voice reveal it,
No force shall hence remove me.—

ORESTES
—(to Electra.)
Arm thy soul—
Here lies, within this urn, what was Orestes.
An Argive basely slew him—We, from Phocis,
Bring this to place it in Atrides' tomb—
Thou hast my mission.—

ELECTRA.
Wherefore should I breathe?
I have no hope—earth! hide me in thy womb!

(falls down.)
ORESTES.
Oh let me raise thee!—

ELECTRA.
Touch me not, I charge thee.
Not with that hand that held Orestes' urn.
My Father! thou shalt hear, and aid Electra.—

(Exit.
ORESTES.
Oh!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Heed her not!—thy unexpected words
Have pierc'd my heart. Yet stranger! go not hence. (to all the others.)

You—stand apart—good youth!—

ORESTES
—(with horror.)
What would'st thou, woman?

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Thy aid!

ORESTES.
I cannot aid thee—

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Thou alone
Canst free my soul from agonising horror.
Gifts of rare worth shall crown thy prompt compliance.
A feast is in the palace held this night:
I shall not join the revels—while they banquet,
Meet me alone. Things of high import urge.
Why dost thou turn away?

ORESTES.
Meet thee alone!
Oh! ask not that!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
A heav'n-taught Seer enjoin'd it—
The prophet Calchas.—

ORESTES.
Ha! 'tis passing strange!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Say thou consent'st—

ORESTES.
I'll meet thee.

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Lone—

ORESTES.
Expect me.—

(Exeunt.