 | Electra |  |
SCENE THE TWELFTH.
ORESTES, PYLADES, ÆGYSTHUS, CLYTEMNESTRA, ELECTRA, MELISANDER, ARCAS, ÆTHON, Nobles, Attendants and Guards.MELISANDER.
My royal lord—
ORESTES.
Too faithful, Melisander,
Behold in what thy gen'rous labours end!
Thy care has been to nurse a parricide!
Pour forth thy execrations—and the world
Will join in cursing the detested hand
That shed a mother's blood.
CLYTEMNESTRA.
Forbear, my son,
Nor more accuse thyself. The righteous Gods
Decreed that thou, whom I so much have wrong'd,
Should'st punish my transgressions. In my fall,
I trace the justice of offended heav'n,
And hold thee blameless. Let my dying voice,
Experienc'd long in guilt and its effects,
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For happiness is vainly hop'd without it.
When innocence is gone, th' unstable mind
Floats, like a wreck upon the boist'rous waves,
The sport and prey of each unruly passion—
Till at life's close—the judgement seat in view—
How shall I face a murd'red husband there!
O think, offenders, on this awful minute—
For 'twill o'ertake ye all—and ev'ry one
Must tremble and despair—like—oh!
[Dies.
ORESTES.
Electra!—
ELECTRA.
I would speak comfort—but my falt'ring tongue—
ORESTES.
I now am past it.—Why d'ye look so gentle?
Why is not ev'ry arm uprear'd against me?
Is there no man—no God, will interpose,
And temper mercy with becoming justice?
Will all combine to spare—A light'ning's blast!
A fire consumes—a whirlwind tears my brain!
PYLADES.
Alas, he raves!—Distemper'd reason dies.
ORESTES.
All's hush'd!—The raven now forbears to croak
Her hollow notes—foreboding desolation!
The matricide may pause!—One fearful minute
Th' infernal sisters yield—Ah! now they yell!
They grind their teeth!—they lash me!—Oh! my torture!
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Help—hold him—
ÆTHON.
Melting object!
ORESTE.
Wer't not thou
A damn'd accomplice with me?—Come, and take
Thy portion from the scourge of stern Alecto.
Her serpents hiss!—Oh! from my bosom rend
This fierce promethean eagle, whose fell beak
So mangles my poor heart.
[Sinking into the arms of the attendants.
MELISANDER.
Bear hence the king.
And, pious princess, let your care assist
To comfort and relieve his wounded mind.
ELECTRA.
Be ev'ry God propitious to the task.
| Electra | |