 | Orestes |  |
SCENE 1st.
—The Temple of Jupiter.CALCHAS
at the Altar.
Hear Jove supreme!
Thou! who, o'er all in highest heav'n enthron'd,
Look'st on the frail inhabitants of earth,
Oh hear my prayer! let not the sun, new ris'n
On this dread day, unconscious of thy pow'r
Withdraw its beams—bid Argos own thy might;
While thou, in visitation of thy wrath,
On the polluted feast of lust and murther
Shalt loose the impatient thunder!
NIREUS
enters.
Calchas, hail!
120
What brings thee hither?
NIREUS.
Clytemnestra's will.
This day, when yearly rites, that mock the heav'ns,
Bid Argos solemnize the blood-stain'd nuptials,
Fear harrows up her soul.
CALCHAS
to himself.
Their doom is fixt.
Not vain at dawn the omen.
NIREUS.
Clytemnestra
Now bids thee to the palace.
CALCHAS.
What, once more
To hear in insolence of pride, Ægisthus
Defy the vengeance of long-lingering Jove,
And taunt his holy priest! Yes—I will go:
If Jove confirm the omen—I will go:
121
Of wrong'd Electra.
NIREUS.
On this day's return,
Not only, as of old, Ægisthus binds
Her limbs with chains, and in the cavern's gloom
Bids her, unheard, rave on her long-lost brother,
Th'avenger, lorn Orestes—
CALCHAS
—(interrupting him.)
Hear, hear heav'n!
NIREUS.
But ere the sun go down, his vow is past
To join by force the daughter of Atrides
With one low-born: that never heir arise
To claim the crown of Argos, or avenge
Her murther'd sire.
CALCHAS.
The measure is complete.
'Tis doom'd above, the impious are no more.
122
Exeunt.
| Orestes | |