University of Virginia Library

SCENE XII.

Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Egysthus, and Arsinoe.
AGAMEMNON.
The captives now may, to the inner halls,
Bear their refulgent burdens, and the troops
Have quick dismissal. Let all hearts, to-day,
Exult in Argos; and, to those that mourn
For sons and husbands with the fallen brave,
Th'immortal tenants of the trojan plain,
Give double largess. Clytemnestra, here!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Hail to my lord! all hail be to my hero.
O happy day; my second wedding day,
That gives, once more, to these long widow'd arms,
My Agamemnon, glorious and renown'd.

AGAMEMNON.
My Clytemnestra, still in all her charms!
I thought, ten years of anxious care, had blighted
The rosy of thy bloom; but thou art still,
Yea, rather, sweet, in fuller blow of beauty,
Than when we parted.

ARSINOE.
O my royal liege!

AGAMEMNON.
Arsinoe too! How hast thou fared, good nurse?

EGYSTHUS.
(I hang upon the point of agony.)

ARSINOE.
See this, Egysthus.

EGYSTHUS.
Heav'ns!

CLYTEMNESTRA.
Ay, true, my lord.
But sure, Arsinoe, we had time enough.
This gallant youth has claims upon your favour:
We'll take another time to speak of it.
Kneel down, Egysthus, to your royal master.
Now, my dear lord, we'll to the hall together;
Where you shall tell me all the tale of Troy.
Come, come Arsinoe, take Egysthus's arm,
And follow us. I'll serve you all I can.