Eksodos
AIGISTHOS.
O light propitious of day justice-bringing!
I may say truly, now, that men’s avengers,
The gods from high, of earth behold the sorrows —
Seeing, as I have, i’ the spun robes of the Erinues,
1580
This man here lying, — sight to me how pleasant! —
His father’s hands’ contrivances repaying.
For Atreus, this land’s lord, of this man father,
Thuestes, my own father — to speak clearly —
His brother too, — being i’ the rule contested, —
1585
Drove forth to exile from both town and household:
And, coming back, to the hearth turned, a suppliant,
Wretched Thuestes found the fate assured him
— Not to die, bloodying his paternal threshold
Just there: but host-wise this man’s impious father
1590
Atreus, soul-keenly more than kindly, — seeming
To joyous hold a flesh-day, — to my father
Served up a meal, the flesh of his own children.
The feet indeed and the hands’ top divisions
He hid, high up and isolated sitting:
1595
But, their unshowing parts in ignorance taking,
He forthwith eats food — as thou seest — perdition
To the race: and then, ’ware of the deed ill-omened,
He shrieked O! — falls back, vomiting, from the carnage,
And fate on the Pelopidai past bearing
1600
He prays down — putting in his curse together
The kicking down o’ the feast — that so might perish
The race of Pleisthenes entire: and thence is
That it is given thee to see this man prostrate.
And I was rightly of this slaughter stitch-man:
Since me, — being third from ten, — with my poor father
1605
He drives out — being then a babe in swathe-bands:
But, grown up, back again has justice brought me:
And of this man I got hold — being without-doors —
Fitting together the whole scheme of ill-will.
So, sweet, in fine, even to die were to me,
1610
Seeing, as I have, this man i’ the toils of justice!
CHOROS.
Aigisthos, arrogance in ills I love not.
Dost thou say — willing, thou didst kill the man here,
And, alone, plot this lamentable slaughter?
I say — thy head in justice will escape not
1615
The people’s throwing — know that! — stones and curses!
AIGISTHOS.
Thou such things soundest — seated at the lower
Oarage to those who rule at the ship’s mid-bench?
Thou shalt know, being old, how heavy is teaching
To one of the like age — bidden be modest!
1620
But chains and old age and the pangs of fasting
Stand out before all else in teaching, — prophets
At souls’-cure! Dost not, seeing aught, see this too?
Against goads kick not, lest tript-up thou suffer!
CHOROS.
Woman, thou, — of him coming new from battle
1625
Houseguard — thy husband’s bed the while disgracing, —
For the Army-leader didst thou plan this fate too?
AIGISTHOS.
These words too are of groans the prime-begetters!
Truly a tongue opposed to Orpheus hast thou:
Foi he led all things by his voice’s grace-charm,
1630
But thou, upstirring them by these wild yelpings,
Wilt lead them! Forced, thou wilt appear the tamer!
CHOROS.
So — thou shalt be my king then of the Argeians —
Who, not when for this man his fate thou plannedst,
Daredst to do this deed — thyself the slayer!
1635
AIGISTHOS.
For, to deceive him was the wife’s part, certes:
I was looked after — foe, ay, old-begotten!
But out of this man’s wealth will I endeavour
To rule the citizens: and the no-man-minder
— Him will I heavily yoke — by no means trace-horse,
1640
A corned-up colt! but that bad friend in darkness,
Famine its housemate, shall behold him gentle.
CHOROS.
Why then, this man here, from a coward spirit,
Didst not thou slay thyself? But, — helped, — a woman,
The country’s pest, and that of gods o’ the country,
1645
Killed him! Orestes, where may he see light now?
That coming hither back, with gracious fortune,
Of both these he may be the all-conquering slayer?
AIGISTHOS.
But since this to do thou thinkest — and not talk — thou soon shalt know!
Up then, comrades dear! the proper thing to do—not distant this!
1650
CHOROS
Up then! hilt in hold, his sword let everyone aright dispose!
AIGISTHOS.
Ay, but I myself too, hilt in hold, do not refuse to die.
CHOROS.
Thou wilt die, thou say’st, to who accept it. We the chance demand.
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Nowise, O belovedest of men, may we do other ills!
To have reaped away these, even, is a harvest much to me.
1655
Go, both thou and these the old men, to the homes appointed each,
Ere ye suffer! It behoved one do these things just as we did:
And if of these troubles there should be enough — we may assent
— By the Daimon’s heavy heel unfortunately stricken ones!
So a woman’s counsel hath it — if one judge it learning-worth.
1660
AIGISTHOS.
But to think that these at me the idle tongue should thus o’erbloom,
And throw out such words — the Daimon’s power experimenting on —
And, of modest knowledge missing, — me, the ruler, . . .
CHOROS.
Ne’er may this befall Argeians — wicked man to fawn before!
1665
AIGISTHOS.
Anyhow, in after days, will I, yes, I, be at thee yet!
CHOROS.
Not if hither should the Daimon make Orestes straightway come!
AIGISTHOS.
O, I know, myself, that fugitives on hopes are pasture-fed!
CHOROS.
Do thy deed, get fat, defiling justice, since the power is thine!
AIGISTHOS.
Know that thou shalt give me satisfaction for this folly’s sake!
1670
CHOROS.
Boast on, bearing thee audacious, like a cock his females by!
KLUTAIMNESTRA.
Have not thou respect for these same idle yelpings! I and thou
Will arrange it, o’er this household ruling excellently well.