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THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

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224 Aeschylus [1650-1671]<br />

LEADER<br />

Up to action, O my comrades! for the fight is hard at hand.<br />

Swift, your right hands to the sword hilt! bare the weapon as for strife—<br />

AEGISTHUS<br />

Lol I too am standing ready, hand on hilt for death or life.<br />

LEADER<br />

'Twas thy word and we accept it: onward to the chance of war!<br />

CLYTEMNESTRA<br />

Nay, enough, enough, my champion! we will smite and slay no more.<br />

Already have we reaped enough the harvest-field of guilt:<br />

Enough of wrong and murder, let no other blood be spilt.<br />

Peace, old men! and pass away unto the homes by Fate decreed,<br />

Lest ill valour meet our vengeance—'twas a necessary deed.<br />

But enough of toils and troubles—be the end, if ever, now,<br />

Ere thy talon, 0 Avenger, deal another deadly blow.<br />

Tis a woman's word of warning, and let who will list thereto.<br />

AEGISTHUS<br />

But that these should loose and lavish reckless blossoms of the tongue,<br />

And in hazard of their fortune cast upon me words of wrong,<br />

And forget the law of subjects, and revile their ruler's word—<br />

LEADER<br />

Ruler? but 'tis not for Argives, thus to own a dastard lord!<br />

AEGISTHUS<br />

I will follow to chastise thee in my coming days of sway.<br />

LEADER<br />

Not if Fortune guide Orestes safely on his homeward way.<br />

AEGISTHUS<br />

Ah, well I know how exiles feed on hopes of their return.<br />

LEADER<br />

Fare and batten on pollution of the right, while 'tis thy turn.<br />

AEGISTHUS<br />

Thou shalt pay, be well assured, heavy quittance for thy pride.<br />

LEADER<br />

Crow and strut, with her to watch thee, like a cock, his mate beside!

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