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Rh Still scored and festerous with its ancient wound.

How shall I deem it? Living truth and sound?

Or tales of women, born to terrify,

That wildly leap, and up in mid-air die?

What know ye further? I would have this clear.

We heard the tale; but go within and hear

With thine own ears. A rumoured word hath weak

Force, when the man himself is there to speak.

Hear him I will, and question him beside.

Was this man with Orestes when he died,

Or speaks he too from rumour? If he lies

He cannot cheat a mind that is all eyes.

[He enters the House.

Zeus, Zeus, how shall I speak, and how

Begin to pray thee and beseech?

How shall I ever mate with speech

This longing, and obtain my vow?

The edges of the blades that slay

Creep forth to battle: shall it be

Death, death for all eternity,

On Agamemnon's House this day;

Or sudden a new light of morn,

A beacon fire for freedom won,

The old sweet rule from sire to son,

And golden Argolis reborn?