Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/161

Rh

How shall I scape my father's, sparing thee?

Living, I cry as to a tomb, unheard.

My father's fate ordains this doom for thee.

Ah me—this snake it was I bore and nursed.

Ay, right prophetic was thy visioned fear.

Shameful thy deed was—die the death of shame.

[Exit, driving Clytemnestra before him.

Lo, even for these I mourn, a double death:

Yet since Orestes, driven on by doom,

Thus crowns the height of murders manifold,

I say, 'tis well—that not in night and death

Should sink the eye and light of this our home.

There came on Priam's race and name

A vengeance; though it tarried long,

With heavy doom it came.

Came, too, on Agamemnon's hall

A lion-pair, twin swordsmen strong.

And last, the heritage doth fall

To him, to whom from Pythian cave