Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/140

70 The threads combining of the fatal plot.

Now for myself 'twere glorious to die,

Seeing this man entrapped in Justice' toils.

To honour insolence in guilt, Ægisthos,

I know not;—that with purpose thou didst kill

This man, thou boastest; of his piteous doom

Sole author thou:—I tell thee thine own head

To Justice brought, be sure shall not escape

The curse of stoning by the people's hand.

Plying the lowest oar, dost menace us

Who from the upper benches sway the helm?

Being old thou know'st how bitter at thy years

Wisdom by stern necessity to learn.

But bonds and hunger-pangs, to cure the mind

Of stubborn eld, are skilful leeches found.

Hast eyes, yet seest not this? Against the pricks

Kick not, lest stumbling, thou shouldst come to grief.

Woman, house-mate to him from recent war

Return'd,—defiler of thy husband's bed,

Death thou didst plot against this warrior chief.

These words will fountains be of bitter tears.

Thy tongue the opposite to Orpheus is;

For he drew all by rapture of his voice,