Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/283

1400—1423] . How is it?—what do they now?

. She is decking the urn for burial, and those two stand close to her.

. And why hast thou sped forth?

. To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.

(within). Alas! Woe for the house forsaken of friends and filled with murderers!

. a cry goes up within:—hear ye not, friends?

. I heard, ah me, sounds dire to hear, and shuddered!

. (within). O hapless that I am!—Aegisthus, where, where art thou?

. Hark, once more a voice resounds!

. (within). My son, my son, have pity on thy mother!

. Thou hadst none for him, nor for the father that begat him.

. Ill-fated realm and race, now the fate that hath pursued thee day by day is dying,—is dying!

. (within). Oh, I am smitten!

. Smite, if thou canst, once more!

. (within). Ah, woe is me again!

. Would that the woe were for Aegisthus too!

. The curses are at work; the buried live; blood flows for blood, drained from the slayers by those who died of yore.

[Enter and from the house.

Behold, they come! That red hand reeks with sacrifice to Ares; nor can I blame the deed.