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196 Elec. How say'st thou? To the man whom most she hates?

Chrys. "The man she slew"—'Tis that thou fain would'st say.

Elec. Who gave this counsel? Who has this approved?

Chrys. 'Tis, as I think, some terror of the night.

Elec. Gods of my fathers! Be ye with me now!

Chrys. And does this terror give thee confidence?

Elec. If thou would'st tell the vision, I should know.

Chrys. I know it not, but just in briefest tale.

Elec. Ah, tell me that; brief words ere now have laid

Men low in dust, and raised them up again.

Chrys. A rumour runs that she our father's presence

(Yes, thine and mine) a second time to light

Saw coming, and he stood upon the hearth,

And took the sceptre which he bore of old,

Which now Ægisthos bears, and fixed it there,

And from it sprang a sucker fresh and strong,

And all Mykenæ rested in its shade.

This tale I heard from some one who was near

When she declared her vision to the Sun;

But more than this I heard not, save that she

Now sends me hither through that fright of hers.

And now by all the Gods of kith and kin,

I pray thee, hearken to me; do not fall

Through lack of counsel; if thou turn'st me back,

In trouble sore thou 'It seek me yet again.

Elec. Ah, sister dear, of what thy hands do bear