Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/302

204 Clytem. Thou shameless creature! I then, and my words,

And my deeds too, they make thee prate too much.

Elec. Thou sayest it, not I; for thou dost do

The deed: and deeds will find their fitting words.

Clytem. Now by my mistress Artemis, I swear,

For this thy daring thou shalt pay in full

When back Ægisthos comes.

Elec. Now look you there!

Thou'rt swayed by fury, though thou gav'st me leave

To speak whate'er I would, and can'st not learn

To play a listener's part!

Clytem. And wilt thou not

Give leave to do my rites with clamour hushed,

Seeing that I let thee speak thy whole mind out?

Elec. I let thee, bid thee, do them. Charge not thou

My lips with folly. Now, I speak no more

[Retires to the back of the stage.

Clytem. Do thou then, my attendant, bring the gifts

Of many fruits, that I may breathe my prayers

To this our King for respite from the fears

Which now possess me. Hear, Ο Phœbos, Thou

Our true deliverer, hear my secret speech;

For this my prayer is not among my friends,

Nor is it fit to bring it all to light,

While she is near me still, lest in her mood

Of envy, and with cry of many tongues,

She spread the vain report through all the town;

But hear thou me; for thus I make my prayer;

The vision which I looked on in the night

Of doubtful dreams, grant me, Lykeian king,

If they are good, their quick accomplishment;

If adverse, send them on mine adversaries;

Arid if there be that wish, by craft and guile,