Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/333

Rh Elec. Give him no leave to speak,

By all the Gods, my brother, nor to spin

His long discourse. When men are plunged in ills,

What gain can one who stands condemned to die

Reap from delay? No, slay him out of hand,

And, having slain him, cast him forth, to find

Fit burial at their hands from whom 'tis meet

That he should have it, far away from view.

Thus only shall I gain a remedy

For all the evils of the years gone by.

Ores. [To .] Go thou within, and quickly.

Now our strife

Is not of words, but for thy life itself.

Ægis. Why dost thou force me in? If this be right,

What need of darkness? Why not slay at once?

Ores. Give thou no orders, but where thou did'st slay

My father, go, that thou too there may'st die.

Ægis. Is it then doomed this house should see the ills

Of Pelops' line, both present and to come?

Ores. Yes, thine: of that, at least, I 'm prophet true.

Ægis. The skill thou boastest came not from thy sire.

Ores. Still thou dost bandy many idle words,

And length'nest out the way. Move on.

Ægis. Lead thou.

Ores. Not so. Thou must go first.

Ægis. Dost think I'll flee?

Ores. Thou must not die the death thou would'st desire;

I needs must make it bitter. Doom like this

Should fall on all who dare transgress the laws.

The doom of death. Then wickedness no more

Would multiply its strength.

Chor. Ο seed of Atreus, after many woes,

Thou hast come forth, thy freedom hardly won,

By this emprise made perfect!