And I am partner to some such suggestion.

I am for taking some course. No time to dawdle.

5TH OLD MAN.

The case is plain. This is but the beginning.

They are going to set up dictatorship in the state.

6TH OLD MAN.

We are wasting time. The assassins tread to earth

The decencies of delay and give their hands no sleep.

7TH OLD MAN.

I do not know what plan I could hit on to propose.

The man who acts is in the position to plan.

8TH OLD MAN.

So I think, too, for I am at a loss

To raise the dead man up again with words.

9TH OLD MAN.

Then to stretch out our life shall we yield thus

To the rule of these profaners of the house?

10TH OLD MAN.

It is not to be endured. To die is better.

Death is more comfortable than tyranny.

11TH OLD MAN.

And are we on the evidence of groans

Going to give oracle that the prince is dead?

12TH OLD MAN.

We must know the facts for sure and then be angry.

Guesswork is not the same as certain knowledge.

LEADER.

Then all of you back me and approve this plan—

To ascertain how it is with Agamemnon.

[The doors of the palace open, revealing the bodies of AGAMEMNON and CASSANDRA. CLYTEMNESTRA stands above them.]

CLYTEMNESTRA.

Much having been said before to fit the moment,

To say the opposite now will not outface me.

How else could one serving hate upon the hated,

Thought to be friends, hang high the nets of doom

To preclude all leaping out?

For me I have long been training for this match,

I tried a fall and won—a victory overdue.

I stand here where I struck, above my victims;

So I contrived it—this I will not deny—

That he could neither fly nor ward off death;

Inextricable like a net for fishes

I cast about him a vicious wealth of raiment

And struck him twice and with two groans he loosed

His limbs beneath him, and upon him fallen

I deal him the third blow to the God beneath the earth,

To the safe keeper of the dead a votive gift,

And with that he spits his life out where he lies

And smartly spouting blood he sprays me with

The sombre drizzle of bloody dew and I

Rejoice no less than in God’s gift of rain

The crops are glad when the ear of corn gives birth.

These things being so, you, elders of Argos,

Rejoice if rejoice you will. Mine is the glory.

And if I could pay this corpse his due libation

I should be right to pour it and more than right;

With so many horrors this man mixed and filled

The bowl—and, coming home, has drained the draught himself.

LEADER.

Your speech astonishes us. This brazen boast

Above the man who was your king and husband!

CLYTEMNESTRA.