Aeschylus - The Libation Bearers (Lines 860-915) lyrics

The women scatter; a wounded servant of Aegisthus enters. Look, the die is cast, the battle's done. servant: Ai, Ai, all over, master's dead - Aie, a third, last salute. Aegisthus is no more. Rushing at a side door, struggling to work it open. Open up, wrench the bolts on the women's doors. Faster! A strong young arm it takes, but not to save him now, he's finished. What's the use? Look - wake up! No good, I call to the deaf, to sleepers... a waste of breath. Where are you, Clytaemnestra? What are you doing? Leader: Her head is ripe for lopping on the block. She's next, and justice wields the axe. (The door opens, and clytaemnestra comes forth). clytaemnestra: What now? Why this shouting up and down the halls? servant: The dead are cutting down the quick, I tell you! clytaemnestra: Ah, a riddle. I do well at riddles. By cunning we die, precisely as we k**ed. Hand me the man-axe, someone, hurry (The servant dashes out) Now we will see. Win all or lose all, we have come to this - the crisis of our lives. (The main doors open; Orestes, sword in hand, is standing over the body of AEGISTHUS, with PYLADES close behind him). ORESTES: It's you I want. This one's had enough. clytaemnestra: Gone, my violent one - Aegisthus, very dear. Orestes: You love your man? Then lie in the same grave. You can never be unfaithful to the dead. (Pulling her towards Aegisthus' body). clytaemnestra: Wait, my son - no respect for this, my child? The breast you held, drowsing away the hours, soft gums tugging the milk mat made you grow? (ORESTES turns to PYLADES). ORESTES: What will I do, Pylades? - I dread to k** my mother! pyladbs: What of the future? What of the Prophet God Apollo, the Delphic voice, the faith and oaths we swear? Make all mankind your enemy, not the gods. Orestes: O you win me over - good advice. (Wheeling on clytabmnestra, thrusting her towards Aegisthus). This way - I want to butcher you - right across his body! In life you thought he dwarfed my father - Die! -go down with him forever! You love this man, the man you should have loved you hated. clytaemnestra: I gave you life. Let me grow old with you. Orestes: What - k** my father, then you'd live with me? clytaemnestra: Destiny had a hand in mat, my child. Orestes: This too: destiny is handing you your d**h. clytaemnestra: You have no fear of a mother's curse, my son? Orestes: Mother? You flung me to a life of pain. clytaemnestra: Never flung you, placed you in a comrade's house. Orestes: - Disgraced me, sold me, a freeborn father's son. clytaemnestra: Oh? then name the price I took for you. Orestes: I am ashamed to mention it in public. clytaemnestra: Please, and tell your father's failings, too. Orestes: Never judge him - he suffered, you sat here at home. clytaemnestra: It hurts women, being kept from men, my son. Orestes: Perhaps... but the man slaves to keep them safe at home. clytaemnestra: - I see murder in your eyes, my child - mother's murder! Orestes: You are the murderer, not I - and you will k** yourself. clytaemnestra: Watch out - the hounds of a mother's curse will hunt you down. Orestes: But how to escape a father's if I fail? clytaemnestra: I must be spilling live tears on a tomb of stone. Orestes: Yes, my father's destiny - it decrees your d**h. clytaemnestra: Ai - you are the snake I bore - I gave you life! Orestes: Yes!