The House of Atreus Part 21

Bids she bring henchmen, or to come alone?

KlLISSA

She bids him bring a spear-armed body-guard.

CHORUS

Nay, tell not that unto our loathed lord, But speed to him, put on the mien of joy, Say, _Come along, fear nought, the news is good:_ A bearer can tell straight a twisted tale.

KILISSA

Does then thy mind in this new tale find joy?

CHORUS

What if Zeus bid our ill wind veer to fair?

KILISSA

And how? the home's hope with Orestes dies.

CHORUS

Not yet-a seer, though feeble, this might see.

KILISSA

What say'st thou? Know'st thou aught, this tale belying?

CHORUS

Go, tell the news to him, perform thine hest,-- What the G.o.ds will, themselves can well provide.

KILISSA

Well, I will go, herein obeying thee; And luck fall fair, with favour sent from heaven.

[_Exit._

CHORUS

Zeus, sire of them who on Olympus dwell, Hear thou, O hear my prayer!

Grant to my rightful lords to prosper well Even as their zeal is fair!

For right, for right goes up aloud my cry-- Zeus, aid him, stand anigh!

Into his father's hall he goes To smite his father's foes.

Bid him prevail! by thee on throne of triumph set, Twice, yea and thrice with joy shall he acquit the debt.

Bethink thee, the young steed, the orphan foal Of sire beloved by thee, unto the car Of doom is harnessed fast.

Guide him aright, plant firm a lasting goal, Speed thou his pace,--O that no chance may mar The homeward course, the last!

And ye who dwell within the inner chamber Where shines the stored joy of gold-- G.o.ds of one heart, O hear ye, and remember; Up and avenge the blood shed forth of old, With sudden rightful blow; Then let the old curse die, nor be renewed With progeny of blood,-- Once more, and not again, be latter guilt laid low!

O thou who dwell'st in Delphi's mighty cave, Grant us to see this home once more restored Unto its rightful lord!

Let it look forth, from veils of death, with joyous eye Unto the dawning light of liberty; And Hermes, Maia's child, lend hand to save, Willing the right, and guide Our state with Fortune's breeze adown the favouring tide.

Whate'er in darkness hidden lies,

He utters at his will; He at his will throws darkness on our eye By night and eke by day inscrutable.

Then, then shall wealth atone The ills that here were done.

Then, then will we unbind, Fling free on wafting wind Of joy, the woman's voice that waileth now In piercing accents for a chief laid low; And this our song shall be-- _Hail to the commonwealth restored!

Hail to the freedom won to me!

All hail! for doom hath pa.s.sed from him, my well-- loved lord!_

And thou, O child, when Time and Chance agree, Up to the deed that for thy sire is done!

And if she wail unto thee, _Spare, O son_-- Cry, _Aid, O father_--and achieve the deed, The horror of man's tongue, the G.o.ds' great need!

Hold in thy breast such heart as Perseus had, The bitter woe work forth, Appease the summons of the dead, The wrath of friends on earth; Yea, set within a sign of blood and doom, And do to utter death him that pollutes thy home.

[_Enter Aegisthus_.

AEGISTHUS

Hither and not unsummoned have I come; For a new rumour, borne by stranger men Arriving hither, hath attained mine ears, Of hap unwished-for, even Orestes' death.

This were new sorrow, a blood-bolter'd load Laid on the house that doth already bow Beneath a former wound that festers deep.

Dare I opine these words have truth and life?

Or are they tales, of woman's terror born, That fly in the void air, and die disproved?

Canst thou tell aught, and prove it to my soul?

CHORUS

What we have heard, we heard; go thou within Thvself to ask the strangers of their tale.

Strengthless are tidings, thro' another heard; Question is his, to whom the tale is brought.

AEGISTHUS

I too will meet and test the messenger, Whether himself stood witness of the death, Or tells it merely from dim rumour learnt: None shall cheat me, whose soul hath watchful eyes.

[_Exit._

CHORUS

Zeus, Zeus! what word to me is given?

What cry or prayer, invoking heaven, Shall first by me be uttered?

What speech of craft? nor all revealing, Nor all too warily concealing?

Ending my speech, shall aid the deed?

For lo! in readiness is laid The dark emprise, the rending blade; Blood-dropping daggers shall achieve The dateless doom of Atreus' name, Or? kindling torch and joyful flame In sign of new-won liberty?

Once more Orestes shall retrieve His father's wealth, and, throned on high, Shall hold the city's fealty.

So mighty is the grasp whereby, Heaven-holpen, he shall trip and throw, Unseconded, a double foe Ho for the victory!