ELECTRA
Electra
Thou mayst, but ’tis a gruesome spectacle.
Aegisthus
Thou givest me much joy against thy wont.
Electra
I wish thee joy, if here is food for joy.
Aegisthus
Silence! attend! throw open wide the gate,
For all Mycenae, Argos all, to see.
If any heretofore was puffed with hopes
Of this pretender, now he sees him dead,
Let him in time accept my yoke, nor wait
Wisdom by chastisement to learn too late.
Electra
My lesson’s learnt already; time hath taught me
The wisdom of consenting with the strong.
Aegisthus
O Zeus, I look upon this form laid low
By jealousy of Heaven, but if my words
Seem to thee overbold, be they unsaid.
Take from the face the face-cloth; I, as kin,
I too would pay my tribute of lament.
Orestes
Lift it thyself; ’tis not for me but thee
To see and kindly greet what lieth here.
Aegisthus
Well said, so will I. (To Electra.) If she be within
Go call me Clytemnestra, I would see her—
Orestes
She is beside thee; look not otherwhere.
(Aegisthus lifts the face-cloth.)
