And loves with honest worth to dwell.
Gold-spangled palaces with hands unclean, 750
Forsaking with averted eyes,
To holy Innocence she flies.
The power of wealth, if falsely stamped with praise,
With homage she disdains to recognize,
And to their fated issue all things sways.
[Enter warriors and captives; at last Agamemnon appears, seated on a chariot, with Cassandra at his side; soon after Clytemnestra, accompanied by female attendants, issues from the palace.]
Chorus.
Hail, royal lord! Stormer of Ilion, hail!
Scion of Atreus! How compose my speech,
How due obeisance render thee,
Yet neither overshoot the mark, nor fail
The goal of fitting compliment to reach? 760
For many men, transgressing right, there be
Semblance who place above reality.
To him who groans beneath affliction's smart,
All men have prompt condolence; but the sting
Of feignèd sorrow reaches not the heart.
So men with others' joy rejoicing, bring
Over their visage an enforcèd smile:
But the discerning shepherd knows his flock,
And his unerring glance detects their guile,
Who simulating love, with glozing art 770
And watery kindness fawn, but inly mock.
But thou, O King, (I speak without disguise,)
