My words: they spring from too much love.

_Cly._--And love
Revealed to me their meaning.

_Aegis._--Hast thou not
Thy mind o'erwhelmed with horror?

_Cly_.--Horror? ... yes; ...
But then to part from thee! ...

_Aegis_.--Wouldst have the courage? ...

_Cly_.--So vast my love, it puts an end to fear.

_Aegis_.--But the king lives surrounded by his friends:
What sword would find a passage to his heart?

_Cly_.--What sword?

_Aegis_.--Here open violence were vain.

_Cly_.--Yet, ... treachery! ...

_Aegis_.--'Tis true, he merits not
To be betrayed, Atrides: he who loves
His wife so well; he who, enchained from Troy,
In semblance of a slave in fetters, brought
Cassandra, whom he loves, to whom he is
Himself a slave ...

_Cly_.--What do I hear!

_Aegis_.--Meanwhile
Expect that when of thee his love is wearied,
He will divide with her his throne and bed;
Expect that, to thy many other wrongs,
Shame will be added: and do thou alone
Not be exasperated at a deed
That rouses every Argive.

_Cly_.--What said'st thou? ...
Cassandra chosen as my rival? ...

_Aegis_.--So Atrides wills.

_Cly_.--Then let Atrides perish.

_Aegis_.--How? By what hand?

_Cly_.--By mine, this very night,
Within that bed which he expects to share
With this abhorred slave.

_Aegis_.--O Heavens! but think ...

_Cly_.--I am resolved ...

_Aegis_.--Shouldst thou repent? ...

_Cly_.--I do
That I so long delayed.

_Aegis_.--And yet ...

_Cly_.--I'll do it;
I, e'en if thou wilt not. Shall I let thee,
Who only dost deserve my love, be dragged
To cruel death? And shall I let him live
Who cares not for my love? I swear to thee,
To-morrow thou shalt be the king in Argos.
Nor shall my hand, nor shall my bosom tremble ...
But who approaches?

_Aegis._--'Tis Electra ...

_Cly._--Heavens!
Let us avoid her. Do thou trust in me.

SCENE II

ELECTRA

_Electra_--Aegisthus flies from me, and he does well;
But I behold that likewise from my sight
My mother seeks to fly. Infatuated
And wretched mother! She could not resist
The guilty eagerness for the last time
To see Aegisthus