est for me to 'scape by death,
By self-inflicted death, this dangerous inquest.
I save my honor thus; and free myself
From an opprobrious end. I hither came
To give thee my last warning: and to take
My last farewell... Oh, live; and may thy fame
Live with thee, unimpeached! All thoughts of pity
For me now lay aside; if I'm allowed
By my own hand, for thy sake, to expire,
I am supremely blest.

_Cly_.--Alas!... Aegisthus...
What a tumultuous passion rages now
Within my bosom, when I hear thee speak!...
And is it true?... Thy death...

_Aegis._--Is more than certain....

_Cly_.--And I'm thy murderer!...

_Aegis_.--I seek thy safety.

_Cly_.--What wicked fury from Avernus' shore,
Aegisthus, guides thy steps? Oh, I had died
Of grief, if I had never seen thee more;
But guiltless I had died: spite of myself,
Now, by thy presence, I already am
Again impelled to this tremendous crime...
An anguish, an unutterable anguish,
Invades my bones, invades my every fibre...
And can it be that this alone can save thee?...
But who revealed our love?

_Aegis._--To speak of thee,
Who but Electra to her father dare?
Who to the monarch breathe thy name but she?
Thy impious daughter in thy bosom thrusts
The fatal sword; and ere she takes thy life,
Would rob thee of thy honor.

_Cly_.--And ought I
This to believe?... Alas!...

_Aegis_.--Believe it, then,
On the authority of this my sword,
If thou believ'st it not on mine. At least
I'll die in time...

_Cly_.--O Heavens! what wouldst thou do?
Sheathe, I command thee, sheathe that fatal sword.--Oh,
night of horrors!... hear me... Perhaps Atrides
Has not resolved...

_Aegis._--What boots this hesitation?...
Atrides injured, and Atrides king,
Meditates nothing in his haughty mind
But blood and vengeance. Certain is my death,
Thine is uncertain: but reflect, O queen,
To what thou'rt destined, if he spare thy life.
And were I seen to enter here alone,
And at so late an hour... Alas, what fears
Harrow my bosom when I think of thee!
Soon will the dawn of day deliver thee
From racking doubt; that dawn I ne'er shall see:
I am resolved to die:...--Farewell... forever!

_Cl