y_.--Stay, stay... Thou shalt not die.

_Aegis_.--By no man's hand
Assuredly, except my own:--or thine,
If so thou wilt. Ah, perpetrate the deed;
Kill me; and drag me, palpitating yet,
Before thy judge austere: my blood will be
A proud acquittance for thee.

_Cly._--Madd'ning thought!...
Wretch that I am!... Shall I be thy assassin?...

_Aegis._--Shame on thy hand, that cannot either kill
Who most adores thee, or who most detests thee!
Mine then must serve....

_Cly._--Ah!... no....

_Aegis._--Dost thou desire
Me, or Atrides, dead?

_Cly._--Ah! what a choice!...

_Aegis._--Thou art compelled to choose.

_Cly._--I death inflict ...

_Aegis._--Or death receive; when thou hast witnessed mine.

_Cly._--Ah, then the crime is too inevitable!

_Aegis._--The time now presses.

_Cly._--But ... the courage ... strength? ...

_Aegis._--Strength, courage, all, will love impart to thee.

_Cly._--Must I then with this trembling hand of mine
Plunge ... in my husband's heart ... the sword? ...

_Aegis_.--The blows
Thou wilt redouble with a steady hand
In the hard heart of him who slew thy daughter.

_Cly._--Far from my hand I hurled the sword in anguish.

_Aegis_.--Behold a steel, and of another temper:
The clotted blood-drops of Thyestes's sons
Still stiffen on its frame: do not delay
To furbish it once more in the vile blood
Of Atreus; go, be quick: there now remain
But a few moments; go. If awkwardly
The blow thou aimest, or if thou shouldst be
Again repentant, lady, ere 'tis struck,
Do not thou any more tow'rd these apartments
Thy footsteps turn: by my own hands destroyed,
Here wouldst thou find me in a sea of blood
Immersed. Now go, and tremble not; be bold.
Enter and save us by his death.--

SCENE III

AEGISTHUS

_Aegis_. Come forth,
Thyestes, from profound Avernus; come,
Now is the time; within this palace now
Display thy dreadful shade. A copious banquet
Of blood is now prepared for thee, enjoy it;
Already o'er the heart of thy foe's son
Hangs the suspended sword; now, now, he feels it:
An impious consort grasps it; it was fitting
That she, not I, did this: so much more sweet
To thee will be