Sagamemnon
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng3
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Chorus
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Why then, in the baseness of your soul, did you not kill him yourself, but leave his slaying to a woman,
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a plague to her country and her country’s gods? Oh, does Orestes perhaps still behold the light, that, with favoring fortune, he may come home and be the slayer of this pair with victory complete?
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Aegisthus
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Oh well, since you plan to act and speak like that, you shall be taught a lesson soon.
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On guard, my trusty guardsmen, your work lies close to hand.
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Chorus
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On guard then! Let every one make ready his sword with hand on hilt.
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Aegisthus
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My hand too is laid on my sword hilt, and I do not shrink from death.
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Chorus
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Death for yourself, you say. We hail the omen. We welcome fortune’s test.
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Clytaemestra
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No, my dearest, let us work no further ills. Even these are many to reap, a wretched harvest. Of woe we have enough; let us have no bloodshed. Venerable elders, go back to your homes, and yield in time to destiny before you come to harm. What we did had to be done. But should this trouble prove enough, we will accept it,
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sorely battered as we are by the heavy hand of fate. Such is a woman’s counsel, if any care to learn from it.
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Aegisthus
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But to think that these men should let their wanton tongues thus blossom into speech against me and cast about such insults, putting their fortune to the test! To reject wise counsel and insult their master!
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Chorus
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It would not be like men of Argos to cringe before a man as low as you.
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Aegisthus
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Ha! I will visit you with vengeance yet in days to come.
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Chorus
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Not if fate shall guide Orestes to return home.
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Aegisthus
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From my own experience I know that exiles feed on hope.
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Chorus
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Keep on, grow fat, polluting justice, since you can.
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Aegisthus
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Know that you shall atone to me for your insolent folly.
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Chorus
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Brag in your bravery like a cock beside his hen.
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Clytaemestra
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Do no care for their idle yelpings. I and you will be masters of this house and order it aright.