Episode Ii monologue — Book of illustrations : Ancient Tragedy

_Enter from Palace Clytaemnestra and Attendant_.--_Clyt._ It is Aegisthus' absence that makes you bold enough to appear outside the Palace and disgrace us. I know your reproaches: but it was Justice, not I, that slew your father; what right had he to slay _my_ child, born of my travails, and not some other Argive children, Menelaus's for example, whose the quarrel was? Had Hades a special lust to feed on my children?--_Elec._ This time at least it is not I who begin. I could reply if permitted.--_Clyt._ permits.--_Elec._ You admit the monstrous admission, that you slew your husband--for justice sake? or for the 'coward base' who is your paramour? You well know that the offence for which Artemis demanded the sacrifice was Agamemnon's slaughter of the Sacred Stag, and from his seed therefore the atonement must come which so unwillingly he made. And if not, is your plea blood for blood? then you will be the first to suffer. How can you plead thus while living in open guilt with him who slew your husband? It is a cruel mistress, not a mother, I revile: you charge me with rearing Orestes as minister of vengeance, I would indeed if I had strength! So proclaim me a monster, that will make me a fitting daughter of my mother.--_Cho._ Here is passion rather than care to speak right.--_Clyt._ Thus to show scorn for her mother! she will go all lengths and feel no shame.--_Elec._ Shame I do feel, but the deeds which beget the shame are yours.--_Clyt._ By Artemis, you shall pay for this when Aegisthus comes!--_Elec._ I thought I had leave to speak.--_Clyt._ Will you not be silent and let me perform my rites without disorder?--_Elec._ Now I am silent (_Retires_).--_Clyt._ then proceeds to offer her gifts to Phoebus, with prayer to avert the ill omen of the past night: as her prayer "is not amongst friends," she can allude but darkly to all she means, but He is a God and will understand all she leaves unsaid. {659}