The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus ORESTES Has Just Killed

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The Libation Bearers by Aeschylus ORESTES Has Just Killed

The Libation Bearers By Aeschylus ORESTES ORESTES has just killed AEGISTHUS and enters to face A parent who did cast me out! CLYTEMNESTRA. CLYTEMNESTRA ORESTES Not cast you out, but sent you to a friendly home. You too I seek: for him what's done will serve. ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA I was born free, and then sold. Woe, woe! Aegisthus, husband and champion, killed! CLYTEMNESTRA ORESTES Where then the price that I received for you? What love this man? Then in his grave lie down, ORESTES Be his in death, desert him nevermore! The price of shame. CLYTEMNESTSA CLYTEMNESTRA Wait, child, and fear to strike. O son, this breast held your head often, while, drowsed with sleep, Remember your father's lewdness too. Your toothless mouth drew mother's milk from me. ORESTES ORESTES Do not accuse him who toiled while you remained at Can I my spare mother? Speak, Pylades, home. PYLADES CLYTEMNESTRA Where then would fall the order Apollo gave It's hard for wives to live as widows, child. At Delphi, where the solemn pact was sworn? ORESTES Make enemies of all men, not of the gods. The absent husband toils for them at home. ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA You are right. You seem resolved to kill your mother, child To Clytemnestra. ORESTES Come; I will kill you at his side. With him whom in his life you loved more You will kill yourself, not I. Than Agamemnon. Sleep in death, the reward CLYTEMNESTRA For hating the man you should have loved, and loving Beware your mother's vengeful hounds from hell. where hate was due! ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA How will I escape my father's, if I spare you? I nursed you. Must I give up my old age? CLYTEMNESTRA ORESTES Living, I am unheard. You killed my father; would you live with me? ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA My father's fate marks this doom for you. Fate is to blame for these things, my child! CLYTEMNESTRA ORESTES Ah, me! This snake I bore and nursed. Fate also brings your death. ORESTES CLYTEMNESTRA Shameful was your deed —die the death of shame! Beware, O my child, a parent's dying curse. He leads her offstage. Source: theatrefolk.com/spotlights/the-greek-theatre-part-two.

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