Modern Italian Poets - Essays and Versions by William Dean Howells
page 80 of 358 (22%)
page 80 of 358 (22%)
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Out on thee for a parricidal wife.
Show thyself not as yet, or thou incurrest Great peril. 'T was for this I came. In thee A mother's agony appeared, to see Thy children dragged to death, and thou hast now Atoned for thy misdeed. My brother sends me To comfort thee, to succor and to hide thee From dreadful sights. To find Aegisthus out, All armed meanwhile, he and his Pylades Search everywhere. Where is the wicked wretch? _Cly._ Orestes is the wicked wretch! _El_. O Heaven! _Cly._ I go to save him or to perish with him. _El._ Nay, mother, thou shalt never go. Thou ravest-- _Cly._ The penalty is mine. I go-- _El._ O mother! The monster that but now thy children doomed To death, wouldst thou-- _Cly._ Yes, I would save him--I! Out of my path! My terrible destiny I must obey. He is my husband. All Too dear he cost me. I will not, can not lose him. You I abhor, traitors, not children to me! |
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