Video The Libation Bearers Lines 879 910 de Aeschylus 2025 Lyrics Lyrics

Aeschylus - The Libation Bearers Lines 879 910 Lyrics

(The main doors open; Orestes, sword in hand, is standing over the body of AEGISTHUS, with PYLADES close behind him.)

Orestes:
It's you I want. This one's had enough.

Clytaemnestra:
Gone, my violent one - Aegisthus, very dear.

Orestes:
You love your man? Then lie in the same grave.
You can never be unfaithful to the dead.

(Pulling her towards Aegisthus' body.)

Clytaemnestra:
Wait, my son - no respect for this, my child?
The breast you held, drowsing away the hours,
soft gums tugging the milk that made you grow?

(ORESTES turns to PYLADES.)

Orestes:
What will I do, Pylades? - I dread to kill my mother!

Pylades:
What of the future? What of the Prophet God Apollo,
the Delphic voice, the faith and oaths we swear?
Make all mankind your enemy, not the gods.
Orestes:
O you win me over - good advice.

(Wheeling on Clytaemnestra, thrusting her towards Aegisthus.)

This way-
I want to butcher you - right across his body!
In life you thought he dwarfed my father - Die! -
go down with him forever!
You love this man,
the man you should have loved you hated.

Clytaemnestra:
I gave you life. Let me grow old with you.

Orestes:
What - kill my father, then you'd live with me?

Clytaemnestra:
Destiny had a hand in that, my child.

Orestes:
This too: destiny is handing you your death.

Clytaemnestra:
You have no fear of a mother's curse, my son?
Orestes:
Mother? You flung me to a life of pain.

Clytaemnestra:
Never flung you, placed you in a comrade's house.

Orestes:
-Disgraced me, sold me, a freeborn father's son.

Clytaemnestra:
Oh? then name the price I took for you.

Orestes:
I am ashamed to mention it in public.

Clytaemnestra:
Please, and tell your father's failings, too.

Orestes:
Never judge him - he suffered, you sat here at home.

Clytaemnestra:
It hurts women, being kept from men, my son.

Orestes:
Perhaps... but the man slaves to keep them safe at home.
Clytaemnestra:
-I see murder in your eyes, my child - mother's murder!

Orestes:
You are the murderer, not I - and you will kill yourself.