Agamemnon Offspring of Leda, guardian of my house, your speech fits well with my absence; for you have drawn it out to ample length. But becoming praise—this prize should rightly proceed from other lips. For the rest, pamper me not as if I were a woman, nor, like some barbarian, grovel before me with widemouthed acclaim; and do not draw down envy upon my path by strewing it with tapestries. It is the gods we must honor thus; but it is not possible for a mortal to tread upon embroidered fineries without fear. I tell you to revere me not as a god, but as a man. Footmats and embroideries sound diverse in the voice of Rumor; to think no folly is the best gift of the gods. Only when man’s life comes to its end in prosperity dare we pronounce him happy; and if I may act in all things as I do now, I have good confidence.
Clytaemestra Come now, tell me this, in accordance with your mind.
Agamemnon Purpose! Be assured that I shall not corrupt my mind.
Clytaemestra You would in fear have vowed to the gods to act thus.
Agamemnon If someone with full knowledge had pronounced this word.
Clytaemestra What do you suppose that Priam would have done, if he had achieved your triumph?
Agamemnon He would have set foot upon the embroideries, I certainly believe.
Clytaemestra Then do not be be ashamed of mortal reproach.
Agamemnon And yet a people’s voice is a mighty power.
Clytaemestra True, yet he who is unenvied is unenviable.
Agamemnon Surely it is not woman’s part to long for fighting.
Clytaemestra True, but it is right for the happy victor to yield the victory.
Agamemnon What? is this the kind of victory in strife that you prize?
Clytaemestra Oh yield! Yet of your own free will entrust the victory to me.
Agamemnon Well, if you will have your way, quick, let some one loose my sandals, which, slavelike, serve the treading of my foot! As I walk upon these purple vestments may I not be struck from afar by any glance of the gods’ jealous eye. A terrible shame it is for one’s foot to mar the resources of the house by wasting wealth and costly woven work. So much for this. This foreign girl receive into the house with kindness. A god from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master; for no one freely takes the yoke of slavery. But she, the choicest flower of rich treasure, has followed in my train, my army’s gift. Since I have been forced to obey you and must listen to you in this, I will tread upon a purple pathway as I pass to my palace halls.
Clytaemestra There is the sea (and who shall drain it dry?) producing stain of abundant purple, costly as silver and ever fresh, with which to dye our clothes; and of these our house, through the gods, has ample store; it knows no poverty. Vestments enough I would have devoted to be trampled underfoot had it been so ordered in the seat of oracles when I was devising a ransom for your life. For if the root still lives, leaves come again to the house and spread their over-reaching shade against the scorching dog star; so, now that you have come to hearth and home, you show that warmth has come in wintertime; and again, when Zeus makes wine from the bitter grape, then immediately there is coolness in the house when its rightful lord occupies his halls. O Zeus, Zeus, you who bring things to fulfilment, fulfill my prayers! May you see to that which you mean to fulfill!
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