Studies from the Antique

KLYTEMNESTRA.

I.

Daughter of gods and men, great ruling will,

Seething in oily rage within the sphere

Which gods and men assign the woman here,

Till, stricken where the wound approved thee still

Mother and mortal, all the tide of ill

Rushed through the gap, and nothing more seemed dear

But power to wreck high ruin, nothing clear

But the long dream you waited to fulfil.

Mother and spouse, — queen of the king of men, —

What fury brought Ægysthus to thy side? —

That bearded semblant, man to outward ken,

But else mere mawworm, made to fret man's pride;

Woman, thy foot was on thy tyrant then!

Mother, thou wert avenged for love defied!