Andromache by Gilbert Murray (free reads txt) π
ORESTES.
[Who had been cooling, starts and threatens her.] What know you of the Dread Watchers?
ANDROMACHE.
And there is little glory in the slaying of a woman, and little gain.
ORESTES.
[Wildly.] What woman? Who are you that taunt me? Priest, is this your witch?
ALCIMEDON.
[Angrily.] She is no witch! You lie, both stranger and priest!
ANDROMACHE.
I am a bondwoman of the King.
ALCIMEDON.
Andromache, once wife of Hector, Prince of Troy.
ORESTES.
And am I to be the guest of a bondwoman?
ANDROMACHE.
There are others of free estate who will take you in. I only sought to save men's lives.
ORESTES.
What worth are men
Read free book Β«Andromache by Gilbert Murray (free reads txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Gilbert Murray
- Performer: -
Read book online Β«Andromache by Gilbert Murray (free reads txt) πΒ». Author - Gilbert Murray
Andromache.
Hold your peace, traitor and coward! If I could bring him back, think you I would stay my voice for you?
Hermione.
O God! And the noise on the wind is nearer and nearer!
Orestes.
[To Hermione.] You did not slay him. Even if he does wake, he will only haunt them that slew him.
Hermione.
He saw them not; he knows them not. He has only seen you and me. [Rapidly.] Oh, in God's name, it is too much! The sound of Their wings is all about me, and if I dared look, I know I should see Their faces. It is more than one woman can bear. If he wakes I shall go mad!
Orestes.
It is done now. We will fly in the ship quickly; he will never follow us over the seas.
Hermione.
[As before.] She will show him the way! Oh, she will have no pity! I have sought so long to slay her. She would not spare me now for all the treasures of Egypt. I knew well I should have no peace till I saw her dead.βOh, woman, woman! bend not over him; whisper to him no more!
Andromache.
I will whisper no more; I will cry aloudβin dead ears, as I have cried all my life! [To Pyrrhus.] O thou who hearest me not, who hast never heard me, I call again to thee, let there at last be peace! If thou hast found thy sleep, oh, cling to it! Never wake nor stir to follow these who murdered thee!
Hermione.
What does she mean? It is all magic. She means that he is to follow us!
Andromache.
The living have never heard me, and the dead cannot hear; but broken and dying men know the words that I speak. Remember the one moment before utter death, when thine eyes were opened to see and thine ears to hear. Remember that, and forget the long waste of days before!
Hermione.
She bids him remember!βHe will awake. I can feel that he will wake and follow us!
Andromache.
By the bitter hate wherewith once I hated thee; by the blood in the streets of Troy and the death-cry of Hector's child; by the love wherewith I have loved thee in spite of allβ[the body moves]βand love thee stillββ
Hermione.
[With a shriek.] O God! He is waking! [Grovelling in terror and hiding her eyes.] Oh, smite off his feet that he shall not pursue, and his hands that he may never lay hold of me!
Andromache.
Before thy soul is fled far away, hearken to me and put away thine hatred.
Hermione.
[As before.] Smite off his hands and his feet!
Orestes.
She is not crying him to waken. She is bidding him rest in peace and not harm us.
Hermione.
It cannot be that; it cannot. I have hated her too sore. It is all witchwork or else madness.
[She looks up and sees the sword; suddenly clutches it and moves towards Andromache.
Andromache.
And afterward go and seek Hector, and he will tell thee more, for he was wiser and greater than other men. And some day this woman, too, will be broken and dying; and then she will see what thou and I have seen, and will know what mercy is. [Hermione stabs her.] Ah!
[Andromache falls over the body of Pyrrhus. Orestes starts forward and grasps Hermione.
Orestes.
[To the men holding Molossus.] Hold this wild beast! Let the boy free.
[Orestes and Molossus bend together over the body of Andromache. The men-at-arms seize Hermione.
Molossus.
Mother, speak!βIs she dead?
Orestes.
No, but there is death in her face.
Molossus.
Mother, mother, speak!
Orestes.
[Standing up.] We know what she would sayββ Young King of Phthia, I never sought to slay your father; and for this woman, I would give all my wealth to have her alive again.βBut I will make atonement: take all my goldβ[takes off his chain, and throws it at Molossus' feet. Molossus stands silent]βand this dagger likewise. There is a bright stone in the hilt that keeps off the venom of snakes. [Molossus is still silent.] And my cloak was woven by women of Sidon. [Throws down the cloak.
Molossus.
[In a struggling sullen voice.] It was not you that slew her.
Orestes.
Is it the woman? There is your sword. [Picks it up and gives it him. To the men holding Hermione.] Hold back her arms, men, that the King may slay her as he will!
[The men bring forward Hermione, dazed and stupefied; they hold her so that either breast or throat may receive the sword.
Molossus.
Oh, take her away, or I will verily slay her! Let her never set foot upon this land again.
Orestes.
Begone with her to the ship! [The men move off with her.
Hermione.
[Suddenly struggling.] I will not go! Let me free! I will stay and he shall slay me! [The men drag her off.
Orestes.
And for mine own atonement. [He looks round.] Men, get you gone!βIf you would have more, here is my sword; and here is my shield, and my helmet. [He lays the arms one by one at Molossus' feet.]βMy men are all gone. The rest is for you to take.
Molossus.
[Looking at Andromache.] I will take no more. I will have peace. [Kneels down, bending over the body.
Orestes.
Peace let it be!βHer face seems strangely joyful.
Molossus.
I never saw her looking so full of happiness.
Andromache.
[Half raising herself, with a radiant smile.] Hector! Hector!
the end.
London & Edinburgh
Transcriber's Note
Original spelling and punctuation has been retained.
***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDROMACHE***
******* This file should be named 38909-h.txt or 38909-h.zip *******
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/9/0/38909
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed.
Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
http://www.gutenberg.org/license).
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic
Comments (0)