by Edna O'Brien
CLYTEMNESTRA Death is a fearful thing.
Iphigenia kisses her mother.
Agamemnon stands like someone in a trance.
AGAMEMNON There will be much adornment … she will be bathed in yellow oils, the tawny mountain honey will anoint her body … she shall rest upon the cenotaph; laurels, roses, and hyacinths all around her.
CLYTEMNESTRA The man has gone mad. He speaks as if it is a wedding feast.
IPHIGENIA O, poor Father. O, poor King.
CLYTEMNESTRA Man of stone.
AGAMEMNON In death I shall hold you dearer than in life.
Agamemnon embraces her.
Over that embrace the death ritual commences.
Menelaus takes a sword. Clytemnestra runs to grab it from him and risks her own hand to seize it. They fight over it.
MENELAUS Seize her.
Two men lift Clytemnestra up and pull her backward as she screams. One puts his hand across her mouth to muzzle her.
MENELAUS Discord between brothers must never be allowed to fester, we are our mother’s sons. She too presides above the altar of Artemis, wishing us godspeed to Ilium.
Iphigenia is raised up and carried offstage toward the altar.
Agamemnon follows.
AGAMEMNON Even now this heart breaks.
Menelaus gives Agamemnon the sword.
Death shrieks—all female.
The blood begins to drip.
That sound held for a moment.
A breeze gusts along the stage, raising the trampled feathers from Scene Two.
The men let go of Clytemnestra.
The death shrieks and music continue.
WITCH Fortunes now attained … the glittering seat of Atreus awash with victory.
PRAYING GIRL (coming out) The blood from her gashed throat matted the curls of her hair.
MENELAUS (coming out) Wise men ride their luck; they seize the chance to be great, to win fame and honor.
As he climbs the ladder he shouts triumphantly to the men.
MENELAUS (cont.) Hoist the sales … let the trumpets blare.
Agamemnon returns, a Girl pouring water over his bloodied hands. When they are washed he smells them and goes to Clytemnestra.
AGAMEMNON Noble Queen.
Clytemnestra stands with a cold, still loathing.
CLYTEMNESTRA Killed for a charm against the Thracian winds.
AGAMEMNON Will you not kiss a king goodbye. (pause) A husband then … Farewell. It will be long before I address you again.
Agamemnon climbs the ladder—she does not watch.
Clytemnestra stands utterly still.
Sixth Girl wearing a veil stands a little away from her as if to ask her something.
GIRL ONE There is no one left for her here.
CLYTEMNESTRA She may follow us. Her cunning will serve some purpose.
Sixth Girl lifts the veil, bows and goes off.
Bloodied rain starts to fall and Clytemnestra is drenched in it.
The Young Girls rise vivified, climb on to the ladders, speaking the prophecy of the fate to come.
(The lines are broken up and can be given as desired.)
YOUNG GIRLS
What all men fear.
Gold and silver brought back in the Aegean ships.
The captive women of Troy.
Cassandra, daughter of Priam, Virgin of Apollo, chosen by
Lord Agamemnon to be his concubine.
In contempt of the gods and all pious feeling.
Brought back to the House of Atreus.
You will greet your war-torn husband with every appearance of delight.
Unroll the purple carpet.
Lead him to the bathhouse.
When he steps out of the bath, eager for banquet, you will come forward …
As if to wrap a towel about him but instead …
It is a net …
Entangled in it like a fish, Agamemnon will perish at the hands of Aegisthus, son of Thysetes and corruptor of your marriage bed.
The broad blade driven in to Agamemnon’s garlanded throat.
He falls on the silver-sided bath, his brain awhirl, in death convulsion, his eyes staring in disbelief at you, at you his queen.
Will add her hand to the hand of Aegisthus and drive the blade clean home into your king’s breast, exacting the full price …
On the thirteenth day of Gamelian.
Not troubling to close his eyeballs and wiping the blood off your hands, you will return to the feast, unafraid of divine retribution.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Sweeter to me your words
Than heaven’s raindrops
When the cornland buds.
Darkness.