Agamemnon
Well, if you will have your way,
[945]
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.
[950] 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, [955] 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
[960]
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
[965]
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;
[970]
and again, when Zeus makes wine from the bitter grape,1then immediately there is coolness in the house when its rightful lord occupies his halls.As Agamemnon enters the palace O Zeus, Zeus, you who bring things to fulfilment, fulfill my prayers! May you see to that which you mean to fulfill!Exit
