Michael Davis - The Philosophy of Tragedy (3): Clytemnestra

He had no way to flee or right his destiny- our never-ending, all embracing net, I cast it wide for the royal haul, I coil him round and round in the wealth, the robes of doom, and then I strike him once, twice, and at each stroke he cries in agony- he buckles at the knees and crashes here! ... So he goes down, and the life is bursting out of him great sprays of blood, and the murderous shower wounds me, dyes me black and I, I revel like the Earth when the spring rains come down, the blessed gifts of god, and the new green spear splits the sheath and rips to birth in glory! ... It is right, and more than right. He flooded the vessel of our proud house with misery, with the vintage of the curse and now he drains the dregs. My lord is home at last. -Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, 1401-1423, trans R. Fagles. --- Original YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiyEzRZtxXGU Thumbnail Photo: The Mask of Agamemnon Original writing: williamengels.substack.com Enjoy.