they were. Speak to him daily of the virtues of his father, and sometimes also tell him of his mother. But let him not think, Cephisa, of avenging us. We leave him a master whom he must consider. Let him have of his ancestors a sober recollection. He is of the blood of Hector, he is all that remains of him; and for that remnant I myself in one day have sacrificed blood and life, my hatred and my love.Out attention is now recalled to Hermione, who receives with a terrible calm of passion which her attendant cannot understand, the news of this renewed alteration in Pyrrhus. She will say nothing to Cleone, but sends for Orestes, whom she interrupts in his eager delight at the summons.HERMIONE: Prince, I would know if you love me?ORESTES: If I love you? O Heaven! My oaths, my perjuries, my flight, my return to you, my respect, my reproaches, my despair, my eyes drowned in tears--what witnesses will you believe if you believe not these?HERMIONE: Avenge me; I believe everything.ORESTES: Be it so. Let us see once more Greece on flame. Let us take, you the place of Helen, I of Agamemnon, making famous my arm and your name. Awake once more in the land the miseries of Troy, and let us be famed like our fathers. Let us go. I am ready.HERMIONE: No, prince, remain. I would not carry such insults so far. What! to crown the insolence of my enemies, shall I await elsewhere a tardy revenge? Shall I trust to the fate of battles which perhaps in the end may not avenge me? I will have all Epirus weep my departure. But if you avenge me, it must be in an hour. Your delays are to me as refusals. Hasten to the temple. There you must sacrifice--ORESTES: Whom?HERMIONE: Pyrrhus.ORESTES: Pyrrhus, lady?HERMIONE: Ah! your hate wavers. Fly, and fear not that I will call you back.Orestes is glad of an opportunity to avenge himself on Pyrrhus, but would prefer to take his vengeance openly. "Let us be his enemies, not his assassins," he says. He fears to sully his own ...
