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I know not why I am so wild now, and anger you.--When she is near, it makes me wild and cruel; but now, I know not why this should come over me.
ORESTES.
Great Zeus! if it should be true!--Andromache, Andromache, speak and answer her.
HERMIONE.
Is she here? [ANDROMACHE _comes out from the trees by the altar_.]
Averter of Evil, what is that?
ANDROMACHE.
I am but your handmaid, I have done you no hurt.
HERMIONE.
Nay, now you can see it--the thing I dared not say!
ORESTES.
What is it?
HERMIONE.
She is no live woman! See! she is dead and sucks the blood of the living. Why is she not afraid, like a live woman?
ORESTES.
[_Troubled._] She is deathly white. Why she has no fear I know not.
ANDROMACHE.
What can I answer? The King might slay me, but not this man.
ORESTES.
It was the same but now, when I held death over her.
HERMIONE.
She has pa.s.sed through death! She has no fear, no anger, as the living have. Why does she never ask for anything? [_Almost beside herself with terror._] Faugh! the smell of death clings about all her garments! Kill her, kill her! [ORESTES _looks at_ HERMIONE _with a shudder_. HERMIONE, _breaking down, continues_.] Oh, friend, friend, I was not like this in Sparta.
ANDROMACHE.
Queen, I know my heart is with the dead of Troy. Why should that anger you?
ORESTES.
[_Looking at_ HERMIONE.] In very truth there is a shadow come over you.
You seem to be shrunken, and scarce so wondrous beautiful.
HERMIONE.
[_In a weary frightened voice._] Kill her, kill her!
ORESTES.
I know not----
HERMIONE.
You have eyes. Can you not see there is a fiend working in me?
ANDROMACHE.
There is no fiend. Queen, Queen, why are you so full of hate?
HERMIONE.
'Tis your spells have done it! Before I came here I never hated any one.
ORESTES.
[_To_ ANDROMACHE.] Know you not any cause why she should hate you?
ANDROMACHE.
Nay, stranger, why _do_ men hate?
HERMIONE.
She has made me feel that I am vile. Slay her, or I go back to the King.
ORESTES.
Pyrrhus most like is dead. If I do slay her will you come away with me?
HERMIONE.
Away? To the s.h.i.+p? Yes; till we come back and take the kingdom!
ORESTES.
I will not take your kingdom!
HERMIONE.
Is it the boy you fear to slay?
