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from that。 Now have done with this long discourse； these insatiate
cries of joy； and pass within； for in such deeds delay is evil； and
'tis well to make an end。
ORESTES
What； then； will be my prospects when I enter？
PAEDAGOGUS
Good； for thou art secured from recognition。
ORESTES
Thou hast reported me； I presume； as dead？
PAEDAGOGUS
Know that here thou art numbered with the shades。
ORESTES
Do they rejoice； then； at these tidings？ Or what say they？
PAEDAGOGUS
I will tell thee at the end； meanwhile； all is well for us on
their party…even that which is not well。
ELECTRA
Who is this； brother？ I pray thee； tell me。
ORESTES
Dost thou not perceive？
ELECTRA
I cannot guess。
ORESTES
Knowest thou not the man to whose hands thou gavest me once？
ELECTRA
What man？ How sayest thou？
ORESTES
By whose hands； through thy forethought； I was secretly conveyed
forth to Phocian soil。
ELECTRA
Is this he in whom； alone of many； I found a true ally of old；
when our sire was slain？
ORESTES
'Tis he； question me no further。
ELECTRA
O joyous day！ O sole preserver of Agamemnon's house； how hast thou
come？ Art thou he indeed； who didst save my brother and myself from
many sorrows？ O dearest hands； O messenger whose feet were kindly
servants！ How couldst thou be with me so long； and remain unknown； nor
give a ray of light； but afflict me by fables； while possessed of
truths most sweet？ Hail； father；… for 'tis a father that I seem to
behold！ All hail；… and know that I have hated thee； and loved thee； in
one day； as never man before！
PAEDAGOGUS
Enough； methinks； as for the story of the past； many are the
circling nights； and days as many； which shall show it thee；
Electra； in its fulness。 （To ORESTES and PYLADES） But this is my
counsel to you twain； who stand there… now is the time to act； now
Clytemnestra is alone；… no man is now within： but； if ye pause；
consider that ye will have to fight； not with the inmates alone； but
with other foes more numerous and better skilled。
ORESTES
Pylades； this our task seems no longer to crave many words； but
rather that we should enter the house forthwith；… first adoring the
shrines of my father's gods； who keep these gates。
（ORESTES and PYLADES enter the Palace；
followed by the PAEDAGOGUS。… ELECTRA remains outside。）
ELECTRA
O King Apollo！ graciously hear them； and hear me besides； who so
oft have come before thine altar with such gifts as my devout hand
could bring！ And now； O Lycean Apollo； with such vows as I can make； I
pray thee； I supplicate； I implore； grant us thy benignant aid in
these designs； and show men how impiety is rewarded by the gods！
（ELECTRA enters the palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
Behold how Ares moves onward； breathing deadly vengeance；
against which none may strive！
Even now the pursuers of dark guilt have passed beneath yon
roof； the hounds which none may flee。 Therefore the vision of my
soul shall not long tarry in suspense。
The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered with stealthy feet
into the house； the ancestral palace of his sire； bearing keen…edged
death in his hands； and Hermes； son of Maia； who hath shrouded the
guile in darkness； leads him forward； even to the end； and delays no
more。
（ELECTRA enters from the palace。）
ELECTRA
strophe
Ah； dearest friends； in a moment the men will do the deed；… but
wait in silence。
CHORUS
How is it？… what do they now？
ELECTRA
She is decking the urn for burial； and those two stand close to
her
CHORUS
And why hast thou sped forth？
ELECTRA
To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware。
CLYTEMNESTRA （within）
Alas！ Woe for the house forsaken of friends and filled with
murderers！
ELECTRA
A cry goes up within：… hear ye not； friends？
CHORUS
I heard； ah me； sounds dire to hear； and shuddered！
CLYTEMNESTRA （within）
O hapless that I am！… Aegisthus； where； where art thou？
ELECTRA
Hark； once more a voice resounds I
CLYTEMNESTRA （within）
My son； my son； have pity on thy mother！
ELECTRA
Thou hadst none for him； nor for the father that begat him。
CHORUS
Ill…fated realm and race； now the fate that hath pursued thee
day by day is dying；… is dying！
CLYTEMNESTRA （within）
Oh； I am smitten！
ELECTRA
Smite； if thou canst； once more！
CLYTEMNESTRA （within）
Ah； woe is me again！
ELECTRA
Would that the woe were for Aegisthus too！
CHORUS
The curses are at work； the buried live； blood flows for blood；
drained from the slayers by those who died of yore。
（ORESTES and PYLADES enter from the palace。）
antistrophe
Behold； they come！ That red hand reeks with sacrifice to Ares； nor
can I blame the deed。
ELECTRA
Orestes； how fare ye？
ORESTES
All is well within the house； if Apollo's oracle spake well。
ELECTRA
The guilty one is dead？
ORESTES
Fear no more that thy proud mother will ever put thee to
dishonour。
CHORUS
Cease； for I see Aegisthus full in view。
ELECTRA
Rash boys； back； back！
ORESTES
Where see ye the man？
ELECTRA
Yonder； at our mercy； be advances from the suburb； full of joy。
CHORUS
Make with all speed for the vestibule； that； as your first task
prospered。 so this again may prosper now。
ORESTES
Fear not；… we will perform it。
ELECTRA
Haste； then； whither thou wouldst。
ORESTES
See； I am gone。
ELECTRA
I will look to matters here。
（ORESTES and PYLADES go back into the palace。）
CHORUS
'Twere well to soothe his ear with some few words of seeming
gentleness； that he may rush blindly upon the struggle with his doom。
（AEGISTHUS enters。）
AEGISTHUS
Which of you can tell me； where are those Phocian strangers；
who； 'tis said； have brought us tidings of Orestes slain in the
wreck of his chariot？ Thee； thee I ask； yes； thee； in former days so
bold；… for methinks it touches thee most nearly； thou best must
know； and best canst tell。
ELECTRA
I know assuredly； else were I a stranger to the fortune of my
nearest kinsfolk。
AEGISTHUS
Where then may be the strangers？ Tell me。
ELECTRA
Within； they have found a way to the heart of their hostess。
AEGISTHUS
Have they in truth reported him dead？
ELECTRA
Nay； not reported only； they have shown him。
AEGISTHUS
Can I； then； see the corpse with mine own