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Ah； Electra； child of a wretched mother； why art thou ever
pining thus in ceaseless lament for Agamemnon； who long ago was
wickedly ensnared by thy false mother's wiles； and betrayed to death
by dastardly hand？ Perish the author of that deed； if I may utter such
prayer！
ELECTRA
Ah； noble…hearted maidens； ye have come to soothe my woes。 I
know and feel it； it escapes me not； but I cannot leave this task
undone； or cease from mourning for my hapless sire。 Ah； friends
whose love responds to mine in every mood； leave me to rave thus；…
Oh leave me； I entreat you！
CHORUS
antistrophe 1
But never by laments or prayers shalt thou recall thy sire from
that lake of Hades to which all must pass。 Nay； thine is a fatal
course of grief； passing ever from due bounds into a cureless
sorrow； wherein there is no deliverance from evils。 Say； wherefore art
thou enamoured of misery？
ELECTRA
Foolish is the child who forgets a parent's piteous death。 No；
dearer to my soul is the mourner that laments for Itys； Itys；
evermore； that bird distraught with grief； the messenger of Zeus。
Ah； queen of sorrow； Niobe； thee I deem divine；… thee； who evermore
weepest in thy rocky tomb！
CHORUS
strophe 2
Not to thee alone of mortals； my daughter； hath come any sorrow
which thou bearest less calmly than those within； thy kinswomen and
sisters； Chrysothemis and Iphianassa；I who still live；… as he； too；
lives； sorrowing in a secluded youth； yet happy in that this famous
realm of Mycenae shall one day welcome him to his heritage； when the
kindly guidance of Zeus shall have brought him to this land； Orestes。
ELECTRA
Yes； I wait for him with unwearied longing； as I move on my sad
path from day to day； unwed and childless； bathed in tears； bearing
that endless doom of woe； but he forgets all that he has suffered
and heard。 What message comes to me； that is not belied？ He is ever
yearning to be with us； but； though he yearns； he never resolves。
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
Courage； my daughter； courage； great still in heaven is Zeus；
who sees and governs all： leave thy bitter quarrel to him； forget
not thy foes； but refrain from excess of wrath against them； for
Time is god who makes rough ways smooth。 Not heedless is the son of
Agamemnon； who dwells by Crisa's pastoral shore； not heedless is the
god who reigns by Acheron。
ELECTRA
Nay； the best part of life hath passed away from me in
hopelessness； and I have no strength left； I； who am pining away
without children；… whom no loving champion shields；… but； like some
despised alien； I serve in the halls of my father； clad in this mean
garb； and standing at a meagre board。
CHORUS
strophe 3
Piteous was the voice heard at his return； and piteous； as thy
sire lay on the festal couch； when the straight； swift blow was
dealt him with the blade of bronze。 Guile was the plotter； Lust the
slayer； dread parents of a dreadful shape； whether it was mortal
that wrought therein； or god。
ELECTRA
O that bitter day； bitter beyond all that have come to me； O
that night； O the horrors of that unutterable feast； the ruthless
deathstrokes that my father saw from the hands of twain； who took my
life captive by treachery； who doomed me to woe！ May the great god
of Olympus give them sufferings in requital； and never may their
splendour bring them joy； who have done such deeds！
CHORUS
antistrophe 3
Be advised to say no more； canst thou not see what conduct it is
which already plunges thee so cruelly in self…made miseries？ Thou hast
greatly aggravated thy troubles； ever breeding wars with thy sullen
soul； but such strife should not be pushed to a conflict with the
strong。
ELECTRA
I have been forced to it；… forced by dread causes； I know my own
passion； it escapes me not； but； seeing that the causes are so dire；
will never curb these frenzied plaints； while life is in me。 Who
indeed； ye kindly sisterhood； who that thinks aright； would deem
that any word of solace could avail me？ Forbear； forbear； my
comforters！ Such ills must be numbered with those which have no
cure； I can never know a respite from my sorrows； or a limit to this
wailing。
CHORUS
epode
At least it is in love； like a true…hearted mother； that I
dissuade thee from adding misery to miseries。
ELECTRA
But what measure is there in my wretchedness？ Say； how can it be
right to neglect the dead？ Was that impiety ever born in mortal？ Never
may I have praise of such； never when my lot is cast in pleasant
places； may I cling to selfish ease； or dishonour my sire by
restraining the wings of shrill lamentation！
For if the hapless dead is to lie in dust and nothingness； while
the slayers pay not with blood for blood； all regard for man； all fear
of heaven； will vanish from the earth。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I came； my child； in zeal for thy welfare no less than for mine
own； but if I speak not well； then be it as thou wilt； for we will
follow thee。
ELECTRA
I am ashamed； my friends； if ye deem me too impatient for my oft
complaining； but； since a hard constraint forces me to this； bear with
me。 How indeed could any woman of noble nature refrain； who saw the
calamities of a father's house； as I see them by day and night
continually； not fading； but in the summer of their strength？ I；
who； first； from the mother that bore me have found bitter enmity；
next； in mine own home I dwell with my father's murderers； they rule
over me； and with them it rests to give or to withhold what I need。
And then think what manner of days I pass； when I see Aegisthus
sitting on my father's throne； wearing the robes which he wore； and
pouring libations at the hearth where he slew my sire； and when I
see the outrage that crowns all； the murderer in our father's bed at
our wretched mother's side； if mother she should be called； who is his
wife； but so hardened is she that she lives with that accursed one；
fearing no Erinys； nay； as if exulting in her deeds； having found
the day on which she treacherously slew my father of old； she keeps it
with dance and song； and month by month sacrifices sheep to the gods
who have wrought her deliverance。
But I； hapless one； beholding it； weep and pine in the house；
and bewail the unholy feast named after my sire；… weep to myself
alone； since I may not even indulge my grief to the full measure of my
yearning。 For this woman； in professions so noble； loudly upbraids
me with such taunts as these： 'Impious and hateful girl； hast thou
alon