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ELECTRA
Gods of our house！ be ye with me… now at last！
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Dost thou find any encouragement in this terror？
ELECTRA
If thou wouldst tell me the vision； then I could answer。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay； I can tell but little of the story。
ELECTRA
Tell what thou canst； a little word hath often marred； or made；
men's fortunes。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
'Tis said that she beheld our sire； restored to the sunlight； at
her side once more； then he took the sceptre；… Once his own； but now
borne by Aegisthus；… and planted it at the hearth； and thence a
fruitful bough sprang upward； wherewith the whole land of Mycenae
was overshadowed。 Such was the tale that I heard told by one who was
present when she declared her dream to the Sun…god。 More than this I
know not；… save that she sent me by reason of that fear。 So by the…
gods of our house I beseech thee； hearken to me； and be not ruined
by folly！ For if thou repel me now； thou wilt come back to seek me
in thy trouble。
ELECTRA
Nay； dear sister； let none of these things in thy hands touch
the tomb； for neither custom nor piety allows thee to dedicate gifts
or bring libations to our sire from a hateful wife。 No… to the winds
with them or bury them deep in the earth； where none of them shall
ever come near his place of rest； but； when she dies； let her find
these treasures laid up for her below。
And were she not the most hardened of all women； she would never
have sought to pour these offerings of enmity on the grave of him whom
she slew。 Think now if it is likely that the dead in the tomb should
take these honours kindly at her hand； who ruthlessly slew him； like a
foeman； and mangled him； and； for ablution； wiped off the blood…stains
on his head？ Canst thou believe that these things which thou
bringest will absolve her of the murder？
It is not possible。 No； cast these things aside； give him rather a
lock cut from thine own tresses； and on my part； hapless that I
am；…scant gifts these； but my best；… this hair； not glossy with
unguents； and this girdle； decked with no rich ornament。 Then fall
down and pray that he himself may come in kindness from the world
below； to aid us against our foes； and that the young Orestes may live
to set his foot upon his foes in victorious might； that henceforth
we may crown our father's tomb with wealthier hands than those which
grace it now。
I think； indeed； I think that he also had some part in sending her
these appalling dreams； still； sister； do this service； to help
thyself； and me； and him； that most beloved of all men； who rests in
the realm of Hades； thy sire and mine。
LEADER
The maiden counsels piously； and thou； friend； wilt do her
bidding； if… thou art wise。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I will。 When a duty is clear； reason forbids that two voices
should contend； and claims the hastening of the deed。 Only； when I
attempt this task； aid me with your silence； I entreat you； my
friends； for； should my mother hear of it； methinks I shall yet have
cause to rue my venture。
（CHRYSOTHEMIS departs； to take the offerings to Agamemnon's grave。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
If I am not an erring seer and one who fails in wisdom； justice；
that hath sent the presage； will come； triumphant in her righteous
strength；… will come ere long； my child； to avenge。 There is courage
in my heart； through those new tidings of the dream that breathes
comfort。 Not forgetful is thy sire； the lord of Hellas； not
forgetful is the two…edged axe of bronze that struck the blow of
old； and slew him with foul cruelty。
antistrophe
The Erinys of untiring feet； who is lurking in her dread ambush；
will come； as with the march and with the might of a great host。 For
wicked ones have been fired with passion that hurried them to a
forbidden bed； to accursed bridals； to a marriage stained with guilt
of blood。 Therefore am I sure that the portent will not fail to
bring woe upon the partners in crime。 Verily mortals cannot read the
future in fearful dreams or oracles； if this vision of the night
find not due fulfilment。
epode
O chariot…race of Pelops long ago； source of many a sorrow； what
weary troubles hast thou brought upon this land！ For since Myrtilus
sank to rest beneath the waves； when a fatal and cruel hand hurled him
to destruction out of the golden car； this house was never yet free
from misery and violence。
（CLYTEMNESTRA enters from the palace。）
CLYTEMNESTRA
At large once more； it seems； thou rangest；… for Aegisthus is
not here； who always kept thee at least from passing the gates； to
shame thy friends。 But now； since he is absent； thou takest no heed of
me； though thou hast said of me oft…times； and to many； that I am a
bold and lawless tyrant； who insults thee and thine。 I am guilty of no
insolence； I do but return the taunts that I often hear from thee。
Thy father… this is thy constant pretext… was slain by me。 Yes； by
me… I know it well； it admits of no denial； for justice slew him；
and not I alone；… justice； whom it became thee to support； hadst
thou been right…minded； seeing that this father of thine； whom thou
art ever lamenting； was the one man of the Greeks who had the heart to
sacrifice thy sister to the gods… he； the father； who had not shared
the mother's pangs。
Come； tell me now； wherefore； or to please whom； did he
sacrifice her？ To please the Argives； thou wilt say？ Nay； they had
no right to slay my daughter。 Or if； forsooth； it was to screen his
brother Menelaus that he slew my child； was he not to pay me the
penalty for that？ Had not Menelaus two children； who should in
fairness have been taken before my daughter； as sprung from the sire
and mother who had caused that voyage？ Or had Hades some strange
desire to feast on my offspring； rather than on hers？ Or had that
accursed father lost all tenderness for the children of my womb； while
he was tender to the children of Menelaus？ Was not that the part of
a callous and perverse parent？ I think so； though differ from thy
judgment； and so would say the dead； if she could speak。 For myself；
then； I view the past without dismay； but if thou deemest me perverse；
see that thine own judgment is just； before thou blame thy neighbour。
ELECTRA
This time thou canst not say that I have done anything to
provoke such words from thee。 But； if thou wilt give me leave； I
fain would declare the truth； in the cause alike of my dead sire and
of my sister。
CLYTEMNESTRA
Indeed； thou hast my leave； and didst thou always address me in
such a tone； thou wouldst be heard without pain。
ELECTRA
Then I will speak。 Thou sayest that thou hast slain my father。
What word