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（The following lines between ELECTRA
and the CHORUS are chanted responsively。）
CHORUS
strophe 1
Where are the thunderbolts of Zeus； or where is the bright Sun； if
they look upon these things； and brand them not； but rest？
ELECTRA
Woe； woe； ah me； ah me！
CHORUS
O daughter； why weepest thou？
ELECTRA （with hands outstretched to heaven）
Alas！
CHORUS
Utter no rash cry！
ELECTRA
Thou wilt break my heart！
CHORUS
How meanest thou？
ELECTRA
If thou suggest a hope concerning those who have surely passed
to the realm below； thou wilt trample yet more upon my misery。
CHORUS
antistrophe 1
Nay； I know how； ensnared by a woman for a chain of gold； the
prince Amphiaraus found a grave； and now beneath the earth…
ELECTRA
Ah me； ah me！
CHORUS
…he reigns in fulness of force。
ELECTRA
Alas！
CHORUS
Alas indeed！ for the murderess…
ELECTRA
Was slain。
CHORUS
Yea。
ELECTRA
I know it； I know it； for a champion arose to avenge the
mourning dead； but to me no champion remains； for he who yet was
left hath been snatched away。
CHORUS
strophe 2
Hapless art thou； and hapless is thy lot！
ELECTRA
Well know I that； too well；… I； whose life is a torrent of woes
dread and dark； a torrent that surges through all the months！
CHORUS
We have seen the course of thy sorrow。
ELECTRA
Cease； then； to divert me from it； when no more…
CHORUS
How sayest thou？
ELECTRA
…when no more can I have the comfort of hope from a brother； the
seed of the same noble sire。
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
For all men it is appointed to die。
ELECTRA
What； to die as that ill…starred one died； amid the tramp of
racing steeds； entangled in the reins that dragged him？
CHORUS
Cruel was his doom； beyond thought！
ELECTRA
Yea； surely； when in foreign soil； without ministry of my hands；…
CHORUS
Alas！
ELECTRA
…he is buried； ungraced by me with sepulture or with tears。
（CHRYSOTHEMIS enters in excitement。）
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Joy wings my feet； dear sister； not careful of seemliness； if I
come with speed； for I bring joyful news； to relieve thy long
sufferings and sorrows。
ELECTRA
And whence couldst thou find help for my woes； whereof no cure can
be imagined？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Orestes is with us；… know this from my lips； in living presence；
as surely as thou seest me here。
ELECTRA
What； art thou mad； poor girl？ Art thou laughing at my sorrows；
and thine own？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay； by our father's hearth； I speak not in mockery； I tell thee
that he is with us indeed。
ELECTRA
Ah； woe is me！ And from whom hast thou heard this tale； which thou
believest so lightly？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I believe it on mine own knowledge； not on hearsay； I have seen
clear proofs。
ELECTRA
What hast thou seen； poor girl； to warrant thy belief？ Whither；
wonder hast thou turned thine eyes； that thou art fevered with this
baneful fire？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Then； for the gods' love； listen； that thou mayest know my
story； before deciding whether I am sane or foolish。
ELECTRA
Speak on； then； if thou findest pleasure in speaking。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Well； thou shalt hear all that I have seen。 When I came to our
father's ancient tomb； I saw that streams of milk had lately flowed
from the top of the mound； and that his sepulchre was encircled with
garlands of all flowers that blow。 I was astonished at the sight；
and peered about； lest haply some one should be close to my side。
But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness； I crept
nearer to the tomb； and on the mound's edge I saw a lock of hair；
freshly severed。
And the moment that I saw it； ah me； a familiar image rushed
upon my soul； telling me that there I beheld a token of him whom
most I love； Orestes。 Then I took it in my hands； and uttered no
ill…omened word； but the tears of joy straightway filled mine eyes。
And I know well； as knew then； that this fair tribute has come from
none but him。 Whose part else was that； save mine and thine？ And I did
it not； I know；… nor thou； how shouldst thou？… when thou canst not
leave this house； even to worship the gods； but at thy peril。 Nor；
again； does our mother's heart incline to do such deeds； nor could she
have so done without our knowledge。
No； these offerings are from Orestes！ Come； dear sister；
courage！ No mortal life is attended by a changeless fortune。 Ours
was once gloomy； but this day； perchance； will seal the promise of
much good。
ELECTRA
Alas for thy folly！ How I have been pitying thee！
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What； are not my tidings welcome？
ELECTRA
Thou knowest not whither or into what dreams thou wanderest。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Should I not know what mine own eyes have seen？
ELECTRA
He is dead； poor girl； and thy hopes in that deliverer are gone：
look not to him。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Woe； woe is me！ From whom hast thou heard this？
ELECTRA
From the man who was present when he perished。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
And where is he？ Wonder steals over my mind。
ELECTRA
He is within； a guest not unpleasing to our mother。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Ah； woe is me！ Whose； then； can have been those ample offerings to
our father's tomb？
ELECTRA
Most likely； I think； some one brought those gifts in memory of
the dead Orestes。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Oh； hapless that I am！ And I was bringing such news in joyous
haste； ignorant； it seems； how dire was our plight； but now that I
have come； I find fresh sorrows added to the old！
ELECTRA
So stands thy case； yet； if thou wilt hearken to me； thou wilt
lighten the load of our present trouble。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Can I ever raise the dead to life？
ELECTRA
I meant not that； I am not so foolish。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What biddest thou； then； for which my strength avails？
ELECTRA
That thou be brave in doing what I enjoin。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay； if any good can be done； I will not refuse；
ELECTRA
Remember； nothing succeeds without toil。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I know it； and will share thy burden with all my power。
ELECTRA
Hear； then； how I am resolved to act。 As for the support of
friends； thou thyself must know that we have none； Hades hath taken
our friends away。 and we two are left alone。 I； so long as I heard
that my brother still lived and prospered； had hopes that he would yet
come to avenge the murder of our sire。 But now that he