---
title: "Electra · Ἠλέκτρα"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-electra/2/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Electra · Ἠλέκτρα, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-electra/2/"
---

# Electra · Ἠλέκτρα

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

Married off to a farmer, Electra plots her mother’s death with Orestes.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg012, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg012.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Lines 464–902

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-electra/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-electra/2/#p-N

[¶0] Chorus:
In the center of the shield the sun’s bright circle
was shining on winged horses, and the heavenly chorus of stars, Pleiades, Hyades, bringing defeat to the eyes of Hector;

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐν δὲ μέσῳ κατέλαμπε σάκει φαέθων
κύκλος ἀελίοιο
ἵπποις ἂμ πτεροέσσαις
ἄστρων τʼ αἰθέριοι χοροί,
Πλειάδες, Ὑάδες, Ἕκτορος
ὄμμασι τροπαῖοι·

[¶1] and upon his gold-forged helmet were sphinxes, bearing in their talons prey from singing. On his breast-plate a lioness, breathing flame, was eager in flight, with her claws,
seeing the colt of Pirene.

> Greek: ἐπὶ δὲ χρυσοτύπῳ κράνει
Σφίγγες ὄνυξιν ἀοίδιμον
ἄγραν φέρουσαι· περιπλεύ-
ρῳ δὲ κύτει πύρπνοος ἔ-
σπευδε δρόμῳ λέαινα χαλ-
αῖς Πειρη-
ναῖον ὁρῶσα πῶλον.

[¶2] Chorus:
On the bloody hilt four-footed horses were prancing, while over their backs black dust rose up. But your adultery killed the lord of such mighty warriors,
evil-minded daughter of Tyndareus! For this the gods of heaven will one day send you to death;
truly the day will come when I shall see, under your red throat, blood gushing forth at the sword.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄορι δʼ ἐν φονίῳ τετραβάμονες ἵπποι ἔπαλ-
λον, κελαινὰ δʼ ἀμφὶ νῶθʼ ἵετο κόνις.
τοιῶνδʼ ἄνακτα δοριπόνων
ἔκανεν ἀνδρῶν, Τυνδαρίς,
σὰ λέχεα, κακόφρων κούρα.
τοιγάρ σέ ποτʼ οὐρανίδαι
πέμψουσιν θανάτοις· ἦ σὰν
ἔτʼ ἔτι φόνιον ὑπὸ δέραν
ὄψομαι αἷμα χυθὲν σιδάρῳ.

[¶3] Old man:
Where, where is my young queen and mistress, Agamemnon’s child, whom I once brought up? How steep is the approach to her house,
for a wrinkled old man to ascend with this foot! Still, for these friends, I must drag along my back bent double and sinking knees. Oh, daughter—for I see you now before the house—I have come, bringing you from my own sheep
this newborn nursling of the flock, having drawn it away from its mother, and garlands, and cheeses I have taken from the press, and this old treasure of Dionysus, furnished with fragrance, small, but sweet to pour a cup of it into a weaker drink.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ποῦ ποῦ νεᾶνις πότνιʼ ἐμὴ δέσποινά τε,
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖς, ὅν ποτʼ ἐξέθρεψʼ ἐγώ;
ὡς πρόσβασιν τῶνδʼ ὀρθίαν οἴκων ἔχει
ῥυσῷ γέροντι τῷδε προσβῆναι ποδί.
ὅμως δὲ πρός γε τοὺς φίλους ἐξελκτέον
διπλῆν ἄκανθαν καὶ παλίρροπον γόνυ.
ὦ θύγατερ — ἄρτι γάρ σε πρὸς δόμοις ὁρῶ —
ἥκω φέρων σοι τῶν ἐμῶν βοσκημάτων
ποίμνης νεογνὸν θρέμμʼ ὑποσπάσας τόδε
στεφάνους τε τευχέων τʼ ἐξελὼν τυρεύματα,
παλαιόν τε θησαύρισμα Διονύσου τόδε
ὀσμῇ κατῆρες, μικρόν, ἀλλʼ ἐπεσβαλεῖν
ἡδὺ σκύφον τοῦδʼ ἀσθενεστέρῳ ποτῷ.

[¶4] Let some one carry these gifts into the house for the guests. I have moistened my eyes with tears, and wish to wipe them off on this shred of my robe.

> Greek: ἴτω φέρων τις τοῖς ξένοις τάδʼ ἐς δόμους·
ἐγὼ δὲ τρύχει τῷδʼ ἐμῶν πέπλων κόρας
δακρύοισι τέγξας ἐξομόρξασθαι θέλω.

[¶5] Electra:
Why are your eyes wet, old man? Have my troubles stirred your memory, after an interval of time?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, διάβροχον τόδʼ ὄμμʼ ἔχεις;
μῶν τἀμὰ διὰ χρόνου σʼ ἀνέμνησεν κακά;

[¶6] Or are you groaning over the sad exile of Orestes, and over my father, whom you once held in your arms and brought up, in vain for you and for your friends?

> Greek: ἢ τὰς Ὀρέστου τλήμονας φυγὰς στένεις
καὶ πατέρα τὸν ἐμόν, ὅν ποτʼ ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων
ἀνόνητʼ ἔθρεψας σοί τε καὶ τοῖς σοῖς φίλοις;

[¶7] Old man:
In vain; but still I could not endure this: for I came to his grave, an addition to my journey,
and falling on it I wept for its desolation; then I opened the wine-skin which I am bringing to the guests, and poured a libation, and set myrtle-sprigs round the tomb. On the alter itself I saw a black-fleeced ram as an offering, and there was blood, not long poured out,
and severed locks of yellow hair. And I wondered, child, who ever dared come to the the tomb; for it was no Argive at least. But perhaps your brother has somehow come secretly and on his return has done honor to his father’s wretched grave.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἀνόνηθʼ· ὅμως δʼ οὖν τοῦτό γʼ οὐκ ἠνεσχόμην.
ἦλθον γὰρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς τάφον πάρεργʼ ὁδοῦ
καὶ προσπεσὼν ἔκλαυσʼ ἐρημίας τυχών,
σπονδάς τε, λύσας ἀσκὸν ὃν φέρω ξένοις,
ἔσπεισα, τύμβῳ δʼ ἀμφέθηκα μυρσίνας.
πυρᾶς δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς οἶν μελάγχιμον πόκῳ
σφάγιον ἐσεῖδον αἷμά τʼ οὐ πάλαι χυθὲν
ξανθῆς τε χαίτης βοστρύχους κεκαρμένους.
κἀθαύμασʼ, ὦ παῖ, τίς ποτʼ ἀνθρώπων ἔτλη
πρὸς τύμβον ἐλθεῖν· οὐ γὰρ Ἀργείων γέ τις.
ἀλλʼ ἦλθʼ ἴσως που σὸς κασίγνητος λάθρᾳ,
μολὼν δʼ ἐθαύμασʼ ἄθλιον τύμβον πατρός.

[¶8] Go look to see if the color of the cut lock is the same as yours, putting it to your own hair; it is usual for those who have the same paternal blood to have a close bodily resemblance in most points.

> Greek: σκέψαι δὲ χαίτην προστιθεῖσα σῇ κόμῃ,
εἰ χρῶμα ταὐτὸν κουρίμης ἔσται τριχός·
φιλεῖ γάρ, αἷμα ταὐτὸν οἷς ἂν ᾖ πατρός,
τὰ πόλλʼ ὅμοια σώματος πεφυκέναι.

[¶9] Electra:
Old man, your words are unworthy of a wise man,
if you think my own brave brother would come to this land secretly for fear of Aegisthus. Then, how will a lock of hair correspond, the one made to grow in the wrestling schools of a well-bred man, the other, a woman’s lock, by combing? No, it is impossible.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐκ ἄξιʼ ἀνδρός, ὦ γέρον, σοφοῦ λέγεις,
εἰ κρυπτὸν ἐς γῆν τήνδʼ ἂν Αἰγίσθου φόβῳ
δοκεῖς ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἐμὸν εὐθαρσῆ μολεῖν.
ἔπειτα χαίτης πῶς συνοίσεται πλόκος,
ὁ μὲν παλαίστραις ἀνδρὸς εὐγενοῦς τραφείς,
ὁ δὲ κτενισμοῖς θῆλυς; ἀλλʼ ἀμήχανον.

[¶10] But you could find in many people hair very similar, although they are not of the same blood, old man.

> Greek: πολλοῖς δʼ ἂν εὕροις βοστρύχους ὁμοπτέρους
καὶ μὴ γεγῶσιν αἵματος ταὐτοῦ, γέρον.

[¶11] Old man:
Then stand in the footprint and see if the tread of the boot will measure with your own foot, child.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
σὺ δʼ εἰς ἴχνος βᾶσʼ ἀρβύλης σκέψαι βάσιν
εἰ σύμμετρος σῷ ποδὶ γενήσεται, τέκνον.

[¶12] Electra:
How could there be an imprint of feet on a stony plot of ground?
And if there is, the foot of brother and sister would not be the same in size, for the male conquers.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πῶς δʼ ἂν γένοιτʼ ἂν ἐν κραταιλέῳ πέδῳ
γαίας ποδῶν ἔκμακτρον; εἰ δʼ ἔστιν τόδε,
δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ποὺς ἂν οὐ γένοιτʼ ἴσος
ἀνδρός τε καὶ γυναικός, ἀλλʼ ἅρσην κρατεῖ.

[¶13] Old man:
There is not, even if your brother, coming to this land... by which you might know your loom’s weaving,
in which I once stole him away from death?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οὐκ ἔστιν, εἰ καὶ γῆν κασίγνητος μολών,
…
κερκίδος ὅτῳ γνοίης ἂν ἐξύφασμα σῆς,
ἐν ᾧ ποτʼ αὐτὸν ἐξέκλεψα μὴ θανεῖν;

[¶14] Electra:
Don’t you know that I was still young when Orestes was driven out of the land? And even if I had woven him a robe, how could he, a child then, have the same one now, unless his clothes grew together with his body?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐκ οἶσθʼ, Ὀρέστης ἡνίκʼ ἐκπίπτει χθονός,
νέαν μʼ ἔτʼ οὖσαν; εἰ δὲ κἄκρεκον πέπλους,
πῶς ἂν τότʼ ὢν παῖς ταὐτὰ νῦν ἔχοι φάρη,
εἰ μὴ ξυναύξοινθʼ οἱ πέπλοι τῷ σώματι;

[¶15] But either a stranger, taking pity on his grave...
Old man:
Where are the guests? I want to see them and question them about your brother.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἤ τις αὐτοῦ τάφον ἐποικτίρας ξένος
ἐκείρατʼ, ἢ τῆσδε σκοποὺς λαβὼν χθονὸς —
Πρέσβυς:
οἱ δὲ ξένοι ποῦ; βούλομαι γὰρ εἰσιδὼν
αὐτοὺς ἔρεσθαι σοῦ κασιγνήτου πέρι.

[¶16] Electra:
There they are, coming quickly out of the house.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἵδʼ ἐκ δόμων βαίνουσι λαιψηρῷ ποδί.

[¶17] Old man:
They are well-born, but that may ring false; for many of the well-born are base. However; I give the guests welcome.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἀλλʼ εὐγενεῖς μέν, ἐν δὲ κιβδήλῳ τόδε·
πολλοὶ γὰρ ὄντες εὐγενεῖς εἰσιν κακοί.
ὅμως δέ. — χαίρειν τοὺς ξένους προσεννέπω.

[¶18] Orestes:
Welcome, old man! To which of your friends, Electra, does this ancient remnant of a man belong?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
χαῖρʼ, ὦ γεραιέ. — τοῦ ποτʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τόδε
παλαιὸν ἀνδρὸς λείψανον φίλων κυρεῖ;

[¶19] Electra:
This is the one who brought up my father, stranger.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὗτος τὸν ἁμὸν πατέρʼ ἔθρεψεν, ὦ ξένε.

[¶20] Orestes:
What are you saying? Is this the one who stole away your brother?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί φῄς; ὅδʼ ὃς σὸν ἐξέκλεψε σύγγονον;

[¶21] Electra:
This is the one who saved him, if indeed he is still alive.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ σώσας κεῖνον, εἴπερ ἔστʼ ἔτι.

[¶22] Orestes:
Oh! Why does he look at me, as if he were examining the clear mark impressed on a silver coin? Is he comparing me to someone?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔα·
τί μʼ ἐσδέδορκεν ὥσπερ ἀργύρου σκοπῶν
λαμπρὸν χαρακτῆρʼ; ἢ προσεικάζει μέ τῳ;

[¶23] Electra:
Perhaps he is glad to see in you a companion of Orestes.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἴσως Ὀρέστου σʼ ἥλιχʼ ἥδεται βλέπων.

[¶24] Orestes:
A beloved man, yes. But why is he circling all around me?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φίλου γε φωτός. τί δὲ κυκλεῖ πέριξ πόδα;

[¶25] Electra:
I too am amazed, looking at this, stranger.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὐτὴ τόδʼ εἰσορῶσα θαυμάζω, ξένε.

[¶26] Old man:
O mistress, daughter Electra, pray to the gods.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὦ πότνιʼ, εὔχου, θύγατερ Ἠλέκτρα, θεοῖς.

[¶27] Electra:
For what thing, present or absent?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί τῶν ἀπόντων ἢ τί τῶν ὄντων πέρι;

[¶28] Old man:
To have a beloved treasure, which the god is revealing.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
λαβεῖν φίλον θησαυρόν, ὃν φαίνει θεός.

[¶29] Electra:
See: I call on the gods. Or whatever do you mean, old man?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἰδού· καλῶ θεούς. ἢ τί δὴ λέγεις, γέρον;

[¶30] Old man:
Look now at this man, my child, your dearest one.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
βλέψον νυν ἐς τόνδʼ, ὦ τέκνον, τὸν φίλτατον.

[¶31] Electra:
I have been looking for a long time, to see whether you have lost your mind.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πάλαι δέδορκα, μὴ σύ γʼ οὐκέτʼ εὖ φρονῇς.

[¶32] Old man:
Lost my mind, because I see your brother?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οὐκ εὖ φρονῶ ʼγὼ σὸν κασίγνητον βλέπων;

[¶33] Electra:
What do you mean, old man, by this word, unhoped for?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραίʼ, ἀνέλπιστον λόγον;

[¶34] Old man:
That I see Orestes here, Agamemnon’s son.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὁρᾶν Ὀρέστην τόνδε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονος.

[¶35] Electra:
What mark do you see, by which I shall be persuaded?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ποῖον χαρακτῆρʼ εἰσιδών, ᾧ πείσομαι;

[¶36] Old man:
A scar along his brow, where he fell and drew blood one day in his father’s home when chasing a fawn with you.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οὐλὴν παρʼ ὀφρύν, ἥν ποτʼ ἐν πατρὸς δόμοις
νεβρὸν διώκων σοῦ μέθʼ ᾑμάχθη πεσών.

[¶37] Electra:
What are you saying? I see the sign of the fall.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πῶς φῄς; ὁρῶ μὲν πτώματος τεκμήριον.

[¶38] Old man:
Then do you hesitate to embrace your dearest one?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἔπειτα μέλλεις προσπίτνειν τοῖς φιλτάτοις;

[¶39] Electra:
Not any longer, old man; for my heart is persuaded by your tokens. O you who have appeared at last, I hold you, beyond all hope.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ, ὦ γεραιέ· συμβόλοισι γὰρ
τοῖς σοῖς πέπεισμαι θυμόν. — ὦ χρόνῳ φανείς,
ἔχω σʼ ἀέλπτως —

[¶40] Orestes:
And you are held by me at last.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
κἀξ ἐμοῦ γʼ ἔχῃ χρόνῳ.

[¶41] Electra:
I never expected it.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐδέποτε δόξασα.

[¶42] Orestes:
Nor did I hope.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐδʼ ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤλπισα.

[¶43] Electra:
Are you that one?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐκεῖνος εἶ σύ;

[¶44] Orestes:
Yes, your one ally. If I draw back the cast of the net I am aiming for—but I have confidence; or else we must no longer believe in gods, if wrong is to be victorious over right.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σύμμαχός γέ σοι μόνος.
ἢν δʼ ἀνσπάσωμαί γʼ ὃν μετέρχομαι βόλον —
πέποιθα δʼ· ἢ χρὴ μηκέθʼ ἡγεῖσθαι θεούς,
εἰ τἄδικʼ ἔσται τῆς δίκης ὑπέρτερα.

[¶45] Chorus:
You have come, you have come, oh, long-delayed day, you have lighted up, you have made visible a beacon to the city, who in long ago exile went forth from his father’s house, unhappily wandering.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔμολες ἔμολες, ὤ, χρόνιος ἁμέρα,
κατέλαμψας, ἔδειξας ἐμφανῆ
πόλει πυρσόν, ὃς παλαιᾷ φυγᾷ
πατρίων ἀπὸ δωμάτων τάλας
ἀλαίνων ἔβα.

[¶46] A god, now, a god brings our victory, my dear. Lift up your hands, lift up your words, send prayers to the gods for your brother with fortune, with fortune,
to enter the city.

> Greek: θεὸς αὖ θεὸς ἁμετέραν τις ἄγει
νίκαν, ὦ φίλα.
ἄνεχε χέρας, ἄνεχε λόγον, ἵει λιτὰς
ἐς θεούς, τύχᾳ σοι τύχᾳ
κασίγνητον ἐμβατεῦσαι πόλιν.

[¶47] Orestes:
Well; I have the loving pleasures of your greeting and later I will give them back in turn. You, old man, for you have come at the right time, tell me, what should I do to avenge myself on my father’s murderer
[and on my mother, the partner in his unholy marriage]? Do I still have any well-disposed friends in Argos? Or am I wholly bankrupt, just as my fortunes are? With whom shall I ally myself? By night or day? What course shall I take against my enemies?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἶἑν· φίλας μὲν ἡδονὰς ἀσπασμάτων
ἔχω, χρόνῳ δὲ καὖθις αὐτὰ δώσομεν.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ γεραιέ — καίριος γὰρ ἤλυθες —
λέξον, τί δρῶν ἂν φονέα τεισαίμην πατρός;
[μητέρα τε κοινωνὸν ἀνοσίων γάμων;]
ἔστιν τί μοι κατʼ Ἄργος εὐμενὲς φίλων;
ἢ πάντʼ ἀνεσκευάσμεθʼ, ὥσπερ αἱ τύχαι;
τῷ ξυγγένωμαι; νύχιος ἢ καθʼ ἡμέραν;
ποίαν ὁδὸν τραπώμεθʼ εἰς ἐχθροὺς ἐμούς;

[¶48] Old man:
Child, you have no friend in your misfortune. For this thing is a godsend indeed, to share in common, both good and bad. But you—for you have been destroyed from the foundations, in the eyes of your friends, and you have left them no hope—hear it from me and know:
all that you have is in your own arm and fortune, to win your father’s home and your city.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὦ τέκνον, οὐδεὶς δυστυχοῦντί σοι φίλος.
εὕρημα γάρ τοι χρῆμα γίγνεται τόδε,
κοινῇ μετασχεῖν τἀγαθοῦ καὶ τοῦ κακοῦ.
σὺ δʼ — ἐκ βάθρων γὰρ πᾶς ἀνῄρησαι φίλοις
οὐδʼ ἐλλέλοιπας ἐλπίδʼ — ἴσθι μου κλύων,
ἐν χειρὶ τῇ σῇ πάντʼ ἔχεις καὶ τῇ τύχῃ,
πατρῷον οἶκον καὶ πόλιν λαβεῖν σέθεν.

[¶49] Orestes:
What must I do then to accomplish this?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δῆτα δρῶντες τοῦδʼ ἂν ἐξικοίμεθα;

[¶50] Old man:
Kill Thyestes’ son and your mother.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
κτανὼν Θυέστου παῖδα σήν τε μητέρα.

[¶51] Orestes:
I have come for that victor’s crown; but how shall I grasp it?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἥκω ʼπὶ τόνδε στέφανον· ἀλλὰ πῶς λάβω;

[¶52] Old man:
Not by going within the walls, even if you wanted to.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
τειχέων μὲν ἐλθὼν ἐντὸς οὐδʼ ἂν εἰ θέλοις.

[¶53] Orestes:
Is he well furnished with garrisons and body-guards?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φρουραῖς κέκασται δεξιαῖς τε δορυφόρων;

[¶54] Old man:
You have understood; for, clearly, he is afraid of you, and does not sleep.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἔγνως· φοβεῖται γάρ σε κοὐχ εὕδει σαφῶς.

[¶55] Orestes:
Well; it is for you to plan the next step, old man.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἶἑν· σὺ δὴ τοὐνθένδε βούλευσον, γέρον.

[¶56] Old man:
Hear me then; for something has just come to me.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
κἀμοῦ γʼ ἄκουσον· ἄρτι γάρ μʼ ἐσῆλθέ τι.

[¶57] Orestes:
May you reveal something good, and may I understand it.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐσθλόν τι μηνύσειας, αἰσθοίμην δʼ ἐγώ.

[¶58] Old man:
I saw Aegisthus, when I was on my way here.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
Αἴγισθον εἶδον, ἡνίχʼ εἷρπον ἐνθάδε.

[¶59] Orestes:
I approve what you have said. Where was he?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
προσηκάμην τὸ ῥηθέν. ἐν ποίοις τόποις;

[¶60] Old man:
Near these fields, at his stables.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἀγρῶν πέλας τῶνδʼ ἱπποφορβίων ἔπι.

[¶61] Orestes:
What was he doing? I see some hope, out of difficulties.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δρῶνθʼ; ὁρῶ γὰρ ἐλπίδʼ ἐξ ἀμηχάνων.

[¶62] Old man:
He was preparing a feast for the Nymphs, I thought.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
Νύμφαις ἐπόρσυνʼ ἔροτιν, ὡς ἔδοξέ μοι.

[¶63] Orestes:
In return for the bringing up of children or for a coming birth?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τροφεῖα παίδων ἢ πρὸ μέλλοντος τόκου;

[¶64] Old man:
I only know this: he was preparing to sacrifice an ox.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· βουσφαγεῖν ὡπλίζετο.

[¶65] Orestes:
With how many men? Or alone with his slaves?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πόσων μετʼ ἀνδρῶν; ἢ μόνος δμώων μέτα;

[¶66] Old man:
No Argive was there, but a band of his own servants.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οὐδεὶς παρῆν Ἀργεῖος, οἰκεία δὲ χείρ.

[¶67] Orestes:
Surely there isn’t anyone who will know me if he sees me, old man?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὔ πού τις ὅστις γνωριεῖ μʼ ἰδών, γέρον;

[¶68] Old man:
There are slaves, who have never even seen you.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
δμῶες μέν εἰσιν, οἳ σέ γʼ οὐκ εἶδόν ποτε.

[¶69] Orestes:
Would they be well disposed to me, if I should prevail?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἡμῖν ἂν εἶεν, εἰ κρατοῖμεν, εὐμενεῖς;

[¶70] Old man:
Yes, for that is the way of slaves, luckily for you.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
δούλων γὰρ ἴδιον τοῦτο, σοὶ δὲ σύμφορον.

[¶71] Orestes:
However might I approach him then?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πῶς οὖν ἂν αὐτῷ πλησιασθείην ποτέ;

[¶72] Old man:
By going where he will see you as he sacrifices.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
στείχων ὅθεν σε βουθυτῶν ἐσόψεται.

[¶73] Orestes:
He has fields by the road, it seems?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὁδὸν παρʼ αὐτήν, ὡς ἔοικʼ, ἀγροὺς ἔχει;

[¶74] Old man:
Yes, and when he sees you there, he will invite you to the feast.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὅθεν γʼ ἰδών σε δαιτὶ κοινωνὸν καλεῖ.

[¶75] Orestes:
I shall be a bitter companion in the feast, if the god wishes it.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πικρόν γε συνθοινάτορʼ, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ.

[¶76] Old man:
After that, you yourself invent something, as it falls out.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
τοὐνθένδε πρὸς τὸ πῖπτον αὐτὸς ἐννόει.

[¶77] Orestes:
Well said. But my mother, where is she?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καλῶς ἔλεξας. — ἡ τεκοῦσα δʼ ἐστὶ ποῦ;

[¶78] Old man:
At Argos; but she will join her husband for the feast.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
Ἄργει· παρέσται δʼ οὖν πόσει θοίνην ἔπι.

[¶79] Orestes:
Why didn’t my mother set out with her husband?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δʼ οὐχ ἅμʼ ἐξωρμᾶτʼ ἐμὴ μήτηρ πόσει;

[¶80] Old man:
From fear of the citizens’ reproach she stayed behind.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ψόγον τρέμουσα δημοτῶν ἐλείπετο.

[¶81] Orestes:
I understand; she knows that the city suspects her.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ξυνῆχʼ· ὕποπτος οὖσα γιγνώσκει πόλει.

[¶82] Old man:
Something like that; for an unholy woman is an object of hatred.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
τοιαῦτα· μισεῖται γὰρ ἀνόσιος γυνή.

[¶83] Orestes:
How then shall I kill her and him at once?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πῶς οὖν ἐκείνην τόνδε τʼ ἐν ταὐτῷ κτενῶ;

[¶84] Electra:
I shall prepare my mother’s slaughter!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐγὼ φόνον γε μητρὸς ἐξαρτύσομαι.

[¶85] Orestes:
And as for the other matter, fortune will ordain well.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ μὴν ἐκεῖνά γʼ ἡ τύχη θήσει καλῶς.

[¶86] Electra:
Let this man here help us with both.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὑπηρετείτω μὲν δυοῖν ὄντοιν ὅδε.

[¶87] Old man:
I will; but how will you find a way to kill your mother?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἔσται τάδʼ· εὑρίσκεις δὲ μητρὶ πῶς φόνον;

[¶88] Electra:
Go to Clytemnestra, old man, and say this: report that I have given birth to a male child.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
λέγʼ, ὦ γεραιέ, τάδε Κλυταιμήστρᾳ μολών·
λεχώ μʼ ἀπάγγελλʼ οὖσαν ἄρσενος τόκῳ.

[¶89] Old man:
That you have given birth some time ago, or quite recently?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
πότερα πάλαι τεκοῦσαν ἢ νεωστὶ δή;

[¶90] Electra:
Ten days ago, in which a woman who has given birth stays pure.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
δέχʼ ἡλίους, ἐν οἷσιν ἁγνεύει λεχώ.

[¶91] Old man:
And how does this grant us the slaughter of your mother?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
καὶ δὴ τί τοῦτο μητρὶ προσβάλλει φόνον;

[¶92] Electra:
She will come, when she hears of my childbirth pangs.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἥξει κλύουσα λόχιά μου νοσήματα.

[¶93] Old man:
How is that? Do you think she cares for you, child?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
πόθεν; τί δʼ αὐτῇ σοῦ μέλειν δοκεῖς, τέκνον;

[¶94] Electra:
Yes; and she will weep, surely, over my child’s low rank.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ναί· καὶ δακρύσει γʼ ἀξίωμʼ ἐμῶν τόκων.

[¶95] Old man:
Perhaps; bring your story back again to the turning-point.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἴσως· πάλιν τοι μῦθον ἐς καμπὴν ἄγε.

[¶96] Electra:
Well then, if she comes, it is clear that she will die.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐλθοῦσα μέντοι δῆλον ὡς ἀπόλλυται.

[¶97] Old man:
Yes, she will come right up to the door of your house.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
καὶ μὴν ἐπʼ αὐτάς γʼ εἶσι σῶν δόμων πύλας.

[¶98] Electra:
Won’t it then be a little thing for her to turn aside to Hades?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐκοῦν τραπέσθαι σμικρὸν εἰς Ἅιδου τόδε;

[¶99] Old man:
May I die, once I have seen this!

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
εἰ γὰρ θάνοιμι τοῦτʼ ἰδὼν ἐγώ ποτε.

[¶100] Electra:
First of all, old man, guide my brother—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πρώτιστα μέν νυν τῷδʼ ὑφήγησαι, γέρον —

[¶101] Old man:
To the place where Aegisthus is now sacrificing to the gods?

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
Αἴγισθος ἔνθα νῦν θυηπολεῖ θεοῖς;

[¶102] Electra:
Then, going to meet my mother, give her my message.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔπειτʼ ἀπαντῶν μητρὶ τἀπʼ ἐμοῦ φράσον.

[¶103] Old man:
So that the very words will seem to have been said by you.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ὥστʼ αὐτά γʼ ἐκ σοῦ στόματος εἰρῆσθαι δοκεῖν.

[¶104] Electra: To Orestes
Your work begins at once; you have drawn the first lot in the slaughter.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
σὸν ἔργον ἤδη· πρόσθεν εἴληχας φόνου.

[¶105] Orestes:
I would go, if some one would show me the way.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
στείχοιμʼ ἄν, εἴ τις ἡγεμὼν γίγνοιθʼ ὁδοῦ.

[¶106] Old man:
Yes, I can escort you myself, not against my will.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ πέμποιμʼ ἂν οὐκ ἀκουσίως.

[¶107] Orestes:
O Zeus, god of my fathers, be also the vanquisher of my enemies—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ Ζεῦ Πατρῷε, καὶ Τροπαῖʼ ἐχθρῶν γενοῦ —

[¶108] Electra:
And have pity on us; for we have suffered pitiably—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἴκτιρέ θʼ ἡμᾶς· οἰκτρὰ γὰρ πεπόνθαμεν —

[¶109] Old man:
Yes, indeed, have pity on your own descendants.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
οἴκτιρε δῆτα σούς γε φύντας ἐκγόνους.

[¶110] Electra:
And Hera, you who rule Mycenae’s altars—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Ἥρα τε, βωμῶν ἣ Μυκηναίων κρατεῖς —

[¶111] Orestes:
Give us victory, if we are asking for what is right.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
νίκην δὸς ἡμῖν, εἰ δίκαιʼ αἰτούμεθα.

[¶112] Old man:
Yes, indeed, give them the right of vengeance for their father.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
δὸς δῆτα πατρὸς τοῖσδε τιμωρὸν δίκην.

[¶113] Orestes:
You too, father, living below the earth through an unholy deed—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σύ τʼ, ὦ κάτω γῆς ἀνοσίως οἰκῶν πάτερ —

[¶114] Electra:
And Lady Earth, to whom I give my hands—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ Γαῖʼ ἄνασσα, χεῖρας ᾗ δίδωμʼ ἐμὰς —

[¶115] Old man:
Defend, defend these, your dearest children.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
ἄμυνʼ ἄμυνε τοῖσδε φιλτάτοις τέκνοις.

[¶116] Orestes:
Now come and bring with you all the dead as allies.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
νῦν πάντα νεκρὸν ἐλθὲ σύμμαχον λαβών.

[¶117] Electra:
Those who destroyed the Trojans in war with you—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οἵπερ γε σὺν σοὶ Φρύγας ἀνήλωσαν δορὶ —

[¶118] Old man:
And all who hate the unholy and polluted.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
χὥσοι στυγοῦσιν ἀνοσίους μιάστορας.

[¶119] Electra:
Do you hear me, you who suffered dreadful things from my mother?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἤκουσας, ὦ δείνʼ ἐξ ἐμῆς μητρὸς παθών;

[¶120] Old man:
Your father hears everything, I know; but it is time to be on our way.

> Greek: Πρέσβυς:
πάντʼ, οἶδʼ, ἀκούει τάδε πατήρ· στείχειν δʼ ἀκμή.

[¶121] Electra:
And I tell you therefore that Aegisthus is to die; if you fall dead in the struggle, I am also dead, do not count me as alive; for I will strike my heart with a two-edged sword. I will go indoors and make things ready there.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καί σοι προφωνῶ πρὸς τάδʼ Αἴγισθον θανεῖν·
ὡς εἰ παλαισθεὶς πτῶμα θανάσιμον πεσῇ,
τέθνηκα κἀγώ, μηδέ με ζῶσαν λέγε·
παίσω γὰρ ἧπαρ τοὐμὸν ἀμφήκει ξίφει.
δόμων ἔσω βᾶσʼ εὐτρεπὲς ποήσομαι.

[¶122] So that if a good report comes from you, the whole house will cry aloud in triumph; but, if you die, it will be the opposite of that. These are my words to you.

> Greek: ὡς ἢν μὲν ἔλθῃ πύστις εὐτυχὴς σέθεν,
ὀλολύξεται πᾶν δῶμα· θνῄσκοντος δέ σου
τἀναντίʼ ἔσται τῶνδε· ταῦτά σοι λέγω.

[¶123] Orestes:
I know it all.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πάντʼ οἶδα.

[¶124] Electra:
Therefore you must be a man. Exeunt Orestes, Pylades, and Old Man. And you, women, please take care to give
a shout in signal of this contest. I will keep a sword ready, holding it in my hand, for I will not ever, if defeated, submit to my enemies the right to insult my body. Exit Electra.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
πρὸς τάδʼ ἄνδρα γίγνεσθαί σε χρή.
ὑμεῖς δέ μοι, γυναῖκες, εὖ πυρσεύετε
κραυγὴν ἀγῶνος τοῦδε· φρουρήσω δʼ ἐγὼ
πρόχειρον ἔγχος χειρὶ βαστάζουσʼ ἐμῇ.
οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἐχθροῖς τοῖς ἐμοῖς νικωμένη
δίκην ὑφέξω, σῶμʼ ἐμὸν καθυβρίσαι.

[¶125] Chorus:
The story remains in old legends
that Pan, the keeper of wild beasts, breathing sweet-voiced music on his well-joined pipes, once brought from its tender mother on Argive hills
a lamb with beautiful golden fleece. A herald stood on the stone platform and cried aloud, “To assembly, Mycenaeans, go to assembly”
“to see the omens given to our blessed rulers.”... and they honored the house of Atreus.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀταλᾶς ὑπὸ ματρὸς ⟨ἄρνʼ⟩
Ἀργείων
ὀρέων ποτὲ κληδὼν ἐν
πολιαῖσι μένει φήμαις
εὐαρμόστοις ἐν καλάμοις
Πᾶνα μοῦσαν ἡδύθροον
πνέοντʼ, ἀγρῶν ταμίαν,
χρυσέαν καλλιπλόκαμον
πορεῦσαι. πετρίνοις δʼ ἐπι-
στὰς κᾶρυξ ἰάχει βάθροις·
Ἀγορὰν ἀγοράν, Μυκη-
ναῖοι, στείχετε μακαρίων
ὀψόμενοι τυράννων
φάσματα δείματα … χοροὶ δʼ Ἀτρει-
δᾶν ἐγέραιρον οἴκους·

[¶126] Chorus:
The altars of beaten gold were set out; and through the town the
altar fires of the Argives blazed; the flute, handmaid of the Muse’s song, sounded its note sweetly, and lovely songs of the golden lamb swelled forth, saying that Thyestes had the luck; for he
persuaded Atreus’ own wife to secret love, and carried off to his house the portent; coming before the assembly he declared that he had in his
house the horned sheep with fleece of gold.

> Greek: Χορός:
θυμέλαι δʼ ἐπίτναντο χρυ-
σήλατοι,
σελαγεῖτο δʼ ἀνʼ ἄστυ πῦρ
ἐπιβώμιον Ἀργείων·
λωτὸς δὲ φθόγγον κελάδει
κάλλιστον, Μουσᾶν θεράπων·
μολπαὶ δʼ ηὔξοντʼ ἐραταί,
χρυσέας ἀρνὸς ἐπίλογοι,
Θυέστου· κρυφίαις γὰρ εὐ-
ναῖς πείσας ἄλοχον φίλαν
Ἀτρέως, τέρας ἐκκομί-
ζει πρὸς δώματα· νεόμενος δʼ
εἰς ἀγόρους ἀυτεῖ
τὰν κερόεσσαν ἔχειν χρυσεόμαλ-
λον κατὰ δῶμα ποίμναν.

[¶127] Chorus:
Then, it was then that Zeus changed the radiant paths of the stars, and the light of the sun, and the
bright face of dawn; and the sun drove across the western back of the sky with hot flame from heaven’s fires, while the rain-clouds went northward and Ammon’s
lands grew parched and faint, not knowing moisture, robbed of heaven’s fairest showers of rain.

> Greek: Χορός:
τότε δὴ τότε φαεν-
νὰς ἄστρων μετέβασʼ ὁδοὺς
Ζεὺς καὶ φέγγος ἀελίου
λευκόν τε πρόσωπον ἀ-
οῦς, τὰ δʼ ἕσπερα νῶτʼ ἐλαύ-
νει θερμᾷ φλογὶ θεοπύρῳ,
νεφέλαι δʼ ἔνυδροι πρὸς ἄρ-
κτον, ξηραί τʼ Ἀμμωνίδες ἕ-
δραι φθίνουσʼ ἀπειρόδροσοι,
καλλίστων ὄμβρων Διόθεν στερεῖσαι.

[¶128] Chorus:
It is said, but I have small belief in it, that the sun turned round his glowing
throne of gold, changing it to the misfortune of mankind, for the punishment of mortals. But tales that frighten men are profitable for service to the gods; of whom you had no thought, when you
killed your husband, you who are the relative of famous brothers.

> Greek: Χορός:
λέγεται, τὰν δὲ πί-
στιν σμικρὰν παρʼ ἔμοιγʼ ἔχει,
στρέψαι θερμὰν ἀέλιον
χρυσωπὸν ἕδραν ἀλλά-
ξαντα δυστυχίᾳ βροτεί-
ῳ θνατᾶς ἕνεκεν δίκας.
φοβεροὶ δὲ βροτοῖσι μῦ-
θοι κέρδος πρὸς θεῶν θεραπεί-
αν. ὧν οὐ μνασθεῖσα πόσιν
κτείνεις, κλεινῶν συγγενέτειρʼ ἀδελφῶν.

[¶129] Chorus Leader:
Oh, oh! My friends, did you hear a noise—or did an empty notion come to me?—like the underground rumbling from Zeus? Look, the breeze rises, bringing with it a sign.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔα ἔα·
φίλαι, βοῆς ἠκούσατʼ — ἢ δοκὼ κενὴ
ὑπῆλθέ μʼ; — ὥστε νερτέρα βροντὴ Διός;
ἰδού, τάδʼ οὐκ ἄσημα πνεύματʼ αἴρεται·

[¶130] Mistress, Electra, leave the house!
Electra: Rushing out
My friends, what is it? How do we stand in the contest?

> Greek: δέσποινʼ, ἄμειψον δώματʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τάδε.
Ἠλέκτρα:
φίλαι, τί χρῆμα; πῶς ἀγῶνος ἥκομεν;

[¶131] Leader:
I only know this; I hear a wailing that means bloodshed.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· φόνιον οἰμωγὴν κλύω.

[¶132] Electra:
I heard it also, far off, but still heard.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἤκουσα κἀγώ, τηλόθεν μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως.

[¶133] Leader:
Yes, the sound is coming a long way, but it is clear.

> Greek: Χορός:
μακρὰν γὰρ ἕρπει γῆρυς, ἐμφανής γε μήν.

[¶134] Electra:
The groan was of an Argive; was it from my friends?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Ἀργεῖος ὁ στεναγμός· ἦ φίλων ἐμῶν;

[¶135] Leader:
I don’t know; for the whole tune of the shout is confused.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ οἶδα· πᾶν γὰρ μείγνυται μέλος βοῆς.

[¶136] Electra:
You are calling out to me my death; why do I delay?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
σφαγὴν ἀυτεῖς τήνδε μοι· τί μέλλομεν;

[¶137] Leader:
Hold back, to learn your fortune clearly.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔπισχε, τρανῶς ὡς μάθῃς τύχας σέθεν.

[¶138] Electra:
No, no; we are vanquished; where are the messengers?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐκ ἔστι· νικώμεσθα· ποῦ γὰρ ἄγγελοι;

[¶139] Leader:
They will come; it is no trivial matter to kill a king.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἥξουσιν· οὔτοι βασιλέα φαῦλον κτανεῖν.

[¶140] Messenger:
O victorious maidens of Mycenae, I report to all his friends that Orestes has conquered, and Aegisthus, the murderer of Agamemnon, lies on the ground; but we must offer prayers to the gods.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὦ καλλίνικοι παρθένοι Μυκηνίδες,
νικῶντʼ Ὀρέστην πᾶσιν ἀγγέλλω φίλοις,
Ἀγαμέμνονος δὲ φονέα κείμενον πέδῳ
Αἴγισθον· ἀλλὰ θεοῖσιν εὔχεσθαι χρεών.

[¶141] Electra:
Who are you? How trustworthy is your announcement?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τίς δʼ εἶ σύ; πῶς μοι πιστὰ σημαίνεις τάδε;

[¶142] Messenger:
Don’t you know your brother’s servant when you look at me?

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀδελφοῦ μʼ εἰσορῶσα πρόσπολον;

[¶143] Electra:
O best of friends! I could not recognize your face out of fear; but now I know you well. What are you saying? Is my father’s hated murderer dead?

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔκ τοι δείματος δυσγνωσίαν
εἶχον προσώπου· νῦν δὲ γιγνώσκω σε δή.
τί φῄς; τέθνηκε πατρὸς ἐμοῦ στυγνὸς φονεύς;

[¶144] Messenger:
He is dead; I am telling you twice what you certainly want to hear.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τέθνηκε· δίς σοι ταὔθʼ, ἃ γοῦν βούλῃ, λέγω.

[¶145] Electra:
O gods, and all-seeing justice, at last you have come. In what way and by what form of death did he kill Thyestes’ son? I would like to learn.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ θεοί, Δίκη τε πάνθʼ ὁρῶσʼ, ἦλθές ποτε.
ποίῳ τρόπῳ δὲ καὶ τίνι ῥυθμῷ φόνου
κτείνει Θυέστου παῖδα; βούλομαι μαθεῖν.

[¶146] Messenger:
After we had left this house,
we stepped onto the broad highway and went to the place where the famous King of Mycenae was. He turned out to be walking in a well-watered garden, plucking a wreath of tender myrtle-sprays for his head; when he saw us, he called out, “Welcome, strangers! Who are you”
“and from where do you come? from what country?” Orestes said, “We are Thessalians, going to the Alpheus river to sacrifice to Olympian Zeus.” When Aegisthus heard that, he said, “You must be my guests for the feast”
“with us now, for I happen to be sacrificing an ox to the Nymphs; and if you get out of bed at dawn, it will make no difference to you. But let us go within—while he was addressing us, he took us by the hand and led us off the road—you must not refuse.”

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἐπεὶ μελάθρων τῶνδʼ ἀπήραμεν πόδα,
ἐσβάντες ᾖμεν δίκροτον εἰς ἁμαξιτὸν
ἔνθʼ ἦν ὁ κλεινὸς τῶν Μυκηναίων ἄναξ.
κυρεῖ δὲ κήποις ἐν καταρρύτοις βεβώς,
δρέπων τερείνης μυρσίνης κάρᾳ πλόκους·
ἰδών τʼ ἀυτεῖ· Χαίρετʼ, ὦ ξένοι· τίνες
πόθεν πορεύεσθʼ; ἔστε τʼ ἐκ ποίας χθονός;
ὁ δʼ εἶπʼ Ὀρέστης· Θεσσαλοί· πρὸς δʼ Ἀλφεὸν
θύσοντες ἐρχόμεσθʼ Ὀλυμπίῳ Διί.
κλύων δὲ ταῦτʼ Αἴγισθος ἐννέπει τάδε·
νῦν μὲν παρʼ ἡμῖν χρὴ συνεστίους ἐμοὶ
θοίνης γενέσθαι· τυγχάνω δὲ βουθυτῶν
νύμφαις· ἑῷοι δʼ ἐξαναστάντες λέχους
ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥξετʼ. ἀλλʼ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους —
καὶ ταῦθʼ ἅμʼ ἠγόρευε καὶ χερὸς λαβὼν
παρῆγεν ἡμᾶς — οὐδʼ ἀπαρνεῖσθαι χρεών·

[¶147] [And when we were in the house, he gave the command:] “Let someone bring water immediately for my guests, so that they may stand around the altar near the basin.” But Orestes said: “Just now we purified ourselves in clean water from the river’s streams.”

> Greek: [ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐν οἴκοις ἦμεν, ἐννέπει τάδε·]
λούτρʼ ὡς τάχιστα τοῖς ξένοις τις αἰρέτω,
ὡς ἀμφὶ βωμὸν στῶσι χερνίβων πέλας.
ἀλλʼ εἶπʼ Ὀρέστης· Ἀρτίως ἡγνίσμεθα
λουτροῖσι καθαροῖς ποταμίων ῥείθρων ἄπο.

[¶148] “So if strangers must join in the sacrifice with citizens, Aegisthus, we are ready and will not refuse, lord.” So they ended their public conversation. The slaves who formed the master’s bodyguard laid aside their spears, and all applied their hands to the work.

> Greek: εἰ δὲ ξένους ἀστοῖσι συνθύειν χρεών,
Αἴγισθʼ, ἕτοιμοι κοὐκ ἀπαρνούμεσθʼ, ἄναξ.
τοῦτον μὲν οὖν μεθεῖσαν ἐκ μέσου λόγον·
λόγχας δὲ θέντες δεσπότου φρουρήματα
δμῶες πρὸς ἔργον πάντες ἵεσαν χέρας·

[¶149] Some brought the bowl to catch the blood, others took up baskets, while others kindled fire and set cauldrons around the hearth, and the whole roof rang. Then your mother’s bed-fellow took barley for sprinkling, and cast it upon the altar with these words,
“Nymphs of the rocks, may I and my wife, the daughter of Tyndareus, often sacrifice at home, in good fortune as now, and may my enemies suffer”—meaning you and Orestes. But my master prayed for the opposite, not speaking the words aloud,
that he might win his father’s house. Aegisthus took from a basket a long straight knife, and cutting off some of the calf’s hair laid it with his right hand on the sacred fire, and then cut the calf’s throat when the servants had lifted it upon their shoulders, and said this to your brother:

> Greek: οἳ μὲν σφαγεῖον ἔφερον, οἳ δʼ ᾖρον κανᾶ,
ἄλλοι δὲ πῦρ ἀνῆπτον ἀμφί τʼ ἐσχάρας
λέβητας ὤρθουν· πᾶσα δʼ ἐκτύπει στέγη.
λαβὼν δὲ προχύτας μητρὸς εὐνέτης σέθεν
ἔβαλλε βωμούς, τοιάδʼ ἐννέπων ἔπη·
νύμφαι πετραῖαι, πολλάκις με βουθυτεῖν
καὶ τὴν κατʼ οἴκους Τυνδαρίδα δάμαρτʼ ἐμὴν
πράσσοντας ὡς νῦν, τοὺς δʼ ἐμοὺς ἐχθροὺς κακῶς
— λέγων Ὀρέστην καὶ σέ. δεσπότης δʼ ἐμὸς
τἀναντίʼ ηὔχετʼ, οὐ γεγωνίσκων λόγους,
λαβεῖν πατρῷα δώματʼ. ἐκ κανοῦ δʼ ἑλὼν
Αἴγισθος ὀρθὴν σφαγίδα, μοσχείαν τρίχα
τεμὼν ἐφʼ ἁγνὸν πῦρ ἔθηκε δεξιᾷ,
κἄσφαξʼ ἐπʼ ὤμων μόσχον ὡς ἦραν χεροῖν
δμῶες, λέγει δὲ σῷ κασιγνήτῳ τάδε·

[¶150] “They boast that this is among the honorable accomplishments for the Thessalians: to cut up a bull rightly and to tame horses; take the knife, stranger, and show us if the report about the Thessalians is true.”

> Greek: Ἐκ τῶν καλῶν κομποῦσι τοῖσι Θεσσαλοῖς
εἶναι τόδʼ, ὅστις ταῦρον ἀρταμεῖ καλῶς
ἵππους τʼ ὀχμάζει· λαβὲ σίδηρον, ὦ ξένε,
δεῖξόν τε φήμην ἔτυμον ἀμφὶ Θεσσαλῶν.

[¶151] Orestes seized in his hands the well-hammered Dorian knife and
threw from his shoulders his graceful buckled robe; he chose Pylades as an assistant in the work and drove back the servants; and taking the calf by the hoof, he laid bare its white flesh, with arm outstretched, and flayed the hide quicker than a runner
finishes the two laps of the horses’ race-course; and then he laid the flanks open. Aegisthus took the entrails in his hands and inspected them. Now the liver had no lobe, while the portal vein and near-by gall-bladder revealed threatening approaches to the one who was observing it.

> Greek: ὁ δʼ εὐκρότητον Δωρίδʼ ἁρπάσας χεροῖν,
ῥίψας ἀπʼ ὤμων εὐπρεπῆ πορπάματα,
Πυλάδην μὲν εἵλετʼ ἐν πόνοις ὑπηρέτην,
δμῶας δʼ ἀπωθεῖ· καὶ λαβὼν μόσχου πόδα,
λευκὰς ἐγύμνου σάρκας ἐκτείνων χέρα·
θᾶσσον δὲ βύρσαν ἐξέδειρεν ἢ δρομεὺς
δισσοὺς διαύλους ἱππίους διήνυσε,
κἀνεῖτο λαγόνας. ἱερὰ δʼ ἐς χεῖρας λαβὼν
Αἴγισθος ἤθρει. καὶ λοβὸς μὲν οὐ προσῆν
σπλάγχνοις, πύλαι δὲ καὶ δοχαὶ χολῆς πέλας
κακὰς ἔφαινον τῷ σκοποῦντι προσβολάς.

[¶152] Aegisthus was angry, but my master asked, “Why are you disheartened?” “Stranger, I fear some treachery from abroad. Agamemnon’s son is the man I hate most, and an enemy to my house.” But Orestes said, “Do you really fear treachery from an exile,”
“when you rule the city? Instead of the Dorian knife, let someone bring me a Thessalian axe and let me split the breast-bone, so that we may hold the sacrificial feast.” He took the axe and cut. Now Aegisthus took up the entrails, and was inspecting and sorting them out. As he was bending down,
your brother rose on tiptoe and struck him on the spine; his back-bone broke apart; with his whole body he struggled up and down, and cried out, dying hard in his blood. As soon as the servants saw it, they rushed to arms,
many to fight against two; yet Pylades and Orestes in their bravery stood to face them, brandishing their weapons. Then he said: “I do not come hostile to this city or to my own servants; I, the unhappy Orestes, have avenged myself on the murderer of my father;”
“but do not kill me, old servants of my father!” They, when they heard his words, held back their spears, and he was recognized by an old man, who had been long in the household. Immediately they crowned your brother with a wreath, and shouted with joy.
And he comes bringing a head to show you, not that of the Gorgon, but of the one you hate, Aegisthus; his death today has paid in blood a bitter debt of blood.

> Greek: χὣ μὲν σκυθράζει, δεσπότης δʼ ἀνιστορεῖ·
τί χρῆμʼ ἀθυμεῖς; — ὦ ξένʼ, ὀρρωδῶ τινα
δόλον θυραῖον. ἔστι δʼ ἔχθιστος βροτῶν
Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖς πολέμιός τʼ ἐμοῖς δόμοις·
ὃ δʼ εἶπε· φυγάδος δῆτα δειμαίνεις δόλον,
πόλεως ἀνάσσων; οὐχ, ὅπως παστήρια
θοινασόμεσθα, Φθιάδʼ ἀντὶ Δωρικῆς
οἴσει τις ἡμῖν κοπίδʼ, ἀπορρήξω χέλυν;
λαβὼν δὲ κόπτει. σπλάγχνα δʼ Αἴγισθος λαβὼν
ἤθρει διαιρῶν. τοῦ δὲ νεύοντος κάτω
ὄνυχας ἐπʼ ἄκρους στὰς κασίγνητος σέθεν
ἐς σφονδύλους ἔπαισε, νωτιαῖα δὲ
ἔρρηξεν ἄρθρα· πᾶν δὲ σῶμʼ ἄνω κάτω
ἤσπαιρεν ἠλάλαζε δυσθνῄσκων φόνῳ.
δμῶες δʼ ἰδόντες εὐθὺς ᾖξαν ἐς δόρυ,
πολλοὶ μάχεσθαι πρὸς δύʼ· ἀνδρείας δʼ ὕπο
ἔστησαν ἀντίπρῳρα σείοντες βέλη
Πυλάδης Ὀρέστης τʼ. εἶπε δʼ· οὐχὶ δυσμενὴς
ἥκω πόλει τῇδʼ οὐδʼ ἐμοῖς ὀπάοσιν,
φονέα δὲ πατρὸς ἀντετιμωρησάμην
τλήμων Ὀρέστης· ἀλλὰ μή με καίνετε,
πατρὸς παλαιοὶ δμῶες. οἳ δʼ, ἐπεὶ λόγων
ἤκουσαν, ἔσχον κάμακας· ἐγνώσθη δʼ ὑπὸ
γέροντος ἐν δόμοισιν ἀρχαίου τινός.
στέφουσι δʼ εὐθὺς σοῦ κασιγνήτου κάρα
χαίροντες ἀλαλάζοντες. ἔρχεται δὲ σοὶ
κάρα ʼπιδείξων οὐχὶ Γοργόνος φέρων,
ἀλλʼ ὃν στυγεῖς Αἴγισθον· αἷμα δʼ αἵματος
πικρὸς δανεισμὸς ἦλθε τῷ θανόντι νῦν.

[¶153] Chorus:
Set your step to the dance, my dear,
like a fawn leaping high up to heaven with joy. Your brother is victorious and has accomplished the wearing of a crown... beside the streams of Alpheus. Come sing
a glorious victory ode, to my dance.

> Greek: Χορός:
θὲς ἐς χορόν, ὦ φίλα, ἴχνος,
ὡς νεβρὸς οὐράνιον
πήδημα κουφίζουσα σὺν ἀγλαΐᾳ.
νικᾷ στεφαναφορίαν
κρείσσω τοῖς παρʼ Ἀλφειοῦ ῥεέθροισι τελέσσας
κασίγνητος σέθεν· ἀλλʼ ἐπάειδε
καλλίνικον ᾠδὰν ἐμῷ χορῷ.

[¶154] Electra:
O light, O blaze of the sun, drawn by its team! O earth and night, all that I saw before; now I am free to open my eyes, for Aegisthus, my father’s murderer, has fallen.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φέγγος, ὦ τέθριππον ἡλίου σέλας,
ὦ γαῖα καὶ νὺξ ἣν ἐδερκόμην πάρος,
νῦν ὄμμα τοὐμὸν ἀμπτυχαί τʼ ἐλεύθεροι,
ἐπεὶ πατρὸς πέπτωκεν Αἴγισθος φονεύς.

[¶155] Come, let me bring out whatever adornment for hair that I have and my house contains, friends, and I shall wreath the head of my conquering brother.

> Greek: φέρʼ, οἷα δὴ χω καὶ δόμοι κεύθουσί μου
κόμης ἀγάλματʼ ἐξενέγκωμαι, φίλαι,
στέψω τʼ ἀδελφοῦ κρᾶτα τοῦ νικηφόρου.

[¶156] Chorus:
It is for you to bring adornment now for his head;
our dance, dear to the Muses, will go on. Now, those who were once our dear kings will rule our land justly, having destroyed the unjust. So let the shout, harmonious with joy, go up.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ μέν νυν ἀγάλματʼ ἄειρε
κρατί· τὸ δʼ ἁμέτερον
χωρήσεται Μούσαισι χόρευμα φίλον.
νῦν οἱ πάρος ἁμέτεροι
γαίας τυραννεύσουσι φίλοι βασιλῆες,
δικαίως … τοὺς ἀδίκους καθελόντες.
ἀλλʼ ἴτω ξύναυλος βοὰ χαρᾷ.

[¶157] Electra:
O glorious victor, Orestes, son of a father victorious in battle under Troy, receive this band for the locks of your hair. You have come home, running a contest of the stadium that was not useless, but rather killing
Aegisthus, the murderer of your father and mine. And you, his companion, Pylades, taught by a most pious father, receive a garland from my hand; for you also bear an equal part of the contest, with Orestes. May you always seem to me fortunate!

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ καλλίνικε, πατρὸς ἐκ νικηφόρου
γεγώς, Ὀρέστα, τῆς ὑπʼ Ἰλίῳ μάχης,
δέξαι κόμης σῆς βοστρύχων ἀνδήματα.
ἥκεις γὰρ οὐκ ἀχρεῖον ἔκπλεθρον δραμὼν
ἀγῶνʼ ἐς οἴκους, ἀλλὰ πολέμιον κτανὼν
Αἴγισθον, ὃς σὸν πατέρα κἀμὸν ὤλεσε.
σύ τʼ, ὦ παρασπίστʼ, ἀνδρὸς εὐσεβεστάτου
παίδευμα Πυλάδη, στέφανον ἐξ ἐμῆς χερὸς
δέχου· φέρῃ γὰρ καὶ σὺ τῷδʼ ἴσον μέρος
ἀγῶνος· αἰεὶ δʼ εὐτυχεῖς φαίνοισθέ μοι.

[¶158] Orestes:
First believe that the gods, Electra, are the leaders of our fortune, and then praise me as the servant of them and of fate. I come, having killed Aegisthus not in word but in deed; to add this proof to your knowledge,
I am bringing you his corpse, which, if you wish, you may expose as prey for wild animals or impale and press it down on a stake as spoil for birds, the children of the air; for now he is your slave, once called your master.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
θεοὺς μὲν ἡγοῦ πρῶτον, Ἠλέκτρα, τύχης
ἀρχηγέτας τῆσδʼ, εἶτα κἄμʼ ἐπαίνεσον
τὸν τῶν θεῶν τε τῆς τύχης θʼ ὑπηρέτην.
ἥκω γὰρ οὐ λόγοισιν ἀλλʼ ἔργοις κτανὼν
Αἴγισθον· ὡς δὲ τῷ σάφʼ εἰδέναι τάδε
προσθῶμεν, αὐτὸν τὸν θανόντα σοι φέρω,
ὃν εἴτε χρῄζεις θηρσὶν ἁρπαγὴν πρόθες,
ἢ σκῦλον οἰωνοῖσιν, αἰθέρος τέκνοις,
πήξασʼ ἔρεισον σκόλοπι· σὸς γάρ ἐστι νῦν
[δοῦλος, πάροιθε δεσπότης κεκλημένος.]

[¶159] Electra:
I am ashamed, but equally I wish to speak.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
αἰσχύνομαι μέν, βούλομαι δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅμως.

[¶160] Orestes:
What is it? Speak, as you are free from fear.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί χρῆμα; λέξον· ὡς φόβου γʼ ἔξωθεν εἶ.

[¶161] Electra:
I am ashamed to insult the dead, for fear someone might hurl malice at me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
νεκροὺς ὑβρίζειν, μή μέ τις φθόνῳ βάλῃ.