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

# Orestes · Ὀρέστης

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

After killing his mother, Orestes waits with Electra for Argos to pass sentence.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg016, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg016.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.

## 3. Lines 1121–1693

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-orestes/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-orestes/3/#p-N

[¶0] Pylades:
We will lament our sufferings to her.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
γόους πρὸς αὐτὴν θησόμεσθʼ ἃ πάσχομεν.

[¶1] Orestes:
So that she will shed tears, although her heart is glad.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὥστʼ ἐκδακρῦσαί γʼ ἔνδοθεν κεχαρμένην.

[¶2] Pylades:
And our condition will be like hers.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
καὶ νῷν παρέσται ταῦθʼ ἅπερ κείνῃ τότε.

[¶3] Orestes:
How shall we proceed next in our contest?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔπειτʼ ἀγῶνα πῶς ἀγωνιούμεθα;

[¶4] Pylades:
We shall have swords concealed in our cloaks.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
κρύπτʼ ἐν πέπλοισι τοισίδʼ ἕξομεν ξίφη.

[¶5] Orestes:
Will we dispose of her attendants first?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πρόσθεν δʼ ὀπαδῶν τίς ὄλεθρος γενήσεται;

[¶6] Pylades:
We will shut them up in different parts of the house.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
ἐκκλῄσομεν σφᾶς ἄλλον ἄλλοσε στέγης.

[¶7] Orestes:
And whoever refuses to be quiet, we must kill.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ τόν γε μὴ σιγῶντʼ ἀποκτείνειν χρεών.

[¶8] Pylades:
And then the deed itself shows us where we must exert ourselves.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
εἶτʼ αὐτὸ δηλοῖ τοὔργον οἷ τείνειν χρεών.

[¶9] Oretes:
To kill Helen; I understand that watchword.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
Ἑλένην φονεύειν· μανθάνω τὸ σύμβολον.

[¶10] Pylades:
You have it; now hear how sound my scheme is. If we drew the sword upon a woman of greater chastity, the murder would be infamous; but, as it is, she will be punished for the sake of all Hellas,
whose fathers she slew, whose children she destroyed, and made widows out of brides. There will be shouts of joy, and they will kindle the altars of the gods, invoking on our heads many blessings, because we shed a wicked woman’s blood.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
ἔγνως· ἄκουσον δʼ ὡς καλῶς βουλεύομαι.
εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἐς γυναῖκα σωφρονεστέραν
ξίφος μεθεῖμεν, δυσκλεὴς ἂν ἦν φόνος·
νῦν δʼ ὑπὲρ ἁπάσης Ἑλλάδος δώσει δίκην,
ὧν πατέρας ἔκτεινʼ, ὧν δʼ ἀπώλεσεν τέκνα,
νύμφας τʼ ἔθηκεν ὀρφανὰς ξυναόρων.
ὀλολυγμὸς ἔσται, πῦρ τʼ ἀνάψουσιν θεοῖς,
σοὶ πολλὰ κἀμοὶ κέδνʼ ἀρώμενοι τυχεῖν,
κακῆς γυναικὸς οὕνεχʼ αἷμʼ ἐπράξαμεν.

[¶11] After killing her, you will not be called “the matricide,” but, resigning that title, you will succeed to a better, and be called the slayer of Helen the murderess. It can never, never be right that Menelaus should prosper, and your father, your sister and you should die,
and your mother—but I pass that by, for it is not seemly to mention it—and for him to possess your home, though it was by Agamemnon’s prowess that he recovered his bride. May I die, if we do not draw our swords upon her! But if we do not accomplish Helen’s death,
we will set fire to the house and die. For we will not fail to achieve one distinction, an honorable death or an honorable escape.

> Greek: ὁ μητροφόντης δʼ οὐ καλῇ ταύτην κτανών,
ἀλλʼ ἀπολιπὼν τοῦτʼ ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον πεσῇ,
Ἑλένης λεγόμενος τῆς πολυκτόνου φονεύς.
οὐ δεῖ ποτʼ, οὐ δεῖ, Μενέλεων μὲν εὐτυχεῖν,
τὸν σὸν δὲ πατέρα καὶ σὲ κἀδελφὴν θανεῖν,
μητέρα τε — ἐῶ τοῦτʼ· οὐ γὰρ εὐπρεπὲς λέγειν —
δόμους δʼ ἔχειν σοὺς διʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος δόρυ
λαβόντα νύμφην· μὴ γὰρ οὖν ζῴην ἔτι,
ἢν μὴ ʼπʼ ἐκείνῃ φάσγανον σπασώμεθα.
ἢν δʼ οὖν τὸν Ἑλένης μὴ κατάσχωμεν φόνον,
πρήσαντες οἴκους τούσδε κατθανούμεθα.
ἑνὸς γὰρ οὐ σφαλέντες ἕξομεν κλέος,
καλῶς θανόντες ἢ καλῶς σεσῳσμένοι.

[¶12] Chorus Leader:
The daughter of Tyndareus, who has brought shame on her sex, has justly earned the hatred of every woman.

> Greek: Χορός:
πάσαις γυναιξὶν ἀξία στυγεῖν ἔφυ
ἡ Τυνδαρὶς παῖς, ἣ κατῄσχυνεν γένος.

[¶13] Orestes:
Ah! there is nothing better than a trusty friend, neither wealth nor monarchy; a crowd of people is of no account in exchange for a noble friend. You were the one who devised the vengeance against Aegisthus, and stood by me in danger,
and now again you are offering me a means to punish my foes and do not stand aside—but I will cease praising you, for there is something wearisome even in being praised to excess. Now since in any case I must breathe my last, I want to do something to my enemies before my death,
so that I may requite with ruin those who betrayed me, and so that those who made me suffer may grieve. Yes! I am the son of Agamemnon, who was considered worthy to rule Hellas, no tyrant but yet god-like in power; I will not disgrace him
by submitting to die like a slave; my last breath shall be free and I will take vengeance on Menelaus. For if we could secure one object, we would be lucky, if a means of safety should unexpectedly come our way from somewhere, and we should be the slayers, not the slain; this is what I pray for.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φεῦ·
οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν κρεῖσσον ἢ φίλος σαφής,
οὐ πλοῦτος, οὐ τυραννίς· ἀλόγιστον δέ τι
τὸ πλῆθος ἀντάλλαγμα γενναίου φίλου.
σὺ γὰρ τά τʼ εἰς Αἴγισθον ἐξηῦρες κακὰ
καὶ πλησίον παρῆσθα κινδύνων ἐμοί,
νῦν τʼ αὖ δίδως μοι πολεμίων τιμωρίαν
κοὐκ ἐκποδὼν εἶ — παύσομαί σʼ αἰνῶν, ἐπεὶ
βάρος τι κἀν τῷδʼ ἐστίν, αἰνεῖσθαι λίαν.
ἐγὼ δὲ πάντως ἐκπνέων ψυχὴν ἐμὴν
δράσας τι χρῄζω τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐχθροὺς θανεῖν,
ἵνʼ ἀνταναλώσω μὲν οἵ με προύδοσαν,
στένωσι δʼ οἵπερ κἄμʼ ἔθηκαν ἄθλιον.
Ἀγαμέμνονός τοι παῖς πέφυχʼ, ὃς Ἑλλάδος
ἦρξʼ ἀξιωθείς, οὐ τύραννος, ἀλλʼ ὅμως
ῥώμην θεοῦ τινʼ ἔσχε· ὃν οὐ καταισχυνῶ
δοῦλον παρασχὼν θάνατον, ἀλλʼ ἐλευθέρως
ψυχὴν ἀφήσω, Μενέλεων δὲ τείσομαι.
ἑνὸς γὰρ εἰ λαβοίμεθʼ, εὐτυχοῖμεν ἄν,
εἴ ποθεν ἄελπτος παραπέσοι σωτηρία
κτανοῦσι μὴ θανοῦσιν· εὔχομαι τάδε.

[¶14] This wish of mine is a pleasant dream to cheer the heart, without cost, by means of the mouth’s winged words.

> Greek: ὃ βούλομαι γάρ, ἡδὺ καὶ διὰ στόμα
πτηνοῖσι μύθοις ἀδαπάνως τέρψαι φρένα.

[¶15] Electra:
I think I have it, brother, a means of safety for you, and for him and thirdly for myself.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐγώ, κασίγνητʼ, αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἔχειν δοκῶ,
σωτηρίαν σοὶ τῷδέ τʼ ἐκ τρίτων τʼ ἐμοί.

[¶16] Orestes:
You mean divine providence. But why do I say that?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
θεοῦ λέγεις πρόνοιαν. ἀλλὰ ποῦ τόδε;

[¶17] Since I know the natural shrewdness of your heart.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ τὸ συνετόν γʼ οἶδα σῇ ψυχῇ παρόν.

[¶18] Electra:
Listen to me now; and you (to Pylades) pay attention also.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἄκουε δή νυν· καὶ σὺ δεῦρο νοῦν ἔχε.

[¶19] Orestes:
Speak; the prospect of good news holds a certain pleasure.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
λέγʼ· ὡς τὸ μέλλειν ἀγάθʼ ἔχει τινʼ ἡδονήν.

[¶20] Electra:
You know Helen’s daughter? Of course you do.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Ἑλένης κάτοισθα θυγατέρʼ; εἰδότʼ ἠρόμην.

[¶21] Orestes:
I know her, Hermione, whom my mother reared.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οἶδʼ, ἣν ἔθρεψεν Ἑρμιόνην μήτηρ ἐμή.

[¶22] Electra:
She has gone to Clytemnestra’s tomb.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
αὕτη βέβηκε πρὸς Κλυταιμήστρας τάφον.

[¶23] Orestes:
To do what? What hope are you hinting at?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί χρῆμα δράσουσʼ; ὑποτίθης τίνʼ ἐλπίδα;

[¶24] Electra:
She was going to pour a libation over the tomb of our mother.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
χοὰς κατασπείσουσʼ ὑπὲρ μητρὸς τάφῳ.

[¶25] Orestes:
Well, how does what you have said lead to our safety?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ δὴ τί μοι τοῦτʼ εἶπας ἐς σωτηρίαν;

[¶26] Electra:
Seize her as a hostage on her way back.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ξυλλάβεθʼ ὅμηρον τήνδʼ, ὅταν στείχῃ πάλιν.

[¶27] Orestes:
What good can your suggested remedy do us three friends?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τίνος τόδʼ εἶπας φάρμακον τρισσοῖς φίλοις;

[¶28] Electra:
If, after Helen’s slaughter, Menelaus tries to do anything to you or to Pylades and me—for this bond of friendship is wholly one—say that you will kill Hermione; you must draw your sword and hold it to the maiden’s throat.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Ἑλένης θανούσης, ἤν τι Μενέλεώς σε δρᾷ
ἢ τόνδε κἀμέ — πᾶν γὰρ ἓν φίλον τόδε —
λέγʼ ὡς φονεύσεις Ἑρμιόνην· ξίφος δὲ χρὴ
δέρῃ πρὸς αὐτῇ παρθένου σπάσαντʼ ἔχειν.

[¶29] If Menelaus, when he sees Helen fallen in her blood, tries to save you to insure the girl’s life, allow him to take his daughter to his arms; but if he makes no effort to curb the angry outburst and leaves you to die, then cut the maiden’s throat.

> Greek: κἂν μέν σε σῴζῃ μὴ θανεῖν χρῄζων κόρην
Ἑλένης Μενέλεως πτῶμʼ ἰδὼν ἐν αἵματι,
μέθες πεπᾶσθαι πατρὶ παρθένου δέμας·
ἢν δʼ ὀξυθύμου μὴ κρατῶν φρονήματος
κτείνῃ σε, καὶ σὺ σφάζε παρθένου δέρην.

[¶30] And I think if he puts in a mighty appearance at first, he will calm down in time; for he is not bold or brave by nature. That is my line of defense for our safety. My speech is over.

> Greek: καί νιν δοκῶ, τὸ πρῶτον ἢν πολὺς παρῇ,
χρόνῳ μαλάξειν σπλάγχνον· οὔτε γὰρ θρασὺς
οὔτʼ ἄλκιμος πέφυκε. τήνδʼ ἡμῖν ἔχω
σωτηρίας ἔπαλξιν. εἴρηται λόγος.

[¶31] Orestes:
O you that have the spirit of a man,
though your body shows you to be a woman, how far more worthy you are to live than to die! Pylades, you will lose such a woman to your sorrow, or if you live, you will have a blessed marriage.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ τὰς φρένας μὲν ἄρσενας κεκτημένη,
τὸ σῶμα δʼ ἐν γυναιξὶ θηλείαις πρέπον,
ὡς ἀξία ζῆν μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν ἔφυς.
Πυλάδη, τοιαύτης ἆρʼ ἁμαρτήσῃ τάλας
γυναικὸς ἢ ζῶν μακάριον κτήσῃ λέχος.

[¶32] Pylades:
Then may it be so, and may she come to the city of Phocis
with all the honors of a happy wedding.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο, Φωκέων δʼ ἔλθοι πόλιν
καλοῖσιν ὑμεναίοισιν ἀξιουμένη.

[¶33] Orestes:
How soon will Hermione return to the palace? All the rest was very well said, if we succeed in catching this impious father’s cub.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἥξει δʼ ἐς οἴκους Ἑρμιόνη τίνος χρόνου;
ὡς τἄλλα γʼ εἶπας, εἴπερ εὐτυχήσομεν,
κάλλισθʼ, ἑλόντες σκύμνον ἀνοσίου πατρός.

[¶34] Electra:
Well, I expect she is near the house already,
for the length of time agrees exactly.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
καὶ δὴ πέλας νιν δωμάτων εἶναι δοκῶ·
τοῦ γὰρ χρόνου τὸ μῆκος αὐτὸ συντρέχει.

[¶35] Orestes:
Good; you, Electra, my sister, stay before the palace and await the maiden’s approach; keep watch in case any one, whether an ally or my father’s brother, forestalls us by his entry before the murder is complete;
and then make a signal to the house, either by beating on a panel of the door or calling to us within.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καλῶς· σὺ μέν νυν, σύγγονʼ Ἠλέκτρα, δόμων
πάρος μένουσα παρθένου δέχου πόδα,
φύλασσε δʼ ἤν τις, πρὶν τελευτηθῇ φόνος,
ἢ ξύμμαχός τις ἢ κασίγνητος πατρός,
ἐλθὼν ἐς οἴκους φθῇ, γέγωνέ τʼ ἐς δόμους,
ἢ σανίδα παίσασʼ ἢ λόγους πέμψασʼ ἔσω·

[¶36] Let us enter now and arm ourselves with swords for the final struggle, [Pylades, for you share the labor with me.]

> Greek: ἡμεῖς δʼ ἔσω στείχοντες ἐπὶ τὸν ἔσχατον
ἀγῶνʼ ὁπλιζώμεσθα φασγάνῳ χέρας,
[Πυλάδη· σὺ γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖς ἐμοὶ πόνους.]

[¶37] O father, in your home of gloomy night, your son Orestes calls you to come to the rescue of the destitute. It is on your account I am wrongfully suffering, and it is by your brother that I have been betrayed for doing right; it is his wife I wish to take
and kill; you be our accomplice for this deed.

> Greek: ὦ δῶμα ναίων νυκτὸς ὀρφναίας πάτερ,
καλεῖ σʼ Ὀρέστης παῖς σὸς ἐπίκουρον μολεῖν
τοῖς δεομένοισι. διὰ σὲ γὰρ πάσχω τάλας
ἀδίκως· προδέδομαι δʼ ὑπὸ κασιγνήτου σέθεν,
δίκαια πράξας· οὗ θέλω δάμαρθʼ ἑλὼν
κτεῖναι· σὺ δʼ ἡμῖν τοῦδε συλλήπτωρ γενοῦ.

[¶38] Electra:
Oh father, come! if within the ground you hear the cry of your children, who are dying for your sake.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ πάτερ, ἱκοῦ δῆτʼ, εἰ κλύεις ἔσω χθονὸς
τέκνων καλούντων, οἳ σέθεν θνῄσκουσʼ ὕπερ.

[¶39] Pylades:
O kinsman of my father, Agamemnon, hear my prayers also; save your children.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
ὦ συγγένεια πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, κἀμὰς λιτάς,
Ἀγάμεμνον, εἰσάκουσον· ἔκσῳσον τέκνα.

[¶40] Orestes:
I killed my mother—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔκτεινα μητέρα —

[¶41] Electra:
I held the sword—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἡψάμην δʼ ἐγὼ ξίφους —

[¶42] Pylades:
I... set them free from fear—

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπεβούλευσα κἀπέλυσʼ ὄκνου —

[¶43] Orestes:
To aid you, father.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σοί, πάτερ, ἀρήγων.

[¶44] Electra:
Nor did I betray you.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐδʼ ἐγὼ προύδωκά σε.

[¶45] Pylades:
Will you not hear these reproaches and rescue your children?

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
οὔκουν ὀνείδη τάδε κλύων ῥύσῃ τέκνα;

[¶46] Orestes:
With tears I pour you a libation.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δακρύοις κατασπένδω σε.

[¶47] Electra:
And I with laments.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἐγὼ δʼ οἴκτοισί γε.

[¶48] Pylades:
Cease, and let us set about our business. If prayers really do pierce the ground, he hears. O Zeus, god of my fathers, and holy Justice, give success to him and me and her; for there is one struggle for three friends, and one penalty,
for all to live or—pay death’s account. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades.

> Greek: Πυλάδης:
παύσασθε, καὶ πρὸς ἔργον ἐξορμώμεθα.
εἴπερ γὰρ εἴσω γῆς ἀκοντίζουσʼ ἀραί,
κλύει. σὺ δʼ, ὦ Ζεῦ πρόγονε καὶ Δίκης σέβας,
δότʼ εὐτυχῆσαι τῷδʼ ἐμοί τε τῇδέ τε·
τρισσοῖς φίλοις γὰρ εἷς ἀγών, δίκη μία,
ἢ ζῆν ἅπασιν ἢ — θανεῖν ὀφείλεται.

[¶49] Electra:
My dear friends of Mycenae, of foremost rank in Argos, the home of the Pelasgians.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
Μυκηνίδες ὦ φίλαι,
τὰ πρῶτα κατὰ Πελασγὸν ἕδος Ἀργείων.

[¶50] Chorus:
What are you saying to us, mistress?
For this honored name is still left for you in the Danaid town.

> Greek: Χορός:
τίνα θροεῖς αὐδάν, πότνια; παραμένει
γὰρ ἔτι σοι τόδʼ ἐν Δαναϊδῶν πόλει.

[¶51] Electra:
Station yourselves, some here along the high road, others there on some other path, to watch the house.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
στῆθʼ αἳ μὲν ὑμῶν τόνδʼ ἁμαξήρη τρίβον,
αἳ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἄλλον οἶμον ἐς φρουρὰν δόμων.

[¶52] Chorus:
But why do you call me to this service? Tell me, my dear.

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δέ με τόδε χρέος ἀπύεις;
ἔνεπέ μοι, φίλα.

[¶53] Electra:
I am afraid that some one, who is stationed at the house for slaughter, may find trouble upon trouble.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
φόβος ἔχει με μή τις ἐπὶ δώμασι
σταθεὶς ἐπὶ φοίνιον αἷμα
πήματα πήμασιν ἐξεύρῃ.

[¶54] First Semi-Chorus:
Let us make haste and go on; I will keep careful watch upon this road towards the east.

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Α:
χωρεῖτʼ, ἐπειγώμεσθʼ· ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τρίβον
τόνδʼ ἐκφυλάξω, τὸν πρὸς ἡλίου βολάς.

[¶55] Second Semi-Chorus:
And I on this one, that leads westward.

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Β:
καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ τόνδʼ, ὃς πρὸς ἑσπέραν φέρει.

[¶56] Electra:
Throw a glance sideways.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
δόχμιά νυν κόρας διάφερʼ ὀμμάτων.

[¶57] Chorus:
Here and there, then we are looking back again,
as you tell us.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐκεῖθεν ἐνθάδʼ, εἶτα παλινσκοπιὰν
ἔχομεν, ὡς θροεῖς.

[¶58] Electra:
Cast your eyes around, let them see everything, through your tresses.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἑλίσσετέ νυν βλέφαρα,
κόραισι δίδοτε πάντα διὰ βοστρύχων.

[¶59] First Semi-Chorus:
Who is that on the road? Who is this
country-man wandering round your house?

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Α:
ὅδε τις ἐν τρίβῳ [προσέρχεται]. τίς ὅδʼ ἄρʼ ἀμ-
φὶ μέλαθρον πολεῖ σὸν ἀγρότας ἀνήρ;

[¶60] Electra:
Ah! friends, we are ruined; he will at once reveal to our enemies the armed ambush.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἀπωλόμεσθʼ ἄρʼ, ὦ φίλαι· κεκρυμμένους
θῆρας ξιφήρεις αὐτίκʼ ἐχθροῖσιν φανεῖ.

[¶61] Second Semi-Chorus:
(Reconnoitring. Calm your fears; the road is not occupied, as you think, my dear.

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Α:
ἄφοβος ἔχε· κενός, ὦ φίλα,
στίβος ὃν οὐ δοκεῖς.

[¶62] Electra:
(Turning to the other watchers.) Well? Is your side still secure? Give me a good report, if the space before the court-yard is deserted.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δέ; τὸ σὸν βέβαιον ἔτι μοι μένει;
δὸς ἀγγελίαν ἀγαθάν τινʼ,
εἰ τάδʼ ἔρημα τὰ πρόσθʼ αὐλᾶς.

[¶63] First Semi-Chorus:
All goes well here; look to your own watch, for no Danaid is approaching us.

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Β:
καλῶς τά γʼ ἐνθένδʼ. ἀλλὰ τἀπὶ σοῦ σκόπει·
ὡς οὔτις ἡμῖν Δαναϊδῶν πελάζεται.

[¶64] Second Semi-Chorus:
Your report agrees with mine; there is no noise here either.

> Greek: Ἡμίχορος Α:
ἐς ταὐτὸν ἥκεις· καὶ γὰρ οὐδὲ τῇδʼ ὄχλος.

[¶65] Electra:
Well then, I will listen in the gateway.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
φέρε νυν ἐν πύλαισιν ἀκοὰν βάλω.

[¶66] Chorus:
(Calling through the door.) You within the house, why are you delaying to spill your victim’s blood,
now that all is quiet?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί μέλλεθʼ οἱ κατʼ οἶκον ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ
σφάγια φοινίσσειν;

[¶67] Electra: spoken
They do not hear; alas for my troubles! Can it be that her beauty has blunted their swords?
sung
Soon some Argive in full armor, hurrying
to her rescue, will attack the palace.
spoken
Keep a better look-out; it is not a contest of sitting still; turn about, some here, some there.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
οὐκ εἰσακούουσʼ· ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.
ἆρʼ ἐς τὸ κάλλος ἐκκεκώφηται ξίφη;
τάχα τις Ἀργείων ἔνοπλος ὁρμήσας
ποδὶ βοηδρόμῳ μέλαθρα προσμείξει.
σκέψασθέ νυν ἄμεινον· οὐχ ἕδρας ἀγών·
ἀλλʼ αἳ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἑλίσσετε.

[¶68] Chorus: sung
I am looking everywhere in turn along the road.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀμείβω κέλευθον σκοποῦσα πάντῃ.

[¶69] Helen: within
Oh, Pelasgian Argos! I am being foully murdered.

> Greek: Ἑλένη:
ἰὼ Πελασγὸν Ἄργος, ὄλλυμαι κακῶς.

[¶70] Chorus:
Did you hear? The men have put their hand to the slaughter.

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἠκούσαθʼ; ἅνδρες χεῖρʼ ἔχουσιν ἐν φόνῳ.

[¶71] It is Helen screaming, at a guess.
Electra: sung
O eternal might of Zeus, of Zeus, only come to help my friends!

> Greek: — Ἑλένης τὸ κώκυμʼ ἐστίν, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι.
Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ Διός, ὦ Διὸς ἀέναον κράτος,
ἔλθʼ ἐπίκουρος ἐμοῖς φίλοισι πάντως.

[¶72] Helen: within
Menelaus, I am dying, but you do not help me, though you are near.

> Greek: Ἑλένη:
Μενέλαε, θνῄσκω· σὺ δὲ παρών μʼ οὐκ ὠφελεῖς.

[¶73] Electra: sung
Slay her, kill her, destroy her! Stab with your twin double-edged swords
the woman who left her father, left her husband, and killed so many of the men of Hellas, slain beside the river-bank, where tears rained down, by the iron darts
all round the eddies of Scamander.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
φονεύετε, καίνετε,
ὄλλυτε, δίπτυχα δίστομα φάσγανα
ἐκ χερὸς ἱέμενοι
τὰν λιποπάτορα λιπόγαμον, ἃ
πλείστους ἔκανεν Ἑλλάνων
δορὶ παρὰ ποταμὸν ὀλομένους,
ὅθι δάκρυα δάκρυσιν ἔπεσεν
σιδαρέοισι βέλεσιν ἀμ-
φὶ τὰς Σκαμάνδρου δίνας.

[¶74] Chorus Leader:
Hush! hush! I caught the sound of a foot-fall on the road near the house.

> Greek: Χορός:
σιγᾶτε σιγᾶτʼ· ᾐσθόμην κτύπου τινὸς
κέλευθον ἐσπεσόντος ἀμφὶ δώματα.

[¶75] Electra:
My dearest friends, it is Hermione advancing into the middle of the bloodshed; let our clamor cease.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ φίλταται γυναῖκες, ἐς μέσον φόνον
ἥδʼ Ἑρμιόνη πάρεστι· παύσωμεν βοήν.

[¶76] For she comes headlong into the meshes of the net. The prey will be good, if it is caught. Take up your places again with looks composed and faces not betraying what has happened; I too will have a gloomy look,
as if I knew nothing of what has been done. Addressing Hermione as she approaches. Ah! maiden, have you come from wreathing Clytemnestra’s grave and pouring libations to the dead?

> Greek: στείχει γὰρ ἐσπεσοῦσα δικτύων βρόχους.
καλὸν τὸ θήραμʼ, ἢν ἁλῷ, γενήσεται.
πάλιν κατάστηθʼ ἡσύχῳ μὲν ὄμματι,
χρόᾳ δʼ ἀδήλῳ τῶν δεδραμένων πέρι·
κἀγὼ σκυθρωποὺς ὀμμάτων ἕξω κόρας,
ὡς δῆθεν οὐκ εἰδυῖα τἀξειργασμένα.
ὦ παρθένʼ, ἥκεις τὸν Κλυταιμήστρας τάφον
στέψασα καὶ σπείσασα νερτέροις χοάς;

[¶77] Hermione:
Yes, I have returned after securing her favor; but I was filled with some alarm about a cry I heard from the palace
as I was still at a distance.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἥκω, λαβοῦσα πρευμένειαν. ἀλλά μοι
φόβος τις εἰσελήλυθʼ, ἥντινʼ ἐν δόμοις
τηλουρὸς οὖσα δωμάτων κλύω βοήν.

[¶78] Electra:
But why? Our present lot gives cause for groans.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τί δʼ; ἄξιʼ ἡμῖν τυγχάνει στεναγμάτων.

[¶79] Hermione:
Oh, don’t say so! What is your news?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
εὔφημος ἴσθι· τί δὲ νεώτερον λέγεις;

[¶80] Electra:
Argos has sentenced Orestes and me to death.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
θανεῖν Ὀρέστην κἄμʼ ἔδοξε τῇδε γῇ.

[¶81] Hermione:
Oh no! not my own relatives!

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
μὴ δῆτʼ, ἐμοῦ γε συγγενεῖς πεφυκότας.

[¶82] Electra:
It is decreed; we have put on the yoke of necessity.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἄραρʼ· ἀνάγκης δʼ ἐς ζυγὸν καθέσταμεν.

[¶83] Hermione:
Was this the reason of the cry within?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἦ τοῦδʼ ἕκατι καὶ βοὴ κατὰ στέγας;

[¶84] Electra:
Yes, a suppliant cried out as he fell at Helen’s knees—

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἱκέτης γὰρ Ἑλένης γόνασι προσπεσὼν βοᾷ —

[¶85] Hermione:
Who is he? I know nothing more, if you do not tell me.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
τίς; οὐδὲν οἶδα μᾶλλον, ἢν σὺ μὴ λέγῃς.

[¶86] Electra:
Unhappy Orestes, entreating mercy for himself and me.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
τλήμων Ὀρέστης· μὴ θανεῖν, ἐμοῦ θʼ ὕπερ.

[¶87] Hermione:
The house then has good reason to shout.

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἐπʼ ἀξίοισί τἄρʼ ἀνευφημεῖ δόμος.

[¶88] Electra:
What else would make someone entreat more earnestly? But come and throw yourself before your mother in her prosperity, join your friends’ supplication that Menelaus may not see us die.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
περὶ τοῦ γὰρ ἄλλου μᾶλλον ἂν φθέγξαιτό τις;
ἀλλʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ μετάσχες ἱκεσίας φίλοις,
σῇ μητρὶ προσπεσοῦσα τῇ μέγʼ ὀλβίᾳ,
Μενέλαον ἡμᾶς μὴ θανόντας εἰσιδεῖν.

[¶89] O you that were nursed in my mother’s arms, have pity on us and relieve our pain. Come here to the struggle, and I myself will be your guide; for you alone have power over our safety.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ, ὦ τραφεῖσα μητρὸς ἐν χεροῖν ἐμῆς,
οἴκτιρον ἡμᾶς κἀπικούφισον κακῶν.
ἴθʼ εἰς ἀγῶνα δεῦρʼ, ἐγὼ δʼ ἡγήσομαι·
σωτηρίας γὰρ τέρμʼ ἔχεις ἡμῖν μόνη.

[¶90] Hermione:
See, I am hastening to the house;

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
ἰδού, διώκω τὸν ἐμὸν ἐς δόμους πόδα.

[¶91] as far it as rests with me, regard yourselves as safe. Exit Hermione.
Electra:
Now, friends in the house with swords, seize the prey!

> Greek: σώθηθʼ ὅσον γε τοὐπʼ ἐμέ.
Ἠλέκτρα:
ὦ κατὰ στέγας
φίλοι ξιφήρεις, οὐχὶ συλλήψεσθʼ ἄγραν;

[¶92] Hermione: calling from within
Oh no! Who are these I see?

> Greek: Ἑρμιόνη:
οἲ ἐγώ· τίνας τούσδʼ εἰσορῶ;

[¶93] Orestes:
(within.) Silence! You are here for our safety, not yours.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σιγᾶν χρεών·
ἡμῖν γὰρ ἥκεις, οὐχὶ σοί, σωτηρία.

[¶94] Electra:
Hold her, hold her! Point a sword at her throat,
then wait in silence, that Menelaus may learn that he has found men, not Phrygian cowards, and he has been treated as cowards deserve.

> Greek: Ἠλέκτρα:
ἔχεσθʼ ἔχεσθε· φάσγανον δὲ πρὸς δέρῃ
βάλλοντες ἡσυχάζεθʼ, ὡς εἰδῇ τόδε
Μενέλαος, οὕνεκʼ ἄνδρας, οὐ Φρύγας κακούς,
εὑρὼν ἔπραξεν οἷα χρὴ πράσσειν κακούς.

[¶95] Chorus:
Oh, oh, friends! raise a din, a din and shouting before the house, that the murder when done
may not inspire the Argives with wild alarm, to make them bring aid to the palace, before I see for certain that Helen’s corpse lies bloody in the house, or hear the news from one of her attendants;

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἰὼ ἰὼ φίλαι,
κτύπον ἐγείρετε, κτύπον καὶ βοὰν
πρὸ μελάθρων, ὅπως ὁ πραχθεὶς φόνος
μὴ δεινὸν Ἀργείοισιν ἐμβάλῃ φόβον,
βοηδρομῆσαι πρὸς δόμους τυραννικούς,
πρὶν ἐτύμως ἴδω τὸν Ἑλένας φόνον
καθαιμακτὸν ἐν δόμοις κείμενον,
ἢ καὶ λόγον του προσπόλων πυθώμεθα·

[¶96] for I know a part of the tragedy, of the rest I am not sure. In justice, retribution from the gods has come to Helen; for she filled all Hellas with tears, through that accursed, accursed Paris of Ida,
who drew Hellas to Troy.

> Greek: τὰ μὲν γὰρ οἶδα συμφορᾶς, τὰ δʼ οὐ σαφῶς.
— διὰ δίκας ἔβα θεῶν
νέμεσις ἐς Ἑλέναν.
δακρύοισι γὰρ Ἑλλάδʼ ἅπασαν ἔπλησε,
διὰ τὸν ὀλόμενον ὀλόμενον Ἰδαῖον
Πάριν, ὃς ἄγαγʼ Ἑλλάδʼ εἰς Ἴλιον.

[¶97] Chorus Leader:
[But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within.]

> Greek: Χορός:
[ἀλλὰ κτυπεῖ γὰρ κλῇθρα βασιλείων δόμων,]
[σιγήσατʼ· ἔξω γάρ τις ἐκβαίνει Φρυγῶν,]
[οὗ πευσόμεσθα τἀν δόμοις ὅπως ἔχει.]

[¶98] Phrygian:
(expressing the most abject terror.) I have escaped from death by Argive sword,
in my Asian slippers, by clambering over the cedar-beams that roof the porch and the Doric triglyphs, away, away! O Earth, Earth! in barbaric flight!

> Greek: Φρύξ:
Ἀργέϊον ξίφος ἐκ θανάτου πέφευγα
βαρβάροις ἐν εὐμάρι-
σιν, κεδρωτὰ παστάδων ὑπὲρ τέραμνα
Δωρικάς τε τριγλύφους,
φροῦδα φροῦδα, γᾶ γᾶ,
βαρβάροισι δρασμοῖς.

[¶99] Alas! You foreign women, where can I escape, flying through the clear sky or over the sea, which bull-headed Ocean rolls about as he circles the world in his embrace?

> Greek: αἰαῖ·
πᾷ φύγω, ξέναι, πολιὸν αἰθέρʼ ἀμ-
πτάμενος ἢ πόντον, Ὠκεανὸς ὃν
ταυρόκρανος ἀγκάλαις
ἑλίσσων κυκλοῖ χθόνα;

[¶100] Chorus Leader:
What is it, Helen’s slave, creature from Ida?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἔστιν, Ἑλένης πρόσπολʼ. Ἰδαῖον κάρα;

[¶101] Phrygian:
Ilium, Ilium, oh me! city of Phrygia, and Ida’s holy hill with fruitful soil, how I mourn for your destruction [a shrill song]
with barbarian cry; destroyed through her beauty, born from a bird, swan-feathered, Leda’s cub, hellish Helen! to be a curse to Apollo’s tower of polished stone. Ah! Alas!

> Greek: Φρύξ:
Ἴλιον Ἴλιον, ὤμοι μοι,
Φρύγιον ἄστυ καὶ καλλίβωλον Ἴ-
δας ὄρος ἱερόν, ὥς σʼ ὀλόμενον στένω
[ἁρμάτειον ἁρμάτειον μέλος]
βαρβάρῳ βοᾷ διʼ ὀρνιθόγονον
ὄμμα κυκνοπτέρου καλλοσύνας, Λήδας
σκύμνου, δυσελένας
δυσελένας,
ξεστῶν περγάμων Ἀπολλωνίων
ἐρινύν· ὀττοτοῖ·

[¶102] woe to Dardania, its wailing, wailing, for the horsemanship of Ganymede, bedfellow of Zeus.

> Greek: ἰαλέμων ἰαλέμων
Δαρδανία τλᾶμον Γανυμήδεος
ἱπποσύνᾳ, Διὸς εὐνέτα.

[¶103] Chorus Leader:
Tell us clearly each event within the house. [for till now I have been guessing at what I do not clearly understand.]

> Greek: Χορός:
σαφῶς λέγʼ ἡμῖν αὔθʼ ἕκαστα τἀν δόμοις.
[τὰ γὰρ πρὶν οὐκ εὔγνωστα συμβαλοῦσʼ ἔχω.]

[¶104] Phrygian:
Ah, for Linus! Ah, for Linus! That is what barbarians say, alas, in their eastern tongue as a prelude to death, whenever royal blood is spilled upon the ground by deadly iron blades.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
αἴλινον αἴλινον ἀρχὰν θανάτου
βάρβαροι λέγουσιν, αἰαῖ,
Ἀσιάδι φωνᾷ, βασιλέων
ὅταν αἷμα χυθῇ κατὰ γᾶν ξίφεσιν
σιδαρέοισιν Ἅιδα.

[¶105] To tell you everything in turn, they came into the house, two twin lions of Hellas; one was called the general’s son; the other was the son of Strophius, a crafty plotter, like Odysseus, treacherous in silence,
but true to his friends, bold for the fight, clever in war and a deadly serpent. Curse him for his quiet plotting, the villain!

> Greek: ἦλθον ἐς δόμους, ἵνʼ αὔθʼ ἕ-
καστά σοι λέγω, λέοντες
Ἕλλανες δύο διδύμω·
τῷ μὲν ὁ στρατηλάτας πατὴρ ἐκλῄζεθʼ,
ὃ δὲ παῖς Στροφίου, κακόμητις ἀνήρ,
οἷος Ὀδυσσεύς, σιγᾷ δόλιος,
πιστὸς δὲ φίλοις, θρασὺς εἰς ἀλκάν,
ξυνετὸς πολέμου, φόνιός τε δράκων.
ἔρροι τᾶς ἡσύχου
προνοίας κακοῦργος ὤν.

[¶106] In they came to the throne of the wife of Paris the archer,
faces wet with tears, and took their seats in all humility, one on this side, one on that, each with weapons. They threw, they threw their suppliant arms round the knees
of Helen. Her Phrygian servants sprang up frantic, frantic; they called to each other in terror that there was treachery.

> Greek: οἳ δὲ πρὸς θρόνους ἔσω
μολόντες ἇς ἔγημʼ ὁ τοξότας Πάρις
γυναικός, ὄμμα δακρύοις
πεφυρμένοι, ταπεινοὶ
ἕζονθʼ, ὃ μὲν τὸ κεῖθεν, ὃ δὲ
τὸ κεῖθεν, ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν πεφραγμένοι.
περὶ δὲ γόνυ χέρας ἱκεσίους ἔβαλον ἔβαλον
Ἑλένας ἄμφω.
ἀνὰ δὲ δρομάδες ἔθορον ἔθορον
ἀμφίπολοι Φρύγες·
προσεῖπε δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλον ἐν φόβῳ πεσών,
μή τις εἴη δόλος.

[¶107] To some there seemed no cause, but others thought that the viper who killed his mother was entangling the daughter of Tyndareus in the snare of his plot.

> Greek: κἀδόκει τοῖς μὲν οὔ,
τοῖς δʼ ἐς ἀρκυστάταν
μηχανὰν ἐμπλέκειν
παῖδα τὰν Τυνδαρίδʼ ὁ
μητροφόντας δράκων.

[¶108] Chorus Leader:
And where were you? fled long before in terror?

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ δʼ ἦσθα ποῦ τότʼ; ἢ πάλαι φεύγεις φόβῳ,

[¶109] Phrygian:
It happened that I, in Phrygian style, Phrygian, was wafting the breeze, the breeze by the curls of Helen, Helen, with a round feathered fan, before her face,
in barbarian style; and she was twisting flax on her distaff with her fingers, and letting her yarn fall on the floor, for she wanted to sew with her flax purple cloth
as adornment for the tomb from the Trojan spoils, a gift to Clytemnestra.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
Φρυγίοις ἔτυχον Φρυγίοισι νόμοις
παρὰ βόστρυχον αὔραν αὔραν
Ἑλένας Ἑλένας εὐπαγεῖ
κύκλῳ πτερίνῳ πρὸ παρηίδος
ἀίσσων βαρβάροις νόμοισιν.
ἃ δὲ λίνον ἠλακάτᾳ
δακτύλοις ἕλισσεν,
νῆμα δʼ ἵετο πέδῳ,
σκύλων Φρυγίων ἐπὶ τύμβον ἀγάλ-
ματα συστολίσαι χρῄζουσα λίνῳ,
φάρεα πορφύρεα, δῶρα Κλυταιμήστρᾳ.

[¶110] Orestes said to the Spartan girl: “Daughter of Zeus, get up from your chair”
“and come here to the old hearth of Pelops, our ancestor, to hear something I have to say.” He led her, led her, and she followed,
no prophet of the future. But his accomplice, the Phocian villain, was off on other business: “Out of my way! Well, Phrygians always were cowards.” So he shut them up in different parts of the house, some in the stables, others in the halls,
one here, one there, disposing of them [severally] at a distance from their mistress.

> Greek: προσεῖπεν δʼ Ὀρέστας
Λάκαιναν κόραν· ὦ
Διὸς παῖ, θὲς ἴχνος
πέδῳ δεῦρʼ ἀποστᾶσα κλισμοῦ,
Πέλοπος ἐπὶ προπάτορος ἕδραν
παλαιᾶς ἑστίας,
ἵνʼ εἰδῇς λόγους ἐμούς. —
ἄγει δʼ ἄγει νιν· ἃ δʼ ἐφείπετʼ,
οὐ πρόμαντις ὧν ἔμελλεν·
ὁ δὲ συνεργὸς ἄλλʼ ἔπρασσʼ
ἰὼν κακὸς Φωκεύς·
οὐκ ἐκποδὼν ἴτʼ; ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ κακοὶ Φρύγες.
ἔκλῃσε δʼ ἄλλον ἄλλοσʼ ἐν
στέγαισι· τοὺς μὲν ἐν σταθμοῖ-
σιν ἱππικοῖσι, τοὺς δʼ ἐν ἐξ-
έδραισι, τοὺς δʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἐκεῖθεν [ἄλλον ἄλ-]
[λοσε] διαρμόσας ἀποπρὸ δεσποίνας.

[¶111] Chorus Leader:
What happened next?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τοὐπὶ τῷδε συμφορᾶς ἐγίγνετο;

[¶112] Phrygian:
Mother of Ida, great, great mother!
Oh! the murderous scenes and lawless wickedness that I saw, I saw, in the palace! They drew forth swords from hiding under their purple-bordered cloaks, each darting his eye a different way, lest anyone should be near. Like boar of the hills,
they stood opposite the woman and said: “You will die, you will die; your cowardly husband is killing you, because he betrayed his brother’s son to death in Argos.”

> Greek: Φρύξ:
Ἰδαία μᾶτερ
μᾶτερ ὀβρίμα ὀβρίμα,
αἰαὶ φονίων παθέων ἀνόμων
τε κακῶν ἅπερ ἔδρακον ἔδρακον
ἐν δόμοις τυράννων.
ἀμφιπορφυρέων πέπλων
ὑπὸ σκότου ξίφη σπάσα-
ντες ἄλλος ἄλλοσʼ ἐν χεροῖν
δίνασεν ὄμμα, μή τις παρὼν τύχοι.
ὡς κάπροι δʼ ὀρέστεροι γυ-
ναικὸς ἀντίοι σταθέντες
ἐννέπουσι· Κατθανῇ
κατθανῇ,
κακός σʼ ἀποκτείνει πόσις,
κασιγνήτου προδοὺς
ἐν Ἄργει θανεῖν γόνον.

[¶113] She screamed, oh, oh! she screamed, and brought down her white arm upon her breast and beat her poor head; then turned her golden-sandalled steps in flight, in flight; but Orestes got before her in his Mycenean boots and clutched his fingers in her hair,
and, bending back her neck on to her left shoulder, was on the point of driving the black sword into her throat.

> Greek: ἃ δʼ ἀνίαχεν ἴ-
αχεν· Ὤμοι μοι.
λευκὸν δʼ ἐμβαλοῦσα πῆχυν στέρνοις
κτύπησε κρᾶτα μέλεον πλαγᾷ·
φυγᾷ δὲ ποδὶ τὸ χρυσεοσάνδαλον
ἴχνος ἔφερεν ἔφερεν· ἐς
κόμας δὲ δακτύλους δικὼν Ὀρέστας,
Μυκηνίδʼ ἀρβύλαν προβάς,
ὤμοις ἀριστεροῖσιν ἀνακλάσας δέρην,
παίειν λαιμῶν ἔμελ-
λεν εἴσω μέλαν ξίφος.

[¶114] Chorus Leader:
Where were you Phrygians in the house to help her?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῦ δʼ ἦτʼ ἀμύνειν οἱ κατὰ στέγας Φρύγες;

[¶115] Phrygian:
With a loud cry from the house we battered down with bars the doors and doorposts where we had been,
and ran to her assistance from every direction, one with stones, another with javelins, a third with a drawn sword; but Pylades came to meet us, undaunted, like
Hector of Troy or Ajax triple-plumed, as I saw him, saw him, in Priam’s gateway; and we met at sword’s point. But then it was very clear how the Phrygians were,
how much less we were in battle strength to the Hellene might. There was one man gone in flight, another slain, another wounded, yet another pleading to stave off death; but we escaped under cover of the darkness; while some were falling, some were about to fall, and others were lying dead.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
ἰαχᾷ
δόμων θύρετρα καὶ σταθμοὺς
μοχλοῖσιν ἐκβαλόντες, ἔνθʼ ἐμίμνομεν,
βοηδρομοῦμεν ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν στέγης,
ὃ μὲν πέτρους, ὃ δʼ ἀγκύλας,
ὃ δὲ ξίφος πρόκωπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων.
ἔναντα δʼ ἦλθε Πυλάδης
ἀλίαστος, οἷος οἷος Ἕκ-
τωρ ὁ Φρύγιος ἢ τρικόρυθος Αἴας,
ὃν εἶδον εἶδον ἐν πύλαις
Πριαμίσι· φασγάνων δʼ ἀκμὰς
συνήψαμεν.
δὴ τότε διαπρεπεῖς τότʼ ἐγένοντο Φρύγες,
ὅσον Ἄρεως ἀλκὰν
ἥσσονες Ἑλλάδος ἐγενόμεθʼ αἰχμᾶς,
ὃ μὲν οἰχόμενος φυγάς, ὃ δὲ νέκυς ὤν,
ὃ δὲ τραῦμα φέρων, ὃ δὲ λισσόμενος,
θανάτου προβολάν·
ὑπὸ σκότον δʼ ἐφεύγομεν·
νεκροὶ δʼ ἔπιπτον, οἳ δʼ ἔμελλον, οἳ δʼ ἔκειντʼ.

[¶116] And just as her unhappy mother sank to the ground to die, the luckless Hermione came in. Those two, like Bacchantes when they drop the thyrsus for a mountain cub, rushed and seized her; then turned again to the daughter of Zeus to slay her; but she had vanished from the room,
passing right through the house, O Zeus and Earth and light and night! whether by magic spells or wizards’ arts or heavenly theft.

> Greek: ἔμολε δʼ ἁ τάλαινʼ Ἑρμιόνα δόμους
ἐπὶ φόνῳ χαμαιπετεῖ ματρός, ἅ
νιν ἔτεκεν τλάμων.
ἄθυρσοι δʼ
οἷά νιν δραμόντε Βάκχαι
σκύμνον ἐν χεροῖν ὀρείαν
ξυνήρπασαν· πάλιν δὲ τὰν Διὸς κόραν
ἐπὶ σφαγὰν ἔτεινον· ἃ δʼ
ἐκ θαλάμων
ἐγένετο διαπρὸ δωμάτων
ἄφαντος, ὦ Ζεῦ καὶ γᾶ
καὶ φῶς καὶ νύξ,
ἤτοι φαρμάκοισιν ἢ
μάγων τέχναις ἢ θεῶν κλοπαῖς.

[¶117] What happened afterwards I do not know; for I stole out of the palace, a runaway.

> Greek: τὰ δʼ ὕστερʼ οὐκέτʼ οἶδα· δρα-
πέτην γὰρ ἐξέκλεπτον ἐκ δόμων πόδα.

[¶118] So Menelaus endured his painful, painful suffering to recover his wife Helen from Troy to no purpose.

> Greek: πολύπονα δὲ πολύπονα πάθεα
Μενέλεως ἀνασχόμενος ἀνόνητον ἀ-
πὸ Τροίας ἔλαβε τὸν Ἑλένας γάμον.

[¶119] Chorus Leader:
And look, here is a strange sight succeeding others; for I see Orestes sword in hand before the palace,
advancing with excited steps.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἀμείβει καινὸν ἐκ καινῶν τόδε·
ξιφηφόρον γὰρ εἰσορῶ πρὸ δωμάτων
βαίνοντʼ Ὀρέστην ἐπτοημένῳ ποδί.

[¶120] Orestes:
Where is the one who fled from the palace to escape my sword?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ποῦ ʼστιν οὗτος ὃς πέφευγεν ἐκ δόμων τοὐμὸν ξίφος;

[¶121] Phrygian: falling at the feet of Orestes
Before you I prostrate myself, lord, and supplicate you in my foreign way.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
προσκυνῶ σʼ, ἄναξ, νόμοισι βαρβάροισι προσπίτνων.

[¶122] Orestes:
We are not in Ilium, but the land of Argos.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ ἐν Ἰλίῳ τάδʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐν Ἀργείᾳ χθονί.

[¶123] Phrygian:
Everywhere, the wise find life sweeter than death.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
πανταχοῦ ζῆν ἡδὺ μᾶλλον ἢ θανεῖν τοῖς σώφροσιν.

[¶124] Orestes:
I suppose that shouting of yours was not for Menelaus to come to the rescue?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὔτι που κραυγὴν ἔθηκας Μενέλεῳ βοηδρομεῖν;

[¶125] Phrygian:
Oh no! it was to help you I called out, for you are more deserving.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
σοὶ μὲν οὖν ἔγωγʼ ἀμύνειν· ἀξιώτερος γὰρ εἶ.

[¶126] Orestes:
Did the daughter of Tyndareus die justly, then?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐνδίκως ἡ Τυνδάρειος ἆρα παῖς διώλετο;

[¶127] Phrygian:
Most justly, even if she had three throats to die with.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
ἐνδικώτατʼ, εἴ γε λαιμοὺς εἶχε τριπτύχους θανεῖν.

[¶128] Orestes:
Your cowardice makes you glib; this is not what you really think.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δειλίᾳ γλώσσῃ χαρίζῃ, τἄνδον οὐχ οὕτω φρονῶν.

[¶129] Phrygian:
Why, surely she deserved it, the one who destroyed Hellas and the Phrygians too?

> Greek: Φρύξ:
οὐ γάρ, ἥτις Ἑλλάδʼ αὐτοῖς Φρυξὶ διελυμήνατο;

[¶130] Orestes:
Swear you are not saying this to humor me, or I will kill you.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὄμοσον — εἰ δὲ μή, κτενῶ σε — μὴ λέγειν ἐμὴν χάριν.

[¶131] Phrygian:
I swear by my life, an oath I would keep!

> Greek: Φρύξ:
τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχὴν κατώμοσʼ, ἣν ἂν εὐορκοῖμʼ ἐγώ.

[¶132] Orestes:
Did every Phrygian in Troy show the same terror of steel as you do?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὧδε κἀν Τροίᾳ σίδηρος πᾶσι Φρυξὶν ἦν φόβος;

[¶133] Phrygian:
Take your sword away! Held so near it flashes a dreadful gleam of blood.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
ἄπεχε φάσγανον· πέλας γὰρ δεινὸν ἀνταυγεῖ φόνον.

[¶134] Orestes:
Are you afraid of being turned to a stone, as if you had seen a Gorgon?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μὴ πέτρος γένῃ δέδοικας ὥστε Γοργόνʼ εἰσιδών;

[¶135] Phrygian:
To a stone, no! but to a corpse; I don’t know this Gorgon’s head.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
μὴ μὲν οὖν νεκρός· τὸ Γοργοῦς δʼ οὐ κάτοιδʼ ἐγὼ κάρα.

[¶136] Orestes:
A slave, and yet you fear death, which will release you from trouble?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
δοῦλος ὢν φοβῇ τὸν Ἅιδην, ὅς σʼ ἀπαλλάξει κακῶν;

[¶137] Phrygian:
Slave or free, every one is glad to gaze upon the light.

> Greek: Φρύξ:
πᾶς ἀνήρ, κἂν δοῦλος ᾖ τις, ἥδεται τὸ φῶς ὁρῶν.

[¶138] Orestes:
Well said! Your shrewdness saves you; go inside.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εὖ λέγεις· σῴζει σε σύνεσις. ἀλλὰ βαῖνʼ ἔσω δόμων.

[¶139] Phrygian:
You will not kill me after all?

> Greek: Φρύξ:
οὐκ ἄρα κτενεῖς με;

[¶140] Orestes:
You are spared.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀφεῖσαι.

[¶141] Phrygian:
How well you said that!

> Greek: Φρύξ:
καλὸν ἔπος λέγεις τόδε.

[¶142] Orestes:
Now it’s time to change my plans.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀλλὰ μεταβουλευσόμεσθα.

[¶143] Phrygian:
You didn’t say that well!

> Greek: Φρύξ:
τοῦτο δʼ οὐ καλῶς λέγεις.

[¶144] Orestes:
You fool! Do you think I could endure to make your throat bloody? You weren’t born a woman, nor do you belong among men. The reason I left the palace was to stop your shouting;

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μῶρος, εἰ δοκεῖς με τλῆναι σὴν καθαιμάξαι δέρην·
οὔτε γὰρ γυνὴ πέφυκας — οὔτʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν σύ γʼ εἶ.
τοῦ δὲ μὴ στῆσαί σε κραυγὴν οὕνεκʼ ἐξῆλθον δόμων·

[¶145] for Argos is quickly roused, once it hears a cry to the rescue. As for Menelaus, I am not afraid of measuring swords with him; let him come, proud of the golden ringlets on his shoulders; for if, to avenge the slaying of Helen, he gathers the Argives and leads them against the palace, refusing to attempt the rescue of me,
my sister, and Pylades, my fellow conspirator, he will have two corpses to behold, his daughter’s as well as his wife’s. Exeunt Orestes and The Phrygian Slave.

> Greek: ὀξὺ γὰρ βοῆς ἀκοῦσαν Ἄργος ἐξεγείρεται.
Μενέλεων δʼ οὐ τάρβος ἡμῖν ἀναλαβεῖν ἔσω ξίφους·
ἀλλʼ ἴτω ξανθοῖς ἐπʼ ὤμων βοστρύχοις γαυρούμενος·
εἰ γὰρ Ἀργείους ἐπάξει τοῖσδε δώμασιν λαβών,
τὸν Ἑλένης φόνον διώκων, κἀμὲ μὴ σῴζειν θέλει
σύγγονόν τʼ ἐμὴν Πυλάδην τε τὸν τάδε ξυνδρῶντά μοι,
παρθένον τε καὶ δάμαρτα δύο νεκρὼ κατόψεται.

[¶146] Chorus:
Ah, fortune! Again and yet again the house comes to a fearful contest, for the race of Atreus.

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἰὼ ἰὼ τύχα,
ἕτερον εἰς ἀγῶνʼ, ἕτερον αὖ δόμος
φοβερὸν ἀμφὶ τοὺς Ἀτρείδας πίτνει.

[¶147] What are we to do? Carry tidings to the town?

> Greek: — τί δρῶμεν; ἀγγέλλωμεν ἐς πόλιν τάδε;

[¶148] Or hold our peace? It is safer, friends.

> Greek: ἢ σῖγʼ ἔχωμεν; ἀσφαλέστερον, φίλαι.

[¶149] Look, look at that sudden rush of smoke to the sky in front of the palace, telling its tale!

> Greek: — ἴδε πρὸ δωμάτων ἴδε προκηρύσσει
θοάζων ὅδʼ αἰθέρος ἄνω καπνός.

[¶150] They are kindling torches to fire the halls of Tantalus; nor do they hold back from murder.

> Greek: — ἅπτουσι πεύκας, ὡς πυρώσοντες δόμους
τοὺς Τανταλείους, οὐδʼ ἀφίστανται φόνου.

[¶151] A god determines the end where he wishes, for mortals.

> Greek: — τέλος ἔχει δαίμων βροτοῖς,
τέλος ὅπᾳ θέλῃ.

[¶152] Great is the power; by avenging fiends, this house has fallen, fallen, through blood, by reason of the hurling Myrtilus from the chariot.

> Greek: — μεγάλα δέ τις ἁ δύναμις διʼ ἀλαστόρων
ἔπεσʼ ἔπεσε μέλαθρα τάδε διʼ αἱμάτων
διὰ τὸ Μυρτίλου πέσημʼ ἐκ δίφρου.

[¶153] Chorus Leader:
But look! I see Menelaus approaching the palace
in haste; no doubt he has heard what is happening here. Descendants of Atreus within, make haste and secure the doors with bars. A man in luck is a dangerous adversary for luckless wretches like you, Orestes.
Orestes and Pylades appear on the roof, holding Hermione.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τόνδε λεύσσω Μενέλεων δόμων πέλας
ὀξύπουν, ᾐσθημένον που τὴν τύχην ἣ νῦν πάρα.
οὐκέτʼ ἂν φθάνοιτε κλῇθρα συμπεραίνοντες μοχλοῖς,
ὦ κατὰ στέγας Ἀτρεῖδαι. δεινὸν εὐτυχῶν ἀνὴρ
πρὸς κακῶς πράσσοντας, ὡς σὺ νῦν, Ὀρέστα, δυστυχεῖς.

[¶154] Menelaus:
I have come at the report of strange and violent deeds perpetrated
by a pair of lions, men I do not call them. What I heard was that my wife was not dead, but had vanished out of sight, an idle rumor which someone fooled by his own fear brought me. But that is a plot
of the matricide’s—ridiculous!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἥκω κλύων τὰ δεινὰ καὶ δραστήρια
δισσοῖν λεόντοιν· οὐ γὰρ ἄνδρʼ αὐτὼ καλῶ.
ἤκουσα γὰρ δὴ τὴν ἐμὴν ξυνάορον
ὡς οὐ τέθνηκεν, ἀλλʼ ἄφαντος οἴχεται —
κενὴν ἀκούσας βάξιν, ἣν φόβῳ σφαλεὶς
ἤγγειλέ μοί τις. ἀλλὰ τοῦ μητροκτόνου
τεχνάσματʼ ἐστὶ ταῦτα καὶ πολὺς γέλως.

[¶155] Open the doors! I tell my servants to force the gates, so that I may rescue my child at any rate from the hands of those blood-stained men and recover my poor wretched wife,
while the ones who destroyed her must die at my hands.
Orestes: from the roof.

> Greek: ἀνοιγέτω τις δῶμα· προσπόλοις λέγω
ὠθεῖν πύλας τάσδʼ, ὡς ἂν ἀλλὰ παῖδʼ ἐμὴν
ῥυσώμεθʼ ἀνδρῶν ἐκ χερῶν μιαιφόνων,
καὶ τὴν τάλαιναν ἀθλίαν δάμαρτʼ ἐμὴν
λάβωμεν, ᾗ δεῖ ξυνθανεῖν ἐμῇ χερὶ
τοὺς διολέσαντας τὴν ἐμὴν ξυνάορον.

[¶156] You there! Keep your hands off those bolts; I mean you, Menelaus, towering in your audacity! Or I will tear off the ancient parapet, the work of masons,
and shatter your skull with this coping-stone. The doors are bolted and barred, which will prevent your eagerness to bring aid and keep you from entering.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὗτος σύ, κλῄθρων τῶνδε μὴ ψαύσῃς χερί·
Μενέλαον εἶπον, ὃς πεπύργωσαι θράσει·
ἢ τῷδε θριγκῷ κρᾶτα συνθραύσω σέθεν,
ῥήξας παλαιὰ γεῖσα, τεκτόνων πόνον.
μοχλοῖς δʼ ἄραρε κλῇθρα, σῆς βοηδρόμου
σπουδῆς ἅ σʼ εἴρξει, μὴ δόμων ἔσω περᾶν.

[¶157] Menelaus:
Oh! What is this? I see a blaze of torches and men standing at bay on the top of the house,
with a sword guarding my daughter’s throat.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἔα, τί χρῆμα; λαμπάδων ὁρῶ σέλας,
δόμων δʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρων τούσδε πυργηρουμένους,
ξίφος δʼ ἐμῆς θυγατρὸς ἐπίφρουρον δέρῃ.

[¶158] Orestes:
Would you question me or hear me speak?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πότερον ἐρωτᾶν ἢ κλύειν ἐμοῦ θέλεις;

[¶159] Menelaus:
Neither; but I suppose I must hear you.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὐδέτερʼ· ἀνάγκη δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, σου κλύειν.

[¶160] Orestes:
I intend to kill your daughter, if you want to know.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
μέλλω κτενεῖν σου θυγατέρʼ, εἰ βούλῃ μαθεῖν.

[¶161] Menelaus:
After slaying Helen, you will add murder to murder?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
Ἑλένην φονεύσας ἐπὶ φόνῳ πράσσεις φόνον;

[¶162] Orestes:
Would I had accomplished that, instead of being duped by the gods!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἰ γὰρ κατέσχον μὴ θεῶν κλεφθεὶς ὕπο.

[¶163] Menelaus:
Do you deny having slain her, and say this out of wanton insult?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἀρνῇ κατακτὰς κἀφʼ ὕβρει λέγεις τάδε;

[¶164] Orestes:
Yes, I do deny it, to my sorrow. If only I had—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
λυπράν γε τὴν ἄρνησιν· εἰ γὰρ ὤφελον —

[¶165] Menelaus:
Done what? You frighten me!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
τί χρῆμα δρᾶσαι; παρακαλεῖς γὰρ ἐς φόβον.

[¶166] Orestes:
Hurled the pollution of Hellas to Hades!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τὴν Ἑλλάδος μιάστορʼ εἰς Ἅιδου βαλεῖν.

[¶167] Menelaus:
Give back my wife’s dead body, so that I may bury her.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἀπόδος δάμαρτος νέκυν, ὅπως χώσω τάφῳ.

[¶168] Orestes:
Ask the gods for her; but I will kill your daughter.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
θεοὺς ἀπαίτει. παῖδα δὲ κτενῶ σέθεν.

[¶169] Menelaus:
This matricide is adding murder to murder.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὁ μητροφόντης ἐπὶ φόνῳ πράσσει φόνον;

[¶170] Orestes:
This champion of his father, betrayed by you to death.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὁ πατρὸς ἀμύντωρ, ὃν σὺ προύδωκας θανεῖν.

[¶171] Menelaus:
Are you not content with the present stain of your mother’s blood?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὐκ ἤρκεσέν σοι τὸ παρὸν αἷμα μητέρος;

[¶172] Orestes:
I would not grow tired if I had these wicked women to slay for ever.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐκ ἂν κάμοιμι τὰς κακὰς κτείνων ἀεί.

[¶173] Menelaus:
Are you too, Pylades, a partner in this bloody work?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἦ καὶ σύ, Πυλάδη, τοῦδε κοινωνεῖς φόνου;

[¶174] Orestes:
His silence says he is; let it suffice for me to say it.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
φησὶν σιωπῶν· ἀρκέσω δʼ ἐγὼ λέγων.

[¶175] Menelaus:
You’ll say it to your cost, unless you fly away!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἀλλʼ οὔτι χαίρων, ἤν γε μὴ φύγῃς πτεροῖς.

[¶176] Orestes:
We will not try to escape; we will set fire to the palace.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐ φευξόμεσθα· πυρὶ δʼ ἀνάψομεν δόμους.

[¶177] Menelaus:
What! will you destroy the home of your ancestors?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἦ γὰρ πατρῷον δῶμα πορθήσεις τόδε;

[¶178] Orestes:
Yes, so that you don’t have it, and I will offer this girl in sacrifice on the fire.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὡς μή γʼ ἔχῃς σύ, τήνδʼ ἐπισφάξας πυρί.

[¶179] Menelaus:
Kill her; and if you do, I will punish you for it.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
κτεῖνʼ· ὡς κτανών γε τῶνδέ μοι δώσεις δίκην.

[¶180] Orestes:
All right, then.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἔσται τάδε.

[¶181] Menelaus:
No, no! Don’t do it!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἆ ἆ, μηδαμῶς δράσῃς τάδε.

[¶182] Orestes:
Silence! Your sufferings are just; endure them.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σίγα νυν, ἀνέχου δʼ ἐνδίκως πράσσων κακῶς.

[¶183] Menelaus:
Well, is it just that you should live?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἦ γὰρ δίκαιον ζῆν σε;

[¶184] Orestes:
And rule a kingdom, yes.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
καὶ κρατεῖν γε γῆς.

[¶185] Menelaus:
A kingdom, where?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ποίας;

[¶186] Orestes:
Here in Pelasgian Argos.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἐν Ἄργει τῷδε τῷ Πελασγικῷ.

[¶187] Menelaus:
You are so well qualified to handle holy water!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
εὖ γοῦν θίγοις ἂν χερνίβων —

[¶188] Orestes:
And why not?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τί δὴ γὰρ οὔ;

[¶189] Menelaus:
And to slay victims before battle!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
καὶ σφάγια πρὸ δορὸς καταβάλοις.

[¶190] Orestes:
Well, are you?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σὺ δʼ ἂν καλῶς;

[¶191] Menelaus:
Yes, my hands are clean.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἁγνὸς γάρ εἰμι χεῖρας.

[¶192] Orestes:
But not your heart.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἀλλʼ οὐ τὰς φρένας.

[¶193] Menelaus:
Who would speak to you?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
τίς δʼ ἂν προσείποι σέ;

[¶194] Orestes:
The one who loves his father.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὅστις ἐστὶ φιλοπάτωρ.

[¶195] Menelaus:
And the one who honors his mother?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὅστις δὲ τιμᾷ μητέρα;

[¶196] Orestes:
He was born fortunate.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εὐδαίμων ἔφυ.

[¶197] Menelaus:
Not like you!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οὔκουν σύ γε.

[¶198] Orestes:
No, for I do not delight in these wicked women.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐ γὰρ ἁνδάνουσιν αἱ κακαί.

[¶199] Menelaus:
Remove that sword from my daughter!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἄπαιρε θυγατρὸς φάσγανον.

[¶200] Orestes:
You are a liar.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ψευδὴς ἔφυς.

[¶201] Menelaus:
Will you kill my daughter?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἀλλὰ κτενεῖς μου θυγατέρα;

[¶202] Orestes:
Now you are not a liar!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
οὐ ψευδὴς ἔτʼ εἶ.

[¶203] Menelaus:
Ah me! what shall I do?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
οἴμοι, τί δράσω;

[¶204] Orestes:
Go to the Argives and persuade them—

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πεῖθʼ ἐς Ἀργείους μολὼν —

[¶205] Menelaus:
Persuade them what?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
πειθὼ τίνα;

[¶206] Orestes:
Not to kill us; entreat the city.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ἡμᾶς μὴ θανεῖν· αἰτοῦ πόλιν.

[¶207] Menelaus:
Or you will slay my child?

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἢ παῖδά μου φονεύσετε;

[¶208] Orestes:
That is correct.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὧδʼ ἔχει τάδε.

[¶209] Menelaus:
O wretched Helen—

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὦ τλῆμον Ἑλένη —

[¶210] Orestes:
Am I not wretched?

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τἀμὰ δʼ οὐχὶ τλήμονα;

[¶211] Menelaus:
I brought you back from Troy to be a victim—

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
σὲ σφάγιον ἐκόμισʼ ἐκ Φρυγῶν —

[¶212] Orestes:
If only she had been!

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
εἰ γὰρ τόδʼ ἦν.

[¶213] Menelaus:
After innumerable troubles.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
πόνους πονήσας μυρίους.

[¶214] Orestes:
Except where I was concerned.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
πλήν γʼ εἰς ἐμέ.

[¶215] Menelaus:
I have suffered dreadfully!

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
πέπονθα δεινά.

[¶216] Orestes:
Yes, for you would not help me then.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
τότε γὰρ ἦσθʼ ἀνωφελής.

[¶217] Menelaus:
You have me there.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ἔχεις με.

[¶218] Orestes:
Your own cowardice has you. Calling from the roof to Electra Fire the palace from beneath, Electra; and, Pylades, my most trusty friend,
kindle the parapet of these walls. The palace is seen to be ablaze.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
σαυτὸν σύ γʼ ἔλαβες κακὸς γεγώς.
ἀλλʼ εἶʼ, ὕφαπτε δώματʼ, Ἠλέκτρα, τάδε·
σύ τʼ, ὦ φίλων μοι τῶν ἐμῶν σαφέστατε,
Πυλάδη, κάταιθε γεῖσα τειχέων τάδε.

[¶219] Menelaus:
O Danaid earth! Dwellers in Argos, city of horses, put on your armor and come to help! For this fellow is forcing his life from your whole city, though he has caused pollution by shedding his mother’s blood.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὦ γαῖα Δαναῶν ἱππίου τʼ Ἄργους κτίται,
οὐκ εἶʼ ἐνόπλῳ ποδὶ βοηδρομήσετε;
πᾶσαν γὰρ ὑμῶν ὅδε βιάζεται πόλιν
ζῆν, αἷμα μητρὸς μυσαρὸν ἐξειργασμένος.

[¶220] Apollo:
Appearing in the clouds. Menelaus, calm your anger that has been whetted; I am Phoebus, the son of Leto, drawing near to call you by name. And you also, Orestes, who are keeping guard on the girl, sword in hand, so that you may hear what I have come to say. Helen, whom all your eagerness
failed to destroy, when you were seeking to anger Menelaus, [is here as you see in the enfolding air, rescued from death and not slain by you.] I saved her and snatched her from beneath your sword at the bidding of father Zeus,
for she, his child, must be immortal, and take her seat with Castor and Polydeuces in the enfolding air, a savior to mariners. Choose another bride and take her to your home; for the gods by that one’s loveliness
joined Troy and Hellas in battle, causing death so that they might draw off from the earth the outrage of unstinting numbers of mortals.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
Μενέλαε, παῦσαι λῆμʼ ἔχων τεθηγμένον·
Φοῖβός σʼ ὁ Λητοῦς παῖς ὅδʼ ἐγγὺς ὢν καλῶ·
σύ θʼ ὃς ξιφήρης τῇδʼ ἐφεδρεύεις κόρῃ,
Ὀρέσθʼ, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς οὓς φέρων ἥκω λόγους.
Ἑλένην μὲν ἣν σὺ διολέσαι πρόθυμος ὢν
ἥμαρτες, ὀργὴν Μενέλεῳ ποιούμενος,
[ἥδʼ ἐστίν, ἣν ὁρᾶτʼ ἐν αἰθέρος πτυχαῖς,]
[σεσῳσμένη τε κοὐ θανοῦσα πρὸς σέθεν.]
ἐγώ νιν ἐξέσῳσα κἀπὸ φασγάνου
τοῦ σοῦ κελευσθεὶς ἥρπασʼ ἐκ Διὸς πατρός.
Ζηνὸς γὰρ οὖσαν ζῆν νιν ἄφθιτον χρεών,
Κάστορί τε Πολυδεύκει τʼ ἐν αἰθέρος πτυχαῖς
σύνθακος ἔσται, ναυτίλοις σωτήριος.
ἄλλην δὲ νύμφην ἐς δόμους κτῆσαι λαβών,
ἐπεὶ θεοὶ τῷ τῆσδε καλλιστεύματι
Ἕλληνας εἰς ἓν καὶ Φρύγας συνήγαγον,
θανάτους τʼ ἔθηκαν, ὡς ἀπαντλοῖεν χθονὸς
ὕβρισμα θνητῶν ἀφθόνου πληρώματος.

[¶221] So much for Helen; as for you, Orestes, you must cross the broders of this land
and dwell for one whole year on Parrhasian soil, which from your flight shall be called the land of Orestes by Azanians and Arcadians. And when you return from there to the city of Athens, undergo your trial by the Avenging Three for your mother’s murder;
the gods will be arbitrators of your trial, and will take a most righteous vote on you at the hill of Ares, where you are to win your case. And it is destined, Orestes, that you will marry Hermione, at whose neck you are holding your sword;
Neoptolemus shall never marry her, though he thinks he will; for he is fated to die by a Delphian sword, when he claims satisfaction of me for the death of his father Achilles. Give your sister in marriage to Pylades, to whom you formerly promised her; the life awaiting him is one of happiness.

> Greek: τὰ μὲν καθʼ Ἑλένην ὧδʼ ἔχει· σὲ δʼ αὖ χρεών,
Ὀρέστα, γαίας τῆσδʼ ὑπερβαλόνθʼ ὅρους
Παρράσιον οἰκεῖν δάπεδον ἐνιαυτοῦ κύκλον.
κεκλήσεται δὲ σῆς φυγῆς ἐπώνυμον
Ἀζᾶσιν Ἀρκάσιν τʼ Ὀρέστειον καλεῖν.
ἐνθένδε δʼ ἐλθὼν τὴν Ἀθηναίων πόλιν
δίκην ὑπόσχες αἵματος μητροκτόνου
Εὐμενίσι τρισσαῖς· θεοὶ δέ σοι δίκης βραβῆς
πάγοισιν ἐν Ἀρείοισιν εὐσεβεστάτην
ψῆφον διοίσουσʼ, ἔνθα νικῆσαί σε χρή.
ἐφʼ ἧς δʼ ἔχεις, Ὀρέστα, φάσγανον δέρῃ,
γῆμαι πέπρωταί σʼ Ἑρμιόνην· ὃς δʼ οἴεται
Νεοπτόλεμος γαμεῖν νιν, οὐ γαμεῖ ποτε.
θανεῖν γὰρ αὐτῷ μοῖρα Δελφικῷ ξίφει,
δίκας Ἀχιλλέως πατρὸς ἐξαιτοῦντά με.
Πυλάδῃ δʼ ἀδελφῆς λέκτρον, ὥς ποτʼ ᾔνεσας,
δός· ὁ δʼ ἐπιών νιν βίοτος εὐδαίμων μένει.

[¶222] Menelaus, leave Orestes to rule Argos; go and reign over the Spartan land, keeping it as the dowry of a wife who till this day never ceased causing you innumerable troubles. I will set matters straight between Orestes and the citizens,
for I forced him to murder his mother.

> Greek: Ἄργους δʼ Ὀρέστην, Μενέλεως, ἔα κρατεῖν,
ἐλθὼν δʼ ἄνασσε Σπαρτιάτιδος χθονός,
φερνὰς ἔχων δάμαρτος, ἥ σε μυρίοις
πόνοις διδοῦσα δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ διήνυσεν.
τὰ πρὸς πόλιν δὲ τῷδʼ ἐγὼ θήσω καλῶς,
ὅς νιν φονεῦσαι μητέρʼ ἐξηνάγκασα.

[¶223] Orestes:
Hail, prophetic Loxias, for your oracles! You were not a lying prophet after all, but a true seer; and yet I was afraid that it was some fiend I had listened to, when I seemed to hear your voice;

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
ὦ Λοξία μαντεῖε, σῶν θεσπισμάτων.
οὐ ψευδόμαντις ἦσθʼ ἄρʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐτήτυμος.
καίτοι μʼ ἐσῄει δεῖμα, μή τινος κλύων
ἀλαστόρων δόξαιμι σὴν κλύειν ὄπα.

[¶224] but all is ending well, and I obey your word. There! I release Hermione from slaughter and agree to make her my wife whenever her father gives her.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ εὖ τελεῖται, πείσομαι δὲ σοῖς λόγοις.
ἰδού, μεθίημʼ Ἑρμιόνην ἀπὸ σφαγῆς,
καὶ λέκτρʼ ἐπῄνεσʼ, ἡνίκʼ ἂν διδῷ πατήρ.

[¶225] Menelaus:
All hail, Helen, daughter of Zeus! I wish you joy of your home in heaven’s happy courts.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
ὦ Ζηνὸς Ἑλένη χαῖρε παῖ· ζηλῶ δέ σε
θεῶν κατοικήσασαν ὄλβιον δόμον.

[¶226] To you, Orestes, I betroth my daughter, as Phoebus said; being noble yourself, may you have benefit from a noble wife, and may I also, in giving her to you.

> Greek: Ὀρέστα, σοὶ δὲ παῖδʼ ἐγὼ κατεγγυῶ,
Φοίβου λέγοντος· εὐγενὴς δʼ ἀπʼ εὐγενοῦς
γήμας ὄναιο καὶ σὺ χὡ διδοὺς ἐγώ.

[¶227] Apollo:
Go now each one to the place appointed by me; reconcile your quarrels.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
χωρεῖτέ νυν ἕκαστος οἷ προστάσσομεν,
νείκας τε διαλύεσθε.

[¶228] Menelaus:
I must obey.

> Greek: Μενέλαος:
πείθεσθαι χρεών.

[¶229] Orestes:
And so must I; I make a truce with my fate, Menelaus, and with your oracles, Loxias.

> Greek: Ὀρέστης:
κἀγὼ τοιοῦτος· σπένδομαι δὲ συμφοραῖς,
Μενέλαε, καὶ σοῖς, Λοξία, θεσπίσμασιν.

[¶230] Apollo:
Go your ways, and honor Peace, fairest of goddesses; I will bring Helen to the halls of Zeus,
when I have come to the sky, bright with stars. There, enthroned beside Hera and Hebe, the bride of Heracles, she will be honored by men with libations as a goddess for ever; along with those Zeus-born sons of Tyndareus,
she will be a guardian of the sea, for the good of sailors.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἴτε νυν καθʼ ὁδόν, τὴν καλλίστην
θεῶν Εἰρήνην τιμῶντες· ἐγὼ δʼ
Ἑλένην Δίοις μελάθροις πελάσω,
λαμπρῶν ἄστρων πόλον ἐξανύσας,
ἔνθα παρʼ Ἥρᾳ τῇ θʼ Ἡρακλέους
Ἥβῃ πάρεδρος θεὸς ἀνθρώποις
ἔσται σπονδαῖς ἔντιμος ἀεί,
σὺν Τυνδαρίδαις, τοῖς Διὸς υἱοῖς,
ναύταις μεδέουσα θαλάσσης.

[¶231] Chorus:
Greatly revered Victory, may you occupy my life, and never cease to crown me!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ μέγα σεμνὴ Νίκη, τὸν ἐμὸν
βίοτον κατέχοις
καὶ μὴ λήγοις στεφανοῦσα.