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Orestes
How then shall I kill her and him at once?
How then shall I kill her and him at once?
Electra
I shall prepare my mother’s slaughter!
I shall prepare my mother’s slaughter!
Orestes
And as for the other matter, fortune will ordain well.
And as for the other matter, fortune will ordain well.
Electra
Let this man here help us with both.
Let this man here help us with both.
Old man
I will; but how will you find a way to kill your mother?
650
I will; but how will you find a way to kill your mother?
650
Electra
Go to Clytemnestra, old man, and say this: report that I have given birth to a male child.
Go to Clytemnestra, old man, and say this: report that I have given birth to a male child.
Old man
That you have given birth some time ago, or quite recently?
That you have given birth some time ago, or quite recently?
Electra
Ten days ago, in which a woman who has given birth stays pure.
Ten days ago, in which a woman who has given birth stays pure.
Old man
And how does this grant us the slaughter of your mother?
655
And how does this grant us the slaughter of your mother?
655
Electra
She will come, when she hears of my childbirth pangs.
She will come, when she hears of my childbirth pangs.
Old man
How is that? Do you think she cares for you, child?
How is that? Do you think she cares for you, child?
Electra
Yes; and she will weep, surely, over my child’s low rank.
Yes; and she will weep, surely, over my child’s low rank.
Old man
Perhaps; bring your story back again to the turning-point.
Perhaps; bring your story back again to the turning-point.
Electra
Well then, if she comes, it is clear that she will die.
660
Well then, if she comes, it is clear that she will die.
660
Old man
Yes, she will come right up to the door of your house.
Yes, she will come right up to the door of your house.
Electra
Won’t it then be a little thing for her to turn aside to Hades?
Won’t it then be a little thing for her to turn aside to Hades?
Old man
May I die, once I have seen this!
May I die, once I have seen this!
Electra
First of all, old man, guide my brother—
First of all, old man, guide my brother—
Old man
To the place where Aegisthus is now sacrificing to the gods?
665
To the place where Aegisthus is now sacrificing to the gods?
665
Electra
Then, going to meet my mother, give her my message.
Then, going to meet my mother, give her my message.
Old man
So that the very words will seem to have been said by you.
So that the very words will seem to have been said by you.
Electra
To Orestes
Your work begins at once; you have drawn the first lot in the slaughter.
Your work begins at once; you have drawn the first lot in the slaughter.
Orestes
I would go, if some one would show me the way.
I would go, if some one would show me the way.
Old man
Yes, I can escort you myself, not against my will.
670
Yes, I can escort you myself, not against my will.
670
Electra. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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