Euripides Orestes 1549

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.

1550

Orestes and Pylades appear on the roof, holding Hermione.

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

1555

of the matricide’s—ridiculous!

1560

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.

1565

Orestes

from the roof.

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.

1570

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.

1575

Orestes

Would you question me or hear me speak?

Menelaus

Neither; but I suppose I must hear you.

Orestes

I intend to kill your daughter, if you want to know.

Menelaus

After slaying Helen, you will add murder to murder?

Orestes

Would I had accomplished that, instead of being duped by the gods!

1580

Menelaus

Do you deny having slain her, and say this out of wanton insult?

Orestes

Yes, I do deny it, to my sorrow. If only I had—

Menelaus

Done what? You frighten me!

Orestes

Hurled the pollution of Hellas to Hades!

Menelaus

Give back my wife’s dead body, so that I may bury her.

1585

Orestes

Ask the gods for her; but I will kill your daughter.

Menelaus

This matricide is adding murder to murder.

Orestes

This champion of his father, betrayed by you to death.

Menelaus

Are you not content with the present stain of your mother’s blood?

Orestes

I would not grow tired if I had these wicked women to slay for ever.

1590

Menelaus

Are you too, Pylades, a partner in this bloody work?

Orestes

His silence says he is; let it suffice for me to say it.

Menelaus

You’ll say it to your cost, unless you fly away!

Orestes

We will not try to escape; we will set fire to the palace.

Menelaus

What! will you destroy the home of your ancestors?

1595

Orestes

Yes, so that you don’t have it, and I will offer this girl in sacrifice on the fire.

Menelaus

Kill her; and if you do, I will punish you for it.

Orestes

All right, then.

Menelaus

No, no! Don’t do it!

Orestes

Silence! Your sufferings are just; endure them.

Menelaus

Well, is it just that you should live?

1600

Orestes

And rule a kingdom, yes.

Menelaus

A kingdom, where?

Orestes

Here in Pelasgian Argos.

Menelaus

You are so well qualified to handle holy water!

Orestes

And why not?

Menelaus

And to slay victims before battle!

Orestes

Well, are you?

Menelaus

Yes, my hands are clean.

Orestes

But not your heart.

Menelaus

Who would speak to you?

1605

Orestes

The one who loves his father.

Menelaus

And the one who honors his mother?

Orestes

He was born fortunate.

Menelaus

Not like you!

Orestes

No, for I do not delight in these wicked women.

Menelaus

Remove that sword from my daughter!

Orestes

You are a liar.

Menelaus

Will you kill my daughter?

Orestes

Now you are not a liar!

Menelaus

Ah me! what shall I do?

1610

Orestes

Go to the Argives and persuade them—

Menelaus

Persuade them what?

Orestes

Not to kill us; entreat the city.

Menelaus

Or you will slay my child?

Orestes

That is correct.

Menelaus

O wretched Helen—

Orestes

Am I not wretched?

Menelaus

I brought you back from Troy to be a victim—

Orestes

If only she had been!

Menelaus

After innumerable troubles.

1615

Orestes

Except where I was concerned.

Menelaus

I have suffered dreadfully!

Orestes

Yes, for you would not help me then.

Menelaus

You have me there.

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.

1620

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.

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

1625

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,

1630

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

1635

joined Troy and Hellas in battle, causing death so that they might draw off from the earth the outrage of unstinting numbers of mortals.

1640

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;

1645

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;

1650

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.

1655

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,

1660

for I forced him to murder his mother.

1665

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;

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.

1670

Menelaus

All hail, Helen, daughter of Zeus! I wish you joy of your home in heaven’s happy courts.

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.

1675

Apollo

Go now each one to the place appointed by me; reconcile your quarrels.

Menelaus

I must obey.

Orestes

And so must I; I make a truce with my fate, Menelaus, and with your oracles, Loxias.

1680

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,

1685

she will be a guardian of the sea, for the good of sailors.

1690

Chorus

Greatly revered Victory, may you occupy my life, and never cease to crown me!