Euripides Orestes 831

Electra

Women, has my poor Orestes left the house,

mastered by the heaven-sent madness?

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Chorus Leader

Not at all; he has gone to the Argive people to stand the appointed trial for his life, in which he and you must live or die.

Electra

Oh! Why did he do it? Who persuaded him?

Chorus Leader

Pylades; but this messenger will no doubt soon tell us what happened to your brother there.

850

Messenger

Wretched, unhappy daughter of the general Agamemnon, my lady Electra, hear the sad tidings I bring you.

Electra

Alas! we are ruined; your words show it; you have clearly come with tidings of woe.

855

Messenger

The Pelasgians have decided by vote that you, poor lady, and your brother are to die this day.

Electra

Alas! my expectations are realized; I have long feared this,

and have been wasting away in mourning for what was sure to happen. But what was the trial, what was said by the Argives, to condemn us and ratify our death? Tell me, old friend; must I die by stoning or the sword?

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For I share my brother’s misfortunes.

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Messenger

I had just come from the country and was entering the gates, needing to learn what was decided about you and Orestes, for I was always well disposed to your father when he was alive, and it was your house that reared me,

poor indeed, yet loyal in the service of friends. I saw a crowd going and taking their seats on the height, where they say Danaus first gathered his people for a meeting, making amends to Aegyptus . So, when I saw the throng, I asked a citizen:

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What news in Argos ? Tidings of the enemy haven’t ruffled the city of Danaus, have they? But he said: Don’t you see Orestes there, on his way to he tried for his life? I saw an unexpected sight, which I wish I had not seen,

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Pylades and your brother approaching together, the one with his head down, weakened by sickness; the other sharing his friend’s sorrow like a brother, tending his illness with constant care.

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Now when the Argives were fully gathered,

a herald rose and said: Who wishes to give his opinion whether Orestes should be slain or not for the murder of his mother? Then up stood Talthybius, who helped your father sack the Phrygians. He spoke out of both sides of his mouth, a mere tool of those in power as he always is,

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expressing high admiration for your father, but not praising your brother, urging his crooked sentiments in specious words, that it would establish laws as to parents that are not good; and all the while he was darting lively glances at the friends of Aegisthus.

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Such is that tribe; heralds always trip across to the lucky side; the one who has power in the city or a post in the government is their friend.

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After him lord Diomedes made a speech; he said they should not kill you and your brother,

but keep clear of guilt by punishing you with exile. Some roared out that his words were good, but others disapproved.

900

Next stood up a fellow, who cannot close his lips; one whose impudence is his strength; an Argive , but not of Argos , forced on us;

confident in bluster and ignorant free speech, and plausible enough to involve them in some mischief sooner or later; for whenever a man with a pleasing trick of speech, but of unsound principles, persuades the mob, it is a serious evil to the state; but those who give sound and sensible advice on all occasions,

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if not immediately useful to the state, yet prove so afterwards. And this is the way in which to regard a party leader; for the position is much the same in the case of an orator and a man in office. He was for stoning you and Orestes to death,

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but it was Tyndareus who kept suggesting arguments of this kind to him as he urged the death of both of you.

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Another then stood up and said the opposite; he was not handsome in appearance, but a brave man, rarely coming in contact with the town or the circle in the market-place;

a farmer—and they are the only ones who preserve our land—but clever, and eager to grapple with the arguments, his character without a blemish, his walk in life beyond reproach. He said that they should crown Orestes, the son of Agamemnon, for showing his willingness to avenge a father

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by the murder of a wicked and godless woman who would prevent men from taking up arms and going on foreign service, if those who remain behind, corrupt and seduce wives left at home to keep house.

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To the better sort, at least, his word carried conviction.

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No one spoke after him. Then your brother came forward and said: You dwellers in the land of Inachus! Pelasgians in ancient times, and later Danaids I helped you no less than my father

when I slew my mother; for if the murder of men by women is to be sanctioned, then the sooner you die, the better, or you must become the slaves of women; and that will be doing the very reverse of what you should. As it is, she who betrayed my father’s bed

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has died, but if you take my life, the law becomes relaxed, and the sooner each one of you dies, the better; for it will never be daring at any rate that they will lack. Yet, for all he seemed to speak well, he did not persuade the assembly; but that villain who spoke in favor of slaying you and your brother

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gained his point by appealing to the mob.

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Poor Orestes scarcely persuaded them not to kill him by stoning, promising to die by his own hand, with you, on this day. Pylades, in tears, is now bringing him from the conclave;

and his friends bear him company, with wailing and lamentation; so he comes, a bitter sight and piteous vision. Make ready the sword or prepare the noose for your neck, for you must leave the light; your noble birth

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availed you nothing, nor did Phoebus from his seat on the tripod at Delphi ; he was your undoing. Exit Messenger.

955

Chorus Leader

Ah, hapless maiden! How silent you are, your face covered and bent to the ground, as if about to dash upon a course of lamentation and wailing.