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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.
1205
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.
1205
Pylades
Then may it be so, and may she come to the city of
Phocis
with all the honors of a happy wedding.
1210
Then may it be so, and may she come to the city of
Phocis
with all the honors of a happy wedding.
1210
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.
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.
Electra
Well, I expect she is near the house already,
for the length of time agrees exactly.
1215
Well, I expect she is near the house already,
for the length of time agrees exactly.
1215
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.
1220
Let us enter now and arm ourselves with swords for the final struggle,
Pylades, for you share the labor with me.
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
1225
and kill; you be our accomplice for this deed.
1230
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.
1220
Let us enter now and arm ourselves with swords for the final struggle,
Pylades, for you share the labor with me.
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
1225
and kill; you be our accomplice for this deed.
1230
Electra
Oh father, come! if within the ground you hear the cry of your children, who are dying for your sake.
Oh father, come! if within the ground you hear the cry of your children, who are dying for your sake.
Pylades
O kinsman of my father, Agamemnon, hear my prayers also; save your children.
O kinsman of my father, Agamemnon, hear my prayers also; save your children.
Orestes
I killed my mother—
1235
I killed my mother—
1235
Electra
I held the sword—
I held the sword—
Pylades
I . . . set them free from fear—
I . . . set them free from fear—
Orestes
To aid you, father.
To aid you, father.
Electra
Nor did I betray you.
Nor did I betray you.
Pylades
Will you not hear these reproaches and rescue your children?
Will you not hear these reproaches and rescue your children?
Orestes
With tears I pour you a libation.
With tears I pour you a libation.
Electra
And I with laments.
And I with laments.
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,
1240
for all to live or—pay death’s account.
Exeunt Orestes and Pylades.
1245
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,
1240
for all to live or—pay death’s account.
Exeunt Orestes and Pylades.
1245
Orestes. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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