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Helen
Daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, unhappy Electra, a maiden for so long, how is it with you and your brother, this ill-starred Orestes who slew his mother?
For referring the sin as I do to Phoebus, I incur no pollution by addressing you; and yet I am truly sorry for the death of my sister Clytemnestra, whom I never saw after I was driven by heaven-sent frenzy to sail as I did to
Ilium
;
75
but now that I am parted from her, I bewail our misfortunes.
80
Daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, unhappy Electra, a maiden for so long, how is it with you and your brother, this ill-starred Orestes who slew his mother?
For referring the sin as I do to Phoebus, I incur no pollution by addressing you; and yet I am truly sorry for the death of my sister Clytemnestra, whom I never saw after I was driven by heaven-sent frenzy to sail as I did to
Ilium
;
75
but now that I am parted from her, I bewail our misfortunes.
80
Electra
Helen, why should I speak of that which your own eyes can see?
Agamemnon’s house in misfortune?
Beside his wretched corpse I sit, sleepless—for corpse he is, so faint his breath—
not that I reproach him with his sufferings; but you are highly blessed and your husband too.
you have come upon us in the hour of adversity
85
Helen, why should I speak of that which your own eyes can see?
Agamemnon’s house in misfortune?
Beside his wretched corpse I sit, sleepless—for corpse he is, so faint his breath—
not that I reproach him with his sufferings; but you are highly blessed and your husband too.
you have come upon us in the hour of adversity
85
Helen
How long has he lain in this way on the couch?
How long has he lain in this way on the couch?
Electra
Ever since he spilt his mother’s blood.
Ever since he spilt his mother’s blood.
Helen
Unhappy wretch! unhappy mother! what a death she died.
90
Unhappy wretch! unhappy mother! what a death she died.
90
Electra
Unhappy enough to succumb to his misery.
Unhappy enough to succumb to his misery.
Helen
By the gods, would you hear me a moment, maiden?
By the gods, would you hear me a moment, maiden?
Electra
Yes, with such leisure as this watching over a brother leaves.
Yes, with such leisure as this watching over a brother leaves.
Helen
Will you go for me to my sister’s tomb?
Will you go for me to my sister’s tomb?
Electra
Would you have me seek my mother’s tomb? Why?
95
Would you have me seek my mother’s tomb? Why?
95
Helen
To carry an offering of hair and a libation from me.
To carry an offering of hair and a libation from me.
Electra
Isn’t it right for you to go to the tomb of one you love?
Isn’t it right for you to go to the tomb of one you love?
Helen
No, for I am ashamed to show myself in
Argos
.
No, for I am ashamed to show myself in
Argos
.
Electra
A late repentance surely for one who left her home so shamefully then.
A late repentance surely for one who left her home so shamefully then.
Helen
You have told the truth, but your telling is not kind to me.
100
You have told the truth, but your telling is not kind to me.
100
Electra
What is this supposed shame before the eyes of
Mycenae
that possesses you?
What is this supposed shame before the eyes of
Mycenae
that possesses you?
Helen
I am afraid of the fathers of those who lie dead at
Ilium
.
I am afraid of the fathers of those who lie dead at
Ilium
.
Electra
Good cause for fear; your name is on every tongue in
Argos
.
Good cause for fear; your name is on every tongue in
Argos
.
Helen
Then free me of my fear and grant me this favor.
Then free me of my fear and grant me this favor.
Electra
I could not bear to look upon my mother’s grave.
105
I could not bear to look upon my mother’s grave.
105
Helen
And yet it would be shame indeed for servants to bear these offerings.
And yet it would be shame indeed for servants to bear these offerings.
Electra
Then why not send your daughter Hermione?
Then why not send your daughter Hermione?
Helen
It is not good for maidens to go into a crowd.
It is not good for maidens to go into a crowd.
Electra
And yet she would be repaying her dead foster-mother’s care.
And yet she would be repaying her dead foster-mother’s care.
Orestes. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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