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Pylades
I have come through the city quickly, as I should,
having heard and myself clearly seen the citizens assembling, against you and your sister, to kill you at once. What is happening? How is it with you? How are you doing, my best of comrades, friends and kin? For you are all these to me.
730
I have come through the city quickly, as I should,
having heard and myself clearly seen the citizens assembling, against you and your sister, to kill you at once. What is happening? How is it with you? How are you doing, my best of comrades, friends and kin? For you are all these to me.
730
Orestes
I am ruined, to make plain to you my troubles in brief.
I am ruined, to make plain to you my troubles in brief.
Pylades
You must destroy me also; for friends have all in common.
735
You must destroy me also; for friends have all in common.
735
Orestes
Menelaus is the worst of men to me and my sister.
Menelaus is the worst of men to me and my sister.
Pylades
It is natural for the husband of an evil woman to become evil.
It is natural for the husband of an evil woman to become evil.
Orestes
He no more repaid me by coming here, than if he had never come.
He no more repaid me by coming here, than if he had never come.
Pylades
Oh, has he really arrived in this land?
Oh, has he really arrived in this land?
Orestes
He took a long time, but he was very soon detected as evil to his friends.
740
He took a long time, but he was very soon detected as evil to his friends.
740
Pylades
And did he bring his wife, the worst of women, with him on his ship?
And did he bring his wife, the worst of women, with him on his ship?
Orestes
It was not he who brought her here, but she who brought him.
It was not he who brought her here, but she who brought him.
Pylades
Where is she, the one woman who proved the ruin of so many Achaeans?
Where is she, the one woman who proved the ruin of so many Achaeans?
Orestes
In my house; if, that is, I ought to call it mine.
In my house; if, that is, I ought to call it mine.
Pylades
And what did you say to your father’s brother?
745
And what did you say to your father’s brother?
745
Orestes
Not to see me and my sister killed by the citizens.
Not to see me and my sister killed by the citizens.
Pylades
By the gods! What did he say to that? I would like know this.
By the gods! What did he say to that? I would like know this.
Orestes
He was cautious, the usual policy of ignoble friends.
He was cautious, the usual policy of ignoble friends.
Pylades
What excuse did he advance? When I have learned that, I know everything.
What excuse did he advance? When I have learned that, I know everything.
Orestes
There was a new arrival, the father who begot those noble daughters.
750
There was a new arrival, the father who begot those noble daughters.
750
Pylades
You mean Tyndareus; he was angry with you, perhaps, for his daughter’s sake?
You mean Tyndareus; he was angry with you, perhaps, for his daughter’s sake?
Orestes
You understand. And Menelaus preferred the family relationship with him to that with my father.
You understand. And Menelaus preferred the family relationship with him to that with my father.
Pylades
He did not have the courage to share your troubles, when he was here?
He did not have the courage to share your troubles, when he was here?
Orestes
No, for he was not born a warrior, though strong among women!
No, for he was not born a warrior, though strong among women!
Pylades
Your case is desperate, it seems, and you must die.
755
Your case is desperate, it seems, and you must die.
755
Orestes
The citizens must give their vote about us on the murder.
The citizens must give their vote about us on the murder.
Pylades
And what is that to decide? Tell me, for I am alarmed.
And what is that to decide? Tell me, for I am alarmed.
Orestes
Our life or death; a brief speech on a large subject.
Our life or death; a brief speech on a large subject.
Pylades
Leave the palace with your sister now and try to escape.
Leave the palace with your sister now and try to escape.
Orestes
Don’t you see? We are being watched by guards on every side.
760
Don’t you see? We are being watched by guards on every side.
760
Pylades
I saw that the streets of the city were secured with armed men.
I saw that the streets of the city were secured with armed men.
Orestes
We are as closely beleaguered as a city by its foes.
We are as closely beleaguered as a city by its foes.
Orestes. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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