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Electra
spoken
They do not hear; alas for my troubles! Can it be that her beauty has blunted their swords?
sung
Soon some
Argive
in full armor, hurrying
to her rescue, will attack the palace.
1290
spoken
Keep a better look-out; it is not a contest of sitting still; turn about, some here, some there.
They do not hear; alas for my troubles! Can it be that her beauty has blunted their swords?
Soon some
Argive
in full armor, hurrying
to her rescue, will attack the palace.
1290
Keep a better look-out; it is not a contest of sitting still; turn about, some here, some there.
Chorus
sung
I am looking everywhere in turn along the road.
1295
I am looking everywhere in turn along the road.
1295
Helen
within
Oh, Pelasgian Argos! I am being foully murdered.
Oh, Pelasgian Argos! I am being foully murdered.
Chorus
Did you hear? The men have put their hand to the slaughter.
It is Helen screaming, at a guess.
Did you hear? The men have put their hand to the slaughter.
It is Helen screaming, at a guess.
Electra
sung
O eternal might of Zeus, of Zeus, only come to help my friends!
O eternal might of Zeus, of Zeus, only come to help my friends!
Helen
within
Menelaus, I am dying, but you do not help me, though you are near.
1302
Menelaus, I am dying, but you do not help me, though you are near.
Electra
sung
Slay her, kill her, destroy her! Stab with your twin double-edged swords
the woman who left her father, left her husband, and killed so many of the men of
Hellas
, slain beside the river-bank, where tears rained down, by the iron darts
1305
all round the eddies of Scamander.
1310
Slay her, kill her, destroy her! Stab with your twin double-edged swords
the woman who left her father, left her husband, and killed so many of the men of
Hellas
, slain beside the river-bank, where tears rained down, by the iron darts
1305
all round the eddies of Scamander.
1310
Chorus Leader
Hush! hush! I caught the sound of a foot-fall on the road near the house.
Hush! hush! I caught the sound of a foot-fall on the road near the house.
Electra
My dearest friends, it is Hermione advancing into the middle of the bloodshed; let our clamor cease.
For she comes headlong into the meshes of the net. The prey will be good, if it is caught. Take up your places again with looks composed and faces not betraying what has happened; I too will have a gloomy look,
1315
as if I knew nothing of what has been done.
Addressing Hermione as she approaches. Ah! maiden, have you come from wreathing Clytemnestra’s grave and pouring libations to the dead?
1320
My dearest friends, it is Hermione advancing into the middle of the bloodshed; let our clamor cease.
For she comes headlong into the meshes of the net. The prey will be good, if it is caught. Take up your places again with looks composed and faces not betraying what has happened; I too will have a gloomy look,
1315
as if I knew nothing of what has been done.
Addressing Hermione as she approaches. Ah! maiden, have you come from wreathing Clytemnestra’s grave and pouring libations to the dead?
1320
Hermione
Yes, I have returned after securing her favor; but I was filled with some alarm about a cry I heard from the palace
as I was still at a distance.
1325
Yes, I have returned after securing her favor; but I was filled with some alarm about a cry I heard from the palace
as I was still at a distance.
1325
Electra
But why? Our present lot gives cause for groans.
But why? Our present lot gives cause for groans.
Hermione
Oh, don’t say so! What is your news?
Oh, don’t say so! What is your news?
Electra
Argos
has sentenced Orestes and me to death.
Argos
has sentenced Orestes and me to death.
Hermione
Oh no! not my own relatives!
Oh no! not my own relatives!
Electra
It is decreed; we have put on the yoke of necessity.
1330
It is decreed; we have put on the yoke of necessity.
1330
Hermione
Was this the reason of the cry within?
Was this the reason of the cry within?
Electra
Yes, a suppliant cried out as he fell at Helen’s knees—
Yes, a suppliant cried out as he fell at Helen’s knees—
Hermione
Who is he? I know nothing more, if you do not tell me.
Who is he? I know nothing more, if you do not tell me.
Electra
Unhappy Orestes, entreating mercy for himself and me.
Unhappy Orestes, entreating mercy for himself and me.
Hermione
The house then has good reason to shout.
1335
The house then has good reason to shout.
1335
Electra
What else would make someone entreat more earnestly? But come and throw yourself before your mother in her prosperity, join your friends’ supplication that Menelaus may not see us die.
O you that were nursed in my mother’s arms, have pity on us and relieve our pain. Come here to the struggle, and I myself will be your guide; for you alone have power over our safety.
1340
What else would make someone entreat more earnestly? But come and throw yourself before your mother in her prosperity, join your friends’ supplication that Menelaus may not see us die.
O you that were nursed in my mother’s arms, have pity on us and relieve our pain. Come here to the struggle, and I myself will be your guide; for you alone have power over our safety.
1340
Hermione
See, I am hastening to the house;
as far it as rests with me, regard yourselves as safe.
Exit Hermione .
1345
See, I am hastening to the house;
as far it as rests with me, regard yourselves as safe.
Exit Hermione .
1345
Electra
Now, friends in the house with swords, seize the prey!
Now, friends in the house with swords, seize the prey!
Hermione
calling from within
Oh no! Who are these I see?
Oh no! Who are these I see?
Orestes
(within.) Silence! You are here for our safety, not yours.
(within.) Silence! You are here for our safety, not yours.
Electra
Hold her, hold her! Point a sword at her throat,
then wait in silence, that Menelaus may learn that he has found men, not Phrygian cowards, and he has been treated as cowards deserve.
1350
Hold her, hold her! Point a sword at her throat,
then wait in silence, that Menelaus may learn that he has found men, not Phrygian cowards, and he has been treated as cowards deserve.
1350
Orestes. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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