Euripides Orestes 1013-1245

Chorus Leader

Look, here comes your brother, condemned to die, and with him Pylades, most loyal of friends,

true as a brother, guiding his feeble steps, his yoke-fellow, pacing carefully.

1015

Electra

Alas! I weep to see you stand before the tomb, my brother, face to face with the funeral pyre.

Alas, again! as I take my last look at you, my senses leave me.

1020

Orestes

Be silent! an end to womanish lamenting! resign yourself to your fate. It is piteous, but nevertheless you must bear the present fate.

Electra

How can I be silent, when we poor sufferers are no longer to gaze upon the sun-god’s light?

1025

Orestes

Oh! spare me that death! Enough that this unhappy wretch is already slain by Argives; let our present sufferings be.

Electra

Alas for your unhappy youth, Orestes, and for your fated

untimely death! When you should have lived, you are going to die.

1030

Orestes

By the gods, do not unman me, bringing me to tears by the recollection of my sorrows.

Electra

We are about to die; it is not possible for me not to grieve over our troubles; it is a piteous thing for all men to lose life, that is so sweet.

Orestes

This is the day appointed for us; we must fit the dangling noose about our necks or whet the sword for use.

1035

Electra

You be the one to kill me, brother, so that no Argive may insult Agamemnon’s son by my death.

Orestes

Enough that I have a mother’s blood upon me; I will not kill you,

but die by your own hand, however you wish.

1040

Electra

Agreed; I will not be behind you in using the sword; only I long to throw my arms about your neck.

Orestes

Enjoy that empty satisfaction, if embraces have any joy for those who have come so near to death.

Electra

My dearest, you who have a name that sounds most loved and sweet to your sister, partner in one soul with her!

1045

Orestes

Oh, you will melt my heart! I want to give you back a fond embrace. And why should such a wretch as I still feel any shame? Embracing Electra Heart to heart, my sister! how sweet to me this close embrace!

In place of children and the marriage bed this greeting is all that is possible to us poor sufferers.

1050

Electra

Ah! If only the same sword, if it is right, could kill us both, and one coffin of cedar-wood receive us!

Orestes

That would be very sweet; but surely you see

we are too destitute of friends to be allowed one tomb between us.

1055

Electra

Did that coward Menelaus, that traitor to my father, not even speak for you, or make an effort to save your life?

Orestes

He did not even show himself, but, with his hopes centered on the throne, he was careful not to attempt the rescue of his friends.

But let us see how we may die a noble death, one most worthy of Agamemnon. I, for my part, will let the city see my noble spirit when I plunge the sword to my heart, and you in turn must imitate my daring.

1060

Pylades, be the arbitrator of our slaughter and, when we both are dead, lay out our bodies decently; carry them to our father’s grave and bury us there with him. Farewell, now; I am leaving for the deed, as you see.

1065

Pylades

Stop! there is first one point I have to blame you for,

if you thought I would care to live when you are dead.

1070

Orestes

But why are you called on to die with me?

Pylades

Do you ask? What is life to me without your companionship?

Orestes

You did not kill your mother, as I did to my sorrow.

Pylades

At least I helped you; and so I ought to suffer the same penalty.

Orestes

Surrender to your father, do not die with me. You still have a city, while I no longer have, and your father’s home, and a great refuge of wealth. You have failed to marry my poor sister, whom I betrothed to you from a deep regard for your companionship;

1075

but find another bride and rear a family; for the marriage-tie which bound us is no more. Farewell, be happy, my beloved friend; we cannot, but you may; for we, the dead, are robbed of happiness.

1080

Pylades

How far you are from grasping what I mean! May the fruitful earth, the radiant sky refuse to hold my blood, if ever I turn traitor and desert you when I have freed myself. For I shared in the murder, which I will not deny,

1085

and also schemed the whole plot, for which you are now paying the penalty; and so I ought to die together with you and her. For I consider her, whom you betrothed to me, as my wife. Whatever shall I say, when I reach Delphi , the citadel of Phocis ,

1090

if I was your friend before your misfortunes, but ceased to be your friend, when you were unfortunate? That must not be; no, this concerns me, too. But since we are to die, let us take counsel together that Menelaus may share our misfortune.

1095

Orestes

Best of friends! if only I could see this before I die.

1100

Pylades

Listen to me, and delay the stroke of the sword.

Orestes

I will, if I may take vengeance on my enemy.

Pylades

Hush now! I have small confidence in women.

Orestes

Have no fear of these; for they are our friends who are here.

Pylades

Let us kill Helen, a bitter grief to Menelaus.

1105

Orestes

How? I am ready, if there is any chance of success.

Pylades

With our swords; she is hiding in your house.

Orestes

Indeed she is; and already she is putting her seal on everything.

Pylades

No longer, after she is married to Hades.

Orestes

But how? She has her barbarian attendants.

1110

Pylades

Barbarians indeed! I am not the man to fear any Phrygian.

Orestes

They are only fit to look after mirrors and perfumes!

Pylades

Has she brought Trojan luxury with her here?

Orestes

So much so, that Hellas is too small for her to live in.

Pylades

The race of slaves is nothing to those who are free.

1115

Orestes

Well, if I can do this deed, I do not shrink from dying twice over.

Pylades

No, nor I either, if it is you I am avenging.

Orestes

Explain the matter, and continue describing your plan.

Pylades

We will enter the house on the pretence of going to our death.

Orestes

So far I follow you, but not beyond.

1120

Pylades

We will lament our sufferings to her.

Orestes

So that she will shed tears, although her heart is glad.

Pylades

And our condition will be like hers.

Orestes

How shall we proceed next in our contest?

Pylades

We shall have swords concealed in our cloaks.

1125

Orestes

Will we dispose of her attendants first?

Pylades

We will shut them up in different parts of the house.

Orestes

And whoever refuses to be quiet, we must kill.

Pylades

And then the deed itself shows us where we must exert ourselves.

Oretes

To kill Helen; I understand that watchword.

1130

Pylades

You have it; now hear how sound my scheme is. If we drew the sword upon a woman of greater chastity, the murder would be infamous; but, as it is, she will be punished for the sake of all Hellas ,

whose fathers she slew, whose children she destroyed, and made widows out of brides. There will be shouts of joy, and they will kindle the altars of the gods, invoking on our heads many blessings, because we shed a wicked woman’s blood.

1135

After killing her, you will not be called the matricide, but, resigning that title, you will succeed to a better, and be called the slayer of Helen the murderess. It can never, never be right that Menelaus should prosper, and your father, your sister and you should die,

1140

and your mother—but I pass that by, for it is not seemly to mention it—and for him to possess your home, though it was by Agamemnon’s prowess that he recovered his bride. May I die, if we do not draw our swords upon her! But if we do not accomplish Helen’s death,

1145

we will set fire to the house and die. For we will not fail to achieve one distinction, an honorable death or an honorable escape.

1150

Chorus Leader

The daughter of Tyndareus, who has brought shame on her sex, has justly earned the hatred of every woman.

Orestes

Ah! there is nothing better than a trusty friend, neither wealth nor monarchy; a crowd of people is of no account in exchange for a noble friend. You were the one who devised the vengeance against Aegisthus, and stood by me in danger,

1155

and now again you are offering me a means to punish my foes and do not stand aside—but I will cease praising you, for there is something wearisome even in being praised to excess. Now since in any case I must breathe my last, I want to do something to my enemies before my death,

1160

so that I may requite with ruin those who betrayed me, and so that those who made me suffer may grieve. Yes! I am the son of Agamemnon, who was considered worthy to rule Hellas , no tyrant but yet god-like in power; I will not disgrace him

1165

by submitting to die like a slave; my last breath shall be free and I will take vengeance on Menelaus. For if we could secure one object, we would be lucky, if a means of safety should unexpectedly come our way from somewhere, and we should be the slayers, not the slain; this is what I pray for.

1170

This wish of mine is a pleasant dream to cheer the heart, without cost, by means of the mouth’s winged words.

1175

Electra

I think I have it, brother, a means of safety for you, and for him and thirdly for myself.

Orestes

You mean divine providence. But why do I say that?

Since I know the natural shrewdness of your heart.

1180

Electra

Listen to me now; and you (to Pylades) pay attention also.

Orestes

Speak; the prospect of good news holds a certain pleasure.

Electra

You know Helen’s daughter? Of course you do.

Orestes

I know her, Hermione, whom my mother reared.

Electra

She has gone to Clytemnestra’s tomb.

1185

Orestes

To do what? What hope are you hinting at?

Electra

She was going to pour a libation over the tomb of our mother.

Orestes

Well, how does what you have said lead to our safety?

Electra

Seize her as a hostage on her way back.

Orestes

What good can your suggested remedy do us three friends?

1190

Electra

If, after Helen’s slaughter, Menelaus tries to do anything to you or to Pylades and me—for this bond of friendship is wholly one—say that you will kill Hermione; you must draw your sword and hold it to the maiden’s throat.

If Menelaus, when he sees Helen fallen in her blood, tries to save you to insure the girl’s life, allow him to take his daughter to his arms; but if he makes no effort to curb the angry outburst and leaves you to die, then cut the maiden’s throat.

1195

And I think if he puts in a mighty appearance at first, he will calm down in time; for he is not bold or brave by nature. That is my line of defense for our safety. My speech is over.

1200

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

Pylades

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.

Electra

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

Electra

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.

Orestes

I killed my mother—

1235

Electra

I held the sword—

Pylades

I . . . set them free from fear—

Orestes

To aid you, father.

Electra

Nor did I betray you.

Pylades

Will you not hear these reproaches and rescue your children?

Orestes

With tears I pour you a libation.

Electra

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