Chorus
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STRO. 1.
ELECTRA, CHORUS.
1058
Mark you the birds that skim the air,
O'er their full nests they wave the busy wing,
By nature taught with pious care
Food to their callow young to bring,
To swell their plumes, and fit them for the skies.
Is man in nature's lore thus wise?
But, by the Thunderer's angry flame,
By Themis on her heavenly throne sublime,
Vengeance shall soon o'ertake the crime.
O thou, who fill'st this world, wide Fame,
Bear hence thy joyless voice of woe,
And fill with accents dread the world below!
ANTIS. 1. There 'midst the dead th' Atridæ tell
That guilt triumphant in their house remains;
That there the screaming Furies dwell;
That Discord 'twixt the sisters reigns.
Toss'd in the storms of fate, alone, betray'd,
Electra sighs in vain for aid;
Still for her father pours her tears,
Still in wild, melancholy notes complains,
Like Philomela's mournful strains:
No rage of tyrant pow'r she fears :
Content in death to close her eyes
These furies might her vengeful hand surprise.
Thus low sinks one of high-born race?
Thou art not sunk; to rise be thine :
The noble soul will ne'er disgrace
The glories of its ancient line;
Nor, when misfortune darkens round,
Obscure and dead to fame be found.
O'er thee, unhappy, generous maid,
Hath misery cast her baleful shade;
That shade thy choice, through high disdain,
Of guilt and all her gorgeous train,
Aspiring to enrich thy name
With wisdom's and with virtue's fame.
Oh may'st thou live in royal state,
Triumphant o'er thy prostrate foes,
As now beneath their hand thy fate
Hath sunk thee in disgrace and woes!
For I have seen thy generous soul
Burst from misfortune's harsh control;
Have seen thee with a fix'd disdain
Advance against her threat'ning train,
Bearing the high heroic thought
By heav'n-descended justice taught,
And all the firm mind's holy fires
Which piety to Jove inspires.
