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Electra
It ill becomes great Agamemnon's daughter
Thus to forget her noble father's worth.
And take a base unworthy mother's part ;
For well I see from whom thy counsels flow ;
Nought from thyself thou sayst but all from her X
/^l^ther thy reason 's lost, or if thou hast it,
» Tliou hast forgot thy friends who should be dear
And precious to thee. Of thy boasted hate
Again^i our foes, and what thou vauntst to do
If thou i^adst power I reck not, whilst with me
Thou wilt not join in great revenge, but still
Dissuadsfc nie from it ; is 't not cowardly
To leave me Mius? Tell me, I beg thee, tell me
"What mighty gain awaits my tame submission,
Should I suppress my griefs. I can but live ;
That I do now — aN:jvretched life indeed !
But 'tis enough for\ie, and I am happy
Whilst I can torture ^em, and to the dead
Pay grateful honours — If^tp them such care
Aught grateful can bestov^ij Thy hate, I fear me,
Is but in word : thou dost ibefriend the murderers :
For me, not all the wealth they could bestow,
Not all the gifts which they have poured on thee.
Should bind me to 'em. Take thy costly banquets,
And let thy days with ease and pleasure flow ;
Crive me but focxl, and I am satisfied.
1 wish not for thy houours, nor wouldst
If thou wert wise, receive them at their hands.
Thou mightst be daughter to the best of fathers,
And art thy mother's only. Take that name,
And henceforth all shall mark thee as a wretch
Who hath betrayed her father and her friends.
Choii. 1 do entreat you, let not anger come
Between you thus ; you both have reasoned well,
And much of mutual benefit may flow
If each to other lend a patient ear.
It ill becomes great Agamemnon's daughter
Thus to forget her noble father's worth.
And take a base unworthy mother's part ;
For well I see from whom thy counsels flow ;
Nought from thyself thou sayst but all from her X
/^l^ther thy reason 's lost, or if thou hast it,
» Tliou hast forgot thy friends who should be dear
And precious to thee. Of thy boasted hate
Again^i our foes, and what thou vauntst to do
If thou i^adst power I reck not, whilst with me
Thou wilt not join in great revenge, but still
Dissuadsfc nie from it ; is 't not cowardly
To leave me Mius? Tell me, I beg thee, tell me
"What mighty gain awaits my tame submission,
Should I suppress my griefs. I can but live ;
That I do now — aN:jvretched life indeed !
But 'tis enough for\ie, and I am happy
Whilst I can torture ^em, and to the dead
Pay grateful honours — If^tp them such care
Aught grateful can bestov^ij Thy hate, I fear me,
Is but in word : thou dost ibefriend the murderers :
For me, not all the wealth they could bestow,
Not all the gifts which they have poured on thee.
Should bind me to 'em. Take thy costly banquets,
And let thy days with ease and pleasure flow ;
Crive me but focxl, and I am satisfied.
1 wish not for thy houours, nor wouldst
If thou wert wise, receive them at their hands.
Thou mightst be daughter to the best of fathers,
And art thy mother's only. Take that name,
And henceforth all shall mark thee as a wretch
Who hath betrayed her father and her friends.
Choii. 1 do entreat you, let not anger come
Between you thus ; you both have reasoned well,
And much of mutual benefit may flow
If each to other lend a patient ear.
Electra. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.