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Enter Chrysothemis, from the right.
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Chrysothemis
I am pursued by joy, dear sister, and I disregard seemliness in order to come with speed. I bring joyful news to relieve your former troubles and grief.
I am pursued by joy, dear sister, and I disregard seemliness in order to come with speed. I bring joyful news to relieve your former troubles and grief.
Electra
And from where could you find help for my sufferings, when no cure for them can be imagined?
875
And from where could you find help for my sufferings, when no cure for them can be imagined?
875
Chrysothemis
Orestes is with us—know this from my lips—plainly visible, just as you see me now.
Orestes is with us—know this from my lips—plainly visible, just as you see me now.
Electra
What, are you insane, poor girl?
Do you laugh at my sorrows and your own?
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What, are you insane, poor girl?
Do you laugh at my sorrows and your own?
880
Chrysothemis
No, by our father’s hearth, I do not speak in mockery. I tell you that he truly is with us.
No, by our father’s hearth, I do not speak in mockery. I tell you that he truly is with us.
Electra
Ah, miserable girl! And from whom on earth have you heard this tale, which you believe so lightly?
Ah, miserable girl! And from whom on earth have you heard this tale, which you believe so lightly?
Chrysothemis
I have it on my own knowledge, no one else’s; I have seen clear proofs.
885
I have it on my own knowledge, no one else’s; I have seen clear proofs.
885
Electra
What have you seen, poor girl, to warrant your belief? What did you see, that you are warmed by this unquenchable fire?
What have you seen, poor girl, to warrant your belief? What did you see, that you are warmed by this unquenchable fire?
Chrysothemis
Now, for the gods’ love, listen, so that you may know
the rest from me before deciding whether I am sane or foolish.
890
Now, for the gods’ love, listen, so that you may know
the rest from me before deciding whether I am sane or foolish.
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Electra
Speak on, then, if you find pleasure in speaking.
892
Speak on, then, if you find pleasure in speaking.
Chrysothemis
Well, I will tell you all that I have seen. When I came to Father’s ancestral tomb, I saw that streams of milk had recently flowed from the top of the mound
and that his sepulchre was encircled with garlands of all flowers that grow. I was astonished at the sight, and peered about lest somehow someone should approach close to me. But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness,
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I crept nearer to the tomb, and on the mound’s edge I saw a lock of hair, freshly severed.
And the very moment I see it—ah me!—a familiar image rushes into my mind, and I feel that I am looking at a token of him whom I most love, Orestes.
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Then I lift it in my hands and make no sound of bad omen, but the tears of joy straightaway fill my eyes. Even now I know well, just as I knew then, that this fair tribute has come from no one but him. Whom else does that tomb concern, save me and you?
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And I did not make those offerings, I know, nor did you. How could you, when you cannot leave this house even to worship the gods without later regretting it? Nor, again, does our mother’s heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she have done so without our knowledge.
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No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister, have courage! Not always does the same fortune, it is true, attend the same individuals. Ours was once to be despised, but today, perhaps, will seal the promise of much good.
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920
Well, I will tell you all that I have seen. When I came to Father’s ancestral tomb, I saw that streams of milk had recently flowed from the top of the mound
and that his sepulchre was encircled with garlands of all flowers that grow. I was astonished at the sight, and peered about lest somehow someone should approach close to me. But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness,
895
I crept nearer to the tomb, and on the mound’s edge I saw a lock of hair, freshly severed.
And the very moment I see it—ah me!—a familiar image rushes into my mind, and I feel that I am looking at a token of him whom I most love, Orestes.
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And the very moment I see it—ah me!—a familiar image rushes into my mind, and I feel that I am looking at a token of him whom I most love, Orestes.
Then I lift it in my hands and make no sound of bad omen, but the tears of joy straightaway fill my eyes. Even now I know well, just as I knew then, that this fair tribute has come from no one but him. Whom else does that tomb concern, save me and you?
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And I did not make those offerings, I know, nor did you. How could you, when you cannot leave this house even to worship the gods without later regretting it? Nor, again, does our mother’s heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she have done so without our knowledge.
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No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister, have courage! Not always does the same fortune, it is true, attend the same individuals. Ours was once to be despised, but today, perhaps, will seal the promise of much good.
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Electra
Oh, what foolishness! How I have been pitying you!
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Oh, what foolishness! How I have been pitying you!
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Chrysothemis
What, is my news unpleasing to you?
What, is my news unpleasing to you?
Electra
You do not know where on earth or into what dreams you wander.
You do not know where on earth or into what dreams you wander.
Chrysothemis
How could I not know what I have plainly seen?
How could I not know what I have plainly seen?
Electra
He is dead, poor girl, and your
salvation by him is gone. Do not look to him.
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He is dead, poor girl, and your
salvation by him is gone. Do not look to him.
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Chrysothemis
Ah, miserable me! From whom have you heard this?
Ah, miserable me! From whom have you heard this?
Electra
From the man who was present when he perished.
From the man who was present when he perished.
Chrysothemis
And where is he? Amazement steals over my mind.
And where is he? Amazement steals over my mind.
Electra
He is inside, a welcome guest, not unpleasing to our mother.
He is inside, a welcome guest, not unpleasing to our mother.
Chrysothemis
Ah, misery! Who, then, can have made those ample offerings to my father’s tomb?
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Ah, misery! Who, then, can have made those ample offerings to my father’s tomb?
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Electra
Most likely, I think, someone placed those gifts in memory of the dead Orestes.
Most likely, I think, someone placed those gifts in memory of the dead Orestes.
Chrysothemis
Oh, my misfortune! And I was hurrying here
with such joyous nows, ignorant after all of our downfall. But now that I have arrived, I find fresh sorrows added to the old!
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Oh, my misfortune! And I was hurrying here
with such joyous nows, ignorant after all of our downfall. But now that I have arrived, I find fresh sorrows added to the old!
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Electra
So it stands with you. Yet if you will be persuaded by me, you will lighten the load of our present trouble.
So it stands with you. Yet if you will be persuaded by me, you will lighten the load of our present trouble.
Chrysothemis
How can I ever raise the dead back to life?
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How can I ever raise the dead back to life?
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Electra
That is not what I meant; I was not born so foolish.
That is not what I meant; I was not born so foolish.
Chrysothemis
What do you urge, then, of those things that I am capable of doing?
What do you urge, then, of those things that I am capable of doing?
Electra
That you be brave in executing what I recommend.
That you be brave in executing what I recommend.
Chrysothemis
If any good can be done, I will not refuse.
If any good can be done, I will not refuse.
Electra
Remember, nothing succeeds without toil.
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Remember, nothing succeeds without toil.
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Chrysothemis
I know it, and I will share your burden with all my power.
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I know it, and I will share your burden with all my power.
Electra
Hear, then, in what way I have decided to take action. As for the support of friends, you yourself doubtless know that we have none. Hades has taken our friends away,
and we two are left alone. I, so long as I heard that my brother still lived and prospered, had hopes that he would yet come to avenge the murder of our father. But now that he is no more, I look next to you
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and ask that you not flinch from aiding me, your sister, to slay our father’s murderer, Aegisthus. There—I can have no secrets from you anymore.
How long will you wait in indifference? What hope is left standing, to which your eyes can turn? Now you are right to complain
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that you are robbed of possession of your father’s estate; now you may mourn that you have advanced this far in years without wedded love or bridal song. And do not cling to hopes that you will ever meet with such joys. The man, Aegisthus, is not so unthinking
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as ever to permit that offspring should shoot up from you or from me either to be a certain bane for himself. But if you will follow my plans, first you will win praise for piety from our dead father below, and from our brother, too;
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next, you shall be called hereafter free, just as you were born, and shall find a worthy marriage. For noble natures draw the gaze of all.
Then do you not see what fair fame you will procure for yourself and for me, by obeying me?
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What citizen or stranger when he sees us will not greet us with praises such as these:
Behold these two sisters, my friends! They saved their father’s house, and at a time when their foes were firmly established, they took their lives in their hands and administered bloodshed! Worthy of love is this pair, worthy of reverence from all. At festivals, and wherever the citizenry is assembled, let these two be honored by all men for their manly courage. Thus will every one speak of us,
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so that in life and in death our glory shall not fail.
Come, dear sister, be persuaded! Toil with our father, share the burden of your brother, put an end to my troubles and an end to yours, keeping in mind that a shameful life brings shame upon the noble-born.
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Hear, then, in what way I have decided to take action. As for the support of friends, you yourself doubtless know that we have none. Hades has taken our friends away,
and we two are left alone. I, so long as I heard that my brother still lived and prospered, had hopes that he would yet come to avenge the murder of our father. But now that he is no more, I look next to you
950
and ask that you not flinch from aiding me, your sister, to slay our father’s murderer, Aegisthus. There—I can have no secrets from you anymore.
How long will you wait in indifference? What hope is left standing, to which your eyes can turn? Now you are right to complain
955
How long will you wait in indifference? What hope is left standing, to which your eyes can turn? Now you are right to complain
that you are robbed of possession of your father’s estate; now you may mourn that you have advanced this far in years without wedded love or bridal song. And do not cling to hopes that you will ever meet with such joys. The man, Aegisthus, is not so unthinking
960
as ever to permit that offspring should shoot up from you or from me either to be a certain bane for himself. But if you will follow my plans, first you will win praise for piety from our dead father below, and from our brother, too;
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next, you shall be called hereafter free, just as you were born, and shall find a worthy marriage. For noble natures draw the gaze of all.
Then do you not see what fair fame you will procure for yourself and for me, by obeying me?
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Then do you not see what fair fame you will procure for yourself and for me, by obeying me?
What citizen or stranger when he sees us will not greet us with praises such as these:
Behold these two sisters, my friends! They saved their father’s house, and at a time when their foes were firmly established, they took their lives in their hands and administered bloodshed! Worthy of love is this pair, worthy of reverence from all. At festivals, and wherever the citizenry is assembled, let these two be honored by all men for their manly courage. Thus will every one speak of us,
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so that in life and in death our glory shall not fail.
Come, dear sister, be persuaded! Toil with our father, share the burden of your brother, put an end to my troubles and an end to yours, keeping in mind that a shameful life brings shame upon the noble-born.
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Come, dear sister, be persuaded! Toil with our father, share the burden of your brother, put an end to my troubles and an end to yours, keeping in mind that a shameful life brings shame upon the noble-born.
Chorus
In a crisis such as this, forethought is an ally both to those who speak and those who listen.
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In a crisis such as this, forethought is an ally both to those who speak and those who listen.
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Chrysothemis
Yes, I agree. And before she spoke, my friends, if she were blessed with a sound mind, she would have remembered caution, even as she does not now.
Where can you have turned your eyes, that you arm yourself with such rashness and call me to serve beneath you? Do you not see? Your nature is a woman’s, not a man’s, and the strength of your hand is less than that of your adversaries. And their fortune prospers day by day,
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while ours ebbs and comes to nothing. Who, then, plotting to subdue such a man, would escape destruction unharmed? See to it that, badly as we fare now, we do not acquire greater evil, if any one hears this talk of yours.
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It brings us no relief or benefit, if after winning fair fame we die an ignominious death. For death is not the most odious thing; it is rather craving death, but lacking the means to die. No, I plead with you, before we are utterly, totally destroyed
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and before we leave our house desolate, restrain your rage! I will take care that your words remain secret and harmless for you. You in turn must get hold of good sense at long last and yield to the powerful since you have no strength.
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Yes, I agree. And before she spoke, my friends, if she were blessed with a sound mind, she would have remembered caution, even as she does not now.
Where can you have turned your eyes, that you arm yourself with such rashness and call me to serve beneath you? Do you not see? Your nature is a woman’s, not a man’s, and the strength of your hand is less than that of your adversaries. And their fortune prospers day by day,
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while ours ebbs and comes to nothing. Who, then, plotting to subdue such a man, would escape destruction unharmed? See to it that, badly as we fare now, we do not acquire greater evil, if any one hears this talk of yours.
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It brings us no relief or benefit, if after winning fair fame we die an ignominious death. For death is not the most odious thing; it is rather craving death, but lacking the means to die. No, I plead with you, before we are utterly, totally destroyed
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and before we leave our house desolate, restrain your rage! I will take care that your words remain secret and harmless for you. You in turn must get hold of good sense at long last and yield to the powerful since you have no strength.
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Chorus
Listen to her. There is no better gain for mortals to win than foresight and a prudent mind.
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Listen to her. There is no better gain for mortals to win than foresight and a prudent mind.
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Electra
You have said nothing unexpected. Well I knew that you would reject what I proposed. But the deed must be done with my own hand, by me and me alone.
I certainly will not leave it unaccomplished.
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You have said nothing unexpected. Well I knew that you would reject what I proposed. But the deed must be done with my own hand, by me and me alone.
I certainly will not leave it unaccomplished.
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Chrysothemis
Ah! If only you had had such resolve on the day of our father’s death! Then you would have accomplished everything!
Ah! If only you had had such resolve on the day of our father’s death! Then you would have accomplished everything!
Electra
My nature was the same then, but my mind was less ripe.
My nature was the same then, but my mind was less ripe.
Chrysothemis
Strive to keep your mind that way through all your life.
Strive to keep your mind that way through all your life.
Electra
You make these admonitions like one who will not assist me.
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You make these admonitions like one who will not assist me.
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Chrysothemis
I will not, for he who sets hand to the deed is likely also to suffer disaster.
I will not, for he who sets hand to the deed is likely also to suffer disaster.
Electra
I admire you for your prudence. For your cowardice I hate you.
I admire you for your prudence. For your cowardice I hate you.
Chrysothemis
I will listen no less calmly when you praise me.
I will listen no less calmly when you praise me.
Electra
Never fear to suffer that from me, at least.
Never fear to suffer that from me, at least.
Chrysothemis
There is time enough in the future to decide that.
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There is time enough in the future to decide that.
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Electra
Leave! You have no power to help.
Leave! You have no power to help.
Chrysothemis
No, I have it, but you lack the ability to listen and learn.
No, I have it, but you lack the ability to listen and learn.
Electra
Go, reveal everything to your mother!
Go, reveal everything to your mother!
Chrysothemis
But, again, I do not hate you with so great a hate.
But, again, I do not hate you with so great a hate.
Electra
Yet know at least to what dishonor you drive me.
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Yet know at least to what dishonor you drive me.
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Chrysothemis
Dishonor, no! It is forethought for you.
Dishonor, no! It is forethought for you.
Electra
Am I bound, then, to follow your rule of right?
Am I bound, then, to follow your rule of right?
Chrysothemis
Yes, for when you are sensible, then at that time you shall lead the both of us.
Yes, for when you are sensible, then at that time you shall lead the both of us.
Electra
How terrible it is that one who speaks so well should be so wrong!
How terrible it is that one who speaks so well should be so wrong!
Chrysothemis
You have well described the fault to which you devotedly cling.
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You have well described the fault to which you devotedly cling.
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Electra
What? Do you think that my words are not the words of Justice?
What? Do you think that my words are not the words of Justice?
Chrysothemis
But sometimes even Justice herself causes harm.
But sometimes even Justice herself causes harm.
Electra
I do not care to live where that attitude is lawful.
I do not care to live where that attitude is lawful.
Chrysothemis
Well, if you must do this, you will commend me yet.
Well, if you must do this, you will commend me yet.
Electra
And do it I will, not a bit disturbed by you.
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And do it I will, not a bit disturbed by you.
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Chrysothemis
Is this true? You will not reconsider your plan?
Is this true? You will not reconsider your plan?
Electra
No, for no enemy is more damaging than bad advice.
No, for no enemy is more damaging than bad advice.
Chrysothemis
You seem to agree with nothing that I say.
You seem to agree with nothing that I say.
Electra
My resolve is not new, but long since fixed.
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My resolve is not new, but long since fixed.
Chrysothemis
Then I will go. You cannot be brought to approve my words, nor I your conduct.
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Then I will go. You cannot be brought to approve my words, nor I your conduct.
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Electra
No, go inside. I will never come after you, even though you may strongly desire it, since it is great folly even to attempt a useless quest.
No, go inside. I will never come after you, even though you may strongly desire it, since it is great folly even to attempt a useless quest.
Chrysothemis
Well, if you seem to think straight in your own eyes, may you go on thinking so. Eventually, when you have fallen into trouble, you will approve my advice.
Exit Chrysothemis into the house.
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Well, if you seem to think straight in your own eyes, may you go on thinking so. Eventually, when you have fallen into trouble, you will approve my advice.
Exit Chrysothemis into the house.
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Electra. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1894.
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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.