But I make my prayer to this earth, and to the tomb of my father, that this dream may bring accomplishment to me. And i'faith I interpret it so that it exactly tallies; for if, after quitting the same place with me, the serpent was decked in my swaddling-clothes, and mouthed the breast that gave me nutriment, and mingled with clotted blood the loved milk, and she shrieked in dread at this mischance-it needs must be that she, as she reared a terrific portent, should die a violent death; and I, changed into a serpent, will slay her, as this dream of her's declares. And I choose thee for my expounder of portents as touching this matter.
CHORUS
So be it: but explain the rest of thy plan to thy friends, bidding some to do something, and others not to act.
So be it: but explain the rest of thy plan to thy friends, bidding some to do something, and others not to act.
ORESTES
The tale is simple: I recommend my sister here to go within and to conceal these plans agreed upon [with her]; that after slaying an august monarch, they too may be entrapped by guile, dying in the very same toils, even as Loxias too predicted, king Apollo, a prophet of unfailing truth heretofore. For like to a stranger, having complete equipment, I will come with my friend Pylades here to the gates of the court-yard, as a guest and friend of the family. And we both will utter the Parnassian dialect, imitating the sound of a Phocian tongue. And suppose that no one of the porters will admit us with gladsome mind, (since the house is possessed with ills,) we will remain thus, so that any one walking past the house may make a guess, and say this: “Why thus with [closed] gates exclude ye the suppliant? if Ægisthus is at home and aware of his presence?" If then I pass the threshold of the gates of the court-yard, and shall discover him upon my father's throne, or if he come then and speak to me to my face and cast his eyes upon me, know certainly that before he says, "What countrymen is the stranger?” I will stretch him a corpse, coming round him
1
with nimble swordsmanship. And Erinnys, that hath not been stinted of slaughter, shall quaff blood undiluted, a third draught. Now then, do thou watch well what is within the house, that these things may fall out well-combined. But to you I recommend to keep a silent tongue, both to keep silence where it is needful, and to speak what is suited to the moment. For the rest I appeal to this my [friend] to come hither and overlook these matters; to him that has helped
2
me to success in this conflict of the wielded sword.
[ELECTRA enters the palace: ORESTES and PYLADES retire to disguise themselves.]
The tale is simple: I recommend my sister here to go within and to conceal these plans agreed upon [with her]; that after slaying an august monarch, they too may be entrapped by guile, dying in the very same toils, even as Loxias too predicted, king Apollo, a prophet of unfailing truth heretofore. For like to a stranger, having complete equipment, I will come with my friend Pylades here to the gates of the court-yard, as a guest and friend of the family. And we both will utter the Parnassian dialect, imitating the sound of a Phocian tongue. And suppose that no one of the porters will admit us with gladsome mind, (since the house is possessed with ills,) we will remain thus, so that any one walking past the house may make a guess, and say this: “Why thus with [closed] gates exclude ye the suppliant? if Ægisthus is at home and aware of his presence?" If then I pass the threshold of the gates of the court-yard, and shall discover him upon my father's throne, or if he come then and speak to me to my face and cast his eyes upon me, know certainly that before he says, "What countrymen is the stranger?” I will stretch him a corpse, coming round him
1
with nimble swordsmanship. And Erinnys, that hath not been stinted of slaughter, shall quaff blood undiluted, a third draught. Now then, do thou watch well what is within the house, that these things may fall out well-combined. But to you I recommend to keep a silent tongue, both to keep silence where it is needful, and to speak what is suited to the moment. For the rest I appeal to this my [friend] to come hither and overlook these matters; to him that has helped
2
me to success in this conflict of the wielded sword.
CHORUS
Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.
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