Since, as ſome hallow'd ſhrine, thy father's tomb
I reverence, at thy bidding I will ſpeak.
ELECTRA.
I charge thee, by that reverence, freely ſpeak.
130
I charge thee, by that reverence, freely ſpeak.
130
CHORUS.
With these libations pour thy ardent vows
For bleſſings on the head of all his friends.
With these libations pour thy ardent vows
For bleſſings on the head of all his friends.
ELECTRA.
Whom by that honour'd title ſhall I name?
Whom by that honour'd title ſhall I name?
CHORUS.
Thyſelf the firſt, and all that hate Ægifthus.
Thyſelf the firſt, and all that hate Ægifthus.
ELECTRA.
For thee and me then ſhall I pour these vows?
135
CHORUS.
For thee and me then ſhall I pour these vows?
135
CHORUS.
To learn, and weigh this well, be thy concern.
To learn, and weigh this well, be thy concern.
ELECTRA.
Whom to this friendly number ſhall I add?
Whom to this friendly number ſhall I add?
CHORUS.
Tho' diſtant far, remember poor Oreſtes.
Tho' diſtant far, remember poor Oreſtes.
ELECTRA.
That’s well: I learn no little wisdom from thee.
That’s well: I learn no little wisdom from thee.
CHORUS.
Remember next the authors of his death.
140
Remember next the authors of his death.
140
ELECTRA.
What ſhou'd I ſay? Inſtruct my lack of knowledge.
What ſhou'd I ſay? Inſtruct my lack of knowledge.
CHORUS.
Pray that some God, or man, may come to them.
Pray that some God, or man, may come to them.
ELECTRA.
With what intent? To judge, or to avenge?
With what intent? To judge, or to avenge?
CHORUS.
Speak plainly, to repay them death for death.
Speak plainly, to repay them death for death.
ELECTRA.
And may this be with reverence to the Gods?
145
And may this be with reverence to the Gods?
145
CHORUS.
What hinders to requite a foe with ill?
What hinders to requite a foe with ill?
ELECTRA
at the Tomb.
O thou, that to the realms beneath the earth
Guideſt the dead, be preſent, Mercury,
And tell me that the pow’rs, whoſe ſolemn ſway
Extends o’er those dark regions, hear my vows;
150
O thou, that to the realms beneath the earth
Guideſt the dead, be preſent, Mercury,
And tell me that the pow’rs, whoſe ſolemn ſway
Extends o’er those dark regions, hear my vows;
150
ELECTRA
at the Tomb.
Tell me that o’er my father’s house they roll
Their aweful eyes, and o’er this earth, that bears
And foſters all, rich in their various fruits.
And thee, my father, pouring from this vaſe
Libations to thy ſhade, on thee I call,
155
O pity me, pity my dear Oreſtes,
That in this ſeat of kings our hands may hold
The golden reins of pow’r:
for now oppreſs’d,
And haraſs'd by a mother’s cruel hand,
160
Who for Ægiſthus, that contriv’d thy death,
Exchang’d her royal lord, he wanders far,
And I am treated as a ſlave:
Oreſtes
From his poſſeſſions exil’d, they with pride
165
Wantonly
Tell me that o’er my father’s house they roll
Their aweful eyes, and o’er this earth, that bears
And foſters all, rich in their various fruits.
And thee, my father, pouring from this vaſe
Libations to thy ſhade, on thee I call,
155
O pity me, pity my dear Oreſtes,
That in this ſeat of kings our hands may hold
The golden reins of pow’r:
for now oppreſs’d,
And haraſs'd by a mother’s cruel hand,
160
Who for Ægiſthus, that contriv’d thy death,
Exchang’d her royal lord, he wanders far,
And I am treated as a ſlave:
Oreſtes
From his poſſeſſions exil’d, they with pride
165
Wantonly
ELECTRA
at the Tomb.
Wantonly revel in the wealth thy toils
Procur’d: O grant Oreſtes may return,
And fortune be his guide!
Hear me, my father,
170
And grant me, more than e’er my mother knew,
The grace and bluſh of unſtain’d modeſty
b
,
And a more holy hand!
For us these vows;
But on our foes may thy avenger riſe
175
Demanding blood for blood. These vows I breath
In dreadful imprecations on their heads.
Be thou to us, my father, with the Gods,
This earth, and pow’rful justice, be to us,
That breath this vital air, a guide to good.
180
With these libations ſuch the vows I offer.
Now let your ſorrows flow; attune the Pæan,
And ſooth his ſhade with ſolemn harmony.
Wantonly revel in the wealth thy toils
Procur’d: O grant Oreſtes may return,
And fortune be his guide!
Hear me, my father,
170
And grant me, more than e’er my mother knew,
The grace and bluſh of unſtain’d modeſty
b
,
And a more holy hand!
For us these vows;
But on our foes may thy avenger riſe
175
Demanding blood for blood. These vows I breath
In dreadful imprecations on their heads.
Be thou to us, my father, with the Gods,
This earth, and pow’rful justice, be to us,
That breath this vital air, a guide to good.
180
With these libations ſuch the vows I offer.
Now let your ſorrows flow; attune the Pæan,
And ſooth his ſhade with ſolemn harmony.
CHORUS.
Libation Bearers. Aeschylus. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1779.
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