Orestes

O father, who perished by a death unbefitting a king,

grant in answer to my prayer the lordship over your halls!

480

Electra

And I too, father, have a like request of you: to escape when I have wrought great destruction on Aegisthus.

Orestes

Yes, for then the customary funeral feasts of men would be established in your honor. But otherwise, at the rich and savory banquet

of burnt offerings made to the earth, you will be without a portion of honor.

485

Electra

And I will likewise at my wedding offer libations to you out of the fullness of my inheritance from my father’s house, and before all else I will hold this tomb of yours in the highest honor.

Orestes

O Earth, send up my father to watch my battle!

Electra

O Persephone, grant us indeed a glorious victory!

490

Orestes

Father, remember the bath where you were robbed of life.

Electra

And remember how they devised a strange net to cast about you.

Orestes

You were caught, my father, in fetters forged by no smith’s hand.

Electra

And in a fabric shamefully devised.

Orestes

Father, are you not roused by taunts such as these?

495

Electra

Are you not raising that dearest head of yours?

Orestes

Either send Justice to battle for those dear to you, or grant us in turn to get a similar grip ¹ on them, if indeed after defeat you would in turn win victory.

Electra

So listen, father, to this last appeal of mine as you behold these fledglings crouching at your tomb. Have compassion on your offspring, on the woman and on the man as well, and let not this seed of Pelops’ line be blotted out: for then, in spite of death, you are not dead.

500

For children are voices of salvation to a man, though he is dead; like corks, they buoy up the net, saving the flaxen cord from out of the deep. Hear! For your own sake we make this lament. By honoring this plea of ours you save yourself.

505

Chorus

In truth you have drawn out this plea of yours to your own content in showing honor to this unlamented tomb. As for the rest, since your heart is rightly set on action, put your fortune to the test and get to your work at once.

510

Orestes

It will be so. But it is in no way amiss to inquire how, from what motive,

she came to send her libations, seeking too late to make amends for an irremediable deed. They would be a sorry gift to send to the senseless dead: I cannot guess what they mean. The gifts are too paltry for her offence.

515

For though a man may pour out all he has in atonement for one deed of blood, it is wasted effort. So the saying goes. If indeed you know, tell me: I wish to learn.

520

Chorus

I know, my child, for I was there. It was because she was shaken by dreams and wandering terrors of the night

that she sent these offerings, godless woman that she is.

525

Orestes

And have you learned the nature of the dream so as to tell it properly?

Chorus

She dreamed she gave birth to a serpent: that is her own account.

Orestes

And where does the tale end, and what is its consummation?

Chorus

She laid it to rest as if it were a child, in swaddling clothes.

Orestes

What food did it crave, the newborn viper?

530

Chorus

In her dream she offered it her own breast.

Orestes

Surely her nipple was not unwounded by the loathsome beast?

Chorus

No: it drew in clotted blood with the milk.

Orestes

Truly it is not without meaning: the vision signifies a man!

Chorus

Then from out of her sleep she raised a shriek and awoke appalled, and many lamps that had been blinded in the darkness flared up in the house to cheer our mistress. Then she sent these libations for the dead in the hope that they might be an effective cure for her distress.

535

Orestes

Well then, I pray to this earth and to my father’s grave that this dream may come to its fulfilment in me. As I understand it, it fits at every point. For if the snake left the same place as I; if it was furnished with my swaddling clothes;

540

if it sought to open its mouth to take the breast that nourished me and mixed the sweet milk with clotted blood while she shrieked for terror at this, then surely, as she has nourished a portentous thing of horror, she must die by violence. For I, turned serpent,

545

am her killer, as this dream declares.

550

Chorus

I choose your reading of this portent. Let it be so. As for the rest, give your friends their parts. Tell some what to do, others what to leave undone.

Orestes

It is a simple story. My sister must go inside, and I charge her to keep concealed this pact with me,

so that as by craft they killed a worthy man, so by craft they may likewise be caught and perish in the very same snare, even as Loxias decreed, lord Apollo, the prophet who has never before been false.

555

 

In the guise of a stranger, one fully equipped,I will come to the outer gate, and with me Pylades, whom you see here, as a guest and ally of the house. Both of us will speak the speech of Parnassus , imitating the accent of a Phocian tongue. And in case none of the keepers of the door will give us a hearty welcome

560

on the plea that the house is afflicted with trouble by the gods, then we will wait so that anyone passing the house will consider and say: Why then does Aegisthus have his door shut on his suppliant, if in fact he is at home and knows?

565

 

But if I indeed pass the outermost threshold of the gate and find that man sitting on my father’s throne, or if then coming face to face with me he lifts and casts down his eyes, know well:

before he can even say Of what land is this stranger? I will skewer him with my swift sword and lay him dead. The fury that has no fill of slaughter shall for her third and crowning drink drink unmixed blood!
  Now you, Electra, keep strict watch over what happens inside the house,

575

so that our plans may fit together well. You addressing the Chorus had best keep a discreet tongue: be silent when there is need and speak only what the occasion demands. As for the rest, I call on him ² to cast his glance this way and direct the contest of the sword for me. Exeunt Orestes, Pylades, and Electra

580

ORESTES

It shall be so; but it is not out of my way to inquire how it comes that she sent drink-offerings, in consequence of what it is that she pays too late attention to an irreparable wrong? To the dead too, unconscious of it, a sorry offering was sent. I cannot guess the import of these gifts, but they are too small for the trespass. For though one were to make every libation in atonement for a single murder, the labour would be in vain: so runs the saying. But if thou knowest this, tell it to me wishing [to hear it].

CHORUS

I know it, my child, for I was by; for having been agitated by dreams and restless terrors of the night, the godless woman sent these drink-offerings.

ORESTES

Did ye also hear the dream, so as to tell it correctly?

CHORUS

She fancied, as she herself says, that she gave birth to a serpent.

ORESTES

And what is the end and issue of the tale

?

CHORUS

that the new-born monster was lying 3

in swaddling-clothes like an infant, in want of food 4

, and she in her dream gave it her breast.

ORESTES

And how was the dug wounded not by the abomination?

CHORUS

[It did not wound her,] so as to draw clotted blood along with the milk.

ORESTES

This vision of a man come not in vain 1

.

CHORUS

And she, fluttering with fear, screamed in her sleep; and many lamps that had been extinguished in darkness sprang into light through the palace on account of our mistress. And then she sends these funereal drink-offerings, hoping for a fitly-shred 2

remedy for her sufferings.

ORESTES

LE CORYPHÉE

Votre longue prière a satisfait au rite et réparé l'oubli commis d'une plainte sur cette tombe. Et maintenant, puisque ta volonté s'est levée pour agir, à l'œuvre ! fais l'épreuve du Destin.

ORESTE

Oui ; mais il n'est pas sans doute hors de propos de demander d'abord pourquoi, par quel calcul, elle a ici envoyé ces libations et tenté d'apaiser trop tard un mal qu'on ne guérit pas. Au mort insensible ¹ , c'est un piètre hommage qu'elle adressait là. Je n'entends pas évaluer ces

ORESTE

offrandes, mais je les sais au-dessous de la faute. Pour payer une goutte de sang, tu peux d'un seul coup verser tous tes biens : tu perdras ta peine. Voilà la vérité. Mais, je t'en prie, si tu le sais, dis-moi ce qu'il en est.

LE CORYPHÉE

Je le sais, enfant, car j'étais là. Ce sont des songes, des terreurs inquiétant ses nuits, qui l'ont
fait sauter de sa couche pour envoyer ces libations, la femme impie !

ORESTE

Mais le songe lui-même, peux-tu me le conter ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Elle crut enfanter un serpent, disait-elle.

ORESTE

Dis-moi la fin : comment se termine ce rêve ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Elle, comme un enfant, l'abritait dans des langes.

ORESTE

Et de quoi vivait-il, le monstre nouveau-né ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Elle-même, en son rêve, lui présentait le sein.

ORESTE

Et le sein n'était pas blessé par un tel monstre ?

LE CORYPHÉE

Si ! un caillot de sang se mêlait à son lait.

ORESTE

Voilà qui pourrait bien n'être pas un vain songe !

LE CORYPHÉE

Elle s'éveille et pousse un cri d'effroi. Et aussitôt les torches, à qui l'ombre avait fermé les yeux ² , dans la maison jaillissent en foule à la voix de la maîtresse. C'est alors qu'elle envoie ces offrandes funèbres, espérant
y trouver le remède à ses maux.

ORESTE

Eh

ORESTES.

I ſhall: but let me pauſe awhile to aſk

585

Wherefore ſhe ſent these off'rings, on what motive

Thus late ſhe ſooths th' immedicable ill,

Paying this wretched honour to the dead

That cares not for it.

What these preſents mean

590

Surpaſſes my conjecture, but her crime

Outweighs their worth; for all, that can be offer'd

T' atone for one man's blood, is ſpent in vain.

Yet, if you know, explain her motives to me.

CHORUS.

I know, for I was preſent: Dreams and viſions,

595

The terrors of the night, appall’d her ſoul;

Her guilty fears urg’d her to send these off'rings.

ORESTES.

Told ſhe the dreams, that ſo alarm’d her fears?

CHORUS.

She fancied ſhe had giv’n a dragon birth.

ORESTES.

And what was the event? Tell me in brief.

600

CHORUS.

This new-born dragon, like an infant child,

Laid in the cradle ſeem’d in want of food;

And in her dream ſhe held it to her breast.

ORESTES.

Without a wound 'ſcaped ſhe the hideous monster?

CHORUS.

The milk he drew was mix’d with clotted blood.

605

ORESTES.

'Tis not for nought this viſion from her husband.

CHORUS.

She cry’d out in her ſleep with the affright;

And many lamps, dim-gleaming thro’ the darkness,

To do her pleaſure enter’d the apartment.

Soon to the tomb ſhe ſends these funeral honours,

610

Medicinal, as she hopes, to heal her ills.

ORESTES.

ORESTE

Lo farò. Ma non è fuor di proposito

chieder perché, da che ragioni spinta,

mandò questi libami, e cosí tardi

385

volle espiare un lutto immedicabile!

A un insensibil morto mandò queste

miserevoli offerte: or che ne attende?

Troppo è minore dell'offesa il dono!

Tutti i libami della terra versa

390

pel sangue d'un sol uomo, e invan t'affanni:

è detto antico. Or se tu sai, favellami.

CORIFEA

Lo so, figliuolo, ero presente. Un sogno

spinse, con l'ansia del notturno orrore,

l'empia femmina a offrir questi libami.

395

ORESTE.

Conosci il sogno? Non sapresti dirmelo?

CORIFEA

Le parve, disse, generare un serpe!

ORESTE

E qual fine il racconto ebbe, qual esito?

CORIFEA

Lo ponea nelle fasce, a mo' d'un parvolo.

ORESTE

Qual cibo diede al mostro pur mo' nato?

400

CORIFEA

Sognò che gli porgea le proprie mamme.

ORESTE

Né il sen feriva l'odïosa fiera?

CORIFEA

Certo! E col latte sangue a grumi bevve!

ORESTE

Non andrà sperso vanamente il sogno.

CORIFEA

Sbigottita dal sonno, ella gridò.

405

E per la reggia, al grido, molte lampade,

sopite già nell'alta notte, brillano.

Ed ella manda i funebri libami

sperando ch'essi le sue pene tronchino.

ORESTE

Nun.

Noui ô fili, ades enim, ex somnijs,

Et noctu errantium terriculorum læſa

Inferias misit has impia mulier.

495

Ele.

Si audiuiſti ſomnium quàm recte narra.

Nun.

Párere draconem uiſa eſt, ut ipſa dicit.

Ele.

Et quò finit, & perſicitur ſermo?

Nun.

In ſaſcias pueri impetum fecisse instar

Cibo quodam indigentis recenter natum animal.

500

Ipſa adhibuit mammam in ſomnio,

Et quomodo in ſausta non traxit pre odio,

Vt euelleret cum lacte guttam ſanguinis.

Non uanum certè eſt phantasma hominis.

Illa uerò ex ſomno clamauit territa,

505

Multi abierunt excecati tenebris.

Faces in ædibus dominæ gratia.

Mittit deinde inferias funeſtas has,

Orestes.

Ich will's; nur eine Frage noch, die nicht vom Ziel

515 uns abführt. Wozu hat die Spenden sie geschickt?

Was kann sie damit wollen? Ehren will sie ihn

nach unheilbarem Schlage? Das versteh' ich nicht.

Für ihr Verschulden ist zu kärglich der Ersatz.

Denn für ein Menschenleben wirf dein alles hin,

520 verloren ist die Mühe. So verhält sich das.

Hierüber, bitte, gieb mir Auskunft, so du kannst.

Chorführerin.

Ich kann es, denn ich war zugegen, lieber Sohn.

525 Erschreckt durch fürchterliche Traumerscheinung

schickt

die Gottverlass'ne diese Spenden an das Grab.

Orestes.

Könnt ihr genau mir sagen, was im Traum sie sah?

Chorführerin.

Sie hat's erzählt; daſs einen Drachen sie gebar.

Orestes.

Wie war der Ausgang? Worin gipfelt dein Bericht?

Chorführerin.

Sie barg ihn in der Wiege wie ein Menschenkind.

Orestes.

530 Und welche Nahrung suchte sich der gift'ge Wurm?

Chorführerin.

Ihr war's im Traum, als reichte sie ihm selbst die Brust.

Orestes.

Blieb unter Natterbissen denn der Busen heil?

Chorführerin.

Schwarz quollen Ströme Blutes mit der Milch hervor.

Orestes.

Ein solches Bild ist nimmermehr bedeutungslos.

Chorführerin.

535 Mit gellem Angstschrei fuhr sie schaudernd aus dem

Schlaf,

und manche Fackel, die in Finsternis verglomm,

ward neu entzündet um der Herrin beizustehn.

So hat sie diese Totenopfer denn gesandt,

mit denen sie des Unheils Kraft zu brechen hofft.

Orestes.

540

Orestes.

The doom is set; and yet I fain would ask—

Not swerving from the course of my resolve,—

595

Wherefore she sent these offerings, and why

She softens all too late her cureless deed?

An idle boon it was, to send them here

Unto the dead who recks not of such gifts.

I cannot guess her thought, but well I ween

600

Such gifts are skilless to atone such crime.

Be blood once spilled, an idle strife he strives

Who seeks with other wealth or wine outpoured

To atone the deed. So stands the word nor fails.

Yet would I know her thought; speak, if thou knowest.

605

Chorus.

I know it, son; for at her side I stood.

'Twas the night-wandering terror of a dream

That flung her shivering from her couch, and bade her—

Her, the accursed of God—these offerings send.

Orestes.

Heard ye the dream, to tell it forth aright?

610

Chorus.

Yea, from herself; her womb a serpent bare.

Orestes.

What then the sum and issue of the tale?

Chorus.

Even as a swaddled child, she lull'd the thing.

Orestes.

What suckling craved the creature, born full-fanged?

Chorus.

Yet in her dreams she proffered it the breast.

615

Orestes.

How? did the hateful thing not bite her teat?

Chorus.

Yea, and sucked forth a blood-gout in the milk.

Orestes.

Not vain this dream—it bodes a man's revenge.

Chorus.

Then out of sleep she started with a cry,

And thro' the palace for their mistress' aid

620

Full many lamps, that erst lay blind with night,

Flared into light; then, even as mourners use,

She sends these offerings, in hope to win

A cure to cleave and sunder sin from doom.

Orestes.

Orestes.

Es sei! Doch ab vom Wege liegt die Frage nicht,

515

Weßhalb sie Spenden sandte, was sie noch so spät

Antrieb zur Sühne solcher unheilbaren Schuld?

Dem Todten, der's nicht achtet, ward ein feiger Gruß

Zum Grab gesendet; nicht zu deuten weiß ich es;

Denn diese Gaben wiegen nicht den Frevel auf.

520

'Und wolltest du für Eine Blutschuld Alles auch

Hinopfern, eitle Mühe wär's: so sag' ich frei.

Drum, weißt du's, offenbare mir's auf meinen Wunsch.

Die Chorführerin.

Ich weiß es, war zugegen: durch nachtwandelnde

Schreckbilder, Traumgesichte, Kind, emporgeschreckt,

525

Hat diese Spenden hergesandt die Frevlerin.

Orestes.

Könnt ihr den Traum erzählen, wißt ihr ihn genau?

Die Chorführerin.

Ein Drache wand sich, sagt sie selbst, aus ihrem Schooß.

Orestes.

Und welchem Ziele wendet sich die Sache zu?

Die Chorführerin.

Sie hüllt ihn ein in Windeln, einem Kinde gleich.

530

Orestes.

Nach welcher Nahrung sehnte sich die junge Brut?

Die Chorführerin.

Sie reichte selbst ihm ihre Brust im Traume dar.

Orestes.

Und blieb ihr Busen unversehrt vom Ungethüm?

Die Chorführerin.

Nein, sammt der Milch sog's dichte Klumpen Blut hinein.

Orestes.

Kein eitles Traumbild sendet ihr der Gatte zu.

535

Die Chorführerin.

Da schrie sie, wild aus tiefem Schlummer aufgeschreckt.

Zahlreich erhellten, ausgelöscht in düstrer Nacht,

Den Saal die Leuchten auf Geheiß der Königin.

Sofort zum Grabe sendet sie die Spenden hier,

Und hofft von ihnen sichre Wehr für ihre Noth.

540

Orestes.