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CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay； by our father's hearth； I speak not in mockery； I tell thee
that he is with us indeed。
ELECTRA
Ah； woe is me！ And from whom hast thou heard this tale； which thou
believest so lightly？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I believe it on mine own knowledge； not on hearsay； I have seen
clear proofs。
ELECTRA
What hast thou seen； poor girl； to warrant thy belief？ Whither；
wonder hast thou turned thine eyes； that thou art fevered with this
baneful fire？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Then； for the gods' love； listen； that thou mayest know my
story； before deciding whether I am sane or foolish。
ELECTRA
Speak on； then； if thou findest pleasure in speaking。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Well； thou shalt hear all that I have seen。 When I came to our
father's ancient tomb； I saw that streams of milk had lately flowed
from the top of the mound； and that his sepulchre was encircled with
garlands of all flowers that blow。 I was astonished at the sight；
and peered about； lest haply some one should be close to my side。
But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness； I crept
nearer to the tomb； and on the mound's edge I saw a lock of hair；
freshly severed。
And the moment that I saw it； ah me； a familiar image rushed
upon my soul； telling me that there I beheld a token of him whom
most I love； Orestes。 Then I took it in my hands； and uttered no
ill…omened word； but the tears of joy straightway filled mine eyes。
And I know well； as knew then； that this fair tribute has come from
none but him。 Whose part else was that； save mine and thine？ And I did
it not； I know；… nor thou； how shouldst thou？… when thou canst not
leave this house； even to worship the gods； but at thy peril。 Nor；
again； does our mother's heart incline to do such deeds； nor could she
have so done without our knowledge。
No； these offerings are from Orestes！ Come； dear sister；
courage！ No mortal life is attended by a changeless fortune。 Ours
was once gloomy； but this day； perchance； will seal the promise of
much good。
ELECTRA
Alas for thy folly！ How I have been pitying thee！
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What； are not my tidings welcome？
ELECTRA
Thou knowest not whither or into what dreams thou wanderest。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Should I not know what mine own eyes have seen？
ELECTRA
He is dead； poor girl； and thy hopes in that deliverer are gone：
look not to him。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Woe； woe is me！ From whom hast thou heard this？
ELECTRA
From the man who was present when he perished。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
And where is he？ Wonder steals over my mind。
ELECTRA
He is within； a guest not unpleasing to our mother。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Ah； woe is me！ Whose； then； can have been those ample offerings to
our father's tomb？
ELECTRA
Most likely； I think； some one brought those gifts in memory of
the dead Orestes。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Oh； hapless that I am！ And I was bringing such news in joyous
haste； ignorant； it seems； how dire was our plight； but now that I
have come； I find fresh sorrows added to the old！
ELECTRA
So stands thy case； yet； if thou wilt hearken to me； thou wilt
lighten the load of our present trouble。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Can I ever raise the dead to life？
ELECTRA
I meant not that； I am not so foolish。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What biddest thou； then； for which my strength avails？
ELECTRA
That thou be brave in doing what I enjoin。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay； if any good can be done； I will not refuse；
ELECTRA
Remember； nothing succeeds without toil。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I know it； and will share thy burden with all my power。
ELECTRA
Hear； then； how I am resolved to act。 As for the support of
friends； thou thyself must know that we have none； Hades hath 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 sire。 But now that he is no more； I
look next to thee； not to flinch from aiding me thy sister to slay our
father's murderer； Aegisthus：… I must have no secret from thee more。
How long art thou to wait inactive？ What hope is left standing； to
which thine eyes can turn？ Thou hast to complain that thou art
robbed of thy father's heritage； thou hast to mourn that thus far
thy life is fading without nuptial song or wedded love。 Nay； and do
not hope that such joys will ever be thine； Aegisthus is not so
ill…advised as ever to permit that children should spring from thee or
me for his own sure destruction。 But if thou wilt follow my
counsels； first thou wilt win praise of piety from our dead sire
below； and from our brother too； next； thou shalt be called free
henceforth； as thou wert born； and shalt find worthy bridals； for
noble natures draw the gaze of all。
Then seest thou not what fair fame thou wilt win for thyself and
for me； by hearkening to my word？ What citizen or stranger； when he
sees us； will not greet us with praises such as these？… 'Behold
these two sisters； my friends； who saved their father's house； who；
when their foes were firmly planted of yore； took their lives in their
hands and stood forth as avengers of blood！ Worthy of love are these
twain； worthy of reverence from all； at festivals； and wherever the
folk are assembled； let these be honoured of all men for their
prowess。' Thus will every one speak of us； so that in life and in
death our glory shall not fail。
Come； dear sister； hearken！ Work with thy sire； share the burden
of thy brother； win rest from woes for me and for thyself；… mindful of
this； that an ignoble life brings shame upon the noble。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
In such case as this； forethought is helpful for those who speak
and those who hear。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Yea； and before she spake； my friends； were she blest with a sound
mind； she would have remembered caution； as she doth not remember it。
Now whither canst thou have turned thine eyes； that thou art
arming thyself with such rashness； and calling me to aid thee？ Seest
thou not； thou art a woman； not a man； and no match for thine
adversaries in strength？ And their fortune prospers day by day；
while ours is ebbing and coming to nought。 Who； then； plotting to
vanquish a foe so strong； shall escape without suffering deadly
scathe？ See that we change not our evil plight to worse； if any one
hears these words。 It brings us no relief or benefit； if； after
winning fair fame； we die an ignominious death； for mere death is
not the bitterest； but rather when one who wants to die cannot
obtain even that boon。
Nay； I beseech thee； before we are utterly destroyed； and leave
our house desolate； restrain thy rage！ I will take care that thy words
remain secret and harmless； and learn thou the prudence； at last
though late； of yielding； when so helpless； to thy rulers。
LEADER
Hearken； there is no better gain for mortals to win than foresight
and a prudent mind。
ELECTRA
Thou hast said nothing unlooked…for； I well knew that thou wouldst
reject what I proffered。 Well！ I must do this deed with mine own hand；
and alone； for assuredly I will not leave it void。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Alas！ Would thou hadst been so purposed on the day of our father's
death！ What mightst thou not have wrought？
ELECTRA
My nature was the same then； but my mind less ripe。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Strive to keep such a mind through all thy life。
ELECTRA
These counsels mean that thou wilt not share my deed。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
No； for the venture is likely to bring disaster。
ELECTRA
I admire thy prudence； thy cowardice I hate。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I will listen not less calmly when thou praise me。
ELECTRA
Never fear to suffer that from me。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Time enough in the future to decide that。
ELECTRA
Begone； there is no power to help in thee。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Not so； but in thee； no mind to learn。
ELECTRA
Go； declare all this to thy mother！
CHRYSOTHEMIS
But； again； I do not hate thee with such a hate。
ELECTRA
Yet know at least to what dishonour thou bringest me。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Dishonour； no！ I am only thinking of thy good。
ELECTRA
Am I bound； then； to follow thy rule of right？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
When thou art wise； then thou shalt be our guide。
ELECTRA
Sad； that one who speaks so well should speak amiss！
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Thou hast well described the fault to which thou cleavest。
ELECTRA
How？ Dost thou not think that I speak with justice？
CHRYSOTHEMIS
But sometimes justice itself is fraught with harm。
ELECTRA
I care not to live by such a law。
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Well； if thou must do this； thou wilt praise me yet。
ELECTRA
And do it I will； no whit dismayed by thee。
CHRYSOTHEMIS