STROPHE. V.

Ch. The curses are fulfilled-the dead

Entombed in dust revive

And from their murderers now the copious stream

Of freshly flowing blood

The long-departed drain.

Enter ORESTES and PYLAdes.

ORESTES, PYLADES, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

ANTISTROPHE II.

Elec. Now they are here—each hand is wet with

blood,

First sacrifice to Mars.-What should I say?-
Ch. How hast thou sped, Orestes?

Or. All is well

Within, if Phoebus hath predicted well.

Elec. Is the unhappy dead?

Or. Henceforth no more

Dread thou fresh insults from thy mother's hate.

ANTISTROPHE III.

Ch. Cease, for I plainly now

Discern Ægisthus near.

Elec. Speed, youths, retire.

Or. Dost thou behold the man

Hastening to us?

Elec. He from the suburbs comes,

And comes rejoicing

ANTISTROPHE IV.

Ch. Haste-through yon doors that front us

haste,

Your former deed, in truth, was bravely done-
And now for what remains-

Or. Be confident

We will achieve it.

Elec. Hasten, if thou'rt wise.

Or. Aye, I am gone.

[Exeunt ORESTES, &c.

ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Elec. On me the rest devolves.

ANTISTROPHE V.

Ch. Better, I ween, to lull his ear

With mildly whispered words;

That all unheeding, headlong he may plunge

Into those latent snares

Which vengeance now hath laid!

Enter EGISTHUS.

EGISTHUS, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

Eg. Which of you knows where now the

Phocians are,

Charged with the tidings of Orestes' death,
Who perished mid the wrecks of rival cars?
Thee, thee I ask—whom I so long have found
Perverse-such news thine interest most import,
And thou from clearest knowledge canst inform me.
Elec. I know-how should I not? else had I

been

Blind to the wreck of all my dearest hopes.

Eg. Inform me, then, where are the strangers now?

VOL. II

Bb

Elec. Within-for a kind hostess have they found. Eg. And do they bring sure tidings of the dead? Elec. To sight they show it, not in words alone. Eg. Can we, too, prove it by undoubted signs? Elec. Thou canst-there is a mournful sight within.

Eg. Thy words-not as thou'rt wont-awake

my joy.

Elec. Joy then, if such a sight indeed be joyous. Æg. Command ye silence, and unfold the gates

For Argos and Mycena to behold ;—

That, if among them haply some indulge

Vain hopes of his return, they here may see The breathless corpse, and curb their insolent speech;

Ere wisdom to their cost too late they learn,

When our just wrath chastise their bold presumption. Elec. Now shall my part be done. I too have learnt

At length the wisdom to revere my Lords.

5

Eg. O Jove, a sight I view that well hath chanced,

5 It was the office of Ægisthus, as a near relative, to

If thus to speak be lawful-but my words,
If Nemesis be present, I recal.

Now from the corpse the covering veil remove,
That I may mourn above my kinsman's bier.
Or. Do thou remove it. 'Tis thy part, not

mine,

Gazing on this, t' accost it as a friend.

Eg. Nay-but thou counsell'st well, and I obey;Call Clytemnestra, if she be within.

Or. Herself is near thee. Seek her not elsewhere.

Æg. O what a sight is this!

Or. Whom dost thou fear,

Whom know'st thou not?

Eg. Into th' insidious snares

Of what false men unhappy have I fallen?

Or. What-seest thou not that they are living still

lament over the body of Orestes-on the contrary he expresses an indecent joy; this was an insult to the dead: he recollects himself, and, apprehensive of the vengeance of Nemesis, determines upon a friendly address to the deceased.Potter.