Chorus Lo! a stranger of foreign appearance from some other land comes hurrying towards us.
Orestes Ladies of this foreign land! is this the home, the palace of Achilles’ son?
Chorus Thou hast it; but who art thou to ask such a question?
Orestes The son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, by name Orestes, on my way to the oracle of Zeus at Dodona. But now that I am come to Phthia, I am resolved to inquire about my kinswoman, Hermione of Sparta; is she alive and well? for though she dwells in a land far from my own, I love her none the less.
Hermione Son of Agamemnon, thy appearing is as a haven from the storm to sailors; by thy knees I pray, have pity on me in my distress, on me of whose fortunes thou art inquiring. About thy knees I twine my arms with all the force of sacred fillets.
Orestes Ha! what is this? Am I mistaken or do I really see before me the queen of this palace, the daughter of Menelaus?
Hermione The same, that only child whom Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, bore my father in his halls; never doubt that.
Orestes O saviour Phoebus, grant us respite from our woe! But what is the matter? art thou afflicted by gods or men?
Hermione Partly by myself, partly by the man who wedded me, and partly by some god. On every side I see ruin.
Orestes Why, what misfortune could happen to a woman as yet childless, unless her honour is concerned?
Hermione My very complaint! Thou hast hit my case exactly.
Orestes On whom has thy husband set his affections in thy stead?
Hermione On his captive, Hector’s wife.
Orestes An evil case indeed, for a man to have two wives!
Hermione ’Tis even thus. So I resented it.
Orestes Didst thou with woman’s craft devise a plot against thy rival?
Hermione Yes, to slay her and her bastard child.
Orestes And didst thou slay them, or did something happen to rescue them from thee?
Hermione It was old Peleus, who showed regard to the weaker side.
Orestes Hadst thou any accomplice in this attempted murder?
Hermione My father came from Sparta for this very purpose.
Orestes And was he after all defeated by that old man’s prowess ?
Hermione Oh no! but by shame; and he hath gone and left me all alone.
Orestes I understand; thou art afraid of thy husband for that thou hast done.
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