Electra I am married, stranger; a deadly match.
Orestes I pity your brother. Is your husband a Mycenaean?
Electra Not one to whom my father ever hoped to give me.
Orestes Tell me so that I may hear and inform your brother.
Electra I live in his house, at a distance from the city.
Orestes A ditch-digger or a herdsman is worthy of the house.
Electra He is a man poor but noble, and respectful to me.
Orestes What is this respect that your husband has?
Electra He has never dared to touch me in bed.
Orestes Does he hold some form of religious chastity, or does he think you unworthy?
Electra He did not think himself worthy to insult my family.
Orestes And how was he not delighted to make such a marriage?
Electra He thinks the person who gave me did not have that right, stranger.
Orestes I understand; he fears that he may someday be punished by Orestes.
Electra He does fear that, but he is also a virtuous man.
Orestes Ah! You have described a noble man, and he must be treated well.
Electra Yes, if ever the one now absent comes home.
Orestes But did your mother, who gave you birth, endure this?
Electra Women love their husbands, stranger, not their children.
Orestes Why did Aegisthus insult you in this way?
Electra He planned for me to bear powerless children, when he gave me to such a man.
Orestes So that you might not bear sons to punish him, of course?
Electra That was his plan; may he make amends to me for it!
Orestes Does your mother’s husband know that you are a virgin?
Electra He does not know; we steal that from him by our silence.
Orestes Are these women who hear our talk friends of yours ?
Electra They will keep both your words and mine well hidden.
Orestes What then could Orestes do in this matter if he comes to Argos?
Electra Do you ask this? You have said a shameful word; isn’t it the critical time now?
Orestes But if he does come, how might he kill his father’s murderers?
Electra By daring such things as his enemies dared against my father.
Orestes And would you dare, with him, to kill your mother?
Electra Yes, with that same axe by which my father died.
Orestes Am I to tell him this, and that your purpose is steadfast?
Electra Once I had shed my mother’s blood, I might die!
Orestes Ah! Would that Orestes were near by, to hear that!
Electra But, stranger, I would not know him if I saw him.
Orestes No wonder, for you were both young when you were parted.
Electra There is only one of my friends who would recognize him.
Orestes The man who is said to have stolen him away from murder?
Electra Yes, the old man, my father’s old servant.
Orestes Did the dead man, your father, find burial?
Electra He found what he could, cast out of the house.
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