Chorus Leader
And look, I see him, I mean your husband, on his way home, his day’s work done.
Peasant Oh! who are these strangers I see at my door? Why have they come here to my rustic gate? Do they want something from me? For it is shameful for a woman to be standing with young men.
Electra Dearest, do not be suspicious of me; you shall hear the truth; for these strangers have come to me as messengers of news from Orestes. But, strangers, pardon him for what he said.
Peasant What do they say? The man is alive and sees the light of day?
Electra He is, at least in their report, and I believe them.
Peasant Surely then he remembers something of your father’s wrongs and your own?
Electra These are things to hope for; a man in exile is powerless.
Peasant What message from Orestes have they come to declare?
Electra He sent them as spies of my wrongs.
Peasant Then they see a part of it, and perhaps you are telling them the rest.
Electra They know; they have all these things in abundance.
Peasant Then shouldn’t you have opened the doors to them long before? Go into the house; for in return for your good tidings, you shall find as much hospitality as my house holds in store. Servants, take their baggage within the house. Do not contradict me, since you are friends coming from a friend; for, even if I am poor, I will not display manners that are ill-bred.
Orestes By the gods! Is this the man who makes a fraud of your marriage, because he does not want to shame Orestes?
Electra This is the one who is called my husband, unhappy as I am.
Orestes Ah! There is no exact way to test a man’s worth; for human nature has confusion in it. For instance, I have seen before now the son of a noble father worth nothing, and good children from evil parents; famine in a rich man’s spirit, and a mighty soul in a poor man’s body. How then does one rightly distinguish and judge these things? By wealth? A sorry test to use. Or by those who have nothing? But poverty has a disease, it teaches a man to be wicked in his need. But shall I turn to warfare? Who, facing the enemy’s spear, could be a witness as to who is brave? It is best to leave these matters alone, at random. For this man, neither important in Argos, nor puffed up by the good reputation of his family, but one of the many, has been found to be the best. Do not be foolish, you who wander about full of empty notions, but judge those noble among men by their company and by their habits. For such men rule well both states and homes; while those bodies that are empty of mind are only ornaments in the market-place. For the strong arm does not await the battle any better than the weak; this depends on natural courage. But, since Agamemnon’s son, both present and not present, for whose sake we have come, is worthy of it, let us accept a lodging in this house. We must go within this house, slaves. May a man poor but eager be a better host for me than a rich man! And so I am content with the reception into this man’s house, though I would have wanted your brother, in good fortune, to lead me to his fortunate home. Perhaps he may come; the oracles of Loxias are sure, but human prophecy I dismiss.
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