Chorus Leader Oh, oh! My friends, did you hear a noise—or did an empty notion come to me?—like the underground rumbling from Zeus? Look, the breeze rises, bringing with it a sign. Mistress, Electra, leave the house!
Electra My friends, what is it? How do we stand in the contest?
Leader I only know this; I hear a wailing that means bloodshed.
Electra I heard it also, far off, but still heard.
Leader Yes, the sound is coming a long way, but it is clear.
Electra The groan was of an Argive; was it from my friends?
Leader I don’t know; for the whole tune of the shout is confused.
Electra You are calling out to me my death; why do I delay?
Leader Hold back, to learn your fortune clearly.
Electra No, no; we are vanquished; where are the messengers?
Leader They will come; it is no trivial matter to kill a king.
Messenger O victorious maidens of Mycenae, I report to all his friends that Orestes has conquered, and Aegisthus, the murderer of Agamemnon, lies on the ground; but we must offer prayers to the gods.
Electra Who are you? How trustworthy is your announcement?
Messenger Don’t you know your brother’s servant when you look at me?
Electra O best of friends! I could not recognize your face out of fear; but now I know you well. What are you saying? Is my father’s hated murderer dead?
Messenger He is dead; I am telling you twice what you certainly want to hear.
Electra O gods, and all-seeing justice, at last you have come. In what way and by what form of death did he kill Thyestes’ son? I would like to learn.
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