Chorus Sons of Zeus, is it right for us to draw near to speak with you?
Dioskouroi It is right, for those not polluted by this murder.
Electra May I too share your conversation, sons of Tyndareus?
Dioskouroi You too; to Phoebus I will attribute this bloody deed.
Chorus How was it that you, being gods and the brothers of this murdered woman, did not keep the death-goddesses away from her house?
Dioskouroi Necessity’s fate led to what must be, and unwise speech from the mouth of Phoebus.
Electra But what Apollo, what sort of oracles, ordained for me to be my mother’s murderer?
Dioskouroi The deeds were shared, the fates were shared; one ancestral curse has ground down both.
Orestes Ah, my sister, seeing you after a long time, at once I am robbed of your affection, and I must abandon you, abandoned by you.
Dioskouroi She has a husband and a home; she does not suffer pitiably, except that she leaves the city of the Argives.
Electra And what other unhappiness is greater than to leave the boundary of one’s native land?
Orestes But I shall leave my father’s house, and at a stranger’s tribunal undergo trial for my mother’s murder.
Dioskouroi Have courage; you will go to the holy town of Pallas; only hold out.
Electra Clasp me to your breast, my dearest brother; for the curse of our mother’s blood is separating us from our father’s home.
Orestes Throw your arms in close embrace about me. Lament as if I were dead, over my grave.
Dioskouroi Alas! You have said things terrible even for gods to hear. For in me and in the Olympians there is pity for much-suffering mortals.
Orestes I shall no longer see you!
Electra Nor will I draw near your sight!
Orestes These are my last words to you.
Electra Farewell, my city! And a long farewell to you, my fellow-countrywomen!
Orestes Are you going already, most faithful one?
Electra I am going, my young eye wet with tears.
Orestes Go, Pylades, and be happy; marry Electra.
Dioskouroi Marriage will be for them to think of. But go towards Athens, seeking to escape these hounds of hell, for they are pursuing you fearfully, the dark-skinned ones, with snakes for hands, holding a reward of dreadful pains. But we two must go in haste over the Sicilian sea to rescue the seagoing ships. As we go through the plains of the air, we do not come to the aid of those who are polluted; but we save and release from severe hardships those who love piety and justice in their ways of life. And so, let no one wish to act unjustly, or set sail with perjurers; as a god, I give this address to mortals.
Chorus Farewell! Any mortal who is able to fare well, and is not worn down by any misfortune, achieves happiness.
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