Pylades I have come through the city quickly, as I should, having heard and myself clearly seen the citizens assembling, against you and your sister, to kill you at once. What is happening? How is it with you? How are you doing, my best of comrades, friends and kin? For you are all these to me.
Orestes I am ruined, to make plain to you my troubles in brief.
Pylades You must destroy me also; for friends have all in common.
Orestes Menelaus is the worst of men to me and my sister.
Pylades It is natural for the husband of an evil woman to become evil.
Orestes He no more repaid me by coming here, than if he had never come.
Pylades Oh, has he really arrived in this land?
Orestes He took a long time, but he was very soon detected as evil to his friends.
Pylades And did he bring his wife, the worst of women, with him on his ship?
Orestes It was not he who brought her here, but she who brought him.
Pylades Where is she, the one woman who proved the ruin of so many Achaeans?
Orestes In my house; if, that is, I ought to call it mine.
Pylades And what did you say to your father’s brother?
Orestes Not to see me and my sister killed by the citizens.
Pylades By the gods! What did he say to that? I would like to know this.
Orestes He was cautious, the usual policy of ignoble friends.
Pylades What excuse did he advance? When I have learned that, I know everything.
Orestes There was a new arrival, the father who begot those noble daughters.
Pylades You mean Tyndareus; he was angry with you, perhaps, for his daughter’s sake?
Orestes You understand. And Menelaus preferred the family relationship with him to that with my father.
Pylades He did not have the courage to share your troubles, when he was here?
Orestes No, for he was not born a warrior, though strong among women!
Pylades Your case is desperate, it seems, and you must die.
Orestes The citizens must give their vote about us on the murder.
Pylades And what is that to decide? Tell me, for I am alarmed.
Orestes Our life or death; a brief speech on a large subject.
Pylades Leave the palace with your sister now and try to escape.
Orestes Don’t you see? We are being watched by guards on every side.
Pylades I saw that the streets of the city were secured with armed men.
Orestes We are as closely beleaguered as a city by its foes.
Pylades Ask me now of my state; for I too am ruined.
Orestes By whom? This would be a further trouble to add to mine.
Pylades Strophius, my father, in a fit of anger, has banished me from his house.
Orestes Bringing against you a private charge, or one in which the citizens share?
Pylades He says it is an unholy crime to have helped you slay your mother.
Orestes Alas! It seems my troubles will cause you grief as well.
Pylades I am not like Menelaus in character; this must be endured.
Orestes Are you not afraid that Argos will desire your death as well as mine?
Pylades I am not theirs to punish; I belong to Phocis.
Orestes A terrible thing is the mob, whenever it has villains to lead it.
Pylades But with honest leaders its counsels are always honest.
Orestes Very well; we must consult together.
Pylades About what necessity?
Orestes Suppose I go and tell the citizens—
Pylades That your action was just?
Orestes In avenging my father?
Pylades I am afraid they would be glad to catch you.
Orestes Well, am I to crouch in fear and die without a word?
Pylades That is cowardly.
Orestes How then should I act?
Pylades Suppose you stay here, what means of safety do you have?
Orestes I have none.
Pylades And if you go, is there any hope of escaping your troubles?
Orestes There might be, possibly.
Pylades Then that is better than staying.
Orestes Then I will go.
Pylades At least you die in this way, you will die more honorably.
Orestes You are right; in this way I escape cowardice.
Pylades Better than by staying.
Orestes After all, my action was just.
Pylades Pray that this may be the only view they take.
Orestes Some one or two might pity me—
Pylades Yes, your noble birth is a great point.
Orestes Resenting my father’s death.
Pylades That is all quite clear.
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