Chorus Leader
And look, here is a strange sight succeeding others; for I see Orestes sword in hand before the palace, advancing with excited steps.
Orestes Where is the one who fled from the palace to escape my sword?
Phrygian Before you I prostrate myself, lord, and supplicate you in my foreign way.
Orestes We are not in Ilium, but the land of Argos.
Phrygian Everywhere, the wise find life sweeter than death.
Orestes I suppose that shouting of yours was not for Menelaus to come to the rescue?
Phrygian Oh no! it was to help you I called out, for you are more deserving.
Orestes Did the daughter of Tyndareus die justly, then?
Phrygian Most justly, even if she had three throats to die with.
Orestes Your cowardice makes you glib; this is not what you really think.
Phrygian Why, surely she deserved it, the one who destroyed Hellas and the Phrygians too?
Orestes Swear you are not saying this to humor me, or I will kill you.
Phrygian I swear by my life, an oath I would keep!
Orestes Did every Phrygian in Troy show the same terror of steel as you do?
Phrygian Take your sword away! Held so near it flashes a dreadful gleam of blood.
Orestes Are you afraid of being turned to a stone, as if you had seen a Gorgon?
Phrygian To a stone, no! but to a corpse; I don’t know this Gorgon’s head.
Orestes A slave, and yet you fear death, which will release you from trouble?
Phrygian Slave or free, every one is glad to gaze upon the light.
Orestes Well said! Your shrewdness saves you; go inside.
Phrygian You will not kill me after all?
Orestes You are spared.
Phrygian How well you said that!
Orestes Now it’s time to change my plans.
Phrygian You didn’t say that well!
Orestes You fool! Do you think I could endure to make your throat bloody? You weren’t born a woman, nor do you belong among men. The reason I left the palace was to stop your shouting; for Argos is quickly roused, once it hears a cry to the rescue. As for Menelaus, I am not afraid of measuring swords with him; let him come, proud of the golden ringlets on his shoulders; for if, to avenge the slaying of Helen, he gathers the Argives and leads them against the palace, refusing to attempt the rescue of me, my sister, and Pylades, my fellow conspirator, he will have two corpses to behold, his daughter’s as well as his wife’s.
Chorus
Ah, fortune! Again and yet again the house comes to a fearful contest, for the race of Atreus. What are we to do? Carry tidings to the town? Or hold our peace? It is safer, friends. Look, look at that sudden rush of smoke to the sky in front of the palace, telling its tale! They are kindling torches to fire the halls of Tantalus; nor do they hold back from murder. A god determines the end where he wishes, for mortals. Great is the power; by avenging fiends, this house has fallen, fallen, through blood, by reason of the hurling Myrtilus from the chariot.
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