Clytaemnestra
No, not in vain; how can you say in vain when you have brought me sure proofs of his death? He sprang from my own life, yet deserting my breast and my nurture he became a fugitive, completely alien from me. And me, once he left this land, he saw no more; but, charging me with the murder of his father, he made terrible threats, so that neither by night nor by day could sweet sleep cover me, but the imminent moment made me live always as if I were about to die. Now, however, since today I am rid of terror of him and of this girl—that greater plague who shared my home while consuming undiluted my life-blood—now, I think, for all her threats, I shall pass my days in peace.
Electra Ah, what misery! Now, indeed, Orestes, I must mourn your misfortune, since even dead as you are you are abused by this woman, your mother! Is it not just fine?
Clytaemnestra You certainly are not, but he is fine as he is.
Electra Listen to her, Nemesis of the recently departed!
Clytaemnestra She has heard who should be heard, and has ordained well.
Electra Abuse us! Fortune is with you today.
Clytaemnestra You and Orestes will not stop me, then, will you?
Electra It is we who are stopped; we cannot stop you.
Clytaemnestra Your coming, sir, deserves large recompense, if you have stopped her clamorous tongue.
Paedagogus Then I would take my leave, if all is well.
Clytaemnestra Not so; your welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of my ally who sent you. No, come in. Leave her out here to shout out loud her misfortunes and those of her friends.
Electra
What do you think? Does it seem to you that she, poor woman, wept and wailed terribly, like a grieving, anguished woman, over her son thus destroyed? No, she left us with a laugh! Ah, miserable me! Dearest Orestes, how your death has destroyed me! For your passing has torn from my heart the only hopes which still were mine: that you would live to return some day as the avenger of our father, and also of me in my misery. But now, where shall I turn? I am alone, cheated of you, as of my father. Hereafter I must be a slave again among those I most hate, my father’s murderers. Am I not in a fine way? But at least in the time remaining me I will never enter the house to dwell with them. No, lying down at these gates, without a friend, I shall wither away my days. Therefore, if anyone in the house be angry, let him kill me. It is a favor, if I die, but a pain, if I live. I desire life no more.
Chorus Where are the thunderbolts of Zeus, or where the shining Sun, if they look upon these things and quietly cover them over?
Electra Ah, me, ah, me!
Chorus My child, why do you weep?
Electra Oh!
Chorus Give no cry of bad omen!
Electra You will break my heart!
Chorus How do you mean?
Electra If you suggest that I keep hope for those who have surely passed to Hades, you will trample even harder upon me as I waste away.
Chorus No, for I know that the prince Amphiaraus was ensnared by a woman’s chain of gold and swallowed up. And now beneath the earth—
Electra ah, me, ah, me!
Chorus —He reigns supreme with the wits of the living.
Electra ah, me!
Chorus ah, me, indeed! For the murderess—
Electra Was slain.
Chorus Yes.
Electra I know it; I know it. For a champion arose to avenge the grieving dead. But for me no champion remains: he who yet remained has been snatched clean away.
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