Chorus Unhappy are you, unhappy your destiny!
Electra How well I know that, all too well, with my life swept through all the months by abundant terrors and horrors!
Chorus We have witnessed the events for which you mourn.
Electra Cease, then, to divert me from it, since no longer—
Chorus What do you say?
Electra —Since I no longer have hope in my brother, the seed of our shared noble line, to aid me.
Chorus Nature ordains death as the destiny of all mortals.
Electra What, a death like the one which that ill-fated one died beneath a race of swift hooves, entangled in the cutting, dragging reins?
Chorus The mutilation is beyond thought!
Electra Yes, so it is, when in foreign soil, without being tended by my hands—
Chorus Ah, no!
Electra —he has been buried not receiving from me either burial or lamentation.
Chrysothemis I am pursued by joy, dear sister, and I disregard seemliness in order to come with speed. I bring joyful news to relieve your former troubles and grief.
Electra And from where could you find help for my sufferings, when no cure for them can be imagined?
Chrysothemis Orestes is with us—know this from my lips—plainly visible, just as you see me now.
Electra What, are you insane, poor girl? Do you laugh at my sorrows and your own?
Chrysothemis No, by our father’s hearth, I do not speak in mockery. I tell you that he truly is with us.
Electra Ah, miserable girl! And from whom on earth have you heard this tale, which you believe so lightly?
Chrysothemis I have it on my own knowledge, no one else’s; I have seen clear proofs.
Electra What have you seen, poor girl, to warrant your belief? What did you see, that you are warmed by this unquenchable fire?
Chrysothemis Now, for the gods’ love, listen, so that you may know the rest from me before deciding whether I am sane or foolish.
Electra Speak on, then, if you find pleasure in speaking.
Chrysothemis
Well, I will tell you all that I have seen. When I came to Father’s ancestral tomb, I saw that streams of milk had recently flowed from the top of the mound and that his sepulchre was encircled with garlands of all flowers that grow. I was astonished at the sight, and peered about lest somehow someone should approach close to me. But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness, I crept nearer to the tomb, and on the mound’s edge I saw a lock of hair, freshly severed. And the very moment I see it—ah me!—a familiar image rushes into my mind, and I feel that I am looking at a token of him whom I most love, Orestes. Then I lift it in my hands and make no sound of bad omen, but the tears of joy straightaway fill my eyes. Even now I know well, just as I knew then, that this fair tribute has come from no one but him. Whom else does that tomb concern, save me and you? And I did not make those offerings, I know, nor did you. How could you, when you cannot leave this house even to worship the gods without later regretting it? Nor, again, does our mother’s heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she have done so without our knowledge. No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister, have courage! Not always does the same fortune, it is true, attend the same individuals. Ours was once to be despised, but today, perhaps, will seal the promise of much good.
Electra Oh, what foolishness! How I have been pitying you!
Chrysothemis What, is my news unpleasing to you?
Electra You do not know where on earth or into what dreams you wander.
Chrysothemis How could I not know what I have plainly seen?
Electra He is dead, poor girl, and your salvation by him is gone. Do not look to him.
Chrysothemis Ah, miserable me! From whom have you heard this?
Electra From the man who was present when he perished.
Chrysothemis And where is he? Amazement steals over my mind.
Electra He is inside, a welcome guest, not unpleasing to our mother.
Chrysothemis Ah, misery! Who, then, can have made those ample offerings to my father’s tomb?
Electra Most likely, I think, someone placed those gifts in memory of the dead Orestes.
Cite This Text