Chorus
Behold how Ares stalks onward, breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall the vision of my soul hang in suspense.
Chorus The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands. Maia’s son Hermes, who has shrouded the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
Electra My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.
Chorus How do they fare? What are they doing now?
Electra She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.
Chorus And why have you hurried out?
Electra To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.
Clytaemnestra Oh! Oh! Our house is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
Electra Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?
Chorus I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!
Clytaemnestra Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?
Electra Look, once more someone cries out!
Clytaemnestra My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
Electra Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.
Chorus Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!
Clytaemnestra Oh, I am wounded!
Electra Stab her doubly, if you can!
Clytaemnestra Ah, wounded again!
Electra Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!
Chorus The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live. For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
Chorus And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.
Electra Orestes, what happened?
Orestes All is well within the house, if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
Electra The miserable woman is dead?
Orestes Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.
Chorus Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.
Electra You, young men, get back inside!
Orestes Where do you see the man?
Electra He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.
Chorus Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.
Orestes Have courage. We will accomplish it.
Electra Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.
Orestes See, I am gone.
Electra Things here will be my concern.
Chorus It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming gentleness, so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
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