And pouring out libations on the hearth

By which he slew him? When I witness, too,

The consummation of their impudence,

The homicide lying in my father’s bed

With that abandoned mother — if it be right

To call her mother, who consorts with him!

And she — so profligate that she lives on

With her blood-guilty mate — fearing no vengeance —

Rather, as if exulting in her doings —

Looks out the day on which by cunning erst

She slew my father, and each month on it

Sets dances going, and sacrifices sheep

In offering to her guardian deities!

I see it, I, ill-fated one! At home

I weep and waste and sorrow as I survey

The unblest feast that bears my father’s name,

In private; for I cannot even weep

So freely as my heart would have me do;

For this tongue-valiant woman with vile words

Upbraids me, crying “Thou God-forsaken thing,

Has no man’s father died, save only thine?

Is nobody in mourning, except thee?

Ill death betide thee, and the nether Gods

Give thee no end to these thy sorrowings!”

So she reviles; save when she hears it said

Orestes is at hand; then instantly

She is possest, and comes and screams at me —

“Is it not you who are the cause of this?

Pray is not this your doing, who stole Orestes

Out of my hands, and conjured him away?

But mind you, you shall pay me well for it!”

So snarling, there joins with her and stands by

And hounds her forward her illustrious groom,

The all unmanly, all injurious pest,

Who fights no battles without women! I,

Waiting and waiting, till Orestes come

And end it, miserably daily die.

For always meaning, never doing, he

Has utterly confounded all my hopes

Remote or present. Friends, in such a case,

There is no room — no, not for soberness

Or piety; but, beneath injuries,

There is deep need we prove injurious, too!

I LADY.

Stay, tell me, is it with

Ægisthus near You talk thus to us, or is he gone from home?

ELECTRA.

That is he. Never think, if he were by,

I could roam forth; but he is abroad just now.

I LADY.

Then I might come with better confidence

To speech of you, that being so.

ELECTRA.

Oh, ask freely;

He is not here. What do you want to know?

I LADY.

And so I will. What of your brother say you?

I would fain know, will he come soon, or tarry?

ELECTRA.

He says he will. He does not keep his word.

I LADY.

A man is backward, when on some great exploit.

ELECTRA.

I was not backward, when I rescued him!

I LADY.

Take courage, he is of a worthy stock;

He will not fail his friends.

ELECTRA.

I trust so. Else

I never should have been alive so long.

I LADY.

Hush, say no more just now; for I perceive

Chrysothemis your sister, who was born