CLYTÆMNESTRA.

Not thou — but he being as he is, is well.

ELECTRA.

Hear, Nemesis * of him who is no more!

CLYTÆMNESTRA.

Those she should hear Nemesis did hear, and well Did she perform!

ELECTRA.

Triumph! you are happy now.

CLYTÆEMNESTRA.

YOU and ORESTES cannot hinder me.

ELECTRA.

’Tis we are hindered; far from hindering you.

CLYTÆMNESTRA.

I were beholden to your coming, friend,

If you could hinder her from her loud clamour.

GUARDIAN.

Well then, I will be going — if all is well.

CLYTÆMNESTRA.

Nay, for it were unworthy both of me

And of the friend who sent you, did you meet

Such entertainment. Please you enter in?

Leave her alone, to sorrow out of doors

For her dear friends’ misfortunes, and her own.

[Exeunt CLYTÆMNESTRA and Guardian.

ELECTRA.

Seems it to you as if, in grief and pain,

She was lamenting, weeping sore — the wretch!

Over her son, thus lost? She is gone smiling!

O me unhappy! Orestes, O my darling,

How has thy death undone me! Parting thus,

Thou tearest all the hopes out of my heart —

All I had left —that thou would’st come, some day,

Living, avenger of thy father’s death,

And of my wrongs. Now, whither should I turn?

I am alone; I have no father; now

I have not thee. Must I be slave once more

Among the most detested of mankind,

My father’s murderers? Is it well with me?

Nay, for the future never more at all

Shall one roof hold us; rather, on this door-stone, friendless

I will sink down and wear away and die!

For this if any of the tribe within

Is angered, let him kill me; death were welcome;

Life is but pain, and I am sick of it.

I. 1.

I LADY.

Where be Jove’s thunders, where the flaming Day,

If, seeing these things, they hide them, and are still?

ELECTRA.

Ah, welaway!

I LADY.

My child, why weepest thou?

ELECTRA.

Fie then —

I LADY.

Speak gently.

ELECTRA.

Thou wilt slay me.

I LADY.

How?

ELECTRA.

Yea, in my wasting, thou wilt trample more

Upon me, if thou wilt suggest a hope

For those who manifestly are dead and gone.

I. 2.

I LADY.

I know that women’s gold-bound toils ensnared

The king Amphiaraus; * and now beneath —

ELECTRA.

Ah well a day!

I LADY.

He reigns, with all his powers.

ELECTRA.

Ah, woe!

I LADY.

Woe, for the murderess —

ELECTRA.

Slain?

I LADY.

Ah, slain.

ELECTRA.

I know it, I know it; a champion was revealed

For him, in trouble; none is left, for me;

He who yet was is taken from me, and gone.

II. 1.

I LADY.

Thou art meet for pity; piteous is thy lot.

ELECTRA.

That know I well, too well; my life is full

With month on month, with surge on surge of woes,

Hateful and fearful.

I LADY.

All thy groans we know.

ELECTRA.

Therefore no more dissuade me, since not one —