For all men pay regard to honesty.

And as for glory —see you not what glory

You will confer upon yourself and me,

If you should heed me? For what citizen

Or stranger, who beholds us, will not greet

Our passing steps with praises such as these:

“Friends, look at those two sisters, who redeemed

Their father’s house; who, prodigal of life,

Were ministers of slaughter to their foes

Who prospered well before; to them be worship,

To them the love of all men; at high feasts,

In general concourse, for their fortitude,

That pair let all men honour.” Of us two

Such are the things that every man will say,

So that our glory shall not cease from us,

Living or dead. O, be persuaded, dear!

Succour your father’s, aid your brother’s cause,

Liberate me from evils, and yourself,

Remembering this, that a dishonoured life

Is shame to those who have been born in honour.

I LADY.

In work like this forethought is serviceable

Both to the speaker and the listener.

CHRYSOTHEMIS.

And if she were not mentally perverse,

She would have had some thought of prudence, ladies,

Before she ever spake — which now she has not.

Why, in what prospect do you arm yourself

With such a valour, and call me to aid?

Can you not see, you are not man, but woman?

Your hand is weaker than your enemies’.

Heaven sends good fortune daily upon them,

Which runs from us, and comes to nothingness.

Who, then, that schemed the death of one so mighty,

Could scape uninjured by calamity?

Look that we do not happen on worse ills,

Ill as we fare, if some one hears these sayings.

Death, with disgrace, though we obtain some credit,

Is no advantage and no help to us;

For death is not the worst; rather, in vain

To wish for death, and not to compass it.

But I beseech you, ere we are destroyed

With a complete destruction utterly,

Ere you abolish our whole family,

Set bounds on passion! What you said just now

I will keep close, unspoken, unensued;

Only be wise enough to yield at length

To stronger power, having yourself no strength.

I LADY.

Let her persuade you; there is no good thing

Better than foresight and sobriety.

ELECTRA.

YOU have said nought I did not look for. Well

I knew, you would reject my instances.

Yes, I must do it by myself alone;

At least, without one blow, we will not leave it.

CHRYSOTHEMIS.

Ah, would you had been so minded, when our sire

Was murdered! Then you would have ended all!

ELECTRA.

I was, in temper; I lacked wisdom then.

CHRYSOTHEMIS.

Try and remain as wise for evermore!

ELECTRA.

NOW that you preach, I know you will not help me!

CHRYSOTHEMIS.

And any man would come to harm who did!

ELECTRA.

I envy you your prudence; for your cowardice,

I hate you!

CHRYSOTHEMIS.

I will bear it, when you praise.

ELECTRA.

Only you never will get praise of me!