Be easy; we will do it.

ELECTRA.

Go your ways.

ORESTES.

I am gone.

ELECTRA.

I will provide for matters here.

[Exeunt ORESTES and PYLADES.

CHORUS.

’Twere well to pronounce

Brief words in this man’s ear,

Mildly couched, that he may rush

On the hidden struggle of doom.

Enter ÆGISTHUS.

ÆGISTHUS.

Which of you knows, where are those Phocian strangers

They say have brought us tidings that Oreates

Has lost his life, by shipwreck of his team?

You there, my question is of you, yes, you

That used before to be so malapert;

For it concerns you most, I think, to know,

And more than all, it is for you to say.

ELECTRA.

I know. How could I help it? Otherwise

I should be ignorant of calamity

Nearest to me — of mine.

ÆGISTHUS.

And where may be

The strangers? tell me, pray.

ELECTRA.

They are within.

They —fell on a kind hostess!

ÆGISTHUS.

Did they say

That he is dead in very earnest?

ELECTRA.

Nay,

They brought and shewed it us —not merely told us.

ÆGISTHUS.

Is it hard by, that I may see, and know?

ELECTRA.

YOU may, indeed — a very sorry sight.

ÆGISTHUS.

Your words have pleased me much; which is not usual.

ELECTRA.

If they can give you pleasure, pray be pleased.

ÆGISTHUS.

Now hold your peace, and open wide the gates,

For Myceneans, Argives — all to see,

So that, if any of them heretofore

Were buoyed by empty hopes of such an one,

Seeing him now dead, they may accept my curb,

And, having me for chastener, may not need

To be compelled to bring forth fruits of wisdom!

ELECTRA.

It is all done, on my part; for at last

I have the wit to choose the stronger side.

The scene opens, disclosing the body of CLYTÆMNESTRA, veiled;

ORESTES and PYLADES standing by.

ÆGISTHUS.

Zeus, I behold a things that hath not fallen,

But by the jealousy of Heaven! — Nay,

If there is yet a Nemesis, I unsay it!

Loosen all coverings from before my face,

That of me too my kindred may obtain

The meed of mourning.

ELECTRA.

Take them off yourself.

To see this corpse, and speak with amity,

Is not my work, but yours.

ÆGISTHUS.

Well, you say true,

And I will do your bidding; in mean while,

If she is in the house, call Clytaemnestra.

He raises the veil

ORESTES.

Seek her no further; she is at your side.

ÆGISTHUS.

O what is this?

ORESTES.

Who is it, whom you fear?

Who is it, whom you do not recognize?

ÆGISTHUS.

Who are the men into whose very toils

I have fallen, unhappy?

ORESTES.

Did you never dream

They were alive, whom you miscall as dead?

ÆGISTHUS.

O me, I understand you! It must be

No other than Orestes speaks to me.

ORESTES.

Excellent seer! and yet so long deceived!

ÆGISTHUS.

I am lost, miserably! But suffer me

To speak a little —

ELECTRA.

Brother, in Heaven’s name let him