ELECTRA [11]
milk had lately flowed
from the top of the mound, and that his sepulchre was encircled with
garlands of all flowers that blow. I was astonished at the sight,
and peered about, lest haply some one should be close to my side.
But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness, I crept
nearer to the tomb; and on the mound's edge I saw a lock of hair,
freshly severed.
And the moment that I saw it, ah me, a familiar image rushed
upon my soul, telling me that there I beheld a token of him whom
most I love, Orestes. Then I took it in my hands, and uttered no
ill-omened word, but the tears of joy straightway filled mine eyes.
And I know well, as knew then, that this fair tribute has come from
none but him. Whose part else was that, save mine and thine? And I did
it not, I know,- nor thou; how shouldst thou?- when thou canst not
leave this house, even to worship the gods, but at thy peril. Nor,
again, does our mother's heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she
have so done without our knowledge.
No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister,
courage! No mortal life is attended by a changeless fortune. Ours
was once gloomy; but this day, perchance, will seal the promise of
much good.
ELECTRA
Alas for thy folly! How I have been pitying thee!
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What, are not my tidings welcome?
ELECTRA
Thou knowest not whither or into what dreams thou wanderest.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Should I not know what mine own eyes have seen?
ELECTRA
He is dead, poor girl; and thy hopes in that deliverer are gone:
look not to him.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Woe, woe is me! From whom hast thou heard this?
ELECTRA
From the man who was present when he perished.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
And where is he? Wonder steals over my mind.
ELECTRA
He is within, a guest not unpleasing to our mother.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Ah, woe is me! Whose, then, can have been those ample offerings to
our father's tomb?
ELECTRA
Most likely, I think, some one brought those gifts in memory of
the dead Orestes.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Oh, hapless that I am! And I was bringing such news in joyous
haste, ignorant, it seems, how dire was our plight; but now that I
have come, I find fresh sorrows added to the old!
ELECTRA
So stands thy case; yet, if thou wilt hearken to me, thou wilt
lighten the load of our present trouble.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Can I ever raise the dead to life?
ELECTRA
I meant not that; I am not so foolish.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What biddest thou, then, for which my strength avails?
ELECTRA
That thou be brave in doing what I enjoin.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay, if any good can be done, I will not refuse,
ELECTRA
Remember, nothing succeeds without toil.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I know it, and will share thy burden with all my power.
ELECTRA
Hear, then, how I am resolved to act. As for the support of
friends, thou thyself must know that we have none; Hades hath taken
our friends away. and we two are left alone. I, so long as I heard
that my brother still lived and prospered, had hopes that he would yet
come to avenge the murder of our sire. But now that he is no more, I
look next to thee, not to flinch from aiding me thy sister to slay our
father's murderer, Aegisthus:- I must have no secret from thee more.
How long art thou to wait inactive? What hope is left standing, to
which thine eyes can turn? Thou hast to complain that thou art
robbed of thy father's heritage; thou hast to mourn that thus far
thy life is fading without nuptial song or wedded love. Nay, and do
not hope that such joys will ever be thine; Aegisthus is not so
ill-advised as ever to permit that children should spring from thee or
me for his own sure destruction. But if thou wilt follow my
counsels, first thou wilt win praise of piety from our dead sire
below, and from our brother too; next, thou shalt be called free
henceforth, as thou wert born, and shalt find worthy bridals; for
noble natures draw the gaze of all.
Then seest thou not what fair fame
from the top of the mound, and that his sepulchre was encircled with
garlands of all flowers that blow. I was astonished at the sight,
and peered about, lest haply some one should be close to my side.
But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness, I crept
nearer to the tomb; and on the mound's edge I saw a lock of hair,
freshly severed.
And the moment that I saw it, ah me, a familiar image rushed
upon my soul, telling me that there I beheld a token of him whom
most I love, Orestes. Then I took it in my hands, and uttered no
ill-omened word, but the tears of joy straightway filled mine eyes.
And I know well, as knew then, that this fair tribute has come from
none but him. Whose part else was that, save mine and thine? And I did
it not, I know,- nor thou; how shouldst thou?- when thou canst not
leave this house, even to worship the gods, but at thy peril. Nor,
again, does our mother's heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she
have so done without our knowledge.
No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister,
courage! No mortal life is attended by a changeless fortune. Ours
was once gloomy; but this day, perchance, will seal the promise of
much good.
ELECTRA
Alas for thy folly! How I have been pitying thee!
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What, are not my tidings welcome?
ELECTRA
Thou knowest not whither or into what dreams thou wanderest.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Should I not know what mine own eyes have seen?
ELECTRA
He is dead, poor girl; and thy hopes in that deliverer are gone:
look not to him.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Woe, woe is me! From whom hast thou heard this?
ELECTRA
From the man who was present when he perished.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
And where is he? Wonder steals over my mind.
ELECTRA
He is within, a guest not unpleasing to our mother.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Ah, woe is me! Whose, then, can have been those ample offerings to
our father's tomb?
ELECTRA
Most likely, I think, some one brought those gifts in memory of
the dead Orestes.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Oh, hapless that I am! And I was bringing such news in joyous
haste, ignorant, it seems, how dire was our plight; but now that I
have come, I find fresh sorrows added to the old!
ELECTRA
So stands thy case; yet, if thou wilt hearken to me, thou wilt
lighten the load of our present trouble.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Can I ever raise the dead to life?
ELECTRA
I meant not that; I am not so foolish.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
What biddest thou, then, for which my strength avails?
ELECTRA
That thou be brave in doing what I enjoin.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay, if any good can be done, I will not refuse,
ELECTRA
Remember, nothing succeeds without toil.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I know it, and will share thy burden with all my power.
ELECTRA
Hear, then, how I am resolved to act. As for the support of
friends, thou thyself must know that we have none; Hades hath taken
our friends away. and we two are left alone. I, so long as I heard
that my brother still lived and prospered, had hopes that he would yet
come to avenge the murder of our sire. But now that he is no more, I
look next to thee, not to flinch from aiding me thy sister to slay our
father's murderer, Aegisthus:- I must have no secret from thee more.
How long art thou to wait inactive? What hope is left standing, to
which thine eyes can turn? Thou hast to complain that thou art
robbed of thy father's heritage; thou hast to mourn that thus far
thy life is fading without nuptial song or wedded love. Nay, and do
not hope that such joys will ever be thine; Aegisthus is not so
ill-advised as ever to permit that children should spring from thee or
me for his own sure destruction. But if thou wilt follow my
counsels, first thou wilt win praise of piety from our dead sire
below, and from our brother too; next, thou shalt be called free
henceforth, as thou wert born, and shalt find worthy bridals; for
noble natures draw the gaze of all.
Then seest thou not what fair fame