ELECTRA [19]
the creatures from whom such as he should have
burial, far from our sight! To me, nothing but this can make amends
for the woes of the past.
ORESTES (to AEGISTHUS)
Go in, and quickly; the issue here is not of words, but of thy
life.
AEGISTHUS
Why take me into the house? If this deed be fair, what need of
darkness? Why is thy hand not prompt to strike?
ORESTES
Dictate not, but go where thou didst slay my father, that in the
same place thou mayest die.
AEGISTHUS
Is this dwelling doomed to see all woes of Pelops' line, now,
and in time to come?
ORESTES
Thine, at least; trust my prophetic skill so far.
AEGISTHUS
The skill thou vauntest belonged not to thy sire.
ORESTES
Thou bandiest words, and our going is delayed. Move forward!
AEGISTHUS
Lead thou.
ORESTES
Thou must go first.
AEGISTHUS
Lest I escape thee?
ORESTES
No, but that thou mayest not choose how to die; I must not spare
thee any bitterness of death. And well it were if this judgment came
straight-way upon all who dealt in lawless deeds, even the judgment of
the sword: so should not wickedness abound.
(ORESTES and PYLADES drive AEGISTHUS into the palace.)
CHORUS (singing)
O house of Atreus, through how many sufferings hast thou come
forth at last in freedom, crowned with good by this day's enterprise!
-THE END-
.
burial, far from our sight! To me, nothing but this can make amends
for the woes of the past.
ORESTES (to AEGISTHUS)
Go in, and quickly; the issue here is not of words, but of thy
life.
AEGISTHUS
Why take me into the house? If this deed be fair, what need of
darkness? Why is thy hand not prompt to strike?
ORESTES
Dictate not, but go where thou didst slay my father, that in the
same place thou mayest die.
AEGISTHUS
Is this dwelling doomed to see all woes of Pelops' line, now,
and in time to come?
ORESTES
Thine, at least; trust my prophetic skill so far.
AEGISTHUS
The skill thou vauntest belonged not to thy sire.
ORESTES
Thou bandiest words, and our going is delayed. Move forward!
AEGISTHUS
Lead thou.
ORESTES
Thou must go first.
AEGISTHUS
Lest I escape thee?
ORESTES
No, but that thou mayest not choose how to die; I must not spare
thee any bitterness of death. And well it were if this judgment came
straight-way upon all who dealt in lawless deeds, even the judgment of
the sword: so should not wickedness abound.
(ORESTES and PYLADES drive AEGISTHUS into the palace.)
CHORUS (singing)
O house of Atreus, through how many sufferings hast thou come
forth at last in freedom, crowned with good by this day's enterprise!
-THE END-
.