ELECTRA [2]
strophe 2
Not to thee alone of mortals, my daughter, hath come any sorrow
which thou bearest less calmly than those within, thy kinswomen and
sisters, Chrysothemis and Iphianassa,I who still live,- as he, too,
lives, sorrowing in a secluded youth, yet happy in that this famous
realm of Mycenae shall one day welcome him to his heritage, when the
kindly guidance of Zeus shall have brought him to this land, Orestes.
ELECTRA
Yes, I wait for him with unwearied longing, as I move on my sad
path from day to day, unwed and childless, bathed in tears, bearing
that endless doom of woe; but he forgets all that he has suffered
and heard. What message comes to me, that is not belied? He is ever
yearning to be with us, but, though he yearns, he never resolves.
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
Courage, my daughter, courage; great still in heaven is Zeus,
who sees and governs all: leave thy bitter quarrel to him; forget
not thy foes, but refrain from excess of wrath against them; for
Time is god who makes rough ways smooth. Not heedless is the son of
Agamemnon, who dwells by Crisa's pastoral shore; not heedless is the
god who reigns by Acheron.
ELECTRA
Nay, the best part of life hath passed away from me in
hopelessness, and I have no strength left; I, who am pining away
without children,- whom no loving champion shields,- but, like some
despised alien, I serve in the halls of my father, clad in this mean
garb, and standing at a meagre board.
CHORUS
strophe 3
Piteous was the voice heard at his return, and piteous, as thy
sire lay on the festal couch, when the straight, swift blow was
dealt him with the blade of bronze. Guile was the plotter, Lust the
slayer, dread parents of a dreadful shape; whether it was mortal
that wrought therein, or god.
ELECTRA
O that bitter day, bitter beyond all that have come to me; O
that night, O the horrors of that unutterable feast, the ruthless
deathstrokes that my father saw from the hands of twain, who took my
life captive by treachery, who doomed me to woe! May the great god
of Olympus give them sufferings in requital, and never may their
splendour bring them joy, who have done such deeds!
CHORUS
antistrophe 3
Be advised to say no more; canst thou not see what conduct it is
which already plunges thee so cruelly in self-made miseries? Thou hast
greatly aggravated thy troubles, ever breeding wars with thy sullen
soul; but such strife should not be pushed to a conflict with the
strong.
ELECTRA
I have been forced to it,- forced by dread causes; I know my own
passion, it escapes me not; but, seeing that the causes are so dire,
will never curb these frenzied plaints, while life is in me. Who
indeed, ye kindly sisterhood, who that thinks aright, would deem
that any word of solace could avail me? Forbear, forbear, my
comforters! Such ills must be numbered with those which have no
cure; I can never know a respite from my sorrows, or a limit to this
wailing.
CHORUS
epode
At least it is in love, like a true-hearted mother, that I
dissuade thee from adding misery to miseries.
ELECTRA
But what measure is there in my wretchedness? Say, how can it be
right to neglect the dead? Was that impiety ever born in mortal? Never
may I have praise of such; never when my lot is cast in pleasant
places, may I cling to selfish ease, or dishonour my sire by
restraining the wings of shrill lamentation!
For if the hapless dead is to lie in dust and nothingness, while
the slayers pay not with blood for blood, all regard for man, all fear
of heaven, will vanish from the earth.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I came, my child, in zeal for thy welfare no less than for mine
own; but if I speak not well, then be it as thou wilt;
Not to thee alone of mortals, my daughter, hath come any sorrow
which thou bearest less calmly than those within, thy kinswomen and
sisters, Chrysothemis and Iphianassa,I who still live,- as he, too,
lives, sorrowing in a secluded youth, yet happy in that this famous
realm of Mycenae shall one day welcome him to his heritage, when the
kindly guidance of Zeus shall have brought him to this land, Orestes.
ELECTRA
Yes, I wait for him with unwearied longing, as I move on my sad
path from day to day, unwed and childless, bathed in tears, bearing
that endless doom of woe; but he forgets all that he has suffered
and heard. What message comes to me, that is not belied? He is ever
yearning to be with us, but, though he yearns, he never resolves.
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
Courage, my daughter, courage; great still in heaven is Zeus,
who sees and governs all: leave thy bitter quarrel to him; forget
not thy foes, but refrain from excess of wrath against them; for
Time is god who makes rough ways smooth. Not heedless is the son of
Agamemnon, who dwells by Crisa's pastoral shore; not heedless is the
god who reigns by Acheron.
ELECTRA
Nay, the best part of life hath passed away from me in
hopelessness, and I have no strength left; I, who am pining away
without children,- whom no loving champion shields,- but, like some
despised alien, I serve in the halls of my father, clad in this mean
garb, and standing at a meagre board.
CHORUS
strophe 3
Piteous was the voice heard at his return, and piteous, as thy
sire lay on the festal couch, when the straight, swift blow was
dealt him with the blade of bronze. Guile was the plotter, Lust the
slayer, dread parents of a dreadful shape; whether it was mortal
that wrought therein, or god.
ELECTRA
O that bitter day, bitter beyond all that have come to me; O
that night, O the horrors of that unutterable feast, the ruthless
deathstrokes that my father saw from the hands of twain, who took my
life captive by treachery, who doomed me to woe! May the great god
of Olympus give them sufferings in requital, and never may their
splendour bring them joy, who have done such deeds!
CHORUS
antistrophe 3
Be advised to say no more; canst thou not see what conduct it is
which already plunges thee so cruelly in self-made miseries? Thou hast
greatly aggravated thy troubles, ever breeding wars with thy sullen
soul; but such strife should not be pushed to a conflict with the
strong.
ELECTRA
I have been forced to it,- forced by dread causes; I know my own
passion, it escapes me not; but, seeing that the causes are so dire,
will never curb these frenzied plaints, while life is in me. Who
indeed, ye kindly sisterhood, who that thinks aright, would deem
that any word of solace could avail me? Forbear, forbear, my
comforters! Such ills must be numbered with those which have no
cure; I can never know a respite from my sorrows, or a limit to this
wailing.
CHORUS
epode
At least it is in love, like a true-hearted mother, that I
dissuade thee from adding misery to miseries.
ELECTRA
But what measure is there in my wretchedness? Say, how can it be
right to neglect the dead? Was that impiety ever born in mortal? Never
may I have praise of such; never when my lot is cast in pleasant
places, may I cling to selfish ease, or dishonour my sire by
restraining the wings of shrill lamentation!
For if the hapless dead is to lie in dust and nothingness, while
the slayers pay not with blood for blood, all regard for man, all fear
of heaven, will vanish from the earth.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I came, my child, in zeal for thy welfare no less than for mine
own; but if I speak not well, then be it as thou wilt;