ELECTRA [5]
by her own hand- so thou wouldest say.
ELECTRA
What friend hath persuaded her? Whose wish was this?
CHRYSOTHEMIS
The cause, I think, was some dread vision of the night.
ELECTRA
Gods of our house! be ye with me- now at last!
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Dost thou find any encouragement in this terror?
ELECTRA
If thou wouldst tell me the vision, then I could answer.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay, I can tell but little of the story.
ELECTRA
Tell what thou canst; a little word hath often marred, or made,
men's fortunes.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
'Tis said that she beheld our sire, restored to the sunlight, at
her side once more; then he took the sceptre,- Once his own, but now
borne by Aegisthus,- and planted it at the hearth; and thence a
fruitful bough sprang upward, wherewith the whole land of Mycenae
was overshadowed. Such was the tale that I heard told by one who was
present when she declared her dream to the Sun-god. More than this I
know not,- save that she sent me by reason of that fear. So by the-
gods of our house I beseech thee, hearken to me, and be not ruined
by folly! For if thou repel me now, thou wilt come back to seek me
in thy trouble.
ELECTRA
Nay, dear sister, let none of these things in thy hands touch
the tomb; for neither custom nor piety allows thee to dedicate gifts
or bring libations to our sire from a hateful wife. No- to the winds
with them or bury them deep in the earth, where none of them shall
ever come near his place of rest; but, when she dies, let her find
these treasures laid up for her below.
And were she not the most hardened of all women, she would never
have sought to pour these offerings of enmity on the grave of him whom
she slew. Think now if it is likely that the dead in the tomb should
take these honours kindly at her hand, who ruthlessly slew him, like a
foeman, and mangled him, and, for ablution, wiped off the blood-stains
on his head? Canst thou believe that these things which thou
bringest will absolve her of the murder?
It is not possible. No, cast these things aside; give him rather a
lock cut from thine own tresses, and on my part, hapless that I
am,-scant gifts these, but my best,- this hair, not glossy with
unguents, and this girdle, decked with no rich ornament. Then fall
down and pray that he himself may come in kindness from the world
below, to aid us against our foes; and that the young Orestes may live
to set his foot upon his foes in victorious might, that henceforth
we may crown our father's tomb with wealthier hands than those which
grace it now.
I think, indeed, I think that he also had some part in sending her
these appalling dreams; still, sister, do this service, to help
thyself, and me, and him, that most beloved of all men, who rests in
the realm of Hades, thy sire and mine.
LEADER
The maiden counsels piously; and thou, friend, wilt do her
bidding, if- thou art wise.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I will. When a duty is clear, reason forbids that two voices
should contend, and claims the hastening of the deed. Only, when I
attempt this task, aid me with your silence, I entreat you, my
friends; for, should my mother hear of it, methinks I shall yet have
cause to rue my venture.
(CHRYSOTHEMIS departs, to take the offerings to Agamemnon's grave.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
If I am not an erring seer and one who fails in wisdom, justice,
that hath sent the presage, will come, triumphant in her righteous
strength,- will come ere long, my child, to avenge. There is courage
in my heart, through those new tidings of the dream that breathes
comfort. Not forgetful is thy sire, the lord of Hellas; not
forgetful is the two-edged axe of bronze that struck the blow of
old, and slew him with foul cruelty.
antistrophe
The Erinys of untiring feet, who is lurking in her dread ambush,
will come, as with the march and with the might of a great host.
ELECTRA
What friend hath persuaded her? Whose wish was this?
CHRYSOTHEMIS
The cause, I think, was some dread vision of the night.
ELECTRA
Gods of our house! be ye with me- now at last!
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Dost thou find any encouragement in this terror?
ELECTRA
If thou wouldst tell me the vision, then I could answer.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
Nay, I can tell but little of the story.
ELECTRA
Tell what thou canst; a little word hath often marred, or made,
men's fortunes.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
'Tis said that she beheld our sire, restored to the sunlight, at
her side once more; then he took the sceptre,- Once his own, but now
borne by Aegisthus,- and planted it at the hearth; and thence a
fruitful bough sprang upward, wherewith the whole land of Mycenae
was overshadowed. Such was the tale that I heard told by one who was
present when she declared her dream to the Sun-god. More than this I
know not,- save that she sent me by reason of that fear. So by the-
gods of our house I beseech thee, hearken to me, and be not ruined
by folly! For if thou repel me now, thou wilt come back to seek me
in thy trouble.
ELECTRA
Nay, dear sister, let none of these things in thy hands touch
the tomb; for neither custom nor piety allows thee to dedicate gifts
or bring libations to our sire from a hateful wife. No- to the winds
with them or bury them deep in the earth, where none of them shall
ever come near his place of rest; but, when she dies, let her find
these treasures laid up for her below.
And were she not the most hardened of all women, she would never
have sought to pour these offerings of enmity on the grave of him whom
she slew. Think now if it is likely that the dead in the tomb should
take these honours kindly at her hand, who ruthlessly slew him, like a
foeman, and mangled him, and, for ablution, wiped off the blood-stains
on his head? Canst thou believe that these things which thou
bringest will absolve her of the murder?
It is not possible. No, cast these things aside; give him rather a
lock cut from thine own tresses, and on my part, hapless that I
am,-scant gifts these, but my best,- this hair, not glossy with
unguents, and this girdle, decked with no rich ornament. Then fall
down and pray that he himself may come in kindness from the world
below, to aid us against our foes; and that the young Orestes may live
to set his foot upon his foes in victorious might, that henceforth
we may crown our father's tomb with wealthier hands than those which
grace it now.
I think, indeed, I think that he also had some part in sending her
these appalling dreams; still, sister, do this service, to help
thyself, and me, and him, that most beloved of all men, who rests in
the realm of Hades, thy sire and mine.
LEADER
The maiden counsels piously; and thou, friend, wilt do her
bidding, if- thou art wise.
CHRYSOTHEMIS
I will. When a duty is clear, reason forbids that two voices
should contend, and claims the hastening of the deed. Only, when I
attempt this task, aid me with your silence, I entreat you, my
friends; for, should my mother hear of it, methinks I shall yet have
cause to rue my venture.
(CHRYSOTHEMIS departs, to take the offerings to Agamemnon's grave.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
If I am not an erring seer and one who fails in wisdom, justice,
that hath sent the presage, will come, triumphant in her righteous
strength,- will come ere long, my child, to avenge. There is courage
in my heart, through those new tidings of the dream that breathes
comfort. Not forgetful is thy sire, the lord of Hellas; not
forgetful is the two-edged axe of bronze that struck the blow of
old, and slew him with foul cruelty.
antistrophe
The Erinys of untiring feet, who is lurking in her dread ambush,
will come, as with the march and with the might of a great host.