ELECTRA [9]
and gave chase. Team was brought level with team, and so they
raced,-first one man, then the other. showing his head in front of the
chariots.
Hitherto the ill-fated Orestes had passed safely through every
round, steadfast in his steadfast car; at last, slackening his left
rein while the horse was turning, unawares he struck the edge of the
pillar; he broke the axle-box in twain; he was thrown over the
chariot-rail; he was caught in the shapely reins; and, as he fell on
the ground, his colts were scattered into the middle of the course.
But when the people saw him fallen from the car, a cry of pity
went up for the youth, who had done such deeds and was meeting such
a doom,- now dashed to earth, now tossed feet uppermost to the sky,-
till the charioteers, with difficulty checking the career of his
horses, loosed him, so covered with blood that no friend who saw it
would have known the hapless corpse. Straightway they burned it on a
pyre; and chosen men of Phocis are bringing in a small urn of bronze
the sad dust of that mighty form, to find due burial in his
fatherland.
Such is my story,- grievous to hear, if words can grieve; but
for us, who beheld, the greatest of sorrows that these eyes have seen.
LEADER
Alas, alas Now, methinks, the stock of our ancient masters hath
utterly perished, root and branch.
CLYTEMNESTRA
O Zeus, what shall I call these tidings,- glad tidings? Or dire,
but gainful? 'Tis a bitter lot, when mine own calamities make the
safety of my life.
PAEDAGOGUS
Why art thou so downcast, lady, at this news?
CLYTEMNESTRA
There is a strange power in motherhood; a mother may be wronged,
but she never learns to hate her child.
PAEDAGOGUS
Then it seems that we have come in vain.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Nay, not in vain; how canst thou say 'in vain,' when thou hast
brought an sure proofs of his death?- His, who sprang from mine own
life, yet, forsaking me who had suckled and reared him, became an
exile and an alien; and, after he went out of this land, he saw me
no more; but, charging me with the murder of his sire, he uttered
dread threats against me; so that neither by night nor by day could
sweet sleep cover mine eyes, but from moment to moment I lived in fear
of death. Now, however-since this day I am rid of terror from him, and
from this girl,- that worse plague who shared my home, while still she
drained my very life-blood,-now, methinks, for aught that she can
threaten, I shall pass my days in peace.
ELECTRA
Ah, woe is me! Now, indeed, Orestes, thy fortune may be
lamented, when it is thus with thee, and thou art mocked by this thy
mother! Is it not well?
CLYTEMNESTRA
Not with thee; but his state is well.
ELECTRA
Hear, Nemesis of him who hath lately died!
CLYTEMNESTRA
She hath heard who should be heard, and hath ordained well.
ELECTRA
Insult us, for this is the time of thy triumph.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Then will not Orestes and thou silence me?
ELECTRA
We are silenced; much less should we silence thee.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Thy coming, sir, would deserve large recompense, if thou hast
hushed her clamorous tongue.
PAEDAGOGUS
Then I may take my leave, if all is well.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Not so; thy welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of the
ally who sent thee. Nay, come thou in; and leave her without, to
make loud lament for herself and for her friends.
(CLYTEMNESTRA and the PAEDAGOGUS enter the palace.)
ELECTRA
How think ye? Was there not grief and anguish there, wondrous
weeping and wailing of that miserable mother, for the son who perished
by such a fate? Nay, she left us with a laugh! Ah, woe is me!
Dearest Orestes, how is my life quenched by thy death! Thou hast
torn away with the from my heart the only hopes which still were
mine,- that thou wouldst live to return some day, an avenger of thy
sire, and of me unhappy. But now- whither shall I turn? I am alone,
bereft of thee, as of my father.
Henceforth I must be a slave
raced,-first one man, then the other. showing his head in front of the
chariots.
Hitherto the ill-fated Orestes had passed safely through every
round, steadfast in his steadfast car; at last, slackening his left
rein while the horse was turning, unawares he struck the edge of the
pillar; he broke the axle-box in twain; he was thrown over the
chariot-rail; he was caught in the shapely reins; and, as he fell on
the ground, his colts were scattered into the middle of the course.
But when the people saw him fallen from the car, a cry of pity
went up for the youth, who had done such deeds and was meeting such
a doom,- now dashed to earth, now tossed feet uppermost to the sky,-
till the charioteers, with difficulty checking the career of his
horses, loosed him, so covered with blood that no friend who saw it
would have known the hapless corpse. Straightway they burned it on a
pyre; and chosen men of Phocis are bringing in a small urn of bronze
the sad dust of that mighty form, to find due burial in his
fatherland.
Such is my story,- grievous to hear, if words can grieve; but
for us, who beheld, the greatest of sorrows that these eyes have seen.
LEADER
Alas, alas Now, methinks, the stock of our ancient masters hath
utterly perished, root and branch.
CLYTEMNESTRA
O Zeus, what shall I call these tidings,- glad tidings? Or dire,
but gainful? 'Tis a bitter lot, when mine own calamities make the
safety of my life.
PAEDAGOGUS
Why art thou so downcast, lady, at this news?
CLYTEMNESTRA
There is a strange power in motherhood; a mother may be wronged,
but she never learns to hate her child.
PAEDAGOGUS
Then it seems that we have come in vain.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Nay, not in vain; how canst thou say 'in vain,' when thou hast
brought an sure proofs of his death?- His, who sprang from mine own
life, yet, forsaking me who had suckled and reared him, became an
exile and an alien; and, after he went out of this land, he saw me
no more; but, charging me with the murder of his sire, he uttered
dread threats against me; so that neither by night nor by day could
sweet sleep cover mine eyes, but from moment to moment I lived in fear
of death. Now, however-since this day I am rid of terror from him, and
from this girl,- that worse plague who shared my home, while still she
drained my very life-blood,-now, methinks, for aught that she can
threaten, I shall pass my days in peace.
ELECTRA
Ah, woe is me! Now, indeed, Orestes, thy fortune may be
lamented, when it is thus with thee, and thou art mocked by this thy
mother! Is it not well?
CLYTEMNESTRA
Not with thee; but his state is well.
ELECTRA
Hear, Nemesis of him who hath lately died!
CLYTEMNESTRA
She hath heard who should be heard, and hath ordained well.
ELECTRA
Insult us, for this is the time of thy triumph.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Then will not Orestes and thou silence me?
ELECTRA
We are silenced; much less should we silence thee.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Thy coming, sir, would deserve large recompense, if thou hast
hushed her clamorous tongue.
PAEDAGOGUS
Then I may take my leave, if all is well.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Not so; thy welcome would then be unworthy of me, and of the
ally who sent thee. Nay, come thou in; and leave her without, to
make loud lament for herself and for her friends.
(CLYTEMNESTRA and the PAEDAGOGUS enter the palace.)
ELECTRA
How think ye? Was there not grief and anguish there, wondrous
weeping and wailing of that miserable mother, for the son who perished
by such a fate? Nay, she left us with a laugh! Ah, woe is me!
Dearest Orestes, how is my life quenched by thy death! Thou hast
torn away with the from my heart the only hopes which still were
mine,- that thou wouldst live to return some day, an avenger of thy
sire, and of me unhappy. But now- whither shall I turn? I am alone,
bereft of thee, as of my father.
Henceforth I must be a slave