ORESTES [1]
solace in her woe; for Hermione, the child she left at home in the hour she sailed for Troys-the maid whom Menelaus brought from Sparta and entrusted to my mother's keeping,-is still a cause of joy to her and a reason to forget her sorrows. I, meantime, am watching each approach, against the moment I see Menelaus arriving; for unless we find some safety there, we have but feeble anchor to ride on otherwise. A helpless thing, an unlucky house! (HELEN enters from the palace.) HELEN Daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, hapless Electra, too long now left a maid unwed! how is it with thee and thy brother, this ill-starred Orestes who slew his mother! Speak; for referring the sin as I do to Phoebus, I incur no pollution by letting thee accost me; and yet am truly sorry for the fate of my sister Clytenmestra, on whom I ne'er set eyes after I was driven by heaven-sent frenzy to sail on my disastrous voyage to Ilium; but now that I am parted from her I bewail our misfortunes. ELECTRA Prithee, Helen, why should I speak of that which thine own eyes can see the son of Agamemnon in his misery? Beside his wretched corpse I sit, a sleepless sentinel; for corpse he is, so faint his breath; not that I reproach him with his sufferings; but thou art highly blest and thy husband too, and ye are come upon us in the hour of adversity. HELEN How long hath he been laid thus upon his couch? ELECTRA Ever since he spilt his mother's blood-. HELEN Unhappy wretch! unhappy mother! what a death she died! ELECTRA Unhappy enough to succumb to his misery. HELEN Prithee, maiden, wilt hear me a moment? ELECTRA Aye, with such small leisure as this watching o'er a brother leaves. HELEN Wilt go for me to my sister's tomb? ELECTRA Wouldst have me seek my mother's tomb? And why? HELEN To carry an offering of hair and a libation from me. ELECTRA Art forbidden then to go to the tombs of those thou lovest? HELEN Nay, but I am ashamed to show myself in Argos. ELECTRA A late repentance surely for one who left her home so shamefully then. HELEN Thou hast told the truth, but thy telling is not kind to me. ELECTRA What is this supposed modesty before the eyes of Mycenae that possesses thee? HELEN I am afraid of the fathers of those who lie dead beneath the walls of Ilium. ELECTRA Good cause for fear; thy name is on every tongue in Argos. HELEN Then free me of my fear and grant me this boon. ELECTRA I could not bear to face my mother's grave. HELEN And yet 'twere shame indeed to send these offerings by a servant's hand. ELECTRA Then why not send thy daughter Hermione? HELEN 'Tis not seemly for a tender maid to make her way amongst a crowd. ELECTRA And yet she would thus be repaying her dead foster-mother's care. HELEN True; thou hast convinced me, maiden. Yes, I will send my daughter; for thou art right. (Calling) Hermione, my child, come forth before the palace; (HERMIONE and attendants come out of the palace.) take these libations and these tresses of mine in thy hands, and go pour round Clytemnestra's tomb a mingled cup of honey, milk, and frothing wine; then stand upon the heaped-up grave, and proclaim therefrom, "Helen, thy sister, sends thee these libations as her gift, fearing herself to approach thy tomb from terror of the Argive mob"; and bid her harbour kindly thoughts towards me and thee and my husband; towards these two wretched sufferers, too, whom Heaven hath afflicted. Likewise promise that I will pay in full whatever funeral gifts are due from me to a sister. Now go, my child, and tarry not; and soon as thou hast made the offering at the tomb, bethink thee of thy return.
(HELEN goes into the palace as HERMIONE and her attendants depart with the offerings.)
ELECTRA O human nature, what a grievous curse thou art in this world! and what salvation, too, to those who have a goodly heritage therein! Did ye mark how she
(HELEN goes into the palace as HERMIONE and her attendants depart with the offerings.)
ELECTRA O human nature, what a grievous curse thou art in this world! and what salvation, too, to those who have a goodly heritage therein! Did ye mark how she