Electra

Perseus Greek · Perseus Greek · 602 sections

875
And from where could you find help for my sufferings, when no cure for them can be imagined?
877
Orestes is with us—know this from my lips—plainly visible, just as you see me now.
879
What, are you insane, poor girl?
880
Do you laugh at my sorrows and your own?
881
No, by our father’s hearth, I do not speak in mockery. I tell you that he truly is with us.
883
Ah, miserable girl! And from whom on earth have you heard this tale, which you believe so lightly?
885
I have it on my own knowledge, no one else’s; I have seen clear proofs.
887
What have you seen, poor girl, to warrant your belief? What did you see, that you are warmed by this unquenchable fire?
889
Now, for the gods’ love, listen, so that you may know
890
the rest from me before deciding whether I am sane or foolish.
891
Speak on, then, if you find pleasure in speaking.
892
Well, I will tell you all that I have seen. When I came to Father’s ancestral tomb, I saw that streams of milk had recently flowed from the top of the mound
895
and that his sepulchre was encircled with garlands of all flowers that grow. I was astonished at the sight, and peered about lest somehow someone should approach close to me. But when I perceived that all the place was in stillness,
900
I crept nearer to the tomb, and on the mound’s edge I saw a lock of hair, freshly severed.And the very moment I see it—ah me!—a familiar image rushes into my mind, and I feel that I am looking at a token of him whom I most love, Orestes.
905
Then I lift it in my hands and make no sound of bad omen, but the tears of joy straightaway fill my eyes. Even now I know well, just as I knew then, that this fair tribute has come from no one but him. Whom else does that tomb concern, save me and you?
910
And I did not make those offerings, I know, nor did you. How could you, when you cannot leave this house even to worship the gods without later regretting it? Nor, again, does our mother’s heart incline to do such deeds, nor could she have done so without our knowledge.
915
No, these offerings are from Orestes! Come, dear sister, have courage! Not always does the same fortune, it is true, attend the same individuals. Ours was once to be despised, but today, perhaps, will seal the promise of much good.
920
Oh, what foolishness! How I have been pitying you!
921
What, is my news unpleasing to you?
922
You do not know where on earth or into what dreams you wander.
923
How could I not know what I have plainly seen?
924
He is dead, poor girl, and your
925
salvation by him is gone. Do not look to him.
926
Ah, miserable me! From whom have you heard this?
927
From the man who was present when he perished.
928
And where is he? Amazement steals over my mind.
929
He is inside, a welcome guest, not unpleasing to our mother.
930
Ah, misery! Who, then, can have made those ample offerings to my father’s tomb?
932
Most likely, I think, someone placed those gifts in memory of the dead Orestes.
934
Oh, my misfortune! And I was hurrying here
935
with such joyous nows, ignorant after all of our downfall. But now that I have arrived, I find fresh sorrows added to the old!
938
So it stands with you. Yet if you will be persuaded by me, you will lighten the load of our present trouble.
940
How can I ever raise the dead back to life?
941
That is not what I meant; I was not born so foolish.
942
What do you urge, then, of those things that I am capable of doing?
943
That you be brave in executing what I recommend.
944
If any good can be done, I will not refuse.
945
Remember, nothing succeeds without toil.
946
I know it, and I will share your burden with all my power.
947
Hear, then, in what way I have decided to take action. As for the support of friends, you yourself doubtless know that we have none. Hades has taken our friends away,
950
and we two are left alone. I, so long as I heard that my brother still lived and prospered, had hopes that he would yet come to avenge the murder of our father. But now that he is no more, I look next to you
955
and ask that you not flinch from aiding me, your sister, to slay our father’s murderer, Aegisthus. There—I can have no secrets from you anymore.How long will you wait in indifference? What hope is left standing, to which your eyes can turn? Now you are right to complain
960
that you are robbed of possession of your father’s estate; now you may mourn that you have advanced this far in years without wedded love or bridal song. And do not cling to hopes that you will ever meet with such joys. The man, Aegisthus, is not so unthinking
965
as ever to permit that offspring should shoot up from you or from me either to be a certain bane for himself. But if you will follow my plans, first you will win praise for piety from our dead father below, and from our brother, too;
970
next, you shall be called hereafter free, just as you were born, and shall find a worthy marriage. For noble natures draw the gaze of all.Then do you not see what fair fame you will procure for yourself and for me, by obeying me?
975
What citizen or stranger when he sees us will not greet us with praises such as these: Behold these two sisters, my friends! They saved their father’s house, and at a time when their foes were firmly established, they took their lives in their hands and administered bloodshed! Worthy of love is this pair, worthy of reverence from all. At festivals, and wherever the citizenry is assembled, let these two be honored by all men for their manly courage. Thus will every one speak of us,
985
so that in life and in death our glory shall not fail.Come, dear sister, be persuaded! Toil with our father, share the burden of your brother, put an end to my troubles and an end to yours, keeping in mind that a shameful life brings shame upon the noble-born.
990
In a crisis such as this, forethought is an ally both to those who speak and those who listen.
992
Yes, I agree. And before she spoke, my friends, if she were blessed with a sound mind, she would have remembered caution, even as she does not now.
995
Where can you have turned your eyes, that you arm yourself with such rashness and call me to serve beneath you? Do you not see? Your nature is a woman’s, not a man’s, and the strength of your hand is less than that of your adversaries. And their fortune prospers day by day,
1000
while ours ebbs and comes to nothing. Who, then, plotting to subdue such a man, would escape destruction unharmed? See to it that, badly as we fare now, we do not acquire greater evil, if any one hears this talk of yours.
1005
It brings us no relief or benefit, if after winning fair fame we die an ignominious death. For death is not the most odious thing; it is rather craving death, but lacking the means to die. No, I plead with you, before we are utterly, totally destroyed
1010
and before we leave our house desolate, restrain your rage! I will take care that your words remain secret and harmless for you. You in turn must get hold of good sense at long last and yield to the powerful since you have no strength.
1015
Listen to her. There is no better gain for mortals to win than foresight and a prudent mind.
1017
You have said nothing unexpected. Well I knew that you would reject what I proposed. But the deed must be done with my own hand, by me and me alone.
1020
I certainly will not leave it unaccomplished.
1021
Ah! If only you had had such resolve on the day of our father’s death! Then you would have accomplished everything!
1023
My nature was the same then, but my mind was less ripe.
1024
Strive to keep your mind that way through all your life.
1025
You make these admonitions like one who will not assist me.
1026
I will not, for he who sets hand to the deed is likely also to suffer disaster.
1027
I admire you for your prudence. For your cowardice I hate you.
1028
I will listen no less calmly when you praise me.
1029
Never fear to suffer that from me, at least.
1030
There is time enough in the future to decide that.
1031
Leave! You have no power to help.
1032
No, I have it, but you lack the ability to listen and learn.
1033
Go, reveal everything to your mother!
1034
But, again, I do not hate you with so great a hate.
1035
Yet know at least to what dishonor you drive me.
1036
Dishonor, no! It is forethought for you.
1037
Am I bound, then, to follow your rule of right?
1038
Yes, for when you are sensible, then at that time you shall lead the both of us.
1039
How terrible it is that one who speaks so well should be so wrong!
1040
You have well described the fault to which you devotedly cling.
1041
What? Do you think that my words are not the words of Justice?
1042
But sometimes even Justice herself causes harm.
1043
I do not care to live where that attitude is lawful.
1044
Well, if you must do this, you will commend me yet.
1045
And do it I will, not a bit disturbed by you.
1046
Is this true? You will not reconsider your plan?
1047
No, for no enemy is more damaging than bad advice.
1048
You seem to agree with nothing that I say.
1049
My resolve is not new, but long since fixed.
1050
Then I will go. You cannot be brought to approve my words, nor I your conduct.
1052
No, go inside. I will never come after you, even though you may strongly desire it, since it is great folly even to attempt a useless quest.
1055
Well, if you seem to think straight in your own eyes, may you go on thinking so. Eventually, when you have fallen into trouble, you will approve my advice. Exit Chrysothemis into the house.
1.1058
Why, though we see the birds above, most thoughtful creatures, taking care for the sustenance
1.1060
of those from whom they derived life and enjoyment, why do we not pay these debts in like measure? No, by the lightning-flash of Zeus, by Themis throned in the sky,
1.1065
we are not long unpunished. O Voice of the underworld that reaches to mortals, shout for me a piteous cry to the sons of Atreus below. Carry the reproaches not appropriate to my dancing!
1.1070
Tell them the affairs of their house, how it is now diseased; how among his children, double-sided strife has overwhelmed their loving manner.
1.1075
Electra, betrayed, braves the storm alone. In misery she bewails her father’s fate without pause, like the all-grieving nightingale. She cares not at all about death, but is ready for that eternal blindness,
1.1080
could she but subdue the double Erinys of her house. Who could grow to be so noble a daughter of so noble a father?
2.1082
None of the good willingly clouds his fair repute and becomes nameless by leading a corrupt life, my child.
2.1085
Similarly, you, too, have chosen a lifetime of shared mourning and have armed against dishonor, so that you might win in one breath a twofold praise as wise, and as the best of daughters.
2.1090
May I yet see you live exalted in might and wealth above your enemies by as much as you now dwell beneath their hand! For I have found you enjoying no prosperous estate, yet
2.1095
for observance of nature’s highest laws you win the noblest prize by your reverence toward Zeus.
1098
Ladies, have we been directed aright, and are we on the right path to our goal?
1100
What do you seek? What desire brings you here?
1101
I have long been searching for the home of Aegisthus.

Perseus Greek. CTS URN tlg0011.tlg005.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.