Paedagogus
O son of Agamemnon, who once led our army at Troy,
now it is possible for you to behold in the flesh
those things which you were always longing to.
For here is ancient Argos which you were longing for,
the grove of Inachus’ daughter, who was stung by the gadfly; 5
here, Orestes, is the Lycian market-place, named after the
wolf-slaying god; and on the left here is the famous
temple of Hera; and from here where we have come,
you may say that you see Mycenae, rich in gold,
and here the house of the sons of Pelops, rich in slaughter, 10
from where I once carried you away from your father’s murder,
having taken you from your blood-relation and sister,
and kept you safe and reared you to such
a prime of life, the avenger of your father’s murder.
So now, Orestes and you, most beloved of foreigners, 15
Pylades, we must plan quickly what it is necessary to do;
since for us already the bright fire of the sun
sets in motion the clear morning song of the birds
and has left behind the dark night of stars.
So before any man goes out of his house, 20
arrange things with words; we shall go there, not when the right
moment still hesitates, but when it is the time for action.

Orestes
O dearest of men servants, how clear the instructions
you show to me, having been good to me.
For just like a thorough-bred horse, even if it is old, 25
does not lose heart in dangers,
but pricks up its ears, just so you
urge us on and you yourself follow in the front ranks.
Well then, I shall explain things as they seem to me, but
you, granting a keen hearing for my words, 30
if I do not happen upon anything right, correct me.
For when I came to the Pythian oracle,
so that I might learn how to win justice for
my father from his murderers, Phoebus
proclaimed to me such things of which you will soon learn: 35
that I myself, unequipped with either shields or an army,
should obtain through trickery these justifiable murders by my own hand.
So since I heard such an oracle,
you enter this house, whenever the right time
takes you in, and learn everything that is happening, 40
so that, knowing, you may report accurately to me.
For they will certainly not recognise you due to your old age and the length of time, nor will they suspect you with greyed hair.
Use such a story: that you are a stranger who has come from a Phocian man called Phanoteus; for he 45
happens to be their greatest ally.
While adding an oath, announce that
Orestes has died from a fatal accident,
during the Pythian games, having been rolled out of his wheel-drawn chariot; let the story stand like this. 50
But we, first having crowned my father’s tomb, as Apollo commanded,
with libations and delicate locks of hair,
then we shall come back again,
supporting a bronze urn in our hands,
which you also know, I suppose, has been hidden in bushes, 55
so that, tricking them with this story, we may bring
sweet news to them, that my burnt up body
is no more and has been reduced to ashes.
For what harm does this do me, when although dead in word
I am saved by deeds and carry off glory for myself? 60
I for my part, think that no word that brings profit is a bad thing.
For before now I have often seen even wise men
dying falsely in a report; then, when they come
again, they are even more highly honoured;
I am confident, due to this prophecy, that I 65
being alive, shall yet shine upon my enemies like a star.
But, land of my fathers and gods of the region,
welcome me, fortunate in this journey,
and you, ancestral home; for I have come as your
purifier in justice, urged on by the gods; 70
And do not send me away without honour from this land,
but with hereditary wealth and established in my home.
Now I have spoken these things; but, old man, for your part
as you go be mindful to keep watch of your duty.
We shall both go out; for it is the right moment, which is 75
the greatest overseer of every deed for men.

Electra
Ah! Poor me, poor me, unhappy woman!

Paidagogos
What’s this? I thought I heard from the doors one of the maidservants groaning inside, my child.

Orestes
Is it poor Electra? Are you willing for us 80
to stay here and listen to her cries?

Paidagogos
Not at all; let us attempt to do nothing before the
commands of Apollo and to begin from these,
by pouring out a libation to your father; for I say that this
brings victory and strength in our deeds. 85

ELECTRA
I feel ashamed, my friends, if I seem to you
to be excessivley vexed with many cries of sorrow. 255
But, since my harsh treatment forces that on me,
forgive me. For how could a woman who is well-born,
seeing the miseries of her father, not do this?
Am I to see these things constantly, day and night,
thriving rather than withering? 260
To me, first, the dealings with my mother, who gave birth to me,
have become most hateful; next, in my own home
I am living with my father’s murderers,
and I am ruled by them, and my taking and lacking
of provisions are equally in their control. 265
Then, what sort of days do you think I spend
when I see Aegisthus sitting on my
father’s throne, and see him wearing
the same clothes as him, and pouring
libations at the hearth where he killed him, 270
and see the ultimate outrage of these,
the slayer of my kinsman in my father’s bed
with my wretched mother, if it is necessary to call
this woman mother who sleeps with this man;
she is so reckless that she lives with the polluted man, 275
fearing no avenging Fury;
but, as though laughing at what she is doing,
observing that day, on which once
she murdered my father through trickery,
on this day she sets up dances and sacrifices 280
to the gods of deliverance in month-long festivals.
And I, seeing (all this), in my misfortune cry along the
rooftops, I waste away, and I lament over my father’s
most wretched banquet, named after him,
myself to myself; for it is not possible to cry 285
so much that my heart brings me pleasure.
For this so-called noble lady,
as she speaks, throws such wicked words back in my face:
“O godless pollution, have you alone suffered the death
of a father? Is no other mortal in sorrow? 290
May you perish cruelly, and may the gods below never
release you from these current lamentations.”
She abuses me with these insults, except whenever she hears
from someone that Orestes has returned; then, raging,
she stands by and shouts, “Aren’t you the cause of these 295
issues for me? Isn’t this the work of you, who, having stolen
Orestes from my hands brought him to a place of safety?
But know well that you will pay a fitting punishment.’
She barks such things, alongside her the distinguished bridegroom being present nearby urges the same things, 300
he totally impotent, she totally harmful,
he fighting his battles alongside a woman.
But I, always waiting for Orestes to come
as a stop to them, am destroyed wretchedly.
For since he is always about to do something, 305
he has destroyed my present and future hope.
O friends, in such matters it is possible neither to be
prudent nor respectful; on the contrary, in bad times
there is much compulsion also to plan bad things.

Chorus
Come, speak, do you tell us these things 310
with Aegisthus being nearby or having left home?

Electra
Indeed, certainly. I would not decide, if he was nearby,
to go out of the door; but now he happens to be in the countryside.

Chorus
In that case I could come to your words being
more bold, if, indeed, this is so. 315

Electra
Since he is now absent, ask away. What do you want to know?

Chorus
Indeed I shall ask you, what do you claim about your brother,
has he arrived, or is he about to? I wish to know.

Electra
He says so; but saying it, he does nothing of what he says.

Chorus
For a man is accustomed to hesitate from doing a great deed. 320

Electra
Except for the fact that I, at any rate, saved him without hesitating.

Chorus
Take courage; he is by nature noble, meaning that he will help his friends.

Electra
I can assure you, otherwise I would not have lived so long.

Chorus
Do not speak any more now; since I see your sister,
from the same father and mother by birth, 325
Chrysomethis, carrying from the house burial offerings
in her hands, such as are customary for those down below.

Chrysothemis
What is this talk you are saying again,
coming to the exits of the hall, o sister,
and are you not willing to learn in all this time 330
not to indulge idly your pointless rage?
And indeed I know of myself this much, that
I am pained by current circumstances; with the the result that,
if I could muster the strength, I would show what I think of them.
But as it is, I decide to sail in troubles with slackened sail, 335
and not seem to be up to something, but not actually harming them. But I want you to do such things, too.
And indeed, justice is not what I say,
but what you think. And if I am to live
freely, all the orders of the powerful must be listened to. 340

Electra
It is indeed terrible that you are forgetful of that father,
whose daughter you are, caring for the woman who bore you.
For all your warnings to me are learned
from her, and you say nothing of your own.
Well, choose one: either you are mistaken in your reasoning, 345
or, though reasoning correctly, you are forgetting your friends;
you who just said that, if you could muster
the strength, you would display your hatred of them;
While I am doing everything to take vengeance for my father,
you do not assist and even prevent the one who is doing. 350
Is this not cowardice, in addition to bad circumstances?
Since teach, or learn from me, what benefit
there woud be for me if I were to cease my weeping.
Am I not alive? Wretchedly, of course, I know, but sufficiently enough for me.
I trouble them, with the result that I fasten honour 355
to the dead man, if there is any pleasure down there.
For my benefit, you, the hater, hate in word,
but in deed you side with the murderers of our father.
So indeed I would never, not even if someone intended
to bring your gifts to me, which you now pride yourself on, 360
yield to them; may a rich table be set up
for you and may your livelihood be abundant.
For my part, let the fact that I do not pain myself be my only
nourishment; I shall refuse to gain a share of your honour.
Nor would you, if you had any sense. But as it is, it is possible 365
to be called child of the best father of all, but you are called
your mother’s child. For thus you seem bad to most people,
since you betray your dead father and your friends.

Chorus
[Say] nothing in anger, by the gods! Since there is
profit in both arguments, if you learn how to use 370
her words, and she yours in turn.

Chrysothemis
Ladies, I am very well accustomed
to the words of this one; I would never have cared,
if I had not heard the greatest evil was moving
against her, which will hold her back from her long laments. 375

Electra
Come, tell me this oh so terrible thing; for if you say anything
greater than these things, I will no longer speak against you.

Chrysothemis
Well, I will explain to you everything as far as I understand it.
For they are intending, if you do not cease from these wailings,
to send you to that place where you will never look upon 380
the light of the sun, but kept alive in a covered
dwelling you will bewail your troubles outside this land.
Think on these things and never blame me later on
when you are suffering. For now it is best to be prudent.

Electra
So have they really planned to do this to me? 385

Chrysothemis
Very much so; as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra
Well then, may he arrive here in haste for this purpose.

Chrysothemis
What’s this prayer you’ve uttered, miserable woman?

Electra
That he arrives, if he intends to do something of this sort.

Chrysothemis
So that you may suffer what is necessary? Where on earth are you in your mind? 390

Electra
So that I might escape as far as possible away from you.

Chrysothemis
Have you no concern for the life you have remaining?

Electra
Oh yes, since my life is a fine thing to be admired.

Chrysothemis
Well it would be, if you knew how to be sensible, at any rate.

Electra
Don’t teach me to be evil to my friends. 395

Chrysothemis
But I’m not teaching that; but rather, to yield to those in power.

Electra
You flatter (them) in this way; you do not speak my ways.

Chrysothemis
And yet it is best not to fall from lack of planning.

Electra
I shall fall, if necessary, while avenging father.

Chryhsothemis
However it is best not to fall from lack of planning. 400

Electra
I will fall, if necessary, while avenging father.

Chryhsothemis
Father has forgiveness for these things, I know.

Electra
It is in the nature of evil people to praise these words

Chryhsothemis
Will you not obey and agree with me?

Electra
Absolutely not. I hope that I am never so empty of mind. 405

Chryhsothemis
Well then, I shall go to where I have been sent on a journey.

Electra
Where are you travelling to? For whom are you carrying these burnt offerings?

Chryhsothemis
Mother is sending me to pour libations on father’s tomb.

Electra
What did you say?