Orestes
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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Pylades
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You must destroy me also; for friends have all in common.
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Orestes
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Menelaus is the worst of men to me and my sister.
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Pylades
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It is natural for the husband of an evil woman to become evil.
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Orestes
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He no more repaid me by coming here, than if he had never come.
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Pylades
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Oh, has he really arrived in this land?
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Orestes
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He took a long time, but he was very soon detected as evil to his friends.
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Pylades
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And did he bring his wife, the worst of women, with him on his ship?
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Orestes
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It was not he who brought her here, but she who brought him.
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Pylades
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Where is she, the one woman who proved the ruin of so many Achaeans?
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Orestes
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In my house; if, that is, I ought to call it mine.
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Pylades
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And what did you say to your father’s brother?
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Orestes
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Not to see me and my sister killed by the citizens.
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Pylades
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By the gods! What did he say to that? I would like know this.
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Orestes
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He was cautious, the usual policy of ignoble friends.
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Pylades
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What excuse did he advance? When I have learned that, I know everything.
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Orestes
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There was a new arrival, the father who begot those noble daughters.
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Pylades
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You mean Tyndareus; he was angry with you, perhaps, for his daughter’s sake?
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Orestes
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You understand. And Menelaus preferred the family relationship with him to that with my father.
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Pylades
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He did not have the courage to share your troubles, when he was here?
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Orestes
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No, for he was not born a warrior, though strong among women!
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Pylades
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Your case is desperate, it seems, and you must die.
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Orestes
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The citizens must give their vote about us on the murder.
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Pylades
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And what is that to decide? Tell me, for I am alarmed.
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Orestes
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Our life or death; a brief speech on a large subject.
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Pylades
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Leave the palace with your sister now and try to escape.
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Orestes
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Don’t you see? We are being watched by guards on every side.
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Pylades
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I saw that the streets of the city were secured with armed men.
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Orestes
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We are as closely beleaguered as a city by its foes.
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Pylades
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Ask me now of my state; for I too am ruined.
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Orestes
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By whom? This would be a further trouble to add to mine.
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Pylades
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Strophius, my father, in a fit of anger, has banished me from his house.
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Orestes
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Bringing against you a private charge, or one in which the citizens share?
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Pylades
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He says it is an unholy crime to have helped you slay your mother.
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Orestes
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Alas! It seems my troubles will cause you grief as well.
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Pylades
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I am not like Menelaus in character; this must be endured.
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Orestes
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Are you not afraid that Argos will desire your death as well as mine?
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Pylades
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I am not theirs to punish; I belong to Phocis.
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Orestes
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A terrible thing is the mob, whenever it has villains to lead it.
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Pylades
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But with honest leaders its counsels are always honest.
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Orestes
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Very well; we must consult together.
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Orestes
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Suppose I go and tell the citizens—
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Orestes
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In avenging my father?
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Orestes
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Well, am I to crouch in fear and die without a word?
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Orestes
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How then should I act?
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Orestes
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I have none.
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Orestes
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There might be, possibly.
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Orestes
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Then I will go.
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Orestes
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You are right; in this way I escape cowardice.
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Orestes
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After all, my action was just.
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Orestes
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Some one or two might pity me—
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Orestes
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Resenting my father’s death.
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Orestes
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I must go, for to die ignobly is a coward’s part.
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Orestes
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Shall we tell my sister?
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Orestes
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True, there might be tears.
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Orestes
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Yes, silence is clearly better.
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Orestes
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There is only one obstacle in my way.
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Orestes
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I am afraid the goddesses will prevent me by madness.
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Orestes
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It is annoying to have to touch a sick man.
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Orestes
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Beware of becoming a partner in my madness.
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Orestes
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You will not hesitate?
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Orestes
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On then, pilot of my course!
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Orestes
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And guide me to my father’s tomb.
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Orestes
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That I may appeal to him to save me.
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Orestes
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May I not see my mother’s grave!
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supporting those limbs, slow from sickness, on mine; for I will carry you through the town, thinking little of the mob and unashamed. For how shall I prove my friendship, if not by helping you in sore distress?
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Orestes
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Ah! the old saying again, get friends, not relations only.
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For a man who fuses into your ways, though he is an outsider, is better for a man to possess as a friend than a whole host of relations. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades.
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Chorus
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The great prosperity and the prowess, proudly boasted throughout Hellas and by the streams of Simois,
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went back again from good fortune for the Atreidae long ago, from an old misfortune to their house, when strife came to the sons of Tantalus over a golden ram, to end in most pitiable banqueting and
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the slaughter of high-born children; and this is why murder exchanges for murder, through blood, and does not leave the two Atreidae.
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Chorus
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What seemed good was not good,
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to cut a mother’s flesh with ruthless hand and show the sword stained black with blood to the sun’s bright beams; to commit a noble crime is an impious, subtle, malignant madness!
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The wretched daughter of Tyndareus in terror of death screamed to him: My son, this is unholy, your bold attempt upon your mother’s life; do not, while honoring your father,
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fasten on yourself an eternity of shame.
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Chorus
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What affliction on earth surpasses this? What calls for keener grief or pity, than to shed with your hand a mother’s blood? Oh! what a dreadful crime he committed,
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and now is raving mad, a prey to the Furies, whirling blood with racing eyes, the son of Agamemnon! O the wretch! when
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he saw a mother’s bosom over her robe of golden weave, and yet he made her his victim, in recompense for his father’s sufferings.
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Electra
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Women, has my poor Orestes left the house,
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mastered by the heaven-sent madness?
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Chorus Leader
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Not at all; he has gone to the Argive people to stand the appointed trial for his life, in which he and you must live or die.
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Electra
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Oh! Why did he do it? Who persuaded him?
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Chorus Leader
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Pylades; but this messenger will no doubt soon tell us what happened to your brother there.
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Messenger
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Wretched, unhappy daughter of the general Agamemnon, my lady Electra, hear the sad tidings I bring you.
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Electra
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Alas! we are ruined; your words show it; you have clearly come with tidings of woe.
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Messenger
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The Pelasgians have decided by vote that you, poor lady, and your brother are to die this day.
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Electra
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Alas! my expectations are realized; I have long feared this,
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and have been wasting away in mourning for what was sure to happen. But what was the trial, what was said by the Argives, to condemn us and ratify our death? Tell me, old friend; must I die by stoning or the sword?
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For I share my brother’s misfortunes.
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Messenger
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I had just come from the country and was entering the gates, needing to learn what was decided about you and Orestes, for I was always well disposed to your father when he was alive, and it was your house that reared me,
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poor indeed, yet loyal in the service of friends. I saw a crowd going and taking their seats on the height, where they say Danaus first gathered his people for a meeting, making amends to Aegyptus. So, when I saw the throng, I asked a citizen:
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What news in Argos? Tidings of the enemy haven’t ruffled the city of Danaus, have they? But he said: Don’t you see Orestes there, on his way to he tried for his life? I saw an unexpected sight, which I wish I had not seen,
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Pylades and your brother approaching together, the one with his head down, weakened by sickness; the other sharing his friend’s sorrow like a brother, tending his illness with constant care.
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Now when the Argives were fully gathered,
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a herald rose and said: Who wishes to give his opinion whether Orestes should be slain or not for the murder of his mother? Then up stood Talthybius, who helped your father sack the Phrygians. He spoke out of both sides of his mouth, a mere tool of those in power as he always is,
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expressing high admiration for your father, but not praising your brother, urging his crooked sentiments in specious words, that it would establish laws as to parents that are not good; and all the while he was darting lively glances at the friends of Aegisthus.
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Such is that tribe; heralds always trip across to the lucky side; the one who has power in the city or a post in the government is their friend.
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After him lord Diomedes made a speech; he said they should not kill you and your brother,
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but keep clear of guilt by punishing you with exile. Some roared out that his words were good, but others disapproved.
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Next stood up a fellow, who cannot close his lips; one whose impudence is his strength; an Argive, but not of Argos, forced on us;
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confident in bluster and ignorant free speech, and plausible enough to involve them in some mischief sooner or later; for whenever a man with a pleasing trick of speech, but of unsound principles, persuades the mob, it is a serious evil to the state; but those who give sound and sensible advice on all occasions,