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ELECTRA
Pray on them what？ expound； instruct my doubt。
LEADER
This： Upon them some god or mortal come…
ELECTRA
As judge or as avenger？ speak thy thought。
LEADER
Pray in set terms； Who shall the slayer slay。
ELECTRA
Beseemeth it to ask such boon of heaven？
LEADER
How not； to wreak a wrong upon a foe？
ELECTRA （praying at the tomb）
O mighty Hermes； warder of the shades；
Herald of upper and of under world；
Proclaim and usher down my prayer's appeal
Unto the gods below； that they with eyes
Watchful behold these halls。 my sire's of old…
And unto Earth； the mother of all things；
And loster…nurse； and womb that takes their seed。
Lo； I that pour these draughts for men now dead；
Call on my father； who yet holds in ruth
Me and mine own Orestes； Father； speak…
How shall thy children rule thine halls again？
Homeless we are and sold； and she who sold
Is she who bore us； and the price she took
Is he who joined with her to work thy death；
Aegisthus； her new lord。 Behold me here
Brought down to slave's estate； and far away
Wanders Orestes； banished from the wealth
That once was thine； the profit of thy care；
Whereon these revel in a shameful joy。
Father； my prayer is said； 'tis thine to hear…
Grant that some fair fate bring Orestes home；
And unto me grant these…a purer soul
Than is my mother's； a more stainless hand。
These be my prayers for us； for thee； O sire；
I cry that one may come to smite thy fops；
And that the slayers may in turn be slain。
Cursed is their prayer； and thus I bar its path；
Praying mine own； a counter…curse on them。
And thou； send up to us the righteous boon
For which we pray； thine aids be heaven and earth；
And justice guide the right to victory。
（To the CHORUS）
Thus have I prayed； and thus I shed these streams；
And follow ye the wont； and as with flowers
Crown ye with many a tear and cry the dirge
Your lips ring out above the dead man's grave。
（She pours the libations。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Woe； woe； woe！
Let the teardrop fall； plashing on the ground
Where our lord lies low：
Fall and cleanse away the cursed libation's stair。；
Shed on this grave…mound；
Fenced wherein together； gifts of good or bane
From the dead are found。
Lord of Argos； hearken！
Though around thee darken
Mist of death and hell； arise and hear
Hearken and awaken to our cry of woe！
Who with might of spear
Shall our home deliver？
Who like Ares bend until it quiver；
Bend the northern bow？
Who with hand upon the hilt himself will thrust with glaive；
Thrust and slay and save？
ELECTRA
Lo！ the earth drinks them； to my sire they pass…
（She notices the locks Of ORESTES。）
Learn ye with me of this thing new and strange。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Speak thou； my breast doth palpitate with fear。
ELECTRA
I see upon the tomb a curl new shorn。
LEADER
Shorn from wnat man or what deep…girded maid？
ELECTRA
That may he； guess who will； the sign is plain。
LEADER
Let me learn this of thee； let youth prompt age。
ELECTRA
None is there here but I； to clip such gift。
LEADER
For they who thus should mourn him hate him sore。
ELECTRA
And lo！ in truth the hair exceeding like…
LEADER
Like to what locks and whose？ instruct me that。
ELECTRA
Like unto those my father's children wear。
LEADER
Then is this lock Orestes' secret gift？
ELECTRA
Most like it is unto the curls he wore。
LEADER
Yet how dared he to come unto his home？
ELECTRA
He hath but sent it； clipt to mourn his sire。
LEADER
It is a sorrow grievous as his death；
That he should live yet never dare return。
ELECTRA
Yea； and my heart o'erflows with gall of grief；
And I am pierced as with a cleaving dart；
Like to the first drops after drought； my tears
Fall down at will； a bitter bursting tide；
As on this lock I gaze； I cannot deem
That any Argive save Orestes' self
Was ever lord thereof； nor； well I wot；
Hath she； the murd'ress； shorn and laid this lock
To mourn him whom she slew…my mother she；
Bearing no mother's heart； but to her race
A loathing spirit； loathed itself of heaven！
Yet to affirm； as utterly made sure；
That this adornment cometh of the hand
Of mine Orestes； brother of my soul；
I may not venture； yet hope flatters fair！
Ah well…a…day； that this dumb hair had voice
To glad mine ears； as might a messenger；
Bidding me sway no more 'twixt fear and hope；
Clearly commanding； Cast me hence away；
Clipped was I from some head thou lovest not；
Or； I am kin to thee； and here； as thou；
I come to weep and deck our father's grave。
Aid me； ye gods！ for well indeed ye know
How in the gale and counter…gale of doubt；
Like to the seaman's bark； we whirl and stray。
But； if God will our life； how strong shall spring；
From seed how small； the new tree of our home！…
Lo ye； a second sign…these footsteps； looks…
Like to my own； a corresponsive print；
And look； another footmark；…this his own；
And that the foot of one who walked with him。
Mark； how the heel and tendons' print combine；
Measured exact； with mine coincident！
Alas； for doubt and anguish rack my mind。
（ORESTES and PYLADES enter suddenly。）
ORESTES
Pray thou； in gratitude for prayers fulfilled；
Fair fall the rest of what I ask of heaven。
ELECTRA
Wherefore？ what win I from the gods by prayer？
ORESTES
This； that thine eyes behold thy heart's desire。
ELECTRA
On whom of mortals know'st thou that I call？
ORESTES
I know thy yearning for Orestes deep。
ELECTRA
Say then； wherein event hath crowned my prayer？
ORESTES
I； I am he； seek not one more akin。
ELECTRA
Some fraud； O stranger； weavest thou for me？
ORESTES
Against myself I weave it； if I weave。
ELECTRA
Ah； thou hast mind to mock me in my woel
ORESTES
'Tis at mine own I mock then； mocking thine。
ELECTRA
Speak I with thee then as Orestes' self？
ORESTES
My very face thou see'st and know'st me not；
And yet but now； when thou didst see the lock
Shorn for my father's grave； and when thy quest
Was eager on the footprints I had made；
Even I； thy brother； shaped and sized as thou；
Fluttered thy spirit； as at sight of me！
Lay now this ringlet whence 'twas shorn； and judge；
And look upon this robe； thine own hands' work；
The shuttle…prints； the creature wrought thereon…
Refrain thyself； nor prudence lose in joy；
For well I wot； our kin are less than kind。
ELECTRA
O thou that art unto our father's home
Love； grief and hope； for thee the tears ran down；
For thee； the son； the saviour that should be；
Trust thou thine arm and win thy father's halls！
O aspect sweet of fourfold love to me；
Whom upon thee the heart's constraint bids cal
As on my father； and the claim of love
From me unto my mother turns to thee；
For she is very hate； to thee too turns
What of my heart went out to her who died
A ruthless death upon the altar…stone；
And for myself I love thee…thee that wast
A brother leal； sole stay of love to me。
Now by thy side be strength and right； and Zeus
Saviour almighty； stand to aid the twain！
ORESTES