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A doom on the desperate ere long
On a mother a father shall visit his wrong。
CHORUS
Be it mine to upraise thro' the reek of the pyre
The chant of delight； while the funeral fire
Devoureth the corpse of a man that is slain
And a woman laid low！
For who bids me conceal it！ out…rending control；
Blows ever the stern blast of hate thro' my soul；
And before me a vision of wrath and of bane
Flits and waves to and fro。
ORESTES
Zeus； thou alone to us art parent now。
Smite with a rending blow
Upon their heads； and bid the land be well：
Set right where wrong hath stood； and thou give ear；
O Earth； unto my prayer…
Yea； hear O mother Earth； and monarchy of hell
CHORUS
Nay； the law is sternly set…
Blood…drops shed upon the ground
Plead for other bloodshed yet；
Loud the call of death doth sound；
Calling guilt of olden time；
A Fury； crowning crime with crime。
ELECTRA
Where； where are ye； avenging powers；
Puissant Furies of the slain？
Behold the relics of the race
Of Atreus； thrust from pride of place！
O Zeus； what borne henceforth is ours；
What refuge to attain？
CHORUS
Lo； at your wail my heart throbs； wildly stirred；
Now am I lorn with sadness；
Darkened in all my soul； to hear your sorrow's word
Anon to hope； the seat of strength； I rise；…
She； thrusting grief away； lifts up mine eyes
To the new dawn of gladness。
ORESTES
Skills it to tell of aught save wrong on wrong；
Wrought by our mother's deed？
Though now she fawn for pardon； sternly strong
Standeth our wrath； and will nor hear nor heed。
Her children's soul is wolfish； born from hers；
And softens not by prayers。
CHORUS
I dealt upon my breast the blow
That Asian mourning women know；
Wails from…my breast the fun'ral cry；
The Cissian weeping melody；
Stretched rendingly forth； to tatter and tear；
My clenched hands wander； here and there；
From head to breast； distraught with blows
Throb dizzily my brows。
ELECTRA
Aweless in hate； O mother； sternly brave！
As in a foeman's grave
Thou laid'st in earth a king； but to the bier
No citizen drew nears…
Thy husband； thine； yet for his obsequies；
Thou bad'st no wail arise！
ORESTES
Alas； the shameful burial thou dost speak！
Yet I the vengeance of his shame will wreak…
That do the gods command！
That shall achieve mine hand！
Grant me to thrust her life away； and
Will dare to die！
CHORUS
List thou the deed！ Hewn down and foully torn；
He to the tomb was borne；
Yea； by her hand； the deed who wrought；
With like dishonour to the grave was brought；
And by her hand she strove； with strong desire；
Thy life to crush； O child； by murder of thy sire：
Bethink thee； hearing； of the shame； the pain
Wherewith that sire was slain！
ELECTRA
Yea； such was the doom of my sire； well…a…day；
I was thrust from his side；…
As a dog from the chamber they thrust me away；
And in place of my laughter rose sobbing and tears；
As in darkness I lay。
O father； if this word can pass to thine ears；
To thy soul let it reach and abide！
CHORUS
Let it pass； let it pierce； through the sense of thine ear；
To thy soul； where in silence it waiteth the hour！
The past is accomplished； but rouse thee to hear
What the future prepareth； awake and appear；
Our champion； in wrath and in power！
ORESTES
O father； to thy loved ones come in aid。
ELECTRA
With tears I call on thee。
CHORUS
Listen and rise to light！
Be thou with us； be thou against the foe！
Swiftly this cry arises…even so
Pray we； the loyal band； as we have prayed！
ORESTES
Let their might meet with mine； and their right with my right。
ELECTRA
O ye Gods； it is yours to decree。
CHORUS
Ye call unto the dead； I quake to hear。
Fate is ordained of old； and shall fulfil your prayer。
ELECTRA
Alas； the inborn curse that haunts our home；
Of Ate's bloodstained scourge the tuneless sound！
Alas； the deep insufferable doom；
The stanchless wound！
ORESTES
It shall be stanched； the task is ours；…
Not by a stranger's； but by kindred hand；
Shall be chased forth the blood…fiend of our land。
Be this our spoken spell； to call Earth's nether powers！
CHORUS
Lords of a dark eternity；
To you has come the children's cry；
Send up from hell； fulfil your aid
To them who prayed。
（The chant is concluded。）
ORESTES
O father； murdered in unkingly wise；
Fulfil my prayer； grant me thine halls to sway。
ELECTRA
To me； too； grant this boon…dark death to deal
Unto Aegisthus； and to 'scape my doom。
ORESTES
So shall the rightful feasts that mortals pay
Be set for thee； else； not for thee shall rise
The scented reek of altars fed with flesh；
But thou shalt lie dishonoured： hear thou me！
ELECTRA
I too； from my full heritage restored；
Will pour the lustral streams； what time I pass
Forth as a bride from these paternal halls；
And honour first； beyond all graves； thy tomb。
ORESTES
Earth； send my sire to fend me in the fight！
ELECTRA
Give fair…faced fortune； O Persephone！
ORESTES
Bethink thee； father； in the laver slain…
ELECTRA
Bethink thee of the net they handselled for thee！
ORESTES
Bonds not of brass ensnared thee； father mine。
ELECTRA
Yea； the ill craft of an enfolding robe。
ORESTES
By this our bitter speech arise； O sire！
ELECTRA
Raise thou thine head at love's last； dearest call！
ORESTES
Yea； speed forth Right to aid thy kinsmen's cause；
Grip for grip； let them grasp the foe； if thou
Willest in triumph to forget thy fall。
ELECTRA
Hear me； O father； once again hear me。
Lo！ at thy tomb； two fledglings of thy brood…
A man…child and a maid； hold them in ruth；
Nor wipe them out； the last of Pelops' line。
For while they live； thou livest from the dead；
Children are memory's voices； and preserve
The dead from wholly dying： as a net
Is ever by the buoyant corks upheld；
Which save the flax…mesh； in the depth submerged。
Listen； this wail of ours doth rise for thee；
And as thou heedest it thyself art saved。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
In sooth； a blameless prayer ye spake at length…
The tomb's requital for its dirge denied：
Now； for the rest； as thou art fixed to do；
Take fortune by the hand and work thy will。
ORESTES
The doom is set； and yet I fain would ask…
Not swerving from the course of my resolve；…
Wherefore she sent these offerings； and why
She softens all too late her cureless deed？
An idle boon it was； to send them here
Unto the dead who recks not of such gifts。
I cannot guess her thought； but well I ween
Such gifts are skilless to atone such crime。
Be blood once spilled； an idle strife he strives
Who seeks with other wealth or wine outpoured
To atone the deed。 So stands the word； nor fails。
Yet would I know her thought； speak； if thou knowest。
LEADER
I know it； son； for at her side I stood。
'Twas the night…wandering terror of a dream
That flung her shivering from her