Therefore you must be a man.Exeunt Orestes, Pylades, and Old Man. And you, women, please take care to givea shout in signal of this contest. I will keep a sword ready, holding it in my hand, for I will not ever, if defeated, submit to my enemies the right to insult my body.
Exit Electra.
ChorusThe story remains in old legendsthat Pan, the keeper of wild beasts, breathing sweet-voiced music on his well-joined pipes, once brought from its tender mother on Argive hillsa lamb with beautiful golden fleece. A herald stood on the stone platform and cried aloud, To assembly, Mycenaeans, go to assembly
to see the omens given to our blessed rulers.
. . . and they honored the house of Atreus. ChorusThe altars of beaten gold were set out; and through the town thealtar fires of the Argives blazed; the flute, handmaid of the Muse’s song, sounded its note sweetly, and lovely songs of the golden lamb swelled forth, saying that Thyestes had the luck; for hepersuaded Atreus’ own wife to secret love, and carried off to his house the portent; coming before the assembly he declared that he had in hishouse the horned sheep with fleece of gold.
ChorusThen, it was then that Zeus changed the radiant paths of the stars, and the light of the sun, and thebright face of dawn; and the sun drove across the western back of the sky with hot flame from heaven’s fires, while the rain-clouds went northward and Ammon’slands grew parched and faint, not knowing moisture, robbed of heaven’s fairest showers of rain.
ChorusIt is said, but I have small belief in it, that the sun turned round his glowingthrone of gold, changing it to the misfortune of mankind, for the punishment of mortals. But tales that frighten men are profitable for service to the gods; of whom you had no thought, when youkilled your husband, you who are the relative of famous brothers.
Chorus LeaderOh, oh! My friends, did you hear a noise—or did an empty notion come to me?—like the underground rumbling from Zeus? Look, the breeze rises, bringing with it a sign.Mistress, Electra, leave the house!ElectraRushing outMy friends, what is it? How do we stand in the contest?LeaderI only know this; I hear a wailing that means bloodshed.