Orestes

Euripides

Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891.

  1. Was this the reason of the cry within?
Electra
  1. Yes, a suppliant cried out as he fell at Helen’s knees—
Hermione
  1. Who is he? I know nothing more, if you do not tell me.
Electra
  1. Unhappy Orestes, entreating mercy for himself and me.
Hermione
  1. The house then has good reason to shout.
Electra
  1. What else would make someone entreat more earnestly? But come and throw yourself before your mother in her prosperity, join your friends’ supplication that Menelaus may not see us die.
  2. O you that were nursed in my mother’s arms, have pity on us and relieve our pain. Come here to the struggle, and I myself will be your guide; for you alone have power over our safety.
Hermione
  1. See, I am hastening to the house;
  2. as far it as rests with me, regard yourselves as safe. Exit Hermione .
Electra
  1. Now, friends in the house with swords, seize the prey!
Hermione
  1. Oh no! Who are these I see?
Orestes
  1. (within.)Silence! You are here for our safety, not yours.
Electra
  1. Hold her, hold her! Point a sword at her throat,
  2. then wait in silence, that Menelaus may learn that he has found men, not Phrygian cowards, and he has been treated as cowards deserve.
Chorus
  1. Oh, oh, friends! raise a din, a din and shouting before the house, that the murder when done
  2. may not inspire the Argives with wild alarm, to make them bring aid to the palace, before I see for certain that Helen’s corpse lies bloody in the house, or hear the news from one of her attendants;
  3. for I know a part of the tragedy, of the rest I am not sure. In justice, retribution from the gods has come to Helen; for she filled all Hellas with tears, through that accursed, accursed Paris of Ida,
  4. who drew Hellas to Troy.
Chorus Leader
  1. But the bolts of the palace-doors rattle; be silent; for one of the Phrygians is coming out, from whom we will inquire of the state of matters within.
Phrygian
  1. (expressing the most abject terror.) I have escaped from death by Argive sword,