The Electra of Euripides Part 8

Is it he, Orestes?

ORESTES.

Thy defender, yea, alone To fight the world! Lo, this day have I thrown A net, which once unbroken from the sea Drawn home, shall ... O, and it must surely be!

Else men shall know there is no G.o.d, no light In Heaven, if wrong to the end shall conquer right.

CHORUS.

Comest thou, comest thou now, Chained by the years and slow, O Day long sought?

A light on the mountains cold Is lit, yea, a fire burneth, 'Tis the light of one that turneth From roamings manifold, Back out of exile old To the house that knew him not.

Some spirit hath turned our way, Victory visible, Walking at thy right hand, Beloved; O lift this day Thine arms, thy voice, as a spell; And pray for thy brother, pray, Threading the perilous land, That all be well!

ORESTES.

Enough; this dear delight is mine at last Of thine embracing; and the hour comes fast When we shall stand again as now we stand, And stint not.--Stay, Old Man: thou, being at hand At the edge of time, advise me, by what way Best to requite my father's murderers. Say, Have I in Argos any still to trust; Or is the love, once borne me, trod in dust, Even as my fortunes are? Whom shall I seek?

By day or night? And whither turn, to wreak My will on them that hate us? Say.

OLD MAN.

My son, In thine adversity, there is not one Will call thee friend. Nay, that were treasure-trove, A friend to share, not faltering from love, Fair days and foul the same. Thy name is gone Forth to all Argos, as a thing o'erthrown And dead. Thou hast not left one spark to glow With hope in one friend's heart! Hear all, and know: Thou hast G.o.d's fortune and thine own right hand, Naught else, to conquer back thy fatherland.

ORESTES.

The deed, the deed! What must we do?

OLD MAN.

Strike down Aegisthus ... and thy mother.

ORESTES.

'Tis the crown My race is run for. But how find him?

OLD MAN.

Not Within the city walls, however hot Thy spirit.

ORESTES.

Ha! With watchers doth he go Begirt, and mailed pikemen?

OLD MAN.

Even so: He lives in fear of thee, and night nor day Hath slumber.

ORESTES.

That way blocked!--'Tis thine to say What next remains.

OLD MAN.

I will; and thou give ear.

A thought has found me!

ORESTES.

All good thoughts be near, For thee to speak and me to understand!

OLD MAN.

But now I saw Aegisthus, close at hand As here I journeyed.

ORESTES.

That good word shall trace My path for me! Thou saw'st him? In what place?

OLD MAN.

Out on the pastures where his horses stray.

ORESTES.

What did he there so far?--A gleam of day Crosseth our darkness.

OLD MAN.

'Twas a feast, methought, Of wors.h.i.+p to the wild-wood nymphs he wrought.

ORESTES.

The watchers of men's birth? Is there a son New born to him, or doth he pray for one That cometh? [_Movement of_ ELECTRA.

OLD MAN.

More I know not; he had there A wreathed ox, as for some weighty prayer.

ORESTES.

What force was with him? Not his serfs alone?

OLD MAN.

No Argive lord was there; none but his own Household.

ORESTES.

Not any that aught know my face, Or guess?