University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE FOURTH.

Electra, Clytemnestra.
Elec.
Where go'st thou, mother?
Within the palace walls do thou return.
Danger most imminent ...

Cly.
Where is Orestes?
What is he doing? Tell me.

Elec.
Pylades,
Orestes and myself are all in safety.
Ægisthus' satellites themselves were moved.
“This is Orestes,” Dimas first exclaim'd;
Thence all the people: “Let Orestes live,
“And let Ægisthus die!”

Cly.
What do I hear?

Elec.
Mother, be calm; thou quickly wilt behold
Thy son once more; and with the tyrant's spoils ...

Cly.
Ah cruel! Leave me; hence I fly ...

Elec.
No, no;
Remain: the people shudder, and proclaim
Thee, with loud voice, a parricidal wife.
Be not at present visible; avoid
The great and instant peril that awaits thee:
On this account I came. In seeing us
Dragged on to death, in thee a mother's grief,
All, all was evident: now thou hast made
Atonement for thy fault. To thee my brother
Dispatch'd me urgently, to assist, to sooth thee,
And to withdraw thee from the atrocious sight.
Himself and Pylades, in arms, meanwhile,
In every quarter swiftly run to seek
Ægisthus. Where is he? ... The miscreant ... Where? ...

Cly.
The miscreant is Orestes.

Elec.
What say'st thou?
Oh heaven! What do I hear?

Cly.
I run to save him;
Or with him to expire.

Elec.
Thou shalt not go.
Mother, the people threaten ...

Cly.
Punishment
To me is due, and I will brave it.

Elec.
Stop.
The wretch that erewhile dragg'd to death thy children,
Oh, mother, canst thou? ...

Cly.
Yes, myself will save him.
Check not my footsteps: I am overruled
By my accursed fate. He is my husband;
Too much I've lost for him: I will not lose him,
Nor can I lose him. Traitors, not my children,
You I abhor. I will go to him. Leave me,
Thou wretch! At all risks will I go to him:
Ah! may I only there arrive in time.