University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE TWELFTH.

Electra, Orestes.
Elec.
Oh come, my brother, come,
Noble avenger of the king of kings;
Avenger of my father, and of Argos;
Come to my breast ...

Ores.
Sister, ... behold me now
The worthy son of Agamemnon. See,
This is Ægisthus' blood. Scarce I beheld him,
Ere I sprang forward to destroy him there;
Nor did I recollect that I had threaten'd
To drag his body to my father's tomb.
Within that trembling and effeminate heart
I plunged and replunged full seven times my sword:
Yet have I not appeased my ardent thirst.

Elec.
Did Clytemnestra then to arrest thy arm
Not come in time?

Ores.
Who could accomplish that?
Arrest my arm! I leap'd upon Ægisthus;
The lightening is not swifter in its course.
The coward wept; those abject tears of his
Fill'd me with greater rage. My father! ah,
A man that dared not die could murder thee!

Elec.
My father is avenged; now calm thy spirits;
And tell me, as thou hither cam'st, didst thou
Not meet with Pylades?

Ores.
I saw Ægisthus,
Nought else.—Where is beloved Pylades?
How came it that he did not second me
In such an enterprise?

Elec.
To him, erewhile,
My mad, despairing mother I confided.

Ores.
Of them I nothing saw.

Elec.
See, he returns ...
Oh Heaven! what see I? He returns alone?

Ores.
And sad?