PYL. I came through the city with a quicker step than I ought, having heard
of the council of state assembled, and seeing it plainly myself, against
thee and thy sister, as about to kill you instantly.--What is this? how art
thou? in what state, O most dear to me of my companions and kindred? for
all these things art thou to me.
ORES. We are gone--briefly to show thee my calamities.
PYL. Thou wilt have ruined me too; for the things of friends are common.
ORES. Menelaus has behaved most basely toward me and my sister.
PYL. It is to be expected that the husband of a bad wife be bad.
ORES. He is come, and has done just as much for me as if he had not come.
PYL. What! is he in truth come to this land?
ORES. After a long season; but nevertheless he was very soon discovered to
be too base to his friends.
PYL. And has he brought in his ship with him his most infamous wife?
ORES. Not he her, but she brought him hither.
PYL. Where is she, who, beyond any woman,[18] destroyed most of the
Grecians?
ORES. In my palace, if I may indeed be allowed to call this mine.
PYL. But what words didst thou say to thy father's brother?
ORES. _I requested him_ not to suffer me and my sister to be slain by the
citizens.
PYL. By the Gods, what said he to this request; this I wish to know.
ORES. He declined, from motives of prudence, as bad friends act toward
their friends.
PYL. Going on what ground of excuse? This having learned, I am in
possession of every thing.
ORES. The father himself came, he that begat such excellent daughters.
PYL. Tyndarus you mean; perhaps enraged with thee on account of his
daughter.
ORES. You are right: be paid more attention to his ties with him, than to
his ties with my father.
PYL. And dared he not, being present, to take arms against thy troubles?
ORES. _No_: for he was not born a warrior, but brave among women.
PYL. Thou art then in the greatest miseries, and it is necessary for thee
to die.
ORES. The citizens must pass their vote on us for the murder _we have
committed_.[19]
PYL. Which vote what will it decide? tell me, for I am in fear.
ORES. Either to die or live; not many words on matters of great import.
PYL. Come fly, and quit the palace with thy sister.
ORES. Seest thou not? we are watched by guards on every side,
PYL. I saw the streets of the city lined with arms.
ORES. We are invested as to our persons, as a city by the enemy.
PYL. Now ask me also, what I suffer; for I too am undone.
ORES. By whom? This would be an evil added to my evils.
PYL. Strophius, my father, being enraged, hath driven me an exile from his
house.
ORES. Bringing against thee some private charge, or one in common with the
citizens?
PYL. Because I perpetrated with thee the murder of thy mother, he banished
me, calling me unholy.
ORES. O thou unfortunate! it seems that thou also sufferest for my evils.
PYL. We have not Menelaus's manners--this must be borne.
ORES. Dost thou not fear lest Argos should wish to kill thee, as it does
also me?
PYL. We do not belong to these to punish, but to the land of the Phocians.
ORES. The populace is a terrible thing, when they have evil leaders.
PYL. But when they have good ones, they always deliberate good things.
ORES. Be it so: we must speak on our common business.
PYL. On what affair of necessity?