_Enter from Palace Clytaemnestra and Attendant_.--_Clyt._ It is
Aegisthus' absence that makes you bold enough to appear outside the
Palace and disgrace us. I know your reproaches: but it was Justice,
not I, that slew your father; what right had he to slay _my_ child,
born of my travails, and not some other Argive children, Menelaus's for
example, whose the quarrel was? Had Hades a special lust to feed on my
children?--_Elec._ This time at least it is not I who begin. I could
reply if permitted.--_Clyt._ permits.--_Elec._ You admit the monstrous
admission, that you slew your husband--for justice sake? or for the
'coward base' who is your paramour? You well know that the offence for
which Artemis demanded the sacrifice was Agamemnon's slaughter of the
Sacred Stag, and from his seed therefore the atonement must come which
so unwillingly he made. And if not, is your plea blood for blood? then
you will be the first to suffer. How can you plead thus while living
in open guilt with him who slew your husband? It is a cruel mistress,
not a mother, I revile: you charge me with rearing Orestes as minister
of vengeance, I would indeed if I had strength! So proclaim me a
monster, that will make me a fitting daughter of my mother.--_Cho._
Here is passion rather than care to speak right.--_Clyt._ Thus to show
scorn for her mother! she will go all lengths and feel no
shame.--_Elec._ Shame I do feel, but the deeds which beget the shame
are yours.--_Clyt._ By Artemis, you shall pay for this when Aegisthus
comes!--_Elec._ I thought I had leave to speak.--_Clyt._ Will you not
be silent and let me perform my rites without disorder?--_Elec._ Now I
am silent (_Retires_).--_Clyt._ then proceeds to offer her gifts to
Phoebus, with prayer to avert the ill omen of the past night: as her
prayer "is not amongst friends," she can allude but darkly to all she
means, but He is a God and will understand all she leaves unsaid. {659}
_Enter by the Distance-door Attendant of Orestes._
Enquiring of Chorus he finds he is arrived before the people he is
seeking, and announces to Clytaemnestra that Orestes is dead.
_Electra_ utters a wail of agony, while _Clyt._ asks for particulars.
Then follows the regular 'Messenger's Speech,' a detailed and graphic
account of a chariot race, in which he was thrown and killed.--_Clyt._
trembles between joy at deliverance from her suspense, and a touch of
motherly feeling; still she triumphs over the now hopeless Electra: for
him, what is is well.
_Elec._ Hear this, thou Power avenging him who died!
_Clyt._ Right well she heard, and what she heard hath wrought.
The Messenger is taken into the Palace, _Electra_ left to wail without,
with attempt of Chorus to condole (_lyric concerto_). {870}
_Enter from Tomb of Agamemnon Chrysothemis jubilant and bearing a lock
of hair of Orestes._
She eagerly insists that Orestes is come; shows the lock and describes
the libations that no other would pour on that tomb. Bit by bit
_Electra_ checks her joy, and informs her of the news. They mourn
together, till Electra breaks out with proposal, that since their
friends are snatched from them, and they two are left alone, they shall
themselves work their revenge; that will be the safest and will bring
glory: 'the sisters twain who saved their father's house.'--_Chor._
This requires consideration.--_Chry_. Will you never learn that you are
a woman and not a man? _Elec._ then declares she will do it herself,
and after a stichomuthic contest _exit Chrysothemis_. {1057}