because I slew thy father. 'Tis even so. I deny it not. But mark,
Justice slew him, not I only; and thou shouldest be on the side of
Justice. He slew thy sister, sacrificing her to the Gods, as no other
Greek had done. For what cause did he slay her? 'For the sake of the
Greeks,' thou wilt say. But what had the Greeks to do with child of
mine? Or was it for the sake of King Menelaüs his brother? But had not
Menelaüs two children, and should not one of these have the rather died,
seeing of what father and mother they came, even of those for whose sake
the Greeks waged this war? Had Death, thinkest thou, desire for my
children rather than for his? Or had this accursed father no care for my
children, but only for the children of his brother? Surely this was the
deed of a foolish and wicked man. Aye, I say it, whatever thou mayest
think, and so would say she who died, could she take voice and speak."
Then said Electra, "If thou permittest, I would say somewhat for him and
for her."
And the Queen answered, "Say on. Didst thou always speak in such mood,
thou wert not so ill to hear."
Then Electra spake: "Thou sayest, 'I slew thy father,' 'Tis enough.
Worse thou couldst not say, whether 'twere justly done or no. But of
justice thou hadst never a thought. 'Twas the ill persuasion of him with
whom thou now consortest that urged thee to this deed. And as for my
sister, thou knowest well that my father slew a stag in the grove of
Artemis, and boasted himself of the deed, and that the goddess was wroth
with him, and hindered the voyage of the Greeks; and that for this cause
my father slew his daughter, knowing that otherwise the ships could sail
neither to Troy nor homewards. Yea, he slew her, sorely against his
will, for the people's sake, and for nought else. But consider whether
this that thou sayest be not altogether a pretence. Art thou not wife
to him that was thy fellow in this deed? Callest thou this taking
vengeance for thy daughter that was slain? And thy children--art thou a
mother to them? What ill do not I suffer at thy hand and the hand of thy
partner? And Orestes, whom I barely saved from thy hand, liveth he not
in exile? Surely, whatsoever it be that thou chargest against him, thou
hast no cause to be ashamed of me."
Then the two spake many bitter words to each other; and at the last,
when Electra held her peace, the Queen prayed to the Gods, and made her
offerings to the tomb. And first she addressed herself to Phoebus: "O
Phoebus, hear that which is in my heart; for to say the thing aloud I
dare not, seeing that I am not among friends. But of the dreams that I
saw this night past, grant that the good be accomplished and the evil be
turned away to my enemies; and that I be not cast down from the wealth
wherein I now live; and that I may wield this sceptre of the son of
Atreus which now I have, and may have the company of my friends, even as
now, and the love of my children, if so be that they love their
mother."
And while she thus spake, the old man came in, and would fain know
whether that which he saw was the palace of Atreus. And when he heard
that it was, he asked whether the lady whom he saw was the Queen. And
hearing this also, he spake, "Lady, I have good tidings for thee and
King Ægisthus."
"First tell me who thou art."
"I come from Phanoteus of Phocis: I bring great news."
"Tell me; for the man is a friend, and the tidings, I doubt not, good."
"I will say it in one word--Orestes is dead."
And when Electra heard this, she brake forth into a great cry, saying
that she was undone. But the Queen said, "What? What sayest thou? Heed
not this woman."
And the man said, "I told thee, and tell thee yet again, that Orestes is
dead."
[Illustration: THE CHARIOT RACE.]
And again Electra brake forth into a cry; but the Queen bade her hold
her peace, and would have the stranger tell the story. And the man
said--
"He came to Delphi, whither the Greeks greatly resort, purposing to
contend in the games of the Pythian Apollo. And first there was a race
of runners on foot; and for this he came forward, and passing all that
ran with him so won the prize. Nor indeed did I ever see such a man; for
there was not one contest in which he had not the pre-eminence. Very
fair was he to look upon, and his name, he said, was Orestes of Argos,
and he was the son of that Agamemnon who in days past was captain of the
host of the Greeks at Troy. But when the Gods are minded to destroy a
man, who is so strong that he can escape? It fell out then that on the
next day at sunset there was proclaimed a race of chariots, to which
there came one man from Achaia, and from Sparta one, and two from Barca
in Africa. After these came Orestes, being the fifth, with horses of
Thessaly. And the sixth was a man of Ætolia, with bay horses, and the
seventh a man of Magnesia in Thessaly, and the eighth was a man of
Oenea, whose horses were white, and the ninth from Athens, a city
which, they say, was builded of Gods, and a Boeotian was the tenth.
First the heralds shook lots for each in a helmet, and each man had his
place according as his lot came forth. And after this the trumpet
sounded, and the horses leapt forward, while the men shouted to them and
shook the reins, and spared not the goad. Great was the noise, and the
dust rose up like a cloud from the plain. And on the backs of the
charioteers and on the wheels of them that went before came the foam
from the horses that followed, so close did they lie together. And
Orestes, when he came to the pillar where the chariots turned, drave so
that his wheel wellnigh touched it, and slackened the rein for the right
horse, and pressed on that which was on the left. So far no mishap had
befallen the chariots, but all had fared well. But here the steeds of
the man of Oenea, being very hard to hold, brake from their course,
and drave against the side of one of the chariots from Barca. And now
they had ended six courses, and were about to begin the seventh. But
with this beginning of trouble went all things wrong, for one drave
against another till all the plain of Crissa was covered with broken
chariots as the sea with shipwrecks. But the man of Athens was very
skilful in driving, and, when he saw the beginning of confusion, he
drew his horses aside and held back, and so escaped without damage. Now
Orestes was the hindermost of all, trusting to what he should do at the
end; and when he saw that only the man of Athens was left, he shouted to
his horses and made haste to come up with him. Then the two drave
together, having their chariots equal, and first one showed somewhat in
the front and then the other. And for eleven courses of the twelve all
went well with Orestes; but as he was rounding the pillar for the last
time, he loosed the left rein and knew not that he loosed it overmuch,
and smote against the pillar and brake his axle in the midst, and so was
thrown out of his chariot; but the reins were tangled about him and held
him. And all the people cried aloud when they saw the young man dragged
over the plain. But at last they that had driven the other chariots
hardly stayed the horses, and loosed him. Covered with blood was he and
sorely mangled, that none could have known him. And we burnt his body;
and certain Phocians, whom the Prince hath sent for this purpose, bring
that which remaineth of him, being but a few ashes in an urn of brass,
for all he was so tall and strong. This is a sad tale for thee to hear;
but for us who saw it never was anything in this world more grievous."
Then the Queen said, "Shall I say that this hath happened ill or well?
or that it is an evil thing, yet profitable to me? Surely it is grievous
that I find safety in the death of my own kindred."
"What troubleth thee, lady, in these news?" said the false messenger.
"'Tis a dreadful thing to be a mother. Whatever wrong she suffereth she
cannot hurt him whom she bare."
"Then," said he, "it seemeth that I have come in vain."
"Not so," the Queen made answer, "if thou showest proof that Orestes is
dead. For he hath long been a stranger to me, and when he departed hence
he knew me not, being very young; and of late, accusing me of the blood
of his father, he hath made dreadful threats against me, so that I could
not sleep in peace day or night. And now this day I am quit of this fear
that wasted my very life."
Then the Queen and the false messenger went into the palace; and when
they were gone Electra cried, saying, "See here, forsooth, a mother that
weepeth and mourneth for her son! O my Orestes, how utterly hast thou
undone me! For now all the hope I had is gone that thou wouldst come and
avenge my father. Whither can I go, for thou and he are gone? Must I be
as a slave among them that slew my father? This gate at least I will
enter no more. If I weary them, let them slay me, if they will; I should
count it a grace so to die."
And the maidens of Argos bewailed the dead brother with her. But in the
midst of their lamentations came Chrysothemis in great joy, saying, "O
my sister, I bring thee good tidings that will give thee ease from thy
sorrows!"
"What ease, when they are past all remedy?"
"Orestes is here. Know this as surely as thou now seest me before thee."
"Surely thou art mad, and laughest at thy woes and mine."
"Not so. By the hearth of my fathers I swear it. Orestes is here."
"Who told thee this tale that thou believest so strangely?"
"'Tis from proofs that I saw with mine own eyes, and not another's, that
I believe. Listen, therefore. When I came to the tomb of my father, I
saw on the top of the pillar offerings of milk that had been newly
poured, and garlands of all manner of flowers. And marvelling much at
this, I looked to see if any man was at hand; and seeing none, I drew
near; and on the tomb I espied a lock of hair newly cut; and as soon as
I espied it I knew that it was a token of Orestes, dearest of men in all
the world to thee and me. And as I touched it I held my tongue from all
words that might do hurt, and my eyes were filled with tears. And now
think whose should this be but his? Who should do this but thou or I;
and I did not, nor thou, who canst not go so far from this house; and my
mother is not wont to do such things. 'Tis Orestes surely. And now
sorrow hath passed away, and all things will be well."
"Nay," Electra made answer, "I pity thee for thy folly.'
"Do not my tidings please thee?"
"I know not why thou talkest so wildly."
"But may I not believe that which I have seen with mine own eyes?"
"O my sister, he is dead! Look not to him for help any more."
"But stay. From whom didst thou learn this?"
"From one who was at hand when he perished."
"Where is he? This is passing strange. Whose then could be these
offerings on the tomb?"
"Some one hath put them for a remembrance of the dead Orestes."
"Woe is me, and I made haste with the good tidings, as I thought, and
knew not what new trouble worse than the old had fallen upon us."
Then said Electra, "Hear now what I purpose. Thou knowest that we are
utterly bereaved of friends, for Death hath devoured them all. Now,
while Orestes yet lived and was prosperous, I hoped that he would come
to avenge our father's death. But now that he is dead, I look to thee,
that thou shouldest make common cause with me and work this vengeance on
them that slew him. Canst thou endure that we should live deprived of
the wealth that was our father's; and also that we should grow old
unmated? For know that a husband thou shalt never have, for indeed
Ægisthus is not unwise that he should suffer children to be born of thee
or me to be a manifest damage to himself. But if thou wilt hearken to
me, first thou wilt do that which is fitting to thy father and brother
that are dead; and next thou wilt win great renown, and be married to a
noble mate, for all men are wont to regard that which is worthy. And
surely in days to come some man, citizen or stranger, that seeth us will
say, 'Look, my friends, at these sisters, for they wrought deliverance
for the house of their father, and spared not their own lives, but slew
their enemies in the day of their prosperity. These must we love and
reverence; these on feast days, and when the city is gathered together,
must we honour by reason of their courage.' Wherefore, my sister, be of
good heart. Be bold for thy father's sake and for thy brother's, for
mine also and for thine, that we may be delivered from these troubles.
For to them of noble breeding to live basely is a shame."
But Chrysothemis made answer, "O my sister, how didst thou find such
daring purpose as this, making ready thyself as for fight, and calling
me to follow? Knowest thou not that thou art a woman and no man, and
that thou art weaker than thine enemies, and that their good luck ever
increaseth and ours groweth less and less? And what will it profit us if
we get great renown, yet die in shameful fashion? And yet to die I think
not such loss, but to wish to die and not attain to it, suffering
torture or bonds. Keep thy anger within bounds. What thou hast said I
will count as unsaid. Only yield to them that are stronger."
And after many words, Electra urging her sister to this deed and the
other excusing herself, the two parted in great anger. And Chrysothemis
went into the palace, but Electra abode where she was. And to her, after
a while, came Orestes, but disguised that no man might know him, and
asked the Argive maidens that stood by, whether the house that he beheld
was the palace of King Ægisthus, and when he heard that it was so, he
bade them tell the King that certain Phocian strangers were come seeking
him. But when Electra heard it, she said, "Comest thou with proof of
this ill news that we have heard?"
And Orestes made answer, "I know not what news thou speakest of, but the
old man, Strophius, the Phocian, bade me bring tidings of Orestes."
"What are thy tidings, though I tremble to hear them?"
"We are come bringing all that remaineth of him in this urn."
And when Electra saw it she cried that they should give the urn into her
hands; and Orestes bade them do so. And she took it and said, "O
Orestes, that wast dearer to me than all men else, how different is this
coming of thine to that which I had hoped! Lovely wert thou when I sent
thee from this house, and now I hold thee in my hands and thou art
naught. Would to the Gods thou hadst died that day when thy father was
slain; for now thou art dead, an exile, and in the land of strangers,
and I paid thee no office of kindness nor took thy ashes from the
funeral fire; but this did strangers for thee, and now thou comest a
handful of ashes in a little urn. Woe is me for the wasted pains of
nurture and the toil wherewith out of a willing heart I tended thee! For
thy mother loved thee not more than I, nor was any one but I thy nurse.
And now all this hath departed. My father is dead, and thou art dead,
and my enemies laugh me to scorn, and thy mother that is no mother is
mad with joy. Let me die with thee, for 'tis the dead alone whom I see
to be quit of pain."
But while she so spake Orestes was much troubled in heart and knew not
what to do. But at the last he said, "Is this the Princess Electra whom
I see?"
And she answered, "Even so, and very ill she fareth."
Then he looked upon her again and said to himself, "What a noble lady is
this, and in what ungodly fashion hath she been afflicted!"
And when Electra would know why he was so troubled, he said, "It paineth
me to see thee excelling all women in sorrow."
"Nay," she said, "thou seest but a small part of my sorrows."
"Hast thou, then, yet worse to bear than these?"
"Yea, for I live with them that are murderers."
"Whom sayest thou they murdered?"
"They murdered my father--and I am constrained to serve them."
"Who constraineth thee?"
"A mother that is no mother."
"And is there none that can help thee?"
"None, for him that was my helper thou bringest in this urn. But why
pitiest thou me as doth no other man? Art thou, perchance, a kinsman?"
"Put down this urn and I will tell thee."
"Nay, stranger, take this not from me, for it holds all that is dearest
to me."
"Speak not such idle words: thy sorrow is without cause."
"Sayest thou 'without cause' when my brother is dead?"
"Thou dost ill to speak thus of thy brother."
"Doth the dead then think so lightly of me?"
"No man thinketh lightly of thee; yet with these ashes thou hast no
concern."
"How so, if this is the body of my Orestes?"
"Here is no true body, only one that is feigned."
"Unhappy man! where, then, is his tomb?"
"He hath none--what need hath the living of a tomb?"
"Liveth he, then?"
"Yea, if I am alive."
"Art thou, then, he?"
"Yea; look at this my father's seal, and say whether I speak truly."
And when she saw the seal, she knew that it was her father's, and that
this stranger was indeed Orestes. And she cried aloud for joy, and
embraced him. Then, after the two had talked together for a very brief
space, Orestes said, "Tell me not how ill thy mother hath done, nor how
Ægisthus hath wasted the substance of my house; but rather instruct me
in this: shall I do this thing secretly or openly? Take heed also lest
thy mother see thee bear a joyful face, and so take warning."
And Electra made answer, "As for this present, know that Ægisthus is
absent, and that the Queen is alone. Therefore do as thou deemest best.
And as for me, be sure that I shall not cease from tears; for the old
sorrow is inveterate in me; and also, now that I have seen thee, I weep
for joy."
But while they talked together came the old man in haste, and rebuked
them that they so spent the time; and to Orestes he said that no one
knew him who he was, but that all deemed him dead, and that he must make
haste and do the deed; for that now the Queen was alone, nor was there
any man in the palace.
And Orestes, having prayed to the Gods, and especially to Apollo, who
indeed had bidden him do this work, went into the palace. And at the
first Electra went with him, but afterwards hastened out, to keep watch,
lest perchance King Ægisthus should return. So she and the woman waited
without and listened. And after a while there came a cry, "O my son, my
son, have pity on thy mother." And Electra said, "Aye, but thou hadst no
pity on him, or on the father that begat him." And then again a cry,
"Woe is me! I am smitten." And Electra said, "Smite, if thou canst, a
double blow." And then the voice came a third time, "I am smitten
again." But Electra made reply, "Would that Ægisthus were smitten with
thee!" After this Orestes came forth, with his sword dripping with
blood. And when the women asked him how it fared in the palace, he
answered, "All is well, if only Apollo hath spoken the thing that is
true."
But as he spake King Ægisthus came back, asking, "Where be these
strangers from Phocis that are come, telling how Prince Orestes hath
come by his death in a chariot race?"
And Electra made answer that they were within. Then Ægisthus cried,
"Open the gates, and let all men of Argos and of Mycenæ see the body;
and if perchance any man hath been lifted up with vain hopes, let him
look upon Orestes that he is dead, and so submit himself to me."
Then the gate was opened, and there appeared a dead body, lying covered
with a sheet. And Ægisthus said, "Take the covering from off his face;
for he is my kinsman, and should not miss due mourning from me."
But Orestes answered, "Take it thyself; for this dead body is thine, not
mine."
Then said Ægisthus, "Thou speakest well: if the Queen be within the
palace, bid her come."
And Orestes said, "She is near thee; look not elsewhere." And when
Ægisthus lifted the covering, lo! it was the Queen who lay dead. Then he
knew the whole matter, and turned to the stranger saying, "Thou must be
Orestes."
"'Tis even so," cried Orestes. "And now go into the palace."
"But why slayest thou me in darkness, if this deed be just?"
"I slay thee where thou didst slay him that is dead."
So he drave him before him into the palace, and slew him there. Thus the
blood of King Agamemnon was avenged.
THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR THE LOOSING OF ORESTES.
The gift of prophecy Earth had at the first, and after her Themis; and
after her Phoebe, who was of the race of the Titans, and Phoebe gave
it to Apollo--who is also called Phoebus--at his birth. Now Apollo had
a great temple and famous upon the hill of Delphi, to which men were
wont to resort from all the earth, seeking counsel and knowledge of the
things that should come to pass hereafter. And it came to pass on a day
that the priestess--for the temple was served by a woman, whom men
called Pythia--when she went into the shrine, after her custom, in the
morning, saw therein a dreadful sight. For by the very seat of the God
there sat a man, a suppliant, whose hands were dripping with blood, and
he bare a bloody sword, and on his head there was a garland of olive
leaves, cunningly twined with snow-white wool. And behind there sat a
strange company of women sleeping, if indeed they could be called women,
that were more hideous than the Gorgons, on which if a man looks he is
turned to stone, or the Harpies, of which they say that they have the
faces of women and the bodies of vultures. Now this man was Orestes, and
the blood that was upon his hands was the blood of his mother
Clytæmnestra, whom he slew, taking vengeance for his father King
Agamemnon, and the women were the Furies, who pursue them that shed the
blood of kindred, and torment them even unto death. But the priestess
when she saw this sight fell down for fear and crawled forth from the
temple. And when she was gone there appeared Apollo himself. Now Apollo
had counselled Orestes that he should slay his mother, and so avenge his
father's blood that had been shed. And now he spake, saying, "Fear not,
I will not betray thee, but will keep to thee to the end. But now thou
must flee from this place; and know that these, the hateful ones, with
whom neither God nor man nor beast consorts, will pursue thee both over
the sea and over the land; but do thou not grow weary or faint, but
haste to the city of Pallas, and sit in the temple of the goddess,
throwing thy arms about the image, and there will I contrive that which
shall loose thee from this guilt."
[Illustration: THE BIRTHDAY GIFTS OF PHOEBUS.]
And when the God had said this, he bade his brother Hermes (for he also
stood near) to guide the man by the way in which he should go.
So Orestes went his way. And straightway, when he was gone, rose up the
spirit of Queen Clytæmnestra, clad in garments of black, and on her neck
was the wound where her son smote her. And the spirit spake to the
Furies, for these were yet fast asleep, saying, "Sleep ye? What profit
is there in them that sleep? Shamefully do ye dishonour me among the
dead; for they whom I slew reproach me, and my cause, though I was slain
by my own son, no one taketh in hand. Do ye not mind with what
sufferings, with what midnight sacrifices upon the hearth in old time I
honoured you, and now, while ye sleep, this wretch hath escaped from the
net."
[Illustration: ORESTES SUPPLIANT TO APOLLO.]
Then they began to stir and rouse themselves, the spirit still goading
them with angry words till they were now fully awake and ready to
pursue. Then there appeared the God Apollo with his silver bow in his
hand, and cried, "Depart from this place, ye accursed ones. Depart with
all speed, lest an arrow leap forth from this string and smite you so
that ye vomit forth the blood of men that ye have drunk. This is no fit
halting-place for you; in the habitations of cruelty is your best abode,
or in some lion's den, dripping with blood, not, verily, where men come
to hear the oracles of truth. Depart ye, therefore, with all speed."
"Nay," said they; "hear, King Apollo, what we would say. For thou art
verily guilty of this matter."
"How so? So much thou mayest say."
"Thou badest this stranger slay his mother."
"I bade him take vengeance for his father's blood."
"And thou wast ready to answer for this deed?"
"I bade him come for succour to this shrine."
"Yet they who attend him please thee not?"
"No, for it fitteth not that they should approach this place."
"Yet 'tis our appointed task to follow him that slayeth his mother."
"And what if a wife slay her husband?"
"Between wife and husband there is no kindred blood."
"Thou dost dishonour, saying this, to great Heré that is wife to Zeus,
and to all love, than which there is nothing dearer to men."
"Yet will I hunt this man to the death, for the blood of his mother
drives me on."
"And I will help him and save him."