Part 10 (1/2)

CHORAL INTERLUDE I

apostrophises the array of s.h.i.+ps that went to the Trojan war, the great chiefs who commanded, especially Achilles, whose s.h.i.+eld they have seen, with its Gorgons, and Sphinxes, and Hermes in flight, and other wondrous figures--suddenly at the end connects itself with the subject of the play by the thought: it was the Prince who commanded heroes like these that a wicked wife dared to slay! {530}

EPISODE II

_Enter from the fields the Aged Tutor, tottering under the weight of a kid and other viands, clad in rags, and in tears_. _Electra_ wonders why he weeps: to mourn for Agamemnon or Orestes is surely now to mourn in vain.

_Tut._ In vain; but this my soul could not support; {553} For to his tomb as on the way I came, I turned aside, and falling on the ground, Alone and un.o.bserved, indulg'd my tears; Then of the wine, brought for thy stranger guests, Made a libation, and around the tomb Plac'd myrtle branches; on the pyre I saw A sable ewe, yet fresh the victim's blood, And cl.u.s.t'ring auburn locks shorn from some head; I marvell'd, O my child, what man had dar'd Approach the tomb, for this no Argive dares.

Perchance with secret step thy brother came And paid these honors to his father's tomb.

But view these locks, compare them with thine own, Whether like thine their color; nature loves In those who from one father draw their blood In many points a likeness to preserve.

_Elec._ Unworthy of a wise man are thy words, If thou canst think that to Mycenae's realms My brother e'er with secret step will come, Fearing Aegisthus. Then between our locks What can th' agreement be? To manly toils He in the rough Palaestra hath been train'd, Mine by the comb are soften'd; so that hence Nothing may be inferr'd. Besides, old man, Tresses like-color'd often may'st thou find Where not one drop of kindred blood is shar'd.

_Tut._ Trace but his footsteps, mark th' impression, see If of the same dimensions with thy feet.

_Elec._ How can th' impression of his foot be left On hard and rocky ground? But were it so, Brother and sister never can have foot Of like dimensions: larger is the man's.

_Tut._ But hath thy brother, should he come, no vest Which thou wouldst know, the texture of thy hands, In which when s.n.a.t.c.h'd from death he was array'd?

_Elec._ Know'st thou not, when my brother from this land Was saved, I was but young? But were his vests Wrought by my hands, then infant as he was, How could he now in his maturer age Be in the same array'd, unless his vests Grew with his person's growth? No, at the tomb Some stranger, touch'd with pity, sheared his locks, Or native, by the tyrant's spies unmark'd.

_Tut._ Where are these strangers? I would see them: much Touching thy brother wish I to inquire.

_Elec._ See, from the house with hast'ning step they come. {599}

_Re-enter Orestes and Pylades_: Conversation in which the aged Tutor eyes him curiously all over, and declares he is Orestes--general recognition and burst of joy.--Then they turn to vengeance, and in stichomuthic dialogue lay their plans. Aegisthus, the Tutor says, is to come to a neighboring field to celebrate a sacrifice; they lay a plan for Orestes and Pylades to gain admission as travellers and kill him in the moment of sacrifice. As to Clytaemnestra: a report is prevalent in the palace that Electra has given birth to a child; they conspire to give currency to the report and invite Clytaemnestra to perform the ten days' rite: once in the house, Orestes will do the dreadful deed; they tremble at their horrid tasks, but their father must be avenged.--_Exeunt Orestes and, his Attendants to the fields; and Electra to the Cottage_ begging the Chorus, who are privy to all this as confidential friends, to keep watch and summon her if news comes. {763}

CHORAL INTERLUDE II

_Strophe_ 1. The Argive mountains round, 'Mongst tales of ancient days From age to age recorded this remains: Tuned to mellifluous lays, Pan taught his pipe to sound, And as he breath'd the sprightly-swelling strains, The beauteous ram, with fleece of gold, G.o.d of shepherds, on he drove.

The herald from the rock above Proclaims, ”Your monarch's wonders to behold, ”Wonders to sight, from which no terrors flow, ”Go, Mycenaeans, to th' a.s.sembly go.”

With reverence they obey the call, And fill th' Atridae's s.p.a.cious hall.

_Antis._ Its gates with gold o'erlaid, Wide oped each Argive shrine, And from the altar hallow'd flames arise; Amidst the rites divine, Joying the Muse to aid, Breath'd the brisk pipe its sweet notes to the skies; Accordant to the tuneful strain Swell'd the loud acclaiming voice, Now with Thyestes to rejoice: He, all on fire the glorious prize to gain, With secret love the wife of Atreus won, And thus the s.h.i.+ning wonder made his own; Then to the a.s.sembly vaunting cried, ”Mine is the rich Ram's golden pride.”

_Strophe_ 2. Then, oh then, indignant Jove Bade the bright sun backward move, And the golden orb of day, And the morning's orient ray; Glaring o'er the Western sky Hurl'd his ruddy lightnings fly; Clouds, no more to fall in rain, Northward roll their deep'ning train; Libyan Ammon's thirsty seat, Wither'd with the scorching heat, Feels nor show'rs nor heavenly dews Grateful moisture round diffuse.

_Antis._ 2. Fame hath said (but light I hold What the voice of fame hath told) That the sun, retiring far, Backward roll'd his golden car; And his vital heat withdraw, Sick'ning man's bold crimes to view.

Mortals, when such tales they hear, Tremble with an holy fear, And th' offended G.o.ds adore; She, this n.o.ble pair who bore, Dar'd to murder, deed abhorr'd!

This forgot, her royal lord. {815}

EPISODE III

_As the Ode is concluding, shouts are heard from the direction of the field where the sacrifice is: Chorus summon Electra_.

After a brief conversation, a Messenger arrives breathless, and after rapidly giving the news that Aegisthus has fallen, is encouraged to tell the scene at length, which he does in the regular 'Messenger's Speech.'

_Mess._ Departing from this house, the level road {845} We enter'd soon, mark'd by the chariot wheel On either side. Mycenae's n.o.ble king Was there, amidst his gardens with fresh streams Irriguous walking, and the tender boughs Of myrtles, for a wreath to bind his head, He cropt; he saw us, he address'd us thus Aloud: ”Hail, strangers; who are ye, and whence Come, from what country?” Then Orestes said, ”Thessalians; victims to Olympian Jove We at the stream of Alpheus go to slay.”

The King replied, ”Be now my guests, and share The feast with me; a bullock to the Nymphs I sacrifice; at morn's first dawn arise, Then shall you go; but enter now my house.”

Thus as he spoke, he took us by the hand And led us, nothing loth: beneath his roof Soon as we came, he bade his slaves prepare Baths for the strangers, that, the altars nigh, Beside the l.u.s.tral ewers they might stand.

Orestes then, ”With lavers from the pure And living stream we lately have been cleansed: But with thy citizens these rites to share, If strangers are permitted, we, O King, Are ready to thy hospitable feast, Nothing averse.” The converse here had end.

Their spears, with which they guard the king, aside Th' attendants laid, and to their office all Applied their hands; some led the victim, some The baskets bore, some rais'd the flames and plac'd The cauldrons on the hearth; the house resounds.

Thy mother's husband on the altars cast The salted cakes, and thus address'd his vows; ”Ye Nymphs that haunt the rocks, these hallow'd rites Oft let me pay, and of my royal spouse Now absent, both by fortune blest as now; And let our foes as now, in ruin lie;”