her father. And here Orestes abode till he was of age and strength
to fulfil the law. For the law of the land was that, if a man should be
foully slain, his son should avenge him on him that had done this wrong.
Also the youth sought counsel of Apollo at his oracle of Delphi, and the
god answered him that he should avenge the blood of his father even upon
her that bare him. Therefore, being now grown to manhood, he came to
the city of Argos, having disguised himself that no man might know him.
And he had with him Pylades that was the son of Strophius. Now these two
loved each other exceedingly, so that men spake of them in after time as
famous among friends. Also there came with Orestes an old man, a slave
that had waited on him from a boy. Now the three had devised a story
wherewith they might deceive the Queen and her husband; and being thus
prepared they came into the city at dawn.

[Illustration: ELECTRA AND ORESTES.]

Then the old man spake, saying, "Son of Agamemnon, thou seest the city
which thou hast long desired to see. There is the grove of Io, whom the
gad-fly drave over the earth, and there on the left hand the temple of
Here, which all men know, and before us the palace of the children of
Pelops, a house of many woes, from which I carried thee forth in time
past, when thy mother would have slain thee. But now we must take
counsel and that speedily, for the sun is risen and hath wakened the
birds, and we must be ready before that men come forth to their work."

Then Orestes made reply, "'Tis well said, old man. Hearken then to what
I purpose. And first know that when I would hear from Apollo at his
oracle in Delphi how I should best avenge my father, he bade me trust
neither in shield nor spear, but accomplish the deed by craft. Do thou
then go when occasion shall offer into the palace, and spy out the
things that are therein. For they will not know thee who thou art, so
changed art thou. And thou shalt tell them such a tale about me as shall
surely deceive them. And we meanwhile will do honor to the spirit of my
father at his grave, offering hair that has been shorn from my head and
drink offerings, and afterwards will return and accomplish what shall
remain to be done."

And when he had so spoken, he prayed, "O my country and ye gods of the
land, help me, and thou house of my father which I have come at the
bidding of the Gods to cleanse from the guilt of blood."

Then the old man said, "I hear the vo