voice crying for vengeance reach the sons of Atreus below! Their house
is full of woe; Electra, alone faithful, is ready to face death if only
she may destroy the twin furies. The great and good will purchase
glory with life; so may'st thou prevail and gain the name of the best
of daughters. {1096}

EPISODE III

_Enter from Distance-door Orestes, Pylades and Attendants._

Orestes informs the Chorus, and Electra as one of the household, that
they bear the urn containing the ashes of Orestes, whose death they had
sent forward a messenger to announce. Electra begs to clasp the urn
and pours over it a flood of grief; here is nothingness to represent
the dear boy she sent out in bloom of youth; and all her forethought
has perished! And he died amid strangers without her to take part in
the funeral rites! All her sweet toil in nursing him with more than
mother's love is gone! All is gone--father, mother, brother! She
would go too; they ever shared an equal lot; now let her go to him,
ashes to ashes! {1170}

_Chor._ Thou, O Electra, take good heed, wast born
Of mortal father; mortal, too, Orestes,
Yield not too much to sorrow.
_Ores._ [Trembling.] Woe is me.
What shall I say? Ah, whither find my way,
In words that have no issue? for I fail
In strength to curb my speech.
_Elec._ What sorrow now
Disturbs thee? Wherefore art thou speaking thus?
_Ores._ Is this Electra's noble form I see?
_Elec._ That self-same form indeed, in piteous case.
_Ores._ Alas, alas, for this sad lot of thine.
_Elec._ Surely thou dost not wail, O friend, for me!
_Ores._ O form most basely, godlessly misused.
_Elec._ Thy words, ill-omened, fall, O friend, on none
But me alone.
_Ores._ Alas, for this thy state,
Unwedded, hopeless.
_Elec._ Why, O friend, on me
With such fixed glance still gazing dost thou groan?
_Ores._ How little knew I of my fortune's ills!
_Elec._ What have I said to throw such light on them?
_Ores._ Now that I see thee thus, with many woes
Clothed as a garment.
_Elec._ Yet thou dost but see
A few of all my evils.
_Ores._ What could be
More sad than these to look on?
_Elec._ This, to live
And sit at meat with murderers.
_Ores._ Wit