head, thy brother, rising to the stroke,
Drove through his back the ponderous axe, and riv'd
The spinal joints: his heaving body writh'd
And quiver'd, struggling in the pangs of death.
The slaves beheld, and instant snatched their spears,
Many 'gainst two contesting; but my lord
And Pylades with dauntless courage stood
Oppos'd, and shook their spears. Orestes then
Thus spoke: "I come not to this state a foe,
Nor to my servants; but my father's death
I on his murderer have aveng'd; you see
Th' unfortunate Orestes: kill me not,
My father's old attendants." At these words
They all restrain'd their spears, and he was known
By one grown hoary in the royal house.
Crowns on thy brother's head they instant plac'd
With shouts of joy. He comes, and with him brings
Proof of his daring, not a Gorgon's head,
But whom thou hat'st, Aegisthus: blood for blood,
Bitter requital, on the dead has fall'n. {939}

General exultation (_in Lyric measures_) succeeds, which increases as
_Orestes_ and _Pylades re-enter bearing the corpse of Aegisthus_.
After brief celebration of the deed the face of the corpse is
uncovered, and Electra, gazing at it, gives vent to her scorn and
hatred: how he had slain a hero, made her an orphan, lived in shame
with her mother, enjoying and trusting in her father's wealth: but

Nature is firm, not riches: she remains
For ever, and triumphant lifts her head.
But unjust wealth, which sojourns with the base,
Glitters for some short space, then flies away.

His effeminate manners are more than maiden tongue may speak of; beauty
graced his perfect form:

But be not mine a husband, whose fair face
In softness with a virgin's vies, but one
Of manly manners; for the sons of such
By martial toils are trained to glorious deeds;
The beauteous only the dance give grace.

Let the wicked in future learn they are not secure till the goal of
life is reached. {1092}

Clytaemnestra is then seen approaching: they hurry Orestes in; his
heart fails him at the thought of his mother; with difficulty Electra
rouses him to his appointed vengeance. [_Exeunt all but Electra into
the Cottage. Enter Clytaemnestra in a Char