d all Mycenae rested in its shade.
This tale I heard from some one who was near
When she declared her vision to the Sun;
But more than this I heard not, save that she
Now sends me hither through that fright of hers.

Electra catching a gleam of hope, adjures her to disobey, and in place
of Clytaemnestra's offerings to put on the tomb their own: Electra's
own withered lock and untrimmed girdle; and instead of propitiatory
prayer pray to send Orestes.--_Cho._ approves and _Chrysothemis_
catches the spirit and _exit_. {471}

CHORAL INTERLUDE I

_in Strophe, Antistrophe and Epode._

If my mind misleads me not, Vengeance is coming with hands that bear
the might of Righteousness; a new courage springs through my veins at
these propitious dreams, that Agamemnon will not forget for aye, nor
the axe that slew him. She too is coming, Erinnys shod with brass,
dread form with many a foot and many a hand: never will the boding sign
come falsely to those who did the deed, or men will find no prophecies
in dreams.--Ah dreadful chariot race of Pelops, foundation of all the
ills which have never since left the house. {315}

EPISODE II

_Enter from Palace Clytaemnestra and Attendant_.--_Clyt._ It is
Aegisthus' absence that makes you bold enough to appear outside the
Palace and disgrace us. I know your reproaches: but it was Justice,
not I, that slew your father; what right had he to slay _my_ child,
born of my travails, and not some other Argive children, Menelaus's for
example, whose the quarrel was? Had Hades a special lust to feed on my
children?--_Elec._ This time at least it is not I who begin. I could
reply if permitted.--_Clyt._ permits.--_Elec._ You admit the monstrous
admission, that you slew your husband--for justice sake? or for the
'coward base' who is your paramour? You well know that the offence for
which Artemis demanded the sacrifice was Agamemnon's slaughter of the
Sacred Stag, and from his seed therefore the atonement must come which
so unwillingly he made. And if not, is your plea blood for blood? then
you will be the first to suffer. How can you plead thus while living
in open guilt with him who slew your husband? It is a cruel mistress,
not a mother, I revile: you charge me with rearing Orestes as minister
of vengeance, I would indeed if I had strength! So proclaim me a
monster, that will make me a fitting daughter of my mother.--_Cho._
Here is passion rather