Epeisodion 3
Chorus Leader
Oh, oh! My friends, did you hear a noise—or did an empty notion come to me?—like the underground rumbling from Zeus? Look, the breeze rises, bringing with it a sign.
Mistress, Electra, leave the house!
750
Electra
My friends, what is it? How do we stand in the contest?
Leader
I only know this; I hear a wailing that means bloodshed.
Electra
I heard it also, far off, but still heard.
Leader
Yes, the sound is coming a long way, but it is clear.
Electra
The groan was of an Argive; was it from my friends?
755
Leader
I don’t know; for the whole tune of the shout is confused.
Electra
You are calling out to me my death; why do I delay?
Leader
Hold back, to learn your fortune clearly.
Electra
No, no; we are vanquished; where are the messengers?
Leader
They will come; it is no trivial matter to kill a king.
760
Messenger
O victorious maidens of Mycenae, I report to all his friends that Orestes has conquered, and Aegisthus, the murderer of Agamemnon, lies on the ground; but we must offer prayers to the gods.
Electra
Who are you? How trustworthy is your announcement?
765
Messenger
Don’t you know your brother’s servant when you look at me?
Electra
O best of friends! I could not recognize your face out of fear; but now I know you well. What are you saying? Is my father’s hated murderer dead?
Messenger
He is dead; I am telling you twice what you certainly want to hear.
770
Electra
O gods, and all-seeing justice, at last you have come. In what way and by what form of death did he kill Thyestes’ son? I would like to learn.
Messenger
After we had left this house,
we stepped onto the broad highway and went to the place where the famous King of Mycenae was. He turned out to be walking in a well-watered garden, plucking a wreath of tender myrtle-sprays for his head; when he saw us, he called out, Welcome, strangers! Who are you
775
