Eksodos
[Episode]
But look! I see Menelaus approaching the palace
Chorus Leader
in haste; no doubt he has heard what is happening here. Descendants of Atreus within, make haste and secure the doors with bars. A man in luck is a dangerous adversary for luckless wretches like you, Orestes.
1550
Menelaus
I have come at the report of strange and violent deeds perpetrated
by a pair of lions, men I do not call them. What I heard was that my wife was not dead, but had vanished out of sight, an idle rumor which someone fooled by his own fear brought me. But that is a plot
1555
of the matricide’s—ridiculous!
1560
Open the doors! I tell my servants to force the gates, so that I may rescue my child at any rate from the hands of those blood-stained men and recover my poor wretched wife,
while the ones who destroyed her must die at my hands.
1565
Orestes
You there! Keep your hands off those bolts; I mean you, Menelaus, towering in your audacity! Or I will tear off the ancient parapet, the work of masons,
and shatter your skull with this coping-stone. The doors are bolted and barred, which will prevent your eagerness to bring aid and keep you from entering.
1570
Menelaus
Oh! What is this? I see a blaze of torches and men standing at bay on the top of the house,
with a sword guarding my daughter’s throat.
1575
Orestes
Would you question me or hear me speak?
Menelaus
Neither; but I suppose I must hear you.
Orestes
I intend to kill your daughter, if you want to know.
Menelaus
After slaying Helen, you will add murder to murder?
Orestes
Would I had accomplished that, instead of being duped by the gods!
1580
Menelaus
Do you deny having slain her, and say this out of wanton insult?
Orestes
Yes, I do deny it, to my sorrow. If only I had—
Menelaus
Done what? You frighten me!
Orestes
Hurled the pollution of Hellas to Hades!
Menelaus
Give back my wife’s dead body, so that I may bury her.
1585
Orestes
Ask the gods for her; but I will kill your daughter.
Menelaus
This matricide is adding murder to murder.
Orestes
This champion of his father, betrayed by you to death.
Menelaus
Are you not content with the present stain of your mother’s blood?
Orestes
I would not grow tired if I had these wicked women to slay for ever.
1590
Menelaus
Are you too, Pylades, a partner in this bloody work?
Orestes
His silence says he is; let it suffice for me to say it.
Menelaus
You’ll say it to your cost, unless you fly away!
Orestes
We will not try to escape; we will set fire to the palace.
Menelaus
What! will you destroy the home of your ancestors?
1595
Orestes
Yes, so that you don’t have it, and I will offer this girl in sacrifice on the fire.
Menelaus
Kill her; and if you do, I will punish you for it.
Menelaus
No, no! Don’t do it!
Orestes
Silence! Your sufferings are just; endure them.
Menelaus
Well, is it just that you should live?
1600
Orestes
And rule a kingdom, yes.
1600
Menelaus
A kingdom, where?
Orestes
Here in Pelasgian Argos.
Menelaus
You are so well qualified to handle holy water!
Menelaus
And to slay victims before battle!
Menelaus
Yes, my hands are clean.
Orestes
But not your heart.
Menelaus
Who would speak to you?
1605
Orestes
The one who loves his father.
1605
Menelaus
And the one who honors his mother?
Orestes
He was born fortunate.
Orestes
No, for I do not delight in these wicked women.
Menelaus
Remove that sword from my daughter!
Menelaus
Will you kill my daughter?
Orestes
Now you are not a liar!
Menelaus
Ah me! what shall I do?
1610
Orestes
Go to the Argives and persuade them—
1610
Menelaus
Persuade them what?
Orestes
Not to kill us; entreat the city.
Menelaus
Or you will slay my child?
Menelaus
O wretched Helen—
Orestes
Am I not wretched?
Menelaus
I brought you back from Troy to be a victim—
Orestes
If only she had been!
Menelaus
After innumerable troubles.
1615
Orestes
Except where I was concerned.
1615
Menelaus
I have suffered dreadfully!
Orestes
Yes, for you would not help me then.
Menelaus
You have me there.
Orestes
Your own cowardice has you. Calling from the roof to Electra Fire the palace from beneath, Electra; and, Pylades, my most trusty friend,
kindle the parapet of these walls.
The palace is seen to be ablaze.
1620
Menelaus
O Danaid earth! Dwellers in Argos, city of horses, put on your armor and come to help! For this fellow is forcing his life from your whole city, though he has caused pollution by shedding his mother’s blood.
Apollo
Appearing in the clouds. Menelaus, calm your anger that has been whetted; I am Phoebus, the son of Leto, drawing near to call you by name. And you also, Orestes, who are keeping guard on the girl, sword in hand, so that you may hear what I have come to say. Helen, whom all your eagerness
1625
failed to destroy, when you were seeking to anger Menelaus, is here as you see in the enfolding air, rescued from death and not slain by you. I saved her and snatched her from beneath your sword at the bidding of father Zeus,
1630
for she, his child, must be immortal, and take her seat with Castor and Polydeuces in the enfolding air, a savior to mariners. Choose another bride and take her to your home; for the gods by that one’s loveliness
1635
joined Troy and Hellas in battle, causing death so that they might draw off from the earth the outrage of unstinting numbers of mortals.
1640
So much for Helen; as for you, Orestes, you must cross the broders of this land
and dwell for one whole year on Parrhasian soil, which from your flight shall be called the land of Orestes by Azanians and Arcadians. And when you return from there to the city of Athens, undergo your trial by the Avenging Three for your mother’s murder;
1645
the gods will be arbitrators of your trial, and will take a most righteous vote on you at the hill of Ares, where you are to win your case. And it is destined, Orestes, that you will marry Hermione, at whose neck you are holding your sword;
1650
Neoptolemus shall never marry her, though he thinks he will; for he is fated to die by a Delphian sword, when he claims satisfaction of me for the death of his father Achilles. Give your sister in marriage to Pylades, to whom you formerly promised her; the life awaiting him is one of happiness.
1655
Menelaus, leave Orestes to rule Argos; go and reign over the Spartan land, keeping it as the dowry of a wife who till this day never ceased causing you innumerable troubles. I will set matters straight between Orestes and the citizens,
1660
for I forced him to murder his mother.
1665
Orestes
Hail, prophetic Loxias, for your oracles! You were not a lying prophet after all, but a true seer; and yet I was afraid that it was some fiend I had listened to, when I seemed to hear your voice;
but all is ending well, and I obey your word. There! I release Hermione from slaughter and agree to make her my wife whenever her father gives her.
1670
Menelaus
All hail, Helen, daughter of Zeus! I wish you joy of your home in heaven’s happy courts.
To you, Orestes, I betroth my daughter, as Phoebus said; being noble yourself, may you have benefit from a noble wife, and may I also, in giving her to you.
1675
Apollo
Go now each one to the place appointed by me; reconcile your quarrels.
Orestes
And so must I; I make a truce with my fate, Menelaus, and with your oracles, Loxias.
1680