Stasimon 4
[Choral 2]
Did you see how the unhappy one threw off her robe and showed her bosom in the slaughter, alas, hurling to the ground the limbs that gave me birth? And her hair, I—
Chorus
I know it well; you passed through agony, hearing the mournful wail of the mother that bore you.
1210
Orestes
She uttered this cry, putting her hand to my chin:
My child, I entreat you! And she clung to my cheeks, so that the sword fell from my hand.
1215
Chorus
The unhappy one! How did you endure to see the blood
of your mother, breathing her last before your eyes?
1220
[Choral 3]
I threw my cloak over my eyes, and began the sacrifice by plunging the sword into my mother’s throat.
Electra
And I urged you on and
put my hand to the sword together with you.
1225
Chorus
You have done the most dreadful of deeds.
Orestes
Take and hide the limbs of our mother beneath a robe, and close the wounds. Turning to the corpse Ah! You gave birth to your own murderers.
Electra
There, I am putting this cloak over the one loved and not loved.
1230
Chorus
An end of great troubles for the house.
