Stasimon 5
[Choral 1]
Behold how Ares stalks onward,
Chorus
breathing bloody vengeance that is hard to oppose. Just now have the hunters of wicked crimes passed beneath that roof there, the hounds which none may flee. And so not long shall
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the vision of my soul hang in suspense.
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The champion of the spirits infernal is ushered on guileful feet into the house, the rich, ancestral palace of his father, and he bears keen-edged death in his hands.
Maia’s son Hermes, who has shrouded
the guile in darkness, leads him right to his goal and delays no longer.
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[Choral 2]
My dearest friends, in a moment the men will do the deed. But wait in silence.
Chorus
How do they fare? What are they doing now?
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Electra
She is decking the urn for burial; the two of them stand close to her.
Chorus
And why have you hurried out?
Electra
To guard against Aegisthus entering before we are aware.
Clytaemnestra
Oh! Oh! Our house
is empty of friends and filled with murderers!
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Electra
Someone shouts inside. Do you not hear, friends?
Chorus
I heard, ah, me, sounds unfit to be heard, and I shudder!
Clytaemnestra
Ah, misery! Aegisthus, where, where are you?
Electra
Look, once more someone cries out!
Clytaemnestra
My son, my son, have pity on your mother!
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Electra
Why? You had none for him, nor for the father that begot him.
Chorus
Wretched city, wretched race, now the fate that has held you day by day perishes—it perishes!
Clytaemnestra
Oh, I am wounded!
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Electra
Stab her doubly, if you can!
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Clytaemnestra
Ah, wounded again!
Electra
Would that Aegisthus, too, were wounded!
Chorus
The curses bring fulfillment: those who are buried live.
For men long dead are draining their killers’ blood in a stream of requital.
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And now they are here! The red hand drips with sacrifice to Ares, and I cannot blame the deed.
Electra
Orestes, what happened?
Orestes
All is well within the house,
if Apollo’s oracle spoke well.
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Electra
The miserable woman is dead?
Orestes
Have no more fear that your haughty mother will ever again trample on your rights.
Chorus
Quiet! For I see Aegisthus in plain sight.
Electra
You, young men, get back inside!
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Orestes
Where do you see the man?
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Electra
He is at our mercy walking from the suburb, full of joy.
Chorus
Go with all speed to the vestibule, so that, just as your first task prospered, so this one again may prosper now.
Orestes
Have courage. We will accomplish it.
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Electra
Hurry, then, to wherever you wish.
Electra
Things here will be my concern. Exeunt Orestes and Pylades, into the house.
Chorus
It would be well to whisper into this man’s ear some few words of seeming
gentleness,
so that he may rush blindly upon his trial before Justice.
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