Epeisodion 1
Chorus
True, a man will hesitate on the verge of a great undertaking.
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Electra
And yet I saved him with no hesitation.
Chorus
Take heart: he is noble enough to stand by his friends.
Electra
I believe it; otherwise I would not have remained alive so long.
Chorus
Say no more now, since I see your sister
coming from the house, Chrysothemis, offspring of the same father and mother. In her hands are sepulchral offerings, such as are customary for those in the world below.
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Chrysothemis
What is this speech of yours, sister, which you have come forth yet again to speak at the public doors?
Will you not learn with any lapse of time to end your vain indulgence in futile anger? Yet this much I know—that I myself am saddened by our present circumstances; indeed so much so that, could I find the strength, I would bare my feelings towards them.
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But now, in these evil times I think it best to navigate with shortened sail so that I may not seem to be on the attack, when I am unable to cause harm. I wish that your own conduct were the same! Nevertheless, right is on the side which you favor, not on that which I advise. But if I am to live the life of the freeborn,
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those in power must be obeyed in all things.
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Electra
It is strange, indeed, that you, the daughter of our father from whom you grew, should forget him and instead show concern for your mother! All your admonitions to me have been taught by her; you speak no word of your own.
So now take your choice: be imprudent, or be prudent, but forgetful of your friends. You have just said that if could you find the strength, you would show your hatred of them; yet, when I am doing my utmost to avenge our father,
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you do not work with me, but seek to deflect your sister from her deed.Does this not add cowardice to our miseries? Therefore instruct me, or rather learn from me what gain there might be for me if I ended my lamentation. Am I not now alive? Miserably so, I know, but well enough for me.
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And I hurt them, and thereby affix an honorable tribute to the dead, in case those in that world can enjoy it and feel gratitude. But you, who tell me of your hatred, hate in word alone, while by your behavior you unite with the murderers of our father. I, however, would never yield to them, not even if
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one of them were to bring to me the gifts in which you now glory. Let yours be the richly-spread table and superabundant lifestyle. As for me, let my sustenance be only that I do not wound my own conscience—I do not covet such privilege as yours and
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neither would you, if you had self-control. But now, when you could be called the child
of the noblest father among men, be called instead your mother’s daughter, for
in this way your corruptness will be evident to the greatest number as you
betray your dead father and your true friends.
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Chorus
Away with anger, for the gods’ sake! There is
advantage for both of you in what is urged, if you, Electra, would learn to implement her advice, and she, again, yours.
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Chrysothemis
For my part, friends, I am not at all unaccustomed to her insults, nor would I have mentioned this, if I had not heard that the greatest disaster is now rushing down on her,
one which will restrain her from her long mourning.
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