LEADER.

On all of Greece she wrought great jeopardy,
Thy mother’s sister, Helen,—­and on thee.

[ORESTES and PYLADES move out from their concealment; ORESTES comes forward:  PYLADES beckons to two ARMED SERVANTS and stays with them in the background.

ELECTRA.

Woe’s me!  No more of wailing!  Women, flee! 
Strange armed men beside the dwelling there
Lie ambushed!  They are rising from their lair. 
Back by the road, all you.  I will essay
The house; and may our good feet save us!

ORESTES (between ELECTRA and the hut).

Stay,
Unhappy woman!  Never fear my steel.

ELECTRA (in utter panic).

O bright Apollo!  Mercy!  See, I kneel;
Slay me not.

ORESTES.

Others I have yet to slay
Less dear than thou.

ELECTRA.

Go from me!  Wouldst thou lay
Hand on a body that is not for thee?

ORESTES.

None is there I would touch more righteously.

ELECTRA.

Why lurk’st thou by my house?  And why a sword?

ORESTES.

Stay.  Listen!  Thou wilt not gainsay my word.

ELECTRA.

There—­I am still.  Do what thou wilt with me. 
Thou art too strong.

ORESTES.

A word I bear to thee... 
Word of thy brother.

ELECTRA.

Oh, friend!  More than friend! 
Living or dead?

ORESTES.

He lives; so let me send
My comfort foremost, ere the rest be heard.

ELECTRA.

God love thee for the sweetness of thy word!

ORESTES.

God love the twain of us, both thee and me.

ELECTRA.

He lives!  Poor brother!  In what land weareth he
His exile?

ORESTES.

Not one region nor one lot
His wasted life hath trod.

ELECTRA.

He lacketh not
For bread?

ORESTES.

Bread hath he; but a man is weak
In exile.

ELECTRA.

What charge laid he on thee?  Speak.

ORESTES.

To learn if thou still live, and how the storm,
Living, hath struck thee.

ELECTRA.

That thou seest; this form
Wasted...

ORESTES.

Yea, riven with the fire of woe. 
I sigh to look on thee.

ELECTRA.

My face; and, lo,
My temples of their ancient glory shorn.

ORESTES.

Methinks thy brother haunts thee, being forlorn;
Aye, and perchance thy father, whom they slew...

ELECTRA.

What should be nearer to me than those two?

ORESTES.

And what to him, thy brother, half so dear
As thou?

ELECTRA. 
         His is a distant love, not near
At need.

ORESTES.

But why this dwelling place, this life
Of loneliness?