Enter the Old Man.

OLD M. Kind dames and damsels, may I clearly know
If these be King Aegisthus’ palace-halls?

CH.  They are, sir; you yourself have guessed aright.

OLD M. May I guess further that in yonder dame
I see his queen?  She looks right royally.

CH.  ’Tis she,—­no other,—­whom your eyes behold.

OLD M. Princess, all hail!  To thee and to thy spouse
I come with words of gladness from a friend.

CLY.  That auspice I accept.  But I would first
Learn from thee who of men hath sent thee forth?

OLD M. Phanoteus the Phocian, with a charge of weight.

CLY.  Declare it, stranger.  Coming from a friend,
Thou bring’st us friendly tidings, I feel sure.

OLD M. Orestes’ death.  Ye have the sum in brief.

EL.  Ah me! undone!  This day hath ruined me.

CLY.  What?  Let me hear again.  Regard her not.

OLD M. Again I say it, Orestes is no more.

EL.  Undone! undone!  Farewell to life and hope!

CLY. (to ELECTRA). 
See thou to thine own case! (To Old Man) Now, stranger, tell me
In true discourse the manner of his death.

OLD M. For that I am here, and I will tell the whole. 
He, entering on the great arena famed
As Hellas’ pride, to win a Delphian prize,
On hearing the loud summons of the man
Calling the foot-race, which hath trial first,
Came forward, a bright form, admired by all. 
And when his prowess in the course fulfilled
The promise of his form, he issued forth
Dowered with the splendid meed of victory.—­
To tell a few out of the many feats
Of such a hero were beyond my power. 
Know then, in brief, that of the prizes set
For every customary course proclaimed
By order of the judges, the whole sum
Victoriously he gathered, happy deemed
By all; declared an Argive, and his name
Orestes, son of him who levied once
The mighty armament of Greeks for Troy. 
So fared he then:  but when a God inclines
To hinder happiness, not even the strong
Are scatheless.  So, another day, when came
At sunrise the swift race of charioteers,
He entered there with many a rival car:—­
One from Achaia, one from Sparta, two
Libyan commanders of the chariot-yoke;
And he among them fifth, with steeds of price
From Thessaly;—­the sixth Aetolia sent
With chestnut mares; the seventh a Magnete man;
The eighth with milk-white colts from Oeta’s vale;
The ninth from god-built Athens; and the tenth
Boeotia gave to make the number full. 
Then stood they where the judges of the course
Had posted them by lot, each with his team;
And sprang forth at the brazen trumpet’s blare. 
Shouting together to their steeds, they shook
The reins, and all the course was filled with noise
Of rattling chariots, and the dust arose
To heaven.  Now all in a confused throng