And Chrysothemis made reply that she was carrying them at the bidding of her mother to the tomb of King Agamemnon.  For that the Queen was in much fear, having seen a vision in the night which had sorely troubled her; and that the vision was this.  The King her husband, whom she slew, seemed to bear her company, even as he had done in time past.  And he took the sceptre which he had been wont to carry, and which AEgisthus carried after him, and planted it in the earth; and there sprang from it a very flourishing branch, by which the whole land of Mycenae was overshadowed.  “So much,” she said, “I heard her say, when she told her dream to the light of the day; but more I know not, save that she sendeth me to make these offerings, by reason of her fear.”

Then Electra answered, “Nay, my sister; lay not aught of these things upon our father’s tomb, for they would be an abomination to him; but scatter them to the winds, or cover them with earth.  So let them be kept for her, when she shall die.  And surely, but that she is the most shameless of women, she had not sought to pay this honour to him whom she slew so foully.  Thinketh she to atone in such sort for the blood that she hath shed?  Not so.  Put these things away; but thou and I will lay upon this tomb hair from thy head and from mine; small gifts, in truth, yet what we have.  And do thou pray to our father that he will help us even where he dwelleth below the earth, and also that Orestes may come speedily, and set his foot upon the necks of them that hate us.”

This Chrysothemis promised that she would do, and so departed.  And in a short space came forth the Queen Clytaemnestra, and, finding her daughter Electra without the gate of the palace, was very wroth, saying that King AEgisthus had forbidden her to do this thing, and that it was not well that, he being absent, she should take no account of her mother.

“But now,” she said, “let us reason together.  Thou speakest ill of me, because I slew thy father.  ’Tis even so.  I deny it not.  But mark, Justice slew him, not I only; and thou shouldest be on the side of Justice.  He slew thy sister, sacrificing her to the Gods, as no other Greek had done.  For what cause did he slay her?  ’For the sake of the Greeks,’ thou wilt say.  But what had the Greeks to do with child of mine?  Or was it for the sake of King Menelaues his brother?  But had not Menelaues two children, and should not one of these have the rather died, seeing of what father and mother they came, even of those for whose sake the Greeks waged this war?  Had Death, thinkest thou, desire for my children rather than for his?  Or had this accursed father no care for my children, but only for the children of his brother?  Surely this was the deed of a foolish and wicked man.  Aye, I say it, whatever thou mayest think, and so would say she who died, could she take voice and speak.”

Then said Electra, “If thou permittest, I would say somewhat for him and for her.”