And the Queen answered, “Say on.  Didst thou always speak in such mood, thou wert not so ill to hear.”

Then Electra spake:  “Thou sayest, ‘I slew thy father,’ ’Tis enough.  Worse thou couldst not say, whether ’twere justly done or no.  But of justice thou hadst never a thought.  ’Twas the ill persuasion of him with whom thou now consortest that urged thee to this deed.  And as for my sister, thou knowest well that my father slew a stag in the grove of Artemis, and boasted himself of the deed, and that the goddess was wroth with him, and hindered the voyage of the Greeks; and that for this cause my father slew his daughter, knowing that otherwise the ships could sail neither to Troy nor homewards.  Yea, he slew her, sorely against his will, for the people’s sake, and for nought else.  But consider whether this that thou sayest be not altogether a pretence.  Art thou not wife to him that was thy fellow in this deed?  Callest thou this taking vengeance for thy daughter that was slain?  And thy children—­art thou a mother to them?  What ill do not I suffer at thy hand and the hand of thy partner?  And Orestes, whom I barely saved from thy hand, liveth he not in exile?  Surely, whatsoever it be that thou chargest against him, thou hast no cause to be ashamed of me.”

Then the two spake many bitter words to each other; and at the last, when Electra held her peace, the Queen prayed to the Gods, and made her offerings to the tomb.  And first she addressed herself to Phoebus:  “O Phoebus, hear that which is in my heart; for to say the thing aloud I dare not, seeing that I am not among friends.  But of the dreams that I saw this night past, grant that the good be accomplished and the evil be turned away to my enemies; and that I be not cast down from the wealth wherein I now live; and that I may wield this sceptre of the son of Atreus which now I have, and may have the company of my friends, even as now, and the love of my children, if so be that they love their mother.”

And while she thus spake, the old man came in, and would fain know whether that which he saw was the palace of Atreus.  And when he heard that it was, he asked whether the lady whom he saw was the Queen.  And hearing this also, he spake, “Lady, I have good tidings for thee and King AEgisthus.”

“First tell me who thou art.”

“I come from Phanoteus of Phocis:  I bring great news.”

“Tell me; for the man is a friend, and the tidings, I doubt not, good.”

“I will say it in one word—­Orestes is dead.”

And when Electra heard this, she brake forth into a great cry, saying that she was undone.  But the Queen said, “What?  What sayest thou?  Heed not this woman.”

And the man said, “I told thee, and tell thee yet again, that Orestes is dead.”

[Illustration:  The chariot race.]

And again Electra brake forth into a cry; but the Queen bade her hold her peace, and would have the stranger tell the story.  And the man said—­