This is thy business, O hapless soul, to discover, whether over the land, not in a ship, but by the gust[118] of your feet thou wilt approach death, passing through[119] barbarian hordes, and through ways not to be traversed?  Or[120] [wilt thou pass] through the Cyanean creek, a long journey in the flight of ships.  Wretched, wretched one!  Who then or God, or mortal, or [unexpected event,[121]] having accomplished a way out of inextricable difficulties, will show forth to the sole twain Atrides a release from ills?

CHOR.  Among marvels and things passing even fable are these things which I shall tell as having myself beheld, and not from hearsay.

PYL.  It is meet indeed that friends coming into the presence of friends, Orestes, should embrace one another with their hands, but, having ceased from mournful matters, it behooves you also to betake you to those measures by which we, obtaining the glorious name of safety, may depart from this barbarian earth.  For it is the part of wise men, not wandering from their present chance, when they have obtained an opportunity, to acquire further delights.[122]

OR.  Thou sayest well.  But I think that fortune will take care of this with us.  For if a man be zealous, it is likely that the divine power will have still greater power.

IPH.  Do not restrain or hinder me from your words, not first to know what fortune of life Electra has obtained, for this were pleasant to me [to hear.][123]

OR.  She is partner with this man, possessing a happy life.

IPH.  And of what country is he, and son of what man born?

OR.  Strophius the Phocian is styled his father.

IPH.  And he is of the daughter of Atreus, a relative of mine?

OR.  Ay, a cousin, my only certain friend.

IPH.  Was he not in being, when my father sought to slay me?

OR.  He was not, for Strophius was childless some time.

IPH.  Hail!  O thou spouse of my sister.

OR.  Ay, and my preserver, not relation only.

IPH.  But how didst thou dare the terrible deeds in respect to your mother?

OR.  Let us be silent respecting my mother—­’twas in avenging my father.

IPH.  And what was the reason for her slaying her husband?

OR.  Let go the subject of my mother.  Nor is it pleasant for you to hear.

IPH.  I am silent.  But Argos now looks up to thee.

OR.  Menelaus rules:  I am an exile from my country.

IPH.  What, did our uncle abuse our house unprospering?

OR.  Not so, but the fear of the Erinnyes drives me from my land.

IPH.  For this then wert thou spoken of as being frantic even here on the shore.

OR.  We were beheld not now for the first time in a hapless state.

IPH.  I perceive.  The Goddesses goaded thee on because of thy mother.

OR.  Ay, so as to cast a bloody bit[124] upon me.