CHOR.  I turn each different way, looking about on all sides.

HELEN. (within) Oh!  Pelasgian Argos!  I am miserably slain!

ELEC.  Heard ye?  The men are employing their head in the murder.—­It is the shriek of Helen, as I may conjecture.

SEMICHOR.  O eternal might of Jove, come to assist my friends in every way.

HEL.  Menelaus, I die!  But thou art at hand, and dost not help me!

ELEC.  Kill, strike, slay, plunging with your hands the two double-edged swords into the deserter of her father, the deserter of her husband, who destroyed numbers of the Grecians perishing by the spear at the river, whence tears fell into conjunction with tears, fell on account of the iron weapons around the whirlpools of Scamander.

CHOR.  Be still, be still:  I heard the sound of some one coming along the path around the palace.

ELEC.  O most dear women, in the midst of the slaughter behold Hermione is present; let us cease from our clamor, for she comes about to fall into the meshes of our toils.  A goodly prey will she be, if she be taken.  Again to your stations with a calm countenance, and with a color that shall not give evidence of what has been done.  I too will preserve a pensive cast of countenance, as though perfectly unacquainted with what has happened.

HERMIONE, ELECTRA, CHORUS.

ELEC.  O virgin, art thou come from crowning Clytaemnestra’s tomb, and pouring libations to her manes?

HERM.  I am come, having obtained her good services; but some terror has come upon me, on account of the noise in the palace, which I hear being a far distance off the house.

ELEC.  But why?  There have happened to us things worthy of groans.

HERM.  Speak good words; but what news dost thou tell me?

ELEC.  It has been decreed by this land, that Orestes and I die.

HERM.  No, I hope not so; you, who are my relations.

ELEC.  It is fixed; but we stand under the yoke of necessity.

HERM.  Was the noise then in the house on this account?

ELEC.  For falling down a suppliant at the knees of Helen, he cries out—­

HERM.  Who? for I know no more, except thou tellest me.

ELEC.  The wretched Orestes, that he may not die, and in behalf of me.

HERM.  For a just reason then the house lamented.

ELEC.  For on what other account should one rather cry out?  But come, and join in supplication with thy friends, falling down before thy mother, the supremely blest, that Menelaus will not see us perish.  But, O thou, that receivedst thy education at the hands of my mother, pity us, and alleviate our sufferings.  Come hither to the trial; but I will lead the way, for thou alone hast the ends of our preservation.

HERM.  Behold I direct my footstep toward the house.  Be preserved, as far as lies in me.

ELEC.  O ye in the house, my dear warriors, will ye not take your prey?