PHRY.  With a clamor having burst by means of bars the doors and cells where we were waiting, we run to her assistance, each to different parts of the house, one bringing stones, another spears, another having a long-handled sword in his hand.  But Pylades came against us, impetuous, like as the Phrygian Hector or Ajax in his triple-crested helmet, whom I saw, I saw at the gates of Priam:  but we clashed together the points of our swords:  then indeed, then did the Phrygians give clear proof how inferior we were in the force of Mars to the spear of Greece.  One indeed turning away, a fugitive, but another wounded, and another deprecating the death that threatened him:  but under favor of the darkness we fled:  and the corses fell, but some staggered, and some lay prostrate.  But the wretched Hermione came to the house at the time when her murdered mother fell to the ground, that unhappy woman that gave her birth.  And running upon her as Bacchanals without their thyrsus, as a heifer in the mountains they bore her away in their hands, and again eagerly rushed upon the daughter of Jove to slay her.  But she vanished altogether from the chamber through the palace.  O Jupiter and O earth, and light, and darkness! or by her enchantments, or by the art of magic, or by the stealth of the Gods.  But of what followed I know no farther, for I sped in stealth my foot from the palace.  But Menelaus having endured many, many severe toils, has received back from Troy the violated rites of Helen to no purpose.

CHOR.  And see something strange succeeds to these strange things, for I see Orestes with his sword drawn walking before the palace with agitated step,

ORESTES, PHRYGIAN, CHORUS.

ORES.  Where is he that fled from my sword out of the palace?

PHRY.  I supplicate thee, O king, falling prostrate before thee after the barbaric fashion.

ORES.  The case before us is not in Ilium, but the Argive land.

PHRY.  In every region to live is sweeter than to die, in the opinion of the wise.

ORES.  Didst thou not raise a cry for Menelaus to come with succor?

PHRY.  I indeed am present on purpose to assist thee; for thou art the more worthy.

ORES.  Perished then the daughter of Tyndarus justly?

PHRY.  Most justly, even had she three lives for vengeance.

ORES.  With thy tongue dost thou flatter, not having these sentiments within?

PHRY.  For ought she not?  She who utterly destroyed Greece as well as the
Phrygians themselves?

ORES.  Swear, I will kill thee else, that thou art not speaking to curry favor with me.

PHRY.  By my life have I sworn, which I should wish to hold a sacred oath.

ORES.  Was the steel thus dreadful to all the Phrygians at Troy also?

PHRY.  Remove thy sword, for being so near me it gleams horrid slaughter.

ORES.  Art thou afraid, lest thou shouldest become a rock, as though looking on the Gorgon?