ORES.  What ho there!  Touch not these gates with thine hands:  to Menelaus I speak, that thou towerest in thy boldness, or with this pinnacle will I crush thy head, having rent down the ancient battlement, the labor of the builders.  But the gates are made fast with bolts, which will hinder thee from thy purpose of bringing aid, so that thou canst not pass within the palace.

MEN.  Ha! what is this?  I see the blaze of torches, and these stationed on the battlements, on the height of the palace, and the sword placed over the neck of my daughter to guard her.

ORES.  Whether is it thy will to question, or to hear me?

MEN.  I wish neither, but it is necessary, as it seems, to hear thee.

ORES.  I am about to slay thy daughter if thou wish to know.

MEN.  Having slain Helen, dost thou perpetrate murder on murder?

ORES.  For would I had gained my purpose not being deluded, as I was, by the
Gods.

MEN.  Thou hast slain her, and deniest it, and speakest these things to insult me.

ORES.  It is a denial that gives me pain, for would that—­

MEN.  Thou had done what deed? for thou callest forth alarm.

ORES.  I had hurled to hell the fury of Greece.

MEN.  Give back the body of my wife, that I may bury her in a tomb.

ORES.  Ask her of the Gods; but I will slay thy daughter.

MEN.  The matricide contrives murder on murder.

ORES.  The avenger of his father, whom thou gavest up to die.

MEN.  Was not the blood of thy mother formerly shed sufficient for thee?

ORES.  I should not be weary of slaying wicked women, were I to slay them forever.

MEN.  Art thou also, Pylades, a partaker in this murder?

ORES.  By his silence he assents, but if I speak, it will be sufficient.

MEN.  But not with impunity, unless indeed thou fliest on wings.

ORES.  We will not fly, but will set fire to the palace?

MEN.  What! wilt thou destroy thy father’s mansion?

ORES.  Yes, that thou mayest not possess it, will I, having stabbed this virgin here over the flames.

MEN.  Slay her; since having slain thou shalt at least give me satisfaction for these deeds.

ORES.  It shall be so then.

MEN.  Alas! on no account do this!

ORES.  Be silent then; but bear to suffer evil justly.

MEN.  What! is it just for thee to live?

ORES.  Yes, and to rule over the land.

MEN.  What land!

ORES.  Here, in Pelasgian Argos.

MEN.  Well wouldst thou touch the sacred lavers!

ORES.  And pray why not?

MEN.  And wouldst slaughter the victim before the battle!

ORES.  And thou wouldst most righteously.

MEN.  Yes, for I am pure as to my hands.

ORES.  But not thy heart.

MEN.  Who would speak to thee?