O reckless man, why, knowing the poverty of your house,did you welcome these strangers, greater than you?PeasantWhat? If they are really as noble as they seem, won’t they be equally content among great and small?ElectraSince you, one of the small, have now made this error, go to my father’s dear old servant,who tends his flocks, an outcast from the city, by the river Tanaus which cuts a boundary between Argive land and the land of Sparta; bid him come, since these men have arrived at my house, and provide something for the guests’ meal.He will be glad, and will offer prayers to the gods, when he hears that the child, whom he once saved, is alive. I cannot get anything from my mother or from my father’s house; for we would bring bitter news, if she, the hard-hearted, were to learn that Orestes is still alive.PeasantI will take this message to the old man, if you wish; but go inside the house at once and make things ready there. Surely a woman, if she wants to, can find many additions to a meal. Really there is still enough in the houseto cram them with food for one day at least. It is in such cases, whenever I fail in my intentions, that I see how wealth has great power, to give to strangers, and to expend in curing the body when it falls sick; but money for our daily foodcomes to little; for every man when full, rich or poor, gets an equal amount. Exeunt Electra and Peasant.

ChorusO famous ships, you that once with countless oars went to Troy, conducting dances with the Nereids,where the music-loving dolphin leapt and rolled at your dark-blue prows, bringing Achilles, the son of Thetis, light in the leap of his foot,with Agamemnon to the banks of Trojan Simois.

ChorusThe Nereids, leaving Euboea’s headlands, brought from Hephaestus’ anvil his shield-work of golden armor,up to Pelion and the glens at the foot of holy Ossa, the Nymphs’ watch-tower . . . where his father, the horseman, was training the son of Thetis as a light for Hellas,sea-born, swift-footed for the sons of Atreus.

ChorusI heard, from someone who had arrived at the harbor of Nauplia from Ilium, thaton the circle of your famous shield, O son of Thetis, were wrought these signs, a terror to the Phrygians: on the surrounding base of the shield’s rim, Perseus the throat-cutter, overthe sea with winged sandals, was holding the Gorgon’s body, with Hermes, Zeus’ messenger, the rustic son of Maia.

ChorusIn the center of the shield the sun’s bright circlewas shining on winged horses, and the heavenly chorus of stars, Pleiades, Hyades, bringing defeat to the eyes of Hector;and upon his gold-forged helmet were sphinxes, bearing in their talons prey from singing. On his breast-plate a lioness, breathing flame, was eager in flight, with her claws,seeing the colt of Pirene.

ChorusOn the bloody hilt four-footed horses were prancing, while over their backs black dust rose up. But your adultery killed the lord of such mighty warriors,evil-minded daughter of Tyndareus! For this the gods of heaven will one day send you to death;truly the day will come when I shall see, under your red throat, blood gushing forth at the sword.

Old manWhere, where is my young queen and mistress, Agamemnon’s child, whom I once brought up? How steep is the approach to her house,for a wrinkled old man to ascend with this foot! Still, for these friends, I must drag along my back bent double and sinking knees. Oh, daughter—for I see you now before the house—I have come, bringing you from my own sheepthis newborn nursling of the flock, having drawn it away from its mother, and garlands, and cheeses I have taken from the press, and this old treasure of Dionysus, furnished with fragrance, small, but sweet to pour a cup of it into a weaker drink.Let some one carry these gifts into the house for the guests. I have moistened my eyes with tears, and wish to wipe them off on this shred of my robe.