Is this your voice? Orestes Hear it from no other. Electra Do I hold you in my arms? Orestes May you hold me so always hereafter! Electra Ah, dear friends and fellow-citizens, see Orestes here, who was dead by design, and now by design has come safely home! Chorus We see him, daughter, and for this happy turn of fortune a tear of joy trickles from our eyes. Electra O seed, seed of the person to me most dear, you have just now come, you have come, and have found and seen her whom your heart desired! Orestes I am with you; but keep silence and wait. Electra What do you mean? Orestes It is better to be silent so that no one inside may hear. Electra No, by ever-virgin Artemis, I will never think it right to tremble before eternally house-bound women, that useless burden on the ground! Orestes Yes, but remember that Ares dwells in women, too. You know this well by experience, I believe. Electra oh, no! ah, me! You have reminded me of my sorrow, one which by its nature cannot be veiled, cannot be done away with, cannot be forgotten! Orestes I know this, too; but when occasion prompts, we must recall those crimes. Electra Each moment of all time, as it comes, would be a proper occasion for me to make these just complaints. Scarcely now have I had my lips set free. Orestes Yes, I agree; therefore guard your freedom. Electra What must I do? Orestes When it is inopportune, do not want to speak too much. Electra No, who could exchange due silence for speech, when you have appeared? For now my eyes have seen you, beyond all thought and hope! Orestes You saw me when the gods moved me to come.
 Electra You have told me of a grace higher still than the first, if a god brought you to our house; I acknowledge in it the work of the divine. Orestes On the one hand I hesitate to curb your gladness, but on the other I fear that you may be overwhelmed by too much joy. Electra O you who, after such a long time, saw fit to make your most happy journey and appear to me, do not, now that you have seen me in all my misery— Orestes What should I not do?—