Rest assured you will receive no less a reward than you deserve nor be the less welcome to this house: someone else might just as well have brought your message. But it is the hour when strangers who have been travelling on a long day’s journey should have their proper entertainment. To an attendant Conduct him to the rooms where the men are hospitably lodged, him and his attendants here and his fellow-traveller, and let them be tended to there as is proper in our house. I command you to do this as you shall be held to strict account. Meantime we will communicate this matter to the master of the house, and since we have no lack of friends we will confer on this occurrence.
 All withdraw except the Chorus Chorus Ah, loyal handmaidens of the house, low long will it be before we display the power that lies in our mouths to do Orestes service?
 O hallowed earth, and hallowed barrow raised high that now lies on the royal form of the commander of the fleet,