Truly I grieve even for these in their twofold downfall. Yet since long-suffering Orestes has reached the peak of many deeds of blood, we would rather have it so, that the eye of the house should not be utterly lost.

ChorusAs to Priam and his sons justice came at last in crushing retribution, so to Agamemnon’s house came a twofold lion, twofold slaughter.As a twofold lion (Clytaemestra and Aegisthus) has ravaged the house, so there has been a twofold slaughter by its defenders. There is no reference to Orestes and Pylades or to Agamemnon and Cassandra.The exile, the suppliant of Pytho, has fulfilled his course to the utmost, justly urged on by counsels from the gods.

ChorusOh raise a shout of triumph over the escape of our master’s house from its misery and the wasting of its wealth by two who were unclean,its grievous fortune!