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5o6 Sophocles [40-85]
tunity gives thee entrance, and learn all that is passing there, so that thou
mayest report to us from sure knowledge. Thine age, and the lapse of time,
will prevent them from recognising thee; they will never suspect who
thou art, with that silvered hair. Let thy tale be that thou art a Phocian
stranger, sent by Phanoteus; for he is the greatest of their allies. Tell
them, and confirm it with thine oath, that Orestes hath perished by a fatal
chance,—hurled at the Pythian games from his rapid chariot; be that the
substance of thy story.
We, meanwhile, will first crown my father's tomb, as the god enjoined,
with drink-offerings and the luxuriant tribute of severed hair; then come
back, bearing in our hands an urn of shapely bronze,—now hidden in the
brushwood, as I think thou knowest,—so to gladden them with the false
tidings that this my body is no more, but has been consumed with fire
and turned to ashes. Why should the omen trouble me, when by a feigned
death I find life indeed, and win renown? I trow, no word is ill-omened,
if fraught with gain. Often ere now have I seen wise men die in vain report;
then, when they return home, they are held in more abiding honour:
as I trust that from this rumour I also shall emerge in radiant life,
and yet shine like a star upon my foes.
O my fatherland, and ye gods of the land, receive me with good fortune
in this journey,—and ye also, halls of my fathers, for I come with a
divine mandate to cleanse you righteously; send me not dishonoured
from the land, but grant that I may rule over my possessions, and restore
my house!
Enough;—be it now thy care, old man, to go and heed thy task; and
we twain will go forth; for so occasion bids, chief ruler of every enterprise
for men.
Ah me, ah me!
ELECTRA (within)
PAEDAGOGUS
Hark, my son,—from the doors, methought, came the sound of some
handmaid moaning within.
ORESTES
Can it be the hapless Electra? Shall we stay here, and listen to her
laments?
PAEDAGOGUS
No, no: before all else, let us seek to obey the command of Loxias,
and thence make a fair beginning, by pouring libations to thy sire; that
brings victory within our grasp, and gives us the mastery in all that
we do.