Creative Books

{1092}
Clytaemnestra is then seen approaching: they hurry Orestes in; his
heart fails him at the thought of his mother; with difficulty Electra
rouses him to his appointed vengeance. [_Exeunt all but Electra into
the Cottage. Enter Clytaemnestra in a Chariot and splendid array._]
_The Chorus_ welcome her, and she begs their aid to alight.--_Electra_
thrusts herself forward clad in rags as she is, and begs that she too
may assist.--_Clyt._ feels the impropriety of the scene, and falls into
an apologetic tone; it was Electra's father who, by his injustice to
Iphigenia, was the real cause of Electra's trouble. This leads to the
usual judicial disputation: _Clyt._ pleading that this sacrifice of her
daughter was done not for a good cause, but for the wanton Helen; this
sacrifice she had avenged, and to avenge it must join an enemy, not a
friend, of Agamemnon.--_Electra_, getting permission, replies: Helen
was not the only wanton one of her family; if no motive but vengeance,
why begin to adorn as soon as Agamemnon was out of the way, why rejoice
whenever the Trojans prospered, why go on to persecute Orestes and
herself, nay, why not slay Aegisthus for persecuting these her
children? The sight of Electra's miserable condition makes even
_Clyt.


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