Stasimon 4
[Episode]
Look, here comes your brother, condemned to die, and with him Pylades, most loyal of friends,
Chorus Leader
true as a brother, guiding his feeble steps, his yoke-fellow, pacing carefully.
1015
Electra
Alas! I weep to see you stand before the tomb, my brother, face to face with the funeral pyre.
Alas, again! as I take my last look at you, my senses leave me.
1020
Orestes
Be silent! an end to womanish lamenting! resign yourself to your fate. It is piteous, but nevertheless you must bear the present fate.
Electra
How can I be silent, when we poor sufferers are no longer to gaze upon the sun-god’s light?
1025
Orestes
Oh! spare me that death! Enough that this unhappy wretch is already slain by Argives; let our present sufferings be.
Electra
Alas for your unhappy youth, Orestes, and for your fated
untimely death! When you should have lived, you are going to die.
1030
Orestes
By the gods, do not unman me, bringing me to tears by the recollection of my sorrows.
Electra
We are about to die; it is not possible for me not to grieve over our troubles; it is a piteous thing for all men to lose life, that is so sweet.
Orestes
This is the day appointed for us; we must fit the dangling noose about our necks or whet the sword for use.
1035
Electra
You be the one to kill me, brother, so that no Argive may insult Agamemnon’s son by my death.
Orestes
Enough that I have a mother’s blood upon me; I will not kill you,
but die by your own hand, however you wish.
1040
Electra
Agreed; I will not be behind you in using the sword; only I long to throw my arms about your neck.
Orestes
Enjoy that empty satisfaction, if embraces have any joy for those who have come so near to death.
Electra
My dearest, you who have a name that sounds most loved and sweet to your sister, partner in one soul with her!
1045
Orestes
Oh, you will melt my heart! I want to give you back a fond embrace. And why should such a wretch as I still feel any shame? Embracing Electra Heart to heart, my sister! how sweet to me this close embrace!
In place of children and the marriage bed this greeting is all that is possible to us poor sufferers.
1050
Electra
Ah! If only the same sword, if it is right, could kill us both, and one coffin of cedar-wood receive us!
Orestes
That would be very sweet; but surely you see
we are too destitute of friends to be allowed one tomb between us.
1055
Electra
Did that coward Menelaus, that traitor to my father, not even speak for you, or make an effort to save your life?
Orestes
He did not even show himself, but, with his hopes centered on the throne, he was careful not to attempt the rescue of his friends.
But let us see how we may die a noble death, one most worthy of Agamemnon. I, for my part, will let the city see my noble spirit when I plunge the sword to my heart, and you in turn must imitate my daring.
1060
Pylades, be the arbitrator of our slaughter and, when we both are dead, lay out our bodies decently; carry them to our father’s grave and bury us there with him. Farewell, now; I am leaving for the deed, as you see.
1065
Pylades
Stop! there is first one point I have to blame you for,
if you thought I would care to live when you are dead.
1070
Orestes
But why are you called on to die with me?
