Epeisodion 2
Paedagogus
placed them by lot and ranged the cars. Then at the sound of the bronze trumpet, they started. All shouted to their horses, and shook the reins in their hands; the whole course was filled with the clatter of rattling chariots; and the dust flew upward.
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All of them in a confused throng kept plying their goads unsparingly, so that one of them might pass the wheel-hubs and the snorting steeds of his rivals; for both at their backs and at their rolling wheels the breath of the horses foamed and smattered.
715
Orestes, driving close to the near edge of the turning-post, almost grazed it with his
wheel each time and, giving rein to the trace-horse on the right, he checked
the horse on the inner side. To this point, all the chariots still stood
upright. But then the Aenian’s
720
hard-mouthed colts carried him out of control as they passed out of the turn from the sixth into the seventh lap and dashed their foreheads against the rig of the Barcaean. Next, as a result of this one mishap, the cars kept smashing and colliding with each other, and the whole
725
race-ground of Crisa swelled with shipwrecked chariots.
730
Seeing this, the clever charioteer from Athens drew aside and paused, allowing the equestrian flood to pass in mid-crest. Orestes was driving last, keeping his horses
behind, as his trust was in the race’s end. But when he sees that the Athenian is alone
left in, he sends a shrill cry ringing through the ears of his swift colts, and
gives chase. Bringing yoke level with yoke the two of them raced, first one
man, then the other,
735
showing his head in front of the other’s chariot. Up to now the ill-fated Orestes had
driven upright safely through every circuit, upright in his upright car. But
then he slackened his left rein while the horse was turning and unwittingly
struck the edge of the pillar,
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breaking the axle-box in two. He spilled forward over the chariot-rail and was caught in the trim reins, and as he fell to the ground, his colts were scattered into the middle of the course.But when the crowd saw that he had fallen
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from the chariot, a cry of pity went up for the young man who had done such deeds and was allotted such bad fortune—now dashed against the earth, now tossed with his feet to the sky until the charioteers with difficulty reigned in the gallop of his horses and
750
freed him, so covered with blood that no friend who saw it would have known the pitiful corpse. Immediately they burned him on a pyre, and chosen men of Phocis now bring the sad dust of that mighty form in a small urn of bronze,
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so that he may find due burial in his fatherland.Such is my story—it is grievous even to hear, but for us witnesses who looked on, it was the greatest of sorrows that these eyes have seen.
760
Chorus
Oh, sorrow! It seems now that all the stock of our ancient masters
has been leveled clean down to the roots.
765
Clytaemnestra
O Zeus, how shall I name this news—fortunate? Or terrible, but beneficial? It is a bitter thing, when by my own misery I preserve my life.
Paedagogus
Why are you so despondent, lady, at my news?
Clytaemnestra
There is a terrible power in motherhood; a mother may be wronged, but she can feel no hate for those whom she bore.
770
Paedagogus
Then it seems that we have come in vain.
Clytaemnestra
No, not in vain; how can you say in vain when you have brought me sure proofs of his death?
He sprang from my own life, yet deserting my breast and my nurture he became a fugitive, completely alien from me. And me, once he left this land, he saw no more; but, charging me with the murder of his father, he made terrible threats,
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so that neither by night nor by day could sweet sleep cover me, but the imminent moment made me live always as if I were about to die. Now, however, since today I am rid of terror of him and of this girl—that greater plague
780
who shared my home while consuming undiluted my life-blood—now, I think, for all her threats, I shall pass my days in peace.
785
Electra
Ah, what misery! Now, indeed, Orestes, I must mourn your misfortune, since even dead as you are
you are abused by this woman, your mother! Is it not just fine?
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Clytaemnestra
You certainly are not, but he is fine as he is.
Electra
Listen to her, Nemesis of the recently departed!
Clytaemnestra
She has heard who should be heard, and has ordained well.
Electra
Abuse us! Fortune is with you today.
Clytaemnestra
You and Orestes will not stop me, then, will you?
795
Electra
It is we who are stopped; we cannot stop you.
