Jump to content

Page:Choëphoroe (Murray 1923).djvu/25

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
117–133
THE CHOËPHOROE

Electra.

Pray what? I know not. Oh, make dear my road!


Leader.

Pray that there come to them or man or god. . . .


Electra.

A judge? Or an avenger? Speak thy prayer.


Leader.

Plain be thy word: one who shall slay the slayer.


Electra.

But dare I? Is it no sin thus to pray?


Leader.

How else? With hate thine hater to repay.


[Electra mounts upon the Grave Mound and makes sacrifice.


Electra.

Herald most high of living and of dead,
Thou midnight Hermês, hear; and call the dread
Spirits who dwell below the Earth, my vows
To hearken and to watch my father's house;
And Earth our Mother, who doth all things breed
And nurse, and takes again to her their seed.
And I too with thee, as I pour these streams
To wash dead hands, will call him in his dreams:
O Father, pity me; pity thine own
Orestes, and restore us to thy throne;
We are lost, we are sold like slaves: and in our stead

Lo, she hath brought thy murderer to her bed,

21