El. Orestes, how fare ye? Or. All is well within the house, if Apollo's oracle spake well.
El. The guilty one is dead? Or. Fear no more that thy proud mother will ever put thee to dishonour.
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Ch. Cease; for I see Aegisthus full in view.
El. Rash boys, back, back! Or. Where see ye the man?1430
El. Yonder, at our mercy, he advances from the suburb, full of joy.
Ch. Make with all speed for the vestibule; that, as your first task prospered, so this again may prosper now.
Or. Fear not,—we will perform it. El. Haste, then, whither thou wouldst.
Or. See, I am gone. El. I will look to matters here.
[Exeunt Orestes and Pylades.
Ch. 'Twere well to soothe his ear with some few words of seeming gentleness,1440 that he may rush blindly upon the struggle with his doom.
Enter Aegisthus.
Aeg. Which of you can tell me, where are those Phocian strangers, who, 'tis said, have brought us tidings of Orestes slain in the wreck of his chariot? Thee, thee I ask, yes, thee, in former days so bold,—for methinks it touches thee most nearly; thou best must know, and best canst tell.
