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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ELECTRA: ELECTRA AND ORESTES, by EURIPIDES Poet's Biography
First Line: So be it; you must bring the body inside
Last Line: So be it: bitter and sweet in me contend.
First Line: So be it; you must bring the body inside
Last Line: So be it: bitter and sweet in me contend.
EL.
So be it; you must bring the body inside.
Cover it darkly, slaves, that when she comes,
Our mother see no death before her own.
OR.
O wait -- let's break into another thought.
EL.
Why? do I see the runners from Mycenae?
OR.
No, but the mother who has given me birth.
EL.
She comes most fine and fairly into the net!
Resplendent too, with chariots and with pomp!
OR.
What shall we do to our mother? murder her?
EL.
Has pity come with seeing of your mother?
OR.
O God!
How can I kill her, mother and nurse of me?
EL.
Kill, as she killed the father of you and me.
OR.
O Phoebus, utter folly was thy word, . . .
EL.
Suppose Apollo to err, and who is right?
OR.
To bid me kill my mother, it is wrong.
EL.
Now you avenge your father can you trip?
OR.
Now charged with a mother's murder, pure till now.
EL.
But impious, if you fail your father now.
OR.
My mother I --? to whom shall I pay for murder?
EL.
To whom, if your father's vengeance you put off?
OR.
Did a fiend speak, taking the form of god?
EL.
Throned on Apollo's tripod? I think not.
OR.
I cannot think his word was well vouchsafed.
EL.
Beware of being daunted into a coward!
OR.
But shall I lay the selfsame trap for her?
EL.
The trap with which you killed her man AEgisthus.
OR.
I'll go; an awful scheme I start, and awful
The deed I'll do; but if the Gods approve,
So be it: bitter and sweet in me contend.
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