wus rares inthe Chavradevof ELECTRA . Oclear memorial ofony dearall, prorat, fevvy Glen of Cresket, Oh!BELL’S EDITION, ELECTRA A TRAGEDY, As tranflaid fron SOPHOCLES; with Notes, By Mr. THEOBALD. DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE VARIATIONS or tue THEATRE, AS PERFORMED AT THE Cheatre-iopal fr Duvy-Lane, Regulated from the Prompt-Book, By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS, By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter. "Os ey ding 2 Hlelvatlee ardyo, Tipsory Asay we vat Anglers % radly Reiyy Oavbiles. 3 a uet t Ackles igupsory, "Ave ’, ‘Amahawy, pairleg adic, 7 wel ARfchyl. in Coeph, VL, LONDON: Printed for Joun Burt, near Exeter-Exebangey in the Strands MBCCLXXVI LeC3] TO JOSEPH ADDISON, Eiq. SIR, HIS poem prefumes to throw itfelf at your feer, as apiece more wanting your protection, than worthy of your patronage. Bur it is as neceflary tor young au- thors, who fhould be confcious of their imperfe@ions, to fkreen themfelves under great names; as it has been always natural to criminals. to Ay toa fan@uary. Permit me then, Sir, more than to hopea fhelter ; to promife inyfelf fome reputation from this honour, Or,. even fhould the world determine of my performance ta my difadvantage ; the fatisfaction I take in being allowed the privilege of this addrefs, yields me more pleafure. than their cenfure could give me pain. . But I am fo far from entertaining any fears of its mif-- carriage ; that if my own partiality and the judgment of. thofe chofen friends, t Quibus hac, fint qualiacumque, arridere velim, have not confpired to deceive me in its favour: I may’ prefume, that little merit they are pleafed to allow it, will be my beft excufe for pretending, in this public man~ ner, to declare mylelf, SIR, Your mott obedient Humble fervant,, LEW. THEOBALD, Az{4] DRAMATIS PERSONA MEN. Drury-Lane. Egyfilus, an ufarper of the govern- ment of Argos, P — — Mr. Palmer. Ovefes, fon of the late rightful king Agamemnon, by Clytenucfra, Mr, Smith. Pylaites, his friend, prince of Phocis, Mr, Packers The Governor of Orefes, mm Mr Aickin WOMEN. Chtemuefira, queen of Argos, late wife of Agamemson, now. of | ig ofbas, —_— — Mrs. Hopkin, Ekefira, Agamemnon’s daughter, Mrs. Yates. Chryfothemis, ditto, = —— — Mrs, Baddeley. Attendants of Ciytemneffra. Chorus of young ladies of Argos. SCENE, before the Palace in) Mens. THEC5) ELEC TR A. ACT E SCENE, before the Royal Palace in Mycenz,. Governor of Orewles, Oreltes aud Pylades.. Governor. : H, fon of Agamemnon, (he who once, Supreme in power, led our victorious Greeks: To Troy’s deftruciton ;) hence may you furvey The object’of your long, your ardent withess” ” Behold your native Argos! here, the grove ay OF Inachus’s wand’ring frantic daughter :-- And here, the fam’d Lyeaan Forum ftands, , Ereéted to the glorious god of day :: This, on the left, is Juno’ awful temple ;- Around the glitt'fing tow’rs of rich Mycenze; 10: With the dite houfe of bloody Pelops rife, Thence I receiv’d you from your fifter’s arms, Snatch’d from the fate in which your father-fell s. L.took, preferv’d, and nourifh’d you dillnow, To grow the keen avenger of his bloodz- Ig But naw, Oreftes, and you, Pylades, “ The deareft partner of his cares, betimes- We mutt determine-what our caufe. requirese For fee, the chearful light-begins-to dawn 5, The warbling birds falute the early fun; 20: And ev'ry ftar faints in his fuller glory. Beer then the bufy fearch of jealous eyes Prevent, let’s fix our counfels ; hafty time Cuts off ait flow debate,. and calls for-action, Oveft..Thou trueft friend that ever ferv’d his prince, 2 5 How does thy love to me thine out confpicuous ! " And, as the gen’rous-{teed when weak with age, Starts into rage, and fcents the diftant-battle ; So you, though prefs’d with-years, work up ourfouls. Tof ame, and foilow in the glorious-chafes . 30" 4:3, Tos6 ELECTRA. ‘To thee my purpos'd vengeance 1’il difclofe, Do thou with deep attention mark my words ; ‘And where my youth fhall err, with wifdom guide it. “Know, when I went to afk the Pythian god What method I thou'd take in my revenge, He thus in exprefs terms fpoke his high pieafures Clofe be thy vengeance; no loud force prepare 5 Bur fleal upon th’ unguarded murderer. Therefore do thou, my venerable friend, As foon as kind occafion will permit, Enter the palace; dive into their counfels 3 ‘And find out means for this our great attempt For rev’rend age has plow’d thy features up; ‘And bent thee to the earth, that thou fhalt pafs Succefsfully unknown, and unfufpected. "Then form a tale like this ;—that thou art fent From Phocis, from Phanoteus, to relate, (For he’s their potent friend, their dear aily) Nor fpare an oath to back the licens’d fraud ‘And win belief, how poor Oreftes perith’d 5 Whirl'd from his chariot in the Pythian games. This be the fuin and fubject of thy errand ; ‘Mean while, as the great Lycian god injoin’d, We, with oblations and devoted hair, Will pleafe my father’s fhade, aud crown his tomb. That done, here let us meet; and in our hands Bear to th’ inceftuous court the brazen urn, Which lies conceal’d in yonder verdant thickets 5 "Thus by an artful fraud refembling truth, We may convince them of the pleafing news ‘That Iam dead; that thofe are the remains Of my burnt bones, rak’d from the fun’ral pile. Why thould I grieve to be reported dead, While I rife faiter from that death fuppos’d To nobler life, to happinefs and fame ? Nor can the tale which profits, prove difaftrous. Oft have] heard of men, for wiidom fam’d, Revive and fourith from imagin’d tombs, "To freth renown, and more illuftrious triumphs. So on my foes from death at once I'll rife, Glare likea meteor, and with terror blaft them. But, Oh, my country, and ye genial gods, Receive me ptofp’rous, and aflift my purpofe! 35 . 40 59 55 60 65 72 AndELECTR A And thou, paternal dome, to thee I come, a5 Sent from the gods to rid thee of pollution. Oh, drive me not difhonour’d from this land! But fix me happy in my father’s throne, And make ine but the fcourge of ufurpation, Jak no more !——But now, my good old friend, 8a Support the taf. which thou hat undertook : We, Pylades, will hence, time preffes hard ; Time, on whofe friendly call the iffues hang Of all our mortal aétions. Ehé, Ob! my fortune -————— {Groaning from withite Gov, Hark ! fure I heard the voice of female forrow. 85 - Oref. Think you, ’wwas not the poor Ele&tra groan’d ?- Say, thall we ftay and liften to her anguith ? . Gov, Not for the world : Begin we from the god } And his commands fulfil: with due oblations Appeafe, invoke the manes of your fire: go From hence.we {hall the hop’d event derive, And draw a bleifing on the pious work, {Exeunt Orefles and Pylades at one door, Governor and. Aitendants at another. . SCENE IL Elect. {Alone.] Oh, facred light, and, Ob, thou am- bient air, . How have ye witnefs'd to my conftant forrows! : How have ye feen thefe hands, in rage of grief, 95 * Harrow and bruife my fivoln and bleeding bofom ! While each new morn was blafted with my woe: How have the circling nights heard my defpair! How have my walls and hated bed been curft, And echo’d to my {till repeated anguifh! 100! My fighs, my groans for my unhappy fire, Whom barb’rous climes and cruel battle fpar’d ; Whom battle fpar’d, but whom my mother flew ! She and her partner of adulc’rous joys, Accurft Ayzyfthus, with a murth’ring axe 105 Splitting his temples, cleft the hero down + Relentlefs, as the woodman does an oak. And none, but I, or pities or complains ; None but Electra mourns for thee, Ob, father, With w& ELECTR A. ‘Without regard to fhame or pity murder’d ! 110, And I, while life remains, will cherith griefs. Each rifing morn, and each defcending night Sbali fear my moan :: for with inceffant forrow,. Like the fad nightingale robb’d of heryoung,. Before my father’s doors V'li plaintive ftand ;. 11g; And my toud wrongs proclaim to ev’ry ear. Y¥e reaims of Pluto, and his gloomy confort !. Iniernal Hermes! You, my potent curfes !. And awful furies, daughters of the gods, . hold the great are fallen, unjuttly flain !. 120 And vile adult’ry fiains the royal couch! Oh, rife, affift, revenge a murder’d king. Send me my brother, my Oreftes hither, . ‘To eafe my forrows, and to bear his part :. For, Oh! I fink beneath the dire oppreffion.. 12g SCENE NL Eleétra and-Chorus.. Cho, Thou offspring of a moft unworthy: mother, . Uncomforted Eleétra ! wherefore {till Doft thou with ftreaming eyes and piercing groans: For ever mourn the fate of Agamemnon ?: Indulge afidtion, nor permis the ipace. 1362 GF intervening years to wipe-away The mem’ry of thof fnares and female-arts- ‘That caught his noble life ?——Oh, may.the many, If-juftice warrant my devoting prayer; That wrought his end, fall by: the like furprife!. 136; Ekeé,. Oh, gen’rous maids, and worthy, your high Kindly you come to foften my diftrefs.s. [births ;: I know you,do, to charm me into comforts. Bar, Oh! I muft be deaf to theinchantment;. . Nor ever ceafe ta mourn my wretched father. . 1495 Therefore I muit conjure you by our friendthip ; : By all your tender offices of love 5. Let me indulge my tears, and be a wretch ;; Nor urge me to remit my tak of forrow, Cho. But yet, nor pray’rs nor tears, can foften death; 145; Or bribe th’ unpitying Hades to unlock Earth's common prifon, and fend back your father.. Yet, fond.of woe.and unavailing paffion, . Th lat:ELECTRA, That hourly waftes and preys upon your health,. You mourn the ills which mourning will not cure. Why do you court immod’rate forrow thus ? Ele. ‘They muft be, fure, infenfible and fxpid, That can forget a murder’d parent’s death, Let me be rather like the wailing bird, ‘The murm’ring herald of approaching fpring, Who Itys ever, murder’d Itys, mourns. Thee, Niobe, my heart efteems a goddefs 5 ‘Thou monument of unexampled forrow ! Loft to thy fex, and hardened to a ftone, ‘Thou ftill art Niobe, and weep’lt for ever ! Cho, Have you, Eleétra, only caufe to mourn ? Are there not thofe have equal right to grieve ? ‘Though you furpafs them in immad'rate tranfports. How does Chryfothemis fupptefs her anguith ? And how Iphianafla bear her pain ? Or how Oreftes droop. in fecret exile? Eké, Happy Oreftes, when the glad Mycene Views him returning to his rightful throne ; Sent by the fiveet direction of the gods! Whilft I expect him with unwearied hopes, Childefs, and defolate, debarr’d of wedlock, Diffolv’d in tears, and worn away with anguith, But cruel he, regardiefs of my pain, Forgets my love and ardent invitations: Yet has he footh’d me till with flatt’ring tidings ; Rais’d me to hopes, in vain, of, his arrival ; 150 355 160 16g 170 us Too credulous hopes ; for, Oh! he will not come !— Cho. Defpair not, lady, for there reigns above A potent God, that overlooks mankind ; To his dire@iing hand fubmit your anger ; Nor let your tranfports fwell to wild diftraction ; Nor let your jutt refentments die forgotten : For ling’ring time knows his redreffing hour. And be who ftays on Crifa’s verdant fhore, Great Agamemnon’s fon, back’d with the pow’rs Of blood-avenging Erebus, will come ; Will come with fury, and redrefs your wrongs. Eke. Much of my life has been already fpent, And fed on nought but unavailing hopes 5 I can no longer bear the uneafy flate, An orphan, unfupported, weak, and friendlefs ; 2 18a 185 190 Us'd19 ELCTRA. Us'd like a menial in my father’s houfe : Robb’d of ail rights of birth and princely ftate ; Clad in thefe homely weeds of wretchednefs, : And fed 1.h offats from th’ imperial table. 1 Cho, On, difmal was the welcome of his triumphs! Mouraful return! And, Ob! that bridal room, To which the unfufpecting hufband went, And met the fudden ase! Accurfed ftroke ! By fraud concerted, and by luft perform’d ; 20m Adult’rous luft with treachery combin’d In horrid mixture for the horrid act; Whether fome god or man infpir’d the paffion ! Eteit. Oh, day moft hated of the rolling year! Oh, blackeft night! And, Oh, prodigious griefs 205 Which flow’d from that unutterable deed! When both their hands upon my father truck, ‘To fpeak their union, and make murder fure. T too was ftruck, undone by that dire blow, And agonizing death lies heavy on me! 210 But may the great Olympian god, may Jove . Repay their treafon with ftill growing anguith ! Let no fhort interval of gladnefs chear them, But guilt and black remorfe haunt them for ever ! Cho. No more fuch words of outrage ; calltomind 215 From what a ftate of eafe your rage has thrown you, And pull’d down woe by wilful provocation : Enough of forrow has thy foul endur’d, By bearing up and buffeting the tempeit. Believe it vain t’ affail victorious vice, : 220 And tempt the rugged hand of tyrant pow’r. © . Eleé#, Such treafons fure demand fuch loud complaints ¢- My heart is confcious of its {welling rage + Yet danger fhall not fcare me from this pleafure, But while I live, I will devote the wretches, - 22g From whom, ye dear companions of my grief, In fuch extremes of woe, can I endure The voice of confolation or advice ? Ceafe, ceafe your ftrains of unprevailing comfort : For never muit my labours find an end ;, 236 Never mutt I have truce with my afflidtions : Bur be a faithful wretch, and weep for ever. Cho. Alas My love, like a fond mother, pleads, ¥ELECTRA ‘Yo calm your breatt ; left your diftemper’d wrath Should be the parent of ftill greater troubles, Elrét. Oh! Can my ills admit of an increafe ?. ‘Can piety forget a father’s murder? - ‘What men, what barb’rous nations, fay it can? Oh, let me not be honour’d in their thoughts ! No: were I to be match’d to fome fuch tame Forgiving foul, I would not let the foft Unjutt infection, clog my tow’ring rage ; Nor for a moment ftop my fhrill-tongu’d grief, Which flies to gratify my father’s thade : For if my noble father unreveng’d, Mutt moulder into duft, and be forgot; Whilft they, triumphant in their happy guilt, Laugh at the lame revenge that cannot reach them, Farewel to virtue ; let religious awe No more reftrain mankind, but outrage flourith ! Cho. In yours and in our own behalf we came, T’ exprefs our duty, and affuage your woes : But if our words difpleafe your princely mind, You mufto’ercome, and we fubmit in filence, Eleéi, 1 bluth to think, that my uneafy load. OF grief, fhould feem immoderate or ftrain’d + Forgive my ftrong neceility of forrow, What virgin, well-defcended, could behold Her father’s wrongs, and not like me refeat ? Could fee the never-fading ills I fee, That fprout each hour, and bloffom on each other : While from thé hand of her who gave me life, The piercing fhaft is fent that wounds my foul, And while within my father’s injur’d houfe, Tam conftrain’d to dwell with his affaffins ; Infulted by them, and oblig’d to take ‘The means of life from them, or yield to famine, Oh! what a life muit you believe I drag ; What tortures bear, dittraéted, when I fee Aeytthusfeated in my father’s throne; Dreft in the fame imperial robes of ftate 3 And pouring'forth oblations on that {por, Where oncethe blood of Agamemnon flow’d ? But, Oh! what daggers mutt divide my foul, When I behold the laft great injury ; The tude affiffin in my father’s bed, Ir 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 And2 ELECTR A And guilty mother’s arms? If virtue fuffer ‘To call her mother, who with rank offence Has injur’d nature in her facred laws. . Bur the enjoys the wretch deform'd with blood, 280 Nor fears the furies round th’ adult’rous bed ; Bur with a wicked triumph at the fact, Searches impatient for the welcome day Whereon my father fell: Oh, horrid thought! And when it comes, in wanton revels, plays, 285 Feafts, dances, and with impious facrifice, "Thanks all the gods for the fuccefsful murder. While I, a fore’d {pectator of their riot, {In mock’ry call’d the feaft of Agamemnon) Tn fecret mourn; nor am allow’d to vent : ‘The anguith of my lab’ring heart in freedom : 290 For fhe, with watchful and ungen’rous hate, Eyes my diftrefs, and thus upbraids my pain. Thou {corn of Heav’n ! Havenone butthou been griev’d? Art thou the only one whofe father dy’d? Be trebly curft, and may th’ infernal pow’rs 295 Nerer releafe thee from the woe thou’rt fond of, Such is her language ;~—bur whene’er the’s told Orestes foon will come, then, then fhe raves, ‘And bellows loud,—Thou fource of all my cares, 300 ‘This is thy work, who ftol’tt Oreftes from me,’ And nurfe’d him up to be thy mother’s ruin : But thou fhalt pay the price of all my fears. ‘Thus does fhe taunt; while her iluitrious fpoufe Stands by her fide, pleas’d, and provokes the conteft; 395 ‘That trifling coward, that difgrace of manhood, Who only wars in confort with a woman. But while I wait to fee Oreftes here, ‘To end my griefs and refcue me, I die! His vengeance fleeps by an unkind delay $ io Nor leaves me prefent hope or future comfort, ‘To flatter woe, and keep my foul alive. In fuch a flare ’tis hard to be difcreet; and not sccufe the unafiifting gods : For in fach ills our paffions will tranfgrefs, 315 Rife with our fuff’rings, and like them grow boundlefs ! Cher. Tell me, Electra, is Egyfthus nigh ?, Vino might, if he o’er-heard, reient my words. ElcheELECTRA 3 Ekél. Oh, think not I fhould tafle thefe gentle freedoms Tf he were nigh’; but, guiltlefs of my joy, 320 He traverfes the verdunt fie'ds of Argos, Cho, With greater confidence I then thall fpeak ¢ Nor fear to afk the things I long to know. Ehé. Secure from danger, afk me what you pleafe. Cho. Then telline of Oreftes, will he come ? 325 Or is there ftill a caufe*to keep him back ? Ele. He fays he comes, but does not what he fays, Cho. Important actions move but flowly on. Etcdt. I mov'd not flowly when T fav'd his life, Cho, Fear not; his virtue will not fail his friends. 330 Eleét. In that belie¥ 1 have protraéted woe. Cho. No more-—~] fee Chryfothemis approach ; Your filler, Madam, this way. bends her fteps, + And in her hands fhe bears fepulchral off :ings, SCENE IV. Chryfothemis, Electra, and Chorus, Chr. Why will you, lifler, at chis public gate, 33¢ Repeus your grievance in fuch lam’rous accents ? " Nor let experience teach you to difesrd An impotent and unavailing pafiun & Believe that Iam confcious of our wrongs 5 And would, if T had pow’r- atrempt revenge, And let my ftrong refentment ftand confets'd : But when our weakvels dictates to our wrath, Tis wifer to fubmit with lower'd fails, Than to colleé& the form and tempt de ftruion. Thus would I counfel you to itifte rage ; 345 Though I confefs your indignation jutt 5 - But if or life, or liberty be dear, We mutt obey and ftoop to rigged pow’r, Eleét, * Tis bafe that you, from uch a father fprung, Should in neglect of his forgotten worth, 350 Side with the faétion of an impious mother : . For all your counfels are by her preferib’d, And fpeak her pleafure but at fecond hand, Unheeding girl, confefs, and chufe thy crime, That thou, or know’ aot, or forgewit thy duty, 4 ¢¢ You faid but aow, if you had pow’r to hate, 340 : Te f aete ELECTRA. ‘Yo hate to purpofe, you'd avow your anger ; Yer whe I firgg'e to revenge my father, Far from affiting, you obftrudt my work. Is not this cowardice, or fomething worle ? 360 } me what great advantage would arile, Should 1 fufpend my grief, and put on gladnels? Do 1 not hve, though ill the life I lead? Hl as it is, itis enough for me: Whiul ev'ry day I interrupt their joys, : 365 Coniending fil to plezfe my father’s thade, 1f tte deccas’d are capable of pleafure. While you, whole woids profefs fuch fpecious hate, A in concurrence with the murderers. Bat would they give me all my fiter’s gifts, 379 Acd all the ornamen:s in which you fhine; . i would not yield a moment to them. No: Let coftiy banqueis load your wanton table, And your foft Ife in delicacies flow ; e me the meaneft neceflary food, 375 “Lhe virtue which has earn’d, fhall chink it rich, stad adda fweetneis to the homely diet. I fcorn the guiity honours you have purchas’d, And {9 fhould vou in wifdom: but, On, fhame! . You court diferace, and when you might be ftil’d 380 ‘The gloriaus daughter of the beft of tarhers, . You are the mother’s, her diftingnith’d darling! Thus at the price of cenjure, you betra Your friends, and feli the bloed of Agamemnon !-— Cho. For Heav'n’s fake, let not anger grow between you: 385 You both {peak well, and both may be improv’d, Ir you will join, and by each other profit. u ‘This languave I am us'd ro, friends, from her, Nor had I now provok'd the repetition, Bat that [heard av evil threzten her, 399 Which would at once end thefe inceifant wailings, Ed, Name it; and if you can pronounce an horror Greater than thefe] feel, Iwill obey you. Chry. Take then the fum of what ican inform you: Un'efs you calm thefe paificns, they refolve 398 To farce you hence, where you thall ne’er behold ‘The shearful light of day, bur lie confined:ELECTRA 43g Jn fome damp gloomy fubterranean prifon, Far trom this country ; there to groan unheard, And breath your forrows ’midit unwholfome vapours. 400 But, Oh, be wife; prevent the threaten'd woe ; Nor blame your fifler, who with early care Would labour to divert th’ unripe deftru@ion. Elec, And have they then determined thus againft me? Cory, As foon as e’er ‘Bayltthus fhall return, 0 Elc#. Oh, may the thrvaten’d mifchief wing him hi- ther! Ehry. What horrid with is this, unwary ma'd? Ele, That be would comeand execute his malice. Chry, Ha! Are you loft to fenfe? What would you aim at? Eleét. That Y might fly from all of you, as far 410 As earth has-bounds. Chy, ——~ Kefpedt you not your life ? Elcé, This lite is wond’rous beautiful indeed, ‘Fit to be car'd for ! Chry, — Were you wife it might. Ekéf, Teach me not, fitter, to betray my friends. Chry, I teach you not, but to obey fuperiors. «41 5 Elet. ’Tis yours to flatter, 1 have no fuch foul. Chey. *Tis prudent not to throw our lives away, Ekét, But glorious to refign them for a father, Chry. Our father wou'd not with us to purfue Revenge at that rath hazard—— Eké.—-——Cowards only, 420 And fearful fouls, applaud fuch tim’rous maxims. Chry, And wilt you not-be caution’d *gainft affliction ? Elect, No: for I would not quite forego my reafon. Chry, Then I have done, and will purfue my orders. Ele, What orders!——And to whom thefe fun’rat rites ? 4 Chry. The queen enjoins me on my father’s tomb, From her to make libations. Eki, ~—-—— How! from her? To make libations to that hated man ? Chry. To him the kill’d, for fo you. would infer. Eleét, By whom perfuaded, whole advice was this? 430 Chry, ’Tis the refule of a nocturnal fright, Eled, Oh, all ye gods of Argos, aid menow !— Ba chy,36 ELECTRA. Chry, What grounds for hope derive you from her fears? E2ie&, Teil me the viion, and I'll then refolve you. Chy, Alas! 1 know but litl—— Eicét, ——~Teli me then ‘That linle !~— Little fentences and words Have often rais’d, and ruin’d men as oft. Chy, ? Lis whifper’d, that the faw our father come Again to light, and fecm’d ance more his wiles ‘Thar be took in his hand the regal feepter, 449 (Which once he bore, but now Aégy{thus bears) Atcd fix’d it in the earch ; when ftraic there fprang From ita thriving branch, which flourifh’d wide, And over-fhaduw’d all Mycenz’s land. ‘This did I learn from one who was at hand, 44g When to the rifing fun the told her vifion, To deprecate it’s omen. More I know nor, But that thefe rites are owing to its horrors. Ek. :Now I conjure you, by our genial gods, Obey me; fall not into rafli offence 450 Bat, e’er itbe too late, avuid pollution. sind, deareft filler, let no part of thofe Defign’d oblations touch my father’s tomb ; For "tis not juft, to biing his injur’d fhade Unhallow’d off’rings from an impious hand : Bart give them to the winds; or hide them deep 455 In earth, at diftance from his awefu! tomb. Let the earth keep them for her fun’ al honours, ‘The fitteft off rings toadom her grave. Had the not been the vileft of her fex, She would not facrifice to him fhe flew. 460 How do you think bis injur'd ghoft will bear To tatle the off’rings which are fent by her ; Who, not content to rob him of his life, Mangled and hack’d him to difarm refentment ; And {trove to wipe th’ abomination off. 465 ‘Will impious off ’rings fatisfy for murder? And weak libations purge the guilt of blood ? No ; fling th’ offenfive facrifice away ; And from osr heads let each prefent a lock Of fupplcating hair: too mean the pift! 479 But ali I have to vive, except this girdle; Which t.ke, however plain and unadorn’d, 435 Proftrate,ELECTRA, y Proftrate, invoke him to arife from earth 3 ‘To come propitious and dettroy our foes ; . And fend Orettes, with avenging force, os age To ftrike the hoftile tyrants to the earth : Then fhall we richer facrifices pay, And crowy his athes with more grateful offttings.. My heart fapgelts, the care of our revenge Employs his ghoft, and fent the hideous dream +. 480: Therefore, my fitter, aid-the gen’rous work; The caufe of you, andime, and that dear man, Our common parent, whe is-‘now no more, Cho. The virgia {peaks with piety, and you. Jn wifdom thould perorm the duteous office, ©. 86 Coy, Twill: for ’tisa vain and fenfelefs firife,, For two to differ in a work that’s jutt, And afks difpatch, Bu now that I confent, Hy Heav'n! you: mutt be filent, friends; forif M’ inraged mother (hould difcover ought, ~ 490 T might have caufe to mourn the bold attempt. ' [Exit Chryfothemis.. SCENE VW. CHORUS. Electra remains on the flage while the Chorus fiigss, L. Cha, Or my prophetic. foul’ miflakes,,, - Or I in hope from reafon err ; Or-vengeance fwift advances makes, Upon the confeience-haunted murderer: 4gs Daughter, the comes ; the comes away With, pow’r and juttice in array ; Vin {trong im hope, the boding dream,. The herald of her aweful terrors came, The King’s refentments thal not ceafe, sou Nor fhall he bury wrongs but in redrefs, ‘The vengeful axe that gave the impicus blow, Mindful of th’ imperial woe, ‘To hell and heav’n calls out aloud . For retribution, and for bloods. sos . B3 : The38 ELECTRA. Ii. The brazen-footed fury fhall appear With hundred feet, and hundred hands; To execute her fel! commands, Who yet conceals her wrathful fpear. ‘Unfeen the does her future work furvey, 510 And hovers o’er her unfufpeéting prey. For impious aéts have flain’d the royal bed ; Aas at which Hymen ftood difmay’d, While by concerted guile betray’d To give adult’ry {cope, the hufband bled. gy But I. in hope, forefce fome d're event, ‘The threat’ning vifions of the night Shall have their force, nor be content To punith guilt with bare affright. Let birds, dreams, divinations lofe their force, 520. And folemn oracles no more difcourfe ; If this appearance paffes hence Without an happy confequence. UL. Oh, inaufpicious chariot-race, Which love-inftrudted Pelops won; 525 What mighty mifchiefs haft thou done, To this ill-fated place ? For e’er fince Myrtilus was thrown. Headlong from the chariot, down ‘The promontory’s horrid brow * 538 Into the fuffocating furge below ; Unnumber'd evils have befall’n the flate; And Argos felt fucceffive florms of fate. Enp of the Fixst Act. ! . “acTELECTRA ACT IL SCENE L Clytemneftra, Bleétra and Chorus. CLYTEMNESTRA. % OU'RE free, you think, and now may walkat large, Becaufe you know /Egyfthus is not here ; Who would confine your walks, not let you range, To vent your fpleen, and execrate our friends, Bucin his abfence you regard not me; Lam the theme of your uamanner’d railings ; You brand me with injuttice ; fay, I’m fierce, And play the tyrant over you and yours. Bat Tabufe you not ; I only pay Your handfome compliments to me in kind ; And, fir infulted, but return reproach. And fill your father is the, ftale pretence, Asif I murder’d him: I did, Pown it ; Town I did it; and ‘twas bravely done, Juftice commanded, and I gavethe blow 5 ‘And you, if wife, had help’d the glorious work + For he whom you fo obltinately mourn, “Murder’d your fifter; he, of all the Greeks Could find a daughter for a facrifice, And bore to fee her butcher’d. Cruel man! A ftranger to the pangs of bleeding nature, Nor confcious of the pains a mother feels. And then, for whom was this fair victim flain-? ‘Was it for Greece? You will not furely fay it? Had Greece the liberty to kill my daughter ? Or was’t not for his brother Menelaus * (Oh, juftly did he die, who kil'd my child !) Had not his brother children of hisown? ?Twas jufter far they both had dy’d than the ; Both for their father and their mother dy’d, On whofe account alone the- war began. Or did the partial Gad of Heli prefer My daughter's blood to any fecond victim? Or had your execrable father loft A parent’s love, but Menelaus not ?- Do not thefe acts proclaim him rath and impious ? Whate’er you think, my cenfure has condema’d hi m2. 5. ig TS 20: 25 30 35 And20 ELECTRA And fo would injur’d Iphigenia too, Could the departed fpeak, accufe her father. I do nor then repent of what I did ; 40 Bat if you think [ ought, take heed you fpeak In termsof calm refpect, and urge your reafons. E44, You cannot plead that you were now provok’d,. And therefore did retort opprobrious language. But might Ibe permitted, I would try 45 To plead my father’s caufe, and filter’s too. e Cy. You may; and did you always thus addrefs me, *Twould {pare you that reproach you murmur at, ~ Eled, Fictt, you confefs that you my father flew 5 And can there bea blacker crime that this ; 50 The caufe be juft or no? But that it was not, Fl thew you; drawn by your adult’rous love, Not for your daughter, but your prefent {poufe, You did the ation. Atk Diana why, Why the delay’d fo long the courted winds? 3 Or what the goddefs will nor, I will tell you. “ °Tis faid, my father, {porting iu her grove, Put up a noble-fpotted branching flag 5 And as he chas’d and tlew the glorious prey, In triumph utter’d fome unhappy word. 63 The vodJeis, to revenge th’ infult, detain’d ' ‘The ficet in Aulis, till my wretched fire Should make atonement with hisdaughter’s bloods. Thus fell fhe; nor could any meaner bribe Purchate a wind to fwell their flagging fails ;: 65. For which, and not for Menelaus’s fake, : “With ftruggling forrows and reluctant pangs, At lait he yielved to the facrifice. : But had he done it for nis brother's fake, - Should you have kill’d himtherefore ?. By what law ? ye: ‘Take heed, leit you repent the rules.you make; >