For if the snake, quitting the self-same womb,
Was girded straightway with my swathing-clothes,
And, gaping round the breast that nourished me,
Sucked with my nurture-milk the clotted blood,
While she in terror, at the portent shrieked;—
Clear is it, as she reared the ghastly pest,
So forceful must she die. I, dragon-like, 540
Myself shall slay her, as this dream declares.—
As augur of these portents thee I choose.
Chorus.
So let it be! But now direct thy friends,
These how to act, or those aloof to bide.
Orestes.
Hear then, in brief;—Sister, go thou within;
But these I counsel to conceal my plans.
For as with guile an honoured man they slew,
Themselves with guile shall be entrapped, and die
In the same toils, foretold by Loxias,
Apollo Lord, no faithless seer of yore.— 550
For I, equipped for travel, with this man,
With Pylades, will reach the outer gate;
I as a stranger;—he as ransom-friend;—
Familiar both with the Parnassian speech,
The tongue of Phocis we will imitate.
And if no friendly warder, on the plea
That by dire evils is the house possessed,
Will give us entrance, we without will bide,
Until some passer guess our plight, and say,
