Electra.
O friend, I knew not, out of very fear,
Thy face; but now in very sooth I know.
How say'st thou?—is my sire's foul murderer dead?
Messenger.
Dead. Twice I say it, since thou will'st it so. 770
Electra.
Gods! All-seeing Justice, thou hast come at last!
In what wise, and by what device of death,
Slew he Thyestes' son? I fain would know.
Messenger.
Soon as our feet from thine abode had passed,
The highway chariot-rutted entered we, 775
Where journeyed this renowned Mycenian king.
Into his watered garden had he turned,
Plucking soft myrtle-sprays to bind his brows.
He saw, and cried, "Hail, strangers, who be ye?
Whence journeying, and children of what land?" 780
"Thessalians we," Orestes spake, "who seek
Alpheus, to sacrifice to Olympian Zeus."
Now when Aegisthus heard this, answered he,
"Nay, at this altar-feast ye needs must be
My guests: I sacrifice unto the Nymphs. 785
With morning shall ye rise from sleep, and speed
No less. Come, let us go into the house,"—
So speaking, did he take us by the hand,
And led us in,—"ye may not say me nay."
And, when we stood within his doors, he spake: 790
"Let one with speed bring water for the guests,
