'Tis character abideth, not possessions:
This, ever-staying, lifteth up the head;[1]
But wealth by vanity gotten, held of fools,
Takes to it wings; as a flower it fadeth soon.
For those thy sins of the flesh—for maid unmeet 945
To name—I pass them by: too clear the hint!
Thou waxedst wanton, with thy royal halls,
Thy pride of goodlihead! Be mine a spouse
Not girl-faced, but a man in mien and port.
The sons of these to warrior-prowess cleave; 950
Those, the fair-seeming, but in dances shine.
Perish, O blind to all for which at last,
Felon convict, thou'rt punished, caitiff thou!
Let none dream, though at starting he run well,
That he outrunneth Justice, ere he touch 955
The very goal and gain the bourn of life.
Chorus.
Dread were his deeds; dread payment hath he made
To thee and this man. Great is Justice' might.
Orestes.
Enough: now must ye bear his corpse within,
And hide in shadow, thralls, that, when she comes, 960
My mother ere she die see not the dead.
Electra.
Hold:—turn we now unto another theme.
Orestes.
How, from Mycenæ seest thou rescue come?
- ↑ Reading κάρα for κακά, "maketh end of ills."
