Sophocles, Electra
Sir Richard Jebb, Ed.

Electra
[385] Have they in fact decided to do this to me?

Chrysothemis
They certainly have, as soon as Aegisthus comes home.

Electra
Then for this, may he arrive quickly!

Chrysothemis
Troubled girl, what curse are you laying on yourself?

Electra
That he may come, if he plans to do any of what you said.

Chrysothemis
[390] So that you may suffer? In what way? Where are your wits?

Electra
So that I may fly as far as possible from you all.

Chrysothemis
Have you no care for the life you lead now?

Electra
oh, yes, my life is so wondrously fine.

Chrysothemis
It would be, if only you learned good sense.

Electra
[395] Do not teach me to betray my friends.

Chrysothemis
I do not, but to bend before the strong.

Electra
Keep your flattery to yourself; it is not in my character.

Chrysothemis
Regardless, it brings no honor to fall through senselessness.

Electra
I will fall, if need be, while honoring my father.

Chrysothemis
[400] But our father, I know, pardons me for this.

Electra
It is for cowards to commend such sentiments.

Chrysothemis
So you will not be persuaded to agree with me?

Electra
No, indeed; may I not yet be so devoid of intelligence.

Chrysothemis
Then I will move on to where I was sent.

Electra
[405] And where is it that you go? For whom do you take these offerings to be burned?

Chrysothemis
Mother sends me with funeral libations for our father.

Electra
What are you saying? For her deadliest enemy?

Chrysothemis
“Whom she herself killed,” no doubt you wanted to say this as well.

Electra
What friend persuaded her? Whose idea was it?

Chrysothemis
[410] The cause, I think, was fear induced by some vision in the night.

Electra
My father's Gods! Stand with me now at last!

Chrysothemis
Do you find something heartening in this terror?

Electra
If you would tell me the vision, then I could answer.

Chrysothemis
I know no more than a small part of the story.