Page:The Theatre of the Greeks, a Treatise on the History and Exhibition of the Greek Drama, with Various Supplements.djvu/306

 280 ON THE REPRESENTATION OF CERTAIN and to perform certain acts of public mourning (vv. 24, 423 sqq.), but the J do not themselves make the offering; this is performed by Electra (v. 129), who is therefore alone on the stage. She is joined by Orestes (v. 212), who appears suddenly from his place of con- cealment, and although Pylades is not mentioned till v. 561, there is no reason to doubt that he re-enters with his friend. They both leave the stage by the right-hand door before the first stasimon (vv. 585 sqq.). For it seems absurd to refer tovtm in v. 583, TO, 5' &Xa TovTix) devp' iTroTrrevaaL X^yu) ^i^TjcpSpovs dyCovas opdwaavTi fim, to Pylades. The very terms of the phraseology, compared with the address at the beginning of the play, 'Epfj.7j x^ovie, Trarptp' liroirTeiiav Kparrj, show that the necropolis was adorned with a statue of the infernal Mercury, to whom there are frequent allusions in the course of the Tragedy. It is probable that Electra does not accompany her brother and his friend, but that she and the chorus make their exit at the end of the stasimon (v. 651). Both the stage and the orchestra being now clear, the scene is entirely changed, and both the periacti are turned. That on the left represents a distant view of the grave of Agamemnon, that on the right the city of Argos ; and the scene itself shows us the royal palace, with a lodging for strangers to the left. Orestes and Py- lades enter by the left side-door. Clytsemnestra comes forth to greet them from- the center door of the palace, and sends them into the strangers' lodgings. The re-entrance of the chorus by the left- hand parodos, — for they must be supposed to come directly from the grave to which they refer (v. 722), — is indicated by a few anapaests (vv. 719 — 733). As Clyt^emnestra manifestly returns to the palace after her brief conversation with Orestes, and as she sends Cilissa to ^gisthus (v. 734), the old nurse must come forth from the center door, and make her exit by the right-hand side-door leading to the city. By the same door ^gisthus enters after the second stasimon (v. 838), and betakes himself to the strangers' apartments, where he is at once put to death by Orestes. From the words of the chorus in vv. 872, 873, diroaTadCjfiev Trpdyfiaros reKov/xiyov Sircjs SoKU}fjL€v tQvS' dvairiaL KaKCov ftvai. pidxv^ ydp Sr] KtKvpurai rfKot,