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Rh Chrys. How can I not know what I clearly saw?

Elec. He, thou poor soul, is dead, and with him goes

All hope of safety. Think no more of him.

Chrys. Ah, wretched me! From whom hast thou heard this?

Elec. From one who stood hard by when he was killed.

Chrys. And where is he? Strange wonder thrills through me.

Elec. Within, our mother's not unwelcome guest.

Chrys. Ah me! And yet what man was it that left

These many offerings at my father's grave?

Elec. I for my part must think that some one placed them

Memorials of Orestes who is dead.

Chrys. Ah me! I hastened, joyous, with my tale,

Not knowing in what depths of woe we were;

And now, when I have come, I find at once

My former woes, with fresh ones in their train.

Elec. So stands it with thee. But if thou wilt list

To me, thou shalt cast off this weight of woe.

Chrys. What! shall I ever bring the dead to life?

Elec. I meant not that: I am not quite so mad.

Chrys. What bidd'st thou, then, that I can answer for?

Elec. That thou should'st dare to do what I shall bid.

Chrys. Well! If it profit, I will not refuse.

Elec. See! without labour nothing prospers well.

Chrys. I see, and I with all my strength will work.

Elec. Hear, then, what I am purposed to perform.

Thou knowest, e'en thou, that we behold no more

The presence of our friends, but Hades dark

Has snatched them, and we twain are left alone.

And I, as long as I still heard and deemed

My brother strong and living, still had hopes

That he would come to avenge our father's death;