Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/325

Rh And yet I fear delight overmasters thee.

Elec. Ο thou who after many a weary year

At last hast deigned to come,

(Oh, coming of great joy!)

Do not, thus seeing me

Involved in many woes,

Ores. What is it that thou ask'st me not to do?

Elec. Deprive me not, nor force me to forego

The joy supreme of looking on thy face.

Ores. I should be wroth with others who would force thee.

Elec. Dost thou consent, then?

Ores. How act otherwise?

Elec. Ah, friends, I heard a voice

Which never had I dreamt would come to me;

Then I kept in my dumb and passionate mood,

Nor cried I, as I heard;

But now I have thee; thou hast come to me

With face most precious, dear to look upon,

Which e'en in sorrow I can ne'er forget.

Ores. All needless words pass over. Tell me not

My mother's shame, nor how Ægisthos drains

My father's wealth, much wastes, and scatters much;

Much speech might lose occasion's golden hour;

But what fits in to this our present need,

Thai tell me, where, appearing or concealed,

We best shall check our boasting enemies,

In this our enterprise; so when we twain

Go to the palace, look to it, that she note not,

Thy mother, by thy blither face, our coming,

But mourn as for that sorrow falsely told.

When we have prospered, then shalt thou have leave

Freely to smile, and joy exultingly.

Elec. Yes, brother dear! Whatever pleaseth thee,